E A Reynolds Psychic Docs 4 Crazy for You (MM)

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Psychic Docs 4

Crazy for You

Caught up in the battle to save himself and his brothers from

past-life enemies seeking to kill them in this life, psychic doctor–
turned–cop Mathias Roseland wasn’t looking for his mate. So when

he finds him living next door, he’s more than pleasantly surprised.
Camden Caston is a psychic doctor who’s been immersed in his

work so long he’s given up on finding Mr. Right and then kisses
him. Still, Matt is hesitant to act on his feelings, fearing Matt is a
bisexual man just looking for another fling.

In spite of catching a case to find the son of the head of the
Separatist Council, Matt is determined to win his mate’s heart.

And as his case takes a complicated twist, Matt and Camden grow
closer.

With danger growing closer to the coven each day, Camden helps
Matt and his coven brothers discover two secrets that reveal his

coven leaders as the traitors they truly are.

Genre: Alternative (M/M or F/F), Interracial, Paranormal
Length: 49,529 words

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CRAZY FOR YOU

Psychic Docs 4





E.A. Reynolds






EROTIC ROMANCE

MANLOVE

Siren Publishing, Inc.

www.SirenPublishing.com

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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK
IMPRINT: Erotic Romance ManLove


CRAZY FOR YOU
Copyright © 2013 by E.A. Reynolds
E-book ISBN: 978-1-62242-687-4

First E-book Publication: March 2013

Cover design by Christine Kirchoff
All cover art and logo copyright © 2013 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be
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All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance
to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.


PUBLISHER
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com

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Letter to Readers


Dear Readers,

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from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also,
thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

Regarding E-book Piracy


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This is E.A. Reynolds’s livelihood. It’s fair and simple. Please respect
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CRAZY FOR YOU

Psychic Docs 4

E.A. REYNOLDS

Copyright © 2013





Prologue


“I told you I would help you, but this won’t be easy, Roseland,”

Jessie Blackwell said. “Bringing down a corrupt regime is never easy,
but one that’s evil on top of that will be all but impossible. The best
thing you and your brothers can do is to brace for impact.”

Mathias Roseland made a face at that. He and his coven of Beorc

brothers had found themselves suddenly under attack a few months
ago by their own coven brothers as well as outsiders. They were
beyond just bracing for impact. “What are you getting out of this,
Jessie?” Matt asked. This man had no connection to either of three
Beorc covens in the city. So, why would Jessie want to risk his life to
get involved in this conflict?

“I mean what’s your motivation for going against your man and

his friends?”

Jessie was a slight male standing barely five-six in his sneakers.

His red hair was almost cherry red, and his skin a creamy white.
Roseland wasn’t sure the man was up to the task he’d approached him
about two days ago, but he wasn’t going to rebuff him. He was
keeping his guard up enough to see any attack coming from his blind
side.

Matt paced away from the younger male a few steps in the park

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8

E.A. Reynolds

barely lit by the lights peeking through the trees. Jessie had picked the
place, which wasn’t a problem. He understood why a person picked
an isolated park at night. Easy for ears to pick up, bodies to hide in the
dark, and yet those things weren’t so easily missed especially if you
knew what you were looking for. And he did.

“My motivation is to see good prevail,” he said quietly. “I’m not

with him because he’s the love of my life.” He snorted, giving the
other man a look of bitter amusement. “I have a book I’ve been
compiling, and I’m working with someone else who’s putting
together one on Dark Spear as well as Dark Claw and the Knights.”

“Who are they?” He knew very little about the Knights but if they

were a threat any information he could take back to his Beorc coven
would be helpful in protecting themselves against them.

“They’re Dark Spear’s allies,” he answered. “They are the ones

who’ve been moving against your coven in the Community. They are
the ones who destroyed your colony. The intent was never to kill any
of the core brotherhood except Glenn and his mate. Glenn’s mate was
like me. He was working against them and Dark Spear.” He shook his
head. “He was hoping to get out of this alive, but we all go in
knowing that might not happen.”

His brother Glenn had been acting against them with Dark Claw.

The coven had destroyed the covenstead Matt and his brothers owned,
and they had destroyed Dark Claw.

“We—who’s the we?” Trust was at a premium with Glenn’s

betrayal.

“I can’t tell you that,” he said. “I have another contact inside. It

was our first true infiltration of a Beorc colony. The first successful
one until something went wrong. We think it was Xi, but don’t know
for sure.”

Xi was the mate of Clay, the co-leader of Matt’s coven who’d

been cheating on Xi. In so cheating on his mate, Xi had conspired
with Dark Claw to betray coven.

“Anyway, working with you is the only way to help you succeed

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Crazy for You

9

in bringing down the dark Beorc. The Knights are going to stand in
your way of getting to them. You’ll have to hit their leader not their
doorman.

“I’ll give you everything I have including how they move so

easily inside the covens they infiltrate as well as their best dark spells
and their creator. One of their best is dead. The female that created the
spell that was used on your brothers. Spell book wasn’t easy to pinch,
but I got it.”

“And what do you get out of all this?” he asked again.
“The Beorcs of old had assets and a long reach,” he began. “Old

Guard’s leader kept that alive, but yours and Misty Willows haven’t.
They’ve isolated you, they’d castrated you, and that’s what Old Guard
was struggling to help you undo before it’s too late. He was going to
help you get your power back so you’d become the force in the
magical world you used to be.

“Now, that’s our job,” Jessie told him. “We’re a force of good, but

we’re getting our asses kicked out here in the trenches with no
possibility of getting help from you. Well, it’s high time you and your
lazy-ass brothers get in the game.”

“Hey—”
“Yeah, it’s not your fault,” he muttered. “You know what you

used to be now, snap the hell out of it. Your first order of business is
to bring down some of the Knights. They’re a big organization with a
long reach and old money some of which they stole from your guys.
You need to get to Torque and Callum. You bring them down and you
leave a hole in the org here. They’ll scramble to fill it with a couple of
guys who are weak enough for your subs to take down. I’ll send you
the information on Torque.

“Your guys need to be prepared to take over the dealership he

owns. A lot of their money comes from him.”

He’d heard of Torque. The man had a few nasty murders to his

credit that they hadn’t been able to prove he’d committed. He’d had a
few hard run-ins with him in the last few months that left a bad taste

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E.A. Reynolds

in his mouth.

“Another important thing for you to understand about the

dynamics at work in this city is that Dark Spear is Psy mob. We call
them tempests. They always get what they want, and your brothers’
immortality and the Separatist Council are the latest things on their
agenda.”

“I’ll talk to my brothers and see what they want to do.”
“Talk all you want, but you better get your asses moving, or you’ll

lose everything. Again,” Jessie snapped. “I’ll be in touch by e-mail. If
you respond, I’ll take that as a no. If you don’t, I’ll set up a meeting to
hand off the information.”

Jessie was right. They had problems not just from the coven that

wanted to steal their immortal energy, but the Separatist Council
itself. The Council was going after the Beorc left and right. They had
taken their covenstead lands as reparations for the deaths of the
Inspectors killed on Sleepy Pines lands a month ago when the colony
had come under attack by an unseen enemy. If what Jessie had just
told him was true and not a setup, members of the Council had had a
part in that attack.

“They arranged the attack to steal our land?” he asked Jessie.
Jessie laid a finger at his temple and lifted in brows in a “bingo”

gesture. “Now, you’re thinking.”

“I know you think I’m out to set you up, but I just want to get

back to my real life and my real man,” Jessie said.

Matt nodded. He understood the man’s motivations a little better

now. The Beorc brotherhood was all he had really. His father had
moved to Italy when Matt was seventeen, leaving him behind to
pursue his college education before joining the Separatist
Enforcement Agency.

His mother had moved out to Phoenix when she’d walked away

from him and his father when Matt was five. She hadn’t wanted a Psy
child. She was a witch and didn’t think he fit into her life or her
world. Had he been a girl, he often thought her attitude would have

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Crazy for You

11

been different. He’d grown up with nannies while his father traveled
the world as a CIA agent. He’d become self-reliant at an early age.
And then, he’d met Jacinto and become part of the Beorc
brotherhood.

The brotherhood had given him a family and a stable place to turn

to when he needed one. His friendship with Jacinto had been one of
the most constant relationships in his life although they weren’t as
close as they had been once. He still valued the relationship and felt
he could always count on Jacinto if he needed him

“They set up Dark Claw?” Matt asked. Dark Claw was an enemy

the Beorc were sure had been behind the attack on their colony.

“Dark Spear and the Knights arranged the attack on your colony,”

he said. “One gets Misty Willows and the other your land.”

Misty Willows lands had belonged to the Misty Willows colony

that had been led by Aero who was now the co-leader of Bough.
Bough was a combination of Sleepy Pines and Misty Willows. The
two covens had joined a few months when they learned they had once
been a singular coven.

“Don’t know why. That’s for you to find and me to assist with,”

he said. “I have to get back.” He turned and walked away.

* * * *


Matt pulled into the driveway of Dillan Ellsworth, the new leader

of the Old Guard coven. The entire colony had been killed save three
children raised away from the colony, Dillan’s mate Sagan, and the
two brothers who’d engineered the annihilation of the colony. Dillan
had once been a member of Sleepy Pines until he’d been
excommunicated. He’d been kicked out of the coven because of his
alliance with Old Guard’s leader and his promise to that leader to take
over his coven should the leader be killed.

He climbed out of his car and headed up to the front door and

knocked. He’d thought things through on the way and had come to the

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E.A. Reynolds

conclusion that Jessie was right. They had to be more decisive in their
actions against their enemies to ensure their own survival as well as
that of their mates.

The door was pulled open by Sagan Saldana-Ellsworth, Dillan’s

mate. He gave Sagan a smile. The younger male was always friendly
when he came over.

“Hello, Matt,” Sagan said with a smile. “Come in,” he urged.

“Dillan wasn’t expecting you. He’s in his office with Carter and
Trace. I’ll see if he wants to talk to you.”

He stepped into the foyer and waited for Sagan to telepathically

communicate with his soul mate. Sagan had been part of the reason
Dillan had been unable to extricate himself from the Old Guard
coven. Sagan was a docile, and the surviving heir of the leader of Old
Guard. Dillan had been betrothed to him. It had been thought the
reason was to tie Dillan to a dark coven and separate him from his
Beorc brothers. However, they had learned that Old Guard was a
Beorc coven as well. A light one.

It had been Aero who’d gotten them thinking Dillan was betraying

them. Aero was the co-leader of Bough, An attack had caused the two
covens to realize they had been brothers of the same coven in another
lifetime.

He supposed separating them had been a strategic move on Aero’s

part. If they were separated, then they would be easy to pick off once
Aero and his Dark Spears had stolen their immortal energy. Energy
that would make them immortal once all the brothers had mated.

“He says to come in,” Sagan said with a smile. “You want a beer,

tea or water?”

“Nothing, thanks, babe,” he said distractedly. Matt was aware that

Carter and Trace had been suspicious of him, thinking him one of the
traitors they had been looking for in their coven. Carter had once been
part of the Beorc coven, Misty Willows.

Misty Willows had been a colony that had been annihilated by a

traitor in the MW coven. The conflict within that coven had brought

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Crazy for You

13

them to Sleepy Pines.

Sagan nodded and led him to the office. “You seem distracted

tonight. Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I just need to discuss something with my brothers.”
“Okay.” Sagan reached to open the door and Matt beat him to it.
“Thanks, cutie,” he said then motioned for Sagan to precede him

into office.

“Thanks, sweetness,” Dillan said with a smile. “Did you offer him

a drink?”

“He didn’t want anything,” Sagan said. “Don’t be all night.”
“Course not,” he agreed.
“Talk about ass-whipped,” Trace teased, and Sagan gave him an

amused smile.

“You boys know who’s in charge,” he said with a grin then left

them alone.

Matt closed the door and strode into the room. “I just got back

from a meeting with a guy who says he’s willing to give me info on
Dark Spear and Knights.”

“The Knights?” Dillan asked. “They’re the sons of bitches who’re

backing Dark Spear.”

“He said that,” he agreed. “He also said Dark Spear’s Psy mafia

called tempests, and it’s them who are trying to oust us from the
Separatist Community. They’re also the ones who got Misty Willows
and Sleepy Pines lands taken away from us.”

“What’s Aero want with the land?” Carter asked, bewildered. “I

mean both are substantial properties—”

“Both lands must have a substantial amount of magick built up in

the lands,” Trace said. “Just like your land.” He looked at Dillan.

“I’m not letting it go,” Dillan said. “It’s been in Old Guard’s

control for centuries. If you’re right, they’re going to be hell to deal
with if they get that much power under their control.”

“True, but we have no way of stopping them or getting either

property back,” Trace told them. “So did your contact give you

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E.A. Reynolds

anything useful that might help us seize control or ensure they lose
the lands to someone else?”

“He said he’s willing to help,” Matt told them. “He’s inside

sleeping with the enemy, but he’s there on someone’s orders. He
didn’t tell me what group he’s working for —”

“Veiled Shadows,” Dillan said. “Your dad’s inside, Trace. You

need to contact him.”

“Yeah, I need to send him my contact’s pic and he can tell me if

he’s legit. Otherwise this could all be a setup,” Matt said. “I wasn’t
picking that up from him. He seemed on the level, but we can’t be too
careful.”

“You got the shot?” Trace asked.
“Yeah.”
“Let me hold your phone,” he said.
He handed the phone over and waited as Trace typed a message.
“What else did he tell you?” Carter asked.
Matt gave them the breakdown and took the phone when Trace

handed it back.

“He says to send the pic,” Trace said. “Sounds doable, though,

and we all know we have to go after these guys if we’re going to
survive. I mean suppose we can’t keep them from sharing our
immortal energy? We’re stuck with all of them and all that power
they have from MW and SP. The more of them we can take out now,
the better.”

“Agreed,” Dillan said with a nod. “We can take this Torque down

and see where that leads us. If he’s the dragon’s head, then the rest of
the Knights will flounder only so long before the next dominant takes
over.”

“Your dad says he’s legit,” he said. “He wants to know we’re in?”

Matt glanced around the room. “He said they’ve been skeptical about
approaching us because of the traitor and Jessie’s job was to make
contact with me or one of the subs, but they’re hard to get to.”

“Tell him the mission’s a go,” Trace said with cold intent.

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Crazy for You

15

Matt typed in the words. “My contact’s going to get me the

information on Torque. Even though my security clearance has been
restricted, I can still chase down any leads and hack the system for
info when I need to.”

“My brothers can do any of the work you can’t,” Dillan told him.
“Your dad says he’ll coordinate our backup with you. He’ll be

back in town in two days.”

“Okay,” Trace said with a nod. “When does your contact get back

to you with the files?”

“By then.”
“Then I’ll get my people to check out Torque’s setup and see how

we can best take it over,” Dillan spoke up.

“Let’s take a page out of their book,” Trace said. “A virus will

take care of Torque.”

“And we’ll pick up the dealership,” Carter said. “As reparation for

what they’ve taken from us.”

“We’ll give the money we recover to the families of Misty

Willows and Sleepy Pines,” Dillan said.

“I’ll see you boys in a few days,” Matt said.

* * * *


Four days later, Matt waved his fingers and the building ahead of

him was plunged into darkness. Shadows moved ahead of him, and he
followed them, knowing his blackout spell would hold. He was all for
this strike in spite of the violent statement it made. It was time they
stopped being victims and started acting like the men of action they
always claimed to be.

The plan was a simple one with a plan B in case anything went

wrong

Trace had been certain something would go wrong. Dillan had

agreed.

“Go, Matt,” Trace murmured telepathically.

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Matt stopped a few steps behind the hacker that Dillan had

brought in to hack into Torque’s system. He lifted his arms in a near
arc as he stood just inside the door and energy flickered and raced
through the building and expanded as it crawled up the walls, racing
over the windows and doors. The soft pop indicated the energy had
effectively locked the building down, preventing anyone from getting
in or out. Now, he started to move and stopped as he sensed someone
coming.

He turned just as magic came at him. Matt blocked the spell and

deflected a second that hit the wall, knocking paint off it. He blocked
a knife spell and got his wrist scraped by the tail end of it. He winced
and threw a spell of his own. The gold-tailed spell knocked the
assailant back into the wall, and Matt moved quickly, punching him in
the jaw. He kicked him in the stomach, and the other man grunted and
threw a spell at him.

Matt blocked it quickly and leveled a knife spell at the man that

drew a gasp from the man as he was hit.

After checking to see if the man was dead and finding that he was,

Matt continued on his journey to the middle of the building with the
hacker a few steps in front of him. They found the office of Torque’s
assistant and moved into the darkened room. The sounds of fighting
could be heard as Trace, Dillan, Carter, Juniper, and Niall took care of
Torque and his top lieutenants.

Matt took up position at the door as the man got to work. He kept

his senses open, not wanting anyone to sneak up them. “How’s it
going?”

“Almost done,” the man said gleefully. “In two minutes their

money will be gone. And there is a lot of it,” he said and let out a low
whistle.

Matt didn’t respond to that. He knew there would be

repercussions, but they weren’t going to be leaving any proof that
they were the ones who’d done this. Trace and Dillan had decided to
keep their peace until the right time. He agreed with that. Aero and

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Crazy for You

17

Dark Spear weren’t going to kill them, but that didn’t mean they
wouldn’t hurt them bad or kidnap a mate to hold hostage.

“Oh, yeah, baby, come on,” the hacker said then gave a wicked

laugh. “That’s what I want you to do.”

Matt glanced back over his shoulder to find the man’s fingers

moving furiously. He smiled as the hacker shifted in the chair as if he
were doing some strange dance to a song only he could hear.

“Oh, yeah,” he said then clapped his hands. “That’s it, son of a

gun.” He laughed again.

“Let’s go, Matt,” Trace ordered. “We’re ready to move out.”
“You got it?” he asked the hacker.
“One second,” he said. “One more and there you go. Say bye-bye.

It’s gone, baby, gone.”

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E.A. Reynolds





Chapter One


Two hours later, Camden glanced out of the window in hopes of

catching a peek of his sexy neighbor. The man was the hottest thing
on two legs he’d seen in a long time with his hard body and long legs.
He took a sip of his iced tea and kicked himself again for drooling
over a straight man.

Let’s face it, he thought, taking another sip of his ice tea. He

wasn’t just drooling over the man, he’d been jerking off to the fantasy
of riding him. It was a wet dream he could do without, but his body
wasn’t getting the message his brain kept trying to send out.

Camden sighed and strode across the room to his sofa. Sagan had

assured him there were ways of getting his attention, while Riley had
said what Camden thought. The guy was probably just not gay.
Therefore, not into him, but he’d love to have the man’s hands all
over. He’d love to have that sexy guy inside him. He forced his mind
to the samples his friend Kodi had sent him.

Kodi was an up-and-coming designer based in Texas. His niche

was male fashion, and he’d recently designed a line of what he called
male lingerie that he’d sent Camden samples of. The line was aimed
at gay men who wanted to seduce as well as be comfortable and he
loved it. Some of the items Kodi had chosen for him were playful and
perfect for lounging while others were “come hither, you sexy man.”

He dropped on his couch in the micro briefs and matching tank

top he’d pulled on after his shower to thumb through the catalog. He
selected some items and then called Kodi to place the order. Kodi was
thrilled to know he loved his latest designs and promised to ship them
to him after the show, which would be in a few days. His friend was

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Crazy for You

19

also sending him some items from the new line of men’s products
he’d commissioned. He’d sent him samples of those as well and
Camden had tried them out tonight.

Once he hung up with Kodi, Camden headed to the kitchen for

something to eat. He had leftovers from the night before last. The
pepper steak and lemon-broccoli rice he’d made way too much of still
had to be eaten, and there was still way too much of it for just him. He
popped the leftovers into the oven and poured himself another glass of
tea and took a sip before heading into the living room. He dropped
down on the couch to take a look at some files. He’d seen a few
patients today that would have to have multiple treatments before
their illnesses would be healed.

As a color-healing specialist, he often tried to work with the

body’s natural rhythms to promote harmony from within. He did
sometimes use a mind-body healing approach as well. Psychology
had been his field of focus in addition to color and crystal healing.
After a look at the files, he took another look at the treatments he had
planned and made a few modifications. Satisfied, Camden got up to
take dinner out of the oven at the same time the doorbell rang. He
frowned and grabbed the big and tall button-front shirt he kept draped
over the couch for just such occasions. Camden was pulling it on
when the second ding of the bell came. He hurried to the door as he
buttoned the shirt up.

His breath lodged in his throat at the sight of his too-sexy

neighbor, and for a moment he was back in time. He was some place
long ago and far away and staring into warm chocolate eyes that made
him hard as hell. He could feel strong hands stroking him and hear
sexy, rich laughter that made him think of home and deep, forever
love.

He jerked out of that moment quickly, not wanting to be caught up

in that time with a love that shook him to his core with the strength
and endurance of it. It was an intangible fantasy that made him realize
how hungry for romance he really was. With effort, he focused on the

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E.A. Reynolds

smooth caramel-brown skin pulled taut across the handsome face
before him now. His cheek bones were sharp and his eyes were the
color of chocolate. His full lips pulled into a friendly smile.

“Hey, Camden,” he greeted. “I’m not disturbing you, am I?”
Hell, yeah, every time he looked his way, he disturbed him. His

heart beat fast and his breathing got erratic, but so what, right?

And the man was polite, too. Whenever he did see him he was

always the perfect gentleman. He’d helped him with his groceries a
few times, carrying in the heaviest bags.

“Hi Matt,” he returned and was surprised his voice came out

normal. The man made him breathless. Those delicious muscles made
him want to crawl all over Matt while his beautiful caramel color
made him want to lick him up. “What’s up?”

“Nothing much,” he said. “Mind if I come in?”
“No,” Camden answered quickly then stepped back and motioned

him in. The man never came in unless he was helping him with his
groceries. This was the first time he’d even come over without a
reason.

“I got some of your mail by mistake,” Matt told him, holding up

the mail.

Of course, he should have known. “Oh, thanks,” he said as he

took his mail. Maybe Matt knew he was gay and didn’t want to be
alone with him. “You want a beer or something?”

“Yeah, that’d be nice.”
“I got some food in the oven,” Camden said as he led the way into

the spacious kitchen. “You want to join? It’s nothing fancy, just some
pepper steak and lemon rice with broccoli.”

“Sounds good,” he said. “It’s been a long day, and I haven’t had

time to eat yet.”

They stepped into the kitchen and Camden dropped his mail on

the counter before washing his hands. He grabbed a beer and held it
out to Matt.

Camden noticed how the man made sure their hands didn’t touch.

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Crazy for You

21

Well, that just messed with the budding fantasy a little bit, he mused
darkly as he brushed his fingers through his short curly hair. Matt
wouldn’t be making any passes at him during or after dinner, and why
he expected it when the man never so much as flirted with him was
beyond him. Resigned, Camden went to the cabinet for some plates.

* * * *


Matt’s heart beat double-time as the shirt the younger male wore

rode up revealing the golden skin of shapely legs and little ass in tiny
underwear. The briefs cupped his ass like a lover’s hand and the
butterfly’s body was positioned at the seam of Camden’s ass while the
wings spread over his gluts. It was an original yet alluring design that
drew the eye right to firmly rounded cheeks and Matt instantly got
hard.

It was obvious Camden was gay, but he’d never suspected he was

the sweet lingerie kind of boy. He could see himself peeling those
panties down and filling his hands with the taut curves.

Driving into him from behind would be a lovely view, too. The

man just had the perfect little ass for driving a cock into. He was
willing to bet that golden flesh would look beautiful in a nice shade of
well-spanked red.

Camden turned around then blushed. “Uh—” He held the plates

out. “I didn’t expect company. I’ll go put something on.”

“If you’re comfortable, I’m fine with what you’re wearing,” Matt

said with a shrug. “You’re home, you can dress however you want.”
As hard as he was, he meant it. The man was always a delicious
distraction even fully clothed. He kept Matt’s mind busy with
thoughts of him for hours.

“Yeah, well—I uh—”
“I like your panties,” he said with a grin. “That butterfly is sexy.”

Camden blushed. “Thanks.”

Matt laughed and took the plates. “Should I put these on the table

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or the peninsula?”

Camden could feel his cheeks flame. He was disconcerted and off-

balance, but the man had that effect on him sometimes. “Peninsula’s
good,” he said, forcing a smile. “So, Matt,” he said, trying to sound
conversational in spite of his embarrassment. “What do you do for a
living?”

“I’m a cop,” he said. “What about you?”
“I’m a doctor at Cross-Rose,” he said. “I’m a color-crystal healing

specialist.”

“Yeah?” Matt asked curiously. “What’s your preference, mind or

body?”

“Both actually,” he said. “I studied psychology, naturally, and

how the vibrations of the body work with the mind to link the two
together for whole body healing. I worked as a psychiatrist for a
couple of years right out of school, and then I worked mortal
medicine for a year before I dedicated myself to color medicine. I also
love vibrational therapy.”

“That is an interesting field, but it requires some specialty

training,” Matt responded. “How old were you when you started?”

“Fifteen,” he said. “But I’m twenty-nine now.” His work had been

his life for a very long time because it had been the only constant in
his life after his mother’s death when he was sixteen.

Matt nodded and let his gaze travel down the younger male’s body

again. “What about your family?”

“My father and my brother died in the line of duty—military,”

Camden said.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “What about your mother?”
“She passed on when I was sixteen,” he said with a hint of

loneliness in his voice. He wasn’t bitter about his childhood or the
decisions his parents had made, but he really hadn’t been the same
since his mother’s death. It had been as if part of the light of who he
was had died with her. His mother had been a strong force, and she’d
given him a happy childhood even when she’d decided to join the

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23

very organization that took up the other half of his father’s time.
Camden knew it had been an attempt to get close to the man, to have
some time with him, but it hadn’t worked. It had only taken her from
him, too. Still, he’d respected and loved them all for what they had
done.

The fight had been a good and noble one, he thought as he walked

over to the counter with the pan to spoon the meal onto their plates.
Too bad it had kept him from knowing his father and his brother.

“I’m sorry,” Matt said.
“Don’t be,” he retorted quietly. “I loved my family and they loved

me, but it seems like worlds away now.” He put the pan on the stove
and grabbed forks and knives. It was a world away in his mind. That
he was alive was the only proof he’d ever had parents now. “So what
law enforcement do you work for?”

“Psy,” he said, his eyes drifting to Camden’s ass.
“What do you do exactly?” Camden turned back to him with the

eating utensils. “You can go ahead and sit. I’ll grab the tea and
another beer for you.”

“Forget the beer,” Matt said. “I’ve had enough.”
Camden frowned. “You might get thirsty.”
“This is plenty, Cam,” he said in a sexier tone that sent a ripple of

heat coursing through Camden. He met the older man’s gaze, and
Matt smiled. Camden smiled, too, and then got the tea and another
glass.

“I’m an Inspector in Missing Persons,” he said.
Camden took the stool closest to the wall, and Matt took the other.

“Working any interesting cases?” Camden knew he wouldn’t tell him
a thing. He’d been through that song and dance so many times from
his father and brother, and looking back he’d only ever asked because
of his need to share their lives and be close to them. He supposed he
was searching for that connection with another man who might just be
as elusive as his father had been.

And that would be a disaster for him emotionally. He wanted

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E.A. Reynolds

romance not elusiveness. He wanted to be loved enough by his man
that he put him first sometimes.

“I can’t discuss work with you, Cam,” he said.
Camden said a brief prayer and they dug in.
“This is good.”
“Thanks,” Camden said with a smile. “I didn’t mean to pry. I was

just curious.” Hearing it hurt a little, but he didn’t know why. He was
nothing to the man, and Matt was just a fantasy to him.

Matt frowned at him. “No, it’s not that,” he said in a soothing

tone. “You know how it is being a doctor.”

“If you were my man, would you share any of the details with

me?” he asked in a teasing tone. Like this big strong man was gay. If
he was, he’d never deign to stoop to him. He knew he looked like the
epitome of the gay male stereotype. Cute clothes and not so buff
body. He wasn’t as confident in dealing with men as he’d like to be
either.

Matt smiled. “I might as long as I knew I could trust you,” he

answered.

“I wouldn’t tell anyone,” he said in a breathy tone. He wanted to

kick himself. But damn. The man just made him weak in the knees
when looked at him with those sexy brown eyes.

“I know. You seem like the kind of guy who knows how to keep a

secret.” He winked at him.

Camden lifted his brows. “I haven’t made much a secret of being

gay if that’s what you mean,” he said quietly. “I haven’t tried to make
you think I wasn’t interested either.” He averted his gaze quickly then
cleared his throat. “Forget I said that.” He ventured a look at Matt,
who was studying him with an enigmatic gaze. “What?” God, he had
to learn to think before he spoke around this man.

“Nothing,” he answered then got back to eating.
“Don’t tell me the gay thing threw you,” he said with a slight

bitterness in his tone. “You had to know. I like my jewelry and my
pretty clothes.”

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25

“I’ve noticed that about you,” Matt answered. “Some of those

little outfits I’ve seen you in are sexy as hell too.”

Camden rolled his eyes. “Macho straight men,” he said. “At least

you aren’t leaping up and running like you expect me to rape you. Do
straight guys think all a gay man wants is to get in their pants against
their will?”

“I don’t know,” the older man responded with an amused smile.

“Some of them seem like it.”

They finished up their meal and Camden got to his feet. “I’ll get

these loaded into the dishwasher.” He rounded the peninsula and
grabbed both plates from the counter and headed to the dishwasher.

Matt slid to his feet and followed.
Cam didn’t look like the kind of man that did one-nighters. He

was the kind of guy a man took home to meet his family and fell in
love with. He could fall in love with him if he wasn’t careful. Cam
had that sweet little boy next door thing about him. He was cute with
thick short curly black hair and creamy golden skin. He had the cutest
little nose and pink lips that begged to be kissed. Often.

Cam wasn’t a big guy. He was barely five eight and lean with just

enough muscle to show for a few days a week in the gym, but he had
a great ass and nice legs.

His instincts were telling him to make a move right now, but

common sense told him to hold back. Being attracted to him didn’t
give Matt the right to step into Camden’s life knowing there was no
future for them. He deserved a man that would stick around, not one
who had a mate out there somewhere and brothers who depended on
him to find that mate. If he didn’t, he and his brothers would never
become immortal.

Right now, he so didn’t give a damn about that. He just wanted to

stop time right where it was and see where things could lead with
Camden. That was selfish without a doubt, he thought, clenching his
hands for a moment at his sides.

“You want another beer?” Camden threw him a look over his

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E.A. Reynolds

shoulder.

What Matt saw was all-sexual male giving him a “come get it”

look, and his skin heated. His cock began to thicken and fill with
blood and lust. He ached for the partner he suspected Camden could
be. Loving and always there for him. He hadn’t had enough of that in
his life.

Camden moved just right and his shirt rode up, revealing the slim

legs and the shapely curve of his ass in those little panties. Matt
looked away, determined not to start something he knew he might not
be able to keep up.

“No, Camden, that’s not—” Not the best idea considering how

badly he already wanted to ram his dick up the man’s ass. “I need to
get home. I have a full day tomorrow.”

“Okay,” Camden said and turned to face him. “Just come over

anytime to eat and run and not offer to help clean up.” He gave the
older man an amused smile.

Matt laughed. The boy had no idea what he was tempting. He

could easily take him right on the kitchen counter.

“I could help, Cam,” he said in a low tone. “But that might not be

the best thing.”

Camden raised his brows as he propped a hand on his hip.

“Really? Because you’re a big, strong straight man who doesn’t want
to be trapped in the same room with a fag in underwear that gets your
dick up?” he mocked. “I guess a straight dick can’t tell the difference
between a fine woman’s ass and a fine man’s ass.”

Matt laughed, genuinely amused by the righteous indignation in

the male’s eyes. Camden was checking him out on the sly and didn’t
realize he was as gay as he was. He’d never touched a woman in his
life, never had the desire to. “How many times have you checked me
out, Cam?” he asked, pushing his hands into the pockets of his pants
to keep from putting them on Camden.

“Why?” he demanded. “You wanna know so you can go back to

the job and the gym and laugh your head off about the little gay who

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27

ogles your ass and has wet dreams about you fucking him?” he
demanded. “Shit.” Camden averted his gaze for a moment to hide the
embarrassment it was too late to hide. “Well, do it,” he muttered,
giving Matt a cold glare. “That’s how all you dumb-ass macho
assholes are anyway, right?”

“You think you can handle me?” he asked, the arrogance showing

in his eyes and Matt knew it. He wanted to scare Camden off, make it
easier for himself to walk, but it was getting way too hard to even
think he could leave this house without a little taste of what he was
turning down.

Camden tilted his chin up a fraction in defiance. “You don’t really

think you have anything so big and bad you could rock my little world
do you?”

Matt cocked a brow at the anger that mounted in the little man,

and his dick just got more eager to feel that perfect little ass wrapped
around it. And then the male was gliding toward him with an easy
grace that had his body getting more lust-pumped.

“I mean, let’s face it, Mathias,” he said, looking up at him now

that they were toe to toe. “You’re probably one of those six-inch
pricks who thinks he’s God’s gift when what a man really wants is
something that’ll rock his world. You’ll probably go running out to
get a prostitute to prove to yourself that your little six inches is still all
man made for a woman.” He reached between the other man’s legs
and gripped his more than ample bulge, and his eyes widened.

Matt slid a hand over Camden’s taut buns and jerked him hard

against him. He could feel Camden’s arousal against his belly and bit
back a groan. Damn, this was so hard. The man fit against him so
nicely, he could lift his slight body and fuck him against the wall if he
wanted. And he wanted.

To add rock to hard place, Camden smelled good tonight as

opposed to just the soap there was a hint of cologne that increased his
arousal. He must be wearing liquid pheromones, he thought with a
silent curse. And he had the nerve to shift his little ass as he pressed

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E.A. Reynolds

against him suggestively. The move was tentative yet definitely the
gesture of a man who wanted.

“Careful, boy, I’m not one of the little boys you still play with,”

he warned softly and squeezed Cam’s butt. “So don’t push me, or
you’ll get my six inches up your tight little ass.” He gave Cam a light
slap then reached down and lightly brushed his hand away.

“Yeah?” he demanded in a husky tone. “Looks like you’re just

going to take off running.”

Matt’s eyes glittered enigmatically as he said, “Night, Cam.” He

moved around him. “Dinner was good. Next time I’ll bring dessert.”

“Bastard,” Cam muttered after him.

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29





Chapter Two


Matt crossed his yard with a grimace. He was so hard that shifting

his cock hadn’t done anything but make him determined to jerk off
once he was inside. He’d only lived here a month and the first thing
he’d noticed when he moved in was Camden’s hot little body on his
porch. His short black hair had looked freshly cut, and he’d been
wearing a pink T-shirt with a pair of jeans that turned his booty into a
coveted treasure.

He’d been hard as hell and then Camden turned his head and

smiled at him. That sweet smile had just taken his breath away. He’d
wanted him from that moment on, but he’d held back. His life was
dangerous, and he didn’t want him to become a target merely because
he took him out on a few dates.

He wasn’t kidding himself. After tonight, it would be more than a

few dates, but he still wanted to take things slow. He was attracted to
Camden, and he could easily fall in love with him. That fire and spirit
and that pretty face made for a nice combination. They could have a
lot of fun together, which was something he hadn’t had a lot of
outside of his brothers in the last year. He’d been busy building his
career, trying to make it to Commander. That was on hold right now
with the demotion from the highest grade of Inspector to the second
highest.

He was fighting to hang in there because he loved his job. He

loved helping people, finding them alive. The reunion with their
families was sometimes a little cold but always satisfying. Matt’s
steps slowed slightly as he reached his porch. The energy patterns that
quietly washed over him were a little hard and slightly abrasive yet

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E.A. Reynolds

very familiar.

He climbed onto his porch to find the six-foot-one-inch man

leaning casually against the side rail where he’d been hidden from
view by the bushes that hid part of the porch from Camden’s yard. It
was Hayden Baker, the high minister of the Separatist Council. This
was the last thing he needed. He was rock hard and plain wasn’t in the
mood for this man.

The Council had been riding Bough’s ass hard in the wake of the

Misty Willows and Sleepy Pines attacks that had resulted in the
deaths of over one hundred people. He could understand, but no one
was interested in the truth. The part of the Council that wasn’t out to
get them simply wanted answers even though they wanted to crucify
them first. He wasn’t really sure what camp the high minister was in.
Not that he had many occasions to come into contact with him.

“Minister.”
“Good evening, Roseland,” the man responded calmly.
“What can I do for you?” he asked as he moved to his front door

to unlock it.

“You were at your neighbor’s a while.”
The comment seemed casual enough, but his tone was rife with

knowledge and Matt turned to look at him in the dim light.

“Sir, I’m sure my social life isn’t what brings you here,” he said

then stepped into his home. He wasn’t about to share his interest in
Camden with this man. He didn’t know him. He could be an enemy
who took the boy from him before he even had a chance to know him.
And that, he felt, would cut him deep.

“Come in.”
The older man stepped into the foyer and glanced around at the

area which lacked personality. “The minimalist look is interesting.”

Matt shrugged. “What can I say?” he asked. “Can I get you

something?” He hadn’t spent much time here since he’d moved in,
but he hadn’t planned to be here forever. He assumed he’d find his
mate and buy them a home in whatever neighborhood his mate chose.

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“No, just a few minutes of your time,” Baker replied.
He spread his hands at the man’s bland expression. Baker wasn’t

known for being openly emotional, but he was admittedly a very
attractive male with just the faintest hint of gray at his temples.
However, at the moment, he was nothing more than a splash of ice
water on his sensual thoughts and hard-on. “I’m listening.”

“You’re very belligerent.” The Minister’s tone was

expressionless.

“Sure, it’s been a long day, Minister.”
“And for me as well,” Baker said. “So, shall we cut to the chase?”
Matt shrugged. “Go for it,” he said in a bland tone.
“My son is missing,” he said. “His name is Harlan Harris. His

mother kept his existence from me until she was dying, and by then I
was in the throes of building my career with the Council.” He gave an
unapologetic shrug. “We’ve gotten to know each other well enough
that I know he didn’t just walk away as I’ve been told by
Enforcement.”

Matt frowned. “Someone’s been looking for him?”
“Not really. They checked out the office where he’s an accountant

and then told me he’d taken off to Europe.”

“Did he have reason to go there?” he asked curiously.
“No. He was planning to leave the country in a few months, but

not until his boyfriend could get leave.” Baker removed a picture
from his jacket pocket. “This is them.”

Matt took the picture, and his gaze quickly jerked up to the

minister’s. He knew the surprise was all over his face.

“Yes, he was seeing Franklin Callum’s lover,” he said. “But no

one knew except me. Harly told me Jessie was working to bring down
Dark Spear, and I warned Harly to walk away. Franklin isn’t one of
them, but he does plenty of favors for them. As soon as he found out
Jessie was a threat, he’d kill them both.”

Separatist alphas didn’t take too kindly to being cheated on. So

Jessie would be dead either way. The stakes were just too high for

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E.A. Reynolds

Callum to allow Jessie to just waltz out of town with his lover.

“Why not push for an investigation?” Matt knew the Minister’s

position put him in a tenuous yet advantageous spot. He could
demand an investigation, but that might well put his son in more
danger. So, his best option was to handle things quietly.

But why had the man chosen him? There were plenty of good

Inspectors not in Callum’s hip pocket. He wasn’t looking the gift
horse in the mouth here though. This case could help him and his
brothers eliminate the Knights of which Callum was one.

“Jessie hasn’t been seen around for a few days either,” he said.

“They might be together, and I don’t want to alert Franklin.”

He nodded. “I’ll ask around discreetly.” He’d call Jessie. It was

clear Baker didn’t know Jessie was working for Veiled Shadows. It
wasn’t’ his place to reveal the connection with the shadow group that
fought against darkness.

“Thank you. Here’s the information on where he works, but he

hasn’t been there in a few days.” He held out a business card.

Matt took it and glanced at it. “That’s my job, but if I do find him,

what do you want me to do?”

“Tell my son I want to see him,” he said. “I want to know he’s

alive.”

“Right. Have you asked Callum about Jessie?”
“No,” he said. “I have no reason to think he’s anything but alive.

He hasn’t been seen in a few days, but he has been doing his job.”

“Okay,” he said. He hadn’t spoken to Jessie in four days, but he

wasn’t supposed to hear from him for another day or two. There was
no reason to believe he wasn’t okay.

“Report anything you find out directly to me,” Baker told him as

he moved toward the door. “My secure cell is on the back.”

“Yes, sir.” He saw the minister out and went into this office and

dropped down into the swivel chair behind his desk. He picked up the
phone and dialed Jessie’s number.

“Jessie, we need to talk,” he said when the younger male

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33

answered the phone.

“What about?” he asked calmly.
“Harlan Harris.”
There was a long silence. “Harly’s with me.”
“His father’s looking for him.”
Jessie sighed. “I’ll tell him to call,” he said. “We need to meet. I

have something you might be interested in.”

“What is it?”
“The spell book,” he retorted. “Nine. I’ll e-mail you the address in

the morning.”

“Be there, Jessie.” His tone held a hint of steel. He wanted that

information for his brother’s sake, but he also needed to see Harlan
with his own eyes. He didn’t know Jessie well enough to know if he
was lying to him. “I want to see Harlan, too.”

“Just don’t be late,” he said.

* * * *


“Hey, Camden,” Sagan Saldana joined Doctor Camden Caston at

a table in the cafeteria in the Cross-Rose hospital.

Camden looked up from the file on the tablet screen he was

studying. The young woman’s aura was showing signs of the sickness
that was prominent in her body. Her brother was also showing signs
of the same illness. He already knew what treatment to recommend,
but the problem was a genetic issue that he was seeing in more
telepaths with the ability to send and receive over long distances. He
was also seeing it more in those telepaths with a secondary ability
such as viral transmission.

“Hi, Sagan, how’s it going?” he asked.
“Good, how are things going with you?”
“Nothing to really complain about,” he said as he made notes.

“How’s married life?” He looked up then and his green eyes met
Sagan’s blue ones.

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Sagan smiled. “Hand-fasted life is better than I imagined it would

be,” he said. “Dillan is a great mate. He’s sweet and thoughtful. He
has to work at it a little, but he’s so sexy doing it.” He chuckled.

Camden smiled. He and Sagan had gone to college together and

had been roommates. Sagan had been the closest thing to a friend
Camden had ever had. They had remained in contact with each other
by e-mail even after college, which made Sagan one of the few
constants in his life that Camden was grateful for.

Sagan had always gone out of his way to include him, and

Camden was glad he was still doing it because without Sagan he’d be
lonely. Sagan was smart, fun to be around, and he was a good teacher.
He was one of the few doctors willing to take a cut in pay to teach
medicine rather than practice it full-time.

“Hello, boys.” Riley joined them.
Both men turned their attention to the other doctor. Riley was also

mated and a doctor. Camden didn’t know him well, but what he did
know of the man, he liked. He was a warm and friendly individual
that he wouldn’t mind becoming friends with.

Both men greeted Riley, and Sagan smiled. “Taking breakfast

without Trace?”

Riley made a face. “That’s Devon who can’t eat without his man,”

he said.

Camden smiled. Devon was a curious guy. He was quiet, and he

hardly ever saw him out of the company of Carter Cross, the director
and part owner of the hospital.

“Don’t be so hard on him,” Sagan said. “He’s a good guy.”
“Yeah, he is,” Riley agreed. “He’s cool. He loves to shop.” He

grinned. “What about you, Camden?”

Camden shrugged. “I don’t know, I like shopping okay, but I’m

more of a love-to-cook and love-to-read kind of guy.”

“Well, you’re just going to have to snap out of it and go shopping

with us soon,” Riley said. “And then you and I can do some cooking
with Devon. He’s the better cook of the three of us.”

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“Oh,” Camden said.
“Yeah,” Sagan said. “Why don’t you come over Friday night.”
“I’m going to be there, and so are Devon and Carter,” Riley

chimed in. “The guys are going to grill, and we can hang out in the
kitchen and make the rest of the meal.”

“I—”
Sagan jumped in, “I’m not taking no for an answer. We used to be

close in college, and now that we’re living in the same city again, I
don’t see any reason why we can’t be good friends again.”

“He’s right,” Riley said. “Are you seeing anyone?”
“No.”
“Are you gay?” Riley asked.
“Rye,” Sagan admonished then rolled his eyes.
“He’s right,” Riley said. “I’m sorry. That was rude.”
“I’m gay,” Camden said with a smile. “I just haven’t had time to

date lately.” He smiled a secret smile thinking of his cute neighbor.
The man was damn hot and yummy. “Although my new neighbor is
delicious.”

Riley lifted his brows. “Have you asked him out?”
“No.” He shook his head. He just didn’t have the balls for it and

last night had been proof. Instead of pushing the obvious attraction,
he’d pulled back so unsure of himself and Matt. “He’d never go out
with me. I’m not his type.”

“What do you think his type is?” Riley asked with a curious stare.
Camden shrugged. “I don’t know. He always ignores me.” Until

last night. The man confused him a little. How could a man get that
hard over another guy if he wasn’t at least bisexual? He had to be
bisexual but not interested in him if the way he ran was proof.

“You have to make him see you,” Sagan urged. “Then, if it turns

out you’re not interested, you can always just kick him to the curb.”

“True.” Riley nodded. “How does he ignore you? Is it that he acts

like you’re invisible or just ignores your passes?”

“I haven’t made a pass at him,” he admitted. Not that he hadn’t

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wanted to. Everything in him was drawn to that man. There was
nothing about Matt that he’d seen that didn’t do something for him.
“He speaks to me, but he doesn’t seem to notice me as a man.”

“We can help you change that,” Sagan assured him with a grin.

“Just takes a few minor changes in the way you deal with him.”

* * * *


Matt climbed the stairs of the three-story walk-up where Jessie

had asked him to meet him and strolled down the hall to apartment
seven. He rapped on the door and listened hard and heard nothing
moving around inside. A hint of chilly foreboding ran down his spine
as he knocked again.

When he heard nothing signifying anyone inside this time, he used

an unlock spell, and the door creaked open. He stepped inside to a
spotless array of sofa, chairs, and coffee table. The TV was off, and
he could see right into the galley kitchen. He walked over for a closer
look to find the room as spotless. Not so much as a pot on the stove.

Stepping away from the bar, he headed down the hall to the left of

the living room. In a few steps, Matt was pushing the half-open
bedroom door fully open to find a body lying on the full-size bed. The
face of the body was turned away from the door so he couldn’t see it,
but the long dark-blonde hair cascading down over one shoulder sent
chills down his spine.

His entire body locked up and refused to move. He told himself to

go cold inside. Jessie had known the risks of the job no matter who he
worked for. However, that only went so far. Jessie had been a human
being, and he was nothing less than human. So, he couldn’t help but
feel anger over the man’s death and sorrow for Jessie’s family. Matt
exhaled roughly and glanced around, taking in the neatness of the
sparsely furnished room. Everything was perfectly in its place, not a
single drawer open to indicate a search had been done.

He advanced into the room carefully, and the stiffness of the

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37

posture along with the red-stained sheets told him Jessie was dead. Up
close, he saw that Jessie’s throat had been cut, and the fatal wound
was covered by his hair which was also red in places from his blood.
There didn’t appear to be any other marks on him, but he held his
hand over the body.

He’d once been a Psy coroner with the ability to tell what had

killed the deceased as well as approximately how long the victim had
been dead. He passed his hand slowly down the body without
touching it and picked up signs of a paralytic agent. No drugs.
Someone had used a spell on him, and he’d been alive when his throat
had been cut. Matt pulled his hands away and expelled a harsh breath.

“Damn it,” he muttered and glanced around the bedroom. It was

neat—too neat. He frowned, seeing no signs of Harlan Harris. He
moved to the bathroom for a quick look, thinking Harlan might have
taken off at Jessie’s request to avoid having anyone see him here.

He pushed the door open and found Harlan hanging from the

ceiling. There was no blood yet plenty of puncture wounds in his
upper body. On top of that, the man’s cock had been cut off and was
wedged up his own ass.

He walked around the body, careful not to disturb it. The look on

Harlan’s face was one of horror and pain forever frozen in time. His
hands were clasped together in front of him and a ball gag had been
pushed into his mouth. Matt caught his own reflection in the mirror.
That’s when he saw the lipstick red written on it.

Your son was a dumb bitch, Baker, just like you.
He expelled a rough breath and forced his emotions back. He told

himself to go ice-cold inside. He couldn’t allow emotion to touch him
too deeply, or he’d lose his focus. Matt turned his focus on Camden
and let his warm smile drown out the body before him. Steadier, he
removed his cell phone from the holster at his hip. He took a few
shots of the message then punched in Baker’s number.

“Yes?”
“I found your son,” he said.

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“I talked with him last night,” he said. “He’s to come home this

morning.”

“He won’t be making that trip, Minister,” he said grimly. “He’s

dead and so is Jessie. Someone left you message on the mirror. I’ll e-
mail you the shot.”

“Thank you,” he said quietly.
There was a long pause during which Matt heard something break.

Baker was a private person and wouldn’t betray a hint of anger.

“I’ll send Enforcement, so send me the address of where you are,”

Baker said evenly. “Take pictures of the scene and use this spell I’m
going to e-mail you to remove your prints.” He disconnected.

His heart went out to the man, but Matt had a feeling the person

who killed Harlan deserved his sympathy more.

Matt sent the address, and a few moments later he was getting the

spell as he stepped back into the bedroom. He took a picture of the
message on the mirror before he snapped a few of both bodies then
began a quick search.

Once he’d completed his search and found nothing, Matt opened

his senses and began sensing to see if he could determine who’d been
here last. He’d learned that his talent for reading the dead extended
beyond the bodies if he put his mind to it. He could distinguish the
sex but not the identity.

He looked around the room and allowed the echoes of energy to

wash over him. Jessie had been killed about two hours ago by a male
with gray energy patterns in his aura, which in this case indicated an
attempt to disguise his identity.

He wouldn’t call this person a gun for hire. The paralytic

suggested his attacker was aware that Jessie might not go easy. Matt
looked around the room for anything that might signal familiarity
with Jessie.

He opened his mind and picked up faint hints of Callum’s energy

in the bedroom but found nothing that verified that he’d been there at
the time of the murder. So, Matt stepped out into the living room

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39

seeking hints of Callum there as well as the kitchen. He couldn’t tell
whether he’d let the killer in or not. However, he detected signs of the
killer’s energy in the living room near Callum’s, yet that proved
nothing except the two stood in nearly the same place, facing each
other.

His phone rang, and Matt yanked it from its holster and glanced at

the display. He stabbed a button. “Roseland.”

“Inspectors Davies and Hunt are en route with a CSI team headed

by Deb Webber,” his boss Moreland Keller told him coolly.

“Got it.”
“Get out as soon as they get in.”
“Done deal,” he replied dryly.
“Don’t touch a fucking thing,” Keller growled. “Wait in any room

where the crime didn’t occur.”

“Not touching and waiting patiently in the living room.” Matt

disconnected and continued around the room. His boss knew Matt
was skating on thin ice with Callum who was looking for a reason to
fire him, but he wasn’t going to ignore his job because of possible
consequences from a man who could well have put a hit on his lover.
He made silent note of the energy patterns along with the
surroundings and then snapped a few pictures.

He crossed the room to the desk in the corner facing the window.

There were no pictures or anything personal to indicate who the
apartment might belong to which was no surprise. The apartment
seemed more like a safe house love shack rather than a home. He took
a peek inside the desk drawers using a spell to open them and found
nothing.

He closed the drawer just as the rap sounded on the door. He’d

talk to the super before he left to find out how often Callum came
here as well as who the apartment was leased to. He opened the door
and stood back and the Inspectors filed in.

“Roseland.” A pale redhead held out a sheet to him.
“Hunter.” He nodded to the male as he took the scene release

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E.A. Reynolds

form. He read it over.

“I hope you didn’t touch anything,” Hunter muttered.
Matt gave the male who stood eye level with him a cold stare then

shoved the papers into his chest. He gave his partner a colder stare
and strode from the apartment. He’d never gotten along with Hunter
or his partner Jenks. The two just rubbed him the wrong way.

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Chapter Three


Camden finished up his morning treatments then headed to his

office to write up the reports. Carter was such a stickler for reports
that it drove him crazy sometimes. He was in the midst of writing his
second one when a knock interrupted him.

“Come in,” he called but didn’t bother looking up.
“Hello, Doctor.”
“Hi, Sagan, what’s up?” He looked up then with a smile.
“I’m between classes,” he said. “Got a few minutes?”
“What for?” he asked with a frown. He’d take an hour if Carter

wouldn’t chew his ass for a week over it.

Sagan held up two cups. “Cappuccino?”
“Thanks, man,” he answered. “So what’s up?” he asked, leaning

back in his chair. Sagan was worth the risk of being a little behind
schedule.

“So, this neighbor,” Sagan began with a devious smile. “He’s got

you all hot and bothered.”

“Yeah,” he said then groaned. “I don’t understand him, Sagan. He

has to be bisexual ‘cause he got so hard when he saw my ass.”

“What?” Sagan laughed. “Define saw your ass.”
Camden told him how that had come to be. “He was aroused,

Sagan, and I could have killed him.”

“Maybe he is bi,” Sagan offered. “Maybe—”
“I know,” he cut in. “You can’t control arousal.”
“Yeah, but—”
“So, he left anyway,” he said. “Probably a good thing he left when

he did, or I’d have made a complete ass out of myself.”

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“Oh,” Sagan said. “Forget about him for now. Come shopping

with us after work.”

“Okay,” he agreed. “I could use a night out.”
“We all could. Believe me,” he said. “There will be guards on our

asses—my man is a coven leader, and I can’t go anywhere without
protection, but we’ll still have some laughs.”

“Great, I’m in.” He smiled.

* * * *


Matt paid the superintendent of Jessie’s building a visit. The man

told him Harlan Harris had rented the apartment two years ago, and
until this morning Franklin had never come here. After that, Matt
headed to the office where Harlan Harris worked as an accountant.

“I didn’t know Harlan was missing,” the owner of the firm said

and then frowned.

She was an attractive woman with brown eyes and coffee skin.

Her designer suit looked as if it had been made for her. Her office was
very neat, the glass top of her desk filled with an array of items
including a desktop computer. “I heard he hasn’t been in lately,” he
said casually. “Has he taken time off?”

“Harlan works out of the office sometimes,” she told him. “He

goes to some of our clients’ offices to work with them there. We have
wealthy mortal, witch, vampire, and Psy clients that he’s very popular
with.”

“Really?” he asked, not at all that surprised. “Who was he last

working with?”

“He was working with four clients in the last two days,” she told

him. “I don’t mind if he doesn’t come back in as long as he gets his
job done. Is there a problem with him? Is he okay?”

“No,” he told her. “Harlan is dead.”
“Oh.” She swallowed tightly and struggled to keep the emotion

from her face. “I’m surprised to hear that. Harlan was a very amiable

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43

man. Even the straight men liked him.”

“Did he mention having any problems with anyone?” Matt asked.
“No.” She shook her head. “He wouldn’t to me, but he was good

friends with my secretary, Julia. I’ll ask her to talk to you.” She got to
her feet and he followed suit.

They stepped out into the reception area, and he waited while

Angela Morris spoke to her secretary. The blonde, peaches-and-cream
secretary shot him a calm look and nodded before getting to her feet.

Morris made the introductions and then said, “Julia, give him

whatever he needs.” Morris stepped back into her office.

“Show me your credentials,” she ordered calmly as she moved

back to her desk.

Matt showed them to her and wondered what she was looking for

as she searched his badge and ID, but the something in her face told
him she’d found it.

“Harly was a good guy,” she said. “I warned Jessie though not to

be careless.”

“You knew Jessie?” Jessie hadn’t struck him as the careless type

so something had tipped Callum, and he doubted if it was merely
Jessie’s relationship with Harlan.

“Yes,” she said. “I introduced him to Harlan two years ago.” She

shrugged. “I didn’t know it would turn into some passionate love
affair. I warned Harlan that while Jessie was with Franklin he should
stay away, but neither of them could do it.” She tucked her long hair
behind her ears. Her eyes clouded with regret. “Anyway, I talked to
Jessie a few days ago. He wanted me to get something from his
apartment for him. He kept a separate place from the one he shared
with Frank.”

“What did you get?”
“He sent me to get some photos and files for him and a little black

book,” she told him. “I have them in a safe place.”

“Is there any way I could have a look?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said. “Jessie told me this morning when he called that

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E.A. Reynolds

if anything happened to him to give you the stuff.”

Jessie had suspected that he might be found out. Why hadn’t he

told him that himself last night? He’d planned ahead so something
must have been going on to spook him.

“Will you meet me at my place tonight?” she asked. “I’ll give you

everything.”

“What time?” he asked keeping the eagerness from his tone.
“Nine,” she said. “I have a hot date, and I’m not inclined to back

out of it.”

He gave her a grin. “I don’t blame you.”
“I’ll text you my address later,” she said. “I have to finish getting

some things done or the boss will verbally kick my ass all over town.”

“I hear ya,” he agreed. “I’ll be waiting and thanks.”
“Course,” she said with a grin. “Maybe we can go out later in the

week.” She let her gaze rove over him salaciously.

Matt laughed. He wasn’t into women, though if he was, he’d

already have been hoping for a chance to ask her out after he took out
her boss. Neither were uncommonly attractive, but that wasn’t a
problem. They both had pretty eyes and nice asses. Two things he
liked in a man.

He gave her his number. “We’ll talk about that tonight,” he told

her with a grin and then gave her a nod before heading out.

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Chapter Four


The blond male turned cold eyes on the brunet. “I did what I had

to do.”

“I meant Harlan,” he answered. “I told you to be patient. I had a

plan. Now, you’ve gone and involved Baker.”

“I didn’t kill anyone, so get off my ass,” the blond muttered.
“You weren’t saying that ten minutes ago,” the brunet crooned,

reaching out to stroke his fingers over the blond’s jaw. “And what a
fine ass it is.”

The blond gave him a smile and caressed his chest, letting his lean

fingers play through the dark curling hair before rolling off the bed in
the apartment they kept. He strode to the window. “I didn’t kill the
kid,” he said. “Frank did. I told him you’d be pissed.

“He’s as bad as Giles in some ways,” the brunet murmured and

then frowned. “I have to put up with him with Torque and his boys
gone.” His jaw bunched. “Have you been able to find out anything of
who did this? Any rumors?”

“Nothing,” the blond answered, his tone hard. “Oak Waters

doesn’t exist as far as anyone knows. They must be some new coven,
a squall, trying to make a name for themselves.”

“The way they fucked up Torque and the boys, they must have

some serious power,” he murmured, rage in his eyes. “I can’t wait to
get my hands on them. Keep looking.”

“Have you found the money?” the blond asked.
“No,” he said on a growl.
He sighed. “Okay, we need to keep things low profile and bide

our time until after we take Bough.”

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E.A. Reynolds

“That was my plan from the start until Giles’s dumb ass betrayed

us with Dark Claw and started a war that put everything out there.”
He sat up and pushed the dreadlocks over his shoulder. “I still mean
what I said before.”

“I know, but we are going to have to come up with a contingency

plan,” the blond affirmed. “In case one of us is found out.”

“If one of us is found out, we deny the other to the end, no matter

what because we will meet again, lover,” the black male said. “It is
our destiny to always be one.”

The white male nodded and turned to face his lover. “I agree. You

belong to me, Carlin, forever.”

“And I feel the same about you, Lucan.” He kissed him and then

gave Lucan a rough shove back to the bed. “I want you now.”

“How can you get it up so soon?” Lucan demanded. “You just

rode the fuck out of me.”

Carlin’s eyes were dark with intent. “Don’t deny me, Lucan, or I

will take what I want.”

“I won’t,” he assured him and turned toward the bed.
The sound of Carlin’s cell phone stopped him in the act of joining

Lucan on the bed. He crossed to the dresser and picked up the small
phone. “Yes?” He held up a hand when Lucan started to speak. “Call
Lucan. I’m on my way.”

“Who was it?”
“Tao,” he said in a tight tone. “We have a problem. We’ll finish

this later, baby.”

Lucan gave him a smile. “My place.”

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Chapter Five


“So you are coming to Sagan’s Friday night?” Devon asked. “It’s

going to be fun.”

Camden smiled and threw Devon a look. “I think I’ll come,” he

admitted. The very thought of a Friday night out made him giddy with
excitement. He usually spent his weekends curled up with a book or
watching movies. That was his fault, but he was tired of his self-
imposed emotional isolation.

He was tired of being on the outside looking in. Being around

Sagan made him realize that, but it was because of Matt he was
certain he wanted more than work in his life. “It’s not like I have
many friends other than Sagan.”

“I did kind of like you,” Devon said in mock sadness. “But I have

to rethink that now.”

“I just meant that—”
“We know what you meant,” Riley said. “At least, I do. I didn’t

have any friends until Sagan and I started hanging out and then there
was Devon. Now, I have friends.”

“Tear,” Sagan said, touching the corner of his eye.
“You’re such a brat, Sagan,” Riley said with a grin. “We’re going

to have to come over to your place next week.”

“That’d be great.” Camden smiled. He would love to get to know

these guys better especially Sagan. He had changed some since they’d
been in college and he’d love to meet the man he’d become.

“Umm-hmm,” Sagan teased, giving Camden a grin.
“Where’d you buy that underwear you’re wearing?” Riley asked,

reaching for a fry. “I didn’t see anything remotely like that at

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E.A. Reynolds

Hothouse this evening. Love that fuck me on the ass.”

In the course of trying on clothes, Riley had gotten a peek at his

underwear. The man hadn’t been shy about coming into the changing
room with him to bring him something new to try on.

“A friend of mine,” he said. “He’s a designer. He designs for gay

men.”

“Does he do any in silk or lace? Trace just loves that on me.

Especially spank-mes.”

Chuckles went around the table. “I think our men are all pervs,”

Devon said. “They all have some bondage slash S&M thing going on.
It’s like it’s hardwired into them.”

“I know,” Riley said with a grin. “Trace loves playing doctor.” He

wiggled his brows.

They all chuckled. “But they are sexy as hell and generous to a

fault,” Devon said.

“That is true,” Sagan agreed with a contented smile. “My sweet

man still needs some training though.”

“Carter is perfect,” Devon said serenely.
“Trace is a Neanderthal,” Riley added with a laugh. “But a

romantic.”

“He’s a modern man then,” Camden said, managing to keep the

jealousy from his tone. He wanted what they had. The happiness and
the love, but his work had been his lover. He’d been satisfied for a
while, and he still enjoyed it. He just wanted something more. He
wanted something like Matt. “Part caveman and part sweetie.”

“Oh yeah, that is my baby,” Riley said with a grin.
“We’ve got to find you a man,” Sagan said with a determined

gleam in his eyes that piqued Camden’s curiosity.

* * * *


Matt turned his head at the rap on his car window. Annoyance

darkened his eyes. He was in a hurry to get home this evening. He

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49

wanted to catch his sexy little neighbor before he had a chance to grab
dinner. He didn’t have anything special planned because he didn’t
have time. However, he was planning to pick up dessert as he’d
promised. His lips curved into a hard smile of anticipation even as he
groaned inwardly. He unlocked the door.

Yeah. He shouldn’t be playing with Camden. He was so gorgeous

and fiery. He was sweet and that was the very reason he shouldn’t
even be thinking about him. Cam wasn’t his mate, and he’d have to
end things when his mate did come along. He didn’t see being able to
just walk away from Camden once he got started with him. Already,
he couldn’t stop thinking about being with him.

Baker climbed in beside him and held out an envelope. “This is

what they found.”

He took it and opened it to study the medical examiner’s findings

along with the crime scene photos and reports.

“Notice anything missing?” Baker asked quietly.
“The note from the mirror,” he began as he continued to look

through the photos. Matt removed the SD card from his phone and
handed it over. He’d made a copy for his own files.

Baker pushed it into his phone and had a look at the pictures.
“I couldn’t make the energy of the killer,” he said. “I knew what

Jessie was doing,” Baker said in a cold tone. “I have no idea who he
was working for, but I knew it could get them both killed. Harley—he
loved Jessie and was probably helping him. Jessie knew the risks
better than Harley.”

Matt sighed roughly and cut his eyes at the older man. Yeah,

Jessie knew and Harlan probably did too, but who was he to point that
out? “I’ve done my job,” he said. “I find missing people.” Once upon
a time he’d been a homicide detective and loved every minute of it,
but Callum had pulled him without explanation nine months ago and
dropped him in Missing Persons. That reassignment had come with a
pay demotion as well as an Inspector grade demotion.

“You follow this until you’ve found out who killed my son,” he

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E.A. Reynolds

told him coldly. “Jessie’s life might have gotten Harley killed or
Franklin killed him because he thinks he owns Jessie. Either way, if
Callum killed my son, he’s a dead man.”

Matt wanted to argue who got dibs on him first, but it really didn’t

matter. Callum was a dead man and that was all that mattered. “You
don’t touch him,” Baker said with a quiet fury in his tone. “He’s mine
if he killed my son. Regardless of the reason.”

Matt shrugged. “I got that, but, Minister, I can’t work this case

without a higher security clearance. Jessie was Callum’s lover, so
there are just certain things I can’t search in the computer and ask
without getting my ass hauled in by him.”

“You’ll have it by midnight,” he told him in a hard tone.
He nodded. That would give him what he needed to do his job as

well as bring Callum down. “I followed a couple of leads, and I’m
meeting with someone tonight from the firm Harlan worked for. She
said she knew both Jessie and Harlan.”

“You answer to me and you report only to me,” he said. “When

this case is over, we’ll talk.” He climbed out of the car and closed the
door easily before striding toward the Enforcement building.

* * * *


Camden’s stomach growled as he juggled his packages an hour

later. He hadn’t eaten much, and after all that laughing and walking
and shopping he was hungry. He struggled to dig his key out of his
pocket after realizing he had a box on the ground next to the door.
The package from Kodi, he thought, wondering why he hadn’t left a
light on. Because he hadn’t expected to be late. “You shouldn’t be out
here fumbling for your key in the dark,” Matt muttered.

Camden jumped and his tenuous hold on the box faltered. “You

scared me.” The box fell at his feet.

“Apparently,” Matt agreed. “You dropped some of your stuff.” He

divested Camden of his bags, and Camden got his key out of his pants

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51

pocket.

“Oh, that’s cool,” Camden said when the other man used a spell to

dimly light the door handle so he could see how to unlock the door.
“Thanks.” He needed to learn that spell. His mother had been a Psy-
witch, and she had been a great teacher. He’d had a passion for the
craft that had gone out when she’d died.

“You’re welcome.”
Camden unlocked the door and stepped inside then turned

immediately to prevent Matt from following him in. “I’ll take those.”

Matt gave him an amused look then brushed past him, and

Camden made a noise of objection.

“Don’t you have something better to do?” he demanded. “Or is

giving aid to gay men a turn on for you?” he asked with a defiant
look.

“You’re begging for a spanking, Cam,” he answered. “I’ve

already had a long day. I don’t need that mouth from you.”

Camden’s jaw dropped, and he stared at Matt in disbelief.

“What?”

“You heard me,” he answered. “Where were you?”
“None of your business,” he retorted, cocking his hip and planting

his hand on it. “I’m free to do what I damn well please.”

Matt smirked at him. “You’re just mad because I saw your ass

half-naked and you haven’t seen mine.”

Camden gave him a cold stare. He could really careless about that.

He wanted the man to do more than look. The guys had given him a
little advice tonight in how to get Matt attention, but he had to rake up
the courage first. “Get out.” He pointed to the door.

“Why?” he asked. “I came over to make last night up to you. I

brought dinner.”

Camden eyed him suspiciously. “Why?”
The mirth left Matt’s eyes. “I just wanted to show my appreciation

for the meal you shared with me.”

Camden sighed. “Okay fine. You know where the kitchen is,” he

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said. He was a glutton for punishment. This man was out of reach. He
should limit his contact with him as much as possible, but nothing in
him was listening to that. He wanted to be near him, to wallow in the
feel of his strong, sexy energy.

“I need to shower, and I’ll be right down. Fifteen minutes.”
Matt nodded. “Take your time.”
Camden retrieved the box from outside the door then strolled up

the stairs to his bedroom where he rushed into the bathroom and
turned on the shower. He let the water warm before jumping in.

Camden took a quick shower then climbed out. He briskly rubbed

himself dry and smoothed moisturizer onto his skin before hurrying
into the bedroom to pull open his underwear drawer. He grabbed a
pair of briefs then tossed them back as a wicked thought came to
mind. He opened the box Kodi had sent him.

Everything would already be washed and ready to wear as it

always was when Kodi sent him something new to try.

“I hope I didn’t take too long,” Camden said, joining Matt in the

kitchen ten minutes later.

He had his back to the door and turned around to find Camden

striding in clad in another of those shirts he’d been wearing last night.
He had a little bit more of a confident look about him. For the first
time he noticed how the short cut enhanced his facial features,
especially the jawline and sensual curve of his mouth.

He cocked a brow, wondering what the man was up to.
“I hope you don’t mind,” Matt said. “I helped myself to a beer.”
“No, it’s cool,” he returned. “What did you bring?”
“I just brought some food from the grill.”
“Which one?” Camden asked.
“The Carterville.”
“Oh, yeah? I love their food,” he said. “I didn’t eat much dinner. I

did more snacking and talking.”

“Shopping with the boys?” Matt asked.
Camden frowned. There wasn’t so much as a hint of mocking in

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53

his tone. “Yeah. I didn’t buy that much though.”

“No? Five bags can’t be much,” he said. “I didn’t see any sexy

panties in the bags.”

“You went through my bags?” Camden demanded incredulously.

He didn’t know whether to be upset or amused. However, it seemed
like the man just might be more interested than he thought.

Matt shrugged. “You did get some nice shirts though.”
Camden sat down on the same stool he’d taken last night. “You’re

rude,” he remarked. “I bet you’re good at being a cop.”

“I am,” he agreed with an arrogant smile. “What are you wearing

under that shirt? A cute little tank that barely covers your little
navel?” Oh damn. He’d meant to get Matt aroused by his attire, but he
hadn’t counted on the man’s blatant interest.

“Show me,” Matt said and leaned over to peer down the open

neck of the button-front shirt. “You dressed like this to get me hard
anyway. So let’s get it out in the open.”

“Stop being so crass,” he muttered but inside he was feeling a

little bit giddy. He had the man’s attention. Now what did he do with
it? He wasn’t a virgin. He just hadn’t met anybody quite like Matt. He
usually dated bookish guys who didn’t flirt over much or make bold
passes.

Matt laughed then nuzzled the curve of Camden’s neck with his

nose before brushing his lips lightly down to where shoulder and neck
met.

Camden shivered and gasped as a shard of heat raked over him.

“Matt.” The word came out a breathless whoosh. Hell, he was in
trouble. He’d fantasized about the man’s touch being good, but it set
him on fire.

A flash of something—was it memory? Whatever it was, it went

through his mind quickly, reminding him of a time when those hands
touched him, but they belonged to another man with another face. Yet
they were this man’s hands touching him and setting him aflame with
desire that raged out of control.

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He knew it was a past-life memory, but he wasn’t sure what it

meant for this life.

“Come on,” Matt said and tug one of Camden’s curls. The act

snapped him back to the present. “Don’t be such a little cock tease.”

He didn’t have visions, he thought, yanking himself together. Not

until he’d met Matt.

“Jerk.” Camden pushed him harder and that earned him a

salacious grin.

“You wanted my dick hard as a rock. Now that you’ve got it ready

to give you a five-star salute, don’t hold back.”

Yeah, he admitted to himself. That was true. He wanted Matt to

want him like he wanted Matt. “You’re rude, and you’re—”

“And you’re a tease, Camden.”
“Okay, fine,” he said. “You got me.”
Matt smiled and began eating. They ate in silence, and when they

were finished, Matt put the remains in the trash.

“You’d be real handy if this was a real meal,” Camden mocked, as

he watched the older man make his way the fridge.

“Yeah.” Matt opened it and removed the dessert and retrieved two

spoons. “I brought dessert like I promised.”

“You were supposed to bring dessert when I cook,” Camden

reminded, rolling his eyes.

He placed the pecan pie slices on the peninsula’s top. “I hope you

like pecan pie.”

Camden looked down at the take-out tray and squealed, and Matt

grinned. The sound was one of true delight that made him warm
inside. “Did I do something right?”

Camden reached for a spoon, and Matt held it away from him.

“Matt!”

He chuckled and cut a piece and brought it to Camden’s mouth.

Camden opened without ado. Matt pulled it back, wanting to kiss
those pink lips that shifted into a cute little pout.

“Mathias, you’re asking to get thumbed on the nose.”

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He laughed, delighted with the petulance and the hints of angry

fire starting in those green eyes. He put the spoon to Camden’s lips
and watched him take the sweet and close his eyes in delight.

“Mmm. More.”
Matt smiled and took a bite before feeding Camden a little more.

He enjoyed watching him eat and savor the pie from the first bite of
one slice to the last bite of the second.

“That was so good,” Camden announced. “I will totally have to

work out tomorrow,” he said, then smiled and leaned forward. “You
should run with me.”

Matt snorted. “You ate all the pie, not me, baby,” he said.
Camden studied him then climbed from his stool. “What’s the real

reason you’re here?” Camden asked, leading the way to his living
room.

His gaze dropped to Camden’s ass. He had a delicious little

wiggle thanks to that shirt. He clenched his fingers, eager to sink them
in the tight little buns enticing his dick to press tighter against the
zipper of his pants. He reached down to adjust his aching erection, but
knew that wasn’t going to help.

Matt watched Camden shift bags, and the shirt rode up a little

making his cock throb in greedy need. “Well?” Camden snapped him
out of his thoughts as he dropped the bags onto the chair before sitting
down on the sofa.

“Just thought about you,” he admitted, holding Camden’s gaze.

He saw the discomfort, no fear, in Camden’s stare and knew it for
what it was. Fear that he wanted what he couldn’t have.

To a degree that was true. He could only have so long with

Camden before he had to break it off or risk falling deeply in love
with a man who wasn’t his soul mate. He could risk his own
immortality, but he wouldn’t do that to his brothers. Once each of
them was united with their soul mate, they would become immortal.
The idea, the knowledge, had been with them all for as long as they
could remember.

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Camden dropped his gaze, and Matt let his own wander to

Camden’s thighs as the shirt rode up, revealing pretty golden skin that
made him ache to have that skin pressed against him. He looked soft,
too, and Matt wanted to caress him, watch him get hotter for him.

His gaze traveled slowly back up the front of Camden’s shirt.

“Show me what’s beneath.”

The words were a cross between a plea and a command. They

took Camden by surprise. “You’re a freak,” he said breathlessly as he
undid the buttons. He was breathless with anticipation when he
opened the last button but didn’t push his shirt open. “Happy?”

“Show me the panties, Cam,” he ordered. “You know how hard I

get looking.”

His breath caught, and Camden just stared at him. He had to be

wrong. This sexy man had to be gay because there was no way Matt
was some metrosexual looking for a quickie? Damn he so hoped not.
He could really get lost in those sexy brandy eyes.

“Open the shirt, now.” Matt’s tone was harsh, and Camden glared

at him, but he felt powerless to do anything more than push the front
of his shirt open, revealing the tank that conformed to his slight
frame. “Stand up. Let me see what they look like.”

Camden inhaled and exhaled a nervous reaction. These had been

chosen with tempting Matt in mind. He got up, hoping he had the
nerve to pull it off.

Camden turned and lifted his shirt just to the waistband of the hip-

hugging pants. Delicately written in pink, across the black fabric of
his ass, was “Do me, baby.” He lifted the shirt a little higher.

As soon as the shirt cleared the patch of golden skin at Camden’s

lower back, Matt caught his breath. However, it wasn’t just the pretty,
shapely ass that stopped his heart. The two so–delicately-formed
joined hearts with an arrow through them sent his thoughts spinning
out of control. The beautiful pale red, almost pink hearts were a mate
mark. The mark of his mate. Well, hell. That changed everything in
the lift of a shirt tail.

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His heart skipped a beat as stunned joy washed over him. He had

not been looking for this with the war he and his brothers were
fighting. In fact, he’d half hoped it took years yet to find his mate so
they’d have time to defeat the men who wanted their immortal
energy. He didn’t want to have to worry about the danger facing his
mate, but apparently he wasn’t going to get that option.

He wasn’t sure how he felt about this sudden change, but Matt

was sure there was no way he was going to reject the man that would
become his world in time.

“Turn around, Cam.” His voice was taut as lust pumped harder

through him.

Camden turned around and met his stare with a haughty tilt of his

chin. He smiled at the challenge in the younger male’s eyes. He had
liked this man for some reason, and it wasn’t just his good looks and
fine ass.

Matt went to him and stroked his hand between Camden’s thighs

and Camden gasped. “What a hard little jewel,” he purred and cupped
Camden’s erection. “You may as well not have anything on. Were
you going to offer to go down on me, too?”

“Don’t be such a jerk,” he said, reaching to push Matt’s hand

away. So why didn’t he? Because he wanted his touch, craved it like
he craved the air.

Matt stroked his hand down inside Camden’s underwear and

Camden groaned. “Since when is groping a fag a straight man’s—”
He was cut off by Matt’s lips covering his. “Mmm.” Matt’s hand
clamped behind his head, drawing Cam closer as his tongue greedily
plundered his hot mouth.

The explosion of his sweet taste on his tongue blew him away.

The same sensuality that created pheromones, the unique smell, had
created the sweet and unique taste filling his mouth. He pulled
Camden roughly against him and stroked his hand down to his ass and
back up to the hearts.

Matt scraped them lightly with his nails. He’d heard about the

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intense reaction a mate had when the mark was touched. He was eager
to find out if it was true. He didn’t have to wait long. Camden made a
noise as he arched up into his hold.

His.
This man was his for eternity.
Matt continued to stroke the hearts and felt the ripple of energy

that tore through Camden, saw it in the widening of his eyes. He
strokes grew firmer, and Camden exhaled roughly. His hips jerked.

“Oh, God,” Camden breathed and then made a sound of

frustration when Matt stepped back. Matt dropped onto the sofa.
“Come here, Cam,” he urged in soft tone. “Come stroke that hot little
body against me.”

* * * *


He didn’t know what was happening, but he knew he couldn’t

stop himself from going to the beautiful man sitting on his sofa.
Matt’s eyes were dark chocolate as they fixed him. Lust spilled from
them, hot and wild, making the fire in him hotter. His heart was
pounding, but not just from the arousal. A little fear raced through
him, making him slightly wary, but it didn’t stop him from taking that
step.

Camden straddled him, allowing his body to glide into place,

bringing his erection into contact with Matt’s. A shiver traced through
him.

What the hell was he doing? He didn’t care that he could get hurt

or that that Matt was probably just teasing. He just wanted to be close
to him for even a minute. He wanted to make him curious about what
he could have.

“That’s it, baby,” Matt crooned as he reached up to stroke the

pads of his fingers over the younger male’s face. He pushed his
fingers into Camden’s lush curls. “You’re so pretty, Cam.” He tugged
Camden’s head back and lowered his head to feather kisses along the

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graceful column of his throat. “And soft.” He lightly nibbled over the
male’s throat before kissing to his chin.

Their eyes held, and Camden’s breath lodged in his throat. His

heart beat like a jackhammer. This man was a heartache in the
making. “What beautiful eyes you have,” he said, and when Camden
opened his mouth to reply he kissed him.

Camden moaned into the kiss and wound his arms around Matt’s

neck as he gave himself up to the kiss. It was slow and lazy then
demanding and hot. Tongues licked, glided together, and sucked
while hands stroked and caressed.

He pushed his hands inside Camden’s shirt and stroked them up

his back and down to cup his ass. He squeezed and gave the firm
globes a light tap, and a tremor rippled through Camden that made
him tremble.

“Matt,” he said on a breathless plea. He wanted more. He couldn’t

get close enough. There were too many clothes between them, and his
cock ached and throbbed in his briefs so bad. He needed release in the
worst way, and without thought, he began humping against the thick
wedge pressed against his own. The friction was incredible enough to
make him cry out.

Matt deepened the kiss, and Camden put his hands on the back of

the sofa and began dry-humping him in earnest. Damn, it felt so good
he could cry. The only thing better would have been having this man
inside him.

“Oh, fuck. I’m gonna come.” He groaned. “Oh, God. Yes.”
Matt’s response was to nip his neck and grind up against him.
“Ahh!” The explosion was a delicate one that left him barely

satisfied and craving a deep, hard penetration. Camden met his gaze,
his face flushed. “No straight man kisses that good,” Camden said,
then laughed as the embarrassment showed in his face.

“No?” He brushed Camden’s hair back from his face. “I never

said I was straight.” He kissed the corner of Camden’s mouth then
lifted him off of him and set him on the sofa. He got to his feet and

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E.A. Reynolds

pulled his phone from his pocket and looked at the display. “I have to
get to work, Cam,” he said. “Case is important. I’ll see later.”

Camden got to his feet with a frown and hurried after him. “You

didn’t stop making out with me because of work,” he accused. “So if
you’re gay, then what is it about me that turns you off?” he
demanded. He knew he sounded like a whiny little boy, but how else
would he know if he didn’t ask?

Matt stopped at the door and turned to face him. His gaze slid

down, taking in the open shirt revealing Camden’s more intimate
apparel. “I have to meet someone connected with this case,” he
admitted. “If I didn’t have to work, I’d give you all six inches of
this”—he cupped his still full and aching cock through his pants—“up
that perfect little ass of yours.”

“Promises, promises.” Camden trotted after him, and Matt

stopped. Camden nearly ran into him.

“Cam, next time you wear underwear like that to get me hard,

you’re fucked.”

Camden’s jaw dropped.
“Take that how you want to.” He turned and pulled open the front

door and strode out into the night, leaving Camden staring at the door.

* * * *


Matt arrived at the Julia’s apartment complex to find it engulfed in

flames. Residents were standing outside, looking lost and cold as they
gawked at the fire destroying their homes. He gritted his teeth in
frustration and rage. Callum and his Knights were probably behind
this. After all, that’s what a knight was supposed to do, protect his
king.

But how had they known what Jessie had for him? And how in the

world had they known he’d passed it off to Julia? Julia’s beautiful
boss maybe? He wouldn’t put it past her to be a supporter of the dark
Psy, Hell, she could even be the lover of one of the Knights. Nothing

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said every member of the organization had to be gay.

He stalked towards a firefighter and put a hand on his shoulder.

The man jerked his head around. “Separatist Enforcement,” Matt said.
“Which unit did the fire start in?”

“Ten. The woman inside was dead,” he answered. “There was

another body in there with her, but it’s hard to tell who it was without
dental records.”

“Damn it,” he cried out and clenched his hand into a tight fist.

“Thanks.” He left the man and began circulating among the residents
and asking questions.

He wasn’t surprised after two hours that he’d talked to everyone

in the same apartment block as Julia yet not one had seen anything.
He’d talked to those near the block and only one of them had seen
something he thought out of the ordinary. Two men in black standing
outside of Julia’s apartment five minutes before the fire started.

Matt waited for the complex’s manager to arrive and asked her if

she had records of the cars driven by the residents.

“I have to keep records,” she told him. “Each car has to have a tag

for resident parking. Visitors have to have a tag on their car as well if
they visit more than twice a week.”

He had her grab her list and canvas the parking lot with him. He

found Julia’s car as well as one parked in one of the two visitor’s
spots allowed to her. He called for tow trucks to have both vehicles
towed. While he was waiting, he did a cursory search of Julia’s car
before turning his attention on the stranger’s car. In the search of the
car he found a sheet of paper on the floor between the console and the
seat and plucked it out. One address was written on it along with a
number. Matt pushed the page into his pants pocket and searched the
console and the glove box. He found the insurance registration and
took it. He’d run it and see what came up.

He climbed out of the car after using a spell to wipe his

fingerprints and energetic prints clean.

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Chapter Six


Camden stared down at the man on the OR table. His face had

been burned as had his hands. This should have been an easy heal for
him, but instead a dead man lay on the table rather than a live one. He
knew he was tired, and he fought the urge to cry as he backed away
from table. He’d healed a woman and a child and lost a child and now
her father.

He drew in a steadying breath and headed out to the waiting room

to tell the family their loved ones hadn’t made it. He took a second to
steel himself against the emotions of the family as well as his own and
then walked out into the waiting room, where the families sitting there
waiting for news all turned their eyes on him.

He’d been called in only moments after Matt had left and found

himself facing victims of a fire. He’d worked all night now and was
ready to drop. He needed a hot meal and a bed. And the warm arms of
the one man he knew he couldn’t have. What could Matt know about
comfort though? He was a cop.

All of the families got to their feet, expectant expressions on their

faces as they all moved toward him.

“Williams?” he asked.
An older woman and a male stepped forward. The gray-haired

male put his arm around the salt-and-pepper-haired female. Camden’s
heart went out to them. “Ted and Bryce Williams?”

“Yes,” the woman said, her eyes already tearing.
Camden put his hand on her arm. “I’m sorry,” he said. “Ted and

Bryce didn’t make it. Melanie Williams, though, is resting
comfortably and the baby is okay.”

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The woman buried her face in her hands, and the man hugged her.
Camden explained the reasons for the deaths and then turned back

to the crowd. Devon and Carter were now present, delivering news of
their own.

“Hicks,” Camden said, and a man stepped forward holding a small

child.

“Your wife is resting comfortably,” he said. “I’ll have to do

another healing on her before the burns are completely healed, but
you’ll be able to see her in the morning.”

“What about my daughter?”
“Your daughter is fine,” Camden told him with a wan smile. “You

will be able to see her in an hour when she’s settled in a room in the
pediatrics ward. You’ll be able to stay with her in her room.”

Camden spent another few minutes with him, explaining what had

been done and what would need done before heading to his office to
do some of the paperwork.

“How you holding up?” Devon asked, falling into step beside

Camden.

“I’m a little tired but otherwise fine,” he lied. He was emotionally

frayed. He’d never had to deal with this much loss in one night. “How
’bout you?”

“I’m beat,” Devon said. “I didn’t lose anyone, and that’s

something.”

Camden nodded. “Yeah—”
“Carter says to take the day off.”
“Tell him I’ll be in around noon.”
“He said leave the reports until tomorrow.”
Camden sighed in relief. “He’s not a slave driver after all,” he

teased.

“Oh, he is,” Devon said with a secret smile. “I’ll see you later.”

* * * *

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Camden reached his front porch thirty minutes later and yawned

tiredly as he pushed his key into the lock. He swayed slightly on his
feet. He’d used up a good deal of his psychic energy reserves, he
noted and stumbled back right into a pair of strong arms.

Startled, he jerked around. Just the man he had been thinking

about. No, the man he’d be aching for, and he was glad he was there
no matter what the reason was.

“Hello, hot stuff.” Matt reached around him and finished

unlocking the door and pushed it open.

Camden stepped inside, and Matt moved in behind him, closing

and locking the door. He caught him and swept him into his arms.

“You been at work all night?”
“Yes, put me down.” Camden’s protest sounded weak and

contrary, and he could have kicked himself. Letting this man know he
wanted to be nowhere but in his arms wasn’t an option he could
afford right now. His emotions were frayed enough.

“You’re tired,” he said. “Let me take care of you.”
“I need to shower,” Camden said as he did what he considered the

unthinkable. He rested his head against the strong, muscular shoulder.
He needed him so much, Camden thought, snuggling against him. He
felt a little broken and fragile. Matt wouldn’t be of much of help.
He’d likely just run off as soon as he tucked him into bed, but even
that little would be some comfort.

“Okay,” Matt said. “You do that, and I’ll make you tea. Then you

can sleep.”

“I have to be back to work at twelve,” Camden said, meeting his

gaze. He was surprised by the concern of a man who had no reason to
give a damn about him. “Put me down.” He had to get to the shower
quick before he started bawling with the tired frustration of failure
coursing through him.

“It’s only five.” Matt set him on his feet in his bedroom. He

stroked his hair. “Go take your shower, and I’ll get that tea.”

He shook his head. “No, not hot. Blue bottle in the fridge.”

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“Don’t put on any of those booty shorts,” he said with a grin. “I’m

too tired to get a hard-on I can’t do anything about.”

“Shut up, Mathias,” he murmured in a sad tone then headed for

the shower.

Matt could sense the pain ripping Camden up inside, and that was

one of the reasons he’d preferred to work with the dead than the living
when he was a doctor. It could hurt like hell when he had to autopsy a
child who’d been viciously killed or anyone whose life had been
taken by the most violent of means. However, the pain was less than
what one felt when you had a patient on the operating table.

As a cop in Missing Persons, the loss of life had been rough when

he did find a dead victim. Luckily he found the missing alive more
often than not. He’d heard about the victims that hadn’t made it out of
the apartment complex alive as well as the ones that had been dragged
out barely alive. He’d helped some on the scene once he’d finished
his investigation, glad that he could, but that wasn’t the same as what
Camden had had to experience.

Matt poured a glass of tea from the blue bottle as instructed. His

phone rang as he was putting the bottle back. He pulled it from his
pants pocket and checked the display. “Go.”

“I’ve managed to get dentals on both the victims in the

apartment,” Dillan told him. “Julia Hedron and Carson Hyde-Smyth.”

Same as the registration. He hadn’t expected that. “You haven’t

done the autopsy yet?”

“I’ve finished up the woman,” Dillan told him. “The guy was

done by someone else. They were both dead when the fire was set.
The woman was beaten and shot at close range. The guy was, too.”

“Someone trying to make this look like a mortal attack,” Matt

muttered.

“Yeah, there was a spell entry point on her,” he said. “Nothing

overt. In fact, I almost missed it. It was horntail. The guy was hit with
a psychic blast to the head, but the bullet’s what killed him.”

“I appreciate this, man.”

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“Come over tomorrow,” he said. “I’ll fill you in on the other

sitch.”

“Yeah.” He disconnected and grabbed the glass of tea and the

bottle of capsules he’d brought with him. Camden needed
nourishment for the psychic body as well as the emotional one, and he
was more than willing to give him both.

When he returned with the tea, Camden was padding back into his

spacious pastel purple and pink bedroom. The sleigh bed was simply
carved, and a little canopy was gathered just above the headboard.

Matt handed him the bottle of capsules. “Take two of those.

They’ll help replenish your energy.”

Camden looked at the bottle. “Where did you get these?”
“Psy pharmacist.” He smiled.
“Date says you got them today.”
“So what, Cam?” he asked, a hint of confusion in his tone. “I

figured you were at the hospital when I called you and you didn’t
answer.”

“How’d you even get my number?” he demanded.
“I’m a cop,” he said patiently with a shrug. “When I left you, I

went to see a source, and the apartment complex she lived in was on
fire. Not all of it, just the block where she lived. When I realized there
were casualties, I called to see if you’d been called in.”

“I called the hospital and you were there, so I went to get those for

you. I figured you might be depleted. I just wanted to help,” Matt
said.

Camden blinked. The big guy was so sexy standing there looking

just this side of wounded that Camden felt like a heel. Matt had gone
out of his way to take care of him, and honestly, he’d meant to stop
and pick up some of those handy capsules himself. He heard they
worked great for color healers by putting back vital energies that
strengthened the chakras and got the healing batteries ready to go
again sooner than the energy waters alone.

But he still had to wonder why this man would go out of his way

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to help him let alone take care of him. He’d leave that discussion for
another time, he decided and shook two of the caps out and screwed
the cap back on. He took the tea. “Thanks.”

While he was washing the capsules down, Matt turned back the

purple comforter of the queen-size bed, revealing red Egyptian cotton
sheets. “In.” He took the glass Camden was just holding as he
watched him with a stunned look on his face.

Camden didn’t argue. He was nearly dead on his feet. He lay back

with a soft sigh. “Thanks for the caps and for catching me even
though I would have managed not to fall.”

Matt snorted. “Some thanks that is,” he retorted as he kicked off

his shoes and climbed into bed next to him. He fluffed the pillows and
leaned back against them in a half reclining position. “Are you okay?”

“I lost two patients,” he answered, starting to tear up at once as

images of the little boy flitted through his mind. His little hands had
been burned, and his arms had third-degree burns as did his chest. His
lungs had been filled with smoke, and he’d been in a great deal of
pain. He’d been able to stop the pain, but the boy had died from
complications of his injuries.

“That does happen sometimes, Cam,” he said softly. “All you can

do is your best.”

“One was a little three-year-old boy.” He told Matt of his

struggles to save the child. Tears slid down his cheeks, and he gave up
trying to hide his frustration and hurt.

“Shh.” Matt reached out and gathered Camden into arms. “Come

here, baby.” He smoothed his hair.

“I tried so hard,” he said angrily, fists clenched against Matt’s

chest. “I couldn’t pull him back. Then I had to try and save his father.
I couldn’t save him either,” he wailed. “It hurts to fight so hard and
not be able to hold them here, to have to tell their loved ones you
couldn’t—couldn’t save them.”

Matt swallowed tightly above him, throat aching with tears as

Camden cried into chest.

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* * * *


Camden woke several hours later and started. He was late, and

perhaps just as importantly a hard chest was beneath his ear and hand.
The one he’d assumed wouldn’t stay. Yet here he was still holding
him tight, and Camden felt as if he mattered just a little. Matt was one
surprise after the other.

“Cam.” Matt’s fingers pushed into the hair at the base of

Camden’s neck. “Relax, baby, you’ve got time. It’s just ten-thirty.”

He tensed, not so sure how to handle this. He wanted Matt in his

bed and his life, but what would the cost be? He wasn’t interested in
being with a man who’d always be leaving him behind the way his
family had.

He’d devoted most of his life to healing and was ready to slow the

pace for a romantic life, but not one that would break his heart. Even
through all the years of work, Camden had hoped to meet a man he
was excited to go home to, and a child or two as well. However, there
had been no time and no one special enough to even consider working
on a family let alone a real life with. He’d been waiting, saving
himself he supposed for Mr. Right. He knew that was silly and was
starting to give up on the dream. He’d resolved himself to the fact that
he’d have to settle for Mr. Comfortable at some point and shelve his
dreams of all-encompassing passion and foot-popping kisses.

The man next to him had made him remember what he’d wanted,

but he was certain the only thing he was getting here was a good time.
Camden wasn’t sure he wanted to settle for that because he needed
more.

Camden chanced a look up at Matt. He couldn’t tell what he was

thinking, and at this moment he wanted to know very badly.

Matt leaned toward him, tugging Camden’s head back, using his

hold on his hair. He brushed his lips over the younger male’s then
lifted his head to study his expression. “I want to see you tonight.”

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He wanted sex. Well, he could use a little sexing up. If last night

was any judge, the man was up to the job. He was big enough to fill
him up and make it good, and skillful enough to make him burn.
“Okay.”

“Since it was a long night for you, why don’t we stay in?” he

asked. “You can come over to my place and let me do all the work.
The cooking, the dishes, and after, we just neck on the couch or
whatever you want.”

A smile tugged at his lips. “I’d love to see how you handle

yourself in the kitchen.”

“What time do you get off?”
“Usually four, but today five,” Camden answered.
“Okay, just come over when you’re ready.”
He nodded. “Should I bring anything?”
“You, baby,” Matt murmured. “Just you.”

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Chapter Seven


Camden made rounds to check on a few patients then went to his

office to work on reports. Once he’d finished, he saw a few more
patients.

“Ms. Colliers,” he said in a patient tone. “We’ve discussed the

necessity for you taking your treatments once a day. We can’t keep
your blood pressure stable otherwise.”

“I know,” she said. “But I’d rather just take a pill. This color stuff

isn’t working for me.”

Camden sighed. The older woman had mortal friends who took

pills. He knew how much she wanted to be “normal,” but the problem
was he wasn’t into prescribing the herbal mixes that would give her
that. However, he knew the time had come to bend since
accommodating the patient wouldn’t compromise the treatment.

“Okay,” he agreed. “I will have the pharmacy make up a

prescription. Would you like capsules, pills, or tea?”

“Pills please,” she told him with a pleased smile.
He smiled. “Okay. I’ll call it in and we’ll deliver them to you or

your granddaughter can pick them up.”

“She’ll pick them up for me later,” Colliers said, giving him a

serene smile. “You’re a good boy, Doctor.” She patted his arm and
climbed down from the exam table with his help. “It’s important for a
doctor to know how to listen to a patient.”

He gave her a smile and walked her out. Camden and talked to her

granddaughter a few minutes before heading back to his office to call
in the prescription. Once he’d done that, he wrote out the script, so
she could take it to the Psy pharmacy next time and had it sent up to

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the pharmacy to attach to the prescription bottle with dosing
instructions. After that, he was back in his exam room.

His patient was a fifteen year- old who’d been in a car accident

three months ago. She was paralyzed from the waist down, and he
was treating her, sure that she would walk again.

“Good afternoon, Miss Glory.” He greeted the teenager who’d

already been positioned on her stomach on the table for his treatment
by his nurse. She was wearing one of the backless gowns that had
straps to hold it up and tied just below her waist. Jalisa, his nurse, was
standing next to the table. The dark-skinned female gave him a smile.

“Hi, Doctor,” the teen returned.
“How are you today?” he asked glancing at her chart.
“I’m okay,” she said.
“Are you still having any pain?”
“No, it’s gone now, thanks to you,” she said.
“Today, I’m going to place red chips in your lower spine to keep

your base chakra stable,” he told her. “I’m using clear quartz and rose
quartz for that. I’ll use blue for the upper part of the spine. The clear
quartz will ensure the two energies work together to heal your spine
completely.”

“Okay,” she said. “You have permission to touch.”
Touching was a natural part of life that most people took for

granted but in the Psy world, some Psy had abilities that made touch
painful or dangerous. There were others who simply disliked being
touched for various reasons. In medical situations, the patient had to
state their preference when they filled out their paperwork. If
something changed between visits they had to let the doctor know.

With female patients, it was always important for a male to have a

female nurse present. On top of that, he asked that all female patients
give permission vocally as well as in writing.

“Thank you.” He nodded to his nurse and then moved to wash his

hands. When he turned back, she had his kit out. A tuning fork was
included with the small crystals flecks that would be inserted just

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beneath her skin using projection.

The ability allowed him project the flecks into her body using the

visual imaging of his mind alone. With the tuning fork, he’d adjust
the frequency of the crystals to work with the healing frequency of
her body.

Camden took his time and inserted the flecks along her spine then

carefully attuned each to her body’s healing frequency. He’d have to
adjust the frequency again in a week, but he’d had excellent result
with the procedure where others had failed at spinal injuries. He was
thinking of making them his specialty.

Once he was done, he smoothed his hand down her back without

touching her and back up again checking that the crystals were
properly set and the chakras were open and functioning properly. He
found a blocked heart chakra and applied a hint of turquoise through
his hands until the chakra began spinning normally. He’d have to
keep an eye on the chakras to ensure she healed well. Closed chakras
or energy centers of the body were often the result of emotional
damage but not always. Sometimes some physical trauma was the
cause as in this case.

“Miss Glory,” he said. “I’m going to let you rest here for thirty

minutes under an amethyst light, okay?”

“Umm-hmm.”
“Do you want some music?”
“I brought my iPod.”
“I’ll have your mom bring it back, okay?”
“Thanks.”
“I’ll see you again next week,” he told her. “At that time, I’ll

check that your chakras are still open and working well, and make
sure your spine is healing. Then I’ll start you on some physical
therapy.”

“Am I going to be okay?” she asked, hope in her voice.
“I think so,” he said. “But let’s take it one step at a time and see

how your body responds to the treatment.”

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“Okay. Thanks, Doctor.”

* * * *


Matt sat back in his chair at his desk in the big open room some

called the bullpen because all of the inspectors in the unit worked in
the same room. Each inspector had his own desk and workstation.
Those with partners were set up facing each other while those
working singular had a desk at the side of the windowless room. The
artificial lights were soft as they poured down over them.

The background check on Hyde-Smyth came with a picture telling

him the man who’d died in Julia’s apartment was Hyde-Smyth. He
picked up his phone to call Dillan and stopped. The polite psychic
knock was from him.

“Go.”
“Just took a look at Hyde-Smyth,”
he said. His mental tone was

tired. “The dental records were switched. Sagan was working with me
and he discovered Hyde-Smyth has pins in his left knee. Those pins
have numbers on them and he traced them.”

“Who’s who?”
“Caston Hyde-Smyth is actually his twin Jeffery Hyde-Smyth. The

Caston died five years ago in the accident that gave Jeff here his
pins.”

“Are you sure?”
“Positive, but COD is still the same.”
“Great, thanks.”
Matt did a quick search and found the Hyde-

Smyth’s of England as well as the Hyde-Smyth’s of New York. The
families were connected by a first cousin whose son was identical to
the twins. Austin was American born and Jeff had only come over to
the States a week ago. There was no other record of him ever having
been in the States.

Matt studied the pictures he’d managed to come up with after

doing his internet search, and he frowned at a few faces that looked

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familiar. So, he pulled out the evidence he’d gathered from a few
cases ago which included pictures. Some he’d taken when he’d been
following Torque. He snapped his fingers when he spotted not only
the familiar face, Wick, but Austin Hyde-Smyth as well.

He picked up his cell and texted Trace to find out what they’d

done with the information they’d taken from Torque’s computer.

He waited five minutes before he got a reply.

Going to surgery. Will have the files sent.

He waited fifteen minutes before he got a message from the

hacker telling him to meet him at a coffee shop near Cross-Rose
hospital. He got up and grabbed his jacket and headed out the door.
He’d grab the files and work at home. That way, he’d have time to put
together a nice dinner for them. He was thinking about candlelight
and soft music but wasn’t sure that would be good for a first real date.

He usually took his dates out. He hadn’t cooked for one in at least

four years, but this was his mate. Hell, who was he kidding? He’d
been attracted to Cam from the minute he saw him, and that attraction
had nothing to do with the male being his mate.

He’d been holding back for weeks, not wanting to start something

with a sweet thing like that he couldn’t finish. It had been so hard to
just stay away, but he’d found himself watching and finding any
excuse to end up on Camden’s doorstep. Now that he had one, he had
to tread carefully. This was not a man used to being romanced.
Moving too fast could make him suspicious enough to back off.

Matt found a parking space at the café then climbed out and strode

inside. He spotted the scruffy-looking brown-haired male at a table in
the back. He was clad in jeans and sneakers playing a hand-held video
game. The man had certainly been a good choice for the job because
he looked like a derelict whose brain ran on video games. No one
would ever suspect he’d helped them steal Torque’s fortune.

Part of Torque’s fortune was connected to the Knights as a whole

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and funded some of Dark Spear’s activities. Without the millions at
their disposal, Dark Spear would have to dig deeper into their own
coffers for their criminal deeds.

“Hey.” He greeted the male after reaching the table.
The younger male nodded at him. “S’up?” he returned.
“Where is it?” Matt asked.
Wesley, the hacker, pushed a plastic case across the table as he

fixed Matt with intelligent eyes. “The interesting thing is the files
were password protected. I couldn’t break the code, but have fun. I
didn’t make any copies so be sure to back that up before you go
fucking around with it.”

Matt gave Wes a contemplative stare and wondered what was

hiding beneath the video gamer exterior. The man obviously loved
what he did, but he sensed there was some reason behind his working
with Dillan’s brotherhood and his ally Phantom. Was he a relative of
one of Torque’s victims or just a guy looking to see good prevail?

“Password could be anything with a guy like that,” Wes added

with a careless shrug.

Yep he was hiding something, but that was another mystery. As

for the password, Matt had a pretty good idea what it would be.
Torque had been a pedophile. Any one of the names of his victims
could be the code. He knew most of them, and he’d try them starting
with the one Torque had seemed so proud of.

“Thanks.”
“Umm-hmm.”
They had drinks together and chatted about sports, pretending to

be old friends for all of thirty minutes then parted ways. Matt headed
back to his office for a while, where he used the computer there to
hunt up the rest of Torque’s known victims. After compiling his list,
he worked on trying to crack the code for a few hours before heading
out to pick up the things he needed for his date tonight.

* * * *

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Camden got home at five- thirty and took a long bath. He’d

decided to take his time and get ready for tonight. It was the first real
date he’d had in months. Who was he kidding? He hadn’t dated
anyone in two years.

After his bath he dried off and moisturized before blowing his hair

dry and selecting a pair of khaki pants and a navy shirt. He pulled on
a red tank top with spaghetti-thin straps then stepped into a pair of
matching red briefs that had been in the box last night. He stood in
front of the full-length mirror attached to the inside of the closet door.
Camden turned left and then right and then pulled open the other door
for a back view. He liked the micros. They hugged his hips and fit his
curves perfectly. He took them off and grabbed another pair. These
were very soft black lace which had a snap just above the crack of his
ass. The snap came undone to allow for easy access to his ass. A
smile played on his lips as he thought of how Matt would like these.
Then again, he might hate them, he mused. Not all men—gay or
straight—thought lace was proper on a man, but what the hell? He
liked the way they felt against his skin and he felt sexy as hell even
though lace wasn’t his style. He removed the tank he was wearing and
grabbed the black one that matched the underwear. It was sheer rather
than lacy, matching the sheer sides of the lacy briefs. The satin felt
good next to his skin, making him feel more confident and desirable.

Sexy underwear was his guilty pleasure, but this was pure

decadence even for him. He smiled and pulled on his pants and shirt

then socks and loafers before selecting the gold necklace. He

chose a butterfly because he liked them. This one he’d had made for
himself four years ago. He combed his fingers through his hair and
smiled at what he saw. He needed lip balm. First he brushed his teeth
then put on lip balm. Then, he was ready to go.

Matt opened the door for Camden five minutes later and smiled.

“Come in beautiful.”

Camden smiled nervously and stepped inside. “Hi.” He allowed

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his gaze to sweep over Matt’s hard, fit body. He was wearing navy
chinos and shirt in a shade of yellow that went so well with his
coloring that Camden thought he looked amazing. What was he doing
here with a beautiful man who could have any man or woman he
wanted?

He hoped he wasn’t a big disappointment. The man had to be used

to something a whole lot more exciting than a doctor who spent all
day enjoying his work and the weekends in. “Cam.” Matt caught his
hand, and that’s when Camden realized he was backing up toward the
door. “Don’t be nervous,” he murmured. “I’m just a guy.”

“Right,” he muttered. “A bisexual guy who’s used to women a

whole lot cuter and sexier than me and—” Matt silenced him with a
kiss.

“Let’s go get you a drink. Some wine?” he asked. “I made steak

with mushroom gravy and pasta salad for dinner. Is that okay? I can
order out if not.”

“No, sounds perfect,” he said.
“Great.” He motioned for Cam to go ahead of him into the

kitchen, and he did, giving Matt what he wanted. A chance to ogle
Camden’s ass in the snug pants that hugged his small hips and round,
high ass.

Once in the kitchen, Matt poured them some wine before moving

to finish off the pasta salad. “How was your day, sexy?”

“Umm.” He gave a nervous laugh. “Okay. I have this patient who

refuses to stay on her color blood pressure medicine, and I’ve known
for a while that it’s only because she wants to be quote unquote,
normal.” He made a face.

Matt smiled. “Not your job to fix her head.”
“Yeah, I just hate it when our people try to be mortal,” Camden

said. “It’s demeaning to them and to us as a race.”

“I don’t feel demeaned. I feel sorry for them that they aren’t proud

of who and what they are,” he said. “So what’d you decide to do for
her?”

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“Give her some pills.” Camden made a face. “She likes that idea.”
Matt nodded. “I bet she does.”
“How was your day?” Camden asked, leaning against the counter

next to where Matt was working. His gaze went to his large hands.
The long fingers were lean and the nails short and clean.

“Trying.” He looked at the younger male. “But now that you’re

here, it’s looking better.”

Camden gave him a shy smile. “You scare me a little.” No he

scared him a lot. He was already falling for him and terrified it was
the worst decision his heart would ever make. He had lived with two
men who had put their jobs ahead of family—ahead of him. He’d
watched how that had hurt his mother. She’d loved his father fiercely
and for what? A few weeks here and there of his time.

He needed more than that, and Matt was in a line of work that

promised he would end up sleeping alone far too many nights. And
like his mother, he’d never be able to just walk away because Matt
would be everything to him.

“Yeah?” Matt frowned. “Why?”
Oh, just because he was the hottest, sexiest guy he’d ever been

alone with, and he could easily lose not just his heart to him. He
inhaled and looked away. “Umm, you–your family, do they live in
town?”

“The only family I have, yes.” He wiped his hands and reached

out to tug one of Camden’s curls. “The woman who had me put me up
for adoption because my father is Psy and she couldn’t deal with a
Psy child. My father is overseas. He lives in Italy.”

“Do you ever see him?”
“When he and his wife come to town,” he said. He gripped

Camden’s hip and shifted him in front of him and then pulled the
younger male’s slight body against his. He caressed his hips.
“Hungry?”

“Yeah. I skipped lunch.”
“Good.” Matt kissed him softly. “Dining room’s just through

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there. Take our wine and go on in.”

“Okay.” He stepped back and grabbed the glasses and strolled into

the room just off the kitchen. The lights were low, and the table was
set for two with a simple centerpiece of white flowers.

“Have a seat.” Matt stepped into the room behind him with two

heaping plates. He placed them on the table and waited until Camden
was seated to take the empty chair. He said a quick blessing and they
dug in.

“This is good,” Camden said, his surprise showing. “The steak is

tender. The salad is great.”

Matt smiled. “I can cook, although I must confess it is a well-kept

secret.”

Camden smiled. “The secret’s safe with me.”
His smile turned into a grin, and he leaned toward Camden. “I

think all of my secrets would be safe with you, baby.”

Camden averted his gaze shy and then said, “That’s why you

scare you me,” he admitted. “I like you too much and don’t even
know you.”

“What do you want to know?” he asked.
Camden swallowed then met his gaze. “Everything that makes

you who you are and who you want to be.”

Matt considered the statement as he ate. “I can give you that,

Cam,” he said. “Are you prepared to allow me that deep into you?”

Camden held his gaze. “I don’t know if you’d like what you’d

see,” he admitted. “I’m a workaholic.”

Matt shrugged. “Let me be the reason you’re not.”

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Chapter Eight


They finished their meal with Camden unsure of what to do now

that he’d opened up a can of worms. How did he go for what he
wanted? He wasn’t even sure Matt really understood he wanted a
relationship with him. “I’ll clear the table,” Matt said with a smile.
“You want coffee with your cake?”

“Sure.”
“Sugar? Cream?” Matt asked.
“Cream and Splenda if you have it.”
“One or two?”
“Two, please.” Camden answered.
“Won’t take too long, just relax.”
Camden sighed when he was alone. They could have sex, and

he’d be able to get the man out of his head.

Damn. He knew that was lie. If it were that simple he could just

have sex with another guy instead right? He groaned inwardly. Why
did this have to be so complicated for him?

Why couldn’t he just go for what he wanted and let the chips fall

where they may? If he ended up alone, so what? At least, he wouldn’t
have to wonder what it would have been like to be with Matt. And he
would wonder every day of his life if he didn’t take the chance.

Matt returned with the coffee and cake, and Camden took a sip of

the rich brew. “Mmm. This is good.”

Matt grinned. “Glad you like it.”
Looking at him Camden’s heart flipped. He loved the man’s

smiles and sexy grins, but he couldn’t think when he was looking into
those chocolate eyes. The man left him a little flustered sometimes.

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“Love it. What kind is it?”

“The kind I’m keeping a secret so you’ll have to come over and

borrow some,” he teased.

Camden smiled. “You didn’t make the cake.”
“Nope. I bought it from Silk Sensations.”
“Love that place. They make the best tarts and cakes.”
Matt nodded and they finished dessert. Afterwards, Matt cleared

the table beneath Camden’s watchful eye having told him to stay
seated. Matt wanted to impress him, to show him he would be more
than willing to do his part of the chores. “You are good at this
domestic stuff.”

Matt grinned and moved to pull Camden against him.

“Impressed?” He understood courting was an interesting business. A
prospective mate needed to be assured that he was getting a good
provider as well as someone sensitive to their needs. “Yeah.” He
grinned up at him. “Like I said before. You could be real handy.”

Matt lowered his head and brushed his lips over Camden’s.

“Probably right,” he said. “Let’s go to the living room. We can listen
to some music or watch a movie.”

“Music and a little more wine?”
“I’ll grab the wine.”
Camden watched him retrieve the wine and the glasses and then

followed him to the living room where a fire was going in the
fireplace. “This is a little romantic,” he commented, taking the glass
held out to him.

“Too much for a first date?”
“No.” Camden took a sip of wine and Matt put on some music. “I

was thinking how nice it is.” His gaze skated down the older man’s
hard body, and his hands wanted to touch. His skin screamed to feel
Matt against him, naked.

Camden kicked off shoes just as the object of his desire turned

around.

“You can get rid of the pants, too, if you like,” Matt said and gave

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him a suggestive grin.

Camden held his gaze, sensing a challenge. What was more, he

wanted it to be clear he was okay with having sex tonight. So, he
discarded his pants, draping them over the chair, and then he faced
Matt in the large room. The sofa wasn’t far from the fireplace. It
allowed for a little bit of that romantic ambiance. He brought his gaze
back to the big guy to find him watching him intently.

A shiver ran over his arms, making his flesh pimple. It had been

too long since a man made him feel this alive and desirable. He held
his breath as those beautiful chocolate eyes slid over him, and he
couldn’t help smiling a little at the flare of heat as Matt’s gaze
stopped on the briefs. He knew they were sexy, and he was sexy in
them. He tilted his chin up slightly and backed to the sofa where he
sat down, never taking his eyes from Matt even as he moved to join
him.

Matt took a sip of his own wine then set it on the low coffee table

and leaned toward Camden to play his fingers over one shapely thigh.
“I love how at ease you are even half-naked,” he murmured. “And
you should be. You have a nice body.” He stroked his hand up
beneath Camden’s shirt. “I want you, Cam.”

Camden leaned away from him to set his glass on the table, too.

He stood and removed the polo shirt and then straddled Matt. “I hope
so,” he said, a little nervous. “Because I can’t stop thinking about last
night or even this morning. That was sweet, last night was hot, and
tonight, I want it to get hotter.”

Matt reached up and stroked his fingers over Camden’s jaw. “Are

you sure?”

He nodded. “Yeah.”
“Show me how sure you are,” he urged. “Take what you’ve been

fantasizing about.”

Camden kissed him. It was a tentative kiss at first that became a

slow savoring of Matt that Camden couldn’t deprive himself of. His
arms curved around his neck, giving himself over to the hunger in him

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as it slowly rose to the surface.

Last night had been the reawakening of him as a sexual being, and

Camden was eager to make up for lost time. He arched into the strong
man whose hands were pushing beneath his tank top, seeking the
warmth of his skin. He was half on fire and getting hotter with each
lash of their tongues against each other.

“You’re a good kisser,” Camden said, breathless. “I want your

shirt off. I want to see you.”

Matt lifted his arms, and the younger male pushed the shirt up and

off. He tossed it aside and dropped his gaze to the dark wall of muscle
lightly sprinkled with curling hair. The man’s skin was beautiful, and
the way his hair curled as opposed to being straight was intriguing
and arousing at the same time.

He glided one hand down over the coarse hair and marveled at it.

He was envious of it. His chest hair was too straight. That’s why he’d
had it waxed. Plus he hated it. Camden lowered his head to kiss a path
to Matt’s nipple. He speared the hard little point with his tongue tip.

“Cam.” Matt breathed roughly.
He swirled his tongue around the tight, dark peak then sucked it

into his mouth. He scraped the tender flesh lightly before turning his
attention to the other nipple. His tongue curled around it, licked over
it. His hand caressed Matt’s shoulder down to his other nipple, and he
pinched it.

Matt hissed as he pushed his hand into Camden’s hair. He tugged

his head back and captured his mouth. Cam sighed into the kiss as his
hand stroked down between them and unerringly to the older man’s
thick erection.

He undid the belt as Matt’s tongue stroked his. He shuddered from

the heat of the kiss and the hunger conveyed through it. Matt’s kiss
was a slow, sensual mating that stole his breath and pushed his own
hunger higher.

Camden tore open the button of his pants and dragged the zipper

down and then pushed his hand inside the cotton boxer briefs. He

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shifted to get a better grip on the thick flesh, and his eyes snapped
open. He could barely get his hand all the way around it. He shivered.

Matt’s eyes opened, too, and the laughter in them made Camden

break the kiss. He laughed and so did Matt.

“Scared?”
“Yeah,” Camden murmured. “I’m scared of how good it’s going

to be.”

“Sick good,” Matt told him. “Let’s go upstairs.”
“No,” Camden said, shaking his head. “If we go upstairs, you’ll

take over.”

“There is only one way this can go, Cam,” he told him softly. “Me

fucking you, not the other way around.”

“I don’t care about that,” Camden told him with a frown. “I just

meant I want to be on top.”

“This time we can do it here, but next time I want you in my bed,”

he told him firmly. “I want your scent all over my sheets.” He kissed
him before Camden could reply. “Any way you want it this time,
baby. Next it’s all my way.”

Camden rolled his eyes. “Neanderthal.” He kissed him and

stroked his hands down Matt’s body before sliding down between his
legs until he was kneeling before him. “I’ve been fantasizing about
this.”

Matt reached between the cushion where he stashed the lube and

condoms. He produced a string of them. “Vanilla, chocolate, and
strawberry.”

“Strawberry to go with my caramel,” he said with a smile. “All I

need is a little whipped cream.”

Matt gave him a grin. “We’ll play in the kitchen sometime.”
Camden laughed softly as he tore open a condom. “I’m glad you

planned ahead,” he said. “You wanted me that bad?”

Matt caressed his jaw. “You don’t know how many times I’ve

jerked off thinking about you since I first saw you.”

Camden’s breath lodged in his chest. Could this beautiful man

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really want him just as much? He rolled the condom into place and
gripped the thick length before lowering his head. He swirled his
tongue around the tip and immediately found his mouth assailed with
a subtle strawberry flavor. He sank his mouth lower eagerly. He
wanted to make this so good, Matt never thought of anyone else. He
wanted to leave him in no doubt who could make his body burn.

* * * *


Matt closed his eyes as the fantasy came to life. The hot mouth

sank down on him, sucking and stroking his throbbing and aching
cock. He was willing to swear he’d been hard since that first look at
Cam’s ass this evening. He’d hoped for this but was willing to wait
until Cam was ready. The last thing he wanted was to push his mate
too fast. He’d romance him until the end of time if he had to.

He pushed the fingers of one hand into the younger man’s hair

and thrust into his mouth. He grimaced at the pleasure that raced
through him. “Fuck.” He forced himself stay put. He didn’t want to
take over, but he felt the dominance rising in him with each lash of
Cam’s tongue. The man was sucking and licking like he already
owned him, and son of a bitch, it felt so good.

His little tongue was a magick wand turning his blood to lava and

shredding his control. Matt threw his head back, teeth clenched. He
wanted to let him play, but he was losing it so fast he was going to
spill down the boy’s throat any moment.

“Damn it, Cam. That’s good, baby.” His eyes widened as Cam

raked him with his teeth. His hips jerked, pushing his cock to the back
of Cam’s throat. He reached down, wishing he’d thought to use a
cock ring. His fingers curled around the base of his erection to prevent
the release he felt boiling in his balls. He wasn’t ready.

“Mmm.” Camden moaned. He scraped Matt a little harder, and

Matt cried out and pulled his hair. “Like a little rough cock play,
baby?”
he asked telepathically.

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“Yes.” Matt’s voice was guttural.
Camden sucked him harder and cupped his balls before giving

them a lick and a suck. He pushed Matt’s hand out of the way and
pulled his cock and watched the man shudder. He closed his mouth
over the tip and sucked and used his hand to stroke the rigid flesh.

“Fuck, you minx,” he growled. “Stop.”
Camden took him deeper and Matt panted. The man was making

him crazy. He was going to go up in flames any second. Or sooner, he
thought as Camden took him down his throat and swallowed.

“Shit, Cam!” Matt fought the urge to come, gritted his teeth

against it. When he looked down, Cam was looking at him and he was
hot. Lips stretched around his cock, eyes aglow with heated lust.
Damn, he was beautiful.

And he was all his.
He grabbed the lube and squirted some onto his fingers and

rubbed it in. Matt leaned forward and tugged the snap, and the flap
opened, revealing Cam’s shapely little ass. He glided one finger down
the seam and pushed a slick tip into his ass.

Camden tightened on it immediately. “Matt.”
“Let me get you ready, sweetheart,” he crooned. “I want my cock

up this little ass soon.” He pushed his finger deeper, and Camden
groaned. “How tight you are, too.”

“God, Matt, I need it now.”
“Yeah? You think you’re ready now?” He withdrew his fingers

and pushed a second into the tight channel.

Camden kissed the side of Matt’s neck and sucked hard. “I’m

ready for you,” he said then nipped his neck.

Matt groaned and withdrew his fingers. He straightened then

pulled Camden up onto his lap.

Camden flowed into the harder body in front of him and felt the

hard arms curve around him as he curled his arms Matt’s neck. Their
mouths came together in a searing kiss that had him pushing his chest
more firmly into Matt’s.

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Oh, God, he wanted this so bad he was on fire from the need. He

didn’t want to wait any longer. Another minute was torture when his
body was already hard and aching. He lifted and his erection rubbed
against Matt’s, and he gasped as pleasure bit into him. Camden lifted
and reached back to grasp the thick pole of Matt’s erection with an
eager and slightly shaking hand and then eased down onto it.

The thick head pushed past the tight ring of muscle, and he

lowered himself another fraction to feel the girth part the tight tissues
of his ass. He closed his eyes as the thick veins glided against the
walls of his hot cavern, making him tremble. The fingers of one hand
clenched in Matt’s muscular shoulder. He eased down further.

“Oh fuck.” Camden panted as the burn arched through him. The

pleasure was pain that made him crave more.

“It’s just a little more than six inches,” Matt teased, and Camden

laughed.

“A lot, but you know I only said that because I thought you were a

straight messing with my head.”

Matt laughed softly. “Take me, Cam,” he urged. “Give us both

what we need.” He stroked his hand down to cup Camden’s ass and
urged him down on him.

Camden gripped Matt’s shoulder seconds later as he adjusted to

the fullness. He felt so good. Felt good to be held too, to be this close
to someone so big and warm. God, he could lose himself in the man
over this alone.

But Camden lifted and lowered himself. He had wanted this for a

whole month now. Watching Matt come and go, ogling his body,
panting every time he saw him. The real-life version was so much
better than the fantasy already. It was going to kill him when he came.

“Baby, you’re so tight, I could lose my mind,” Matt rasped out.

He thrust up, meeting Camden’s thrust.

Camden put his hands on the back of the couch. His hunger was

raging out of control, burning him alive. He’d waited too long to take
his time. Later, they could take things slow. But now…he increased

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the pace, slamming down onto Matt’s thick dick. He took him deep
and fast.

Matt gripped Camden’s hips tighter, thrusting up again and again.

Camden made soft mewling noise as pleasure rocked him hard. Never
had sex been so good in his life. He could die right here and now and
die a happy man.

Matt’s fingers scraped over the hearts, and Camden’s hips jerked.

He did it again as he thrust up into him.

“Oh, fuck!” Camden cried. “You feel so good.” His cock bobbed

a little until Matt gripped it and stroked it at the same time he rasped
his nails over the hearts. That was too much for Camden, and his
orgasm exploded through him like the force of a bomb. He screamed,
unable to hold back.

Matt thrust up into him, and Camden slammed down onto him

again and felt his lover’s nails lock in his hip and heard his hard cry of
release.

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Chapter Nine


Matt disentangled himself from the soundly sleeping Camden an

hour later. He climbed out of bed and pulled on a pair of boxer briefs
then headed downstairs to clean up the mess of their clothes and used
condoms in the living room. Once he’d done that, he dropped down
on the sofa with his tablet. The secure connection was provided by
Dillan’s allies in the Phantom colony.

He turned it on and began working on finding the password to get

into Torque’s files. None of the names he’d tried earlier had worked,
and he’d gotten frustrated. He took a deep breath and thought of all
the names he’d tried earlier and then began going through the list
again. This time, he considered every possible angle from a
perpetrator’s point of view. Even pedophiles enjoyed taking trophies,
so what could Torque have considered a fit trophy?

He considered the cases carefully and one stood out in his mind.

Not the ones he was sure Torque was guilty of but hadn’t been able to
get him on, but another. This case was similar to a case he’d been
kicked off just after going after Torque. A thirteen year old boy.
Torque liked them between the ages of thirteen and seventeen. He
kept them three days and three nights before killing them and leaving
them out someplace for someone to find. The last case he’d begun
working, the thirteen year old boy had been found in his parents’ bed.

Torque had told him there was nothing sweeter than a babe in its

momma’s arms. Nothing more precious than a sweet bit of warmth in
the parental bed. He’d killed the boy there, but he hadn’t guessed that
then. Now, he typed in a few words. The first four sets he tried didn’t
work, so he typed in a fifth and the file unlocked for him.

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Pig in a blanket.
More than a little perverse, he thought, but he didn’t take time to

mull over the ravings of a sick mind. He dived in, looking for
something that connected the American Hyde-Smyth to Torque and
he found it within an hour.

“Hey.”
Matt looked up fifteen minutes after he’d fired up his computer to

send copies of parts of the files to Dillan and Trace. He saw the lean
male standing in the doorway of the living room in one of his old T-
shirts with his hair mussed. His heart beat faster and something like
butterflies played in his stomach. That was one sexy little man, and he
was willing to bet Cam had no idea how sexy and sweet he was.

“Come here,” he said, and Camden came to him.
“I’m not exciting enough to linger with?” he asked in a tone that

was a cross between humor and hurt.

Matt jerked his gaze back to Cam and saw the hint of hurt in his

pretty green eyes. He reached over and sank his fingers into his hair
and pulled the other man to him for a kiss. “Sorry, sweetheart, I just—
thanks to how relaxed you left me, I was able to crack this damned
password.”

“I should go. It’s getting late, and I’m sorry I passed out like that,”

he said and got to his feet. “I’m a little more tired than I thought I was
and—”

“Damn it.” Matt was in front in a heartbeat. “Don’t do this, Cam,”

he said softly. “This is important, and so are you. I didn’t mean to hurt
you.” He cupped his face and looked down into his eyes. “Believe me.
Trust me, please.”

Camden swallowed tightly. “I know I was just a fuck, and now

it’s over,” he said. “I need to go.”

“Ca—”
“Matt, please don’t,” Camden snapped. “Just leave me alone.” He

sighed harshly. “I knew, but I came anyway. You might be bisexual,
but you prefer women. Dinner was great. I’ll get my clothes later or

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put them in the trash.”

Matt went after him but didn’t attempt to stop him. He still had so

much work to do. He didn’t want to stand around fighting a losing
battle. It was better to walk him home and pick this up later.

“You don’t need to walk me home,” he snapped. “I’m not some

helpless fag who needs your protection.”

He didn’t reply as he followed Camden across the yard and to his

front door. Camden let out a growl and slammed his fist into the door.
Matt used an unlock spell.

“I’ll get my keys in the morning,” Camden muttered then stepped

inside and closed the door on Matt.

* * * *


Across town, two men stood in a dimly lit room at a motel.
“Why weren’t you there that night?” Carlin demanded of the

muscular male leaning against the dingy wall.

“Torque told me to go get the spells from Rich,” he said. “He

wanted them ready for the ceremony. He said Rich had come up with
something that would ensure nothing prevented us from siphoning off
their immortal energy.”

“Nothing will,” Carlin stated blandly.
“Torque was certain something might get in the way,” he

answered and averted his gaze.

“What might get in the way?” Lucan demanded in an icy tone. He

was holding up the wall next to Carlin’s chair.

“The sister of the seer told him they’d found a way to block us,”

he admitted, meeting Lucan’s ice-blue gaze. “This girl is a little better
than her sister. She says the dominants aren’t the only ones with a
power trine at work. The subs have one, too, and Riley Collins is at
the center of it.”

“Damn it,” Lucan muttered. “Who are the other two?”
“She’s not certain of anyone but Sagan. However, she does think

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it’s either Kerry, Cash, or Matt or Jacinto’s mate. She says, the trine
of the mates has an energy of its own that’s untouchable. Accessing
that energy is important to the spell because it’s the half of the whole
that makes the immortality possible. The trine is as much about their
power as mates.

“Their psychic strength increases more so than the dominants’,

and she predicts their magical strength will increase making it
possible for the mates alone to thwart any spells the seers create.”

“We can’t risk that,” Lucan said. “We need to find out how that

energy works so we can disrupt it.”

“She draws the queen of spades and the queen of hearts.”
“Niall is the spade,” Carlin said. “Matt must be the heart. Did she

tell Torque how to blind the mates then?”

“Not blind them,” he said, excitement in his tone. “Turn the

connection to you into a two-way stream so they can’t block you from
sharing their magick and their power increase. She says it’s a delicate
thing though. It all depends on this third and what he brings to the
table.”

“Where’s the spell?” Lucan asked.
“It wasn’t ready,” he said. “But she’ll have it ready in two days.

You’ll be able to cast it on the dark of the moon to prevent Riley from
picking it up as it happens.”

“We’ll still need to investigate the mates,” Lucan said. “I had no

idea they had a power base on their own.” Carlin looked up at him,
his expression grim. “Tell Austin to investigate this thing with his
woman. I need to know as soon as they know how we can put an end
to it without screwing up the immortal energy.

* * * *


Back across town, Riley’s eyes jerked open and his heart pounded

hard.

“What is it?” Trace asked sleepily. His eyes were still closed, but

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Riley’s fear and change in body rhythm had jerked him from his own
sleep as they lay on the couch in their living room.

“The dragon seer,” Riley said in a ragged breath. “She was

planning a spell that would create a link into the coven’s power.”

“I don’t understand.”
“They are still going to be able to steal our energy,” he said. “I

don’t know what she looks like, but if you don’t find her, they will
still kill us in this lifetime.”

* * * *


“Yeah?” Dillan answered his phone.
“It’s Matt,” he said in a tense tone.
“I got the file you sent,” he said. “I’m looking at it now.”
“I’m looking at it, too, but I didn’t send you this page I’m looking

at,” he said, his gut tight. “I’m sending you a copy. The highlighted
parts are all you need to worry about.”

Dillan checked his mail a moment later and downloaded the page.

He read through it once and then again. “Matt?”

“Yeah. I know the seer. She’s in the pictures. She’s Hyde-Smyth

and Richmond Daisy’s woman. She’s been called one of the best
seers of all time. They might know we’re behind the attack on
Torque. Just as importantly she’s predicting there’s a way to get our
energy, but she made a small note that she’s worried the mates could
be a problem.”

“I’ll call Trace,” he said. “Stay on the line.” He made the call.
“What?”
“Trace, get up,” Dillan ordered. “Get to your computer.”
“I’m up,” he said in an irritated tone. “Riley had a bad dream.”
“You’re such a sensitive man,” he mocked.
“Fuck you, dickhead,” he retorted coldly. “You could use some of

my sensitivity.”

Dillan grunted. “Turn on your computer. Matt found something

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important.”

“What’s it pertaining to?”
“Our immortal energy and how to stop us from getting it still.”
“Son of a bitch,” he snapped. “Just tell me.”
“The long and short is the seer is the key to keeping our days

numbered, and she’s worried our mates are a threat.”

“What?” Dillan responded to Matt’s statement.
Matt explained, “She’s one of the greatest seers of our time, and

she’s created a spell to link right into us.”

“Does she have a tat?” Trace demanded.
“They all do,” Matt replied. “A dragon.”
“Where do they live?” Trace demanded.
“I can get that info in a few hours,” Dillan said. “Why?”
“We take them out tonight,” Trace said. “We can’t allow her spell

to be performed. Be ready to move once you get it.”

“You and Carter come here, bring your boys, and I’ll get my

brothers to back us.”

“I’ll meet you guys there,” Matt said. He hung up and dressed and

headed to Dillan’s. He was reasonably certain that his mate was safe.
No one knew about them yet. Only his brothers would pick up any
signs of a beginning mating because they would know that very subtle
sign to look for.

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Chapter Ten


Matt stood outside the home of Austin, Richmond, and their

woman, Raina. The house had been bought with the money Austin
had collected from the death of Jeffery Hyde-Smyth’s twin brother.
Jeffery’s death would net him another million once the insurance
investigators finished their investigation.

Or it would have. However, Austin was about to meet the same

end as his cousins if they had anything to say about it.

“Alex is inside,” Dillan told them telepathically. “All three are

home. The girl is working in a room on her own and the boys are
playing a little game of hide the wiener.”

Matt smirked at Dillan’s dry statement. His brothers had left their

mates with four men from Dillan’s ally Phantom guarding them.
However, there was really no need for a guard since the old
protections put in place by Ricardo, the previous owner of the land,
and Sagan’s uncle were still working fine. Those protections
prevented the dark Psy from entering the land without an invitation.

“He’s going to let us in,” Dillan continued. “He’ll knock the girl

out, but don’t think this is going to be that easy.”

“No, Riley saw a force of four,” Trace said. “So, let’s go in soft

and quick in case they’re waiting on us.”

Matt glanced at Reece, the male at his side. He was one of

Dillan’s coven brothers.

“We’ll use veils once we’re inside,” Reece suggested. “I’ll give

you the spell. We bring up the rear. That way we can take out the
side.”

Matt nodded in agreement, and Reece gave him the spell. He

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recited it a few times in his head.

“We’re moving in,” Dillan said.
“Now.” Reece gave Matt a nod, and they both recited the spell.
He followed Reece from the bushes next to the side of the house

they’d been hiding in. Getting through the security had been easy but
once inside the gate they’d had a hard time finding someplace to hide
as they avoided motion detectors. Alex and Reece had disabled the
detectors with a spell that allowed them freedom of movement on the
not-too-extensive grounds.

Matt slipped into the back door behind Reece, who headed for the

garage. He frowned but once they stepped inside he could see why.
Three big guys were lounging around looking bored. He assumed
Austin and Richmond expected company.

Reece showed himself to Matt’s surprise and Matt waited as the

attack began. Once the three men were focused on the other man, he
became visible behind the loiterer who was hanging back while the
other two engaged Reece magically.

“Hey.”
The man jerked around, and Matt sucker punched him. He had to

admit he wasn’t ashamed of himself. They’d been on the receiving
end of that for way too long. The man stumbled, and Matt lifted his
hand waist-high and drove it up. The man gasped as the blade spell
penetrated his chest. Matt pulled back and drove it in again.

He was just about to turn when he was hit from behind with a

spell that stabbed into his right shoulder. He grunted and jerked
around to send out the same spell. The spell was a nasty humming bee
spell that would lodge in muscle and tear up bone as it shattered
inside the body. His spell missed, but he leveled another one at him
and the man’s foot caught his hand, throwing him off-balance. As he
fell backward, Matt threw the spell. At the same time, Reece threw his
own spell. The two spells hit the man in tandem. He cried out as he
went down, and Reece and Matt finished him off as one.

They used the veil spell before heading inside, where they found a

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trail of dead bodies.

“She was a nasty bitch,” Trace said and grimaced from the wound

to his stomach.

He was bleeding out pretty good, Matt noticed. But then so were

most of them.

“Did you get the spells?” Matt asked.
“Some, but the ones we’re after weren’t here,” Alex said. “She

bluffed us good, but I was able to get into her mind. The spells we
want were stolen yesterday. She doesn’t know by whom. She was
trying to recreate the spells with a new slant that would prevent
anyone from using the old ones against the buyer, but she wasn’t
working on them alone. Her sister, Amy, was working on them with
her.”

“What about the spells she was working on?” Reece asked.
“This was a set-up,” Alex told them. “She foresaw us coming, and

put the spells out of reach.”

“Damn,” Matt muttered. “We needed that spell book.”
“We need to find Amy,” Trace said and grimaced.
“Buddy, you’re going to bleed to death right here.” Carter put a

hand on Trace’s shoulder.

“I’ll see what I can do about that,” Alex said. “Austin was one of

Carlin’s best. He’s going to be pissed.”

“Good,” Trace said and took a ragged breath.
“We’ll clean up the blood,” Reece said. “You go ahead and start

the healing.”

“I want to leave a message for Aero,” Trace said. “I want him to

know we’ve got his shit.”

“We don’t,” Carter said with a frown.
“Let him think we do,” Dillan agreed. “I’ll leave the message.

Carter heal his ass before he falls out.”

* * * *

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Camden got up the next morning in a bad mood. He took a slow

shower and climbed out. While he was moisturizing he thought he
heard someone downstairs and figured it was Matt dropping off his
keys. He dressed in black pants and a gold shirt and finished getting
ready before heading downstairs for coffee.

The aroma of rich dark roast filled the hallway, and he hoped to

Goddess Matt wasn’t in his kitchen with some lame-ass excuse about
his keys. He was going to scream like a shrew at him to get out if he
was.

When he stepped into the kitchen he came up short. The coffee

was on and a half dozen yellow roses with two red ones were lying on
the counter next to a white pastry box. Camden advanced into the
kitchen and found his keys lay next to the box. There was a note
tucked beneath it. He pulled it free.


Sorry I made you feel second best.
Please forgive me,
Matt

“Jerk,” he said, feeling a little a teary. When did he get so

sensitive?

He got a vase for the roses and cut the stems a little before

washing his hands and opening the box. His favorite. Cheese and
raspberry Danish from Silk Sensations. Now, he was going to cry.
How did the man know what he liked?

“He’s a cop.” He laughed. “Oh, Matt. You’re a sweet jerk.” He

took a bite out of one of the Danish then poured himself some of the
coffee and his eyes widened. Matt’s delicious coffee. A tear did
escape him this time. Damn, the man was going to break his heart and
he was going to be a party to it because he certainly wasn’t going to
be able to just walk away from him as he’d planned last night.

* * * *

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“Have you found out anything yet?” Baker asked Matt after sitting

down across from him in the café near the hospital.

He’d spent the morning chasing a few leads, and one of them had

panned out. “One of Jessie’s neighbors called me this morning,” he
said. “He wanted to show me something.”

“What?” Baker demanded.
“He said he’d been out of town these last few days, but he likes to

watch Jessie and Harlan when he’s in town. He said he put a camera
in their apartment.”

“Son of bitch,” he swore in a quiet harsh tone. “What’s on it?”
“Besides them?” he asked tiredly. “Jessie arguing with Callum

and Callum participating in a three-man rape of both Jessie and
Harlan. It was a brutal attack that occurred right after I talked to Jessie
that night. I mean nasty, Baker. You don’t want to see what they did
to your son. He wasn’t—”

“Was he dead when they cut him—” His voice broke.
Matt shook his head. His expression hardened with the rage he’d

felt as he watched the footage. He’d known Callum’s life expectancy
had just rapidly decreased. “No and they made Jessie watch,” he said.
“The guy turned his tapes over. He had four cameras in there, and he
made me promise not to prosecute him for breaking and entering and
putting those cameras in.”

“I don’t fucking care about him,” he said coldly. “If he was

involved, he’s a dead man, too.”

“He wasn’t,” Matt said quickly. “I had someone get into his head.

His only crime is being a perv.”

Baker nodded. The rage in his eyes sparkled brightly and Matt

didn’t blame him one bit. Baker might not have been a deadbeat dad,
but his son had been a good man who hadn’t deserved to die like that.

“For that he only gets an ass-kicking,” Baker said.
“Two of the boys are already dead,” he said. He’d killed one last

night at Hyde-Smyth’s. “All you get is Callum.”

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“Fine,” he said. “I want the video, so he’ll know why he’s getting

killed.”

Matt slid the video cards across the table to him. He got up and

strode away.

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Chapter Eleven


“Hey,” Dillan greeted Matt that evening. “You brought drinks.”

He smiled. “Let’s drop these off in the kitchen.”

They did, and Matt greeted Sagan and the other younger males

busily working in the kitchen, and then headed out to the back porch
with Dillan.

“I found out the Minister of Defense is one of Aero’s boys,” he

said. “He’s head Knight.”

“Really? No wonder we lost our land,” Dillan murmured.
“Yeah, well, he was the one who pushed it through,” he said.

“He’s a brutal son of a bitch who likes to talk too much.”

“What do you mean? He didn’t just tell you.”
“No,” he agreed. “He bragged about it to my source before he

killed him. Told him no one could get to him.”

“We’re going to have to take him down,” Dillan said. “He’s a big

part of our problem.”

“Yeah, his days are numbered,” he agreed quietly. “We have to

take down the Knights period. They’ll make our life hell once we’ve
become immortal. They might not be able to kill us, but they can still
cause us plenty of grief.”

“That’s my point,” Dillan stated. “We need to clean house.”
“I don’t have a list of the Knights,” he said. “I do have a partial

one. Those on Torque’s payroll at the dealership and a shipping
business he co-owns with Lucan. I’ve been trying to dig up anything I
can on Lucan, but there’s nothing that tells me anything about the
name he might be using in Bough.”

“Any pictures?”

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“Yeah,” he said. “I’ve got two of him with Aero. I had a facial

recognition done on the pictures, but none of our brothers match
Lucan’s features. There was no match to Carlin either, but what got
the pictures of his tats. The one he has for Bough and the one he has
for Dark Spear.”

“Did you have the tats matched?”
“Exact matches, but the one for Bough is henna-magick. It’s on a

timeline. He has to renew it every so often in order to keep it in place.
I surmised that because part of it had started to fade in one of the
pictures.”

Dillan drew in a breath and pushed it out. “Trace will simply have

to pull back from Bough and fight this war with them from the
standpoint of a leader,” he said. “He won’t be able to take too many
more chances once Aero realizes we’re not the same ignorant patsies
anymore.”

“Yeah, well, Austin wasn’t the only Dark Spear we killed last.

There was Tao,” he said. “Tao was Carlin’s right hand man.”

“Trace killed the Asian.”
“Yeah, that’s going to piss Aero off. Richmond was Lucan’s top

dog, so I suspect they’ll both be in a bit of a funk.” Dillan grunted.
“How do you know?” he demanded as he lifted the top of the grill.

“Torque kept a journal of some things he thought were important

or things he might be able to use to bargain with I guess,” he
explained. “That’s where I found the pictures of Carlin and Lucan. I
haven’t had time to read it all, just parts of it, but he has it organized
into nice, neat little sections.”

Dillan nodded. “Do you want help?”
“No, I got it,” he answered. “He has a couple of others marked

journal on the file, but they’re password protected just like the one I
started on today. I’ll have to crack the passwords before I can do
anything with them.”

“What are we talking about?” Trace asked and held out bottles of

tea.

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“Boys.” Carter joined them with Niall and Jacinto in tow.
The men exchanged greetings. Niall was a Beorc historian like

Dillan, and Jacinto was a doctor like Dillan, Carter, and Trace. Niall
owned his own business as did Juniper, who was just strolling out to
join them. Juniper and Niall and their mates had once belonged to
Misty Willows as had Carter.

“What are we talking about?” Niall asked.
Dillan told them all what Matt had just told him.
“I’ll help with the journals if you need it,” Niall offered.
“I’ll let you know,” he answered. He liked Niall, but felt no

inclination to share the task with him.

“’Kay then,” he answered. “Oh, Miller’s clear. We had a little chat

last night. The son of a bitch is mortal FBI. He’s on Carlin’s trail for
murder in Arizona and New Mexico, but they haven’t been able to get
to Carlin or even ascertain his actual identity.”

“So, thanks to us and Miller we might have to deal with mortals,”

Trace said in disgust.

* * * *


“Hey.” Sagan greeted Camden at the door. “Come on in the

kitchen. Devon’s already busy with our side dishes, and the guys are
manning the grill. Something most of them can do.”

Camden snorted. “Can’t all macho men?” he joked.
Sagan snickered and put an arm around him, and the urge to flay

the skin from his bones had the pyrokinesis flaring in Camden so fast
he lost control of it.

“Shit.” Sagan jerked away at the burn to his arm and gave

Camden a curious look.

“I’m sorry,” Camden said apologetically. He reached out to touch

Sagan, and Sagan took a step back, holding up a hand.

“It’s okay,” he said. “I see you brought us something.”
“Cake,” he said quietly. He was hurt by the way Sagan refused his

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touch, but he was also shocked by the loss of control that wasn’t
common in him. It was as if his body had rebelled against the touch of
his old friend. He could think of no reason it should have occurred.

Sagan smiled. “Forget about that, Camden.” He led him into the

spacious kitchen where Sagan immediately put him to work on the
potatoes Sagan had just pulled from the oven. “So, how are things
going with your neighbor?”

Camden smiled, eager to think of something besides his odd

reaction to Sagan. “I’m not sure what’s up,” he said. “We had dinner
last night. He cooked, and we had sex.”

“He’s gay.” Sagan smiled.
“Or bi,” Riley countered. “What happened? Was he good?”
Camden grinned. “Hell yeah,” he exclaimed. “He’s huge. I swear

he has to be nine inches at least.”

Devon, Sagan, and Riley chuckled.
“So, did Mr. Nine Inches call today?” Devon asked.
“Last night, I woke up, and he was gone,” he said and told them

what happened. “This morning, he brought my keys over with
flowers, my favorite pastries, and some of the most delicious coffee
I’ve ever had.”

“And?” Riley demanded.
“And a note apologizing for being dick,” he said. “It was so sweet

I just want to cry.”

Riley touched him and jerked his hand back as the flesh of his

palm was burned superficially. “Shit, y—”

“So are you seeing him again?” Devon cut in, giving Riley a look.
“What?” Camden demanded, giving Devon a suspicious look. He

was a little flustered by the second occurrence and feared something
was going wrong with him. Their attempts to ignore it only made him
fearful that they, being doctors, knew what was wrong and it was
something bad that they were keeping from him.

“Nothing,” Devon said with a shrug.
“You’re a liar,” Camden said in a raised voice. “Spill it.”

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Devon exchanged looks with the other two. “You’re doing the

same thing we all did when we found our Beorc mate.”

“What?” Camden had heard of the Beorc males. They were part of

the Psy Separatist Community, and one of the covens had gotten a
new leader a month ago. He’d also heard they were strong supporters
of gay males, and sponsored programs to help them succeed
educationally as well as in business. They were all highly sexual,
could go all night, and had a yen for bondage or S&M.

He could get with that highly sexual part. However, they were

said to subjugate their males, forcing them to assume a more feminine
role in the relationship. That was something he’d never stand for. He
acknowledged his less than dominant side, reveled in it, but he was
not a woman.

“I don’t know any Beorc,” he said carefully. While they were

known to frequent the Psy country club, they weren’t known to make
close friends of those outside of their very close circle of Beorc or the
Separatist Community in general.

“Yeah, you probably do,” Riley contradicted. “He just hasn’t told

you what he was, which isn’t surprising considering all the things that
have happened lately.”

“How would I know he’s Beorc?” Camden pressed with a frown.

“It’s not like he has a tattoo on his forehead.”

“But he has one,” Sagan said. “You’d know it the minute you saw

it because it would match yours or in some—”

“When he touches yours it makes you hotter,” Devon said.

“Drives me stone crazy that Carter can make me come just licking the
damned thing.”

Riley laughed. “And they know it.”
“Yours is near your ass,” Sagan said.
“What!” Camden exclaimed. “That is a birthmark.”
“Two hearts,” Sagan told the others.
“And an arrow through the center, but it’s a birthmark, Sagan,” he

muttered. “And why were you checking out my ass?”

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Sagan shrugged. “It’s nice.”
“Who has that?” Devon asked Riley.
Riley smiled and then grinned. “You will find out soon enough,”

he said. “So where is your family, Camden?”

“I don’t have any,” he answered. “What does the mark mean?” He

had to know what he had gotten himself into and what he could
expect. He’d rather know than have uncomfortable events unfold that
left him uncertain and afraid.

“It means you’re his and he’s yours,” Sagan answered. “And it

means your life is about to change.”

* * * *


“I think the book that my source had complied might have some

of the spells in it that the dragon seer had written,” Matt told them.
“I’ve found her sister Amy. She works for Psy Enforcement, and
she’s a spell creator.”

“So we need this book in order to prevent them from draining our

immortal energy?” Dillan asked and looked up just as Sagan stepped
out onto the back porch a few minutes later.

“Yep,” Matt answered.
“Maybe we should just try to capture this Amy,” Dillan said. “I’ll

have my guy check things out. See how difficult it would be.”

“We’ll have to take out the Knights before going after Aero,”

Trace said. “Otherwise we’ll be outnumbered, and I want to do this
before Matt and Jake mate.”

“I’m on my way to it now,” Jacinto told them. “He’s a spell

creator as well and he works with Amy.”

“I don’t want to put him in any danger, but see if you can get

anything out of him that might help us,” he said.

“Not a problem.”
“Good,” Trace said. “Matt, we need anything from Torque’s

journals you can find to help us take out the most powerful of the

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Knights.”

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Chapter Twelve


“Come on, Camden,” Sagan said after they put the food on the

table. “Let’s introduce you to the guys.”

On the way to the other side of the patio, they were waylaid by

Niall and Juniper’s mates Cash and Kerry. After a brief conversation,
Riley got Sagan to turn up the music, and the four of them danced a
couple of dances.

“I need to dance with my man,” Riley murmured.
Devon laughed. “Dancing is just foreplay.”
They all chuckled. “Well, you do that,” Sagan said. “Come on,

Camden.” He introduced Camden to Niall and Juniper, who headed to
the dance area at the far side of the wood floor patio where Chinese
lanterns served as decoration and light.

“That’s nice,” Camden said, indicating the outdoor fireplace.
“That was Dillan’s idea. He said ‘How can you entertain on this

great porch if it’s cold outside?’ So, he had that done and the other
two free-standing ones.” He indicated the fires burning in the stone
that looked like flowerpots. “It is kind of cool though,” he said with a
grin. “Damn, I love that man.”

Camden gave him a smile, but he had to admit he envied the three

men who were fast becoming his friends. What they’d told him
tonight had him intrigued because he’d only come into intimate
contact with one man lately. That was the one man who’d captivated
his mind and held his body in thrall. The very thought of another man
touching him made him want to light the man on fire.

Like he’d almost done with Riley and Sagan. He’d barely pulled

back the psychokinetic attack.

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And Matt had joined hearts similar to his own on his chest. He’d

been curious about them, but hadn’t had a chance to ask. He’d
imagined they were meant to symbolize his first love or something,
but that they could be a sign Matt was meant for him blew his mind.
If Matt was his, why hadn’t he said something? Maybe he hadn’t told
him because he didn’t want him.

“Hi, baby.” Sagan moved to stand next to Dillan, who wrapped an

arm around his waist and kissed his jaw. “Camden, this is my honey,
Dillan. You know everybody else.”

“Hey, man, glad you could make it,” Dillan said. “Sagan talks

about you a lot.” He held his hand out to him, but Sagan put his hand
on Dillan’s.

“All good I hope,” he said with a frown as he followed Sagan’s

gesture.

“Nothing but,” Dillan assured him, drawing his attention back to

his face.

“What’s up, man?” Trace greeted.
“Good to see you, Camden,” Carter said from his position by the

grill.

“Come dance with me,” Devon said to Carter.
“Here ya go, man.” Matt moved around the group to pass Carter a

platter for the steaks and ribs.

“Take those off, dude?” Carter asked, holding the meat fork out to

him by the handle.

“Sure.”
“That is Matt,” Sagan said as Carter and Devon left.
Matt turned his head, and his gaze collided with Camden’s green

stare. “Hey, sweetheart. I guess I should have known you knew Sagan
at least.”

“Hello, Matt,” Camden said stiffly. He was surprised to see Matt,

but his heart skipped a beat at his sexy tone.

“You know each other?” Dillan asked curiously.
“Matt is my neighbor,” he admitted.

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The neighbor?” Sagan asked innocently.
“Yeah.” Camden’s gaze swiveled to him, and he saw past that

feigned innocence and the twitch of Sagan’s lips further gave him
away. He narrowed his eyes on him as he put one hand on his hip.

“What neighbor?” Matt demanded, his gaze going from Sagan to

Camden.

Sagan laughed. “Come dance with me, Dillan.”
“One dance before dinner. I’m starving,” Dillan said, taking his

hand.

“So, you’re neighbors?” Riley said with a grin.
“Yeah,” Matt agreed with a frown.
“Isn’t that a coincidence?” Riley said giving Camden a grin.
“I guess,” Matt answered throwing Camden a look.
Camden turned his gaze on Matt to find his eyes slinking over him

in his low-rise camel colored jeans and cobalt shirt. The hem just
covered his torso when he held up his arms. The throat of the shirt
open revealing the camel-colored bead necklace he wore with the
gold butterfly that matched the one on the fly of his jeans.

Riley laughed and stroked Trace’s arm. “It’s nice we all know

each other.”

“Yeah,” Trace agreed throwing Matt a curious look.
“So, I think it’d be okay to leave them alone, Tray, while we

dance,” Riley said with a seductive smile.

Camden frowned. He felt as if the boys were deserting him.

Especially Sagan, who had to have guessed by now how hot he was
for Matt.

Trace caught Riley’s hand. “What are you up to, darling?”
“Not me,” he said with an innocent smile. “Camden is the one

with the secrets.”

Trace put a hand on Riley’s waist. “So, you just want to give them

a second alone?” he asked.

“’Course.” He gave Camden a smile.
Trace chuckled and led Riley away.

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“You look cute,” Matt said, letting his gaze slid over Camden

again. “The shirt is too short and the pants are too suggestive
considering you didn’t know I’d be here.”

Camden’s brows lifted in incredulity. “Are you insane?” he

demanded. “This shirt is perfect, and how can my pants be too
suggestive?” Even if they were, how the hell is that your business?”
He crossed his arms over his chest.

Matt put the platter down and stalked toward Camden, eyes

glittering with intent. “They’re too low, and that cute little butterfly
just draws the eye right down to something no other man gets to touch
but me.” He cast a glance down to said butterfly which was a colorful
spot on the fly of Camden’s pants.

He made an annoyed sound. “Mathias Roseland—”
Matt kissed him and drew him roughly against him. “Mmm, you

taste like potatoes.”

He punched Matt lightly after pushing away from him. “You

should have said you were gay not bi.”

“I never said I was bisexual,” he said. “I like that little shirt you’re

wearing too. Cobalt is a nice color on you.” He kept his voice low.

Camden took a step back. His head was reeling and his heart was

beating out of his chest. Fear? Anticipation? Which, he wasn’t sure. If
Matt was his mate—what did that even mean? And what if Matt
didn’t want him?

It was fear.
“Stop,” he said when Matt moved to close the distance between

them. “Don’t.”

“Don’t what? Don’t touch you?” he asked in a tone thrumming

with hunger. “How can I not, baby, you’re so hot.”

“This isn’t a brothel,” he muttered. “You don’t get to grope me at

will.”

“I apologized, come on, Cam,” he pleaded. “I meant it.”
“Maybe,” he said. “But don’t touch me.” He turned and strode

away. Camden was all but shaking. The man had him and there was

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nothing he could do. Putting distance between them only bought him
time to think a little.

* * * *


The men sat down fifteen minutes later. Camden found himself

seated across from Matt at one of the two round tables they had
gathered at to eat. The conversation flowed between the two tables in
a lively fashion that kept Camden amused and even more aware of his
lonely life. After dinner, there was a clearing away of the remains of
meal, and Camden was led inside by Sagan to help plate up dessert.

“Matt is hot,” Sagan said and grinned at Camden.
“Hot and hot for you,” Riley said from across the center island.

“You could so have him if you want him. He was watching your ass
so hard when you left him at the grill.”

Camden scrunched his face into a doubtful look. “I don’t know.”
Sagan shrugged. “What don’t you know? If you want him?”
“I don’t think he’s—”
“Step outside of your comfort zone,” Riley urged.
“Listen to you,” Trace teased.
“Giving him the benefit of my mistakes,” he said with a smile.
Trace stole a slice of cake. “Mmm. Who made this?”
“I did,” Camden said.
“Good.” He nodded as he chewed then swallowed. “You know, if

you’re hot for Matt, don’t let something silly keep you from having
what you want.”

“Honey.” Riley grabbed the plate of cookies and headed for the

door. “Not everyone is as determined as you. Besides, it’s not like he
can manhandle Matt into a sexy, hot bondage scene.”

Sagan laughed as the two headed out the door. “I’m really glad

you came. You were never that social in school.”

Camden studied him a moment and then said “What are you guys

not telling me about that mate stuff?”

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Sagan shrugged. “It’s for life.”
“He might not even want me,” he said. “I mean wouldn’t he

know? Why wouldn’t he make a move?”

“Looks like Matt was making moves,” he said. “You just weren’t

receiving them well.”

Camden sighed. “What if it’s not real? What if he’s not into me

and this mating stuff has his hormones out of whack or something?”

“I don’t know how it works,” Sagan said. “I do know that you

can’t fake emotion for a mate, but he didn’t look like he was
pretending. Any way, you like him right?”

“Yeah, but—”
“No buts,” Sagan cut in. “Lust is a guilty pleasure worth indulging

in with a hot, sexy alpha, especially when he belongs to you.”

* * * *


“Camden’s cute,” Dillan’s said. “You thinking about playing with

him?”

Matt met his gaze. They were standing near one of the fireplaces.

“He’s my mate.”

Dillan nodded. “Good doctor, too.”
Matt smiled. “I’m not surprised. Jake, when do we get to meet

your boy?” He threw a look to the older male.

Jacinto shrugged. “We’ll see. He’s a little gun shy.”
“This is going to be good,” Dillan teased, giving Jacinto a grin.
Jacinto gave him a bored look. “Go dance with your chick,” he

retorted, his lips twitching.

Dillan laughed. “What’s wrong with him? He deaf, got a wooden

leg or no leg?”

Jacinto laughed. “Go dance with your chick or I will.”
Dillan laughed, and Sagan came to wrap his arm around Dillan’s

waist. “Baby, come dance with me. Cam can’t.”

Matt smiled, and his gaze drifted to Camden, who was standing

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next to Sagan. He let his eyes travel slowly down his body, making no
secret of his appreciation. He’d love a little a dance or two with his
mate too, but now wasn’t the time to press.

“I’m out of here, boys and girls,” Jacinto said with a chuckle. See

you boys later.” He lifted his hand, and he and Dillan bumped
knuckles before Jake gave Matt a nod. “Thanks for inviting me. I’m
hanging out with Aero and Clay tomorrow, and so is Miller. Let you
know if anything interesting happens.”

After he left and Dillan and Sagan drifted away to dance, Matt

went to stand next to Camden. “Having fun?” Matt asked.

He shrugged. “Yeah. Everybody seems nice.”
“We are nice.” He smiled.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were a Beorc?”
Matt shrugged. “Would it have changed how drawn to me you

aren’t?

Camden exhaled softly. “I’m not sure anything could change

that,” he admitted with a shrug. “But begs the same question.”

“I didn’t see any reason to,” he admitted. “I would have told you

as soon as we’d gotten on better footing. I know you deserved to
know sooner, but we’re in the middle of a war with some nasty dark
Beorc boys who want us dead. You could have been a plant.”

“I get that,” he admitted. “Thanks for the flowers and the

pastries.”

Matt gave him a smile and reached out to stroke his jaw. “I guess

I’ll have some dessert.”

* * * *


Camden pulled into his driveway two hours later, still high on the

laughter and merriment of the evening. He hadn’t danced with Matt,
but he’d danced to high-energy songs with Matt’s brothers, who
seemed to welcome him. He was glad he’d gone and was looking
forward to inviting the guys over to his place next week.

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He cut the engine and climbed out of his car and headed for the

front door, key in hand. Once at the door, he fumbled with the lock a
minute then got his key in and the door unlocked. He stepped inside
and closed the door, wondering what he was going to do about Matt.
He knew avoiding him wasn’t going to happen, and ignoring what
he’d learned tonight wasn’t going to be possible either. He would
have to corner Sagan soon for more real information on the mate
issue.

He was eager to learn more about this war as well as which of the

rumors he’d heard were outright lies and which were true. He had
some knowledge of the conflict thanks to his father and brother. They
had fought the battle alongside the Beorc for years. He knew the
cause was a good and noble one, but he didn’t want to live the same
life his mother had lived. He’d fight at Matt’s side or not at all
because being left behind like the little woman tending the home fires
was not an option he was willing to entertain.

The sharp rap on the front door made him jump as he took a step

away from it. “Who is it?” He backtracked to the door.

“It’s me,” Matt answered.
Camden hesitated, thinking that now wasn’t the right time to deal

with the man. Then, again, now was the perfect time. He knew what
he wanted and what he wasn’t going to abide. But he wouldn’t know
where he really stood with Matt until he talked to him, so he opened
the door. He took a step back and the hot man stepped inside with a
determined look in his chocolate eyes.

Camden’s heart pounded as he kept his eyes on the man moving

inside with a masculine grace that bordered on arrogance. He took a
step back as the other man closed the door. Matt stalked forward and
Camden’s temperature rose. He started to take another step back.
They needed to talk before things went any further.

Camden started to speak, but Matt’s arms snaked out and slithered

around his waist silencing him. With a tug, he was jerked up against
Matt’s hard body with a hand gliding down to his ass.

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“Matt,” he said in a husky tone. Matt’s eyes were a raging sea of

sexual hunger that Camden knew he couldn’t fight. He was already
going under with each breath he took. So, he knew he had no hope of
holding off the tidal wave he knew was coming.

“I like the way these hug your ass,” he murmured and dropped his

head to kiss Camden.

Breathless, Camden curled an arm around his neck and gave

himself up to the kiss. He had wanted nothing more than to be in
Matt’s arm’s this evening, but the tangle his feelings had been in had
stopped him. Without the eyes of the other men on him, he didn’t
have to wonder if this was a good idea. He knew it wasn’t, but his
body and his soul were overriding every shred of reason that tried to
pry him out of the man’s arms.

Now, Matt was crushing him against him and wreaking havoc on

his senses with his delicious kisses. Kisses that were stealing his will
and making him burn from the inside out.

“Matt.” He met the smoldering gaze of his lover.
“You’re right,” Matt said, breathing hard. “I—” He took a step

back from Camden and wiped a hand over his mouth. “Sagan made
me promise to make sure you got in okay.”

“Oh,” he breathed out. “Asshole.” He backed away from the man

not sure if he was angry or irritated. Either way this would give them
time to talk.

Matt gave him an amused smile. “He asked, but he didn’t ask me

to kiss you.”

“Why did you?” Camden demanded.
“Because I like the way you kiss,” he murmured, closing the

distance between them. “I like the way you let me control the kiss,
and I like the way you stroke the back of my neck while we kiss.” He
stopped in front of Camden. “I really did not mean to hurt you, Cam.”
He reached out and cupped his jaw. “You asked me once if I’d share
information about a case with you if I were your man.”

“What?” he asked with a frown. He wanted to talk about work

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now?

“I would share everything with you if I was your man,” he said in

a raspy voice and then kissed him again. Camden melted into him,
allowing his kiss, welcoming it.

Camden’s hands caressed down his back and up before tugging

Matt’s polo shirt from the waistband of his pants. He pushed his
hands beneath the polo and scraped his nails along Matt’s skin as he
arched into the bigger man. He was hungry for him, aching for him.
His erection was full and throbbing

Matt pushed his thigh between Camden’s, and Camden ground

against it as he tilted his head back, giving Matt easier access to the
tender flesh. Each brush of his lips, flick of his tongue, was a
welcome caress of heat and moisture that set Camden burning even
more.

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Chapter Thirteen


He should put an end to this, Camden told himself. They needed

to talk about this mating stuff. At least, he needed to know how Matt
felt about it. But it felt so good he knew he was lost to the rising
inferno. The fire of desire stopped his fears cold as it set him aflame
mentally, drowning all rational thought.

Matt captured Camden’s lips again as he backed them toward the

living room. Camden’s back came into contact with the wall that
separated the entryway from the living room. Camden flattened
against it and Matt pressed into him.

“Oooo,” Matt groaned.
Camden stroked his fingers down Matt’s erection. He was eager to

taste him, to suck him until he jizzed his mouth. He used the palm of
his hand to burn away the back of Matt’s shirt then pull the remains
free. He lowered his head and traced kisses over his shoulder down to
his chest.

“That’s it. Show me how hot you are for me.”
Camden nipped his chest on his way to his nipple. His tongue

darted out to circle the flat nipple, already beaded in lust. He swiped
his tongue over it once before scraping it with his sharp teeth. He was
eager to please before he was pleased, and he stroked the other nipple
with his forefinger.

Matt closed his eyes and reveled in the sexual heat flooding him

mercilessly. He pushed his fingers into Camden’s thick curls. “Oh,
yeah, Cam,” he said on a groan.

Camden turned his attention to the other nipple, swirling his

tongue around it. “Mmm.” He nipped Matt’s chest, and the older man

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groaned. Camden flicked the beaded little nipple with his tongue tip
before scraping it with his teeth.

Using his knowledge of the pleasure the mark brought, Camden

lashed the joined hearts. He was stunned when Matt groaned roughly.
He nipped one heart and Matt growled and roughly pulled his hair.
Camden abandoned the hearts deciding they were a pleasure better
left for another moment of leisurely loving to kiss a path down the
broad expanse of caramel chest.

He sank slowly to his knees and looked up at Matt with sultry

eyes as he worked the leather belt cinching Matt’s pants. The heat of
his lover washed over him, making him even more eager to please
him. He quickly undid the button of his jeans and dragged the zipper
down.

Camden reached into the dark briefs and brought the thick, long

stalk out. He licked down the erection and back up to swirl his tongue
around the tip. He felt Matt’s shudder and did it again.

“Suck my cock, now.” He groaned as his thick flesh disappeared

slowly into Camden’s wet mouth. “Fuck, yes.”

He sucked and licked Matt into a firestorm. Matt growled and

pulled Camden’s hair until his scalp prickled.

“Oh, God.” He fucked his mouth with shallow strokes.
Camden cupped the heavy sac while he licked along the hard

ridge of Matt’s cock. His mouth sank over the head again, and he
drew him in deep.

“Hell, yeah,” Matt said roughly. “Suck me, baby,” he rasped out.
Camden took him to the back of his throat and then drew him out

again before taking him back. He sucked him, head bobbing up and
down. He could see the heat taking his lover over, and he loved it.

Matt threw back his head, the corded muscles of his throat stood

out in sharp relief. Camden took him deeper and swallowed, allowing
the muscles to lightly massage the hard flesh.

“Fuck!” Matt cried out and came.
Camden sucked him dry, taking every bit of his salty essence as if

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it were his to claim before lifting his head to lick over the swollen
head. The pure pleasure in Matt’s eyes made him want to come, too.

“Fuck.” He reached down and drew Camden to his feet. “You’re

going to pay for that, little boy.” He led him into the living room
where he ripped Camden’s shirt over his head and discarded it on the
sofa before he claimed his mouth.

The kiss was slow and arousing, waking his body back up. As

their tongues dueled, stroked, and sucked, Matt stroked a finger over
Camden’s cheek. He let it trail down the side of his neck to his
shoulder to his nipple. He pinched it lightly and then lowered his head
to scrape his teeth over Camden’s nipple. A tremor rippled through
Camden’s body.

“Matt, make me feel good.” His tone held a plea for satisfaction as

his body ached from raging hunger.

“Patience, baby.” His deep voice rumbled with sexual promise.

Matt swirled his tongue around the small tip then sucked it into his
mouth.

Camden hissed and stroked his hand over Matt’s nearly bald head.

He closed his eyes as pleasure rocked him. “Oh, yeah.”

Matt swirled his tongue around the nipple and licked it before

turning his head and spearing the neglected nipple. He raked it with
his teeth and pulled at the other nipple still warm from his mouth.

Camden groaned and thrust his chest closer to Matt’s mouth as the

carnal pleasure tore through him. Gods, he was going to die from this
if it didn’t stop.

Matt looked at Camden and backed him toward the sofa. The

coffee table slid aside as he gave it the barest thought. Matt shoved
Camden down onto the cushions. “I want to suck your dick, baby
boy,” he announced, his eyes dark with intent. “I want to see if your
jizz is sweet enough to give me a toothache.”

Camden’s jaw dropped. The erotic talk had him getting hotter.
Matt reached out and opened Camden’s belt and pulled it free,

tossing it onto the couch, then he undid the snap of his pants and

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pushed them down. “Get out of them,” he ordered, and Camden
glared up at him. That glare earned him a light slap to the cheek.

“Get out of the goddamned pants,” Matt commanded in a hard

tone. Camden’s heart was pounding a mile a minute as he toed off the
loafers that went well with the shirt then pushed his pants down and
kicked them off.

“Good boy,” Matt murmured and looked down at the micro briefs.

“Get rid of them, too, then turn around and put your hands on the sofa
cushions.”

He did, and a second later a hand came down heavy on his ass,

and Camden let out a yelp. To his surprise, Matt grabbed his hair and
pulled his head back. “Don’t make a single sound.”

He brought his hand down on his ass again, and Camden almost

cried out as the sting licked over the nerves of his ass, surprising him
with a burst of sensual energy that danced through him. His eyes
widened at the knowledge that he liked it. He was still coming to the
conclusion that this was good when a harder tap hit his rear end.

“That’s a boy,” Matt crooned. “Just let me make you feel good,

Cam.” He smoothed his hand over Camden’s ass. “Say call if you
want to stop.” He delivered another stinging slap before reaching for
the leather belt. “You can make any sounds you like now.”

Camden nodded. Was he really going along with this? How in the

world did something so out of his realm of good and right feel so
good and make him so hot?

He had no idea, but he didn’t care right now. “Oh,” he cried out as

the leather stung his ass. He clenched his buttocks as the burn coursed
through him and coalesced in the nerves of his cock. He closed his
eyes as he savored the sensual pleasure. His penis pulsed and
throbbed, and he wondered how one sensation had caused the other.

Matt hit him again, and Camden hissed in pleasure. “Your ass is

turning a pretty red, baby, just like I knew it would,” he said, arousal
in his tone. “Makes me so hard just looking at it.”

Camden didn’t know what to say to that. He just knew he felt

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good. He was burning alive.

“The next time I say take off your pants, take them off, little boy.”

He delivered another blow before smoothing his hand over Camden’s
behind. “Stand up.”

Camden straightened with a little help and Matt turned Camden to

face him. “Hands up in front of you,” he ordered. Camden did, and
they were cinched together with the belt. Camden’s eyes went wide as
something like anticipation rumbled through him hard and heavy.

“Sit down and put your hands behind your head and lean back and

grip the sofa back,” he ordered then gave Camden a push.

Camden gasped and watched as Matt went to his knees in front of

him. He gave Camden’s hard prick a slap before wrapping his big
hand around it and lowering his head to swipe his tongue over the
leaking tip.

“Mmm,” he hummed in pleasure. “Baby, you taste good.” Matt

looked up at Camden with a sensual stare. He swirled his tongue
around the crown then played it over the slit before licking down the
shaft then fisting Camden.

“That feels good.”
Matt sank his mouth down over Camden’s cock and his head

began bobbing up and down. He kept the suction of his lips tight as he
sucked Camden into a wildfire of delectation. Camden’s hips came
off the cushion.

“Fuck!” he cried.
Matt responded with a hum as he reached into his back pocket and

removed his wallet. Telekinetically, he pulled the condom free. His
wallet landed on the floor and the condom on the sofa next to
Camden. Then, he released his hold on Camden to tug the younger
male closer to the edge of the couch.

Once Camden was in position, Matt looked around and found a

bottle of lotion on the coffee table. He brought it to him telekinetically
and flipped the cap before tipping the bottle upside down as he
worked Camden’s cock with his hand.

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He held it in place while he released Camden to open the foil

packet and roll the condom onto his cock. Once Matt had the condom
on himself, he flexed his kinetic muscle further and squeezed the
bottle. A dollop of lotion plopped into his palm. He rubbed it into his
fingers before lightly stroking his fingers over the rosette of
Camden’s anus. Camden arched his hips off the sofa and Matt
lowered his head to take the jutting prick into his mouth. He sucked it
as he slipped his finger into Camden’s ass.

“Ahh!”
Matt sucked him deeper as he fingered Camden’s ass roughly

before adding a second finger.

Camden’s nails raked at the back of the sofa. “Oh, yeah!” He was

coming apart as his cock slid down Matt’s throat. The fingers in his
butt were stroking him in such a proprietary way he felt owned. “Oh,
God,” he mewled.

He arched his hips up off the cushion, thrusting his cock deeper

into Matt’s mouth. He gasped for breath as pleasure tightened its grip
around him. He was so close now. He was right on the verge of
coming and then Matt lifted his head, slowly drawing back.

“No!” Camden wailed.
His lover chuckled as he pulled his fingers free and used the lotion

to lube the condom before he pulled Camden closer to the edge of the
sofa. Once there, Matt guided his thick cock to the tight, puckered
opening and pushed in.

Camden groaned. “I want you.” Matt gripped his hips and pushed

deeper into him. He closed his eyes at the tight fit. “Oh, baby, you’re
a wet dream come true.”

“Release my hands so I can touch you,” he begged.
“Not yet,” he said roughly. He pushed deeper into the hot cavern

and savored the snug clasp as he conquered it inch by inch.

Finally he was fully seated, and Camden closed his eyes and

squeezed his inner muscles around the thick intrusion. Camden
breathed out roughly. “You’re huge.”

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Matt gripped both his hips, wanting to make it last, but his need

rode him so hard he knew he wouldn’t last this first time. He gritted
his teeth and fought the urge to take Camden too quickly. He stroked
his hands up the younger man’s hips and over his sides before
gripping his hips again and drawing back and pushing back into him.

“You feel so yummy, fuck me,” he urged. “Show me how good

you think I am.”

Matt didn’t need much encouragement. He began to stroke into

Camden in deep strokes. He built the heat inside them both, stoked it
as he fucked Camden harder and took him as deep as he could. His
balls slapped against Camden’s ass as he fucked him with near
abandon.

Camden’s fingers clenched in the back of the sofa as he arched

and strained for each thrust. Being filled was divine, left him craving
more. And Matt delivered with each stroke of his cock as it shuttled in
and out of him.

“Oh, God,” Camden cried out as his orgasm nibbled at him. He

thrust into him again, and Camden screamed as his release detonated
through him with blinding force. “Oh, my God!” he cried. “Oh, my
God!”

Matt thrust into him again and again before his own orgasm

slammed into him, leaving him panting and breathless.

Camden groaned and leaned forward to kiss Matt’s chest as soon

as he was freed. “That was incredible,” he admitted. “I’ve never had
sex like that.”

“That’s how I like it sometimes, Cam,” he told him and stroked a

stray curl off Camden’s forehead.

“I like how dominating you were.”
Matt smiled.
“Stay.” He didn’t care how it sounded. He just wanted this man

who’d just rocked his world to stay instead of getting up and going
home.

Matt’s legs were near rubber, and he needed to sit down before he

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fell down. He dropped onto the sofa. “How are your arms?”

“A little sore, but—” He stroked Matt’s chest. “I bet that’s

normal.”

“Not abnormal.”
“Let’s go upstairs,” he suggested. “The sofa isn’t big enough for

us to relax.” Camden got to his feet and led the way to his bedroom.

Matt climbed into the queen-size bed and Camden climbed in next

to him. He laid his head on Matt’s chest. He stroked his hand up his
lover’s back and heard a soft sigh.

Camden shifted against him and yawned. “I’m tired,” he said. “It

was a long day.”

Matt smiled. He usually liked to go all night, but he felt no need to

push Camden for more. He was sated for now. He closed his eyes in
contentment.

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Chapter Fourteen


Carlin stared around the room at the carnage. Some of those

bodies were part of his colony. Good, strong men who’d die for him
as well as for Lucan. They were dead. Knights and Spears alike.

He felt Lucan’s hand on his back but didn’t acknowledge him.

They needed to find out who was behind this sudden attack. No dark
Psy dared attack them, and the light ones knew the retaliation would
be brutal for those who dared challenge him. Witches respected him
for the power base he’d built up, but the vampires occasionally gave
him trouble. Or they used to. His organization was deep. Everyone
knew what a danger it was to push him.

He clenched his fists at his sides. Tao was one of his best. He

often socialized with Austin, one of his up-and-coming lieutenants.
He was a ruthless male, and he liked that about him.

“The cameras were out,” Lucan said. “There’s nothing on them,

and the girl was handled as roughly as the men. Whoever did this
knew what they were after and had no intentions of leaving behind
any witnesses.”

“There’s a message burned into Tao’s forehead,” a male told

them.

“What is it?” Carlin demanded.
“Soon, we’ll bring the fight straight to you,” he said. “And the

same message was left for you on Austin’s phone along with the
message for Lucan.”

“What is the message?” Lucan asked in a tight tone.
“It’s high tide,” the darkly tanned male told him. He held out the

phone, and Carlin took it.

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“How long have they been dead?” Carlin demanded. Rohm had

the ability to pick up echoes of sound and life. His telepathic skills
should be able to pick up threads of the past for up to a week. On the
other hand, he wasn’t actually counting on anything. If these people
were so organized that not even the seer had picked their plans up
then they hadn’t left a trace.

“Twelve to eighteen hours,” he answered. “But I can’t pick up

anything. Two strong energies are blocking me.”

“A spell?” Lucan asked.
Rohm shook his head. “No. It’s something stronger. It’s a wall of

energy that I can’t get break through.”

“Matt’s not seeing anyone and Jacinto’s lover hasn’t been in

contact with the others,” Lucan stated. “This can’t be the mates trine
at work.”

The confusion in his face was echoed by the confusion Carlin felt.

He clenched his fists. “Then, what?” He turned to Rohm.

“I don’t know,” he said. “It is powerful, but the energy doesn’t

feel like Trace. I can’t pick up any energy signatures to lock onto.
Nothing that remotely gives me a clue as to who was here.”

“Damn it,” Lucan snapped and glared at Rohm. The man

screamed and his neck snapped.

“Calm down,” Carlin said calmly then turned to the door where

two men were standing guard. “Get this mess cleaned up, Timmons.”

The golden-skinned man stepped forward. “Yes, sir.”
“Burn and salt the land,” Carlin ordered. “Tell Tex to get his ass

up here.”

“Yes, sir.” The man disappeared.
Carlin caressed Lucan’s cheek. “I trusted him,” he murmured.

“For that I will flog you tonight and a little cock and ball torture will
be in order.”

“Carlin,” he protested but his skin flushed in excitement.
“You won’t enjoy this so much as that,” he assured him.
“What’s up?” Tex asked.

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“Did you find the spells?” Lucan queried.
“No. We found only a journal with the message finders keepers.”
“Damn it,” Carlin growled. “These are enemies recently made.

Tex, I want you and Cowboy to find out who’s doing this and who
has my spells.”

“Yes, sir,” he said and strode out of the sitting room where the

bodies of four men, one of them Tao, littered the floor with their
blood staining the floor, furniture, and walls.

“I haven’t heard anything,” Lucan told him. “If anybody else has,

they’re not saying.”

“Only a dark coven could be making a move,” Carlin said quietly.

“Someone who wants to replace us. We’ll find them and put them
down like dogs.”

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Chapter Fifteen


Matt woke the next morning with Camden’s hand on his stomach.

A smile immediately tilted his lips as he recalled last night. He’d only
taken Cam once, but he had been satisfied with just lying with
Camden in his arms. The slight weight had been a delicious kind of
joy all its own.

Even now he was content to hold him, but Camden seemed to

have other ideas. He felt his body come alive, and he knew there was
little chance of just having coffee.

Camden shifted and kissed Matt’s chest. He nipped his pectoral

muscle and then looked up at him. “Hi.”

He smiled, feeling like a man who’d finally found his emotional

place in life. “Sleep okay?”

Camden smiled. “Fine. I bet you didn’t, though. My bed’s

probably too small.”

Shifting, he rolled Camden onto his back and moved over him.

Camden parted his thighs and pushed his hands up Matt’s muscular
back, raking him lightly with his short nails.

“What?” Camden asked. Uncertainty flashed in his green gaze.
“You’re just perfect and soft,” he said.
“I like soft skin,” he muttered. “Is that a crime? I like sexy

underwear and nice clothes and shoes. Is that a crime?”

“I—”
He bristled up at Matt. “There is nothing wrong with looking and

smelling nice and being soft.”

“It was a compliment.” He rolled onto his back, taking Camden

with him. Matt caressed his back and stroked his hand down the seam

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of his ass. “Just a compliment.” He kissed the side of Camden’s neck.
“I like the way you are.”

Camden moaned. “Take me one more time before you go back to

your real life,” he pleaded. “There is lube and condoms in the bedside
table drawer.”

“You’re on top,” Matt said then nipped Camden’s shoulder. “Get

what we need.”

“Use your telekinesis.”
“I’m not familiar with what’s inside,” he said after kissing

Camden’s neck. “I can’t picture accurately where things are.”

Camden shifted and leaned off the bed to retrieve a few items

from the drawer of the nightstand. He dropped them on the bed next
to them. “Do I get to fuck you, since I’m on top?” he asked with slow
smile.

“Never, babe,” he denied and flipped Camden onto his back. “I

give, and you, my little, sweet-smelling, soft angel boy, take it.”

“Lucky for you that’s how I’ve always liked it,” he said, and ran

his hand over Matt’s hip.

“Put a condom on me,” Matt commanded.
Camden took the condom while Matt lowered his head to lick

over a nipple. Camden groaned and struggled with the package as
sharp teeth scraped at one nipple and nimble fingers pulled at the
other. “You’re making it impossible to focus,” he protested.

Matt’s response was to catch the tiny bead of nipple lightly

between his teeth. Camden jerked, and he dropped the condom. Matt
swirled his tongue around the areola, and Camden seized the condom
and pulled it from the package as he made a whimpering sound.

Matt sucked the nipple into his mouth, and Camden gasped and

arched into him. He closed his eyes, reveling in the intense pleasure
shooting through him. His nipples had always been a little sensitive,
but with this sexy man, they were incredibly sensitive to his hot
mouth.

“That feels so good.”

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Matt bit his nipple lightly one more time before turning his

attention to the other one. He pressed the flat of his tongue against it
before spearing the tight bead.

Camden made a soft noise of pleasure as Matt bit his nipple, and

pinpricks of pleasure stabbed at him.

“Feels good,” he said softly. “Do it again.”
Matt complied before giving the nipple a light slap, and Camden

gasped as pleasure rocked through him. Matt swirled his tongue
around the dark disc and sucked it hard.

Camden closed his eyes and arched into his lover’s firm body.

The man took his breath away with the delicious loving he was giving
him. He was drowning in sensation and it still wasn’t enough. He
wanted his man buried inside him, taking him hard.

As if reading his mind, Matt telekinetically tipped the bottle of

lube upside down and flipped the cap open. Cool liquid plopped into
his hand, and he smoothed some on the condom and added more to
his hand. He rubbed it to warm it some before pushing a finger into
Camden’s anus.

Camden moaned and rubbed his groin against Matt’s. “Deeper.”

Camden lifted slightly and lowered himself onto the long, lean finger
taking him.

He groaned as he lifted himself all the way off Matt’s finger.

When he lowered himself back down, he was penetrated by two
fingers. He reached down and grabbed his lover’s cock and gave it a
pull as he rode his fingers slowly.

“God, you’re hot,” Matt murmured as he reached up with his other

hand to caress Camden’s face.

“Yeah?” he asked. He felt on fire, and more than capable of

making this man hotter for him. So much had never mattered in his
sex life including the amount or depth of foreplay. He dated for sex
and companionship when he needed them, but this was so much more.
Yet he hadn’t known this man long enough to feel what he was
already starting to feel.

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“You really think I’m hot and—”
“You’re everything I need, baby,” he broke in gently. “Everything

that I want. Never doubt it.”

He believed him, but he knew life could get in the way. That

didn’t change the hunger or the need he had for Matt or the desire to
have a life with him.

Matt withdrew his finger, and Camden reached back to grasp his

sheathed and slick cock. He held it in place and lowered himself onto
it. “Oh, yeah,” he breathed out roughly.

Matt caressed the hearts, and Camden hissed and lowered himself

a little more onto his erection. Matt scraped one heart, and Camden
gasped as he took the rest of the thick cock. The thick intrusion
impaled him with a bite of pain as it parted tight tissues that were still
getting used to such girth. He caught his bottom lip between his teeth.
The pain was a pleasure all its own that made him hotter.

He rubbed his hands up Matt’s chest and lifted them to stroke a

single finger down his chest. His fingers heated and the tips turned
flame red. Camden kept the fiery energy under control as it warmed,
making feel even more sensual. Drops of the color dripped off his
finger to burn down Matt’s chest, and he watched his eyes and saw
the hunger of the older man intensify.

Matt moaned, his fingers clenched in Camden’s hip. “Cam, I like

that energy play.” His breathing was harsh, his voice rough.

Cam ran his finger down his chest again and Matt shivered. Cam

smiled and then lifted and lowered himself slowly on Matt. “Like that,
too?” he asked with a smile.

“Maybe you should do it again,” he suggested. “That way I can

get a better idea.”

Camden laughed and began to ride him slowly. “You feel so damn

good inside me.”

Matt gripped his hips and thrust up into him. “Ride me harder,

Cam,” he urged. “I’m so hungry for you.”

Camden didn’t argue. He felt much the same way. He braced his

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hands on the bed after leaning forward and began to ride him hard and
fast.

“Yeah, baby, just like that.” He gave Camden’s rear a tap, and

Camden made a pleased sound as he drove them both higher.

He thrust down onto Matt again and cried out. He was shooting

his load onto Matt’s chest when he was flipped onto his back. Matt
drove into him twice before he was coming with a hard groan.

* * * *


Camden strolled into the kitchen twenty minutes later after his

shower. He’d let Matt shower first while he checked on a few
patients. Coffee had been made, to his surprise, as well as eggs,
bacon, and toast.

“Thanks,” Camden said. He could get used to having a man this

thoughtful around. In fact, he hoped that’s exactly where this was
going for the long term, not just a little while. “I appreciate this. You
got some of your coffee?”

“Yeah, I know how much you like it. You okay?” Matt gave him a

questioning look.

“I’m fine,” he answered. “I just feel a little awkward.”
Matt frowned. “What’s on your mind?” He lifted his coffee cup

and took a sip.

Camden sighed. “I—you—the thing is—” He began forcing

himself to get to the point. “I know this was just sex, so you don’t
have to do or say anything to mislead me.”

“I wouldn’t,” he said, setting his cup down. “Sagan told me after

you left.”

“Told you?”
“What they told you about being mated.”
Camden averted his gaze. “You still don’t owe me anything.”
“I owe you everything I’m going to be,” Matt contradicted. “I’m

going to be a better man in some ways because of you. You’re going

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to make me happy, and I’m going to do everything I can to do the
same with you. All you have to do is let me.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” he demanded.
“I wanted to wait until you were crazy in love with me.” He

smiled. “And didn’t want to leave me.”

He met Matt’s gaze, more than a little nervous and a whole lot full

of hope. This mating thing sounded better than marriage, more
binding. Maybe that meant he would come first in his man’s life
sometime rather than getting whatever he had left after a long week.

Looking back, Camden was sure that’s what hurt his mother the

most after her marriage. She’d become more of an afterthought.

“Cam, we believe and have for a long time that we’re meant to

become immortal, but we can’t until we find our soul mate. Even then
we can’t become immortal until every brother in our brotherhood
finds his mate,” he told him. “I wanted you to be in love with me so
you’d know the immortality is nothing to me without you.”

“That explains why you’d never leave me,” he said dully. He’d

never realized how much he wanted real love until this moment. He
wanted to burn, to be on fire for a man that he didn’t want to live
without him. However, he didn’t want to just be a means to an end for
that man. “But what about you loving me back?”

“That’s when I was going to tell you,” he admitted. “When I told

you that I loved you.”

“Matt, Neanderthal, you can’t tell a guy you you’re in love with

him and then say oh, by the way I need you to become immortal.” He
was a little angry, but more exasperated as hope clung to that shred of
possibility of mutual affection blooming between them.

“Cam, I’m crazy about you, baby, and I’m falling so fast my head

is spinning,” he confessed. “I don’t want to lose you.”

Camden sighed. The look on Matt’s face whispered truth and

sincerity. He felt it in his heart but dared not embrace it fully. Not
because he didn’t believe, but because he was still a little afraid. His
parents had been madly in love once, yet the war his father had

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become immersed in had taken so much away from his mother and
even him. “I—”

“Don’t run, Cam, please,” he pleaded.
He sighed softly. “That’s the last thing I want to do,” he admitted.

“I don’t want to be anyplace but where you are.” Even with the
knowledge of how love could take a backseat, become taken for
granted, he wanted to this man in his life. His mother had told him
love was worth the risk more than once, and he’d believed she
believed it even though her love was rarely around.

Matt rounded the peninsula to stand next to Camden. “I’ll never

break your heart, Cam,” he said, letting the promise show in his eyes.
“I’m not perfect, and I swear I might get a little possessive, but I will
never give you cause to doubt my feelings.”

He lifted his hand to Matt’s cheek and sighed softly. “I believe

you.” And he wanted to trust that—part of him did trust the words and
the obvious feeling behind them. Yet there was a shadow of fear
lurking in his heart Camden couldn’t shake even as he took that
emotional step forward.

“You should, Cam,” he whispered. “It’s the truth. You’ll have all

of me.”

He would give no less. He averted his gaze momentarily. Damn

he needed this man and if his job—quit it, he ordered himself. Let this
man love you. He’s not your father. And look on the bright side. If he
turns out to be, you’ll have so much time to perfect so many healing
techniques.

“Cam?”
That thread of concern in Matt’s voice brought his eyes back his

handsome face. “I won’t be able to die?” he asked.

“No.”
“I can heal a lot of people,” he said. “I’ll have so much time to

perfect some techniques and teach them.”

Matt laughed. “Yeah, there’s that, but we’re in the middle of a

war, so things won’t be that easy.”

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Camden searched his gaze. “I’ll do what you say where that’s

concerned,” he said. “Within reason. I have a life—okay, I have no
life. But my job is important to me and so are you.”

“You’re important to me, too,” Matt assured him with a soft

smile. That is why we need to move in together as soon as possible.”

“I can live with that, but I want to hear some of this from Sagan

first,” he said. “I trust him. Not that I don’t believe you. I need to
know more about your Beorc lifestyle, too.”

Matt shrugged though a smile pulled at his lips. “Okay.”

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Chapter Sixteen


Camden spent the next week with Sagan instructing him in the

ways of the Oak Waters Beorc. When he wasn’t learning about the
brotherhood he was about to become a part of, he was hanging out
with the other younger males who were no longer called submissives
but boys and partners.

“I told Trace it was so not politically correct to call us

submissives,” Riley told Camden when they were all hanging out at
Camden’s that Wednesday evening.

“At least he listened,” Sagan said. “Dillan is still going with

dociles. He says it’s to preserve the integrity of the brotherhood’s
history.” He rolled his eyes.

“Well, we have to change sometime,” Riley said. “We’re not the

same men we were when these rules were put in place. We’re
working men with lives outside of our homes. We don’t need the
same level of protection either.”

“What are you talking about?” Devon said, rolling his eyes.

“You’re going to quit work as soon as you find the right surrogate,
and she has your baby.”

“Course I am,” he agreed. “I want to raise my children, Devon,

not push them off on a nanny. Just because Trace can afford one
doesn’t mean it’s right.”

“Whatever,” Devon said in a disdainful tone. “I’m not quitting my

job to raise the kids full-time.”

“Well, I agree with Riley,” Sagan said. “Kids need stability. I’m

going to stay at home until the kids start school.”

Camden snickered at them.

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“What are you snickering at?” Riley teased. “What’s your

stance?”

Camden shrugged. He’d never thought about it much. His mother

had been home while he was young. He’d thought that was the way
things should be. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “I’ve been working for
so long, I never considered not working.”

“Well, you have time,” Sagan said. “You probably aren’t in any

rush to have kids.”

He really wasn’t. He didn’t even know if he wanted children.

“Hey, guys, look.” He held up the catalog he’d wanted to show them.
Kodi had agreed to give them all a discount.

“What is it?” Sagan asked.
“Just a catalog full of sexy underwear.” He wiggled his brows.
Sagan, who sat next to him on the sofa, took it. “Oooo.” He

opened the cover.

“My friend Kodi is a designer, and he’s agreed to give you guys a

discount.”

“Any friend of yours is a friend of mine,” Riley said with a grin as

he moved to look over Sagan’s shoulder. “Ooooo, I like those.”

“They’d be great just for lounging,” Sagan agreed as he studied

the briefs with writing on the back.

“They are,” Camden agreed with a grin.
“How are things between you and Matt?” Devon asked leaning

back on the couch.

“He’s still pushing me to decide which of us moves in with the

other,” Camden answered.

“It is necessary,” Riley said. “Things might get nasty.”
“I understand that, but I’m not giving up my independence,”

Camden said. “I’ve been on my own for a long time. I’m not even
sure I’d know how to live with anyone else.”

“I think we all know what you mean,” Devon said. “But none of

us wants to take the chance something will happen to you. You’re a
brother now.”

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“He really does care about you, Camden,” Riley said. “Besides,

Trace isn’t going to allow him to leave you on your own. It’s part of
the rules of the brotherhood.”

“Wow, you are a sensitive soul,” Sagan mocked, giving Riley a

dirty look. “Matt clearly cares about him, and he doesn’t want to lose
you.”

“I’m just scared that’s all,” he said. “Things feel so different. Not

just having a guy in my life but with you guys. My pyrokinesis seems
stronger around you guys.”

“My visions are stronger now that you’re part of the pack,” Riley

said, his gaze going to Camden.

“My visions are too,” Sagan said. “But I don’t have visions so

much as I have clairaudience now.”

“It does feel like my psychic skills are stronger when I heal,”

Devon agreed.

“It’s not a big surprise though,” Sagan said. “My uncle left me

this book and it talks about the power of the mates. We’re the reason
for the immortality. Our love for the guys triggers the immortality,
and we have our own magick too.”

“What do you mean?” Camden asked.
“Well according to the book we have our own separate power

structure because the marks meant to activate our immortality have
different energies for us and our roles in the change.

“It says there will be two eyes and one ear and a spark and an

anchor.”

“If there are only five then that means some of the brothers will

leave the brotherhood,” Devon mused.

“It’s what I’ve been foreseeing,” Riley admitted. “I haven’t told

Trace yet because it’s one possible future. Everything changes with
every decision we make. What is certain is that Jacinto’s mate is our
other eye.”

“Okay,” Sagan said. “The spark is the witch, and goodness know

we don’t have magick—not real powerful magick.”

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“I’m a witch,” Camden said. “Pathetic one because I don’t really

know many spells or practice.”

“I must be the anchor,” Devon said. “What does that all mean?”
“I don’t know,” Sagan said. “I guess it’s up to us to put it all

together and help our boys ’cause goodness knows we’re all in
danger. Not just them.”

* * * *


“So, what do we have?” Dillan asked, his gaze on Matt.
“I’ve finished going through one of the journals, and I was able to

pick out all of the Knights that worked for Torque and some of the
ones who work for Dark Spear. These guys must be the most
powerful.”

“What makes you say that?” Trace asked.
“Just guessing, I guess,” he admitted. “He put Raina on that list

along with her twin, Amy, and Austin and Tao. He’s got numbers by
their names, which I’m supposing indicate the strongest to the
weakest.”

“Question is what does that weakest mean?” Niall said. “It could

be anything from a big mouth to weak powers.”

“True,” Matt agreed. “I’m going to send you all a copy of the list

to go over, and you can decide if you know any of these guys.”

“Were you able to get profiles?” Trace asked.
“On some,” Matt said. “They were in the computer and I used my

clearance to get access to the Witch’s Council files, which gave me a
more complete picture of some of these guys. I’ve got addresses as
well.”

“Aero—Carlin’s organization is deep,” Dillan told them. “Sam,

Phantom’s leader, has had his men doing some digging. His colony is
almost twice as big as Misty Willows was, and Carlin has allies in
New York and Canada as well as in Turkey and Rome and Greece.
He has a brother coven in Russia and Germany who support him

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strongly. His African allies became immortal five years ago and
Turkey is on the cusp of it now.”

“Son of a bitch,” Niall murmured.
“Yeah, Sagan wasn’t lying when he said we had to hold this city,”

Dillan said. “The Beorc colony in Texas was killed by Carlin’s boys
so we’d be the only immortal Psy in the South.

“The Knights are about the same size as Dark Spear and have a

larger network around the country than Carlin does. Their leader here
was Torque but they’ve replaced him with a guy from Texas. Their
function is to protect the Spears and aid in their becoming immortal.
Their leader will gain immortality when Carlin does, so they will
come after us on Carlin’s behalf.”

“We need to be in a position to take out a third of the Knights or

part of the Spear colony,” Niall said. “Carlin’s same as always these
days. Cool and calm, in spite of what you boys have been up to. He’s
working hard to figure out what’s up, and Clay’s a little on edge.”

“I’m not surprised,” Dillan said. “If Miller’s not our guy Clay is.

Miller’s been busy with work, but my contact says someone’s been
checking up on us trying to find if we’re the ones taking out their
guys.”

“Clay’s hates not being in control. He plans things as far into the

future as possible with contingency plans,” Trace said.

“Alex says Aero has a few guys who can pick up echoes of

energy,” Dillan said.

“Yeah,” Niall agreed. “I heard him talking to some guy named

Bowman who’s replacing the last guy Rohm.”

“He was one of the best,” Matt said. “He used work for the

witches. So, we need someone who can clean for us.”

“Got someone,” Alex said. “But you’re right. We do need a

backup.”

“I think we should put someone on the guys on Matt’s list and

find out when they’ll be together or not,” Trace began.

“What are you thinking?” Dillan quizzed.

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“Taking them out with a virus,” he said.
“The same one they used on Misty Willows,” Matt suggested. “I

have it. Torque had it in his book along with a few other poisons he’s
personally made use of.”

“My mom will be glad for look at it,” Trace said.
He handed over the pages of spells from Torque’s journal.

“There’s about six poisons in here.”

“Phantom is offering to take out the Knights,” Dillan said. “They

have someone who can do the spell.”

Trace shrugged and cast Carter a look. He nodded and Trace said,

“I have no problem with that, so long as he’s as discreet as we’ve
been.”

“Won’t be a problem.”
“Matt.” Trace turned to him. “Get your boy secured.”
“He doesn’t want to move in together.”
“I don’t give a shit,” Trace snapped. “He’s yours. Do what you

have to do.”

* * * *


Easier said than done, Matt thought as the rest of the week wore

on. He refused to push his mate for something he wasn’t ready for,
even with the plans Dillan and Trace had coming up. A group of
twelve Knights were slated to be wiped out along with a group of
sixteen Dark Spears. They were regulars at a club called Hard Times
that one of the Knights owned. They stayed after closing every Friday
and Saturday night. Trace and Dillan had plans to get rid of them and
the club.

The group had been targeted for two reasons. One, they were all

top members of a team that Dark Spear and the Knights called the
Execution squad according to Torque. Four of the men had records in
the mortal world, but they were connected to at least five murders in
the Psy world. One of the men had been Torque’s personal capturer of

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his victims. The second reason was that those men would likely be the
hit men to kill some of them if Carlin was able to steal their immortal
energy.

The Knights were going to back them up, but Matt hadn’t been

asked to be in on the attack in case something went wrong. Two of the
men were Inspectors.

By Friday, Matt was eager to spend a quiet evening in with

Camden. He was a little on edge about the plan his brothers planned
to execute that night because it was risky. They could lose their
anonymity. He thought it was important that they maintain it for as
long as possible. The more he read of Torque’s journal the more he
realized just how dangerous Dark Spear was. He also saw the
fractures in the Knights’ structure.

Some of them had their own plans for domination that would

eventually tear them away from Dark Spear and cause a turf war. He
didn’t know much about Carlin, but he was willing to be the man
wouldn’t allow any of the Knights that didn’t support him to live.

Knowing how ruthless their enemies were, Matt wanted to be at

the club tonight, but he knew his brothers were right. There was risk
in having an Inspector working for good at the scene, especially with
the other problems they had already had with the Council. However,
he would be pretty busy tonight, he thought with a soft smile of
anticipation.

Camden had invited him over for dinner and a movie, so Matt

hurried home, not that he’d been busy. His latest case had been a
runaway who he’d tracked down and returned to his home. After that,
he spent some time with Torque’s files trying to figure out a password
or two more journals. With no success, he was ready to call it quits
until tomorrow.

Matt took a quick shower and packed a bag, deciding instead of

trying to hash the subject out with Camden, he’d just move a few of
his things in. They could talk about it as need be. With Carlin nosing
around their lives, he was bound to find out about Camden. Carlin

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wasn’t likely to hurt him, but Matt had no idea what the Knights
might be up to. He knew if it were him, he wouldn’t want Carlin
gaining immortality to lord more power over him.

He let himself into Camden’s and took his bag upstairs to

Camden’s bedroom where he unzipped it and unpacked some of his
things. He put his things away, and then he headed downstairs to the
kitchen where Camden was cooking and singing along to a pop song.

He watched from the doorway as he cut a few moves before using

a wooden spoon as a microphone. He leaned against the doorframe
with a smile teasing his full lips, enjoying the show. Camden’s energy
was amazing. He always seemed so sedate when he saw him outside.
He thought he was a little prim if not reserved.

He pushed away from the wall when a slow song came on and

Camden began to move in time to it. That’s when he realized Camden
was wearing his usual at-home attire. An old big and tall shirt, and he
knew what was beneath. He moved on light feet, but Camden jerked
around before he reached him.

He smiled a wicked smiled and crooked his finger at Matt.
Matt grinned and stalked towards him. “What’s up?” he asked

after coming to a stop in front of him.

Camden reached out and stroked one hand down Matt’s chest.

“You surprised me.” He moved into Matt’s bigger body and leaned up
on tiptoe to capture his lips. “Missed you, baby.”

Matt grinned. He loved that little shy tone. “What are you up to?”
Camden shook his head. “I didn’t do a fancy dinner since we’re

watching a movie. And I lit a fire. It’s kind of chilly tonight. I thought
it would be romantic to watch a movie by the fire.”

“Not a problem.” He caressed Camden’s cheek.
“Hard day?” Camden asked, turning his head unconsciously into

the caress.

“No, I just looked forward to coming home to you all day,” he

answered and then smiled. “I like it.”

“Good.” He captured Matt’s lips again. “I made mini subs, sliders,

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popcorn, and pizzas. I got the recipe from Devon.”

“You’re becoming good friends with the three boys.”
He nodded. “Sagan and I were roommates in college,” he

admitted.

“Really? I didn’t know.”
Camden shrugged. “I like Riley and Devon a lot too.” He stroked

Matt’s shoulders. “Will you take some of the food in?”

“Yes.”
Camden broke away from him and gave him a platter of sliders

with a dish of pickle spears. “I want to talk a little more first.”

“Before the movie?”
“Yep.”
“Am I going to like it?” Matt asked.
“I don’t know,” he admitted. “I’ll be in shortly.”
Matt took the platter to Camden’s living room, where he found a

blanket on the floor near the fire and the coffee table moved near it.
Drinks and a covered dish were already on the table. He lifted the
cover and found the pizza. Matt put the platter down and helped
himself to a slice and then reached into his pants pocket and removed
a small box.

Camden entered with another platter and placed it on the table

before sitting down on the floor. “Matt, can you grab the remote?”

He grabbed it. “What are we watching?”
“You’ll see,” he said with a secret smile. He paused, his eyes

catching on the small box. He picked it up. “What’s this? You
shouldn’t have gotten me anything.”

“I didn’t,” he said.
“If you didn’t, then where did it come from?” he asked.
“Just take a look, Cam,” he urged gently.
Camden opened the lid and found a gold heart necklace nestled

against black velvet. He gave Matt a shy smile. “Does this mean
you’re giving me your heart?” Hope shone in his eyes.

“I’m in love with you, Cam.”

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Camden smiled, feeling a little teary. “Matt, you’re going to make

me cry being so mushy,” he exclaimed. He leaned forward and
cupped Matt’s face and kissed his cheek.

“Will you wear it?” Matt asked.
He searched Matt’s gaze not sure if he could effectively put into

words what he felt or hoped for. He wanted to spend the rest of his
life with him and he was crazy for him. Camden nodded.

Matt picked up the necklace. “Is that a yes?”
Camden caught his bottom lip between his teeth fully aware that

this meant he was ready to grab what he wanted in spite of the
lingering fear of what the future might bring. He got to his feet and
kneeled in front of him with his back to him.

Matt put the necklace on and lowered his head to kiss the side of

Camden’s neck. “You smell good.”

“For you,” Camden said and then turned to look at him. “I wanted

to smell nice for you.” “I was thinking we could move in together.”

“Is that what you wanted to talk about?” he asked carefully.
“I want us to get another place, something bigger,” Camden said.

He didn’t want to lose Matt because he’d allowed his fears to cost him
a man he loved. Life was a fragile thing and loving was a big risk that
could leave a heart battered and torn apart. However, bitterness was
born of loneliness after years of looking back and wondering what if.

So, he was choosing life and love.
Matt grinned. “We can do that.”
“I’m trying to say that I’m in love with you, too.” Camden kissed

him thinking that for the first time in a long time, something besides
work felt right.

They sat back and nibbled the food as they watched the movie

which Matt was stunned to find was a well-done and slick thriller
about gay men. After the movie, they cleaned up and brought out the
popcorn for the second movie. Camden curled up in Matt’s arms, and
drifted off to sleep before the second movie was twenty minutes old,
and Matt wasn’t far behind.

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Chapter Seventeen


The soft ring of his cell snapped Matt awake. He grabbed it from

the floor next to the sofa. A quick look at the display told him it was
Carter and he tensed.

Something had gone wrong.
“What is it?” he asked quietly. “What happened?” He didn’t want

to suffer the loss of a single man he cared about, but he knew that was
a risk they all were taking.

“Nothing, we called it off,” Carter said. “Riley had a vision. It was

a trap to see who betrayed Aero’s boys. Dillan’s man is still
watching.”

“Great,” he said on a soft sigh. “So what is it?”
“I need Camden at the hospital. One of his patients just came in.

I’m sending a teleport to his place. Can you provide a visual?”

“Yeah.”
“You can send to Giancarlo.”
“I remember him,” he said. He’d worked at Cross-Rose hospital

himself once upon a time.

“Go ahead when you’re ready.”
Matt sent the other male images of the street, the houses and the

front door of Camden’s home. With that, he told the man to give him
five minutes, Camden wasn’t ready.

“One of your cases?” Camden asked.
“No, it was for you,” he said. “Carter’s sending a teleport for you.

One of your patients just came in.”

“I need to dress,” he said. “I hate our evening was ruined.”
“It’s okay, Cam,” he said with a smile. The evening had been

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perfect. Falling asleep with his mate in his arms had been the
highlight as far as Matt was concerned. “Go get your pants and shoes,
sexy.”

Camden gave him a smile, and Matt got to his feet and helped

Camden to his. He hurried upstairs to change then hurried back down.

“I’ll drive over so I can drive you back,” Matt told him.
“Thanks.”
“That’s what your man does when he can.”
Camden grinned and gave him a quick kiss before they stepped

outside to the waiting teleported.

After Camden’s pick-up, Matt headed to the hospital. When he

got there, Carter was waiting in the ER waiting room with Aero, co-
coven leader of Bough, Clay and his mate Xi and Juniper and his
mate Kerry. He frowned when he realized who wasn’t present.

Aero’s mate Mason. What in the hell had Aero done to him? Had

Mason outlived his usefulness? Surely though, Aero still needed him
for the circle, but if Aero wasn’t a true brother, there would be no
need to continue to keep Mason alive.

“Matt.” Carter went to him.
“What happened?” He clenched his fists. Mason had been

consorting with members of the group Dark Claw. The organization
had tried to kill the members of Bough only weeks ago.

“I don’t know,” Carter said keeping his voice low. “Camden’s in

there with Riley and Trace.”

“Poison?” He threw a covert look at Aero. Months ago when

Misty Willows’ residents had been poisoned, Mason and Aero had
both been afflicted with a nonlethal strain of the poison. There had
been one chance, according to Trace, of that strain going active or
becoming a viral killer inside of them. For Aero to infect him with
that lethal strain of that poison would be as good as admitting
knowledge of the poison’s existence.

So, he doubted he’d used it. Aero still maintained a façade of

wanting to protect Bough.

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“I’m not sure yet,” he said. “He was messed up pretty bad and

asking for Camden. He said he treated him for stomach problems two
weeks ago, and he wanted him.”

“If he dies, I’m sure Aero had a hand in it,” Matt muttered.
“Count on this,” Carter said grimly his gaze drifting to Aero

briefly. “If Mason was a threat, Aero would have no problems
eliminating him.”

* * * *


Camden stroked his hands down the region of the heart chakra.

“He’s infected badly.” He looked up at Trace. “The poison started in
the gastrointestinal tract. It’s a necrotic worm.”

“We can take it out,” Riley said in a tense tone.
Camden was shaking his head even before Riley finished

speaking. “No, you can’t. It’s anchored inside him from the root
chakra and it has two bite backs and a saw-tooth attached to it.”

“Oh, no,” the female nurse said and began backing away. “He’s

bleeding—”

“A saw-tooth refers to a bite-back that occurs when the spell or

virus is removed,” Camden explained. “It’s rarely seen, but when it
occurs it kills those who try to remove it. It’s added to viruses and
spells created only by earth witches. It’s a genetic skill passed from
mothers to daughters only.”

“So, the only thing we can do is make him comfortable until he

dies?” Trace asked grimly.

“That is not true,” Riley snapped in horror. “We have to try.”
“Everybody out,” Camden snapped. “Now.”
The nurse and the telepathic scanner as well as the thermokinetic,

whose job it was to regulate the patient and sometimes the room
temperature, hurried from the room.

“He’s not contagious,” Camden told Trace. “The virus is going to

eat him alive though. It’s already begun moving through his system.

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He’ll live for another five hours in great pain unless we minimize it.
We can dope him, but I’m in favor of freezing him with blue or purple
from the inside. It’ll act like a painkiller. He won’t feel a thing. He’ll
go quietly.”

“But Carter said he came in to see you,” Riley protested. “How

could you miss this?”

“Rye—”
“I didn’t.” Camden cut Trace off quietly. His gaze was cool and

intense on Riley. The other man was giving off tremendous rage, but
he kept his focus even as it beat against his mental shields. “I did treat
Mason two weeks ago. He presented with an irritated ulcer, and there
no signs of poison or other foreign substance, Riley.

“This just happened to him, and we have to make him as

comfortable as possible.”

“Rye, can you do this?” Trace asked gently. “Baby, snap out of

it.” He cupped his face and forced Riley to meet his gaze, which was
trained on Camden. “Rye?”

“Dillan,” Riley said. “He can change the vibration.”
“It will kill him, Riley,” Camden told him quietly. “The worms

are deadly.”

“I’ll get him.” Riley rushed from the room.
Trace looked at Camden. “Are you certain he’s not going to make

it?”

Camden nodded. “Yes,” he said. “There are only six specialists of

this type of magick worldwide as far as I know, and each of them has
a signature. They’re all dark witches and only two of them live in this
region. The female lives in Texas.”

“You know who she is?” Trace demanded.
“No, but I know her work,” he said. “I’ve lost five patients to it. I

haven’t been able to find a way around the saw-tooth.”

“I’ll get Riley back here,” he said.
Camden nodded and held his hand over Mason’s once-handsome

face. The beating he’d taken had marred his features, and Camden

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was certain he was in pain from that alone. So, he reached for his
crystal kit and held a blue crystal over Mason’s face, and then the
healing blue energy filled muscle, tissue, and bone, numbing it against
the pain.

After that, he took four small purple dot crystals and planted them

down his chest. He placed a fifth on the forehead and a clear quartz at
the solar plexus, the power center of most psychics. The heart was
another known power center thought to be the feminine center of
power while the solar plexus was the male center.

Mason’s labored breathing ceased and his eyes opened suddenly

as the initial sedative given wore off.

Mason focused on Camden’s face. “I guess Carter is the reason

you’re here,” he said. “I’m dying. He used a nasty spell on me.”

Mason had appeared to be a pretty nice guy when he’d met him a

few weeks ago. He couldn’t imagine anyone wanting to harm him so
viciously.

“Who did?” Camden asked, stroking the male’s aura with his

hand. Physical touch would be painful for the patient at the moment.

“Carlin,” he whispered. “He found out I was working with the

Shadows. They’re trying to bring down Dark Spear before it’s too
late.”

“Veiled Shadow?” That was the covert group his family had

belonged to. They had all died working for them, though technically,
his father and brother had been listed as killed in action. The group
was a strong one that lived on the fringe of the Psy-witch community
not only the Beorc brotherhoods around the world but other Psy
groups fighting against darkness.

“Yes.” He nodded and swallowed tightly. “I’m Patrick Clare.

Infiltration specialist. Working with another agent named Jessie, we
put together a black book on Dark Claw, Dark Spear, and the Knights.
Most of our information is on the Knights and the key men to bring
down if they are going to succeed.” He reached up and grasped
Camden’s arm. “You’re Lee’s son.”

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Camden gave him a startled look. “I am.” He’d never met any of

his father’s Veiled Shadows comrades.

“You have his eyes, but you have your mother’s smile.” He drew

in a shaky breath as his breathing became a little more labored.

“Mason, please, relax,” Camden said, sensing a spike in the man’s

temperature.

Mason swallowed tightly. “Jessie was watching Matt, and he saw

him with you in your front yard a month ago. After that, he was sure
Matt was the best choice for getting to the others. He’s an honorable
cop.” He grimaced. “Your father died fighting this fight. You have to
do as he would have done.”

That was a low blow. He’d have done anything to make his father

proud, even something like this. However, he hadn’t thought that
would have made his father see him any clearer than he had. His
father had respected the path he’d chosen, loved him as a son, but his
vision had been full of helping the Beorc.

“So did your brother and mother, and my lovers,” he said. A tear

slid down the corner of his eye. “We all gave up so much for this.
Make it worth it, Camden.” He breathed in roughly then out. “Take
Matt to the book.” Mason didn’t have to tell how important this was.
He’d known of the fight to stop the dark Psy, but he hadn’t had any
names to go with it until now. He had vowed to himself he wouldn’t
allow Matt to exclude him from this. He was not going to be his
mother, so now was his chance to prove to himself and to Matt that he
could be trusted to fight with them.

He nodded. “Okay. Tell me where it is.”
“Your father would have liked him for you,” he said. “He was

proud of what you were becoming. He’d be proud of the doctor you
are.” He groaned and pain lit his eyes. “Tell Matt to be careful. Baker
has a price on his head. Tell him to turn to page ten.”

Camden fought the urge to cry as he watched the pain in Patrick’s

eyes. He was dying. He could feel it, and he hated this Carlin for
inflicting such a painful death upon such a warrior. But that was the

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way wars were fought, his father would say. “I will.” He swallowed
hard over the painful lump in his throat.

Mason pulled on his arm, and Camden bent to him. Mason

whispered where he could find the book in his ear at the same time
the doors burst open and Aero came rushing in ahead of Trace and
Riley.

* * * *


Fifteen minutes later Camden stepped out of the OR, having done

all that he could for his patient. The man would be dead in four hours.
He was being moved to a private room in the toxicology ward where
he would remain until his death. Then his body would be burned to
ensure the virus died with him.

His mate looked pitiful enough to break Camden’s heart, and he

fought the tears that swelled in him. They tightened his throat, making
it ache.

“Cam.” Matt was on his feet hurrying toward him the second

Camden came into sight. “Are you okay?” he asked seeing the pain in
his mate’s eyes. “You look pale.”

He nodded and held up his hand. “Don’t touch me right now. I

need to change. I’m heading over to tox for a quick shower.”

“I’m coming with you.”
“You can’t ride in the elevator with me.” His tone was tense.
“Coming with you,” Matt told him tersely.
Camden glared at him. “Hardhead,” he muttered then stomped

toward the bank of elevators.

Matt shrugged. “We do agree I’m a Neanderthal.”
Camden grunted, an almost delicate sound as they took the

elevator to the ground floor. He led the way to the toxicology building
which was a five minute walk from the main building Mason had
been brought to by a teleporter. Once they got there, Camden ordered
Matt to wait in the lobby while he hit the showers.

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“Hey.” Carter joined him once Camden had vanished.
“What did Trace say?”
“He said Camden said it was a specialty of six witches. He thinks

a female did this one,” he said. “And you heard Aero say Mason was
attacked at his restaurant.” He shook his head. “Something isn’t right
about that. Staff was there, so more people should have been attacked.
This reminds me of Misty Willows and Giles.”

“You think? Why get rid of him?” Matt demanded. Giles had been

one of Carter’s brothers. He’d poisoned the entire Misty Willows
colony. Carter along with the other brothers of Misty Willows still
had the virus inside them only Trace had made it inactive. Still, it
could go active at any time. “He’ll have to come clean to a degree.”

“Or he might tell us that Mason doesn’t have to be alive for us to

ascend because they were bonded.”

“That might be true, but the bigger question at the moment is why

did he do this?”

Carter shook his head, anger glittering in his depth. “Why do any

of this? Mason was working with Dark Claw to betray us. Maybe this
is just Aero’s way of getting back at him, or the man he’s been
fucking demanded some proof of his affections or intentions for their
relationship. He might have been afraid Aero would make Mason
immortal instead of him.”

Matt grunted. “If Lucan is ruthless, I can imagine he got tired of

the competition.”

Carter nodded. “Dillan said Cam could use his office to change. I

put some clothes in there for him.” He held the key to the office out to
him.

He took it. “Thanks.”
“See you later,” Carter said. “And your watch boy’s back.” He

strode away.

“Always,” he murmured.
When Camden came towards him a few minutes later, Matt didn’t

take his eyes off him. He looked like a tired little boy. He wanted to

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hold and comfort him and assure him he’d never lose another patient,
but that was unrealistic. “Hey.”

“I’m cold,” Camden muttered, attempting in vain to hold the back

of the open-backed hospital gown closed.

“Let’s go to Dillan’s office,” Matt suggested.
“Is it okay?”
“Yeah.”
When they arrived, Matt unlocked the door and opened it. He

motioned Camden in and stepped in behind him and whistled at the
view he got of his ass.

Camden turned and glared at him. “I’m too cold to feel sexy.”
Matt shrugged with his brows. “Carter left you some clothes.”
“I keep a spare set in my office,” he said as he moved to the couch

where his bag sat. “Sagan must have gotten them.” He grabbed it and
headed for the bathroom.

Matt checked out the office, producing a small crystal to check if

the office was bugged. Finding that it was empty and not bugged, he
dropped onto the couch and waited for Camden who returned ten
minutes later clad in snug navy pants and a red button-front shirt.

“Feel warmer?”
“A lot.” Camden went straight to Matt, who pulled him onto his

lap. Matt’s strong arms curled around him, and Camden instantly
relaxed against him. Almost immediately, the ruffled edges of his
emotions felt soothed. He looked up at him, wondering how this man
could have that effect on him.

Matt kissed the tip of his nose. “Tell me what’s wrong, besides

being energetically tired.”

He sighed and put his head on Matt’s chest. “Mason asked me to

help him,” he said. “He said his real name is Patrick Clare, and he was
working to bring down Dark Spear.”

“He told you this?” Matt asked carefully.
“Matt, I want to be of help to you,” he began. “I want you to look

at me and think—to know I’m here for you. I want to be involved in

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that part of your life.”

Matt frowned. “Cam, what did he tell you?”
“My father fought against dark Psy, too,” he answered. “He died

fighting against them in Turkey and so did my brother. My mother
died trying to be a part of that, to somehow get his attention, but all he
saw was that fight. Stopping evil from gaining the kind of immortality
that allowed it to terrorize the world.

“I don’t want to be her,” Camden said, stroking Matt’s face. His

skin was a little rough from the growing stubble. “I will do anything
to be of help to you and your brothers except be pushed into the
background of your life.”

“That won’t happen, Cam,” he murmured. “I swear.”
“Better not, Matt, because I don’t want to love you so much that I

hate you for not loving me back the same way.”

Matt pressed a kiss to his lips. “I will never break your heart that

way, baby.”

He nodded. “I will hold you to that,” he said. “Patrick said he and

Jessie had been compiling a black book of information on Dark Claw,
Dark Spear and the Knights. Most of the information is on the
Knights.”

“Did he say where this book was?” Matt asked.
“A cabin in the country,” Camden answered. “He also said to tell

you Baker had a price on his head. Who is Baker?”

“He’s the High Minister of the Separatist Community,” he

responded. “Why would Mason just tell you all of this?”

He shrugged. “He knew my father, he said,” he told him. “They

were part of the same covert group that is fighting dark Psy-witches.
It’s called Veiled Shadows.”

Matt nodded. “So, you already knew about the Beorc

brotherhoods?”

“Some,” Camden admitted. “Mason said the wards on the place

are shot to hell thanks to the spell creator.”

“We’ll go get the book in the morning,” Matt said tightly. “Did

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Mason tell you who attacked him?”

“Carlin. He poisoned him with a very rare spell.”

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Chapter Eighteen


“You little shit,” Aero murmured as he stroked Mason’s forehead

lovingly.

Mason gave him a faint smile. “I’m already dead,” he said

weakly. “There is nothing else you can do to me.”

“You took the book from the house, didn’t you?” he demanded

softly. “Raina’s book.”

“No.” He shook his head. “Franklin, probably. He’s building his

own army against you. Too bad I won’t be around to see which one of
you bastards survive the Shadow’s annihilation.”

“They’ve never been able to wipe us out, Mace.” He smiled

grimly. “Now, tell me where you left the book. I’ll make this merciful
for you.”

Mason smiled weakly. “God, how I ever loved you and believed

you is a mystery to me, but we will never come back this way again,
Aero. I will never be taken in by you.”

“Doesn’t Matter, Mason,” he said. “I will always best you.” He

kissed his forehead. “Tell me where it is.”

“No.” He gave him a cold smile.
“You told the doctor, didn’t you?” he growled. “I will kill him.”
“Why?” he asked. “I merely begged him to kill me, but the son of

a bitch wouldn’t.” He grimaced in pain. “Doctors and their ethics.”
“Damn you,” he whispered. “Where are Raina’s damned spells? Amy
told me they’d been stolen two days before Raina’s death.”

He grinned a diabolical grin. “I stole them and burned them.”
“Then die, pathetic son of a bitch.” Aero put his hand on Mason’s

chest.

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Mason’s eyes widened as pain shot through his chest. He gasped

and then closed his eyes.

Behind him, in the doorway, Riley’s eyes widened, and visions

assailed him in rapid succession.


“You don’t have to do this,” Vaughn said. “You can come back.
They will forgive.”
“I don’t want it,” he said. “I have reawakened to my true self,

and I will finish reclaiming my own empire. The plans I make now
will ensure the ascension of my brothers and the destruction of
yours.”

“I won’t let it happen,” Vaughn said. “I will remember you.”
“Nay, you will not, my friend,” he contradicted. “Fate is both

kind and cruel, and this night she favors the wicked.”

He heard the knife being drawn and turned to look into the face of

he who had just chosen wrongly. This was the moment that severed
the intruder’s ties with the force of good that he’d helped to create.


Riley jerked out of the vision hard and backed out of the room just

in time to avoid being seen. His heart hammered against his ribs. He
put his hand on his chest as he hurried down the hall.

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Chapter Nineteen


Eleven hours later, Matt turned a corner and drove until he came

to a dirt road. He’d checked his rear view mirror constantly to ensure
they weren’t being followed only to find that they were. Or they had
been when they started out. He’d lost his tail halfway there, and then
used a cloaking spell to ensure they weren’t picked up again later.
“This it?” They were still alone in the quiet countryside.

“Umm-hmm,” Camden said.
Matt parked the car on the concrete driveway of the carport and

cut the engine. “I want you to let me go in first,” Matt told him. “So
much has been going on with my coven that this could be a trap.”

“He has no reason to come after me,” Camden pointed out calmly.
“That’s true, but things have been pretty nasty, so trust me,” he

said firmly.

Camden nodded. “Okay.” He squeezed Matt’s arm.
They climbed out of the car and headed up to the door. Matt

checked to see if a ward was in place. Finding none, he twisted the
knob and found the door open. “Stay out here. Right here.”

Camden nodded.
“If someone comes, call out for me, telepathically. I’ll be at your

back in a heartbeat.”

“Right.”
Matt stepped inside the cabin, not sure what he was hoping to

find. However, something had him slightly on edge. He’d lost the tail
easily enough, but he had a feeling that had been anticipated.

Damn, he should have called Dillan and Trace for backup.
Matt opened his senses and picked up the echoes of energy and

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focused on them. Mental distress, pain, rage, and an icy cold trickled
through him. The icy cold was something he’d come to associate with
evil as well as a nothingness used to cloak the true motives and
feelings.

He followed the strains through the small living room, which was

neat and in order, to the first bedroom. The twin bed there was made
with no signs that anyone had been in the room. There was no
discordant energy either, so he left it. Matt found the same in the
second bedroom, which was more of an office with a twin bed against
the wall.

It was in the last bedroom that Matt found the worst strains of

negative energy. He moved into the room and came up short at the
faint stench of a body beginning to decay. On the bed, a body lay on
its back, and he crept into the room, keeping his ears peeled for
trouble. Matt exhaled roughly when he was gazing upon the bruised
and battered face of the Minister of Enforcement. Franklin’s eyes
were open and rage was forever fixed in them.

He struggled to pick up the echoes of any other person, and all he

got was a strong gray barrier. Frustrated, he pushed a little harder and
picked up the very faint hint of Baker’s energy. Beyond that, he got
nothing. Matt decided to let it drop and went to get Camden, who was
waiting for him just inside the door.

“I smell death,” Camden said. “Is there a body?”
“Yeah, but I don’t think the book is in that room, so let’s just

search the others.”

“Why not?”
“Looks like someone had a beef with him that had nothing to do

with the book.”

“Who is he?”
“My boss,” he said in a distracted tone. He couldn’t help feeling

like this was a trap. Baker had no reason to come after him, but
perhaps someone had come up here hoping to trap Baker.

“Okay, well, Mason told me the book was in the second bedroom

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on the left.”

“Not the room the body is in.”
Camden stepped forward to lead the way, and Matt followed after,

closing the cabin door. Stepping into the room behind him, Matt
couldn’t help but check out his lover’s ass. The man just loved
wearing those pants that cupped him like a lover’s grasp. Damn, it
made him hard enough to stroke himself, which he did.

Camden had a trained grace born of ballet probably he’d guess.

The long, lean lines of his body would have been perfect for it. He’d
love to see him in a pair of those tights. Assless ones of course. And a
T-shirt that just came to the waist. Yeah, that would get his motor
running nice and hot.

“Matt!”
“What?” he asked snapping out of his delicious fantasy. Camden

was standing in front of the closet next to the dresser. A box sat on the
dresser and the top was propped against the drawers in front.

“I saw a flash in the mirror.”
Damn his dick, he thought darkly and glanced to the mirror.

Magick. Some kind of spy spell, he guessed and then crossed to the
window for a look. At the same time, he did a telepathic sweep for
energy and life. He didn’t pick up anything. “I think it was a spell.”

“’Course it was,” Camden agreed calmly.
Matt drew up energy and used a blocking spell, called Peeping

Tom, pepper scum. The blocking spell held a sting like pepper spray.
If the intruder attempted to continue spying on them, he or she would
be temporarily blinded as if sprayed with pepper spray.

“I’ve got the book.” Camden held up two items. “There’s a note

with it. It’s addressed to you.”

Matt went to him and took the note.

Matt,
We were never the best of friends, but you saved my lover’s life

four months ago. Not Aero. In the course of my work, I came across

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something stolen from you the night of the fire that destroyed the
colony. Your books. Yours aren’t really the ones they needed. They
were bait used to lure the remainder of Dark Claw to a negotiating
table where their lives were taken.

I can’t tell you what face Aero’s accomplice wears. All I know is

he’s as ruthless as Aero is and neither of them will go down without a
fight. They don’t think you boys have it in you to kill them, but they do
plan to pick you off one by one after they steal your immortal energy,
which will be soon. Jacinto merely has to emotionally claim his mate.
But the same can be said for you and Camden.

Aero’s been having them watched, but he has no idea about you.

He knows it’s only a matter of time before it happens. So, whatever
you boys are going to do, you better start doing it.

He knows you’ve all been consorting with Dillan. He thinks

you’re planning something as you once did. He’s not sure what, but
he doesn’t think you’re smart enough to know what he’s up to. These
spells were to allow him to piggyback your energy so he’ll become
immortal as well. He is facing a difficult problem. Your mates have an
energy all their own that he can’t touch. He needs to, but I have no
idea what part it will play in getting you to the endgame.

Take care and take out the men I’ve named. Jessie and Harlan

and I worked hard to get you those names.

These men will be the most dangerous to you even if you achieve

your immortality. Take the note I left on page ten to heart and use that
information well.

Mason

“Son. Of. A. Bitch.” None of them had ever suspected the mates

had a separate energy that might be of importance. They always
assumed their mate’s energy was tied to theirs.

“What?” Camden frowned at him.
He didn’t answer. Matt went to peer into the box, and three old

volumes were lying inside against a beat-up, old leather bag. It was

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his bag, and his books. He reached inside and grabbed the bag and
shoved the books inside. “Let’s get the hell out of Dodge,” he
ordered.

Matt caught a glimpse of a red dot in the mirror, and then it

alighted on Camden. He grabbed him and, jerking him against his
chest, quickly turned them out of the line of fire. The bullet hit the
door facing the closet where Camden had been.

“We’re not going to be able to stay in here,” Matt told him.
“You’re not going anywhere,” the cold voice announced from the

doorway. The dark-skinned male fired at them.

Matt attempted to use his low-grade telekinetic ability to deflect

the bullet, but behind him Camden’s eyes darkened as he put his hand
on Matt’s back. The next bullet slammed into a powerful wall of
electromagnetic energy and shattered. Matt started to jerk around, but
was mesmerized by the flare of fire coming from the side of him. The
fireball hurdled forward at the speed of light and threw the shooter
into the wall.

He cried out as flames consumed him.
“Fuck,” Matt whispered. “Let’s go.” He hurried out of the room

with Camden at his back. In the hall they found their path blocked by
two other men.

“I’ve got it,” Camden said. “Just stay still.”
Matt did as he was told, and the flames crawled along the floor

and leaped up in front of him as the two men fired. He flinched as the
fireballs hit both men so hard they were thrown to the floor. In spite
of his surprise, he moved quickly and was further amazed as Camden
diverted the flames from their path.

He stepped into the living room and brought up his right arm to

shield as bullets came at them. He deflected some bullets back, hitting
two of the shooters while Camden’s powerful energy flared, creating
heat and power. This time the fireballs that issued forth were like
mini-bombs. Each man hit turned to ash on contact.

“Shit!” Matt gave Camden a look over his shoulder and did a

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double take. The man’s eyes were black from the vast amount of
power he had marshaled. He’d heard of powerful Psy, but he’d never
actually seen the eyes of one at the height of power usage. The sight
was an eerie one that took his breath away.

Matt forced himself to focus as he turned away. He did a

telepathic scan and found no further threats. However, he wasn’t
comfortable that it would stay that way for long. But he had to put out
the fire and call this in. “Let’s go outside,” he ordered, hurrying out
the door.

* * * *


Camden stayed on his heels and was certain after one look at his

eyes that Matt was rethinking his desire to be with him. He wasn’t
surprised. Not many alpha men could appreciate a lover who was
psychically more powerful than he was.

“I’m going to have to call someone to come out and take a look

around,” he said.

“Forensics team?” Camden asked.
“Yeah.”
“I’ll have to go back inside to put out the fire,” he said.
“How?”
“Stay here.”
“No.” Matt said stopping him with a hand on his arm as he started

toward the house. “You can’t go back in without me.” His tone was
firm, and his stare held an authority that made Camden yield.

“Okay, I need a window then.” Camden found a window after

walking around to the back of the cabin. He had only to hold his hand
up, and the flames came to him, leaving minimal damage in its wake.
Camden turned to Matt to find an enigmatic look on his face. He
didn’t say anything. He just walked away. He knew he didn’t have a
snowball’s chance with him now.

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Chapter Twenty


“I’ve come across some information for you,” Alex told Dillan,

who stood in front of the window in his home office.

Dillan wasn’t sure he even wanted to hear it. Finding out for

certain that Aero was their traitor had been blow enough. He’d kind of
respected the man for his strength and decisiveness. His colony had
been in trouble, and he’d taken steps to try to save them. Or so it had
seemed from what he’d heard.

“A grave was uncovered not more than four hours ago, and a skull

was found.”

Dillan frowned. “So?”
“The skull is believed to belong to one Xiao Yong,” he told him.
Dillan jerked around to face him as chills traced up his spine.

“Alex—?”

“Clay’s lover, Xi,” he told him.
That was impossible. Xi had been with Clay at the hospital last

night.

“And I’ve just heard, Mason is dead.”
Son of a—what the hell?
“I have DNA evidence to support the dead man is your Clay’s

mate, and the man posing as his mate is one Yin Ling. Ling is a
member of Dark Spear,” he said. “He’s Lucan’s secretary.”

“Leave what you have,” he said, not particularly liking what was

racing through his mind, but Trace had pointed out that if Miller
wasn’t their second traitor then Clay had to be their man. He’d have
to call Trace and let him know he was right.

“I know what you’re thinking,” Alex said. “But we have no DNA

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material for Lucan. No markings have been seen on him, so we can’t
confirm or deny he’s Clay, but I am working on it.”

He picked up the file. “This is Lucan?” It wasn’t like they needed

further proof than this. Yeah, actual proof would be nice, but they
didn’t have the luxury of wasting more time waiting for DNA
evidence.

“Yes.”
Lucan was an attractive blond male with blue eyes that seemed as

warm as a nice bath. His face was truly angelic enough to fool anyone
into believing he was something he wasn’t. No hard lines, soft pink
lips. He was a poster child for male beauty. Though tall as Carlin, he
didn’t have Carlin’s muscle. He was smaller, well built. There was
nothing about him that said ruthless threat.

“Lucan is just as nasty as Aero and in some cases worse.”
“But Aero is calling the shots?” He had only known Alex a short

time, but he trusted him

“Yes.” Alex gave him a nod. “I’ll keep you informed.”

* * * *


Matt’s cell phone rang as he pulled back onto the main highway.

He’d elected not to wait around for Enforcement. He had no idea who
was responsible for the attack, but it could be anyone from Baker to
Aero.

If it was Aero, Mason must have left a trail. It would also mean

Aero suspected they were working against him. However, he
wouldn’t know anything for certain without his minions to report
back. Well, there was the mirror. He had no idea what kind of spell it
was.

Camden was quiet next to him, and he didn’t blame him. He’d be

worried, too, if his mate had just seen him burn someone to a crisp
with his mind. Pyrokinesis was rare. It was thought to be a genetic
disorder passed from mother to son.

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He picked his cell up from the dashboard where he’d tossed it.

“Yep.”

“It’s me,” Trace said. “We’re all meeting at Dillan’s in a few

hours. Get your ass over there. It’s important.”

“Right, yeah.” He disconnected. “That was Trace. We’re invited

over to Dillan’s again. We have time to head home and change.”

“Okay.”

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Chapter Twenty-One


Matt pulled into his driveway forty-five minutes later and drove

into the garage. He opened the door and climbed out and so did
Camden.

“I’m going to head home,” Camden announced.
“We’re going to your place,” he told him, reaching for his hand.
“Matt, I know you don’t want me now, so just leave me alone.”
“Leave you alone?” he asked softly. “Oh, no, baby, you don’t get

to get all scared and run away.” He trapped Camden against the side
of the truck.

“Get off me,” he growled. “You saw what I can do, and I swear

that was only the tip of the iceberg. So let me go.”

His eyes were lit with that fire Matt loved, and his dick just got

hard. “I’m not afraid of your ass, Cam,” he told him and then stepped
back from Camden and pulled him against him. He yanked the door
of the truck open and shoved Camden back.

“What are you doing?” Camden demanded, shoving him back.

“Get out of my way.”

“I will once we get a few things straight,” he said. “That is my

heart around your pretty little neck, and you belong to me.”

“That’s the mating shit talking,” Camden screamed at him.
“That mating shit doesn’t promise anything but a mate for life,”

Matt snarled at him and then got in Camden’s face. “What is going
through my head right now has nothing to do with that and everything
to do with this.” He grabbed Camden’s hair and tugged his head back
and claimed his mouth roughly.

Camden pushed at him, and Matt nipped his bottom lip before

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breaking the kiss. He reached down and tugged at Camden’s belt.

“Stop it,” he snapped.
Matt got his belt open. “You belong to me, Cam,” he told him

roughly. “And I want you right here, right now.”

Camden exhaled roughly. “Then just take it,” he challenged, and

Matt’s lips tilted up in a wicked grin.

“You want to play that way?” he demanded. “Fine. Drop the

pants, now.”

“No.”
He gave him a light strike across the face. “I said fucking now,

bitch.”

Camden glared, and Matt shoved him back onto the seat. Then

Camden reached out to push him away. Matt pinned his hands against
the seat and brought his nose to Camden’s as he slid his hand down
between his legs. “You’re so damned hard for me, Cam,” he
murmured. “But I’m going to punish you for being a bad boy.” He
ripped Camden’s pants open and released him long enough to pull
Cam up and flipped him onto his stomach.

“This is definitely conduct unbecoming of an officer,” Camden

muttered.

Matt jerked the glove box open and pulled out a pair of cuffs and

handcuffed Camden before pulling his pants down to expose his
shapely ass. He stroked his hand over the micro briefs and gave him a
light slap before yanking the briefs down.

He grabbed Camden’s hair and pulled his head back. “You’ll

regret making me use such force on you, twink.”

“Bastard, I’ll report you,” Camden muttered and struggled lightly.
Matt could tell Camden was aroused and eager to play by the way

he pushed his ass up slightly. He lips twitched as he took off his belt
but used his hand for the first heavy tap to Camden’s bare ass.
Camden gasped.

“Police fucking brutality,” he cried in a husky tone.
Matt hit him again. “Yeah, I don’t think anyone would believe

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you,” he said. “I’m a decorated inspector, you’re just a doctor,” he
said then struck his rear again.

“Oh, God,” Camden moaned. “Fuck, don’t.”
“No?” Matt asked then lashed him with his belt.
“Oh,” Camden cried out as pleasure rippled through him.
“You like that don’t you, boy?” he murmured then hit him again

before smoothing his hand over Camden’s red ass. “Such a pretty
little ass.” He hit him again.

Camden shuddered as the sting burned through him. It felt so

good, made him so hot he thought he’d combust right there. “Oh fuck,
Inspector.”

Matt struck him again with his hand once, twice. Then he used his

belt.

“Oh, gods,” Camden cried. “It feels so good.”
Matt reached into the glove box for a condom and lube. He wasn’t

going to last, but he was going to try. He tore open his own pants and
rolled the condom onto his stiff cock before slapping Camden’s ass
again.

“Damn you, that’s good,” he cried.
Matt hit him again with the belt then reached for the package of

lube. He tore it open and squeezed some onto his fingers and then
stroked the tightly puckered hole with one finger before pushing the
digit into Camden’s ass.

“You like that, baby?”
“Being assaulted by an inspector?” he cried out when his ass was

smacked.

Matt hit him again then pushed his finger deeper. “I’m going fuck

your tight little ass.”

“With that little dick?” he threw over his shoulder. “Let me up,

you bastard.” He whimpered when Matt struck him again.

Matt drew his finger out and reached for the lube. He smoothed

some on. He gave Camden’s ass a last tap before setting the belt aside
and grasping his cock. He pushed the head past the guardian ring of

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muscle, and Camden groaned.

Matt filled him in two strokes, and they both groaned. He kissed

the back of Camden’s neck and then pulled almost out before pushing
back in. He gripped one hip and began driving into him. His control
was on such a fine edge, he was barely able to maintain a grip on
reason.

He gritted his teeth as he fought to savor the moment, the tight

glove surrounding his cock, but Camden thrust back against him and
that control was gone. Matt gripped both hips and rode him hard.

“Baby, yes!”
Matt braced one hand on the seat as Camden met him thrust for

thrust. He was going to go up in flames, and he knew Camden would
be with him.

Matt gave Camden’s ass a hard tap and thrust into him. Camden

cried out and Matt’s cry joined his.

The heavy breathing was a harsh beat for long seconds as they

both came slowly back down. Matt forced himself to straighten as his
legs started to ache.

“No,” Camden protested as Matt pulled free of him. “I hate you

for this…”

“What?” he asked confused. “You didn’t say no.”
“Not the sex, dickhead,” he muttered as he was pulled up and out

of the truck. “That was great. Just we don’t have time to do anything
but shower.”

Matt smirked at him. “Cam, I don’t care about you having all the

psychic power, sweetheart. I love you, and I want to spend the rest of
my life with you.”

Camden’s jaw dropped as he stared at Matt. “Your timing sucks.”
Matt shrugged. “I just thought you’d want to know.” He pulled

Camden to him. “Don’t be afraid. Trust me with your heart, baby. I
promise I will take good care of it. Everything you are is safe with
me.”

Camden stared up at him. “I just need to know you’ll put me first

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sometime no matter what’s going on in your life.”

“Course I will,” he admonished.
“I want you promise to give me at least two days that are mine.

You don’t go running off to save anyone unless it’s life or death.”

“You have my word.” Matt stroked the younger man’s cheek.
Camden held his gaze for a long moment and then nodded. “I’m

trusting you to do that.” He kissed him and Matt kissed him back.

* * * *


Dillan greeted them at his front door two hours later. “Hey.”
“What’s up?” Matt said.
“Hi, Camden,” he said.
“Hello.” He smiled.
“Hello, Cam,” Sagan greeted. “Come on in. I was just on my way

to the kitchen. Oh, Matt, you brought wine. I hope it’s the good stuff.”

Matt gave him a smile. “Two bucks a bottle,” he joked.
Sagan rolled his eyes. “Oh really?” he asked in a mocking tone.

“Had to be at least six bucks. No wine is that cheap.” He took the
bottles. “Riley’s about to burst with something. So we’ll hurry.”

Dillan gave Sagan a smile. “Take your time, sweetheart.”
Sagan gave him a kiss then took Camden to the kitchen.
“What’s that?” Dillan threw a pointed gaze to the book in Matt’s

hand as they headed to the large living room that opened onto a
screened in porch at the side of the house.

“It’s the black book. Cam said Mason told him where it was.”
Dillan nodded. “Mason was full of surprises.” “Yeah,” Matt

agreed. He’d managed to spend a little time going through the book
after showering with Camden. He had a feeling his boy was going to
be a little demanding emotionally, but he was up to the task. He
would give his life for Camden and do anything necessary to make
him happy. He hoped Camden knew that, but he was going to sure he
learned it well and never forgot it.

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“So, what’s Riley so worked up about?”
“I don’t know,” Dillan answered. They stepped into the living and

Matt saw most of his brothers there. Jacinto was absent along with
Juniper and his mate.

“You guys want drinks? We have tea and beers. Sorry, Matt,

we’re saving your wine for something special,” Sagan said.

Matt gave him a wink and turned his gaze on Camden. He let his

affection for him show in his eyes as he grabbed one of the bottles of
tea Camden held. He put a hand on his hip, and backed them toward a
chair big enough for two. He sat down and pulled the younger male
down on his lap.

Camden gave him a warm smile and Matt grinned, letting the

happiness wash over him.

“Why don’t we get down to it,” Niall said. “What’s up?”
“I went to check on Mason, and I saw Aero kill him,” Riley told

them. “He didn’t just die faster than Camden thought. When I saw
him killing Mason, I had a vision of the night I was killed in my last
lifetime.”

“What’d you see?” Sagan asked, his eyes filled with concern.
“Aero killed me because I was the trigger to the phoenix rising,”

he told them. “The phoenix is you, baby.” He looked over at Trace.
“He was afraid you’d do what you’ve started to do in this lifetime.
Start your own coven and lead. Under your leadership, our coven and
Dillan’s will wipe out Dark Spear which was then Spear of Light.”

“Was Clay working with him?” Dillan demanded in a tense tone.
“I can’t be sure,” he said. “But I think so.”
“That sneaky SOB,” Trace bit out.
“I got some info today,” Dillan said. “Pictures of Aero as leader of

Dark Spear. They’re like the ones you showed us.” He gave Matt a
look. “His lover Lucan is with him.”

The pictures were all passed around.
“I think Xi is dead,” Dillan said. “In fact, I’m pretty sure he is. I

looked at DNA results that support it. They’re prelim results, but—”

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Crazy for You

175

He held his hands wide. “The guy with Clay is Lucan’s secretary.”

“Clay is the one,” Trace said.
“Yeah, he is,” Matt agreed. “Mason asked Cam to retrieve this

and give it to me.” He held the book up. “Names of Knights that we
already know are in here as well as some we didn’t. Their home
addresses, their place of employment, and their covenstead are listed
as well. He even lists the best times to catch them at each location.”

“Mason?” Niall asked.
“He’s working with a covert organization,” Camden said. “He

said someone named Carlin poisoned him.”

“The bastard,” Carter muttered.
“Okay,” Trace said. “Let’s do a clean wipe and pull Jake, Juni,

and Miller back before Aero realizes they’re not in his hip pocket.”

“No,” Dillan said. “We don’t pull them back. We do the wipe and

keep allowing them to think they have the upper hand then we take
them both out, leaving their colony to fend for itself.”

“We have two places to hit,” Matt told them. “One will contain

the heavy Knight hitters, and the other is the stomping grounds of
Dark Spear’s powerful witches and psy.”

“Let’s still use the poison,” Dillan said. “We can level the playing

field some.”

“Exactly,” Niall agreed.
“Someone attacked us while we were at the cabin,” Matt

confessed. “I’m not sure who laid the trap, but I found Callum up
there dead.”

“It wasn’t Aero or Lucan,” Niall said. “They still have no idea

we’re on to Aero. He’s just found out Matt is seeing someone.” “Then
it has to be someone associated with Callum,” Carter said. “Do you
know who killed him? Maybe he was meeting with his boys up there,
and he was early.”

“Yeah, could be,” Matt agreed. He wasn’t about to tell them

Baker was likely the one who’d killed Callum.

“Rye?” Trace asked. “Any ideas?”

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176

E.A. Reynolds

“There was a spell attached to your car,” he said quietly. “The

cabin was a place someone named Jessie met with Mason.”

“Callum must have followed Jessie there,” Matt said. “He was my

source. Callum killed him.”

“Well, let’s chalk it up to a mystery for now,” Trace said. “When

is the best time to hit the Spear and Knights power players?”

“Two days,” Matt said and looked at Camden who had shifted on

his lap and snuggled against him. Camden smiled at him. “We—” He
broke off when Camden kissed his jaw. “The sooner we do it the
better. Some prelim recon will be a good idea.”

“We’ll do it early tomorrow,” Dillan said. “Only those who will

be involved will be going. Everyone else will be holding the fort here.
I’ll call Sam, and he can get his Phantoms ready.”

“That means you boys will be staying behind, having a boys’

night in,” Trace said to Riley.

“If anyone asks, it was spa night and you boys were playing

poker,” Riley agreed.

Sagan laughed. “I guess we’re getting pedicures, boys.”
“Not like you need it, baby,” Dillan murmured to Sagan.
“Well, we’ll get prepared while you boys go chat,” Trace said.
“You should go tonight,” Riley said.
“I agree,” Camden said. “No one will be expecting it, and Aero is

pretending to be mourning his lover.”

“Okay,” Trace said. “Are you sure?” he asked Riley.
“Yes.” He gave a firm nod.
“Once we do this, we’re in the game,” Carter said. “Really in.”
“There’s already no going back,” Niall said. “Let’s do this.”

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Crazy for You

177





Epilogue


A week later, Aero gave Lucan a calm stare, but he felt anything

but. His most powerful men were gone, leaving him vulnerable. He
still had a few strong men left who would be sharing in the immortal
energy, but he had hoped to have his most powerful with him instead.
They were ones he counted on to watch his back when Lucan wasn’t
around.

“We can still do this,” Lucan said. “We’re still connected to

them.”

“I’m having another spell commissioned,” he announced. “No one

knows anything except us, so if anything gets out, I’ll know the spell
creator betrayed us.”

“Baker appointed a new Minister of Defense. He’s one of ours,

but I don’t think Baker has a clue.” Lucan chuckled. “But on the
upside, I’m glad he killed Callum. He was becoming a problem. Satch
won’t be.”

“No, he won’t,” he agreed. “I have sources seeking out the coven

attacking us. We’ll know something soon.”

* * * *


Camden stumbled into the kitchen to the scent of the dark rich

brew he was fast coming to love. Matt was sitting at the peninsula
which was laid out with their breakfast. He had his head down reading
the paper and Camden smiled as he reached for the coffee cup Matt
had put out for him. He frowned, wondering why he’d turned it down
rather than leaving it mouth up. He turned it over and the gold ring

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178

E.A. Reynolds

lying beneath it took his breath away.

He looked at Matt to find him still focused on his paper then

picked the ring up. It was a gold band with two small stones in a
configuration similar to an infinity sign. Two diamonds. His heart
hammered hard as he looked up at Matt again. This time Matt’s gaze
was intense on him.

“Will you marry me?” he asked.
“Oh God!” Camden whispered.
Matt smiled softly as Camden’s eyes filled with love and

happiness. “Is that a yes?” He slipped from the stool he was perched
on and rounded the peninsula.

“Yes!” Camden threw himself into Matt’s arms. “A thousand

times yes.”

Matt claimed his mouth briefly then cupped his face. “I told you I

didn’t want to live without you, Cam, you’re my world.”

“Love you, Matt,” he said and his eyes became dewy.
Matt pushed the ring on his finger. “Love you more, baby.”

THE END

WWW.EAREYNOLDSBOOKS.WEEBLY.COM

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR



E.A. Reynolds is a daydreamer who loves to read and write

romance that arouses. She can be found taking walks in the park to
flesh out characters and listening to music to make sexy scenes come
alive. She's an avid reader of both romance and paranormal novels.

E.A. is also fond of cooking and thinks the kitchen is a good place

to develop bondage and sex scenes because food she says can be as
sexy as music when it comes to sex and the sex drive.

Like all artists she can be a little temperamental when it comes to

people reading her work before it’s finished.


For all titles by E.A. Reynolds, please visit

www.bookstrand.com/ea-reynolds

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Siren Publishing, Inc.

www.SirenPublishing.com



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