Kontra's Managerie 9 In the Eyes of Crazy

On the Road: Sometimes, the shy quiet type,

really aren’t shy or quiet at all.

Payson thought he’d found his mate once, but

had been wrong. With his senses screwed up by
scientist’s experiments, he no longer trusts them.
He sleeps with any nice smelling, willing male—
and some females—hoping his hyena will want to
keep one of them. He’s shocked and delighted
when he and his animal are in agreement over one
sexy, nerdy human—Land Zimmerman. The sex is
fantastic, Land’s shy virgin playfulness even
better, and Payson gives in to his hyena’s urge to
mark Land. The next morning, things heat up, and
not in a good way. Payson’s jealous hyena attacks
a fellow pack-member standing a little too close to
Land. Can Payson convince his skittish human
that he’s not as crazy as he seems?

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In the Eyes Of Crazy

ISBN: 978-1-77111-442-4

Cover art by Angela Waters

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In the Eyes Of Crazy

Kontra’s Menagerie: Book Nine

Charlie Richards

To Payson—For giving me a chance to get my crazy

on.

Chapter One

re you sure this place is safe?” Land glanced
around the parking lot, his nerves flaring in

alarm as a large group of men in biker’s leathers
strode into the club.

“Of course,” Larissa replied, shutting off the

car’s engine. “I’ve been here lots of times.” His
sister turned and peered at him in the back seat.
“You’re not gonna chicken out, are you?” She
eyed him critically.

Land glared at her. “No,” he muttered, even

though he really, really did want to just go home.
His little one bedroom apartment was safe. No one
there would judge him, call him too skinny, laugh
at him for being awkward or socially inept. He
had his computers and his work, and that was
enough.

His right hand worked just fine, especially

when coupled with scenes of a hot police officer,
his uniform half off as some guy got down and
dirty to get out of a speeding ticket. Land felt his
dick thicken slightly at the memory of the porn

“A

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he’d watched the night before. He’d gladly have
been enjoying that, instead.

How had Larissa talked him into coming out

again? Right, she’d said that everyone was
supposed to go out, get drunk, and get laid on
their twenty-first birthday. That was three days
ago, and he’d finally had to do the unthinkable.
Land had come out to his sister, thinking it would
at least get him out of going to a bar with her. He
remembered the scene with vivid clarity, still
shocked at Larissa’s reaction.

Larissa cocked her head, placed her hand on

her hip, and said, “Is that why you’re still a
virgin? Cause you didn’t want anyone to know
you’re gay?”

Sputtering, unable to form a coherent sentence,

Land had felt his face flush and just knew he was
bright red. Finally, he managed to squeak, “Who
says I’m a virgin?”

Larissa had laughed, actually laughed! “Come

on, Land,” she consoled, chucking him lightly on
the shoulder. “You’ve never even been on a date,
and if you actually left this apartment to do
something other than go to the coffee shop or the
corner store for groceries, I’d totally hear about it
from Mitch.” She rolled her eyes, referring to the
building’s doorman. “It’d be the biggest gossip in
the whole complex,” she muttered.

In the Eyes Of Crazy

The heat in his face spread down his neck and

chest. He thought he could actually feel the blood
rushing through his veins. Being pale and nerdy
really sucked sometimes. “So,” he murmured,
glancing away. “You don’t care that I’m gay?”

Scoffing, Larissa shook her head. “Puh-leez!

This is San Francisco. You’re probably the only
gay man in the city who isn’t out, loud, and
proud.” Before Land could think up a response to
that statement, Larissa went on. “Now, I know an
awesome bar that caters to everyone,” she gushed.
“I’ll pick up an outfit for you. You’re still a
twenty-eight, right?” she asked, eyeing his waist
critically.

“Yeah,” he responded dubiously.
She grabbed a belt loop on his too big jeans and

tugged. “How come you never wear anything that
fits?”

Good thing he always wore a belt. Land knew

she wasn’t trying to de-pants him, but he found
baggy clothes more comfortable. “They’re
comfortable.” He shoved her hand away.

“Whatever,” Larissa said. “Okay. Saturday

night. I’ll be here at seven to get you ready.”

“What am I? A toddler?” He stretched his arm

out toward the refrigerator door handle. “Wait.
What?” he asked, spinning around. He didn’t
actually remember agreeing to go out with his
sister.

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“Shower before I get here,” Larissa ordered as if

he hadn’t spoken. “And maybe clean up a bit,” she
said, waving a hand in a circle to encompass the
blankets on his futon.

Land slept in the living room and used the

apartment’s one and only bedroom as an office.

“If you bring someone home you don’t want

him to think you’re a slob,” she said pointedly.

Land’s lower jaw dropped. “What?” he

squeaked.

“See you Saturday,” Larissa called, heading

toward the door. She paused when she reached
the door and turned back to glare at him. Pointing
a finger at him, she stated, “And don’t try to go
anywhere to get out of this. I will track you
down.”

With that final warning, Larissa left. Land ran a

hand through his hair, pushing the shaggy, black
strands out of his face. His gaze roved over his
stuff, but he didn’t really see it. He’d just come out
to his sister and, not only didn’t she care, she was
dragging him to some bi-friendly club so he could
find someone to take his virginity.

With thoughts of his sister’s acceptance firmly

entrenched in his mind, Land opened the car door
and slid from the vehicle. He gripped the waist of
the tight leather pants and pulled, trying to get
them just a little bit higher. They hugged his hips,

In the Eyes Of Crazy

showing all his skinny angles, but he’d been too
embarrassed by the shirt Larissa insisted he wear
to tell her the black leather pants accentuated his
too pale skin. After all, the silver mesh top
clinging like a second skin to his narrow shoulders
showed off everything he didn’t have. Yes, Land
knew he was slender, but just because he didn’t
have fat on him didn’t mean he had muscles.
Sitting at a computer wasn’t conducive to creating
chest or stomach muscles.

Trying to keep from turning bright red, because

that would be the icing on his uncomfortable cake,
Land followed Larissa and her two girlfriends to
the door. She paid the cover charge, he got IDed,
then they headed inside.

Loud music assaulted Land’s ears. Strobe lights

made it difficult to see. He squinted, trying to
make out details of the place. When his eyes
adjusted, allowing him to make out features, he
figured the place looked like a typical night club.
A bar stood in the middle, like a kiosk. The dance
floor was beyond that along with an empty stage
against the far wall. Booths lined each long wall
and tables filled every other available space.

Larissa grabbed his arm, catching his attention.

“Don’t get lost,” she admonished.

He realized he’d been standing and staring.

Someone shoved him from behind, sending him
stumbling forward several steps. Instinctively, he

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glared over his shoulder at whoever’d hit him.

“Oh,” he murmured, his head tipping back. At

six feet, Land had never considered himself short,
but this guy was huge. Broad shoulders, thick
arms, and a scar creasing his left cheek, gave the
leather-clad man an air of danger. Land wanted to
run, but his feet seemed glued to the floor.

To his surprise, the big dude simply nodded

and muttered, “Sorry,” then turned and headed in
another direction.

Land watched the guy settle into a booth

crowded with men. They were all shapes and
sizes, but there was one thing they seemed to have
in common. All of them wore some form of
leathers. A biker gang, he realized.

“Well, look who’s here,” Larissa muttered in a

voice thick with something Land couldn’t
determine. “Over two years and he looks almost
the same.”

That time, Land recognized her tone. Bitterness.

He had no idea who Larissa was talking about, but
evidently it hadn’t been a good experience.

Not interested in his sister’s drama, Land

headed toward the table where her friends were
waiting. Unwilling to sit just yet, he slapped the
table and said, “I’m the birthday boy, so first
round’s on me. You all can get the rest of my
drinks tonight. How’s that sound?”

Trisha, a slender brunette with killer legs,

In the Eyes Of Crazy

grinned up at him. “I like that plan. I’ll take a
White Russian.”

“Get me a Cosmo, please,” Gracy requested

distractedly, her focus on a black-haired man who
was giving her the once over.

“What do you want, sis?” Land asked Larissa.

All the shouting over the music was already
starting to give him a headache. Maybe if he got
buzzed, that would ease and he’d be able to figure
out how to tell if anyone was interested in him.
Yeah, and pigs could start flying, he thought bitterly.

“Oh, are you sure?” Larissa asked.
“Yeah.”
“Um, how about a Green Martian,” she said.
Land nodded. He’d recognized Gracy’s drink,

but sure hoped the bartender knew what the other
two were, because he had no clue. “Okay,” he said
before anyone could change their mind.

He discovered getting to the bar wasn’t as easy

as he’d hoped. Land circled the busy rectangular
booth that made up the bar. Nibbling his lip, Land
contemplated the wisdom of sliding between two
large men when an arm settled over his shoulders.

Looking left, Land found himself staring

directly into a pair of gray eyes. He opened his
mouth to say…something, but then the other
man’s focus dropped to his lips, stealing his breath
with the heat darkening the guy’s pupils to the
shade of slate.

Charlie Richards

Then the guy returned his focus to Land’s eyes

and said, “You need help getting to the bar, hot
stuff?”

Hot stuff? Is this guy for real? Land swallowed

hard and couldn’t help sweeping his gaze over the
guy. Same height, so about six feet, red hair
cropped short, whipcord lean body with plenty of
clearly defined muscle beneath his tight t-shirt
and…oh…dark gray leather pants that currently
matched the man’s eyes.

Awe, what the heck? Wasn’t hooking up what he

was here for? “Yeah, that’d be great.”

In the Eyes Of Crazy

Chapter Two

hen Payson had smelled the dick-swellingly
good man’s scent on Sam, he’d wanted to

throttle his friend for finding the human first.
Knowing he couldn’t do that, Payson had done
the next best thing. He’d twisted Sam’s nipple,
hard, and ordered him to tell him who he’d been
talking to.

Sam had grabbed his hand, shoved him away,

and demanded to know what the fuck he was
talking about. That had, oddly enough, eased
Payson’s hyena. Fortunately, he hadn’t needed to
answer, for Sam had continued, “I almost bowled
some skinny black-haired human down. Of course
I was gonna apologize.”

“Can you point him out?” he asked.
“Uh,” Sam scowled at him, absently rubbing his

nipple, then turned and looked over the throng of
women and men. “I think it’s that guy there,
talking to the group of women,” he said.

Payson had nodded and rose. He’d almost

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snarled when he felt the hand on his shoulder,
then realized it was Kontra. He ducked his head
infinitesimally to his alpha. Since the grizzly bear
shifter had finally found his mate a couple weeks
ago, he’d become incredibly protective, and not
just of his mate, Tim.

Grinning, Payson said, “Don’t worry, boss. I’m

just gonna see if he wants to fuck. He smells
good.”

Kontra smirked. “Holler if you need anything.”
Giving the alpha a wink, Payson quipped, “I

think I can fuck him on my own.”

Chuckling, Kontra let go of him and waved him

away.

Payson turned and looked for the black-haired

man Sam had pointed out and started that way.
He’d given the guy a quick once over—around his
height, slender bordering on skinny, floppy black
hair hiding wide, pretty blue eyes in a lean face
with a slightly pointy chin. Cute, would be the
best classification.

He supposed he could have told Kontra that he

thought maybe the human could be his mate, but
since he’d been wrong before, Payson didn’t want
to get anyone’s hopes up but his own. He always
hoped. Any time he found a nice smelling human,
Payson hoped his hyena would want him or her.
It’d never happened.

Now he stood with his arm around the skittish

In the Eyes Of Crazy

human who smelled like heaven and gingerbread.
Yum. Payson loved gingerbread. He’d much rather
just take the guy somewhere and fuck him, just to
see if his hyena wanted him, too, but this human,
although he was putting on a brave front, smelled
a little wary, too. Payson would have to take it
slow.

I hate slow.
Payson leaned close so he didn’t have to shout

over the music and asked, “What you getting?”

“Uh, I don’t know,” admitted the human, and

wasn’t that sweet in a geeky sort of way.

Grinning, Payson whispered into the man’s ear,

“Then what are you doing at the bar?”

The cute human blushed. “I was gonna ask the

bartender for what’s good.”

“Ah,” Payson murmured. He moved closer,

standing behind the guy, and wrapped his arms
around the man’s waist. “Let me buy you a drink,
hot stuff,” he crooned into his human’s ear. Oh, I
like how that sounds. Mine!

Resting his chin on the human’s shoulder,

Payson sucked in a lungful of the man’s heady
scent. Satisfaction flooded Payson upon smelling
his man’s arousal. The intoxicating aroma made
his dick—already so hard it ached—leak pre-cum
in his leather pants.

Never one to resist his urges, he rocked his hips

forward and rubbed his erection against the man’s

Charlie Richards

ass. The guy tensed for several seconds, then
pressed back against him. Payson groaned.
“Fucking hell, you smell good, cute man. Wanna
bury my dick in you. Wanna get out of here?”

So much for taking things slow.
To Payson’s frustration, the man tensed. “I-I

don’t know,” he hedged.

“What’s your name?” Payson quickly changed

the subject. It looked like his little human would
need a bit of coaxing after all.

“L-Land Zimmerman,” the human stuttered.
Payson nuzzled the skin behind Land’s neck,

then whispered, “Nice to meet you, Land. I’m
Payson Garcia. We’re not strangers anymore, and I
can relax you far more than alcohol can. I
promise.”

Knowing Land wouldn’t know how serious

Payson took his promises didn’t stop him from
making it. Even if the sweet-smelling man didn’t
turn out to be his mate, Payson would make
certain he had the best night of his life.

“Larissa says I’m supposed to get drunk on my

birthday,” Land denied.

Payson knew it was a half-hearted attempt,

because Land let him back them both up a step,
away from the bar. He really wanted his human
pliable and willing due to lust and desire, not
alcohol—which was different for Payson, since
normally he didn’t care. But, from the way his

In the Eyes Of Crazy

dick tapped against his zipper, he’d worry about it
later.

Oh, wait. Birthday.
“Oh, yeah? How old are you turning?” Payson

asked. Using a passing crowd of men as cover,
Payson reached down with one hand and copped
a feel, cupping and squeezing once, twice, the
erection filling Land’s nice tight pants. Oh, nice.

Long and slender. I want to suck it like a popsicle and
blow this little geek’s mind!

Land whimpered oh-so-nicely. “T-twenty-one.”
Payson hummed. “That is a special occasion.

How about I take you back to my place, feed you
strawberries, and lick chocolate off your cock?
Would that make a nice birthday present?”

“Oh, my goodness,” Land muttered. A fresh

wave of arousal hit Payson’s senses, telling him
how his soon-to-be lover leaked pre-cum like a
sieve. “Yeah, that sounds-that sounds good. Just
let me tell my sister.”

Some instinct Payson didn’t understand but

never ignored told him to get Land out of there as
quickly as possible. “You got a phone?” he asked.
After Land nodded, Payson urged him to text his
sister instead. He turned to look at his table and
caught his friends’ amused smirks. He gave them
a jaunty half salute, grabbed Land’s hand, and led
him through the door.

“Where’s your phone?” Payson asked his shell-

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shocked human. If Payson had to guess, Land
didn’t hook-up often. He wondered how much
experience the human had. Land pulled a cell out
of his deliciously tight pants pocket. “Send your
sister a message,” he ordered while steering the
man toward his bike.

To his satisfaction, Land obeyed, typing a

message using just his thumbs. Payson dropped
back a step and eyed the man’s ass. He hummed
his appreciation at the way the globes flexed
under the fabric.

Land paused and looked around, giving him a

confused look.

Payson grinned unabashedly. “Your ass looks

damn sexy in those pants. I can’t wait to peel them
off and see if those globes are as hot as I imagine
they are.”

“Um, thanks?” Land muttered, his face flushing

red in the moonlight.

Payson laughed. “Come on. I got plans for us,”

he said.

When they reached his bike, Payson

remembered the way Land had moaned and
bucked in his arms when he’d squeezed his cock
and a wicked idea formed. First, he’d have to get
them to some place secluded. He grinned and
handed the human his helmet and jacket then
swung on board the bullet bike.

After bringing the motorcycle to life, Payson

In the Eyes Of Crazy

looked toward Land and saw his look of disbelief.
Huh, most his pick-ups couldn’t wait to get on
and press their erections against Payson’s back.
For the first time, Payson took a real look at the
man he planned to fuck all night. Payson didn’t
really have a type, happy to fuck and be fucked,
enjoying twinks, bears, and even the occasional
silver fox. But the one thing they all had in
common was, they knew the score. Land gave no
indication of what he was expecting.

Oh, well. Guess I’ll have to show him.
Payson liked that idea a lot. “Put the helmet

and jacket on, then get on,” he ordered firmly.

A shiver of anticipation worked its way

through Payson when Land immediately obeyed.
As he swung his leg over the bike and settled on
the tiny bitch seat behind Payson, Land asked, “Is
this safe?”

“Yup,” Payson replied grabbing Land’s arms

and pulling them around his waist and chest.
“Hang on tight.”

Once Land’s arms tightened, Payson put the

bike in gear and took off. Land yelped and pressed
closer. Payson grinned, feeling the guy’s dick
against the small of his back. Still hard. Good.

Mindful that his passenger was human, Payson

kept to only ten over the speed limit. He wound
through the streets until he came to the gated
community where he and his gang had rented a

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mansion. They didn’t know how long it would
take for Kontra’s mate, Tim, to grow stronger in
his magick powers. Tim had inherited them from
his deceased mother once he and Kontra had
mated. Then Tim had received a note from a
warlock named Draven claiming that he’ll be his
mentor once Tim’s abilities grew powerful enough
to find him. Payson knew it had something to do
with the premonitions Tim occasionally had.
Draven gave them a head start, telling them to go
to San Francisco, so here they were.

Pulling into a driveway, which was also gated,

Payson paused at the stand and punched in a
code. The gates swung open on silent hinges. He
gunned his engine and roared through, then
pressed a button on a box affixed to his handlebars
and one of the seven garage doors swung open.

Once inside, he pushed it again, sinking them

into near darkness, until the door closed and low
wattage running lights flipped on around them.
The auto lights were meant to allow someone to
safely get out of the vehicle and to the door. If
someone was actually going to work in the garage,
there were massive overhead lights over each bay
that would illuminate the area as bright as day.

But that wasn’t what Payson wanted, he

wanted mellow mood lighting, and this was
perfect. Using shifter agility, he carefully
maneuvered until he’d turned around on the bike,

In the Eyes Of Crazy

facing Land. He eased the helmet off the man’s
head and the jacket off his shoulders, putting them
both on the ground next to the bike.

Land was staring at him with wide eyes. “You

live here?”

“For the time being,” Payson replied, not

interested in explaining his nomadic lifestyle right
then. “Come here.” He couldn’t hide the growl in
his words as his excitement built. Time to

implement my plan.

Payson slipped his hand around Land’s slender

waist and pulled him forward, practically spilling
the rather uncoordinated man onto his lap. Perfect!
Sliding his arms around Land’s back, Payson
cupped his head and urged it even further down
so he could capture the man’s lips.

Leaning against the tank of his bike, Payson

enjoyed having the human sprawled on top of him
as he explored Land’s mouth. He tasted faintly of
mint, probably from toothpaste or gum, and under
that was male and some natural ginger spice.
Payson growled, wanting more. He delved his
tongue deep, twining it with Land’s, getting a
whimper and shudder from Land for his effort.

He planted his feet on the ground for leverage

and rocked his hips up, rubbing his erection
against Land’s trapped rod. Land moaned and
jerked. Payson ended the kiss and tilted his head
so he could see his human’s face. He continued

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rocking his hips, enjoying the friction and mewls
of pleasure coming from his soon-to-be lover.

The flush of arousal made Land’s cheeks glow

in the low lights. His heavily lidded eyes were out
of focus as he panted through slightly parted lips.
Land’s grip on Payson’s shoulders tightened then
relaxed.

All the signs pointed to Land’s imminent

orgasm, and Payson really wanted to see that. He
wanted to cause this human to fall apart in his
arms. He palmed Land’s globes and squeezed the
mounds. That got a very nice little gasp from
Land. Payson grinned. On his next thrust up, he
pulled Land’s ass down, making the friction
harder, more urgent.

Land squeezed his eyes shut and whimpered,

“Wait…oh…I…ugh!”

Payson watched with satisfaction as Land’s jaw

sagged open, his eyes rolled into the back of his
head, and his body tensed, then jerked. Land let
out a long, low keening sound and the scent of his
cum filled the air.

The sights, sounds, and smells went straight to

Payson’s balls, pulling them tight to his body.
Shock filled him when he realized it’d take very
little for him to come, too. Never one to deny his
pleasure, Payson rocked up once, twice more and
let out a grunt of satisfaction as his dick unloaded.

As bliss pinged through his system, he lounged

In the Eyes Of Crazy

against his bike’s tank and hummed. After a good
thirty seconds, Payson finally pulled himself
together enough to nuzzle Land’s neck and stroke
his palms down his lover’s back. “Mm, that was
nice,” Payson murmured against Land’s sweat-
dampened temple. “Let’s go in and I’ll get those
strawberries I promised you.”

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Chapter Three

and followed Payson into the house. House, ha!

This is a fucking mansion! Who on earth is this
Payson guy? And why am I going along with

whatever he says like a puppy following his master? He
couldn’t believe he’d actually texted his sister and
told her he was ditching with a guy. And before
his first drink, even!

Payson stopped in a kitchen that was large

enough to feed an army. Surprisingly, it had a
lived in feel. There were a couple of dirty coffee
mugs in the sink, crumbs near the toaster, and the
glass coffee carafe was half full.

“Coming in your pants isn’t real comfortable.

Do you want me to get you a pair of sweats to
change into or do you prefer your lover to clean
you up?” Payson asked, giving him a quick glance
before opening a pantry and pulling out a bottle of
white rum. From the refrigerator, he grabbed a
bottle of club soda and a covered bowl.

“Uh,” Land’s brain shut down. Exactly how

In the Eyes Of Crazy

experienced was Payson to just say that as if it
were nothing.

At his unintelligible sound, Payson finally

looked at him fully. Payson smiled, and to Land’s
surprise, it wasn’t mocking in the least. In fact, it
actually looked heated, like Payson wanted to go
another round. Land’s penis twitched, as if it too
wanted to play again.

“Oh, I think I’ll clean you myself,” Payson

crooned, his eyelids dropping to half-mast in a
look that almost appeared feral. “Let me just get a
few things.”

Land stood rooted to the spot in shock. He

didn’t understand this guy at all. Was this how
hook-ups normally acted? Maybe he should let
Payson know he’d never done this before. Before
he could come to a decision, Payson placed a pair
of tumblers on the counter full of a slightly green-
hued liquid.

“What’s this?” he asked curiously, reaching for

the beverage.

“Mojitos,” Payson replied. “They’re one of my

favorites,” he added with a wink. “If you don’t
like it, I know a few others. Try it.”

Picking up the drink, Land watched a number

of mint leaves swirl around a lime wedge. He
eyed Payson as the redhead took a large swig of
the drink then licked his lips and hummed
happily. Land noticed Payson seemed to do that

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often when he was happy. It was a good indicator,
telling Land his one night stand was a pretty
happy-go-lucky guy.

He took a sip of the drink and rolled it around

on his tongue. The club soda mellowed the
sharpness of the rum. They mixed with the other
flavors to create a smooth tangy drink.

“Mm, that’s good,” he commented, taking

another, larger swallow.

“Glad you like it. Head down the hall and go

through the arched doorway. It’s a media room.
Have a seat wherever and I’ll be there in a sec. I’m
just gonna grab a few things.”

Land nodded and headed in the direction

Payson pointed. The mansion appeared to be done
in subtle, earthy tones, which downplayed the
wealth of the place nicely. He found the arched
doorway and went inside, letting out a low
whistle. Payson’s idea of a media room looked a
lot like a game or rec room to Land. Yes, there was
a massive TV hung on the far wall with several
leather sofas clustered around it, but there was
also a bar, a pool table, and a foosball table. The
question of who Payson really was again crossed
his mind. Land dismissed it. It didn’t really
matter. He’d go home in the morning and never
see the dude again.

Land felt his phone vibrate against his hip.

Setting his drink on an end table, he pulled it out

In the Eyes Of Crazy

and sat down on a couch. He lifted a brow at the
plush cushion under his butt. “Nice,” he muttered,
lowering his gaze to his display.

Three texts from Larissa.
He quickly pulled up the first one. He frowned

upon seeing the words. How the hell could you leave
with that ass-hat? He’s a player of the worst sort. And

he’s straight!

How did Larissa know Payson was straight? He

didn’t act straight or kiss like a straight man. And
he sure didn’t have any problem making lewd
remarks and acting like he planned to screw him.
He promised pleasure. Straight men didn’t do
that, did they? Maybe Payson was bi.

He wasn’t certain he even wanted to see the

next two, but figured he shouldn’t ignore his only
living relative. The next text read—Even if Payson

is bisexual, he still wouldn’t be good for a first
experience. You need someone patient and

understanding. Tell me where you are and I’ll come
pick you up.

Land frowned. That didn’t make sense either.

Payson had been nothing but patient and
understanding. Blunt and straightforward, but
still patient.

Finally—Land?
Thinking quickly, which seemed to be easy

without Payson actually in the room, Land
decided what to say. I’m fine. I’ll call you tomorrow.

Charlie Richards

Then he switched his phone to silent and placed it
on the end table. He knew his sister would be
pissed about the dismissal, but he wanted to enjoy
his evening, and fielding her calls would only ruin
the atmosphere Payson seemed to be trying to
create, if the sound of Frank Sinatra’s crooning
over the sound system was any indicator.

Land smiled around the rim of his tumbler then

took another sip of his mojito. Payson was really
being sweet. Payson appeared a moment later,
carrying a bowl of strawberries in one hand, his
cup in the other, and a bottle of chocolate sauce
under one arm. He put everything on the end
table then pushed the coffee table over a foot so he
could kneel at Land’s feet.

“Payson?” Land said uncertainly when Payson

placed his hands on his thighs, dangerously close
to his groin. Land couldn’t believe he was getting
hard again, but seeing this muscular, sexy man
before him affected him greatly.

Grinning up at him, Payson murmured, “I

promised you more pleasure than alcohol could
give you, and I always deliver on my promises,
Land. Just relax with your drink and I’ll take care
of everything.”

“O-okay,” he replied.
Land let his legs fall open when Payson

pushed. His breath caught when Payson
immediately went for his button and zipper. He

In the Eyes Of Crazy

just rested his hands there for a second, using his
thumbs to massage the bulge of Land’s growing
dick. Land fought back a shiver from the contact,
desperately hanging on to enough control to keep
from rocking his hips.

Finally, Payson opened Land’s pants with one

hand, while reaching over and grabbing a
strawberry with his other. He held it to Land’s
lips. Land opened and bit into the fruit, trying to
concentrate enough to chew the sweet berry.
Payson placed the stem on a saucer and returned
his hand to Land’s now open pants. As he
encouraged Land to lift his hips so he could slide
them down, Payson leaned forward and swiped
his tongue across Land’s chin and caught a dribble
of strawberry juice.

Next, Payson sipped several butterfly kisses

from Land’s panting lips. Every touch, every
scrape of a calloused thumb or brush of his firm
lips seemed to set Land’s nerves on end. He
fought back a shiver.

Payson straightened and worked Land’s pants

all the way off, taking his shoes and socks with
them. Cool air on his shaft made Land moan
softly. Lying there naked from the waist down
with a handsome man staring hungrily at him, for
the first time in Land’s life, he felt sexy.

Payson hummed and stroked his hands up

Land’s thighs lightly. “So pretty,” Payson

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murmured. “Time to clean you up.”

Before Land could think of something to say,

Payson grabbed the chocolate sauce and drizzled
it over his cock. Land whimpered, his dick flexing
from the chill of the thick liquid. Then Payson
leaned over and swiped his tongue up the pulsing
vein running the length of his dick. Land moaned,
enjoying the wild sparks caused by his dick going
from cold to hot in seconds.

He clutched at the leather sofa cushion, trying

to control his urge to pump his hips. Land might
be a virgin to full on sex, but he’d had a couple
blow-jobs before. Never had they felt like this. He
worried he’d come just from Payson lapping at the
chocolate on his shaft.

“Payson,” he whined, when his lover swiped

his tongue over his glans and delved into the slit.
“Oh, my goodness,” he groaned, his hips
twitching.

Watching from beneath his lashes, Payson met

Land’s gaze then took his cock-head into his
mouth and sucked, hard. Land’s eyes widened as
he stared down at the sexy man sucking his cock.
His balls pulled tight at the sight and his control
snapped. His hips bucked, and he thrust upward,
sending his dick into Payson’s hot, wet mouth as
fast as he could.

Payson hummed. The vibrations shot down his

stalk to his testicles. Pleasure-pain tore through

In the Eyes Of Crazy

Land and he screamed as his release bowled over
him. Heady endorphins from his orgasm rolled
across him like waves lapping at the sand, slowly
easing away on an outgoing tide.

Land lay panting. He thought maybe he should

feel bad for not warning Payson that he was about
to come, but he figured Payson didn’t care, since
the man was still lapping at his dick. The gentle
ministrations sent soft sparks through Land’s
system as Payson cleaned up the last bits of cum
and chocolate as if it were the best treat in the
world.

What finally roused Land out of his satisfied

lounging was the gentle prodding of Payson’s
lubed finger at his anus. His eyes popped open
and he blurted out, “I’m a virgin.”

Charlie Richards

Chapter Four

ayson froze at hearing his lover’s words, then
a shiver worked through him. A virgin. This

little human was giving him something he’d never
given another, would never give another. His cock
leaked in his pants, and he struggled to figure out
the best way of handling this. It had been decades
since Payson had been anyone’s first, and because
this man could very well be his mate, he wanted
to make it memorable.

Land would probably benefit from having

something else to focus on instead of the pain of
the prep work, too.

Taking a calming breath, Payson caressed his

lover’s opening again. “Have you ever played
with yourself? Put anything in here?”

Payson watched a blushing Land nod. The

human licked his lips before admitting, “M-my
finger and, um.” His flush deepened. “A butt
plug.”

Grinning, Payson murmured, “I bet you look

In the Eyes Of Crazy

sexy with a plug peeking out from between your
cheeks.” He shivered at the visual. Still rubbing
the opening of the hole he desperately wanted to
plug, Payson said, “Since this is your first time,
how about we change how we do this, hmm?”

“Um, okay.”
“What kind of porn do you like?” Payson

asked, mentally running through a list of what he
knew was in the house. A number of his buddies
had a DVD or two, and Payson knew where all the
guys kept them. Along with his own considerable
collection, Payson was pretty certain he could find
something to fit his lover’s likes.

“What? Why?”
Payson grinned. He pressed harder, sliding just

the tip of his finger into Land’s channel. Land
hissed at the intrusion.

“To give you something enjoyable to focus on

while I bend you over, get you ready, and fill your
ass,” he told his lover bluntly.

Land’s cheeks couldn’t possibly turn any

redder. “O-okay,” he stuttered.

“Well?” Payson pressed. “What do you like?”

He slipped his finger out of Land’s hole and
massaged the muscle.

Land swallowed hard, then admitted, “M-men

in uniform.”

Payson hummed his pleasure. “I like it.” He

rocked back on his heels and stood. “Lose the shirt

Charlie Richards

and I’ll be right back.” He smacked his lover’s hip,
then hurried from the room. He found the DVD he
wanted and hustled back.

When he walked in, he found Land standing by

the couch, looking very uncertain, and holding his
shirt in front of his groin. Payson would have
reminded Land that he’d already seen his dick,
but figured that would have the opposite effect
when he really wanted to put him at ease.

Maybe if I’m naked, too, he thought, realizing he

still had all his clothes on.

First, he slipped the DVD into the player and

got it rolling. A man in a security uniform—gray
shirt, black slacks, a black cap, and a utility belt
complete with gun and nightstick—stood beside a
desk and chair.

Having seen it, numerous times, Payson knew

that soon a shorter, slender man all in black and
holding a painting would come streaking across
the screen. The security guard would take him
down, and the fun would begin.

He turned from the screen and grinned when

he saw Land’s wide eyes fixed on the screen.
Payson pulled his shirt over his head then
dropped it on a couch and removed his boots.
When he stood up, he realized Land’s focus had
returned to him. Payson smiled, pleased.

Unbuttoning his fly, Payson let his erection

press the flaps apart. Land gasped, and Payson

In the Eyes Of Crazy

knew he’d caught sight of the piercings on his
dick. He didn’t normally care what lovers thought
about his fetish, but he had to admit, seeing the
fascinated expression on Land’s face was a relief.

“Did those hurt?” Land whispered, his gaze

locked on Payson’s cock as he slid the pants off
and kicked them aside.

Payson chortled as he stalked toward his lover.

“Only in the best possible ways. It gives me and
my partner extra stimulation,” he told him. He
grabbed Land’s shirt from his hand and tossed it
aside. He ignored the human’s surprised gasp,
gripped his hip and stepped close together.
Grabbing both their cocks, he pressed them
together and stroked.

Delicious tingles worked up and down his shaft

from where the Jacob’s Ladder and Prince Albert
piercings stimulated him. Land moaned, telling
Payson how much he enjoyed the extra pressure
of the small metal balls running up the length of
his dick, too.

“These will feel amazing pegging your gland,

lover,” Payson growled. His canines tingled,
startling him with the desire to let them extend so
he could sink them into Land’s neck.

Mate!
His hyena yipped excitedly in his mind.
Payson groaned, completely on the same page

with his animal. They’d make this human theirs,

Charlie Richards

and theirs alone. But his mate was a virgin, and
needed serious prep and care. Gritting his teeth,
Payson forced his body back a step. Land mewled
at the loss of sensation, testing Payson’s control.

Damn, it’d been so long since he hadn’t just

acted on instinct, but first he had to make certain
his lover was ready—very, very ready. Payson
wasn’t big by shifter standards, but he still sported
a healthy, thick seven and a half inch dick. He’d
measured.

Using his grip on Land’s hip, and one on his

arm, Payson maneuvered Land around to the back
of the couch. “So you like uniforms,” he muttered.

Land moaned, his gaze returning to the men on

screen. The security guard had the thief tied to a
wooden chair and was feeding him his dick. The
thief sucked enthusiastically while the guard
egged him on.

Payson grabbed the lube and bent his mate over

the back of the couch. He used a foot to open
Land’s stance, then felt for his entrance and
slipped a finger inside. Land groaned and
clenched. Payson wished he could feel that on his
bare dick, hating having to use a condom until he
explained things.

He leaned over Land and murmured into his

ear, “Should I get a uniform like that?” He slid his
finger in all the way and waited. Land made an
indistinct sound, but his chute relaxed a bit.

In the Eyes Of Crazy

“You’d like that, wouldn’t you,” Payson
continued. “I’ll tie you to a chair, or maybe my
bed, and feed you my dick.” He worked his finger
in and out, slowly at first, then picking up speed.
“I’ll squat over your face and feed you my balls.
You’d suck ‘em so good, wouldn’t you,” he
crooned.

Land whined and rocked back onto his finger.
Payson slid a second digit into Land.
The guard on the screen grunted, bucked his

hips, and came. The thief swallowed every drop of
his seed. The guard grabbed the thief’s hair, not
letting him pull away, and told him to keep
sucking until he was hard again.

A strangled noise escaped Land, and Payson

grinned. “Like that, huh?” He slipped a third
finger into the man’s ass as he tugged Land’s
earlobe with his teeth. With his other hand, he
reached around and fondled Land’s dick. “You
hard and weeping for me or those men?” he
whispered.

He referred to how the security guard had

moved the thief so he was on all fours over the
very painting he’d tried to steal. The guard was
fucking the thief in slow, even strokes, telling him
how he’d never get money for the painting once
he was done with him.

“Y-you…how’d you kn-know?” Land stuttered.
“Know what?” Payson asked, while rolling a

Charlie Richards

condom on one handed. He stopped stroking
Land’s gland so he could answer.

Land looked over his shoulder at him, heat and

lust filling his blue eyes. “That I’ve dreamed of
being taken while watching porn.”

Wasn’t Fate brilliant? Payson grinned. “Because

I’ve always wanted to do it to someone.” He
didn’t add that he’d saved the experience for his
mate. Land wouldn’t understand that.

He gently rubbed Land’s gland once more,

refocusing his attention. Land bucked and
moaned, trying to rock back onto his fingers.

“Ready for me?” Payson asked. It was more a

rhetorical question, because even as he asked, he
eased his fingers out and lined up his dick.

He pushed in and the silky pressure of Land’s

walls surrounded him, clamped down on his
erection, and he heard his lover hiss, “Yesss.”

Payson didn’t stop until his balls nestled

against Land’s ass. Stilling his hips took a shit-
load of concentration, but he did it, even as his
hyena railed at him, wanting to take and claim his
mate, show Land who he belonged to.

Draped over Land’s back, Payson pressed

sucking open-mouthed kisses up and down his
neck. He listened to his lover’s panting breaths,
waiting. Finally, after what felt like forever, Land
whimpered and shifted beneath him, and Payson
knew his lover was ready for more.

In the Eyes Of Crazy

He started slow. Well, as slow as he could

manage, pulling out until his crown tugged at
Land’s ring, then pushed back into the man’s
body. Payson’s control thinned. He shifted his
hips, and his next stroke made Land scream.
Noting the spot, Payson picked up his pace and
began pegging his lover’s gland with every stroke.

His balls drew tight. The tell-tale tingle vibrated

the base of his spine. His canines descended and
he scraped them across the fleshy part of Land’s
shoulder. His mate moaned and shivered, tilting
his neck as if to give him more access.

At the submissive move, Payson lost it. He

growled his excitement, pounded his cock into
Land twice more, and sank his teeth into his
mate’s shoulder while flooding the condom with
jet after jet of his seed.

Land screamed and jerked in his grip. His ass

clamped down on Payson’s cock, forcing another
stream of cum from him. After a few seconds,
Payson carefully extracted his canines and licked
the marks, sealing them, as he stroked his lover’s
chest and scraped a nail over his nipples. His mate
shuddered and panted in his arms. Payson smiled
absently, vowing to remember his mate’s sensitive
nipples for next round.

Payson pressed a kiss to the sensitive flesh

behind Land’s ear. A satisfied sigh escaped Land,
and Payson grinned. He rested his forehead

Charlie Richards

against the nape of Land’s neck, encouraging him
to stay in place while he reached down, gripped
the base of the condom, and carefully pulled out.

Holding the used condom in one hand, Payson

used the other to gently massage his mate’s tender
entrance. Land shivered and murmured, “Wow!”

Payson couldn’t have said it better himself.

“Come on, lover,” he encouraged, rubbing Land’s
back. “Let’s head upstairs. We’ll get cleaned up
and get some rest.”

He wrapped the condom in several tissues,

gathered both their clothes, then returned to his
mate. Land was just straightening up. Payson
handed Land his clothes, then wrapped his free
arm around the younger man and led him upstairs
to his suite of rooms.

A half hour later, after washing his nearly

comatose mate and tucking Land into bed, Payson
lay awake holding the human. He and his hyena
were in agreement. Now that Payson had found
him, he’d never let Land go. Which led Payson to
the all-important question—How can I convince my

mate that he’s meant to be with me?

In the Eyes Of Crazy

Chapter Five

and grunted and turned his head away from
the beam of sunlight. How on earth did I forget to

close the blinds? That’s when he became aware of
the arm wrapped around his waist and the leg
thrown over his. The previous night’s activities
came rushing back, and he barely held in a gasp as
the ache in his butt made itself known.

Then he grinned. He’d found a guy who

wanted him. Land wasn’t foolish enough to think
Payson would want him to stick around, and he
didn’t want to worry about the awkward morning
after. But for one night of fun, this sexy guy had
wanted him. Land did a mental happy dance. It
gave him hope that he’d be able to find someone
who’d be willing to have a real relationship with
him, a permanent relationship.

As carefully as he could, Land maneuvered out

from under Payson’s arm and leg. At first, he
feared he wouldn’t be able to get out of the
stronger man’s grip, but finally he managed. He

Charlie Richards

let out a silent sigh and took a second to stare
down at the sexy man who’d granted several
fantasies.

Thinking of the sex in front of the porn video

and the chocolate blow job, Land’s morning wood
thickened. He shook his head and turned away.
Grabbing his clothes, Land slipped into the
bathroom. After relieving himself, he found some
toothpaste and swished it around his mouth. Then
he got dressed.

Land opened the door and peeked out. Relief

filled him when he saw Payson hadn’t moved.
When he got to the door, he paused and looked
wistfully over his shoulder. Too bad it couldn’t be
more than a one night stand.

Shutting down those thoughts, Land crept

down the hall. He patted his pockets and paused,
trying to remember what happened to his phone.
“Media room,” he muttered. “Right.”

Moving quickly through the house, Land

paused once when he thought he heard voices. But
then the sound was gone and he dismissed it. As
he strode passed the pool table, Land wondered
how many people actually lived there. Since the
food was gone, Land assumed either Payson had
returned to clean it up or he had maids. He smiled
and shook his head. How’d it be?

He didn’t see his phone on the end table.

Thinking maybe it’d fallen to the floor sometime

In the Eyes Of Crazy

during their…activities, he dropped to his knees
and checked under first one couch, then another.

“You wouldn’t be looking for this, would you?”
At the sound of the deep voice, Land slammed

his head on the coffee table he was looking under
and groaned. He backed up and got to his knees,
rubbing his head.

“Ah, shit, man. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to

startle you,” the man said as he strode closer.

“It’s fine,” Land muttered. He eyed the man

warily, wondering what would happen now that
he’d been caught. The guy was big, really big. As
he rose to his feet, Land realized the blond man
stood a good couple of inches taller than him and
had at least fifty added pounds of muscle. He
shifted from foot to foot uneasily. If the blond was
offended by Land being in his home, would he hit
him?

“I’m Adam. Adam Kingston. Our roomie,

Yuma, found this while cleaning up this
morning,” Adam said, holding out his phone.
“Man, I don’t envy you,” he added, snickering.
“You’ve pissed someone off. You have about a
million texts. Hope you don’t have a cap on how
many you can receive.”

“I don’t,” Land replied, taking the phone. A

glance down showed fifty-three texts. All from his
sister. He groaned. “I so don’t want to deal with
her,” he muttered, wondering how long he could

Charlie Richards

put off calling her.

Land nearly jumped out of his skin when Adam

put a hand on his shoulder and started steering
him toward the door. “Relax,” Adam said,
chuckling. “The least I can do is get you a cup of
coffee and some ice for that head.”

“I was really just going to call a cab,” he

objected, though he followed Adam’s guiding
hand through the house to the kitchen. “I’m sorry
about the mess,” he added, what Adam said
finally sinking in. Someone else, someone named
Yuma, had cleaned up the mess he and Payson
had left behind. His face heated as blood roared in
his ears. How embarrassing!

Adam laughed. “Don’t worry about it.” He

handed Land a bag of frozen vegetables and a cup
of coffee. “Head into the dining room, there,” he
said pointing through yet another arch. “There’s
milk, creamer, and sugar on the table for the
coffee. I’ll be there in a few minutes with some
breakfast.”

“But…” Land froze in the archway, realizing

the dining room was occupied.

Three men sat around the table. The man at the

head was, for lack of a better word, huge. Thick
dark hair, with silver oddly mixed in, hung to his
shoulders. He had the same flecks in his goatee.
There were Celtic tattoos running down his right
arm. He wore a green t-shirt, and Land could

In the Eyes Of Crazy

make out more color around the edges of the
neckline. The man watched him with cool dark
eyes.

The second man he recognized from the bar

only because he remembered the scar bisecting his
cheek. The guy buzzed his dark brown hair close
to his scalp, had a square jaw, and used light
brown eyes to sweep an assessing gaze over Land.

The third man was more slender than the other

two, but was still far more muscular than Land
could ever hope to be. He wore his brown hair
shaggy and had hazel eyes in a more rounded face
and offered Land a smile.

Are all these men brothers? No. That can’t be right.

Unless they’re maybe half siblings?

It clicked. He’d stumbled into the den of the

biker gang. Did they know Payson was gay, or at
least bisexual? Am I about to get my ass kicked?

Fear of being alone with a bunch of strangers

made him back a step. Using the coffee mug as
cover, he punched in the place’s address to
Larissa, just in case. Land looked around, trying to
figure out the way to the front door. Except, he
hadn’t come in that way and with the size of the
house, he had no clue. A hand on Land’s shoulder
made him jump about a foot, spilling coffee over
his hand. Good thing it wasn’t scalding.

“Whoa! Easy, man,” Adam said, lifting his

hand, palm out, in a sign of peace. “Skittish little

Charlie Richards

thing, ain’t ya? No one’s going to hurt you here.”
Adam touched the small of Land’s back and urged
him forward. “Have a seat and eat. I’m sure
Payson won’t be too long. He’s never been a late
sleeper.”

An irrational spike of jealousy hit Land because

this man knew more about Payson than he did,
which was completely ridiculous because they
were obviously roommates and he was a one night
stand. A one night stand that needed to leave.

“I really need to go,” he said.
“Stay for breakfast,” the man seated at the head

of the table said in a deep, gruff voice.

Land knew an order when he heard one. He

slowly took his seat and set the bag of peas on the
table. Adam placed the plate of food in front of
him, then pushed the cream and sugar toward
him. To his surprise, the big blond yanked a hand
towel off his shoulder, wrapped it around the
peas, and held them to his head.

“You really don’t have to do that,” Land said,

piling the scrambled eggs and bacon onto his toast
to make a sandwich. The sooner he could get out
of there, the better. He took a bite. Oh, that’s so
good! “What are in these eggs?” he asked after
swallowing.

Adam chuckled. “A little milk and cheese,

diced green peppers, and some secret spices all
my own,” he said, winking. “And, yeah, I do have

In the Eyes Of Crazy

to do this. If Payson found out I’d hurt you, even
by accident, he’d try to rip me a new one.” The
words were accompanied by an eye-roll and an
exaggerated shiver.

Land chewed and swallowed before letting out

his snort of disbelief. “Right. Like anyone cares
that much for a one night stand.” He polished off
the last bite, then swallowed a sip of coffee. Good
brand, dark rich and strong, it didn’t even need
milk or sugar. “I’m sure Payson doesn’t really
want to see me this morning,” he said, setting his
now empty cup aside. “I really ought to go.”

A look passed between the four men, the group

clearly communicating without words as only
good friends or family could do. Adam once more
put a hand to his shoulder and moved his shirt
aside, again looking at the big guy on the end.
“This says differently.”

Suddenly uncomfortable, Land shrugged. “It’s

a fetish. Nothing wrong with that. Payson didn’t
abuse me or anything,” he defended.

“We know,” Adam replied, sounding almost

kind. He again looked at the big guy, as if looking
for guidance. “I suppose we have a lot of
explaining—”

The growl of an animal grabbed Land’s

attention, and he jerked his gaze to the second
doorway to the room. He’d noticed it led to a
living room, but right then, what caught his

Charlie Richards

attention was the large, snarling animal standing
in the doorway. The beast’s gray eyes seemed
fixed on him and Adam.

Land leaped to his feet and stumbled back a

step, then the memory of reading something
saying never run from predators made him freeze.
Adam lifted his hands, palms out in placation.

“Payson, back off. I wasn’t doin’ anything and

you know it,” Adam said softly.

Frowning, Land chanced a glance around. He

didn’t see Payson.

The animal prowled forward a step, his head

low, his fangs bared. Was that a hyena? It stood
nearly four feet at the shoulder and around six feet
in length and had greyish-brown fur with reddish
spots. He’d never seen one except on TV, but that
definitely looked like a hyena. What the heck was
it doing in a house in San Francisco?

Adam scowled. “I’m not going to warn you

again, Payson. All I did was give him ice for his
head and breakfast, just like I’d do with any other
mate. You need to calm down. We have a lot of
explaining to do as it is.”

The hyena gave a yipping snarl, then leaped at

Adam. Land never claimed to be brave, and took
the opportunity to run to the other side of the
table. When he turned around, his jaw dropped in
shock. Adam was nowhere to be seen, but a
massive white tiger grappled with the hyena.

In the Eyes Of Crazy

The big goateed man stalked around the table

and grabbed the hyena by the scruff in one huge
hand. He actually shook the animal as if it were a
recalcitrant pup. “Enough,” the man roared,
sounding surprisingly like an animal himself.
“Shift, now. You’ve done enough fucking damage.
You want your mate scared of you?”

The hyena went boneless in the man’s grip,

which was weird enough. What happened next
made Land grab the back of the nearest chair to
keep from collapsing. Once put down, the hyena’s
body shuddered. Then a rapid twitching started at
the base of his spine, worked through his legs, and
finally up to his head. The sound of muscles
popping, bones cracking, and tendons snapping
filled the room, causing bile to rise in the back of
Land’s throat. It sounded painful, whatever was
happening, and his stomach threatened to lose the
wonderful breakfast he’d just eaten.

The fur disappeared, limbs lengthened, the tail

disappeared, and the head reshaped. It all
happened quickly, and in less than a minute,
Payson crouched on the floor.

“Oh my god,” Land whispered. “What the fuck

is going on?” He didn’t cuss much, but this
situation certainly called for it.

Payson gave him the most hang-dog look Land

had ever seen on a human. Payson took a step
toward him. Land tightened his grip on the chair

Charlie Richards

as his breathing sped up. Payson stopped and
hung his head. Looking at Land through his
lashes, Payson murmured, “I didn’t mean to. I
woke up alone, and when I came down, Adam
was leaning over you, and all I could think about
was getting him away from you.” Payson shoved
his hand through his short red hair and started
pacing, muttering under his breath and shaking
his head.

The uncertainty and frustration—and was that

fear—looked completely out of place on Land’s
naked lover. The agitated movements expressed
how worked up Payson truly was.

Land knew he was completely out of his league

on this one. Yes, he’d seen some True TV footage
on the net that showed all sorts of crazy things
from vampires to aliens, but he’d always
dismissed them as fabricated. What had just
happened before his very eyes threw everything
he’d ever believed into question.

He grew light-headed and his knees threatened

to buckle. Someone, he thought the man with the
scar, wrapped an arm around him and helped him
to a chair. Land’s head was pushed between his
knees and someone kept telling him to breathe.
Finally, the spots dancing on the edges of his
vision faded.

Lifting his head slowly, Land looked around

the room. The tiger was gone. A few men he

In the Eyes Of Crazy

hadn’t seen yet stood in the doorways watching
him with expressions ranging from alarm, to
wariness, to compassion.

Payson, now wearing faded blue sweatpants,

stood a few feet away. He clenched and
unclenched his hands, and stared at him with such
longing Land just didn’t understand why. Maybe
if he had more experience, he could figure it out,
but he didn’t.

“I need…” he paused and swallowed, trying to

get moisture to his suddenly dry throat. “I need
someone to tell me what the hell is going on.”

The guy who’d shaken the hyena like a rag

doll—how could someone be that strong?—rested
his hands on the table and leaned forward. “My
name is Kontra Belikov. The man who helped you
to a seat is Sam Abbott.” He switched his gaze to a
tall slender man standing next to Land. “That is
Eli Raetz. He’s our resident doctor.”

Blowing out a breath and straightening, Kontra

waved a hand to encompass the others peering in
at him. “These are my pack. We are shifters. As
you saw, Adam turns into a white tiger. Payson
shares his spirit with a hyena.” He scowled at the
redhead and added, “Usually he has better
control, but there seem to be extenuating
circumstances.”

Land stared at the man, waiting for the punch

line, or the other shoe to drop, or his head to

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explode. Surely the guy, Kontra, hadn’t said they
were shifters. They didn’t really believe they
turned into animals, did they? “I want to go
home,” he whispered.

“I’m sorry, Land. I can’t let that happen, yet,”

Kontra said flatly, as if holding someone against
their will was something that happened all the
time.

Oh, crap. Maybe it is!
Hugging himself, Land whispered, “Why not?

What are you going to do to me?”

“I promise we won’t hurt you.” It was Payson

who answered, making Land realize the man had
crept a number of feet closer.

“You promise?” Land asked tentatively,

latching onto the flimsy words. Wait, what had
Payson said about his promises? He always kept
them? And hadn’t he kept the one he made last
night? And in spectacular fashion, too.

“What about the animals?” Land asked, unable

to actually make himself say hyena or tiger. That
was just too much of a stretch for his analytical
mind.

“We’ll never hurt you,” Payson said again, his

brows creasing, as if trying to understand why he
needed to repeat himself. By that time, Payson had
reached Land’s side and dropped gracefully to his
knees next to the chair. “You’re everything to me,”
he whispered, touching the pads of his fingers to

In the Eyes Of Crazy

Land’s lips.

Land gasped at the soft caress, so different from

the heated aggression Payson had shown the night
before, but he still really liked it. To his
embarrassment, Land’s shaft began to fill.

For a second, Payson’s eyes dilated slightly,

then he grimaced. “Fucking hell, you can’t smell
like that and expect me to focus,” he whined.

“S-smell like what?” Land whispered.
“Aroused,” Payson growled, before leaning

forward and crushing their lips together in a
bruising kiss.

Land’s dick filled the rest of the way and he

whimpered into the kiss. Payson cupped his head
and probed deep, sweeping his tongue into Land’s
mouth. As Payson plundered, caressed, and
nipped, Land tried to remember why he should be
trying to leave.

“Payson,” snapped a deep, gravelly voice. “You

need to explain things first.”

Right, that’s why. One—they weren’t alone.

Two—some of these guys could turn into wild
animals. Land couldn’t remember three as Payson
broke the kiss and sucked on his earlobe, sending
delicious tingles straight to his cock.

“Payson!” Kontra snapped again.
Huffing in obvious irritation, Payson rocked

back on his heels. “Fine,” he muttered. Payson
stared Land in the eye and said, “I’m a shifter. I

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turn into a hyena. Even when I’m an animal, I’m
perfectly capable of rational thought just like a
human, and I remember who everyone is. You are
my mate, the other half of my soul. I’ve been
searching for you for decades. We’ll bond by
having sex without a condom. I’ll devote myself to
your pleasure, safety, and happiness. We’ll have
mind-blowing, fantastic sex as often as possible.”
Payson looked at Kontra. “Did I cover
everything?”

“I’m sorry. Wait. What?” Land squeaked, his

mind again reeling.

Sam chuckled, the sound deep and gruff.

“Maybe you should try that again, Payson. A little
slower this time.”

“Why don’t we all go sit in the living room?”

said a muscular guy with sandy brown hair.

Land didn’t know how many times his mind

could be blown in the course of an hour, but it
surprised the crap out of him to see the guy walk
right up to Kontra, tuck himself close, and angle
for a kiss, which the big biker gave, with relish, if
the tongue action was any indicator.

“You’re gay?” he whispered. He sure hadn’t

seen that one coming.

“We all are. Or at least, mostly. Some of us have

bedded a woman or two,” Eli stated from over his
shoulder. His smile, however, was focused on a
small African American who strode over carrying

In the Eyes Of Crazy

a mug, which he offered to Land.

“I’m Sam Bailey. I turn into a wolf. I thought

maybe you’d like some tea,” he said, smiling
sweetly as he held out the mug.

“Uh, thank you,” Land replied, absently taking

it. A wolf?

“That was nice of you, my sweet,” Eli

murmured, leaning down to kiss Sam.

“Are you all shifters?” Land blurted before he

could think better of the question.

“No, I’m human. My name’s Ben,” said a short,

slender blond being held by a broad-shouldered
African American with dreadlocks. “So is
Hunter,” he said, pointing at the guy who’d been
sitting at the table earlier.

Now Hunter held a small man in his lap, a guy

with frosted-tipped black hair as well as eyeliner.
Land had never thought makeup on a man was
sexy, but the little guy pulled it off nicely. Seeing
his gaze focused on him, the man smiled and said,
“I’m Yuma. Not all of us turn into a predator
either. My animal is a penguin. Lamar’s is a
peacock.”

Yuma pointed at a short blond holding a cup of

coffee.

The

man

lifted

his

cup

acknowledgement before taking a sip.

“This is so surreal,” Land murmured. He could

just feel his brain on information overload.
Payson’s hand on his back, smoothing in slow

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circles, finally broke into his consciousness. It was
then he realized he actually leaned against Payson,
taking comfort from the man.

Going through and cataloguing everything

Payson had run through, Land decided some
things were more important than others. “What
does it mean that I’m your mate?”

In the Eyes Of Crazy

Chapter Six

ayson cocked his head. Hadn’t he already
answered that? What was his mate looking

for? Taking his alpha-mate, Tim’s advice, Payson
urged Land to his feet and led him into the nearby
living room.

He looked over his shoulder and eyed the

group of men, his gaze fleetingly coming to rest on
Adam. I’m sorry, he mouthed. Adam gave him a
two-fingered salute and a smile. Relief flooded
Payson that his buddy wasn’t angry. He’d tried to
calm down, when he’d seen Adam sitting close
and holding a bag of frozen vegetables to the back
of his mate’s head. Then he’d heard Adam’s
comment about accidentally hurting Land and his
hyena had snapped. The only thought he’d had
was to get his mate as far away from the shifter
who’d hurt him as he could. The fact that he was
taking on a seven hundred pound tiger wasn’t
even a blip on his radar. Good thing Kontra had
been there to shake some sense into him. At times,

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Payson needed that.

His gaze landed on Mutegi and Ben. Mutegi

was a warthog shifter who’d mated with the
human, Ben, over a year ago. Maybe they could
help him explain things to Land. After catching
Mutegi’s attention, Payson lifted a brow and tilted
his head toward the living room, silently
entreating his friend to join them.

Mutegi nodded, wrapped his arm around his

human, and followed.

Land chose a seat on the couch nearest the fire.

Payson settled next to him, pulling one leg under
him so he could turn and face his mate. The solid
presence of his alpha standing behind him gave
Payson courage.

He cupped his hands around both of Land’s

and looked into his human’s eyes. Payson tried to
formulate what he wanted to say, but it was hard.
He preferred action and kept getting lost in the
beautiful blue of Land’s eyes. He’d mounted his
lover from behind last time, and the desire to fuck
Land face to face surged through him. He wanted
to know how dark that blue became when Payson
drove Land out of his mind with passion.

“Payson, we are here to explain shifters and

mating,” Mutegi reminded him gently, breaking
into his lust-infused thoughts.

Sucking in a breath, Payson nodded. “Right.

Sorry. Mating. Uh.” He frowned. “I said you’re

In the Eyes Of Crazy

my mate and you wanted to know what that
means.” Payson cocked his head and sifted
through his scattered mind. Maybe his mate
needed background to understand. “Most shifters
need a pack or pride or family, a place they feel
accepted, so their animal side feels safe and
happy. For their human side, to make them feel
happy, they search for a soul mate who completes
them and makes them feel at peace.”

Payson eyed his mate, wondering if he was

following. When no questions were forthcoming,
he continued. “Fate grants each shifter one soul
mate. I don’t know how she decides,” he mused.

He opened his mouth to give his opinion on

how he thought Fate decided, but Mutegi cleared
his throat and said, “Many shifters go their entire
life without finding that special someone, Land. If
we do find them, we devote our lives to pleasing
that person.” Mutegi gave Ben a fond smile. “We
want our mate happy, in and out of bed.”

Returning his focus to Land, Mutegi added,

“Turning into an animal is an advantage, because
it gives us increased strength and senses, allowing
us to take better care of our mate.”

“So, you don’t actually choose your mate.

Someone else does?” Land asked, frowning.

Payson didn’t like that look on his lover. He

wished he knew how to explain it better.

“Think of it more like…a really good

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matchmaking service,” Ben interjected. “Someone
takes your likes and dislikes, what you’re looking
for in a partner, and finds that person for you.”
Mutegi’s mate gave Land an encouraging smile.
“Then add in the fact that there’s no chance of
cheating and your lover always wants you safe,
happy, and well cared for, plus the sex really is
phenomenal,” he tacked on, giving his own lover
a lascivious wink.

Mutegi snorted. “Behave,” he muttered, kissing

Ben’s cheek.

“Where’s the fun in that,” Ben teased right

back.

Payson wondered if he and Land would ever

get to that point, being easy with each other and
their relationship. Alone, last night, it had been
that way. Yes, Land had been nervous, but that
was due to being a virgin. By the end of the night,
Land had been relaxed and satiated. Payson
wanted that again.

Land slowly nodded. “I’m assuming there will

be drawbacks?” he asked warily.

“If you have a lot of family, yeah,” Ben

answered honestly. “Shifters live for several
hundred years, and once you mate with Payson
your aging will slow to match his. You’ll outlive
family and friends.”

Payson liked how Ben didn’t make it sound like

an option not to.

In the Eyes Of Crazy

“The only family I have is my sister,” Land

admitted. “My parents died a couple of years
ago.”

“I’m sorry,” Payson murmured, because he

knew he should. “My parents sold me to scientists
who did experiments on me.”

“What?” Land gasped, his eyes growing wide.
Payson went over what he’d said. Right, most

people, human or shifter, didn’t quite have a
history like that. He shrugged. “It’s not like I can
change it. I’ve moved on.”

“But they sold you?” Land asked, clearly

outraged.

Sighing, Payson thought maybe he should have

kept his mouth shut. He didn’t want pity from his
mate. Needing to move, Payson leaped to his feet
and started pacing. He leveled a glare at the lush
carpet under his feet. “My dad was a great guy.
Showered me with love, so I know what love is,”
he muttered. “He died when I was seven. My
mom remarried. At first, he was pretty ambiguous
about me. As long as I stayed out of the way, he
didn’t care that mom had a kid ’cause she had
money. But then I shifted for the first time…” His
voice trailed off, his feet stopped moving, and he
cocked his head as memories assaulted him.

Beatings. Chains. Being locked in his room on

the full moon, though he never actually shifted
around that time. “He wasn’t very good with

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money,” Payson murmured, frowning at nothing.
“He made some bad investment choices. When the
guy found out he could make money from selling
a freak like me, he did it.”

Payson sucked in a long breath and resumed

his pacing again. He didn’t want to tell the rest of
the story. It hurt. Everything about his time there
hurt. Shaking his head, Payson grumbled under
his breath about the pain and shock therapy and
ice baths and needles.

Turning for another pass across the carpet,

Payson nearly bowled his mate down. He realized
his human was tougher than he looked. Land
wrapped his arms around Payson’s waist, rested
his chin on his shoulder, and held tight.

“You’re not there anymore,” he murmured into

Payson’s ear. “You’re here, with me, with your
friends. Nothing can hurt you now.”

The agitation drained from Payson’s body as he

breathed in Land’s scent, felt him nuzzle his neck.
Payson hummed. “Yeah.” He shivered upon
feeling the soft lips pressing kisses along his neck.

“If you ever want to talk about it, I’m here,”

Land continued, his words slightly muffled by
skin. “But you’re just fine, right?”

Letting out a long breath, Payson smiled and

did some nuzzling of his own. “With you in my
arms, I’m perfect,” he whispered.

“Good,” Land replied.

In the Eyes Of Crazy

Before he could do anything more, Eli appeared

in the doorway and cleared his throat.

“Yes, Eli?” Kontra asked quietly.
“The tattooist is here,” Eli stated. “Where

would you like him sent?”

“The salon. He can set up on the sideboard,”

Kontra responded.

Payson was aware that Eli disappeared, but he

had no desire to rouse from the nice cocoon of
sanctuary created by his mate’s arms.
Unfortunately, his alpha didn’t give him a choice.
Kontra stepped forward and demanded his mate’s
attention.

“Land, do you see now why you need to

remain here until you are calm enough to accept
why secrecy is best. There are those who don’t
accept people who are different,” Kontra stated.
“Anonymity is a shifter’s ally.”

Easing away, Land didn’t let go of Payson

completely, for which he was grateful. “I
understand. I’d never want anything to happen
to…well, any of you.”

Payson couldn’t hide his smile at Land’s

sweetness.

“Good. Because I’m Payson’s alpha, I now have

to ask if you plan to allow Payson to claim you.”
Before Land could say anything, Kontra held up a
hand. “Keep in mind that, although we are in San
Francisco now, my gang travels a lot. We don’t

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have a home base, instead often visiting former
pack-members and friends in our travels across
the country.”

Land’s brows shot up. “Wow, why do you

travel so much?”

Kontra smiled. “Because I believe in the

progressive approach to finding mates. Instead, of
waiting for Fate to bring them along, we go out
and find them.”

“Oh,” Land murmured. “That makes sense.”

Land’s next question surprised not just Payson, if
the other men’s scents were anything to go by.
“What’s the tattooist doing here?”

Kontra’s grin was slightly feral and his eyes

glowed. “My sweet mate is getting his nipples
pierced and I am finishing a tattoo.” With that,
Kontra left.

To Payson’s surprise, Land murmured, “I’ve

always wanted nipple piercings.”

Payson remembered how sensitive his mate’s

nipples were. “Another benefit of mating a shifter
is swifter healing.” He paused, then added, “Of
course, that means you can never go to a regular
hospital. That’s why we have Eli. He’s a doctor
and his mate, Sam, is a nurse.”

“So…” Land pulled back and looked him in the

eye. “Do you think I could get my nipples
pierced? Then you could claim me and they’ll
heal…how fast?”

In the Eyes Of Crazy

Payson felt the blood rush to his loins. His dick

thickened. “A couple of days instead of a couple of
weeks. How about we both get them done? I could
use something to match my dick,” he murmured,
already anticipating the delicious bite of pleasure.

“Yeah. Yeah, that’d be so awesome,” Land

whispered.

Payson led his mate toward the front of the

house,

ignoring

Mutegi’s

snickers,

and

anticipating all the fun he could have with his
sexy, geeky mate’s piercings.

Charlie Richards

Chapter Seven

and couldn’t believe he was actually doing
this. He’d always thought piercings were sexy,

and most of his jack-off fodder was of men with
metal somewhere on their body. Seeing the ones
on Payson’s dick last night had ratcheted up his
desire to another level, and also eased some of his
nerves.

“How come you don’t have any piercings if you

like them so much?” Payson asked curiously.

Face burning, Land focused on the different

size hoops and bars the guy offered for nipples
and muttered, “I’m afraid of needles.”

Payson nodded. “Not too fond of them myself,”

he admitted, wrapping an arm around his
shoulders. He leaned close and whispered, “I’ll
kiss ‘em better for you.”

Land shivered, liking the sound of that.

“Promise?”

“Oh, yeah,” he replied. “If you get a Prince

Albert I’ll kiss that better, too.”

In the Eyes Of Crazy

Cracking up, Land grinned at his lover. “I don’t

think so. I’ll leave the dick piercings to you.”

Payson winked at him. “If you ever change

your mind, the offer will always be there.”

Land watched Tim go through the process of

getting his nipples pierced. He had to give the
man credit, as Tim only grimaced when the burly
man shot the needle through his skin. Next,
Payson had his done, choosing a set of barbells.

When it was his turn, Land pulled off his shirt

and laid down on the love seat. Payson stood at
his head and with surprising sympathetic support,
knelt on the floor and took hold of his hand.

“You ready for this?” Richard, the tattooist

asked, leaning over him.

Letting out a breath slowly through his teeth,

Land nodded.

Not waiting another moment, Richard pulled

the trigger. Pain shot through Land’s body, and he
couldn’t stop the gasp from escaping. “Burns,” he
hissed.

“We got one more,” Richard stated, swabbing

his other nipple. “Ready?”

Holy cow! Do I want this pain in the other nipple?

Screwing up his courage, Land squeezed his eyes
shut and nodded. Payson massaged his hand right
as a fresh stab of pain shot through him. Breathing
deeply through his nose, Land worked though the
sting. He saw Payson’s worried look and forced a

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smile. “Good thing you didn’t talk me into that
Prince Albert. Props to you, Payson.”

Richard eyed them curiously. “Got a Prince

Albert?”

Payson nodded. “And a Jacob’s Ladder.”
“Nice,” Richard stood and started cleaning his

equipment. He glanced up and grinned. “You
want any more? There’s plenty of other locations.”

Land frowned. Was Richard hitting on

his…shoot, what was Payson to him? Their talk
about mates and mating made it sound like
Payson wanted more, and Ben said shifters didn’t
cheat. Was that true?

Laughing, Payson shook his head. “Not right

now, man. Thanks, though.” Payson turned back
to Land, apparently dismissing Richard, and
brushed a strand of hair from Land’s face. “You
okay, sexy?”

Richard moved away to set up his station for

whatever tattoo Kontra planned. Land nodded
absently. As he sat up, everything that had
happened to him in the last twenty-four hours hit
him like a punch in the gut. He’d gone out to his
first club, been picked up by a hot man, lost his
virginity, found out shape-shifters were real and
one wanted to keep him, and he’d gotten his
nipples pierced.

“Oh my goodness,” he moaned, his stomach

rolling.

In the Eyes Of Crazy

Payson leaned close. “What’s wrong?”
“Bathroom,” Payson pleaded.
Payson seemed to understand, for he helped

him to his feet and ushered him to a hall
bathroom—just in time for Land to drop in front
of the toilet and lose his breakfast.

“Eli!” Payson yelled.
Land wanted to tell Payson he’d be fine, it was

just nerves, but he was too busy emptying his
stomach.

Eli’s tall slender frame cast a shadow over Land

as he gripped the rim of the toilet. “What set him
off?” Eli asked.

He heard water run, then Payson draped a cool

cloth over the back of his neck. “I’m not sure,”
Payson said. “He just got his nipples done, sat up,
and asked for the bathroom.”

Hearing the worry in his lover’s voice—holy

cow, I have a lover!—made Land swallow
convulsively. Only his sister had ever worried
about him. Oh, no. My sister! What was she going
to say? Larissa had already made it known that
she didn’t approve of Payson, though he still
didn’t know why. Maybe he should read all those
texts.

“Hmm, maybe he’s having an allergic reaction

to something he ate at breakfast,” Eli mused. “I’d
like to draw some blood and—”

“No,” Land gasped, peering over his shoulder

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at them. “I’m okay.”

“If you’re allergic to something, we need to

know what not to feed you,” Eli stated, crossing
his arms over his chest. His eyes narrowed,
expressing how disgruntled he was at being
denied.

Land accepted the toilet paper Payson offered

him and wiped his mouth. “I’m not allergic to
anything. I’m just overwhelmed.” He rocked back
on his haunches and frowned up at the tall man.
“Do you have any idea how strange all this is to
me? Most days I don’t even leave my apartment.
Now I’ve found a guy who turns into a…a hyena
and thinks he can keep me as if I were a lost
puppy,” he snapped.

Eli rolled his eyes. “Looks like you and your

mate need to talk,” he said, leaving them alone.

At the chagrined look on Payson’s face, guilt

surged through Land. He sighed and settled on
his butt with his back to the wall. Leaning his head
against the wall, he let his eyelids slide closed.
“How old are you?” Hearing his lover’s story
earlier, all he’d wanted to do was soothe the man,
remove his agitation and pain, but in hind-sight,
just what was he getting into?

“One hundred and twelve.”
“Holy shit,” Land muttered, his eyes popping

back open. He slapped a hand over his mouth.
“Oops.”

In the Eyes Of Crazy

Payson cocked his head. “Shifters can live

almost five hundred years. Are you going to try to
leave me? Because now that I’ve found you, I can’t
let you go. You mean everything to me. I’m pretty
sure I can make you happy.”

The blunt way Payson spoke made Land smile.

“I appreciate the honesty. This…” He waved his
hand between them then around the room, to
indicate the house in general and the people in it.
“This kind of living…wow.” How could he tell
Payson his one bedroom apartment would fit
inside Payson’s bedroom and bathroom? Well,
since Payson was so straight-forward, maybe he
should be, too. “The things you’ve said make me
believe you want me to move in with you and
never leave.”

Payson nodded.
“Living in a place like this…” He whistled low.

“It would take some getting used to.”

“Oh, we don’t own this place,” Payson told

him. “We’re renting it right now because Ben is
waiting for his powers to get strong enough to
locate his mentor, Draven. Once he does that, we’ll
probably move on again. We’re a true biker gang,
completely nomadic.”

“You don’t have a home? How on earth does

that work?”

Payson settled with his back against the wall

next to him. He shrugged, then wrapped his arm

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around Land’s shoulders. “We go from place to
place, exploring, enjoying the scenery.”

“What do you do for money?” As soon as Land

said it, he wondered if that was rude.

“We don’t need a lot, but we’re all pretty

wealthy,” Payson said, surprising him. “Lamar
and Kontra taught all of us how to move stocks.
We close our accounts every fifteen years and
open new ones under new names.”

“Wow, okay,” Land murmured.
“If you don’t leave your apartment much, what

do you do for money?” Payson asked, turning his
head against the wall to look at him.

“I verify lines of code for a video game

company,” he said, admitting his nerdiness.

“Do you play the video games, too?” Payson

asked.

His faced heated with a flush. “Yeah.”
“Cool. So you could bring your laptop and do

that on the road, right?” Payson didn’t really say it
like a question, more as if it were a given that
Land would pack up his stuff and travel with him.
“Or you don’t have to work at all. Whatever you
want.”

Then Land realized, other than his sister, he

had no reason not to. He had a sexy man—okay,
shifter—who wanted to take care of him and
please him. And, no, Land didn’t really want a
sugar daddy, he liked pulling his own weight and

In the Eyes Of Crazy

being independent, but to just have someone who
didn’t mind that he was a geek and cared for him
anyway was really nice. Who gave a crap why
Payson wanted him? He just did.

“I suppose I should give my notice to my

landlord, huh?” he murmured.

The look of absolute delight that lit up Payson’s

face was worth any price, and Land’s heart
pounded just a little bit harder, which
unfortunately, made his nipples throb, and not in
a good way.

Payson leaned over, his intention to kiss Land

clear in his eyes. Land turned his head, giving the
man his cheek. At Payson’s frown, Land quickly
explained, “I really need to brush my teeth first.”

“Oh, sure.” Payson levered to his feet and held

out his hand. “Come on.”

Sitting on the bed scrolling through the dozens

of messages Larissa had sent him since last night,
Land heaved a sigh. His sister was pissed. What
the heck was her problem and did she really know
Payson? She’d said all kinds of nasty things about
him, even claiming to have slept with him.

Land tapped his finger on his leather-clad leg,

reminding himself that he really needed to go
home and get cleaned up. But first, “Hey,
Payson,” he called, his heart tripping in his chest.
“Do you recognize her?” he asked. Land held up
his phone with a picture of his sister on the screen.

Charlie Richards

Payson popped his head out of the bathroom,

toothbrush stuck between his teeth, and stared at
the picture for a second, then shook his head. He
pulled the brush out and muttered, “Who?”

“My sister, Larissa.” Adopting Payson’s blunt

nature, he stated, “She says you slept with her.”
The words felt bitter, even as he spoke them.

To his utter shock, Payson shrugged, spit, and

rinsed out his mouth. Once done, he leaned his
shoulder against the frame and said, “I’m over a
hundred years old, Land. I’ve slept with a lot of
people.”

“Well, she seems to remember you,” Land

snapped.

That got Payson’s attention. His eyes narrowed

and he stalked forward. Land cringed, but all the
man did was snatch the phone from his hand and
take a closer look at the picture. As Payson stared,
he absently stated, “I’ll never intentionally hurt
you, Land.”

“What about when you’re a…” he trailed off

and frowned.

“Hyena? Oh, my animal knows it’s you. He’s

me, too,” Payson said. He scowled at the picture.
“You know, she does look familiar. We passed
through San Francisco a couple of years ago.” His
tone took on an introspective quality as he
obviously searched his memories.

Suddenly, his eyes widened. “That’s when I

In the Eyes Of Crazy

fucked a brunette I thought might be my mate, but
my hyena rejected her.” Payson met his gaze and
held out the phone. “Makes sense that it was her.
Your scents would be awfully similar since you’re
siblings.”

The fact that Payson didn’t seem to think

anything of the fact that he’d screwed his sister
made Land incredibly angry. “Take me home,
now,” he ordered, leaping to his feet and striding
out of the room.

Land didn’t bother checking to see if Payson

followed. If the man didn’t, then Land would walk
home. As he strode into the garage, his eyes teared
up. Angrily, he brushed the liquid away before it
could fall. He didn’t know what hurt more—the
fact that Payson hadn’t even said sorry or that he
didn’t really seem to think anything of it.

As he neared the bike, memories of last night’s

ride home assaulted him. It’d been so hot, so much
fun, to be pressed up against Payson. Then the
make-out session and orgasm in his pants had
been even hotter.

A low growl sounded behind Land, pulling him

from his thoughts. He turned and gasped, backing
up a step upon seeing the feral light in Payson’s
eyes as he stalked toward him. “Payson?” he
whispered, concern spiking through him.

“You told me you’d be there for me, and now

you think to leave? Are you a liar?” Payson

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snarled. “Can’t I trust you, mate?”

Land’s jaw dropped and his ire returned. He

stood his ground and lifted a hand to point at
Payson. “Now you just wait a damn minute,” he
snapped. “You screw my sister, don’t think
anything of it, and don’t expect me to get upset?
What’s up with that? I might just be some
computer nerd, but even I find that offensive,
okay?” He curled his lip and muttered, “You
didn’t even apologize.”

Payson narrowed his eyes and kept coming.

Seconds later, Land found himself pinned against
the wall. Payson pressed his body against Land’s
from chest to thighs and grabbed his arms, pulling
them up beside his head.

His face inches from Land’s, Payson

murmured, “I guess I should have mentioned that
although most shifters can tell a mate on scent
alone, I can’t.”

“What do you mean?”
“I mean, the scientists who held me, fucked

with my DNA. I have a badass sense of smell, but
had to rely on my hyena to tell me if the person
who smelled so good was my mate. The easiest
way to do that was to fuck them.” Payson ducked
his head and pressed his mouth against Land’s
neck. “All those others were just a sea of nameless
faces, a way to pass the time as I searched for
you.”

In the Eyes Of Crazy

“I’m not a liar,” Land murmured, tilting his

head to give Payson more access. “It hurt to think
that if I hadn’t been your mate, I’d end up just like
Larissa. Cast aside at the earliest convenience.”

“You were on your way out the door before I

even woke,” Payson pointed out.

Land didn’t know if his flush was caused by

embarrassment from being called out on his
behavior or from the way Payson’s hard dick
rubbed against his own.

“No matter. I would have tracked you down.”

Payson nibbled his way up Land’s neck to the
sensitive skin behind his ear. “It’s no different
than humans going out to pick up a one night
stand and then succumbing to love at first sight.
We just happen to know it will happen to us and
don’t bother fighting it.”

“Love at first sight?” Land murmured. Was

Payson saying what Land thought he was saying?

“Sure,” Payson whispered.
“You love me?” He hated how needy he

sounded.

“Eventually,” Payson replied. He pulled back

slightly and looked Land in the eye. “How could I
not when you’re so perfect for me?”

Land managed to shake his head, having a hard

time focusing through the rising lust as Payson
continued to suck up marks on his neck and rock
their erections together. “Not perfect.”

Charlie Richards

Payson chuckled. “Well, neither am I. We’ll be

fucked up together. How’s that sound?”

“Mm, okay,” he replied breathily.
“Good. If you have any other objections, now’d

be the time to say. Otherwise, I’m going to lay you
across my bike and fucking claim you, mate.”

Payson actually growled the words, making

Land’s chest vibrate. The new nipple rings sent a
spike of pleasure-pain straight to his already
aching dick. “Yes, please,” he begged, desperately
wanting relief.

His lover growled again.
Land moaned in frustration when Payson

stepped away, but any words of protest died in his
throat when his lover yanked off his shirt then
went to work on his jeans. Payson spared him a
glance and ordered gruffly, “Naked. Now.”

“Here?” he squeaked, glancing around

furtively.

“Told you I’m laying you over my bike. Don’t

make me rip those pants off you. I happen to like
how your ass looks in them.”

Land pulled his shirt over his head, careful not

to catch his new rings on the fabric, then peeled
his pants off his legs. A thrill shot through him
when, seconds later, he stood naked as the day he
was born in the middle of the large garage. He
went willingly when Payson positioned him over
his bike, stomach on the seat and butt in the air.

In the Eyes Of Crazy

Payson palmed his cheeks, then pulled them

apart, revealing his hole. Land had never thought
of himself as an exhibitionist, but the idea that any
of Payson’s friends could walk out and see his ass
in the air caused a drop of pre-cum to ooze from
his slit.

Then, Payson lapped at his anus. The tongue-

bath sent tingles through Land’s system, and he
went up on his toes, chasing more of the amazing,
warm, wet massage. Payson didn’t disappoint. His
tongue swept over him, then probed inside him,
working him open. When Payson actually scraped
his teeth over the sensitive flesh of his hole, Land
found himself howling with pleasure.

A lubed finger slid into his hole, and Land

gasped at the sudden feeling of cold slickness. It
gave him just enough presence of mind to
mumble, “Where’d you get the lube?”

Kissing his way up the knobs of Land’s spine,

Payson murmured against his skin, “Single use
packet. Figured I should always carry one now
that I’ve found you.” He nipped the nape of
Land’s neck and added roughly, “Never know
when we’ll feel the urge to fuck.”

Land moaned at the combination of Payson’s

words, kisses, and his fingers brushing his
prostate. “Good idea,” he gasped. He hissed at the
introduction of a third finger so quickly, but
Payson sucking his earlobe and slowly jacking his

Charlie Richards

cock quickly distracted him.

Payson stretched him quickly, and just when

Land was ready to beg his lover to fill him, Payson
eased his fingers away. Instead of spearing him,
Payson pulled him upright and spun him around.
He opened his mouth to protest, but his lover
silenced him with a deep, toe-curling kiss that
made Land moan into the other man’s mouth.

Land’s jutting cock bumped against Payson’s.

The heat of his lover’s dick contrasted sharply to
the cool metal embedded in his shaft. The
combined sensations rubbing against Land’s
sensitive skin sent shudders through his body. His
arms wrapped around Payson, Land gripped the
meat of his shoulder-blades and used the hold to
rub their dicks together.

Payson plundered Land’s mouth and held him

tight while he pleasured them both for several
seconds before breaking away. Payson grinned
and declared, “Want to see your face when I fuck
you this time. Then I’m going to claim you.”

“O-okay,” Land stuttered, wondering how

Payson could form a coherent thought right then.

Still holding his hand, Payson spun around

Land and straddled his bike, backward like he had
the night before, and rested his back against the
gas tank. The black leather seat accentuated the
metal balls running up the length of Payson’s
jutting shaft and the small hoop at the head.

In the Eyes Of Crazy

Payson’s wide slit already oozed pre-cum, making
Land’s mouth water for a taste.

“Another time,” Payson said, obviously

catching the way Land licked his lips at the sight
of him spread out across his bike. He gave Land a
lascivious smile and ordered, “Ride me, baby.”

It took some doing, and plenty of help from

Payson, but Land finally found himself straddling
his lover, the man’s dick up his butt and his balls
pressed against Payson’s crack. And nothing had
felt better or more right, making all his cares and
concerns melt away in pleasure.

Payson slid a hand up his side, caressing his

ribcage, then wrapping it under his arm to
encourage Land to lean forward. “Come here.”

Land obeyed. Payson’s cock shifted in his

chute, pressing against his hot spot. Shouting,
Land’s hips jerked at the jolt of ecstasy coursing
through him. “Oh, god,” he whimpered, his hands
twitching where they rested on Payson’s
shoulders.

“Yeah,” Payson crooned. “Let me see your

pleasure. So beautiful.”

Payson leaned up and gently licked his freshly

pieced nipple. What should have been painful,
instead tingled warmly. Taking control, Payson
lifted him halfway off his cock, then rocked his
hips, sliding his cock in and out of him. His lover
continued to lave his nipples with saliva, moving

Charlie Richards

from one to the other and back again.

A riot of sensations unlike anything he’d ever

felt before left Land a twitching, whimpering,
bundle of raw nerves, and all he could do was
hang on for the ride. His cock leaked like a sieve,
the pre-cum oozing over his sensitive glans felt
amazing. Land’s balls pulled tight. He thrust his
chest forward, looking for more of Payson’s
talented mouth. His head lolled on his shoulders
and his eyes slid closed as his cock erupted,
sinking Land into the bliss of orgasm.

In the Eyes Of Crazy

Chapter Eight

feral growl rumbled up Payson’s throat. The
look of abject rapture on Land’s face as his

cock spewed spunk across both their chests was a
thing of beauty. His mate’s ass clamped down on
Payson’s cock as Land convulsed in the throes of
orgasm. It took every ounce of self-control he
possessed not to lose his seed into his sweet
human.

But Payson knew Land would come again

when he bit him, and he wanted his mate to feel
every ounce of bliss he could provide. He released
Land’s hip and gripped his mate’s cock, jacking
slowly, milking a last shot of spunk from him.

Land moaned once more and slumped against

him.

Payson grinned through the pain of holding his

own orgasm at bay. Returning his hand to Land’s
hip, he whispered, “You ready for round two?”

Tilting his head to look at Payson, Land smiled

drunkenly up at him. “I don’t think I could handle

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more right now.”

Chuckling, Payson crooned, “You will.”
Not giving his mate time to contemplate the

matter, and Payson didn’t know who in their right
mind would want to while in his position, he
thrust up into his mate once, twice. He knew it
wouldn’t take long. His balls were already hard as
rocks and his shaft throbbed.

Payson felt the telltale tingle at the base of his

spine. Unwilling to wait a second longer for the
pleasure of his release, he sank his elongated
canines into the flesh where Land’s shoulder met
his neck.

Land’s squeak ended with a wild groan as more

seed flooded the space between them.

Swallowing down the sweet, life-giving blood

of his mate, Payson did some moaning of his own.
The pressure on his dick felt exquisite and his
orgasm struck. His eyes slid shut as bliss rolled
through his body, making him tingle from his
head to his toes.

He pulled his teeth from Land’s neck, threw his

head back, and roared his pleasure. Filling his
mate’s rectum with his seed, Payson felt the bond
between him and his mate strengthen, binding
them for eternity. His hyena contentedly curled up
in his mind.

Payson wrapped his arms tightly around his

mate and let himself bask in the moment. Finally,

In the Eyes Of Crazy

his mate stirred enough to turn his head and look
at him. “Does your bite always make me…come?”
he asked, blushing oh-so-nicely.

His cock stirring at the sight of his thoroughly

debauched, yet still bashful mate, Payson grinned.
“Hell, yeah, beautiful.”

Land snorted. “Not beautiful. Gangly.”
Payson kissed Land’s temple and murmured,

“Beautiful to me, and I’ll prove it to you, even if it
takes a couple of centuries.”

Instead of commenting, Land changed the

subject. “I’m surprised my nipples don’t hurt after
that. They sure did when I came out here.”

“My saliva heals your superficial cuts.

Something to do with the mate-bond that I don’t
really get,” he said.

“Oh, cool.”
“What’d be really cool is if more of our friends

would fuck in public places. Then we poor
schmucks who aren’t getting it on a regular basis
could at least jack-off to the sights and sounds.”

At the sound of the amused voice, Land

squeaked and nearly toppled them off the bike.
Payson clutched his mate to his chest and frowned
at Vail. The wolf shifter grinned unashamed,
boldly perusing them. “Now that’s a position I’ve
not tried,” he mused, grinning.

Unreasonable jealousy, unlike anything Payson

had ever felt before, raced through him. Payson

Charlie Richards

snarled. “I don’t recommend coming any closer.”
He struggled to keep from setting his mate aside
and tearing his pack-mate’s eyes from his head.

Vail rolled his eyes and leaned against a bike

parked ten feet away. His gaze focused
somewhere over their heads. “Figures. You find
your mate and become just as possessive as
everyone else.” He shrugged. “I just came out here
because Kontra sent me. He says Land’s sister is
here with the cops. He wants you in the house,
asap.”

“What?” Land squeaked, finally lifting his

flushed face and looking at the other man.

He tried to move, but Payson held him fast, one

hand cupping his ass and the other wrapped
around his torso. “Leave. We’ll be there shortly,”
Payson growled.

Vail met his look, smirked, then swept his gaze

over them again before turning back toward the
door. “Don’t be long,” he called over his shoulder
as he strode away.

Once Payson was certain Vail was gone, he

released his hold and helped his mate get down,
drawing sharp hisses from both of them as his
softened cock slid from Land’s hole. While he
gently wiped his lover down with his t-shirt, he
wondered how Larissa even knew where they
were.

“The idea of getting caught is so much cooler

In the Eyes Of Crazy

than actually getting caught,” Land muttered.

Payson chuckled. “Eventually, we’re going to

have to do this in a bed,” he teased.

Land snorted. It pleased Payson that he could

calm his mate so easily. Running his hand over
Land’s slender hip, Payson looked up at his mate.
“Vail’s about as voyeuristic as I am,” he admitted.
“We used to creep around the mansion or
wherever we’d stopped and see if we could catch
the guys in the act.”

“You didn’t,” Land denied, his shock evident.
Nodding, Payson continued, “We’d never get

too close, but we’d make a comment like Vail
did.” Standing, he handed Land his pants. “Being
on the receiving end is a whole other ball of wax.”

“So, not all of you have found your mates?”

Land asked.

“No. Only about half of us. Most of us just keep

looking, and when one of the other guys finds
their mate, we try not to get jealous.” He frowned,
thinking about his friend. “Except for Vail. He
says he doesn’t want to find his mate, but
sometimes…” He shook his head. “The way he
looks at the mated couples makes me wonder,” he
admitted.

Before his mate could pull his shirt over his

head, Payson grabbed his hand and started
leading him back toward the house. “Guess we
oughta let your sister know she can’t run me off,

Charlie Richards

huh? I wonder how she found out where we are.”

“Uh, I told her,” Land admitted, grimacing.
“Really?” At Land’s nod, Payson shrugged. “I

guess it makes sense. You, a virgin, going to a
stranger’s home where lots of men live. I’m sure
you were worried about being ravished.”

He smiled, hoping it looked like he was teasing,

although worry did still churn in his gut. He
didn’t really remember Larissa. The only thing
that stood out about the night he’d been with her
was his surprise and disappointment when his
hyena hadn’t wanted the pleasant smelling
woman. Now, Payson felt incredibly grateful for
his animal’s discerning nose. He prayed to
whatever gods cared to listen that Larissa
wouldn’t still find a way to change Land’s mind.

Evidently, he didn’t do quite as good a job of

hiding his worry as he’d thought. Land squeezed
his hand, getting his attention. “There isn’t
anything she can tell me that you haven’t already,
right? No more hyenas in the closet?” he teased
gently.

Payson snickered. “I’m not purposefully hiding

anything, lover,” he murmured. He paused just
inside the foyer and drew his mate into his arms.
Between butterfly kisses, he murmured, “You may
ask me anything and I’ll always answer truthfully.
That’s my promise to you.”

“Your promises mean a lot to you,” Land

In the Eyes Of Crazy

muttered against his lips.

“They do,” Payson replied, pleased his mate

had picked up on that. He deepened the kiss,
thrusting his tongue into Land’s mouth, tasting his
unique masculine musk, enjoying it like the finest
wine. Twining their tongues, Payson gently drew
his lover’s appendage into his mouth and sucked
lightly, reminiscent of what he’d done to Land’s
cock the night before. His dick thickened in his
jeans, and Payson knew he’d never get enough of
the man in his arms, and he never wanted to.

A throat clearing caught his attention. His

shifter senses told him they’d gained an audience
of several people. Payson didn’t give a shit. He
cupped Land’s jaw when he felt his lover tense,
and gently, taking his sweet time, eased the kiss to
an end. Sipping a couple more butterfly kisses
from Land’s lips, Payson took in Land’s dazed
expression and dilated eyes.

He grinned. It was a sexy look on his mate.

He’d have to be sure to put it there often.

“Payson,” Kontra finally said, amusement

filling his deep voice. “There are some officers
here who’d like to speak with Land. Perhaps we
could move this to the salon?”

Payson knew it might have been phrased like a

question, but Kontra’s statement wasn’t a request.
After offering a quick nod, he took his lover’s
hand and led him toward the front of the house,

Charlie Richards

then into the salon. Two men, neither in uniform,
and one dark-haired woman waited. The woman
had her arms crossed and tapped her foot
impatiently. He ignored the narrow-eyed glare
from the brunette who could only be Larissa.

Land confirmed his suspicions when he said,

“Larissa, what’s going on? What are you doing
here with the police?”

She straightened. Frowning, she waved a hand

around the group. “These bikers kidnapped you.
They won’t let you leave,” she said, scowling at all
the men.

Huffing, Land pulled away from Payson and

grabbed Larissa’s arm. He proceeded to
manhandle her as only a brother could,
maneuvering her to a couch. Payson watched
Land point to the couch. To his surprise, Larissa
actually obeyed. Land crossed his arms over his
chest, which was kind of a pity because it hid the
silver hoops Payson already loved playing with.

“Larissa, what’s this about? I can leave here any

time I want.” Land looked at the scowling faces of
the officers. “I wasn’t kidnapped. I’m here of my
own free will. This is a misunderstanding between
siblings. I’m really sorry for the inconvenience.”

The bigger man, a broad-shouldered dark-

haired guy who stood about six foot two, scowled
at them and asked, “I’d like to hear you say that
without the others in the room.” He gave Payson a

In the Eyes Of Crazy

scathing look. “That okay with you, sir?”

Payson’s hackles rose at the condescending

tone, but Kontra’s hand on his neck had him
growling, “Yes,” through clenched teeth. “Holler
if you need anything,” he told Land.

His lover’s understanding smile and nod

settled Payson’s temper. He exited the room, but
didn’t go far. Instead, he rested a shoulder against
the wall and listened. Kontra stood next to him,
leaned close and muttered, “Congrats on your
claiming.”

At that, Payson couldn’t stop his grin.

“Thanks.”

“How’s he handling everything?”
Payson cocked his head. “We’ve had a

few…hiccups,” he said, thinking of his mate’s
hyperventilating, his escape to the john, and their
misunderstanding where the sister was concerned.
“Surprisingly well,” Payson decided.

Kontra grunted.
“How can you say you’re here of your own free

will?” Larissa’s shrill question had Payson tensing.
“You’re running around without a shirt, and—oh,
my god!—are those nipple rings? I picked out
your shirt last night, and you didn’t have them
then. What the hell, Land?” Larissa shrieked. “Is
this some kind of orgy thing?”

“Larissa,” Land snapped. “That’s enough. I

understand you’re upset that I’m with a guy you

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slept with.” In response to an audible gasp, Land
said, “Yes, we talked about that. I admit he’s far
more experienced than I am, but that doesn’t
matter to me. He’s with me now.”

Payson really liked how confident Land

sounded. He made a mental note to confirm his
mate’s surety later.

“How can you say that?” Larissa asked, taking

on a conciliatory tone. “You’ve only known him a
day.”

“I—”
“Wait a damn minute,” snarled a man’s voice,

one of the officers. “You dragged me out here to
rescue your fag brother from some other fag? If
Land makes a bad decision, he deserves what he
gets. Fucking pervert.”

Payson let out a low growl and shoved away

from the wall, intending to walk in there and
wallop him, police officer or not. He made it to the
doorway and stopped when he saw Larissa leap to
her feet and shove the officer, hard. As he
stumbled back a step, Larissa roared, “You don’t
talk about my brother that way. Land is twice the
man you are, Ricky Malone. Does Brianna know
you feel that way? Think your mama would
approve?” She got up in the big man’s face, and
Payson felt a grudging measure of respect for the
little spitfire. “Maybe you need your fag little
brother to beat some sense into you. He’s more

In the Eyes Of Crazy

man than you are right now.”

The officer, Ricky, glared daggers at Larissa, his

face flaming red. For a couple of tense seconds,
Payson thought the guy would hit Land’s sister.
Then the other officer grabbed Ricky’s arm and
pulled him away. The blond man urged Ricky
toward Payson and the doorway.

“Come on, Ricky. No need to get upset. It’s not

like we have to file a report, since it was all a favor
for a friend,” the second officer soothed.

Slender, wiry even, the officer must have been

stronger than he looked, for he easily got his
partner moving. Payson stepped aside to let them
pass, and the other guy’s scent hit his nostrils. His
eyes widened and he just managed to hold back a
low growl. He was a fucking vampire!

The officer smirked and winked. For a split

second, his eyes flashed red.

“God, Draven,” Ricky muttered. “Only you

wouldn’t care about being woken up too early on
our first full day off in two weeks.”

Draven? Where have I heard that name before?
Payson’s attention snapped to Kontra when his

alpha hissed in a harsh breath. “Draven?”

The couple had reached the front door. While

Ricky stalked outside, Draven paused in the
doorway. He looked over his shoulder, directly at
Kontra, and flashed a fang. Then he slipped out,
slamming the door behind him.

Charlie Richards

“Please tell me that wasn’t the Draven we’re

looking for?” Payson muttered.

Kontra cocked his head. “I have absolutely no

idea.” The big alpha looked at him. “Not sure I
want a vampire around my mate,” he muttered.

“Especially one with magick, right boss?” he

whispered.

“Damn it,” Kontra snarled.
Torn, Payson glanced between the room where

Land still talked with his sister and his alpha. If
his alpha wanted to go after the vampire, Payson
would be at his side. Kontra placed a big hand on
Payson’s shoulder and squeezed. “Go to your
mate. This is my problem.”

Payson nodded, relieved. “Thanks, boss.”
Just outside the salon, Vail caught his arm.

“Who was here?” the wolf shifter asked, his brows
creased as he scented the air.

“Just those cops, uh, Ricky and Draven,”

Payson said. “Didn’t you see them?”

“No,” Vail murmured, clearly distracted.

Without another word, he wandered away.
Payson cocked his head, wondering at the man’s
frown, then he decided he had other things to
worry about and headed into the salon.

In the Eyes Of Crazy

Chapter Nine

and had watched his sister stand up for him.
He’d watched the officers leave, knowing his

mate probably stood right outside. Payson
confirmed his belief when he appeared in the
doorway, a thunderous look darkening his sexy
features. Just the fact he thought the man
extremely hot when so angry hit home how much
he liked this man. What Land found even more
fantastic was how he felt completely safe, having
some soul deep belief Payson would never use his
strength against him, except in the best of ways.

Land knew it wouldn’t take much to fall in love

with the crazy-wild shifter. And he couldn’t wait
for it to happen.

Larissa smacked him on the stomach,

refocusing his attention. The corner of his lip
turned down and he frowned at her. “What the
crap?”

She snorted and rolled her eyes. “Really?

You’re asking me that?” Evidently, Land didn’t

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look acceptably mollified, because Larissa snorted
again. “Puh-leeze! You’re in a stranger’s
mansion…some fuck buddy keeping you half
naked and giving you piercings.” She waved her
hands at his chest. “What the hell is going on?”

Land sucked in a deep breath then let it out

through his nose. So much for not sharing sexual
kinks with his sister, Land wanted to go hide in
Payson’s room. He struggled against the blush he
felt warming the skin of his chest and neck. “I’ve
always liked piercings,” he muttered.

With her hands on her hips, Larissa gave him a

narrow-eyed stare. “Then how come you’ve never
gotten any before?”

He lifted his gaze to the ceiling, praying for

patience and the right words. After a couple of
seconds, he focused on his sister. “I’m not sure
why I have to explain myself to you, Larissa. I
might be eight years younger but I’m not a child. I
like men with piercings, watching porn containing
uniformed men, and the feel of a big dick in my
ass. With Payson, I don’t have to explain why I
like them. He’s even happy to indulge in any of
those things with me. He doesn’t make me feel
weird or perverted, and I don’t feel like I have to
hide anything.”

Pausing for a breath, and to gather his next

thought string, Land lifted a hand to stop Larissa
from interrupting. “Because Payson accepts me

In the Eyes Of Crazy

just as I am, a skinny geeky nerd, and I do the
same for him. That includes the fact that not only
has he slept with you, but with countless other
people, men and women.” Plus a crap-load of other

things that I can’t tell you, like shape-shifting and
mates and accelerated healing and strength and…

Land let out a long breath, not wanting to get

overwhelmed about things he was still coming to
grips with. He knew it would happen in time. If
the other humans in the house could do it, he
could, too. “I’m not sleeping with anyone but
Payson,” Land decided to say instead. “I don’t
want to sleep with anyone but Payson. Many of
the other guys here are also in a committed
relationship. These guys are Payson’s family, not
orgy partners.”

Land watched Larissa worry her bottom lip. It

was a reaction he knew well. It meant she was
working up the nerve to say something she didn’t
think he’d like hearing, but in her opinion, needed
to be said. Seeing the concern in her blue eyes, so
similar to his own, Land knew she just wanted to
look out for him. He didn’t always want her
opinion or agree with her views, but there was no
doubt in his mind she cared for him and loved
him. Larissa was his family. This situation was
more than a little awkward for both of them, but
Land knew he needed to help her understand he
wasn’t walking away from Payson.

Charlie Richards

Finally, she opened her mouth and pointed out,

“You were still a virgin until last night. How do
you know what you like?”

The flush Land had been fighting won. Heat

crept across his chest and up his neck into his
cheeks. There was no way in hell he was going to
try to explain how fantastic Payson made him feel,
how if he came any harder he’d end up dying
from bliss. “Ever believe in love at first sight?” he
asked softly. At her incredulous look, Land
shrugged. “We fit.”

“I don’t want to see you get hurt, Land,”

Larissa murmured.

“I know that,” he assured, smiling and

squeezing her hand. “You won’t, but if that ever
happened, I’d always have your shoulder to cry
on and you can tell me you told me so,” he teased,
trying to lighten the suddenly somber mood.

“That will never happen,” Payson said from the

doorway, gaining their attention.

Land’s heartbeat accelerated as he watched his

lover stalk across the room toward him. He caught
the glint of lust and something else, something
wild and primitive, in Payson’s gray eyes. Without
hesitation, Land opened his arms and accepted his
lover’s embrace.

Payson cupped Land’s jaw with one palm, his

other arm locking tight around his torso. They
stared into each other’s eyes for several seconds,

In the Eyes Of Crazy

and Land easily read all the building love and
affection Payson had for him. It warmed him that
his lover didn’t even try to hide it.

Finally, Payson broke the poignant silence by

asking, “Are you okay? He didn’t strike you, did
he?”

The gruffly spoken words caused Land to suck

in a harsh breath, his heart swelling just a bit more
for this man. He felt protected. Safe. He smiled.
“I’m fine. Larissa might not understand how
quickly our bond formed, and maybe I don’t
either,” he admitted, “but she didn’t purposefully
bring that homophobe here. She thought she was
helping,” he murmured, defending his sister while
offering her an understanding smile. She was
family, after all, and they cared for each other.

Payson nodded, then turned toward Larissa, his

arm still tight around Land. “I have no quarrel
with you. No one here does. I freely admit I was a
player for a long time, but Land is my one-and-
only. You’ll never have to say I told you so to him.
His happiness means everything to me.”

Larissa looked at Payson for a long time, then

slowly nodded. Something akin to comprehension
filling her eyes. “Well, I do get that, now. I was
just looking after my little brother, after all. It’s
what big sisters do.” She crossed her arms and
gave Payson a gimlet stare. “Don’t make us
wrong. You ever hurt him, I’ll cut off your balls.”

Charlie Richards

Payson returned her look with a toothy grin.

“You’re welcome here any time, but you’ll never
touch my balls.”

Snorting, Larissa strolled toward the door. “Not

if you were the last man on earth. Let me know
when you’re packing and I’ll come help, Land,”
she called over her shoulder.

Once she was gone, Payson returned his focus

to Land. “You’re packing? You’re moving in with
me?”

Knowing his lover trusted actions far more than

words, Land shoved him, causing him to back a
step and collapse onto the sofa. Wasting no time,
he climbed onto Payson’s lap and attacked his
mouth. Payson tangled his hands in Land’s hair
and took control of the kiss.

Heat and need coursed through Land and his

cock hardened in his pants. It had been less than
an hour, he knew, but already his dick ached and
his hole clenched, and he desperately wanted to be
filled again by his lover. “Want you. Only you,”
he mumbled between their kisses and Payson
sucking his tongue. He rocked his hips, pressing
his erection against Payson’s equally hard ridge.

“Agree you’re mine and only mine. That we’ll

pack up your shit and move you in here as soon as
possible,” Payson demanded before diving back in
and possessing his mouth again.

Land opened wide, only too happy to give his

In the Eyes Of Crazy

lover everything he wanted. He’d never been a
believer in love at first sight, or first fuck, but he
was now. Shifter or not, Payson was perfect for
him, and he had every intention of holding on to
the man with both hands. Finally, he was able to
break away long enough to mutter, “Yours.
Always only yours. And you’re mine.”

“Yes, I am.”
“I go where you go,” Land declared.
“Good,” Payson growled, using his hold on

Land’s hair to keep his head steady. “Because I
have no intention of letting you go.”

Putting deed to words, Land showed Payson

exactly how happy that made him.

About the Author

Charlie lives on a mini ranchette in Utah with her
husband and furry, four-legged children. She
started writing fantasy when she was eight, and
after stumbling onto her first erotic romance at age
nineteen, she realized her true calling. She now
focuses on writing erotic romance, normally of the
paranormal variety, with heroes and heroines of
all kinds. You can often find her curled up with
her laptop and a cup of tea or glass of wine,
creating her next adventure. Charlie enjoys
exploring the mountains on horseback, 4-wheeler,
or motorcycle. Her favorite exercise is jumping
lessons with her Arabian gelding Apache or her
Thoroughbred mare Repo. And she can’t get
enough of sexy highlanders with their kilts and
swords. Right now, she and her muse are working
with dedication on her Wolves of Stone Ridge
series and Kontra’s Menagerie series.

She

can

reached

ch.richards2010@yahoo.com

Or visit her at www.charlie-richards.com

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