Story excerpt

He started running, feeling Layton’s anxiety increase by the moment. And then, the anger and frustration changed into pure panic. The emotional pain exploded into physical agony. Preston couldn’t even bring himself to care about appearances anymore. He shifted into his lynx form and ran as fast as he could, desperate to reach his mate.

Every second that passed increased his certainty that he might lose Layton. He followed the instinct that led him to his mate, and he’d almost reached his destination when the sound of an explosion reached his ears. Smoke rose in the distance, and Preston would have collapsed in despair had something inside him not told him Layton was still alive.

He found Layton at the edge of a ravine, bruised, unconscious, and bloody, but definitely still breathing. The relief almost crushed him. He took his mate in his arms, trying to judge where he should go. The academy was still a good distance away, further than the town. The best bet was the hospital. Of course, that would imply for Preston to have to run naked through the entire town, but he could stop by Corbin’s to borrow a car.

Layton’s injuries were clearly not life threatening, and by the time they reached the city limits, he was coming to. Preston stopped as he heard his mate moan. “What is it, lovely? Where are you hurt?”

At first, Layton didn’t reply, but then, he managed to gasp out, “Ribs…head…hurt…”

Okay, so Layton’s ribs must be broken. Preston had realized the possibility existed, and he’d paid close attention to carry Layton gently, so as not to jostle his mate. The most dangerous thing about these injuries was the possibility of lung puncturing, but given that they were shape-shifters, it wouldn’t get to that. Still, Preston’s concern for Layton didn’t diminish one bit. “Just don’t move, lovely. I’ll take you to a hospital.”

Layton shook his head, now sounding a little more aware. “No hospital. I don’t want anyone to know.”

Preston wanted to protest, but Layton’s pleading expression stopped him. He nodded, mentally reevaluating his plan. He might not be a doctor, but he knew enough of medicine so as to be able to care for his mate.

In the end, he took an alternative route, using back alleys until he got to his brother’s shop. There really was no need to be embarrassed, since the town only had shape-shifter inhabitants. Still, Preston preferred to be dressed in public if he could help it. Thankfully, he had no trouble getting to his destination, but when he reached the auto repair, he found Corbin had already left. Prick. It was just like him to leave to fuck that bitch Cherise when Preston most needed him. Worst of all, the shop was locked. Unlike other inhabitants of the town, Corbin tended to be paranoid and used shape-shifter-proof locks, so Preston couldn’t get inside. Once upon a time, he’d had a key, and maybe he still did, but it was at home. Fuck.

Well, there was nothing for it. He had to go to his own place because he certainly didn’t trust other people with Layton and he couldn’t exactly wait for Corbin to come back.

“It’s okay,” Layton told him. “I’m already feeling better. I’m stronger than I look.”

Preston suppressed the urge to cry as he rushed toward his home. By some miracle, he managed to reach the shop without being stopped. He thought that he’d been spotted several times, but since he was going very fast—or, as fast as he could given the circumstances—they didn’t manage to say anything to him or interrupt his race.

At last, Preston reached his destination. He used the back door to go inside and went to the superior floor, where his small apartment was. He placed Layton on the bed, panting as he cupped Layton’s cheek. “Okay?” he asked.

Layton nodded, grimacing. “Hurts.”

“You gotta stay with me, all right? Let me look over your ribs.”

Preston rushed to his bathroom and found some rarely used bandage. He returned to his room, only to find Layton leaning against the headboard, a grimace of pain on his face. “Leave the bandage,” he said. “Just get me in some water.”

Of course! He was such an idiot. If Layton shifted, the broken ribs would mend on their own. Preston dropped the bandage and rushed back to run water into his tub. Leaving it to fill, he returned to the room. “Let me help you out of your clothes.”

Layton nodded, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he watched Preston approach. Preston knelt next to the bed, and his hands trembled as he started working on Layton’s clothing. He did his best to be gentle, but the motions still caused Layton pain. Preston hated every second of it.

It was actually quite ironic. He’d always lusted after Layton and wanted to see him naked. He’d never thought that the day it would actually happen, it would be like this.

At last, Layton was nude. Swallowing around the lump in his throat, Preston took his mate in his arms and slowly walked to the bathroom. Slowly, gently, he lowered Layton into the tub and waited. Almost instantly, Layton’s form melted into that of a seahorse.

Preston couldn’t help a small smile as he watched the tiny sea creature swim in the tub. There was just something about Layton, both in shifted and in human form, that made Preston’s heart swell with affection. A hidden strength lurked under the delicate nature of the seahorse and a temperament worthy of the Cunningham name. 

ADULT EXCERPT

Layton could have sobbed in relief when Preston reached for him again. He lifted his legs high up, exposing his opening to Preston. “Come on, Pres,” he whispered huskily. “Take me.”

Preston grinned at him, and his predatory expression made Layton shudder in lust. The lynx opened the tube of lubricant and poured a liberal amount on his fingers. He crawled between Layton’s legs, his eyes never leaving Layton’s. “You are so very beautiful,” he murmured as he slid a digit inside Layton’s body. “So fucking lovely.”

Slowly, Preston fucked Layton with that single finger until he seemed to ascertain Layton wasn’t in pain. A second one went in. This time, Layton experienced a light burn, but it pooled straight into his cock.

Hypnotized by Preston’s blue gaze, Layton was shocked when his new lover’s fingers hit his special spot. Layton had touched himself before there, but Preston’s fingers felt so much better. With a lost cry, Layton bucked against Preston, trying to impale himself, to get more of the delicious sensation.

Preston mercilessly rubbed his prostate, sending Layton closer and closer to his peak. Just as Layton thought it couldn’t get any better, Preston moved lower down, and his wet mouth engulfed Layton’s cock. Layton’s eyes rolled in his head as pleasure exploded over his senses. He’d never felt anything so good in his entire life. The volcanic heat of Preston’s mouth was pure heaven, and Layton was torn between thrusting into the wet cavern and pushing back against the impaling fingers.

He writhed under Preston, his body assaulted by sensations and by an ever-increasing need to become one with the lynx. He ached to come, but at the same time, he wanted to have Preston inside him so badly that the pure carnal urge was like background noise. It was a blend of feelings and emotions that Layton could not even begin to grasp. He clenched his fists into the bedspread, struggling to hold back his climax, clinging to this moment.

And then Preston took his cock fully into his mouth and swallowed around the glans. Layton could not hope to resist the onslaught of pleasure. Crying out Preston’s name, he came, sending his seed down Preston’s throat. Preston drank down every drop, sucking on Layton’s cock until it was completely spent.

Panting hard, Layton stared at his lover in a daze. “You okay?” Preston asked.

“I think my mind just melted,” Layton replied, “but I’m better than ever.”

Preston beamed at him, although Layton noticed the slight strain in it. From this position, he couldn’t see Preston’s prick, but Layton could have bet money the lynx was still hard as a rock. Layton could not imagine anything better than Preston’s naked cock, and predictably, his own dick responded to it, already starting to fill again. His lover arched a brow at him, but Layton just grinned. “Come on, lover. You know what I want.”

Preston moved faster than the human eye could see. Layton could only keep track of his new lover’s motions because he was a shifter, and God, Layton could only be thankful for that because Preston was sex incarnate. He slicked up his cock with a generous amount of lube then lifted Layton’s legs on his shoulders. He positioned his prick at Layton’s hole and gently, slowly, pushed in.

In spite of his arousal, Layton was still very relaxed from his first climax. His body yielded to the invasion, his flesh parting to accommodate Preston’s big cock. Oh, it hurt. After all, how could it not? This was the first time Layton had taken anyone inside his body. But it was a good pain, balanced out by the ecstasy, making Layton feel complete. It was almost like when his dad used to make honey ginger shrimp, Layton’s favorite food since forever. It had so many flavors and textures that Layton could eat it every day and never get bored. This feeling was like that, only better, so much better, indescribably so, as if he’d finally found the part of him that had been missing.

Preston bottomed out, his pubic hair tickling against Layton’s buttocks. For a few moments, he just stilled inside Layton, panting in Layton’s ear, the desire to move obvious in his tense stance. Layton appreciated Preston’s concern for him, but he didn’t need to be coddled. He wanted to be fucked.

Meeting Preston’s gaze, he whispered, “I’m fine. Just take me.”

To prove his point, he clenched his ass around Preston’s cock. Preston released a sexy groan. “You’re going to be the death of me, lovely.”

Those words were the only warning Layton had before his lover pulled out from his body then thrust back in, so hard Layton couldn’t suppress a cry. After the gentleness with which Preston had entered him, the change was quite shocking. At the same time, the motion awoke every nerve ending in Layton’s body, even some he hadn’t known existed.

Over and over, Preston drove into him, his cock filling Layton up perfectly, stretching him and splitting him open in the most delicious way. Whenever that thick prick hit Layton’s prostate, Layton thought he’d fallen into some sinful version of heaven. The sensations coursing through him were simply out of this world, and if he hadn’t known better, Layton would have believed it was all a dream. But no figment of Layton’s imagination could ever be so vivid, so amazing, and so utterly flawless.

Layton clung to Preston’s shoulders in a desperate attempt to find an anchor in a world that was quickly ceasing to make sense. Distantly, he registered Preston murmuring soft words in his ear. He couldn’t quite distinguish their meaning, but simply Preston’s tone added another layer of sensation. Preston’s voice was like a palpable caress, reaching out to the depths of Layton’s heart where a physical touch could not. And Preston’s eyes…God, his eyes seemed to see into Layton’s very soul.