STORY EXCERPT

It took all of Reed’s strength to attend the mandatory meeting at FPA headquarters. He rubbed his chest, wishing the damn ache would go away, as he walked down the hallway.

When he woke up, Reed looked around the club for Graham, but the man was nowhere to be found, so he dragged his ass home. Reed took a shower and stared at himself in the mirror, inspecting all the marks on his body, until they slowly started to fade. Graham had marked him good, allowing Reed to relive their time together in the playroom. Even though he loved the way his body ached from Graham’s rough use, he was disappointed that his mate had left without claiming him. My mate.

He was still having a hard time wrapping his mind around everything that had happened. He was drawn to the man, even without scenting him. It was almost as if his body recognized Graham, even if his mind didn’t. Why wasn’t I able to scent him? I should’ve known that he was my mate. There were so many unanswered questions and instead of going back to Leather Men in the light of day to find Graham, Reed was stuck at a mandatory meeting. He was planning on going back. As soon as he was dismissed from this meeting, Reed was going to find Graham. It was his new mission.

Reed strode into the conference room and took a seat at the round table. He looked around, making eye contact with each agent, and nodded in greeting. He wasn’t in the mood to chat.

“Good morning,” Abram said, as he strode into the conference room, followed by a young man Reed didn’t recognize.

On any other day, Reed might’ve been curious, but today he couldn’t care less. His mind was consumed with thoughts of Graham. Who was he? Why did he leave Reed all alone? Did he know that they were mates?

“This is Toby Winters.” Abram introduced the young man and Reed snapped back to the present. Toby had coppery hair and blue eyes, and on closer inspection, Reed realized that the man was a fox shifter. “He’s joining the team.”

The announcement was a surprise. There was normally a process that each man needed to go through to be accepted. Toby didn’t look old enough to have much experience.

“London has decided to stay in Los Angeles indefinitely. Toby is from their office and volunteered to transfer to New York.”

Reed had never had the pleasure of working with London. He wasn’t exactly disappointed that she was leaving, not after all the drama she caused with the other agents.

“Take a seat, Toby,” Abram said and the young man pulled out one of the empty chairs around the table. “You can meet the team after our meeting.” There was a short pause before Abram nodded toward Axel. “If you’re ready…”

“Yes, sir.” Axel stood.

He pressed a few buttons on a hand held remote and a large screen lowered. Gruesome images appeared, littering the screen. Reed’s eyes zeroed in on a few familiar marks—bruised wrists and ankles where leather cuffs were tightly wrapped around the limbs, perfectly straight red stripes running along each of the victims’ buttocks and thighs, and deep claw marks torn into the skin.

“There are some disturbing pictures and videos popping up all over the Internet,” Axel continued. “So far, I’ve been able to locate fourteen videos, and I have little doubts that there will be more.” He clicked the remote and a bunch of mini-screens popped up, each showing a different victim in each. “He tortures the men, playing out some sort of extreme BDSM fantasy, before killing them and watching them die.”

BDSM fantasy. Reed’s mind swirled and his heart hammered frantically in his chest. As much as Reed wanted to freak out at the similarities between his night at the Leather Men club and these victims, he kept his mouth tightly sealed. Putting his emotions in check, Reed hid his scent so that the other agents wouldn’t know what he was truly feeling.

Graham. Was his mate involved in this? Was that why the man abandoned him inside the private playroom? Taking a deep breath, Reed slowly blew it out as he leaned back in his chair, trying to appear relaxed. Keep it together.

“What makes you think this killer is paranormal?” Shaw asked.

“The killer leaves the same marks on each victim.” Axel zoomed in, showing the claw marks, four perfectly even lines, tearing the skin.

Reed shrank down in his chair, wrapped his arms around his stomach. He covered the marks on his side, trying to hide the fact that he could’ve been one of the victims. His ears started ringing, and the voices dulled, seeming as if they were far away.

ADULT EXCERPT

Graham pulled Reed up, connecting their chests and holding Reed close. He dipped his head and connected their lips, gently coaxing his mouth open. Their tongues swirled and danced together. It was new, yet familiar. It felt right. Disconnecting their lips, Graham turned Reed around, pressing his chest against Reed’s back and his mate leaned his head back against Graham’s shoulder. He moved his hands around Reed’s waist, running them up and down his chest and flat abdomen.

“Oh…oh…feels so good…” Reed moaned.

He cupped Reed’s balls with one hand, fondling and playing with the heavy weights.

“Do you want to come, baby?” he whispered, nibbling Reed’s earlobe.

“I want you inside me.”

Graham took Reed’s hands in his own. He leaned forward, placing Reed on his hands and knees. With their fingers intertwined, Graham moved his hips. His erection slid between Reed’s ass cheeks and he kept moving, teasing Reed while ramping up the man’s arousal.

His teeth lengthened as the lion within woke up and stretched. The desire to mark his mate was strong. Both the human and beast needed to claim Reed so that other paranormals would know that he belonged to Graham. He leaned back and ran the sharp points along Reed’s shoulder, gently biting down, but not breaking the skin. Sexy little sounds spilled out of Reed’s mouth. He moaned and groaned, his entire body shuddering, as Graham gnawed on his flesh.

“Please…please…”

Graham knew he was driving Reed crazy. The scent of his arousal surrounded Graham like a thick cloud.

“Don’t move.” Graham leaned back.

He ran his fingers up Reed’s arms and scratched his nails along the man’s sides. Graham licked, kissed, and nibbled his way down Reed’s back. When he reached Reed’s beautiful bubble butt, Graham sank his teeth into the meaty flesh. Reed cried out, yelling Graham’s name, and he grinned.

Spreading Reed’s ass cheeks with his hands, Graham opened his mouth and spit on a spot just above Reed’s hole. He watched as his saliva ran over Reed’s tight rosette. Graham pushed his face into the crease of Reed’s ass. He ran his tongue over Reed’s hole, coating it with a thick coat of saliva. Reed’s muscles flexed, his tight hole fluttering as he moved his hips, silently begging for more. Once his ass was well lubricated, Graham leaned back and blew.

“Oh god…” Goose bumps broke out on Reed’s flesh and he shuddered.

Graham kneaded Reed’s ass cheeks. With his tongue, he circled Reed’s hole, drawing shapes. He alternated speeds, adding more stimulation. When Reed was moving his hips, nonsensical words poured from his lips, Graham knew Reed was ready for more. He put his finger into his mouth, getting it nice and wet before slowly penetrating Reed’s ass. Graham rubbed his scruff against Reed’s ass cheek as he moved his finger in and out of Reed’s ass, stretching him.

“Please…” Reed begged. “I need you…I’m so close…”

“Where’s your lube, baby?” Graham asked, kissing Reed’s ass.

“No.” Reed shook his head. “Make me burn.”

Graham pressed the head of his shaft against Reed’s ass. He applied some pressure and his cock slid past the tight ring of muscle, sinking into his mate’s body. Graham held Reed’s hips in a tight grip, preventing his mate from moving. He was once again close to the edge. Any movement at this moment and he knew he’d come deep inside Reed’s ass. Taking a few deep breaths, Graham was finally able to loosen his hold.

“You’re mine,” he growled.

“Yes…oh, god…yes…” Reed moaned beautifully, accepting Graham’s claim.

Graham pulled his hips backward. He watched his cock pull free before slowly pushing forward, burying his length once more. He started a slow rhythm, building up speed. Each thrust was deeper, harder. Just being inside his mate turned Graham into a wild animal. He couldn’t get enough. With each movement, Graham lost control, moving faster, fucking his mate harder. He was completely lost in the feel of Reed’s body.

“Ah…ah…ah…” Sexy little sounds spilled from Reed’s lips. With each move Graham made, the high-pitched sounds turned to cute little whimpers. “Oh…Graham…oh…”

It spurred Graham on. He ran his hands up Reed’s back, running his sharp nails against his flesh, leaving perfectly straight red lines behind. He loved seeing his marks on Reed’s skin. Reed arched his back, pressing his body backward as if begging for deeper scratches. Graham obliged. His claws lengthened and he slid the sharp points along Reed’s flesh. Blood bubbled out of the open wounds, but the skin quickly knitted back together.

“I need…” Reed panted.

“Come for me, baby.”

Reed shouted, crying out Graham’s name. His muscles tightened and his body jerked. Skin slapped against skin in a beautiful melody, as the smell of sex filled his lungs and his head.