STORY EXCERPT

Aldrich watched with a growing sense of disgust as Mateo sucked off another vampire. After weeks of watching the man flit from one vampire to the next, dropping to his knees to service someone in the tribe, he knew what he would see next.

As Mateo wiped his hand over his mouth, removing all remnants of what he had just done, he looked up at the vampire he had just sucked off with a glint of hope and desperation in his eyes.

And just like every other time, the vampire merely patted Mateo on the head and walked away, forgetting Mateo even existed the moment he turned away. Mateo would stare after him, a shimmer of tears glittering in his eyes for a moment before he blinked them away and pretended like one more dream hadn't been shattered all over the floor.

Aldrich seriously doubted anyone except him ever saw that moment of weakness on Mateo's face. Why would they? They weren't looking at his face. They never did. Aldrich would bet his entire fortune that if he asked any member of the tribe what color Mateo's eyes were, they wouldn't know.

Aldrich knew.

Mateo's eyes were golden-amber brown.

He wasn't sure what exactly had drawn the little vampire to his attention, but something had. And he hadn't been able to stop watching him since. Aldrich had seen Mateo get dismissed time and time again over the last several weeks.

It was painful to watch.

Aldrich couldn't stand to watch one second more. With the way Mateo went from vampire to vampire looking for acceptance, someone was going to get pissed and get into a fight. As head enforcer and second in command under Louis Redgrave, the head of security for Vaile Industries, it was Aldrich's job to keep the peace. Someone needed to take Mateo in hand before things escalated and it looked like he was going to be that someone.

"Mateo!"

Hair the color of burnt copper flopped around Mateo's face as his head whipped up, his golden-amber eyes searching the darkness until they landed on Aldrich. For a moment, he looked stunned, his mouth hanging open as if he couldn't quite believe he had been called by the head enforcer of the tribe.

"I'm waiting, Mateo." Aldrich's voice dropped an octave, ensuring that the man knew he was serious. He was in no way surprised when Mateo jumped to his feet and raced across the marble floor. An order was an order and refusing one could get Mateo in serious trouble. Aldrich pointed to the spot on the floor next to him when Mateo reached his side. "Sit."

Mateo dropped to his knees so fast that Aldrich heard them smack on the hard marble floor and winced. Damn, that had to hurt. To give him credit, Mateo didn't even whimper. He just knelt there on the floor next to Aldrich's chair and waited.

After a few moments, his shoulders slowly started to slump.

"Sit up straight, Mateo." Aldrich's tone was a little harsher than he intended, but Mateo snapped up ramrod straight, so the desired effect was accomplished. "I do not like slumping. It is lazy."

"Yes, sir."

A low rumbling growl tangled up the air currents. Those two little words took Aldrich's intrigue and turned it into a physical awareness of Mateo that stole the very breath right out of his lungs.

Something pulled Aldrich's attention to Mateo, refusing to release him until he reached out and fisted a handful of the man's burnt-copper curls. There was a tingling in the pit of his stomach, a deep awareness that something in his life was about to take a major left turn.

Aldrich needed space before he started to hyperventilate or mauled Mateo right there in the great room, and he needed that space now. He pulled Mateo's head back until he could look down into the man's golden-amber eyes. "I don't like the smell of so many others on your skin. Go bathe."

Mateo gulped, his eyes straying to the darkened window. "Now, sir?"

Aldrich's brows pulled together in an angry frown. His silence had to speak for him because he wasn't about to repeat himself. He never repeated himself.

"But—" Mateo glanced back at Aldrich, his expression clearly saying he hoped Aldrich might change his mind. One look at Aldrich and Mateo's shoulders slumped, but just for a moment before straightening up once again. "Yes, sir."

It took all of Aldrich's control to loosen the grip he had on Mateo's hair and allow the man to stand. As much as he wanted Mateo as far away from him as possible, he wanted him close as well. He didn't understand these possessive feelings.

"Mateo."

"Yes, sir?"

"No one touches you but me."

Mateo's eyebrows were high and his eyes rounded as he nodded his head. "Yes, sir."

Aldrich had no idea what made him say that considering that nearly half the tribe had put their hands on Mateo at one point or another. But as Mateo walked away, carefully maneuvering between other tribe members to avoid touching them, Aldrich knew he had made the right choice.

Restlessly, Aldrich stroked the arm of his chair. He turned his attention to the vampires lounging about the great room. Being the enforcer for his tribe gave him a unique viewpoint where the members were concerned. He knew their secrets, things that they would rather never came to light.

He knew who had broken the rules and skirted along the edges of the traditions they were taught from birth to adhere to, and he knew who was in danger of betraying all that they believed in as a species.

He could see the blackness in their souls. That did not make him a very popular person. He was feared by his tribe members almost as much as their prince was.

Their enemies feared him more.

ADULT EXCERPT

Mateo groaned as he rolled to his side. He knew that last drink had been a mistake. The first one might have been a mistake too. He wasn't a drinker and never had been. He felt as if his head was going to split open.

His eyes snapped open when he felt warm flesh move against him. Warm, naked flesh. For a heartbeat, he almost cried, thinking he had finally given in and gone to bed with one of the men who asked. When the alluring scent of his mate wafted over him, Mateo let out a sigh.

"Morning, baby."

Mateo smiled as he rolled over, his headache forgotten. "Morning."

As Aldrich lowered his lips, Mateo closed his eyes, wrapping his arms around his vampire's neck. He opened his lips, allowing Aldrich entrance, their tongues twining together. He let his hands roam over Aldrich's naked back and shoulders, loving how strong and wide they were.

Mateo moaned as Aldrich licked his mating bite, tilting his head back to give the man better access. Every time Aldrich's tongue swiped across the small bite, shivers shot straight down Mateo's body to his cock.

Aldrich began to pull at the sheet. As he pulled the sheet all of the way down Mateo's body, he paused to gaze down at him, his eyes rooming greedily over his body. "Damn, baby, you're gorgeous," he said with a bit of awe in his voice. "I'm not sure I'll ever get used to that."

Mateo could feel his cheeks light up as Aldrich looked down at him. Aldrich was staring at him with such hunger in his eyes, he just held his arms out to him.

"All yours," he whispered.

"Do you like what you see?" Aldrich asked as Mateo looked him up and down.

"Oh yeah," Mateo grinned. "I'd like to see more."

"I think that can be arranged." Aldrich chuckled as he grabbed Mateo around the waist and rolled them over until Mateo was straddling his legs, Aldrich's glorious body laid out on the bed before him.

"Oh, this is much better," Mateo said as he leaned forward and placed his hands on Aldrich's collarbone. He let his hands slowly move down his chest, over his tight nipples, and on down to his abdomen.

As Mateo's hands moved down past Aldrich's bellybutton, he could hear his deep inhale. Mateo smirked quietly, his hands drawing several circles in Aldrich's skin before moving on down. Apparently, he had a hot spot too.

As he reached Aldrich's groin, he paused to admire his beautiful cock. It really was awe-inspiring. Long and thick, the drops of pre-cum glistened on the large head. He couldn't wait to feel it pounding into his ass.

With a mischievous little grin, Mateo scooted back and leaned down to engulf Aldrich's hard cock, his tongue quickly licking up the drops of liquid on the head. He moaned softly at his sweet tangy taste, smiling when Aldrich groaned, his hands clenching in Mateo's hair.

This, it seemed, remained the same. Using his tongue to caress the sides and the small slit in the top, Mateo tightened his lips around Aldrich, his head beginning a quick up and down motion.

As more pre-cum was released, Mateo licked it up, moaning at Aldrich's delicious taste. As he did, Aldrich's hands clenched into fists in his hair. His hips began thrusting up, pushing his cock deeper into Mateo's mouth.

"Baby, you have to stop. It feels too good. I'm going to blow my load before we even get to the good stuff and I don't want to stop before I get a piece of your gorgeous ass."

Mateo gave Aldrich's cock one more long swipe before lifting his head.

"Where's the lube? Do we have any in here?" Aldrich asked.

Mateo nodded before leaning over and pulling the nightstand drawer open, grabbing the bottle he'd placed inside earlier. He almost dropped it when he felt Aldrich's hands caress his ass cheek, his fingers delving between them to graze across his sensitive hole.

"Aldrich," he groaned as Aldrich began to softly caress him his tight ring of muscles. One lone finger began pushing gently against him until Mateo's muscles loosened enough to allow him entry.

"Hand me the bottle, baby," Aldrich demanded.

Mateo turned to hand him the bottle only to receive a small slap to his ass.

"Uh uh, stay right where you are. Just hand me the bottle," Aldrich said. He grabbed the bottle Mateo held out and flipped the lid open.

Mateo watched over his shoulder as Aldrich poured some on his fingers, closing the lid and dropping the bottle on the bed before reaching back for Mateo's ass. His eyes closed in ecstasy as Aldrich coated him with the lube before slowly pushing one finger back in.

Aldrich moved his finger around for several moments before adding a second finger, scissoring them back and forth. He began to chuckle at Mateo's deep moan. "You really like this, don't you?"

All Mateo could do was nod his head. He was way beyond speech at that point. He moaned in protest when Aldrich pulled his fingers free.

"Swing your legs around, baby. I want you your ass up here where I can see what I'm doing."

Mateo glanced back at Aldrich in surprise but did as he asked, swinging his legs around so that he was straddling Aldrich's chest, his ass right in front of his face. Okay, that was a little embarrassing.

Mateo's embarrassment soon disappeared when Aldrich pushed two fingers back into his ass. He thought he was going to lose his mind when Aldrich began gently thrust his finger in and out. "Aldrich," he groaned as his cock began to throb, his balls drawing up tight against his body, "Aldrich, I'm gonna—"

"Not without me, you're not," Aldrich growled as pulled his fingers from Mateo and pushed Mateo forward and climbed out from underneath his body. He quickly replaced his fingers with his hard cock, groaning deeply as he pushed into Mateo's tight grasp.

As soon as he was fully engulfed, he started slowly thrusting. "Fuck, baby," he groaned as his movements became wild almost immediately. "You're so damn tight,"

Mateo pushed back against Aldrich each time the vampire pulled out, not wanting the feeling of being so full to go away. He was so close. Reaching underneath his body, he grabbed his aching cock and began stroking himself to match Aldrich's thrusts.

"Turn over, baby. I want you to claim me."

Oh god!