As a retired gay military man, a wolf shifter, and owner of a bike repair shop, Kade McGraw is comfortable with who and what he is. When Kade does a favor for his adopted sister, Theresa, he discovers his mate is joining them, as the date of Theresa’s friend. The fact that Tom is human and knows nothing about the existence of shifters is only one of many hurdles. His mate doesn’t want to admit he’s gay, and Kade finds himself fighting for his future as Tom fights the mate-pull.
A straight-laced marketing executive, Tom doesn’t understand his attraction to the tattooed, pierced biker with the burning green eyes and sensual smile. Tom is so deep in the closet, he may as well be chained there. But Kade turns up at the oddest times, and somehow he seems to know every one of Tom’s hidden desires, turning his body against him. It doesn’t matter how much Tom likes it, though, because he has family obligations that don’t include revealing his sexuality.
Can Kade convince Tom that he can help him and his family? Or will Tom fold under the pressure?
More From Wolves of Stone Ridge
The sly look Theresa gave Kade, and Kade’s consequent eye roll, spelled trouble. “What’s your favorite football team?”
“Green Bay Packers,” Tom answered warily.
That had Kade slamming his beer onto the table. Good thing it was nearly empty already, or he would have made quite the mess. “What! How can you root for that sham of a team?” he snapped, leaning one elbow on the table as he frowned at Tom. “They pawned off Favre on us and it’s done nothing but bring us down! Someone greased some palms there. I just know it,” he said, dropping his fist to the table to add emphasis to his words.
Tom curled his lip. “Sure palms were greased, because the Vikings could never beat the Packers while Favre was playing for them. Packers are better,” he stated, adding a negligent shrug just because he knew it would irritate the man further.
“They most certainly are not,” Kade snarled, leaning even farther across the expanse of the table.
His blood zinged through his veins. Excitement coursed through him and his dick throbbed as Tom enjoyed the heated argument with the sexy man. That realization caught him up short. After swallowing hard to get his racing pulse under control, Tom settled back into his seat and smirked. “Superbowl wins say it all, Kade.”
Kade opened his mouth to reply, but Patricia huffed. “As if any of that’s important.” She turned her attention to Theresa and said, “How can men spend so much time arguing about that stuff?”
Irritation coursed through Tom that the woman he was entertaining the idea of proposing to could dismiss football so easily. To his surprise, Kade actually grinned, settled back in his seat, and turned to look at Theresa in expectation of her answer.
Theresa finished chewing the chip she’d just put in her mouth. After carefully wiping her lips with a napkin she replied, “Sorry, Kade. Tom makes a valid point. Packs have won four superbowls. Vikings, zilch.”
Seeing the mock shock on Kade’s face was worth any price as he sputtered about betraying the family. Tom leaned over and pecked a chaste kiss to Patricia’s cheek. “See, sweetie? Some women enjoy sports.” Tom knew he’d never change her mind when he saw the look of disgust on her face.
He gave a mental shrug and turned back to the man across the table, wondering if he had any more words on the subject. To his utter shock, he found Kade was giving him a look of angry, feral possession so hot that Tom actually felt a drop of pre-cum ooze from his erection.
Kade’s deep green eyes narrowed, and for a second, he seemed to lift his nose and inhale, as if scenting the air. Then the big man turned to look at their approaching waiter, and the moment was gone. Tom felt a shiver run down his spine, but he wasn’t certain if it was attraction or fear.
And the jealousy he felt seeing the flirting that passed between Kade and Phil made no sense. Even if Tom could admit that he wanted use his tongue to trace the outline of the Celtic tattoos partially hidden by Kade’s short sleeves, find out how far up they went, he’d never act on it.
For the remainder of the meal, Tom focused on his date, his food, and making certain he mostly spoke with the women. Still, he couldn’t help noticing when Phil slipped Kade his phone number written on the back of a receipt. Nor, could he figure out why it pissed him off so much when Kade returned the much younger man’s smile and even leered brazenly at him.
All Tom wanted to do was get home and forget this date ever happened. Instead, once they made it to the parking lot, the women gathered around Kade’s motorcycle for their last good-byes. Kade had agreed to drop Theresa off at home, since Tom had picked her up.
Kade strapped on a pair of leather chaps which clung to his legs and ass in the most delicious of ways, then he swung his leg over his bike and grinned at them all. “You sure you don’t want a short ride, Patricia? Nothing like the power of a Harley between your thighs,” he said, holding up a second helmet.
He might have been talking to Patricia, but Tom couldn’t help noticing the way Kade’s gaze slid over him like a visual caress. There was no way Kade could miss the erection filling Tom’s jeans, and Tom didn’t miss the heat in the biker’s eyes.
“Oh, no. Motorcycles are really not my thing,” Patricia answered, shaking her head.
I’d love a ride, and not just on your motorcycle.
The thought slipped through his mental guard, making Tom struggle to keep from blushing. Somehow, from the way Kade lifted a brow and the glitter of his green eyes, Tom just knew the man was aware of the direction of his thoughts. Damn!
