STORY EXCERPT

“No!” Sayer sat up in bed gasping for air. His body was drenched in sweat and tears streamed down his cheeks. Sayer brought his shaking hands to his face and tried to rub away the awful memories.

He’d been held prisoner for nearly a year to his sadistic maker, William. Sayer wondered when, if ever, the nightmares would stop. The things he had endured were too painful to even think about but like always, they found a way to intrude into his brain and fill his body with panic. Sayer knew William was dead, but it didn’t stop the fear from taking a hold of him and making him feel like a little boy.

“Breathe, Sayer,” he whispered, trying to convince his own mind. “You’re free and he’s dead. He’ll never be able to hurt you or anyone else ever again.”

God, the words came out so easy but it didn’t help that much. The pain William had inflicted upon him and the terror he instilled plagued his body. Sayer wondered if there would ever be a light at the end of this tunnel for him. He was free but he didn’t feel free.

Sayer got up out of the bed and went to his bathroom. He flipped on the overhead light and winced at the brightness it illuminated. His hair had started to grow back. The blond locks were intermingled with some brown and stuck out in all directions at the moment. His green eyes looked dull and lifeless and dark bags still shaded the delicate skin under his eyes. As he looked at himself in the mirror, his eyes drooped to take in the countless scars that marred his smooth skin. William had made sure to use silver so every single mark he left to inflict pain left behind a scar. Most had faded but they would forever be there. A constant reminder of his time with that monster.

Even after a month of freedom, he still looked awful. The nightmare hounded him all the time and he couldn’t shake the feeling that William would find a way to come back for him. A way to cheat death and punish Sayer for leaving him once again.

“Stop it!” Sayer growled at his reflection. “He’s dead and never coming back.” His voice hitched as his throat grew tight. “You need to get past this.”

His red-rimmed eyes stung with tears he refused to shed. He was done crying over what had happened to him. No amount of tears would wash away his past of the awful things William had done to him. Sayer needed to push past all this and start fresh. Everyone was worried about him and he hated that. He was a warrior. A person who was supposed to be strong and fierce in the face of danger, not hiding out in his room crying himself to sleep every night.

Sayer peeled off his pajama bottoms and tossed them in the laundry basket. They were soaked through with sweat and the damp material caused goose bumps to ripple over his skin. Sayer took a long hot shower then stepped out and toweled off. His muscles didn’t feel as tense as they had been and he shrugged his shoulders trying to work out the kinks.

Sayer turned back toward the sink and brushed his teeth. Doing normal things like this that had been denied to him was a pleasure to do. He never thought he’d be so grateful for brushing his freaking teeth, but he was.

Once done with that, Sayer walked out into his darkened bedroom and pulled another pair of sleeping pants out and pulled them on. He’d practically been living in pajama bottoms for the past month but they were the only thing that felt comfortable. His skin at times felt too sensitive to withstand touch or course material. Just another thing he’d taken for granted along with his freedom. The pleasures of everyday life were taking some getting used to.

In the distance on the other side of the wall, Sayer heard footsteps growing nearer. The sound of voices met his ears and he instantly recognized Trevor’s. Trevor had been the warrior to find him in that shitty dungeon where William had him. Sayer had never met Trevor until that day. Sayer had been taken before he got the chance. But like him, Trevor had the displeasure of meeting Lucian and being turned against his will into a vampire. Sayer sympathized with Trevor and had grown quite fond of him in the passing days. The guy was funny and always tried to make light of every situation.

Trevor was Quinn’s mate. Quinn was strong and fierce warrior but turned to a pile of goo whenever Trevor was around. Sayer liked seeing the rough warrior like that. He’d wished he’d been there to see the great and powerful Quinn fall when Trevor waltzed into his life, but he hadn’t been. Just another thing William stole from him.

“This will be your room,” Sayer heard Trevor say to someone.

Sayer cracked open the door to see who this newcomer was. He could make out the profile of the other man. He was tall with short blond hair combed to the side. Sayer took a guess that he was the doctor the others had been talking about bring here for Miles. Sayer still couldn’t wrap his brain around a pregnant man but stranger things were possible in a world filled with magic, vampires, and shape shifters.

The man said something to Trevor but Sayer wasn’t paying attention. As the man moved into the room, he stirred up a light breeze and Sayer caught a whiff of salty air and warm skin. It reminded him of the beach he used to visit before he’d become a vampire. A time back what things were simpler.

ADULT EXCERPT

The light from the moon outside filtered in through the open window, making Shane’s body glow in the dim light. Sayer lifted a finger and trailed it down the center of Shane’s torso. Shane sucked in a breath and arched into the touch. Soon Sayer’s hand reached the waist of Shane’s jeans. He skirted his finger under the band, loving the way the skin pebbled under his touch.

“Please don’t stop.” Shane pushed up to rest on his elbow to watch.

The hungry look in Shane’s eyes set Sayer off. He ripped open the fastening then leaned back to pull off his jeans. Shane’s fully erect cock flopped out to smack him in the stomach. The red swollen shaft was long and curved up toward Shane’s belly button. Sayer’s mouth began to water at the sight but he couldn’t bring himself to lean forward and lick away the drop of pre-cum that glistened at the tip. It was still too soon for that.

“Sayer, touch me, please,” Shane begged.

Sayer looked up into Shane’s heated gaze and he wanted to so much make that man whimper with need and know it was him giving the big man so much pleasure. But Sayer was still afraid. Sure he was a vampire and stronger then Shane, but a piece of him still shrunk back in fear at the sheer size of his mate. Sayer didn’t know if he’d ever be able to let Shane have full control of him. Control was a big deal to Sayer. Having had it ripped away from him for nearly a year, he couldn’t let that happen again. Mate or not, Sayer had to be the one in control of their lovemaking.

“Roll over.”

Shane didn’t hesitate. He rolled to lie on his stomach and folded his arms under his head. With his face turned to the side, he watched Sayer.

The muscles in Shane’s back rippled as Sayer ran a finger down the dip over his spine. He glided his hands down over the swell of Shane’s ass and lightly caressed his hand back and forth, causing the man to squirm under him. Sayer then dropped his hands lower to grab a fist full of Shane’s tight muscled ass in each. He loved the way Shane’s ass cheeks clenched tight then relaxed only to repeat as Sayer massaged the firm flesh.

“I love the way you feel in my hands.” Sayer scooted lower between Shane’s legs and licked a line down his crack. A salty, musky taste covered his tongue. His mate tasted so clean and pure, Sayer needed more. He pulled Shane’s ass cheeks apart and licked over the rippled flesh of his opening. Shane cried out and his hands shot out to fist the sheets at the side of his head. “And I love the way you taste.”

Sayer nipped and sucked at the small opening as Shane fidgeted on the bed. He could feel the quiver of his mate’s thighs as he dug his tongue deeper inside Shane’s hole. The ring spasmed and tightened around his tongue but didn’t push him out. Warmth flooded him as his mate cried out his name.

Sayer’s dick swelled to almost painful proportions. More so than the previous night. His body craved Shane and he wanted to succumb to the mind-numbing relief only his mate could give him. With Shane lying on his stomach, hands fisted in the sheets, and his hips humping the bed, Sayer felt safe. That this large man couldn’t overpower him and that Sayer had all the control to do as he wished. He’d never do anything to hurt his mate but he did want to see Shane shatter around him as Sayer fucked his body.

“You like this, don’t you?” he asked as he sucked on one firm globe bringing blood to the surface. Shane let out a garbled scream.

“Fuck yes,” Shane grunted as his hips continued to pump into the mattress.

The tip of Sayer’s cock rubbed against the comforter, revving up his desires even further. All the blood in his body pumped down to his dick and more than anything he needed to be inside Shane. To take ownership of what he’d been denying himself. Sexual release is something Sayer needed. Maybe if he were lucky he could fuck all the bad memories from his brain. Surely Shane would be willing to surrender his body to his mate.

But he doesn’t know that? The evil laugh in his head sounded so much like William’s. Silly boy, you were never much of a thinker, were you. Do you think he’d want you knowing that you’re used up? Afraid of your own shadow.

“I need to be inside you.” Sayer sucked two fingers into his mouth, getting them nice and wet. He then shoved them into Shane’s tight hole.

“Oh fuck!” Shan grunted and beat his fist in the bed.

Shane’s ass cheeks clamped down on Sayer’s fingers but Sayer didn’t relent. He fucked them in and out of Shane’s hot channel until the man’s muscles relaxed and accepted his touch. Sayer leaned over Shane’s body and spit down on his mate’s entrance. He knew he should stop. Stop and get lube or just stop and take things slower but the monster inside him wouldn’t let him. He needed this moment more than he needed his next glass of blood.

“Do you want me, Shane?” Sayer kissed his way up Shane’s back until he reached the man’s neck and nipped softly. “Do you want me fuck you into the mattress and come in your ass?”

“Oh god yes.” Shane arched his back, shifting his bottom further up into the air.

Sayer pulled his fingers from Shane’s ass and spat into his hand. Between the pre-cum flowing from the tip and the spit, his dick was coated in moisture. He lined up the blunt crown and pushed. Shane’s body tensed and the pressure nearly forced Sayer out.