Officer and a Gardener [Unmated at Midnight] (Siren Publishing Classic ManLove)

Unmated at Midnight

Officer and a Gardener

Who would have thought a runaway brat, a destroyed garage, and a bad day would lead to meeting the man of your dreams?

Officer Kyle Moran has always been a protector and that’s all he has ever wanted to do. When he’s outed as a vampire while
responding to an accident and things at work go to hell fast, he feels lost and debates moving. In steps fate.

Trevor has been trapped and abused most of his life… Currently it’s his boyfriend and monster offspring. So no matter how much he
wants to escape his situation it’s understandable he’s hesitant trusting a stranger even if he’s a sexy man of the law.

After sharing a kiss that rock’s Trevor to his core, he’s willing to take the chance and even during all his chaos, Kyle knows he can help
Trevor. The question is are what they want and what’s best for them the same thing?

Note: This book is written in first-person point of view.

Genre:

Alternative (M/M or F/F), Shape-shifter, Vampires/Werewolves

Length:

37,117 words

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Chapter 1

Kyle

“So where’s what’s his nuts?” Kirby asked as I played with my nephew and namesake at his

kitchen table. “I kept meaning to ask but you’ve been so quiet.”

“And like my mate he made it through dinner before interrogating you,” Amery chuckled as he

cleaned up Leila who was covered in spaghetti.

“Really? What’s his nuts is what you’re calling Rafe now?” I asked incredulously.
“I forget his name.” Kirby waved me off as if it was no big deal before going back to mopping

up the mess their other son Patrick made.

“You introduced us, Kirby!” I glanced over to the door when I heard someone outside, just in

case it wasn’t who we were expecting, but relaxed when I smelled their nannies, Ginger and
Cinnamon, coming up the driveway. “You’re the one who fixed us up and talked me into going out
with him.”

“Yeah, well, I didn’t know him all that well and I liked him then,” Kirby said, not meeting my

gaze.

“You don’t like him now?” I hedged. I should have just told him the truth, but I needed to know.
“No, he’s not good enough for you,” Kirby growled and then glared at me with his hands on his

hips. He waved at me with the empty kid’s bowl in his hand. “All this should not be wasted on that
douche. You’re awesome and I was very wrong in my initial assessment of what’s his nuts. You
deserved to be adored and I didn’t see any adoring going on the last time we went out with you guys.”

“No, not even close,” Amery agreed as the girls came in, glancing between us. “We’re just

concerned, Kyle.”

“Well don’t be. We broke up.” I cleared my throat, focusing on little Kyle instead of anyone in

the room.

I saw Ginger and Cinnamon setting down their bags and immediately start helping to clean up

without saying a word. Four three-year-olds could do a lot of damage during dinner. It didn’t help that
we were having fun letting them be wild with their food. I think my friends had realized I’d needed
the laugh. It was true because I’d not laughed that hard in a long, long time.

“Good. Glad you kicked him to the curb.” I winced at what Kirby said. He knew me too well.

He wanted to know what happened, and wouldn’t pry by asking, but would just assume. And to me
letting him believe the wrong thing was basically the same thing as lying by not correcting him, so I’d
tell him.

“No, he dumped me,” I sighed as I grabbed my beer with my free hand. I clucked my tongue at

Kyle when he tried to take it, the pretty green bottle more intriguing than his toy. He gave me a pout
lip but then was appeased with a loud kiss and went back to playing. I glanced up and saw Kirby and
Amery giving me looks that clearly said I wasn’t leaving their house until I spilled. “Apparently I
wasn’t Edward enough, okay? I was too Emmett.”

“Seriously?” Kirby exclaimed, his eyes going wide. “What’s wrong with being Emmett? I liked

him way better than Edward! Hot, huge, funny, protective, and what a sweetie. I would have picked
Emmett over Edward hands down and even drunk off my ass.”

“Edward was way too moody and whiney,” Amery agreed and then bit his lower lip. “Do you

know which Edward he was specifically referring to though?”

“Rafe believes reading is a waste of his valuable time when he can get the condensed version in

a visual format that stimulates his brain and senses more,” I said, basically quoting the douche. Every
adult in the room just stared at me with an open mouth. “I swear. That’s what he really thought. He
told me that more than once. That I needed to not read so much because it wasn’t enough stimulation
for my brain.”

“Apparently all his stimulation melted his brain,” Ginger mumbled under her breath. I kind of

agreed with her.

“So now that we have a more specific frame of reference, you’re really better off,” Kirby

announced. “I mean, yes, you’re hotter than Emmett. But that man is fine. There’s nothing wrong with
being Emmett. And yeah, Rafe’s an idiot. Who dumps strong, self-confident, funny, and sweet, for
brooding, wimpy, straggly, and eyebrows that seriously need some work?”

I smiled at my friend, knowing he was being extra harsh on the actor just to make me feel better.

Kirby wasn’t judgmental at all. He was just being mean-ish to try and make me smile.

“Ridiculous,” Cinnamon snickered.
“I know, right?” Kirby’s voice took on that higher octave that wasn’t annoying but showed his

emphasis on the point.

“Not Rafe being an idiot. That’s just better for Kyle to know now,” Ginger chuckled, the twins

shaking their heads. “This conversation.”

“Huh?” we all said together.
“Three grown men, sitting in a destroyed kitchen after a food fight,” Cinnamon explained,

glancing between us as if trying to see who would cave in, admitting we let the kids have one. I was
made of stronger stuff than that. “Talking about Edward and Emmett and who was better as if they
were real people. You’re gossiping about who was the better Twilight hunk. I can’t believe you guys
even know about them. I mean Kyle and Amery are older than dirt.”

“Kirby we’d expect it of. He’s like that.” Ginger blew him kisses as Kirby flipped her off

playfully… Until Aubrey mimicked it.

“Oh shit,” Kirby hissed. “Sweetie, don’t do that. Daddy was very bad.”
“Shit!” Kyle exclaimed from my lap. “Shit!”
“That’s my awesome namesake,” I cooed in his ear.
“Sleeping on the sofa, right?” Kirby whimpered as he stared at his mate.
“No, my love,” Amery chuckled, shaking his head and holding out his arms. “We’re just going to

get the duct tape out for your mouth and gestures until they’re old enough to learn not to copy you.”

“I’m cool with that.” He sighed and went to his mate. I stared at them, practically feeling their

love from across the table. That’s what I wanted. I wanted to be accepted like that and always have
someone on my side.

I wished I’d gone to the fucking conference. I was supposed to but then I lost my time off

because someone had gotten hurt on the job. Sure, that was horrible and I normally would have
jumped right in to help, but it was the idiot’s own fault. Plus it wasn’t like there weren’t lots of other
officers in Colorado Springs could have filled in for him, less-senior officers who hadn’t been on the
force as long as I had.

Or passed over for as many promotions as I had been. I swear they were just trying to force me

out. And now they had cost me the chance at a happiness like Amery and Kirby had. They were lucky

I didn’t bite all my idiot commanding officers.

I said my good-byes that night after everyone and the mess was cleaned up, assuring them I was

fine and could survive without Rafe. Honestly, it was a relief to be rid of the waste of space. I just
hadn’t wanted to be the one to do it since Kirby had set us up and been so excited about it. It was also
nice to be able to say Kirby was out of shots to fix me up now. He agreed and I left.

If I was really honest with them and myself, it was just what Rafe said that hurt. It wasn’t the

first time I’d heard it from someone. I didn’t get hot and sexy vampire genes apparently, or dark and
brooding. Oh no, I got big jock with fangs. Apparently the combo just didn’t work or didn’t work for
me. It wasn’t like I was dumb but maybe that’s what people assumed because of the stereotype?

I definitely wasn’t a klutz. I was a friggin two-thousand-year-old vampire. I was scary fast and

wicked talented. It just seemed I didn’t have smoothness oozing from my pores like some vampires
I’d met or what people saw in the movies. Yeah, because those were real and should be the standard.
Did guys dump their girlfriends because they weren’t Jennifer Aniston enough for them? Was that
what they really expect in life?

And I wasn’t bad to look at. I mean, I didn’t think I was. I knew I got appreciative looks. It was

weird because I knew people thought I was hot… When they thought I was human. Six six, three-
twenty of muscle, short chocolate-brown locks, and bright green eyes. Nice combo. Just not on a
vampire. Now how did that work? Why did that mean I was undesirable because I didn’t have black
hair and bloodred eyes? I just didn’t fucking get it!

It all just seemed too shallow and made me remember why I was still single. Okay, well mostly

it was because I had to hide what I was and being gay because of my job. But since paranormals
came out and all, though technically I was in the closet on two different sides of who I was. I mean, I
didn’t hide from people I dated, like Rafe, but at work, I’d never told anyone and they weren’t
allowed to ask.

Though I was pretty damn sure ninety percent of my problems there and the shit they were

pulling on me was because they figured out I was a vampire. Which wasn’t legal, but oh so much fun
to try and prove. Until something happened that was clear-cut or I just got fed up I’d have to keep
going as I had been.

“Which really fucking blows,” I muttered to myself as I pulled into my driveway. I’d been alive

so long, always in the role of protecting people, becoming a cop was the logical progression. Hell,
I’d been a policeman since there had been such a job… For centuries. I had more experience than all
my “superiors” combined. And yet they treated me like some shitty rookie or worse.

So I could leave. That’s the way I’d been leaning. Recently the way Elder Lewis had been

changing things with the covens, and leaders themselves had been pulling their heads out of their
asses, it wasn’t as big of a deal to move anymore. Yeah, some hoops and paperwork along with a
valid reason, but discrimination at my job would qualify.

It’s why there was tons of crap in my garage currently. I was sorting through it all to see what

I’d keep and move or what it was time to get rid of. It always amazed me how much stuff I could
accumulate at any one house I stayed at. Granted, I had some all over the world that I used to rotate
through every decade or so, but yeah, stay in a place for ten years and there was a lot of stuff.

Oh well, that would wait until tomorrow. I hadn’t made any definite plans yet. Time would only

tell what came next for me.

* * * *

The next day I was responding to a call about a major accident on North Powers Boulevard. It

was a six-lane highway in that section that had a speed limit of sixty that no one paid attention to, and
had a lot of twists and turns so it was hard to see what was coming. Just as I thought, some dipshit had
been speeding and when rounding a curve didn’t have time to stop for the red and T-boned a car in
oncoming traffic.

I was first on the scene and saw some construction guys had been stopped at the intersection.

They had already set up some cones and were holding up traffic. Next thing I knew there was an SUV
coming around and parking behind me. I turned to yell at them only to see that they were from the
Army base a few miles away, Ft. Carson.

“What can we do to help until your backup or EMTs arrive?” the first guy asked me.
“I just got here. Let me see what the deal is,” I answered and then jogged over to the crash. The

driver who got hit was in bad shape, her car crushed onto her lap. She was conscious, though clearly
in shock. “Crawl in through the passenger’s side and keep her talking. Try and find out what hurts
most so you can tell the EMTs when they get here.”

“On it!”
I moved to the other car and saw it was a couple of college-aged kids. “How are you guys

holding up?”

“I’m fine,” the passenger replied calmly, holding a gaping wound on her neck. She sniffed the

air and her eyes widened before she schooled it. “You don’t have to worry about me. You should
understand why. He’s got some broken bones. I heard them.”

I nodded my understanding and it took me a minute to smell much past all the blood in the air.

Cat shifter of some kind. “Are you out?”

“No.”
“Okay, can you make it to my squad car? I’ll tell them you refused medical treatment but I was

going to take you in to the station for questioning. We’ll stop by the clinic on the way after this gets all
sorted out and let them have a look.” She bit her lip with indecision. “I know the guy who runs it.
He’s very careful. We’ll get you in and out.”

“Yeah, okay,” she groaned in pain. She pulled up her sweater to hide her wound. “Just let me sit

here a bit and heal some more and then I’ll move.”

“What are you guys talking about?” the driver slurred.
“Nothing, man,” I assured him as I checked his pulse. It was there but not that strong. I wasn’t a

doctor but my guess was she heard ribs cracking and he was bleeding internally. I didn’t see any
external wounds besides superficial ones but his heart sounded like it was weak from blood loss.
“What hurts worst?”

“Moran! What are you doing here?” someone bellowed behind me. I turned slightly and saw an

officer I didn’t know.

“I was closest when the call came out,” I answered before focusing on the guy again.
“Chest,” he wheezed.
“Okay, buddy, just hang tight.” I stood up and glanced around before talking into my shoulder

radio. “What’s our ETA on ambulances? We’re going to need two and fast. And fire to get one out of
their vehicle.”

There was a squawk and then dispatch came on. “I’ve got one less than two minutes out and

another that’s less than ten. I’ll let them know that they’re needed and no longer backup. Fire should
be there about the same time.”

“Roger that.” I moved to the other car and the officer grabbed my arm.
“You’re not supposed to be out on these calls,” he growled.
“What are you talking about?” I asked in shock as I pulled my arm around. “Police calls? Um,

yeah, I have that nifty badge and all. I don’t even know you.” I leaned over the hood and looked at the
Army guys. “How’s she doing?”

“Shock is starting to set in.” He gave me a meaningful look and leaned over closer, glancing at

his buddy sitting with the woman through the windshield. “She might not have ten minutes. We’re
medics. She’s bleeding bad. The door pierced her hip and leg.”

“Shit. Okay, well, let’s see what they say when the ambulance gets here. If we need to, we try

and move the car ourselves.” I rubbed my hand over my head. This was one of the toughest things for
me in my job. Doing nothing when I knew I could. It was too public and I’d hurt myself in the long
run.

“Did you hear me?” the officer snarled, giving me a shove. It had been obvious that it wasn’t the

first time he’d been trying to get my attention. I blinked at him a moment, shocked he was being such a
douche, grabbing me earlier and now shoving me when I was just trying to do my job. “Just as I
suspected. Too distracted with the blood. That’s why you’re not supposed to be on these fucking
calls!”

“What? I was thinking about how to get her out. Distracted by blood?” I did a double take at him

and then his meaning sank in. “I don’t even know you. But you knew me. What calls am I not supposed
to get and why?” Now my tone had gone dark, dangerous.

“You know exactly what I’m talking about and why,” he sneered.
“No, explain it to me so I’m all caught up,” I taunted. “Explain to me what’s going on that you’re

so goddamn focused on me being here instead of helping with the situation when I’ve got military
doing what you should be. Tell me why I shouldn’t go back to ignoring you for being the worst cop
ever and completely useless. Or do you just need a psych eval? Are you stalking me? Is that how you
know who I am?” I was intentionally pushing all of his buttons.

“Better them than you!” he exclaimed, throwing his hands up in the air. “She’s bleeding! If we

fucking let a vampire in the car with her you’d suck her dry. They warned us not to let you on any
scene with bleeding victims.”

“You dumb, dumb shit,” I snickered, shaking my head. “I bet they warned you not to tell me

either.” I turned back to the Ft. Carson guys who were standing there watching the show. “Can you
stabilize the guy in this car so I can move it and rip off the door? I hear the ambulance coming.”

“You can do that?” one asked me with wide eyes. “I don’t hear anything.”
“It’s about ten miles out.” I shrugged. “Yeah, I can do that. No reason to pretend anymore. I

guess I’m outed at work.” They nodded and hopped to it, besides the one who was sitting in the car
with the bleeding-out driver. I moved to the front of the car, ignoring the useless officer who was just
standing there with steam practically coming out of his ears that I wasn’t running with my tail tucked
between my legs after what he’d said.

Yeah, because one accusation was enough to make me cry. Idiot.
I lifted up the front of the car and walked with it as evenly as I could, turning it so it was

parallel to the other vehicle. Then I slowly lowered it down. I glanced between the two cars and then
to the Ft. Carson guy who seemed to be the leader of the group or at least the highest ranking of them.
“That should be enough room for the EMTs to work, right?”

Yeah, I’d been doing this a while but a woman’s life was at stake. I wasn’t old and so prideful

that I wouldn’t ask for a second opinion when it mattered.

“I’d say you’re good, man,” he chuckled, shaking his head. The sirens got closer and his head

snapped in that direction.

“Time to get the door off.”
“You’re not going near a bleeding woman,” the officer snarled as he grabbed my arm. I looked

at it and back up at his eyes, narrowing mine dangerously.

“You going to stop me? I just lifted a fucking car. You think you really could stop me?”
“I could shoot you,” he threatened in a shaky voice.
“Go ahead,” I growled. “Shoot another officer while helping an injured woman to save her life.

My fucking fangs aren’t even out, you dumbass.” I pulled away from him and threw my hands in the
air. “I don’t care about the damn blood. Stop watching so many late-night horror movies or fucking
Twilight. It’s just blood! Do you freak out every time you smell steak?”

“I do,” one guy snickered. “But that’s only because I just got back from Afghanistan. Hell, my

buddies took me to Outback and I swear I got wood.” I chuckled then, shaking my head. I appreciated
him breaking the tension.

“Should you wait for the EMTs?” the first guy hedged as I eyed over the door. “I mean, if it’s in

her leg, then pulling it out could do more harm.”

“That’s what I was thinking,” I muttered in agreement. “Depending on what’s in her leg and if I

had bolt cutters I could just snap it and rip the mangled door off.”

“We can hook you up with bolt cutters,” he said with a big grin. “If the police don’t want you,

the Army will take you. We don’t care if you’ve got fangs. We want the best at our backs so we get
back home to our families.”

“Nice that some have the right priorities like saving lives and keeping people safe,” I drawled,

shooting the other officer an unfriendly look. I wanted to groan when the asshole pulled out his cell
phone and walked away. Great. This was going to get so much worse and I’d be in trouble. Not him
for doing dick when there were people hurt, dying even, but me for what I was.

Just fucking great.
The ambulance pulled up and the EMTs assessed the situation as the Ft. Carson medics had. It

ended up we went with the bolt cutters and ripping off the door plan. Hey, as long as it worked and
we didn’t waste precious time she didn’t have.

“You saved her life. She had minutes left before she bled out,” the one medic said as he helped

load her into the ambulance. I saw an EMT nod his agreement. I shrugged. We do what we can and at
the end of the day, hope it’s enough.

Next we took care of the kid, and by then there were tons of police around so the Ft. Carson guys

and construction crews were relieved of helping duty. The shifter who had been a passenger had
healed pretty much and I was finally going to speak to her when I got a private call on my radio
informing me I was to basically get my ass down to headquarters immediately.

“You good here?” I asked her. She raised an eyebrow at the stressed tone of my voice that she

could hear but I’m sure no human around us could. “I have to go get my ass handed to me for what I

am.”

“And people wonder why I don’t tell anyone I turn into a four-hundred-pound cat,” she muttered

under her breath.

“I understand,” I sighed, shaking my head. “I wasn’t judging. I get it, believe me. But you’re

young. When you get to be my age, it’s just too much and you’re just tired of it and want to be who
you are.” I started to head to my cruiser, staring down the officer I knew was the reason I was about
to get chewed out. Yeah, he had a satisfied smirk on his face, but I wasn’t going to do a walk of
shame or let him think he won something today.

“How old are you?” she called out as she paused getting in another policeman’s cruiser.
“You wouldn’t believe me,” I chuckled, rubbing the back of my neck.
“Try me.” She shrugged and then gestured to the moved cars. “I wouldn’t have believed a man

could have saved all of us from destruction like this but yet you did.” I got what she was doing.
Basically announcing to all there that she was human, though she wasn’t, and casting me as the hero
for all to hear. I appreciated that. “They’d be dead if not for you. So you get my faith. How old are
you?”

“I turn two thousand on the twenty-fifth,” I answered honestly. Her eyes went wide, as just about

everyone else’s. “Yeah, that’s normally the reaction I get.”

“If you’ve lived that long you must have money,” one of the firemen hedged, glancing between

us. They’d arrived for the call but stayed to help clear some debris and check that there was no
danger from the cars so they could be towed. “Why still be a cop instead of retired on an island
somewhere?”

I chuckled then, having answered that question dozens of times in my life when people found out

my age. Never did they understand my answer though.

“I’ve worked this job under various names and titles my whole life. I just wasn’t always called

a police officer. It’s never been about the money. I’ve always wanted to help people. I could so I did.
I wanted to do the right thing.”

“Amen to that, brother,” the fireman chuckled. “Hell, if I could do what you do, not get hurt as

easily, and without aging and worrying my wife that I wouldn’t come home someday, I’d do it forever
too.” I saw several of his crew nod and I smiled. Finally, people who got it.

At least that was something. It gave me hope for society now that I was about to walk into

getting a chunk taken out of my ass.

Chapter 2

“And furthermore, you had untrained civilians assisting at the scene,” my Lieutenant shouted. He

kept going on and on with all the things I’d done “wrong” as I stood there. Then finally he looked
ready to blow his top. “Have you got anything to say for yourself, Moran?”

“I have lots to say, sir. I was waiting until you were done as I should do respectfully for my

commanding officer,” I said much more calmly than I felt. “I did the best in a tough situation. Those
weren’t civilians. They just weren’t cops. They were medics from Ft. Carson and I didn’t have help.
The other officer on the scene was too busy shouting at me that I wasn’t supposed to be on calls like
that and getting in my way to help.

“I’d never met the man before, but apparently he knew me. After pushing his buttons for a whole

five seconds, I was told that everyone had been warned not to give me calls where there would be
blood since I’d suck everyone dry. He even went so far as threatening to shoot me if I tried to help the
woman. The medics and the EMTs said I saved her life. I have more experience being a cop than this
whole department combined, so let’s cut this shit.

“We both know what this is about and now you’re trying to cover the department’s ass.” That

got a reaction out of him. Just to drive my point home I had some fun. “And what makes me such an
asset you’ve not utilized instead of benching me is I can tell things you can’t. You’re scared. Your
heart just picked up because you know you’re worried that this will turn into a mess. It will. It always
does. I’ve seen it countless times. I’ve seen more than you can dream of.”

“I’m sure you have,” he sneered. “And how many of those messes were yours to clean up? How

many times have you used your position and badge to hide the messes you’ve made?”

I blinked at him a moment before realizing what he meant. Then my eyes just about bugged out of

my head. “You think I became a cop to hide my kills or some shit?” His reaction very clearly said
yes. I couldn’t help it. I started laughing. “Yeah, I’m older than dirt as my friend’s nannies say. I
wouldn’t need a badge if I was some nut job killer to make them disappear. Have I killed people?
Yes.”

“I knew it! You just—”
“Admitted I’ve been in wars,” I drawled raising an eyebrow at him. “I was in World War I and

II for our side. I was in Vietnam. Fuck, I was in the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. I have
protected people my whole damn life. But yes, I’ve killed people. I’ve never murdered anyone. I’ve
never accidentally killed someone feeding from them before blood bags. I’ve never lost control of my
thirst or anything remotely gluttonous.

“Hell, I’ve seen people here inhale their food in a way I’ve never done. And yet you all judge

me that I’m a murderer or I’ll drain victims of crimes or accidents dry because there’s some blood
around? No one ever saw my fangs in the years I worked here before you found out I was a vampire.
But now suddenly I’m a bloodthirsty lunatic?

“I’ve not given anyone the slightest reason to doubt I can handle my job better than anyone else

here and yet you’ve had a warning issued behind my back that I’m not to be given certain calls. Well,
the secret’s out and jig is up.

“So you want to pull up some trumped-up bullshit about how I handled things today to cover the

administrative leave you’re going to put me on while my case is brought before the review board, go
ahead.” His eyes went wide at that. “As I’ve said, I know how the game is played and I have more

experience than all of you. But know that this isn’t the end of this either.”

“Is that a threat?” he asked darkly, narrowing his eyes at me.
“Jesus, Bob,” I whispered, so hurt I took a step back. At first I was just shocked at how

ludicrous the situation was but now that it had really sunk in I was just wounded. “Is that what you
really think of me? I’ve been to your house, man. I went and found your son at college and brought
him home when your wife got in that car accident. I’m not the bad guy here.

“I’m sorry that having a diet of food and blood and being immortal makes me such the villain in

your eyes, but I’ve not done anything wrong nor anything to deserve this. I’m not a demon! I can go to
church. I’ve taken confession, been to weddings, was there when my namesake and nephew was
baptized. I’m not threatening you. I’m just not going to tuck my tail between my legs or grab my ankles
and let the department screw me over on this.”

“Well, we know how you like to take it up the ass,” he muttered as he turned and grabbed a file.
“Really? So this is about me being gay too? Un-fucking-real,” I growled. Now my fangs came

out. “Another thing I can’t help and was born as.”

“And here you’re telling me you’re some model of control,” he said, swallowing loudly as his

face paled. He handed me some forms with a shaky hand. “You know the drill.”

“You’ve insulted me. Not only saying I’m a shitty cop but implying I’m a murderer,” I snarled as

I took the papers and stuffed them in my pocket. “Had some shit going on behind my back that
everyone knows about like I’m a goddamn leper.” I pulled out my gun and slid out the clip, slamming
both on the desk hard enough that it creaked. “Because I’m such a fucking monster I would kill injured
innocents when I’ve saved millions over my thousands of years being alive.

“And now I’m a scum because I’m gay? I’m being railroaded here and instead of being my

friend and backing me up, that’s what matters to this department when I’ve been nothing but loyal and
an exemplary cop. I saved her life today doing what no one else there could. So yeah, most would
have already punched you in the face and that jackass at the scene. Forgive me for my fangs coming
out because I’m that pissed off.

“You’ve threatened my livelihood, my reputation, and my home because of all of this and yeah,

that means adrenaline pumping for a fight.” The problem was that my hands wanted to shift into claws
and that would just make his point. I grabbed my badge and tossed it on his desk before fisting them
again so he wouldn’t see. “Anything else? Any other bullshit you want to feed me with the fucked-up
sandwich?”

“Chief’s in a meeting. Go home for today and when you report in for shift the day after

tomorrow I’ll have an official word for you about your administrative leave. Then we’ll let you know
when your hearing is. Internal Affairs will be calling you soon but you can keep the badge and gun for
now.” He gave me a smirk. “Say your last good-byes to it and all that.”

I threw back my head and laughed. “You really think you’ve won something here. Gods, you are

dense. I’ll see your IA and raise you an elder, UPAC, and I’m sure a few civil rights attorneys.” I
picked them back up and put them in place, careful to not load the gun in his presence. He was shaky
enough as is.

“You can’t prove any of this is anything more than your job performance.” But again, I could

hear his heart picking up. He was nervous.

“You forget I found out about all of this when your dipshit blabbed in front of a bunch of people.

The Ft. Carson guys gave me their names and numbers that they’d be willing to sign any statements to

what happened if I needed it. So did the EMTs that I saved that woman’s life. I didn’t even have to
ask. Good luck keeping your job after this all blows up, Bob.”

I stormed out of there, careful not to rip the door off the hinges. I was pretty proud of myself for

that, except then I heard a cracking of glass when I closed it and winced. Glancing out of the corner of
my eye, I saw a large line running through the middle of his window now. Oh well. At least it hadn’t
shattered.

Kind of like my life right then.

* * * *

It wasn’t even eleven in the morning when I left my Lieutenant’s office. Amazing how so much

could go so wrong before lunch. I wanted to just focus on having saved that woman’s life but that
wasn’t reality. I couldn’t just push aside everything else and only see the good.

I was a vampire… Not a damn saint.
On the drive home I left a message with Elder Lewis’s office. Colorado Springs didn’t have a

coven officially. Normally for a conflict I might have just called the leader in Denver but this was
much bigger than this and I’d known Lewis for centuries. Long before there was even a UPAC.

Then I called Kirby and gave him the short version. I hadn’t wanted to dump all my shit on my

friend but I wanted the number of that attorney who had handled Amery’s problem when the hospital
he’d been working for pulled something kind of like my situation on him. Leave it to Kirby to make
everything so simple.

“Now you can accept the job we keep trying to get you to take!” he said excitedly. “Sure, sure,

fight this and beat them up but you won’t want to work there again with assholes like this.”

“Right, but I’m not sure I’m ready to be just security yet either, Kirby.” I winced at how that

sounded and hurried him off the phone after getting the attorney’s number. I hadn’t meant to sound so
condescending. There was nothing wrong with being security or a security guard. I had nothing but
respect for them. It just wasn’t for me. I was pretty sure I’d get bored. I’d spent centuries racing
towards the fight and the actions.

I didn’t think I could sit back and prepare for it to maybe come to me. But then again, I basically

already did the job they’d offered me and wanted me to take full-time. I’d helped set up the security
for the paranormal clinic UPAC funded, and with the research labs that were top secret that Shea
Mayer had and the attached hotel, there was a lot of ground to cover. And it wasn’t just a clinic, it
was a full hospital really. It had even been added onto since it was built.

I’d even done all the interviews and hiring of the security, worked with the owner of Bird

Security for the systems put in, and devised all the training and procedures. I donated time to check up
on things, taking shifts when I could to make sure things were always running smoothly. I really did
do the full job. Maybe it was time to just take the paycheck and title that went with it. I could take
side jobs then or something?

The question was what would I do with my life if I wasn’t a cop. What would I want to do?

Because once I was blackballed here, I wouldn’t get hired anywhere else for being a vampire. Sure,
bigger cities like Denver or Chicago might hire me but after fighting the department and making a huge
media mess, they wouldn’t touch me because of the scrutiny. And if I didn’t fight it they wouldn’t
touch me because they might think the trumped-up charges and reports might be true.

I was fucked either damn way.
I picked up lunch on the way home and sat down with it after I took off my uniform. Maybe going

through some of my boxes of crap and organizing my life a bit would help me clear my mind some. I
thought it was a pretty good plan. I’d already talked to the attorney. He’d been in between meetings so
he’d only had a few minutes for me and basically only got as far as telling me to send him the
witnesses’ names and numbers.

I also sent him the license plates of the cars in the accidents. They could attest to how I helped

while the other officer didn’t. And I included the fire engine number in case he wanted to talk to those
guys. I figured better to cover all my bases.

When I was done with my sandwich I thought it was time for a beer… Or sixteen of them. Hell,

it was five o’clock somewhere and if there was ever a time I got a pass for starting to drink early I
figured it was then. I threw away my garbage just as I heard a thud in my garage. Great. What was
going on now?

I opened the door and walked out into it, glancing around to see what had fallen. At first

everything seemed to be in order but then I noticed the door to the fridge I kept in there was open.
That was odd. I had brought in a pop with me from picking up lunch so I wouldn’t have gone in there
and I would have noticed it open when I pulled up if it had been when I got home.

Then I heard another thud and a giggle. What the hell? I took a step closer and the door opened

more.

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” I groaned, wanting to bang my head against the wall.

There was a damn kid standing there, playing in my fridge. And not one I recognized. And my
neighbors on either side or across the street didn’t have one this age so where did he come from?

He turned and looked at me with big eyes. If I had to guess he was about six or seven maybe? I

had no idea. I didn’t deal with kids that age very often.

“Go away!” he whimpered and threw a can of pop at me.
“Kid, you’re in my garage,” I growled. He was wobbling funny and I realized he wasn’t just

standing on his own. He was using the glass shelf to support his weight. There was a loud cracking
sound and I realized it was coming out. Shit. “Let go of the shelf!”

“No!” he wailed and threw another can at me.
And of course I didn’t have a clear path to him. I leapt over some boxes and cracked my hip into

the door when the little shit shoved it at me. It threw me off balance so instead of getting there to stop
him and the shelf I bumped him out of the way and he fell to the ground… While the shelf and
everything on it landed on me.

“Great, just fucking great,” I sighed as cans of pop exploded everywhere and bottles of beer

were broken all around me. Not to mention my shins didn’t feel so fantastic. But they’d heal. At least
he hadn’t touched the blood I had locked in the drawer at the bottom of the fridge. The kid started
sniffling and nothing else mattered besides he’d gotten hurt. I set the shelf down, because I could deal
with that later. I turned to him and squatted down low. “You okay, buddy?”

“Get away from me, stranger!” he bellowed and bashed me in the nose with a can of pop. Before

I could react he did it again. I know, a vampire with slow reaction time doesn’t seem likely but I’d
kinda been through hell already and I wasn’t really prepared for any of this so again, I got a pass.

“Kid, chill out,” I growled. “Where are your parents? Why aren’t you in school?”
“Summer break,” he answered me like I was the biggest idiot ever. Right, yeah, still didn’t

answer the first one. Then he jumped to his feet and I was kind of hoping he’d run back to where he’d
come from but instead he was heading towards the door to my house. This time I did much better. I
leapt in front of him and shook my head.

“Oh no. You’re not going in there, you little friggin terror. Bad enough you’ve trashed my

garage. Now where are your parents?”

“You can’t talk like that to me!” he wailed and picked up another can. He launched at my head

and of course I ducked in time but I was still shocked. What a fucking nightmare! Whoever this kid
belonged to needed to be smacked for raising such a monster. “You asshole!”

“Excuse me?” I growled, seriously hitting my limit now.
“Paulie!” someone shouted and I prayed to whoever was listening that this monster was Paulie

and help was coming soon. I started to walk to the front of the garage but another can of pop got
launched at me.

“Missing a kid?” I yelled, staring daggers at the kid. I really wanted to say did you try to ditch

the spawn of Satan?

“Yes,” he said before racing into the garage, panting for breath. I could tell he wasn’t human

from his scent, unlike the kid who was, but not what type of paranormal he was. That was odd. I
didn’t know many I couldn’t at least get a vibe for. “Oh gods, Paulie. You scared the crap out of me!”

He glanced at me then and I froze as the most gorgeous tan eyes met mine. It was an odd color

that I would have thought hideous for eyes, but no, they were breathtaking… And so was he. Short
black hair that stood up funny like he’d been trying to pull it out, nice compact body I wanted under
me for days screaming out my name and everything.

“I’m telling Daddy you let me escape again, POS,” the kid sneered. “You’re going to get

smacked and not the good kind you beg for!”

“Paulie,” he hissed, his cheeks heating with embarrassment before he turned to me. “I’m so

sorry about this. I’ll pay for any damages. Are you okay? Did anyone get hurt?”

“He hurt me!” Paulie accused as he threw another can at me. I caught this one and moved closer.
I raised an eyebrow at him and set the pop on one of my boxes. “He fell when I tried to stop the

shelf from falling on him. It hit me instead and I’m fine. Thank you for your concern.”

“Okay, well I’m glad no one was injured,” the gorgeous man sighed, grabbing the kid’s arm

when he picked up another can of pop. “Paulie, stop it! Say you’re sorry to the nice man right now.”

“No! And I’m telling Daddy you grabbed me. You’re going to be in so much trouble.”
“Watch it, kid,” I growled. He froze and his eyes went wide. I focused on the man trying to get

Paulie under control. “What’s your name?”

“Oh, sorry. I’m Trevor,” he mumbled, still reaching for the can of pop. “Are you sure I can’t pay

for this? Again, I’m so sorry. Paulie doesn’t normally get away from me like this. He figured out how
to lock me—” He snapped his mouth shut so fast I saw him wince and then smelled blood, guessing
he bit his tongue.

“I locked tiny dick in the bathroom,” Paulie announced proudly. “Daddy’s going to beat him

later for that and everything else I’m going to snitch on him for!”

“And that makes you just as big of a monster as your father,” I said coldly, narrowing my eyes at

the evil spawn.

“He’s just kidding,” Trevor lied, looking anywhere but at me. “You know kids.”
“Yes, and I know men who have been hurt and think they deserve the abuse they get,” I said

gently. “You don’t have to put up with that. Where is his dad?”

“I don’t know.” He glanced at me then and shrugged. “Paul goes off every so often. He asked me

to watch Paulie a couple of days ago and I couldn’t just leave him and there’s no family I could drop
him off at.”

“Daddy didn’t ask you. He told you to do it and you agreed and that’s why Daddy calls you POS

because you do anything he wants.” Then he smashed the can of pop into Trevor’s face and broke out
into peals of giggles.

“So what’s your reason for calling a nice man by that name when he’s obviously the only one

who cares about you?” I hissed at the little shit, my fangs popping out. “Hit him again and I’ll drain
you dry.”

“We should go,” Trevor whispered in a shaky voice. I glanced at him and saw that the kid had

cut his head and the blood was running into his eye even as he was pushing the boy behind his small
frame to protect him. “If you change your mind about my paying for the damages I’ll gladly do it.”

“Don’t let him bite me, tiny dick,” Paulie whimpered. What a devil! Even then he couldn’t stop

being mean. I would never hurt even an evil child like that but the dad I planned on having a serious
talk with.

“Trevor, wait,” I sighed as I made my fangs retract. “Let me help you. I was just trying to—”
“Scare us? Yeah, you did,” he said so quietly it made my heart hurt. He picked up the boy and

raced from my garage.

“Damnit,” I snarled as I stepped out onto the driveway, watching him run. He went into a house

four down. At least I knew where they lived now.

I’d just meant to scare the kid into losing some of his bravado. He was such a cocky little shit

like nothing could touch him. It wasn’t safe for him to have that attitude. I was a cop and a good
person. I’d never harm a kid. But if he’d pulled that on someone else he could have seriously gotten
hurt. No matter how evil he was, I didn’t want that. I just wanted him to understand that he couldn’t be
such a brat.

And now I’d scared Trevor off and sent him back to an abusive relationship instead of helping

him. All around my day just sucked balls. Scrubbing my face over my hands, I let out a frustrated
growl before glancing around my garage. Most of the boxes looked safe and the glass in the shelf
didn’t break, only beer bottles. I cracked one open that was okay, ignoring the foam, and got to work
cleaning everything up.

After that I stuck to the original plan and started going through boxes. It helped but it didn’t. The

busy work was good at keeping me occupied but being in the garage just kept my thoughts on Trevor.
And if I was completely honest with myself I knew I was hanging out towards the front of the garage
to see if I could catch the dad coming home or any glimpse of the gorgeous man again.

But I didn’t. By the time I was ten beers into my job and had bags full of garbage and things to

donate, I realized the kid had destroyed anything else I would have drank and maybe it was time to go
to bed.

So that’s what I did. Besides, I had enough of my own drama to deal with right then. One thing at

a time and then maybe I could help Trevor.

Chapter 3

Of course I didn’t listen to my own advice. The entire time I was home talking to Kirby or Elder

Lewis’s people or my attorney my mind kept drifting back to Trevor. Then finally I decided if it was
going to be the last day I was to be a police officer there was one last good thing I should do with my
badge… Help Trevor.

And I swear to the gods and on my mother’s grave that it wasn’t because I was so attracted to

him. It wasn’t some ploy or master plan to woo him into my bed. It was the right and honorable thing
to do. He needed to know someone was willing to help him, on his side, and that there was a good
guy in his corner. If nothing else that I would be there later if he changed his mind and I had just been
trying to scare the kid into behaving better, that I would never have hurt either of them.

I’d been a little stalkerish when on the phone or going through my things in the garage, looking

over at the house way too often. It had taken every ounce of self-restraint I had not to go over there
and beat the shit out of the dad when I’d seen a car pull in the driveway and a very loud, drunk,
obnoxious guy get out. I had stayed in the garage but listened very carefully for any signs that he was
abusing Trevor again.

I didn’t hear any. I did hear other things I didn’t want to but nothing that would make me feel

obligated to step in as a policeman. It wasn’t my business. I did hear Paulie tell his dad that POS
saved him from the evil vampire. Yeah, he should be calling anyone evil… Ever. And seriously,
what dad likes his kid call his boyfriend POS for piece of shit? Talk about being a douche bag.

I just didn’t understand why Trevor stayed. There had to be more to the story.
My shift didn’t start until nine and while I was normally early for work, I couldn’t make myself

on a day I knew I was pretty much going to hand in my badge and gun for my leave while they tried to
figure out ways to fire me. Still, I also didn’t know how long this would take and I didn’t want to miss
the man going to work.

At eight sharp I was standing on his doorstep knocking.
“I’ve got it!” the kid announced. I shook my head. He sounded so cute and harmless. Proof of

how deceiving things could be.

“Paulie, you can’t just go racing to the door and open it,” Trevor chastised gently.
“Daddy, POS is yelling at me!”
“Tattletale,” I grumbled under my breath.
“Tiny dick, you’re not allowed to answer the door,” a deep voice bitched. “Get over here and

take care of me. I have a hangover. I want your mouth.” Oh hell no. I wasn’t going to be ignored and
have to stand there and listen to this all while he talked to Trevor like that.

“This is the police, open up,” I said louder as I banged on the door again.
“Shit,” the man hissed. “Trevor, shift and hide.” Interesting. I’d smelled he wasn’t human but I’d

not been able to tell what he was, obviously not something huge because he would be smaller than he
was already.

“Paul, I am not hiding from the police,” Trevor said firmly. “I could get in serious trouble for

that and it’s just wrong!”

“You’re going to be in serious trouble if you don’t,” Paul threatened with a growl.
“I can hear you both so don’t bother,” I drawled but still a thrill going through me that there

were obviously deep morals in Trevor. “And you’re already in trouble, Paul, so just open the damn

door before it gets worse and you end up in handcuffs.” I heard the lock disengage and the door
pulled open as a man a little shorter than me shielded his eyes. I looked him over, taking stock now
that I was closer.

He wasn’t bad to look at. Might even be attractive if he showered, did anything with his hygiene,

didn’t smell like a gross ashtray or cheap booze seeping out of his pores, lost the bloodshot, evil,
glinting eyes, and didn’t practically have bully tattooed across his forehead.

“What do you want?” he asked.
“To not have to talk with people who don’t use a toothbrush ever for starters,” I groaned as I

waved my hand in front of my face. “Jesus, did you eat the cigarettes too?” I looked past him to see
Trevor step into view with a soft smirk on his face until he saw me. Then his jaw dropped open with
shock. I bit back shock of my own. Trevor had a split lip, a shiner, and several bruises on his upper
body. God damnit! How had I not heard that?

“Are you insulting me?” Paul growled.
“I must not have done a very good job of it if you had to ask,” I drawled, rolling my eyes.
“Daddy, that’s the vampire who tried to eat me,” Paulie whimpered.
“Right, yes, that’s exactly how that went,” I said darkly, narrowing my eyes at him. “I suggest

you start telling the truth before I arrest you for lying to a policeman, Paulie. That’s why I’m here
already. You destroyed personal property, assaulted a cop, assaulted Trevor in front of me, verbally
assaulted him, implicated your father in several crimes, and never even apologized.”

“Paulie?” the dad growled. “What really happened?”
The boy glanced between us a few times with wide, frightened eyes before squealing,

blubbering the whole thing. And finally wrapped up with, “He said he’d drain me dry if I bashed POS
with another can of soda in the face.”

“Did you really threaten my son like that?” Paul asked me darkly.
“You’re damn right I did,” I answered, using all my authority and power in my voice. “You’re

lucky it was me and I was just trying to teach him a lesson. And don’t go blaming Trevor because
your kid’s a terror who locked him in the bathroom and did damage just to get Trevor in trouble. He’s
your son and you’re liable for what he did to my garage and assaulting a police officer. But I’m a
cop. Paulie could have pulled that shit with a child murderer or rapist or psycho.

“He needs to understand he can’t just talk to anyone the way he wants whenever he wants. How

do they handle this at school? I could have called child services because he was abusive to his
caretaker. That’s a huge mess you don’t want. I just wanted you to understand the gravity of the
situation.”

The man eyed me over for a minute. “Yeah, I get you. It hasn’t been like this with school. It’s

recent. He’s been lashing out since his mom recently died. Maybe it’s time to get him some
counseling.” I caught Trevor making a face that clearly said that wasn’t the case and Paul was lying
through his teeth. I could tell that anyways since the man’s pulse picked up.

“I think that’s a good first step and maybe being a better role model.” I gave him a look that said

it wasn’t up for debate. Paul’s cheeks flamed with anger but he swallowed it down and nodded.
“Alright, then I’m willing to drop this as long as it doesn’t happen again. I need Trevor to give me a
statement though as an unbiased third party in case this comes up later so I don’t get in trouble for
letting you off with just a warning.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, you promised to get the boy help and make some better parenting choices. That’s great,

but if you don’t, I want my ass covered for not pressing charges. I need a statement from Trevor since
he witnessed both events.” He gave me a look that said it wasn’t going to happen while
subconsciously starting to close the door. “Or we can all go down to the station and sort this out,
contacting child services. How’s your record?”

“Fine,” he bit out. “Just give us a minute.” He closed the door not all the way and I heard some

shuffling and then Trevor let out a squeak. “I’d think real hard and careful before you say anything,
tiny dick. Remember who takes care of you now and gives you the loving you wanted and fat cock
when no one wanted this flat ass. That could all go away if you fuck with me on this. Tell him
nothing.”

“I can’t lie to the police, Paul,” Trevor whispered in a scared voice. “I won’t do that for

anyone.” He let out a yelp and it killed me to not step in and stop this.

“I’d seriously reconsider that position. At least play dumb. You’re good at being dumb, POS.

Don’t offer anything and if directly asked, you forgot.”

“I’ll do my best,” he lied. Good.
“Go get your shit. I’m taking Paulie to my mom’s for a few days. Call me when you’re done.”
“Okay.”
“And if you fuck this up you might want to take the time to pack up all your shit and get lost, tiny

dick. Because if I ever see you again if you’ve screwed me you won’t like it.”

“But I lost my apartment now because you kept ditching me with Paulie,” he whispered. “I’d

have nowhere to go. I don’t have a job now either.”

“Then remember that when you answer his questions,” Paul chuckled darkly. Oh that explained

so much. I could work around that. I glanced at my watch and sighed. This was taking too long. I
would have to change the plan now. Damnit. I really hadn’t wanted Trevor sitting in my car when I
came out of the station after being forced to turn in my badge.

I had planned on getting him over to Kirby’s and letting my friend get Trevor to open him up

while I handled my shit, but when I’d seen Trevor’s bruises I’d altered that plan to the clinic. Now it
would have to be the clinic after my station.

And how would I explain this to a man I didn’t know who was risking so much to do the

honorable thing at the request of a cop? This should be fun!

“I’m ready,” Trevor whispered a couple minutes later as he stepped out onto the porch. Even in

gym shorts, flip-flops, and a long-sleeve T-shirt to hide his bruises, he was stunning.

“I have to handle something at my station first,” I said as we walked over to my car. I decided

that was the best thing to say for now. “You have your keys for the house for later, right?”

“Paul didn’t give me keys. I know the code to get into the garage. Hopefully he doesn’t lock the

door from the garage into the house or I’m sleeping in the garage I guess.” He shrugged and gave a
nervous chuckle.

I nodded and opened the passenger’s door for him. He blinked at me in shock before sliding in. I

jogged around, seeing we had enough time for me not to be late and even a few minutes early. Getting
in, I started the car up and pulled out of the driveway. “Well if you promise not to tell anyone, I know
a certain neighbor of yours who could pick the lock easily and we can just pretend it was open all
along when we pack up your stuff.”

“Oh no, I can’t leave Paul.”

“Do you love him?”
He was quiet a few minutes and I thought at first he wasn’t going to answer me, either because

he didn’t know the answer or it was too hard to admit he did love someone who hurt him. “No. I
thought I did in the beginning but no. He’s got me trapped though. I can’t leave.”

“What if you had help? What if you weren’t trapped, Trevor?”
“I’ve spent my whole life going from one form of being trapped to another,” he chuckled

bitterly. “And they keep getting worse. I know what the score is and I’m not willing to jump into the
next level of bad. I wouldn’t survive it.”

It was so sad that I felt my heart twist in my chest. To be so jaded and cynical at his age… Wait.

“How old are you?”

“Two hundred and forty. Why? How old are you?”
“Slightly older,” I chuckled. Okay, so he was still pretty young to a paranormal. “I can’t tell

what kind of shifter you are. You are a shifter, right?”

“Yeah, I’m a shifter,” he whispered, squirming in his seat. “Are you asking as a policeman or

out of curiosity?”

“Just curious.”
“Then I’d prefer not tell you what type.” He looked out the window again. Wow. I got a deep,

deep sense that Paul was not the first person to hurt him.

“Maybe when you feel that you can trust me.” I squashed a strange urge to hug him. I wasn’t

normally the type to instigate that type of affection to someone I barely knew. Sure, I’d accept a hug
from Kirby and I was always hugging his kids or even Ginger or Cinnamon at times when they had
good news… But basically a stranger?

That just wasn’t me. I’d learned better in my lengthy life.
“Just wait here. I shouldn’t be too long,” I told him when I parked at the station. He nodded as

he nibbled on his lower lip. I left the keys with him and jogged to the front door. It was funny when I
thought about it because there was a chance that I could have had a normal shift and then what would I
have done with Trevor?

“The Lieutenant wants to see you, Kyle,” the gal at the front desk said with a sympathetic smile.
“I figured.” I shrugged.
“I have your personal effects when you’re done with him.” She winced, probably realizing she

wasn’t supposed to tell me that. Wow. They really weren’t wasting any time or giving me the chance
to interact with anyone. I swallowed loudly and nodded. Over a decade on the Colorado Springs
police force and they wouldn’t even let me pack up my own damn desk. That was just the kick in the
balls after all the insults already.

After I jogged up the stairs and walked down the hallway to my Lieutenant’s office, I opened the

door and walked right in without even knocking.

“Come right in,” he drawled. “So nice of you to show respect, Moran.”
I caught the head of Internal Affairs and someone else I didn’t know in his office, but addressed

the Lieutenant.

“I showed you nothing but respect for over a decade, Reynolds. I even showed it while you

chewed me out the day before yesterday for a list of things I supposedly did wrong at the scene we
both know was crap. Shit, I was even willing to let go the stunt of warning people not to let me in on
certain calls because I could chalk that up to some twisted view of you protecting your people. Again

with getting passed over for promotion after promotion.

“You can’t see past your fear and that makes you an ignorant person. Fine. You don’t know any

better. You shouldn’t be in charge then, but not my call. I have over nineteen hundred years’
experience as either law enforcement or as the king’s guard which was what it was way back when
so don’t even try some shit about me not knowing the job. You lost all my respect when you accused
me of being a murderer because I’m a vampire and becoming a cop to hide my crimes.

“You earned my disgust when you brought my sexuality into the job. One has nothing to do with

the other and you damn well know it. Twelve years I’ve been here and not one time have I flirted,
acted inappropriate, or dated anyone in the department and people have done all that to me. I saved
that woman’s life. I could have denied what that dipshit who didn’t help me said but no, I did the job.
That’s why we’re here. Not to play these games. I’ll see you in court.”

I unholstered my service revolver and set it on the desk before adding my badge.
“You take this to court and no other department will ever touch you,” the man I didn’t know

hedged.

“You think they will now?” I chuckled bitterly. “Either I eat it and this goes on my record or I

fight it and labeled a troublemaker. So fine. If I’m being put in this position and have to choose which
way I’m getting a label, I’m fighting this all the damn way so at least other cities won’t dare make this
mistake.” I narrowed my eyes at him. “And I promise you that this is a mistake. I have an exemplary
record and resources you can’t imagine.” I glanced over at my Lieutenant. “Mayor call you yet? He
likes paranormals.”

“Don’t answer that,” the man who was obviously the lawyer snapped before Bob could reply.
“Fine. Whatever. There are other ways for me to keep helping people. I’ve been doing it long,

long before any of you were born and I’ll be doing it long after you’re even a memory to anyone. Are
we done here?”

“Yes, here is your hearing date,” he said, handing me a slip of paper. I held up my hands and

backed away, giving him a smirk.

“Nice try. I was already warned of that trick.”
“What trick?” He blinked at me, trying to go for innocent. It didn’t work.
“That taking that says I accept what’s on it like a summons, and I can only have my union rep at

the hearing and that I’m not allowed to take this to court once I do that. My attorneys have already
been in touch. I suggest you stop ignoring their calls and discuss it with them.”

“You don’t want to do this, Kyle. There’s more than your job here at stake,” my Lieutenant

warned and the lawyer sighed.

“Did you just threaten me?” I snarled, pushing back my aggression and keeping my fangs at bay.
“No, I’m merely reminding you that you live in Colorado Springs and you don’t want to make

any more enemies here.”

I gave a snort and rolled my eyes. “I have houses all over the world. I can fly in for whatever my

attorney and the UPAC attorneys set up. I’ll stay up at the Denver coven. You want to come play up in
Denver?” I knew my eyes were sparkling with mirth at that idea. The Chief of Police in Denver was a
lion shifter.

“You might be able to leave but all your friends can’t. Like your clinic friends.”
I felt a cold chill run through me as I let the predator in me come out. “I’d be very careful what

kind of war you want to start here, Bob. Coming after me is one thing. How are you a cop without any

morals whatsoever? How can you even think of involving innocent people?”

“They’re not people,” he scoffed. “One’s a witch and the other is a fucking monkey. Those kids

are—”

“You fucking touch my nieces and nephews and I’ll end you,” I snarled and took two steps

towards him. I saw the Internal Affairs guy blink at the Lieutenant in shock before moving in front of
me.

“That’s not what he was saying,” he said calmly, giving me wide eyes the Lieutenant couldn’t

see. Yeah, I don’t think he got that Bob was such a bigot. I had no idea either. “Let’s all cool off and
let the attorneys handle this. I’ll call and get your official statement later this week, Officer Moran. If
you have any questions before that, here’s my card.” He pulled one out and quickly wrote something
on the back before handing it to me.

I nodded and took it, shooting the attorney a look as well. The man looked shaken up.
“Keep this in the department, Bob, and I will. This is work. You have help to get rid of me. I’m

allowed to have the same type of help to keep my reputation. Don’t you dare start bringing in others.
There’s no reason for that and you know it.”

“We’ll see,” he chuckled darkly.
“Fuck this. I’m calling the State Police and the FBI,” I growled. “You’ve got a Lieutenant

threatening citizens who aren’t people according to him who are protected by the laws he swore to
uphold.”

“That’s not necessary by—” the lawyer started.
“He’s talking about my family. Yeah, it’s totally necessary. It’s just not a step I wanted to take. I

told my attorney not to go there but screw it. I’m done playing nice.”

“What are you talking about?” Bob asked, losing some of his bravado.
“This isn’t the first time the Colorado Springs Police Department is in trouble for this type of

thing. The State Police and FBI have been itching to come in here with a solid case of you guys
breaking the federal Paranormal Rights laws. I just didn’t want it to go that far, but to protect my
family? Yeah, I’ll make the call and have you thrown in federal prison since you don’t even see us as
people. How many have you killed, Bob?”

He went pale as his heart started racing. I started cussing up a storm and the two other men

stared at me like I’d lost my mind.

“His heart is beating a mile a minute. He has. He’s killed paranormals because he doesn’t see

them as human. Un-fucking-real. Yeah, let’s put him in charge and kick me out.” I turned on my heel
and left. I wasn’t going to give them another minute to say shit, find an excuse, or try and reason their
way out of anything. I was connecting to my attorney’s number before I reached the stairs.

“Kyle, your stuff,” the gal at the front desk called out. I nodded to her and jogged the couple

steps back and grabbed the two boxes from her, thanking her quickly.

“Hey, Kyle. How did it go?” Ralph asked when he picked up the line.
“My Lieutenant threatened Kirby, Amery, and the kids. He doesn’t see paranormals as people.

Even worse, I threw out some snarky comment asking him how many he’s killed like he accused me
because of course humans are just food to vampires. He has, Ralph. His pulse went wild. Make the
call. I’ll do whatever the State Police and FBI want.”

“Oh gods,” he gasped. “Okay. I’ll call their commander now and have protective details put on

all of you. I’ll get everyone rounded up. Where are you now?”

“Leaving the station as quickly as possible.” I opened the door to the backseat of my car and

remembered Trevor. “I have a friend with me and he needs to stop by the clinic. Not related to any of
this.”

“Okay, I’ll have them send troopers to the clinic and they can escort you home and stay with you

there. As soon as I know what their names will be I’ll text you.”

“Thanks, Ralph.”
“You got it. Stay safe.” We hung up and I got in the driver’s seat. Shit. What a cluster fuck.
“I don’t want to go to any clinic. I’m fine,” Trevor said quietly, staring at me with wide eyes. I

started up the car and peeled out. “Why do you no longer have a badge or a gun on your hip?”

“Wow, you’re an observant one,” I mumbled. I doubt most people would have noticed. “It’s

complicated and I was going to tell you on the way to the clinic but the shit just hit the fan so let me
get us out of here first.”

“Well thanks for pulling me into the shit. My life didn’t already suck enough as is.”
Great. Just fucking great. Now I was screwing up everyone’s lives, not just my own.

Chapter 4

“I’m hungry. Are you hungry?” I asked as the minutes of silence dragged on. “Coffee sounds like

the best idea of ever, right?”

“Are you having a breakdown?” Trevor whispered nervously.
“No. Just trying not to be eaten alive by guilt and the kicker is this all started because I saved a

woman’s life. I confirmed the department’s suspicions I was a vampire by moving a car and ripping
off a door so the EMTs could save her. So I was going to deal with bullshit and lose my job. That
blows but life goes on. I’ve been around long enough to know there are other ways to help people. I
want to help you.

“Now it turns out my boss is nuts all in caps and threatening my friends, it’s a huge mess, and

I’ve dragged you into it. I was just trying to do the right thing and people could get hurt. So there’s
lots of guilt. And I was nervous about seeing you after I scared you so I didn’t eat and I could use
some coffee.”

“Coffee sounds good. I don’t have any money though.”
“I have money,” I chuckled. I hit my signal, got into the left lane, and turned for Starbucks with

the drive-thru.

“Why would you help me?” he whispered as I pulled up behind another car. “Why would you

want to? I mean, you’re obviously a nice guy being a policeman and all but you weren’t on duty and
tangling with your neighbors is always tricky.”

I glanced at him a moment before giving in to the urge to touch him and rubbing my hand over his

arm. “Because I know what it feels like to have people trap me. Especially lately and a human I can’t
stand up to the way I want to. I have help though and you didn’t seem to have any and that broke my
heart.”

I asked what he wanted then and after he told me I ordered for both of us, adding on some extra

food because he didn’t ask for any and I figured he could eat but didn’t want to impose.

“I’m a small shifter. I’ve been looked down on all my life because of that,” he said quietly as

we waited to get up to the window. “And also my size as a man. It’s like two strikes against me in the
shifter community. So I thought why not try a human this time? Maybe it would be that even though I
was small at least I was a shifter to him and that would make things better.”

“But it didn’t, did it?”
“No. The trap ended up being bigger really because it was like he knew I had less options for

help. You know firsthand how the police feel about our kind and I don’t have a leader around here,
not that my kind are all that organized. And I’m still some five-five twink that just screams bully me I
guess.”

“And yet you have a big, loving heart.”
“No I don’t,” he argued as if I’d insulted him.
“Yes you do, Trevor,” I said gently. I pulled up and handed the guy my money before accepting

change and then my order. I passed it to him and when we had it all, I drove away. “That kid is a
monster, evil to his core, and treated you like dirt. Yet, when you thought I might be a threat, you
pushed him behind you and were honestly worried about him that he might be hurt when he ran away.
You’re a good person.”

“I’m a doormat.”

“Maybe that’s something you just need support to change. That’s not how I’d describe you

though. I think you’re in a tough spot and in a no-win situation. That’s different than being a doormat.”

“You never planned on taking my statement, did you?”
“No. With everything going on the last thing I wanted was more of my shit going on record. I just

wanted you out of that house and away from Paul so I could talk to you. I was going to have my friend
Kirby wiggle his way under your skin so you’d consider leaving that loser who’s not good enough to
kiss your feet, but then I saw your bruises. I’m so sorry, Trevor.”

“For what?”
“I–I was trying to l–listen last night when he got home t–to hear if I should come over. I never

heard anything that made me think he was hitting you. Other things, but not hitting.”

“Oh, that’s his idea of foreplay,” Trevor muttered. “He passed out before anything else

happened. You have nothing to be sorry for.” I saw him give me a funny look out of the corner of my
eye. “It was nice of you to be concerned though.”

“Eat up. You’re probably hungry if he got home late and then kept you up being an ass.”
“Yeah. He really is,” he sighed. “One minute he was grateful I saved Paulie, then I was a

fucking moron for letting his son be in danger. I’m just so tired of it. I want out but it’s not like there’s
a men’s shelter for abused boyfriends.”

“I’ve got a spare bedroom and a State Trooper protection detail meeting us at the clinic,” I

hedged.

“Maybe you should tell me a little bit more about how crazy your boss really is.”
“Good idea.” I filled him in and by the time I was done I was parking at the emergency entrance

of the clinic.

“Wow, what a fucktard,” Trevor whispered as we got out. “I mean, just, wow.”
“I know, right? I so didn’t see any of this coming which makes me feel like two inches tall. I’m a

cop for fuck’s sake. How could I have been so blind?”

He was quiet a few moments but then stopped me right before we walked through the doors,

gesturing me to halt with his muffin. “I get what you’re saying and I can see how it looks in your eyes,
but there’s something I think you’re missing. You’re trained to trust your commanding officer for one.
Two, most cops give each other the benefit of the doubt. Three, people can really hide their crazy
well. True crazy can’t be detected by professionals all the time.”

“Thanks, Trevor. Those are really smart points.”
“You’re welcome.” He gave me a shy smile. “Does that mean I get to know your name now?”
“Oh I’m such an idiot,” I groaned. I moved my scone into the same hand as my drink and

extended my free one to him. “Kyle Moran.”

“Trevor Bodie,” he giggled, giving me the one with the muffin in it. His hands weren’t big

enough to hold both so I improvised, kissing it instead. His eyes went wide and I was pretty sure I
saw a healthy dose of lust in them. “Nice to meet you, Kyle. We really don’t have to go to the clinic.
I’m fine. We don’t heal much faster than humans. Paul doesn’t let me shift because it freaks out Paulie
and he calls me names. If I do it later it will speed up the process.”

“Humor me. Besides, I have to wait for my protection here now anyways. We can keep talking.”

I let go of his hand and tucked a piece of his errant hair behind his ear. “I like talking to you. You get
me.”

“I think you get me too.” His cheeks turned the sexiest shade of pink and I felt myself get hard. I

needed to have a stern talk with my dick. Now was not the time to think with it.

We checked in and I texted Amery to let him know I was there just as Ralph messaged me that

the State Troopers should be there in ten minutes and what their names were. A nurse called Trevor’s
name just as I saw Amery heading towards us. I waved at him and he met up with us.

“Are you okay?” he asked as he hugged me.
“And here I thought you were going to deck me when you saw me for putting your family in

danger,” I chuckled.

“You are our family, Kyle,” he chastised. “I’ve got wards around the house after what happened

with my ex-boyfriend when I mated Kirby. Anyone who steps on my land with ill will towards any of
us will get the surprise of a lifetime. Don’t worry about us.”

“Okay, good,” I sighed in relief.
“I wanted to warn you that Rafe is working today.” He shot me a look and then glanced at

Trevor. “I heard him telling one of the security guys that he kicked you to the curb and was bragging
that you took it hard.”

“Not exactly how that went,” I snickered. “I believe my exact words were good, now I don’t

have to end things, later.”

“Well, I just wanted to let you know because as soon as he hears you’re here and with someone

else he’ll be sure to find you. I swear he might not have a job much longer. I don’t like troublemakers
and not just because he’s talking shit about my friend. This isn’t the place for his personal life.”

“Agreed.” I turned to Trevor who had been taking this all in. “Amery, I’d like you to meet my

friend Trevor. Trevor, this is my good friend Amery. His kids call me Uncle Kyle.”

“They adore him actually,” Amery chuckled as he shook Trevor’s hand. “What happened to

you?”

“Jerk boyfriend,” Trevor admitted and then turned about twenty shades of red. “Oh gods, I didn’t

mean to say that. I have to learn how to lie better.”

“Or leave the bastard,” Amery suggested gently. “Let Kyle help you.”
“How do you know Kyle offered to help me?” Trevor studied my friend for a moment as if his

expression would hold the answer.

“Because that’s who Kyle is. He helped my mate when Kirby needed it most and got him to the

hospital in time to see our children born. That’s why one of our sons is named Kyle and he’s part of
our family,” Amery explained. “Kyle’s one of the good ones. You can trust him and he’s got a big
heart.”

“I’ll take that under advisement,” Trevor giggled.
“Keep me updated on what’s going on, and if you guys want to come stay with us so you’re

protected by the wards, let me know.” Amery said his good-byes then and hurried back to work. I sat
next to the bed while the nurse did a workup for Trevor until she asked the question he didn’t want me
to know the answer to.

“I can step out,” I offered.
“No, it’s okay,” he whispered, glancing at me. “I trust you.” He took a deep breath and then

looked at the nurse. “Snake. I’m a snake shifter.”

“What type?” she asked, her eyes still on the tablet.
“Ribbon garter snake.” She asked several more questions and then assured him a doctor would

be in as soon as possible.

“You turn into a cute little snake?” I asked, wanting to practically coo at him.
“Yeah, you can laugh anytime you want,” he grumbled.
“That’s not what I was thinking of doing, Trevor. I think that’s cool. I don’t have an animal. I

was just hoping you’d let me see one day.”

“Really? You don’t want to laugh at how big of a loser I am?”
“No. That doesn’t make you a loser,” I said firmly. He gave me that shy smile again and I

winked at him. “Adorable maybe but definitely not a loser.”

“I could work with adorable,” he giggled and already I was addicted to the sound. We sat there

and waited, talking about not much of anything when I smelled a familiar scent and rolled my eyes.

“I’m sorry,” I mouthed to Trevor right before the curtain was pulled back.
“Hello, Kyle,” Rafe purred.
“Hey, Rafe.” I gave him a quick glance and then turned back to Trevor, trying to signal he should

leave.

“So you brought in a friend? Or are you on a call?”
“Well, we’re really good friends you could say,” Trevor snickered as he took my hand. I felt my

eyes practically bug out of my head before schooling my reaction. “But I think we can say we’re more
than that now, right?”

“I’d agree to whatever term you want to use, Trev,” I said with a nod. Mostly because I wasn’t

sure what the hell he was up to.

“My, my, you work fast, Kyle. Nice that you found a rebound already.” Oh, now he was just

being a bitch.

“Ahh, this was the other guy you were seeing,” Trevor said, not missing a beat. “I get it. You

told me about him but he didn’t know you were seeing someone else.”

“You were seeing someone else while we were together?” Rafe screeched.
“It’s not like we were exclusive or together very long, Rafe,” I chuckled. “We went out, what,

eight times? And why do you care? I heard you were bragging you got to dump me.”

“I wasn’t bragging,” he drawled dramatically. “I just think it might have explained a lot if you

weren’t really trying. I mean, I just think you could have put forth more effort.”

“And you wanted me to be someone I’m not,” I countered. “I’m not Edward Cullen, right? And

that’s what you want. I’m too Emmett.”

“Wait, that’s the reason he gave you?” Trevor gasped, glancing between us. I nodded, guessing

Rafe did too. Trevor broke out into peals of laughter, obviously at Rafe’s expense. “Wow. Yeah, I
can see why you were going to end it with him anyways, honey. I mean, geez.”

“You were going to end things with me?” Rafe screeched.
“I told you that when you announced you were dumping me,” I sighed as I turned in my chair so I

could see both of them, keeping my hand in Trevor’s.

“Well, I’m just glad you found someone who wanted what I didn’t.” Rafe sneered at Trevor. “I

did dump him after all. Have fun with him.”

“Wow, you really are a little boy, aren’t you?” Trevor snickered.
“What does that mean?”
“You dumped him? After eight dates and here you’re acting like you were going steady and Kyle

gave you his letterman jacket. You’re even bragging to us that you dumped him when Kyle told both
of us he was going to end things too and you think that gives you an award or something. Dear gods,

get a clue. You had a chance with a man and you ended it because you couldn’t have a boy like
Edward Cullen who’s a fictional character.

“And now you’re acting like a jealous little bitch because Kyle was seeing someone else he

liked better and fit with instead of you while you were seeing each other. You scream insecure little
boy.” He glanced at me with a look of disgust directed at Rafe. “How did you stand eight dates with
this joker? Was the sex that good?”

“Kirby set us up.” I shrugged. “I didn’t tell him I was seeing you yet and I didn’t want to hurt his

feelings when he took the trouble to try and fix me up. I thought I should be fair and give him a real
chance.”

“Yeah, you like him so much you beat him,” Rafe blurted out.
“Watch it, kid,” Trevor snarled before I could even say anything. “I got mugged. Kyle rode to

my rescue so I think you owe him a big fat apology right fucking now. Eight dates should have taught
you enough about the man to know he’d never hit someone, much less a person he was intimate with.”

“You’re right. I’m sorry. I have to get back to work,” Rafe rambled with wide eyes and then

practically booked it from our curtained area. I didn’t know what to say at first so I just blinked at
where he had been standing for a few moments.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have played games like that but you’ve been nice to me and I didn’t like

him coming in here to make you feel bad like that and—”

I stood and moved my mouth to his, effectively shutting him up. Trevor gasped and I slid my

tongue into his mouth as my hand moved up into his hair as the other one supported his back. He
kissed me back as his hands moved over my chest. I felt more passion in those few minutes of kissing
than all of my dates with Rafe.

“Leave Paul and be with me,” I whispered when we broke apart. “This wasn’t what I meant

when I said I wanted to help you, but after what you just did for me, stepping up to protect me, and
defending me like that, I don’t think I can let you go with how attracted I am to you.”

“I can’t jump into something serious with another man right away, Kyle, no matter how much I

already like you,” he said sadly.

“Then date me while living in my guest room. Do you want to go back to Paul after a kiss like

that?”

“No. I didn’t want to go back to him before the kiss but now I don’t ever want to stop kissing

you.”

“Then don’t,” I moaned as I nibbled on his lower lip. “I’d never hurt you, Trev. I’d be so good

to you. You’re so special and I’d do everything I could to make you see that.” I gave him another soft
kiss, moving him closer against me when he whimpered. “Gods, I want you. I mean I want you.”

“You can have me. I’ve never been kissed like that.” I stared down into his eyes, seeing they

were glazed over with lust. “Don’t hurt me, Kyle. Please. I can’t take any more hurt and pain.”

“Never,” I swore to him. “Only love and happiness from me. And lots more kissing.”
“And touching?”
“Oh yeah,” I growled before plundering his soft, sweet lips. A throat cleared behind me and I

reluctantly pulled away. I saw the doctor and took my seat again, letting him take care of my new man.
Wow. This had to go on record as one of the most bizarre days of my life. But if it got me a guy like
Trevor, I was okay with that.

Hell, everything just about melted away as I wanted to touch my tingling lips and giggle like a

kid with a crush. It was totally surreal.

The doc was still doing his thing when the State Troopers showed up for my protection detail. I

was pretty reluctant at first when I saw them approaching with Amery but then I realized something
was up from the shit-eating grin on his face.

“Kyle, this is Valter and Brian,” he said as the men each extended their hands. Brian smiled and

was polite but when I touched Valter, I gasped.

“Wow,” I whispered in awe, my whole body practically tingling.
“Yeah, Valter normally gets that kind of response when he meets other paranormals,” Brian

chuckled. “Most drop to their knees and try to kiss his feet or give him a blow job in worship.”

“I almost creamed my pants and I still might,” I replied, still feeling kind of dazed. “And I’m

going to be two thousand in a week or so. Wow.”

“Guess that not hurting me lasted real long,” Trevor whispered from behind me.
“No, baby, it’s not like that,” I blubbered and turned to face him. Spots formed in front of my

eyes and I started to go down.

“Shit. I didn’t mean to start this. I was just showing off so he’d understand why I was sent and

not be leery of other cops right now,” Valter bitched. “I think I overdid it with all the stress he’s been
under. And I didn’t know he’d been aroused recently. That changes things.”

I wasn’t sure what he was talking about but I just kept reaching out to Trevor, whimpering when

Valter was holding me and Trevor wouldn’t come closer. Oh, I guess Valter kept me from hitting the
ground. I didn’t really care though. I just wanted my tiny snake.

“I don’t understand what that means,” Trevor said quietly as he glanced between us.
“Valter used some magic that didn’t go as planned is the short version,” Amery explained gently.

“He wanted to show his power and Kyle reacted funny to it. He wasn’t turned on or attracted to
Valter. It was just awe. Like if you met the president wouldn’t you be going holy crap over and over
again?”

“Yeah, but he’s just a normal guy.” Trevor gave Valter a funny look.
“No he’s not,” Amery, Brian, and I said together. Trevor reached his hand out to Valter and his

eyes went wide before he even touched him.

“Yeah, okay, I believe you.” He licked his lips and pulled away. “Can I have Kyle back now?

He said he wanted to be with me, or are you going to take him? With whatever you’ve got going on
everyone in this building couldn’t stop you if you wanted him I’m sure. But he said he wanted me.”

“I’m not here to take your man, cutie snake,” Valter chuckled. “I’m here to protect him from the

nutso human. Both of you. Besides, vampires aren’t generally compatible with my kind. Anyone who
feeds off others of any sort don’t do well around me for long.”

“I’ll take your word for it. And I’m not sure I want to know what you are because no one’s been

able to guess what I am right away like that.”

I stood with Valter, shaking my head as I started to feel a little more normal now and went to

Trevor. “Wow. That was. Wow.”

“Better than kissing me?” Trevor asked hesitantly.
“No way,” I snickered. “Just different types of wow. Kissing you was the best kind. What he did

to me was like getting massive voltage through my body. No thanks on repeats.” I stared at Valter a
moment as I hugged Trevor. I’d felt that kind of juice before. A long time ago, and I was just really
glad this guy was on our side. “You all set?”

“Yup. Doc said nothing broken and only some bruises. I just need to shift and I’ll be fine.”
“Let’s blow this joint then. I’m hungry now.”
“Yeah, sorry,” Valter mumbled, looking properly chastised. “I really just wanted to show you I

could handle this. I didn’t mean to be a dick.”

“It’s all good.” I shrugged. We all made mistakes. “Follow us back to my house then?”
“Yup,” Brian agreed and we headed out after Trevor signed a few forms.
There was an awkward moment when I wasn’t sure what to do as we headed out to the car. I

wanted to put my arm around him and I kind of thought he went to take my hand. I couldn’t tell though
so I settled with putting my hand on his lower back, smiling when he shivered slightly at the contact.
That was a good start.

“We’ll get you packed up and moved into my guest room after you shift,” I said as I opened the

door to my car for him.

“Are you sure, Kyle? Do you really want to start this fight with your neighbor?” he asked

quietly, looking down at his hands.

I smiled then, realizing he brought up a good point that gave me the answer to something I’d been

looking for. “No, no I don’t. You’re a genius, Trev.” I leaned in and kissed him. “Get in.”

“Now I’m confused.” He raised an eyebrow at me but I just shook my head. I didn’t want to tell

him yet. He shrugged nervously and slid in the car. I was so excited I actually jumped over it instead
of taking the time to run around. The moment I was in I started it up and pulled out, getting my seat
belt on before hitting the street.

“You said you lost your job taking care of Paulie because Paul kept bailing on you. What was it

you did?”

“Groundskeeper, why?” he hedged, giving me a funny look. “Gardener really. I mean, that’s

what garter snakes do. We’re good for gardens and plant life, eating the bugs, fertilizing the soil, and
whatnot. I’d do a lot as a man and then shift and let my snake out and make everything thrive.”

“Perfect,” I chuckled. Amery had been looking for just that. At the next stoplight I let my fingers

fly faster than any human could see, sending him several texts saying what Trevor did and would the
clinic be interested and that I was moving and would they want a neighbor.

Kirby had talked Amery into buying the couple acres that abutted their place after they had the

kids just so a development didn’t end up there but I knew there was a small ten-acre place for sale on
the other side of them. It seemed perfect to me. I could always be there for my nieces and nephews,
living right next to my best friends, who would be there for Trevor too. Trevor could have space for
his animal… And we would be happy.

Chapter 5

“Okay, you go shift, I have a couple of calls to make,” I said after we got back to my place. “I’m

going to get the guys settled on the couches.”

“Oh, they should have the guest room. I’ll be at Paul’s,” Trevor mumbled. I froze and turned to

him with a frown.

“I thought you wanted to be with me?” I took a hesitant step towards him.
“You said you didn’t want to start this fight with Paul. The message was clear, Kyle.”
“No, it wasn’t if you got he wanted you to leave, little snake,” Valter snickered as he walked

past us into the garage. “The man is so into you his energy just about crackles around you and tries to
draw you near.”

“Really?” I saw such hope in Trevor’s eyes I nodded as I took the chance and pulled him into

my arms.

“I meant I want to move, us to move. I’ve been thinking about it anyways. My friends live in

unincorporated Colorado Springs, which falls under El Paso County Sheriff’s jurisdiction. I wouldn’t
have to ever deal with any old coworkers then. We’d be closer to the clinic and I could take the head
of security job they’ve offered me then. And Amery’s been looking for someone to handle the grounds
for the clinic and get stuff planted around the new addition.”

“Me?” Trevor’s eyes went wide.
“Yeah, he said the job is yours if you want it.” I leaned in and buried my face against his neck.

“I just meant fuck this place and these memories and let’s move across town and start over together. I
know you’re scared but if things don’t work, you’ll be right by Kirby and Amery and they’d help you
get set up on your own. You’d have a job and means so you weren’t trapped.”

“Say yes,” Valter hissed when Trevor was quiet a few moments. “The man doesn’t have a single

bone in his body with ill will and has a hard-on for you the size of Mars. The only thing he’s thinking
with besides his heart is his cock and both want to make you happy.”

“What are you, like a walking emotional detector?” Trevor drawled.
“Something like that,” Brian chuckled as they grabbed more gear from their unmarked SUV.

“Let’s just say he’s really useful in telling who the bad guys are. Now answer your man who’s
offering you everything you’ve ever wanted.”

“Yes, okay, yes,” Trevor whispered. I smiled widely and mashed my mouth down to his.
“Oh goody. We’re going to be hearing lots of sex while we’re staying,” Brian snickered.
“Perv,” Valter drawled. We ignored them, making out like a couple of randy teenagers.
“You shift and I’ll change. Unless you don’t mind me seeing,” I whispered.
“Maybe not this first time when it’s for healing,” he mumbled nervously. I nodded and then gave

him a wink to let him know it was okay. He walked out the garage and around to the gate, stepping
into my backyard. He wasn’t ready to open up himself to me about everything already and his animal
was a very sensitive topic for him. I could more than understand that.

I raced around, tossing my dirty clothes in the hamper, before throwing on some shorts and

sneakers and grabbing some moving supplies.

“You just happen to have moving boxes, Bubble Wrap, and rolls of tape lying around?” Brian

asked me as I passed him in the family room where they were setting up their stuff and settling in.

“Was already on the cusp of life-changing choices and debating leaving a department that didn’t

appreciate me,” I explained. “Been a cop in one form or another for almost two millennia and yet
been with the Colorado Springs department twelve years and still just a patrol officer. Strike you as
odd?”

“Strikes me as bullshit,” Valter drawled. “State Troopers have a paranormal division now. You

should join up with us.”

“I’d be willing to help out or consult,” I hedged, glancing at the door to the garage. “I don’t think

I’ll want to just be called anywhere in the state at any point in time anymore.”

“Love will do that to you,” Brian chuckled.
“I don’t love him. I barely know him.”
“Fine, deep-rooted lust and the beginnings of love. A connection at first meeting if you will,” he

amended.

“Yeah, I’ll give you that.” I shrugged. “You guys want to help us get his stuff from his ex-

boyfriend’s house? We might have to be creative on how we get it if the guy was a douche and locked
the door.”

“He’s the reason the cutie has the black eye, right?” Valter asked darkly. I swallowed and

nodded. Paul was a bastard but I didn’t want the man dead, and Valter’s kind didn’t see much of a
gray area in life. “Then yeah, we’ll help. Any chance he’ll be home?”

“He’s supposed to be with his kid at his mom’s house. Kid’s a real evil seed too.” I groaned

internally. Yeah, good one. Add fuel to the potential fire.

“Maybe I can have the fun of scaring someone onto the right path with this job,” he chuckled as

he gestured to the door.

I rolled my eyes but then again, maybe that wasn’t such a bad idea. Maybe Paulie wouldn’t turn

out to be such a dick like his dad if Valter spent some time with the kid. I shrugged and stepped
through the doorway just as Trevor darted into the garage… Naked. His clothes were in his hands but
he was gloriously naked.

“Wow,” we said together.
“Why are you nakie, little snake?” Valter chuckled. I dropped everything in my hands and moved

to Trevor like a moth to a flame, not caring if I got burnt.

“Big bird came swooping into his yard,” Trevor whispered as he stared at my chest. “I’m so

shrimpy compared to you.”

“I adore every inch of your body,” I growled, my fangs coming out as I moved my arm around

his waist. He jumped when my other hand went to his ass and I turned so he was against the fridge,
his legs wrapped around me. “You are so fucking sexy, Trev.”

“No one’s ever called me that. You heard what Paul called me,” he panted. “Flat ass, tiny dick,

piece of shit, and others you didn’t hear.”

I grabbed his six-inch cock, which for someone five five was a nice size, and it was fat. “This

isn’t tiny.” Then I palmed his ass. “This isn’t flat. He was jealous that you’re so much better looking
than he is. And you’re definitely not a piece of shit. What else did he call you?”

“Please don’t make me tell you,” he whimpered as I kissed along his neck.
“Trev, I want to know so I can prove it wrong,” I assured him. I ran my fangs along his neck,

smiling when he shivered. “Will you let me bite you, baby? Can I feed off you later? Gods, I want to
taste you in every way.”

“Yes. You can have me now. You just need slick.”

“I’ve had sex with a paranormal before,” I chuckled. “I know we don’t need condoms.”
“No, I mean, you never have to stretch me,” he mumbled. I lifted my head and raised an eyebrow

at him. “It’s a snake thing. We adjust. I’m double-jointed everywhere. My mouth opens all the way
and I have no gag reflex. My ass will open up so you only need to slick up.”

“Jesus, that’s hot,” Brian groaned.
“Mine,” I snarled, shooting him a nasty look before focusing on Trevor. “I want you but not our

first time to be like this. We’ll pack up your things and if you decide you’re ready for that step not
when in the heat of the moment we’ll spend the rest of the day making love in my bed and being so
loud these guys get jealous.”

“You’re so sweet to me,” he giggled with a bright smile.
“Then trust me enough to tell me what he called you.”
“Gladflex,” he mumbled, his smile turning into a frown as he looked away. “Because anything

he could shove in me that didn’t belong would fit. Paul liked to play the game of trying to find
something that wouldn’t go in when he was drunk and mad at me.”

“Oh, Trev.” I hugged him tightly. “We don’t have to have sex yet, baby. I’m so sorry I pushed so

fast.”

“No! I want sex. Good sex. Real sex, and I want to play with fun toys that were made for

pleasure! Maybe even a few things that weren’t that we think will be interesting, but no more crazy
things meant to try and hurt me.”

“No, never.” I moved my hands to his ass and ran my fingers down his crease. “Only what you

want to play with and only with making you come in mind.”

“Okay,” he gasped as he moved his hips as if trying to chase my fingers. “Right now?”
“Let’s officially end your time with Paul before you move on with me,” I said gently, not trying

to make him feel as if I was judging him. Because I wasn’t. Not in the slightest.

“I like it. Good plan. And I want to order celebration pizza. I’ve missed pizza. Is that cool?”
“Yeah, I love pizza.” I shook my head and chuckled at how easily he took things in stride, the

smile right back on his face. He slid down my body and I groaned, hard as a rock. He gave me a
knowing look and accidentally brushed against my groin. Then he even went so far as to turn away
from me and stick his ass in the air when he picked up his clothes. I gave it a firm slap. “Playing with
fire, Trev.”

“Maybe, but you can’t tell me that you don’t love the way your handprint looks on my ass,” he

giggled. I glanced at it and my cock started leaking. Damn. He was totally right. “Big guys always
love that. Feed me pizza later and maybe I’ll let you do it over and over again while using your
handcuffs.”

I stood there with my mouth hanging open in shock as he pulled on his shorts, toed on his flip-

flops, and sauntered off. What the hell was up with the one-eighty in the way he was acting? I mean,
where was the shy, scared guy from earlier? I wasn’t complaining but it was hard not to be confused
and maybe a little worried I was being conned.

“Don’t think that,” Valter muttered under his breath as he came over to me. “He feels safe for

once. He’s testing it. Take it as a compliment. Think about after you realized who you were and you
were finally on your own, how you explored and tried out new things. That’s what Trevor’s doing.
He’s breaking away from his chains and finally able to explore.”

“I get what you’re saying but he’s not a kid. He’s two hundred and forty,” I mumbled, not

wanting Trevor to hear us.

“Yeah, but to the shifters that can live forever that’s not that old, and no matter how old you are

when you’ve spent most of your life trapped, the first moment you’re free to make choices, it’s all the
same experience.”

I nodded, seeing his point. “I’m going to start calling you Yoda. Seriously, dude. Can I get you

on like speed dial for when this is over?”

“I’m good for here and there, but no one wants someone like me around for very long,” he said

sadly. “Brian’s the longest partner I’ve ever had and that’s only because he’s got absolutely no
paranormal in his bloodline like ever. He can’t sense me at all.” I felt for the guy. As much as I liked
him, he was right. If I was around him too much, my skin would be fucking crawling.

“I’ll talk to Amery. He’s a wicked powerful witch. There’s got to be something he can charm to

make the power null in the room or something. There’s always something that can be done.”

“You’d do that for me?”
“You know I would. You can see all,” I chuckled, slapping him on the back. I got a real smile

from Valter and I had a feeling while he helped a lot of people not many helped him. Then again…
What could most people do for a paranormal that powerful?

“The door’s locked,” Trevor said sadly as we joined him in Paul’s garage minutes later.
“I don’t care. Do you care?” Brian asked me as he set down boxes.
“Nope. I didn’t see that,” I chuckled.
“Should we be nice and just take the door off or leave a message and destroy it is the real

question,” Valter snickered. “Oh, I have the answer. I’d stand back.” We did and he held up his
hands. Something that looked like pure energy shot from them and the door disintegrated. “There,
problem solved. Except for Paul. He still won’t be able to get through.”

“But there’s no door,” Trevor hedged.
“Paul will see one,” Valter chuckled.
“I like you being on our team.” Trevor smiled at the man and I agreed with him. We hurried and

collected all of his stuff, all of us pretending not to notice Trevor’s embarrassment that there wasn’t
much of it. “I sold a lot of it to pay off my last month’s rent and some of my debts when I lost my job
taking care of Paulie.”

“So let me get this straight,” Brian hedged. “The guy you were dating asks you to watch his kid

and at this point you don’t know he’s a first-class dickhead, right?”

“No, but I guess there were warning signs that he wasn’t the nicest man,” Trevor admitted with a

sigh. “He drank a little too much and got rougher during, you know. But nothing that wasn’t just
something I couldn’t or didn’t think maybe it was just tequila, and when I brought it up, he said he’d
stay away from it.”

“Understandable,” I quickly agreed. No reason to make him feel worse about the situation or

guilty for not seeing something most would have missed.

“So then what happened? He just ditched you with the kid? Doesn’t he work?” Brian pushed

gently.

“He does but more seasonal jobs. Paulie’s mother died in some way that was the hospital’s

fault, and I don’t know all the details but I know they are pretty much set on money. Paul works for a
company that updates schools around the area and so they work summer mostly. I’m seasonal too,
only off in winter really, but I thought it was something we had in common.”

“Gotcha. Just not sure how it started. I mean, you don’t have to answer of course,” he said

nervously as if feeling nosy or something as we carried boxes to my garage.

“No, it’s fine. I just feel stupid,” Trevor sighed and set them down. “The first time supposedly it

was a last-minute job and his mother couldn’t take Paulie at the end of last summer when we started
seeing each other. I called in sick to work on a Friday. Get some extra points with the new guy I’m
dating. No big. But then he’s gone all weekend and I’m pretty sure he wasn’t working all weekend. So
I’m pissed but what do I do? He wasn’t answering his phone.

“I didn’t know where his mom lived to drop Paulie off. When he came back Sunday night, he

said his phone died and something was busted with a hose on his car so he had to wait until one of the
guys on his crew could come back and replace it. Again, I don’t know anything about cars so okay,
shady and not sure I was buying it but I’d give him the benefit of the doubt. And he didn’t do it to me
again. That is until I was off for the winter.

“Then it was like he had a fucking live-in babysitter and okay, by then we were getting kind of

serious though I was starting to see more reasons to get out and I was debating doing just that, feeling
trapped again. But I didn’t have a reason not to help besides feeling like he was using me.” He caught
the bottle of water I tossed him and thanked me. “So I brought it up and he called me ungrateful and
spanked me. Like bent me over his knee and spanked me like a kid.

“I told him I was leaving and the next thing I know he’s being all sweet and passionate in a way

he’d never even been with me. And then I think maybe I just needed to put my foot down and he’d
understand. Next day I get a note he’s going out of town for a while to clear his head after I upset him
and to watch Paulie.”

“How long was he gone?” I asked, shocked that the guy would pull something so drastic.
“Three weeks. I missed starting my job back up but my boss was cool when I called him with a

family emergency and said I basically had a kid dropped on me that I couldn’t dump off anywhere. He
let me work mornings while Paulie was at school but then Paulie is Paulie and trouble, so I kept
having to pick him up from school for starting fights or mouthing off.”

“Lovely,” Valter drawled.
“Yeah, totally,” Trevor giggled as we walked back to get the last load. “So Paul comes back, I

tell him all of this and say it’s over.” He started to get choked up and I knew the memories had to be
painful.

“What happened?” I asked gently.
“He beat me,” he whispered as we picked up the remaining boxes. “He put something in me so

that if I shifted it would have broken my snake in half so I couldn’t get away and tied up my hands. He
left me like that for days, forcing me to please him. By the time he let me go I was too weak to even
call for help, and who would I call?

“He kept reminding me that most cops wouldn’t care about a little snake like me and it’s not like

we have covens or packs that help us, we’re solitary. I healed but even then I’d lost my job, my rent
was due, and I had already dipped into my savings to cover the month before after not working like
I’d been planning to. I had to sell off stuff, couldn’t find another job in time since everything was
booked for the season, and the rest you pretty much know.”

“And before Paul?” Valter asked gently as Trevor put in the code to close the garage.
“Something similar kind of with a wolf shifter who wanted to control a sub in Seattle. Even

though I wasn’t a sub, told him I wasn’t one, we didn’t meet in that kind of setting, and we weren’t

even dating. He just barged in and took over my life one day. Before that some python brothers kept
me as their slave for about a hundred years, threatening to squeeze me to death if I didn’t do what they
wanted. The found me right after my parents kicked me out for not mating my half-sister.”

“Holy fucking shit,” Brian gasped.
“Welcome to my life,” Trevor chuckled bitterly, tears in his eyes as a few escaped down his

cheeks. “Excuse me. I’m going to go shower.” He quickly pulled some shorts out of the box he’d just
set down before racing into the house. We all stared after him in silence. How could anyone who’d
been through half of that ever be so wonderful and smile like he did?

“What can we do to help?” Valter asked quietly.
“Would it interfere with your protection detail if you were packing too? I mean would you guys

mind?” I replied after a moment of thought.

“No, not at all, Kyle. Busy work is always welcome,” Brian said firmly. “We can pop in a

movie on your kick-ass system and pack whatever you want.”

“I can even make a supply run,” Valter offered.
“Yeah, I’ll make the runs, Mr. All-Powerful,” Brian chuckled. “You’d sense evil coming a mile

away.”

“True.”
“There’s newspaper over in that corner,” I said, pointing to the stack I’d been saving in case I

decided to move. “Watch whatever you want or order a movie if you want to see something new. Mi
casa su casa. We’ll get pizza in a bit. Just start packing and wrapping everything in the family room. I
want him to never have to see that house again. Maybe even be gone before Paul gets home.”

“What are you going to do?” Valter asked as I headed for the door into the house.
“Show him that things are different now and that he’s safe. Somehow. Maybe that he’s not at

alone at least,” I answered, not really sure what the game plan was besides just being with him.
“Comfort him after how hard talking about all that had to be on him?”

“Just remember getting that all out was a good sign that he does feel safe and a step in the right

direction towards him healing. Show him love, Kyle, and the rest will fall into place,” Valter
suggested.

“Yes, Yoda,” I snickered. He was too much. I heard something smack the door as I walked

through it. Good to know he had a sense of humor as well… And not the best aim. Hoped it was
better when shooting or he sucked for protection.

I jogged up the two half flights of stairs and found Trevor in the guest shower. I heard him

sniffling and it broke my heart. I tapped on the door lightly as I opened it.

“Hey, can I come in?”
“It’s your house,” he mumbled.
“That doesn’t mean I have any right to just barge in while you’re taking a shower, Trev,” I said

firmly but gently. “If you want me to go I will.”

There was a pause and then the curtain moved just enough for his head to peak out. “Are you

here because you feel sorry for me?”

“No. I hate what you went through but I’m here because I care. I want to comfort you and let you

know that part of your life is over. I know it will still hurt but you’re not alone.” I sighed and rubbed
my hand over the back of my neck. “I’m not really sure what I’m feeling to be honest. I just didn’t
want you to be alone and I knew I needed to be near you when you were upset like this.”

“What does that mean?” I raised an eyebrow in question and he shook his head before clarifying.

“If I said you could do whatever you wanted right now and to just go with your instincts, what would
they be? What are you asking me to allow?” I saw the look of almost hope in his eyes so I took a
chance. I quickly kicked off my sneakers and yanked off my shorts before pulling back the shower
curtain and stepping over the lip of the tub.

“I’d wash your back and kiss away your tears,” I said in a husky voice. “I’d show you that

you’re worth so much more than people have treated you and ask if there’s something you needed
because I’d give it to you, Trev. If you told me you just wanted a hug then that’s all this would be.”

“I don’t know what would help,” he admitted, his eyes raking over my body. “I just can’t

believe you still want me after what you heard. How can you stand to even look at me after hearing
all the ways people have used me?”

“Because it wasn’t your fault,” I growled. I moved my larger frame until he was forced against

the tiles, our bodies pressing together. He let out a surprised yelp and looked up at me, his eyes wide
as his chest heaved. “Tell me this is too much and it stops, Trev. I don’t want to push you.”

“Do you want me?”
“Oh yeah,” I moaned.
“That’s all I’ve ever wanted. To be wanted for the right reasons instead of just used. I’m yours,

Kyle,” he whispered. I slowly lowered my lips to his, giving him time to change his mind. Instead, he
raised his head as much as he could to meet me. He was already clean so I turned him while we were
still kissing until he was under the spray just to make sure he was all rinsed off. Then I turned the
knob and lifted him up.

Trevor got the idea and wrapped his thin legs around me. Moments later I was kicking the door

to my room closed, not even bothering with drying us off. I let us fall onto the bed together and blindly
reached into my nightstand for lube. Once I found my prize, I pulled away just enough to slick up my
cock, Trevor’s eyes never leaving my body.

“You’re ready for this step?” I asked just to be sure. I didn’t want any confusion later that I’d

pushed too far too fast.

“Yes,” he hissed, almost sounding more snake than man. “I want to have sex on my back the first

time with you. I want that massive cock thrusting into me until I scream your name, Kyle.”

“The mouth on you.” I lowered myself down to him again, lifting his leg as I held my dick to his

hole. I pushed it in slowly, groaning in bliss as his body opened for me as if knowing me and
welcoming me. Sure, we could still play another time and even finger him, but it was nice not to have
to do it always before I could enter him like right then when I felt I would die if I didn’t get in him
soon.

“I can do lots with this mouth.” Again it was really a deep hiss. Maybe that was just how snake

shifters acted when they were turned on? I bottomed out inside of him, his tight little body taking my
eleven-inch fat cock without any problem. I moved my hands up his legs and wrapped them around
my hips, thinking it odd that he was not just wet but slick. I guess I didn’t wash off all the soap or
there had been more lube on my hand than I’d thought.

“I look forward to finding out everything we can experience together, Trev,” I whispered as I

moved my arms under his shoulders, staring into his eyes. “Good?”

“Perfect.” I pulled out and thrust back in, testing to see how much he would open for me, smiling

when he cried out in pleasure. I had to agree with his assessment. Trevor whimpered and I got the

idea, kissing him passionately as I pumped my hips, done checking if everything was okay. I felt high
on him and what we were doing, almost like a deep-seated need to finish it though I wasn’t sure what
it was. I took him faster than I’d meant to.

I had had every intention of going slow but it was like I couldn’t. I had to finish. And why was I

sliding against him like he was oiled up? What was that strange smell? I should be worried about that.
I pulled off of his mouth and moaned when he sucked up a mark on my neck.

“Was there oil in the shower?” I grunted as he moved his lips up to my ear.
“Shut up and fuck me,” he hissed deeply in his chest. I felt his tongue in my ear and it wasn’t a

human one. Okay then. I knew some shifters could partially change when they were turned on or in
certain situations. I should have been more concerned with his words and the harshness of his tone,
but it just felt too damn good and the need I was feeling was clouding my head. “Bite me, Kyle.”

Him saying the words had my fangs coming out and throbbing. Yes, I wanted to taste him. I

licked his neck and felt a rush of instant happiness like endorphins and I don’t know what. It was
awesome, I could say that much. I pierced his skin as I held him tighter while plundering his body
faster. Trevor cried out as he came, shaking under me. His blood was sweeter than any I had tasted
before and I moaned at the pleasure of such a feast.

Several sips later, his orgasm still going, I realized it was enough and lifted my head as my own

climax hit me like a tree trunk upside the head. I roared out his name as I pumped my seed deep inside
of him. It felt like forever and not long enough all at the same time. When I was spent I quickly rolled
us so I didn’t squish him by collapsing on top of him.

“Wow,” I gasped.
“Don’t kill me,” he whimpered, his chest still heaving. I blinked in shock at him, seeing fear in

his eyes. Oh shit. That couldn’t be good.

Chapter 6

Trevor

“Why would I even think of doing that after the best sex of my life?” Kyle asked me with wide

eyes, his heart racing under my chest.

I wanted to groan at how stupid I was. Who blurted that out? Nice way to handle an already bad

situation. I swallowed loudly and went to pull away, except he tightened his arms around me.

“Oh no. You’re not going anywhere until you explain, Trev.” I started shaking and he cussed

under his breath. “Baby, it’s okay. Whatever it is, I promise you that I would never hurt you.”

“I claimed you,” I said so quietly I barely heard myself. “I didn’t mean to. I didn’t realize I was

doing it until after I came.”

“The oil,” he mumbled, not making it a question, but I answered it anyways.
“Mating pheromones. That’s how a garter snake mates. I–I didn’t remember that until a–after. I

was ten when it was explained to me and that was the last time I talked about it with anyone. My
parents weren’t all that specific but I thought it was more of a conscious decision than my
subconscious wanting to mate you.”

His eyes practically bugged out of his head then and he let me go before moving me off of him.

Shit. I really said something wrong then. What had I said that was worse than before that now he was
pulling away? He rolled to the edge of the bed and sat there with his head in his hands, shoulders
tense.

“Kyle? Please say something?” I whispered after a few minutes.
“You didn’t even want to claim me, Trevor. What is there to say?”
I gasped in shock. “That’s not what I meant!”
“Then what did you mean? Accidentally claiming me is one thing. But accidentally claiming me

when you don’t really want me is something so much worse and hurts.”

“I want you,” I whimpered as I crawled over to him and wrapped myself around him, kissing his

neck. “I was thinking earlier how lucky I’d be if things could really work out with us. You’re
amazing, Kyle. It’s just really soon. We’ve not even dated or remotely discussed this. I just meant I
haven’t had the actual thought of yes, I want Kyle to be my mate forever yet.”

“So you’re not sad it happened, just that it happened before we had more time together and

without your asking me?” he hedged. I thought about that a moment, bouncing it around in my head.

“Yes, that’s exactly what I mean. It’s not fair to you and I’m sorry. I would never have

intentionally taken away your choice like that, not in a million years. And it’s extra not cool because
this was our first time after barely knowing each other. I just did the one thing to you that I’ve spent
my life being. I’ve trapped you.”

“You didn’t do it on purpose, right?” His voice was so quiet, distant, and sad.
“No, Kyle, never. I’ll tell Valter and he can use whatever extra senses he has to let you know

I’m telling the truth. I’d never trap another person the way I’ve been trapped. I’d never tie us together
before I knew we were right for each other.”

He nodded as I spoke, waiting a few moments after I was done before sighing. “Then I forgive

you. I get that it was an accident and I wasn’t mad, but when it sounded like you weren’t happy you
were stuck with me after you did this it just hurt so bad.”

“No, never think that, Kyle. I’m just not happy I did this to you. It’s not right.”
Again he nodded and was quiet. “Did you at least enjoy the sex?”
“Best sex of my life by far,” I purred. I couldn’t believe that’s what he was asking me after I’d

just claimed him. He was so wonderful. I hated that I’d forced this on him but at the same time I was
thrilled I could never lose him now.

“Will you always get oily like that and hiss? And what was with you demanding that I shut up

and fuck you?”

“I might hiss here and there,” I hedged as I sat back on me feet, letting him go. Had he not

enjoyed it? I scrunched my eyebrows together as I thought back to the conversation I’d had with my
parents centuries ago about mating. “The oil was claiming only unless my snake ever feels that my
place as your mate has been threatened, then he might do it again, if I remember correctly. And with
that comes some aggression. Other than that, I’m normally extremely passive. I’m sorry.”

“For what?” he asked as he glanced at me over his shoulder.
“That you didn’t enjoy it.”
“I didn’t say that,” he growled as he turned around so fast and pushed me back to the bed. “I

enjoyed it so much I want to do it all over again. I was just shocked and wanted to know.”

“Take me however you want,” I offered as I spread my legs wider. It was the least I could do

after what I’d put him through. He smiled as he moved his cock back to my hole but then froze.

“Are you saying that because you want to or because you think you have to now that you claimed

me?”

I bit my lip and thought of how to answer that. He growled and started to pull away, but I

wrapped my arms around his neck and he lifted me with him so I ended up sitting on his lap. “Yes, I
want you. It’s just I might not have given such a blanket invitation if I hadn’t screwed up. I’m scared
you’re still mad at me, and after what I’ve been through, saying however you want is hard for me but
it felt like the least I can do. But never doubt I want you.”

“Okay, I can understand that. I never ever want you to do something you don’t want to though,

Trevor. Especially now that you’re my mate. It would kill me inside. So don’t say yes to please me.
Being honest with me would please me.”

“I can do that.” I gave him a smile and rubbed my ass over his cock. “I’d like it back inside of

me if my mate will have me.” I froze, realizing what I’d said. That had to be way too soon to call him
that. Instead I felt his cock twitch and leak against me. My eyes went wide in shock.

“It seems my body knows this is right before my brain has caught up,” he said in that deep, husky

voice that drove me wild. “I will say that I like hearing the word mate on your sweet lips when
speaking of me.”

“Take me, my mate,” I purred. “Bite me, my mate. Kiss me, my mate. Claim me, my mate.”
“Yes to everything but the last.” I felt my heart sink into my stomach when he said that. He

cupped my cheek and made sure I was looking into his eyes. “We’ll wait for that until we say some
words that normally come before claiming, okay? I’m not mad and I’m not judging you for this
happening, but I’ve been alive a long time and I’ve dreamed about claiming my mate for many years.
It always happened after I professed my love for him.”

“I understand completely.” And I did. It was romantic and I wouldn’t want to ruin his fantasy.

Plus, he was being awesome about what I did. I couldn’t say I would have been half as nice if the
situation was reversed. The last thing I wanted to do was push him or take something else away from

him.

“My mate is a sexy little snake shifter,” he whispered as he stared into my eyes. “How cool is

that?”

“Glad you think so,” I giggled. “I think I definitely got the better end of the deal.”
“How so?” Kyle raised an eyebrow as he tapped my hip. I lifted up and he guided me back

down so I was sitting on his cock. I let my head fall back on my shoulders and moaned in bliss.

“Hot god of a vamp with a massive cock he knows how to use to please me, kisses like a

fantasy, sweet as can be, built just right to be my best wet dream, and looks at me like I’m his. Smart,
funny, loyal, hot, and kind. I totally lucked out.”

“You said hot twice,” he snickered.
“You’re hot enough to deserve it reiterated.” I gave him a quick kiss so he couldn’t argue with

me. It was the truth after all. Kyle was the sexiest man I’d ever seen in all my years. And he was
mine. As bad as I felt about claiming him before asking, I kind of wanted to high-five my snake for
making such a good choice… If he had hands of course.

Kyle moved us slightly so he was sitting on his feet and then spread his legs before bouncing me

on his cock so I had to hold on to his shoulders. He kept glancing from my face to my nipples and
licking his lips. Finally, I just had to ask.

“What does my mate need? I’m willing to try anything at least once, Kyle,” I gasped in between

his bottoming out inside of me.

“I don’t want to push you,” he grunted.
“Ask,” I growled. “I know I can say no with you if I don’t feel comfortable about something.”
“I want to bite your nipples and lick the blood during sex,” he blurted out after a moment. “It’s

not normally my thing, but you just have the sexiest little nipples that call to me.”

I shrugged. “We can try it. I’m not normally into biting but I loved when you bit me before. Do

it.” The words were barely out of my mouth before he leaned over, his fangs already out, and nicked
my right nipple. I gasped at the slight pain and then pleasure as his tongue lapped at it. He moved to
the left one and just bit this time, letting the blood trickle down.

“So fucking sexy,” he groaned loudly. “Shit, I’m going to come. Are you there, baby? I need to

come, Trev.”

“It gets you that hot?” I felt his dick twitch inside of me and I smiled. Guess that was my answer.

“Bite the other one again, Kyle. I liked it. Leave your mark on me.”

“Oh fuck. Sexy, sexy, little mate,” he moaned. He did it and again the pain mixed with pleasure

just brought the sex to a higher level. I arched my back and he licked below my nipple to catch the
blood. “Come for me, Trev. I want my mate to come all over me.”

“Kyle!” I screamed as my body listened to him. He followed me right over, filling me with his

seed to the point it ran back out of my ass and onto his lap. The moment we were both spent I melted
into his arms, smiling when I felt his tongue against my nipple. It actually started to tickle some and I
squirmed a bit.

“Did you really like it or were you just doing it for me?” he purred.
“Both. I tried it for you but I liked it. Part of how much I liked it was how hot it got you,” I

giggled. “I think I might just pinch them anytime I want sex and ask you to bite them.”

“Oh, baby, you are so awesome. You’re going to make me need to take you again.”
“Okay but then you’re feeding me more than cock,” I teased. He lifted his head and I saw the

smirk on his face as his eyes shined with mirth.

“Only because I’ve never had such hot lovin’ in all my years. I figure feeding you is the least I

should do for my mate.”

“So kind of you. Now bite your mate.” His eyes flashed with lust and just to drive it up a notch I

moved my hand to my chest, his eyes fixated on it, and pinched my nipple hard while moaning. His
mostly hard cock filled back up inside of me as I kept teasing him. In a flash I was spread out on the
bed, one ankle on his shoulder as he bent me in half before biting my other nipple. “Kyle!”

“That’s it, my mate. Scream my name in pleasure,” he growled as he thrust into me hard.
“That will never be a problem,” I moaned. And it wasn’t. I did it the entire time he fucked me,

my mate never even slowing down as if it wasn’t our third time in less than two hours.

I mated a stud.
Twenty minutes later we were walking into the kitchen all cleaned up with big smiles on our

faces… Even if my legs were feeling a little bowed. Hey, I wasn’t complaining. I’d never been with
someone who wanted to see my face during sex. They paused in their packing, one of Kyle’s cabinets
completely emptied and out on the table.

“Here’s what we want,” Brian said as he handed Kyle a sheet with their pizza order.
“What do you want, Trev?” Kyle asked, eyeing me over as if he planned on making me his meal

again.

“I’m not picky. Not a fan of pepperoni or fish on my pizza but that’s it.”
“It was an accident,” Valter said quietly. Kyle nodded, not even pretending that he didn’t

understand what the man was talking about. I believed Kyle trusted me but at the same time I was glad
Valter confirmed what I’d said. “If you want I can transfer the bond. I have that capability.”

“What?” Kyle and I gasped.
He nodded and licked his lips as he stared at me. “Trevor’s innocent and has a clean soul. He’d

be well suited for someone like me. I find him very pleasing physically and after hearing the fun you
had obviously he is good in bed. I’d want to test our chemistry of course and—”

“He is mine!” Kyle snarled and grabbed me. I gasped in shock as I was pulled back against him

and he sank his fangs into my neck as he tore my shorts off of me. He fondled my cock as his other
hand ran over my body. Then faster than I could keep up with I was spread out on the kitchen table,
my legs up in the air. “He belongs to me now!”

“Are you sure?” Valter hedged. “He seems a little shocked at you saying that. Has he said he’s

yours?”

“Are you?” Kyle asked me, his eyes flashing anger and lust at the same time. He pulled down the

front of his shorts as he glanced at what was on the table. Then he picked up a bottle of olive oil and
quickly poured some on his hard dick, getting lots on the floor. That would be fun to clean up later.
“Are you?”

I blinked up at him and decided words weren’t always enough. Instead I pinched my nipples as

he kept stroking his cock. He set the bottle down except he wasn’t paying attention and it slipped off,
breaking on the floor. It didn’t even faze him. I squeezed my fingers harder and harder, working my
nipples until they were red, hard, and swollen. His nostrils flared when I let them go and he saw
them.

“Always yours in every way if you want me,” I whispered. “Always want to be what you need,

Kyle.”

“You are,” he groaned.
“Then don’t you have some biting and fucking to do to show them that?” I whimpered.
He leaned down and nicked one with his fang, shivering in delight when I gasped and arched off

the table. “You’re okay with me going all possessive and crazed like this?”

“Because you want me so badly and to show me off that I’m yours?” I giggled. “Yeah, I’m more

than okay with it. I’m all yours.”

“Damn right you are,” he growled as he bit my other nipple and plunged into my body. Then he

leaned up and licked the bite he’d made before. “All mine now and forever. You claimed me and
there’s no slithering away or running after that.”

“No, never,” I gasped as he stood back up and grabbed my ankles, spreading me wide.
“Jesus, you are flexible,” he grunted as he pounded into me. He glanced at Brian and Valter.

“He’s all mine. You can look but you can’t touch. He screams my name because I’m the one pleasing
him. Jerk off if you want but that’s as close to being intimate with my baby as you’ll get!”

“Don’t want them. Only want you,” I mewled as he nailed my prostate with his thick cock every

time he moved in or out of me.

“That’s it, Trev. Show them how I take you to heaven.” He leaned over and lapped at my nipple

again, grinding his hips against mine as he palmed my ass. “So fucking hot. You taste damn
delectable, baby. Once isn’t going to be enough.”

“This is the fourth time actually,” I teased with a giggle.
“Six times won’t be enough if you’re going to get cheeky with me.” His nostrils flared again and

he mashed his mouth down to mine. I wasn’t used to kissing someone with fangs and my lip got in the
way. That seemed to drive him that much more crazed because I heard the table slamming against the
tiles as he took me hard enough to lift it.

His abs rubbing against my cock threw me into a whirlwind climax I wasn’t ready for and I

screamed out his name as I rode it out. Kyle moaned and filled me with his release, careful not to
collapse on me fully when he was spent.

“You okay?” he panted as he pushed up. “I–I didn’t mean to be so rough or do that. He p–pushed

my buttons. Vampires are really j–jealous especially after we mate.”

“I loved it,” I assured him. I realized he still had that wild look in his eyes like he needed more.

“Can you get me a towel?”

“Yeah, sure.” He pulled out of me and walked over to the sink, grabbing the hand towel there

and getting it wet.

“And now you know he doesn’t regret it or resent you,” Valter said quietly. I glanced at him and

Brian, smirking when they both had their spent cocks in their hands. And then it hit me. The brat set
this up so both of our insecurities would be handled. He just nodded and gave me a wink. Seriously,
what was this guy? God?

“Here you go.” Kyle went to hand it to me but then started just to clean me up himself. I quickly

closed my legs and sat up.

“I like your cum in me and running out of my ass,” I purred as I took the towel. “I like your seed

and scent on me, my mate.” His eyes went wide as they glazed over with lust. I wiped off his stomach
and his cock. “This was for you while I got the feeling back in my legs.”

He licked his lips and stared at me. “Why? Why do I need to be cleaned up if you’re staying

dirty?”

“I don’t like the taste of olive oil.” I gave him a wink and dropped to my knees and licked his

already leaking dick. He moaned and fisted his hands at his sides as if trying not to push me or force
me. I gently took them and moved them to my head. “You can’t hurt me, Kyle. I’m a snake and my jaw
unhinges. I have no gag reflex. Do what you’ve always dreamed of being able to but never could
because of how big you are.”

“You’d really let me fuck your mouth with them watching, telling me to let go and not be

careful?” Now I thought his eyes might pop out of his head as he swallowed with desire.

“Yes,” I hissed, licking him again. “Show your possession of me. I’m yours, Kyle. I just ask for

hair pulling.” I blinked up at him when he groaned. “It’s not that I dislike rough or playing. There’s a
difference between that and being used or abused. I know that. Would you make sure I was taken care
of after I blow you?”

“Of course,” he said firmly.
“Then I’m all yours,” I giggled before opening my mouth widely.
“Me next,” Brian whimpered. “Fuck. I can see cum on his pert little ass and thighs.”
“Mine,” Kyle hissed as he thrust into my mouth. He grabbed a handful of my hair, but kept

everything under control at first, never pushing more than half of his cock down my throat and barely
tugging my hair. I could tell he was really enjoying the blow job from the way his sac was drawing up
close to his body, and I was too. I just wanted him to let go and have the fantasy all men had.
Deciding to take matters into my own hands, I grabbed the back of his thighs and pulled.

His dick went all the way down my throat and my nose hit his skin. Kyle kept just a small, nicely

and closely trimmed patch there that I thought was sexy as hell. There was nothing worse than
blowing a man who had a friggin nest there and you ended up choking on hair constantly.

“I don’t want to hurt you,” he moaned and tried to move away. I pinched his legs and didn’t let

go of him. “Fine, but promise me that will be the sign if I go too far.”

I gave a slight nod and he finally gave in. I hummed my approval as he pulled my hair and took

my offer. Damn was my man hung. I swallowed around his cock, loving the taste of him. Kyle made
the best happy noises as I pleased him.

“Baby, baby, coming. I’m coming,” he announced as he started to release his hold. Instead I

buried my face against his skin and kept swallowing. Kyle roared out my name loud enough to rattle
the windows as he shot down my throat. When he was done and his knees started to give out I pulled
off of him with a naughty slurp, making sure I got it all. “Fuck, Trev.”

“Anytime my mate wants pleasure I’m here to provide for him,” I whispered as he sank to his

knees in front of me. “Anytime, Kyle.”

“Jesus, baby,” he moaned and tackled me to the floor. I gave out a startled yelp at the movement.

Kyle’s hand started stroking me as he kissed my shoulder and up my neck. “The way you make me
feel and what you do to me. Never have I felt this. Never has it been like this. If you ran I’d chase
you, Trev. I’d hunt you down and drag you back to me and do whatever it took to make you happy so
you’d stay. How can I make you happy, baby?”

“Happy now,” I mewled as his hand moved faster. His tongue traced the shell of my ear and I

melted. “So happy.”

“Not enough. My mate deserves the best after giving me so much and being my perfect fantasy.”
He kissed down my body and then swallowed my dick as he pushed three fingers inside of me,

nailing my prostate while massaging my sac. Holy shit did I erupt! I humped my hips in the air,

completely unaware of what was going on around me or that I might be choking Kyle. When I was
spent I flopped back to the floor like a fish out of water until my body settled.

It took me three tries to get enough air in my lungs to talk, licking my suddenly dry lips. “Wow,”

I croaked out. “That’s why people like blow jobs so much.”

“You’ve never had one before?” Kyle asked, shock in his tone.
“Never had anyone care about my needs enough to give me one.” I rolled my head to the side

and stared at him. “Never had someone take me on my back either. I don’t think they wanted to see my
face or cared if they did at least. They just wanted my ass or a hole. You want to see me.” Then I
smirked and flicked my nipple. “And those guys.”

“Your face is the important part. They’re just a bonus,” he assured me. He moved over me and

cupped my cheek before leaning down and giving me the softest kiss. “You are so amazing.”

“Because I have hot nipples?” I asked, totally missing how we’d gotten to there.
“No,” he chuckled. “That you have such a big heart and beautiful soul after what you’ve been

through. Here you’re trying to give me my every fantasy and you’ve never even had a blow job and
didn’t even bring that up. That’s an amazing person, Trev.”

“I claimed you without asking you. I have no right to ask anything of you ever, Kyle,” I mumbled

and started to pull away.

“I think Valter’s little test showed you I don’t see it like that and there’s no score being kept

here,” he said gently.

“Figured that one out, did ya?” Valter snickered.
“Yeah, I’m a jealous, just-mated, horny vampire, not fucking dumb,” Kyle drawled, rolling his

eyes at the man dramatically for my amusement. I giggled and lifted my hips so I could wrap my legs
around Kyle. He raised an eyebrow at me in question.

“Order pizza and I think we should give them another show while we wait. We need to christen

every surface of the house before we move after all.”

“Yes, yes, we do,” he growled and got to his feet. I laughed like a loon as he ordered pizza

while fondling my hole and teasing me the whole time. He didn’t even hang up the phone before
plunging back into me. I wonder if the guy he’d been talking to had any idea what was going on during
the call.

Not sure I really cared either way though. I was too busy having fun.

Chapter 7

The next several days were the best of my life by far. I got to spend time with Kyle’s nieces and

nephews, instantly falling for the little munchkins. Kirby and Amery I adored and was glad Kyle had
great friends like that. And they were so awesome and welcoming to me. I’d never felt so wanted and
accepted. Amery and I had walked the grounds of the clinic and discussed what he was looking for,
all of which I could do no problem.

I was never so excited to start a new job. I even got to hire an assistant! I mean, how cool was

that?

Kyle and I checked out the house for sale that was next to Amery and Kirby’s property. It needed

some major work but was inhabitable. He bought it that day since the people hadn’t even listed it yet
and he didn’t want to start dealing with realtors and attorneys and stuff. The older couple had been
packed up and ready to go, deciding last month to retire and move in with their daughter who’d had
their first grandchild.

It was crazy how all the pieces were falling into place for my perfect dream life.
I even really liked Brian and Valter who were still on our protection detail. Kyle’s boss was

being watched along with the police department under investigation, but it turned out that things went
deeper than just the Lieutenant. Or so they thought. Things were a little unclear right then. But the two
men were really great in helping us and laid-back in going wherever we needed to.

Honestly to the outside world it was like we had friends hanging out which they said was great

for being undercover and us in the end if anyone tried anything. They were even cool to keep working
or packing when Kyle and I took “breaks.” And boy did we ever. Brian whined a few times about the
amount of blow jobs he’d walked in on and how long it had been since he’d gotten one, but it was all
in good fun.

I couldn’t help it. I was addicted to Kyle in every sense of the word. I was just thinking of taking

another break with my stud vampire when my dream bubble popped.

“Daddy, I found POS!” Paulie called out. I froze in the moving truck and slowly looked over

four houses down. Paulie was already within five feet of me and Paul was only a house away. And
here I was on the street, standing at the top of the ramp of the moving truck Kyle had rented. I’d never
make it. Or maybe I would but I couldn’t seem to get my feet to work out of fear.

“What are you doing, tiny dick?” Paul snarled as he stormed over. “Why are you over here and

not in the garage? And why can’t I get into my house?”

“Did you really expect me to sleep in the garage for over a week while you were gone?” I

stuttered, staring at him with wide eyes. I wasn’t sure why I focused on that point, but well, I did.

“You were locked out. Of course I did,” he snapped as he grabbed my wrist and pulled. I fell

out of the truck with a yelp, landing on my feet for only a moment before continuing down to my
knees. He started walking home and I stumbled after him, trying to get my arm free. “It’s not like you
could get your shit and leave.”

“I did. I left you,” I argued. “Let me go!”
“What?” he asked in that dark tone that normally warned me I was going to get hit. He turned on

me and glanced around. “Paulie, go home.” The kid grumbled but did it as Paul tossed me up into the
truck before climbing up after me. “What did you fucking say to me?”

“I left you. I’m not yours,” I whispered as he tried to back me further into the trailer. But that

meant less chance of someone hearing me and help coming.

“Get on your knees,” he snarled. “Maybe your mouth will make me forget what I just heard.”
“No, I won’t do that for you ever again!” I whimpered when I saw him raising his hand. He

slapped me hard enough that I saw stars before he turned me around and pressed my face against the
wall of the trailer.

“You are mine, Gladflex. I’m going to remind you of that until you bleed! Obviously you forgot

the lesson.”

“No!” I screamed as he ripped my shorts. I elbowed him in the stomach as hard as I could.

“Kyle!”

“No one cares about you,” he grunted as he grabbed my ass while I fought him with everything I

had. “No one will come to save you. Not a piece of shit like you.”

“Kyle will. I’m his mate.”
“You might be his whore, but no one would take you as a mate.” He clapped my ears and I went

limp, my brain practically turning into mush. I slumped to the floor of the trailer and just as Paul
moved behind me to rape me, I saw Kyle and Valter leap up into the truck.

“I will kill you, you fucking bastard,” Kyle snarled as he pulled me away from Paul. In a flash I

was being cradled in his arms. “Baby, are you okay? Oh fuck. I’m so sorry. We were in the
basement.”

“Head mush,” I slurred. I gasped as Paul went flying out of the back of the truck and landed hard

on the street.

“I can help with that,” Valter said gently and touched my forehead. Instantly the pain receded

and it was like the fog had lifted. Sure, my knee didn’t feel all that great, but that was no big deal. I
hated any kind of pain that involved my head.

“Best buddy ever,” I cooed as Kyle stood with me in his arms. I glanced up at him. “Best mate

ever. I knew you’d come.”

“I was almost too late,” he whispered, looking distraught.
“But you weren’t. Nothing else matters.” I kissed him and he sighed against my lips.
“You broke my arm!” Paul wailed.
“You’re lucky that’s all I’m going to break,” Valter drawled. “Interesting development we have

here.” He jumped down easily as Kyle did with me still in his arms.

“What do you mean?” I asked as Valter squatted down in front of Paul and studied him intently.
“You need to let go of your guilt about not leaving Paulie boy here sooner, Trevor,” Valter said

before glancing at me. “You said he was human and he mostly is.” He focused back on Paul and
slapped his cheek. “But not fully, are ya? Great-grandparent fae? You’ve definitely got someone in
the tree with magical blood. Which means you can at least sense me. Do you know what I am?”

“Death,” he whispered as his face went pale. I sniffed the air and felt my eyes go wide when I

realized Paul had pissed himself.

“I’ve been called worse,” Valter snickered. “You get what you want a lot, right? People just

tend to cave around you when you yell, putting the full force of your desires in what you’re saying.”

“Yeah. I yell and they listen.”
“Because you’ve got some lingering juice in your blood. Nice that you’ve used it for good.

Yeah, you’ll definitely have a reserved seat in the bastard section of Hades. You want me to send you
there now?”

“No, please don’t. No.”
“Then forget you ever met Trevor. Get your shit together and raise a better son. You’ve got six

months and I’ll be back. Make no mistake, Paulie boy, you only get one chance here. When I come
back if I’m not happy you die and I’ll take the kid to someone who will raise him right and won’t taint
his soul as you are. And moving won’t help. I can find you anywhere now that I’ve got your scent.”

“Are you a reaper?” Paul whispered quietly.
“No,” Valter chuckled as he stood. An evil smile spread on his lips as his eyes lit up with mirth.

“I’m much worse, Paulie boy. I’m not the collector. I’m judge and jury. I decide who gets to keep the
gift of life they’ve been given. Angels guide, some demons try to corrupt, but I don’t do either. As you
said, I bring death. But you get one chance because your soul isn’t completely black and you’ve got a
kid.”

“What makes a soul completely black?” I asked, having a guess. Paul stood on shaky legs and

didn’t even look at me.

“Murder,” Valter answered. “Not killing in battle, accidentally killing someone in a car

accident, or even in a fight. Hell, crime of passion doesn’t even do it. I’m talking thought-out,
planned-out, cold-ass, for shit reason taking a life. I don’t ever give another chance after someone
pulls that.”

“I wouldn’t either,” I agreed. Then again, I wouldn’t be sending people to Hades, but I got the

distinct feeling Valter didn’t have a choice.

“Did I get a chance because I didn’t know?” Paul asked quietly.
“That you were influencing Trevor to stay against his will?” Kyle asked and Paul nodded.
“Yeah, and that’s about the only reason I don’t break both your kneecaps,” Valter answered.

“Now go. Six months.” Paul nodded and hobbled off, obviously hurt besides his arm.

“I still want to kill him,” Kyle snarled.
“No, you don’t want that vengeance on you, my friend,” Valter said quietly. “Take the man in

your arms and tend to him and keep his heart safe. Nothing else matters. He’s safe. You’ve killed
when you’ve had to and for the right reasons. You don’t ever want to for the wrong ones. Believe me.
Many that live deserve death and some that are dead deserve life. Could you really be the one to
decide who should be the ones to get which?”

“I’d like a shower, please,” I whimpered pathetically, trying to break through Kyle’s rage. I saw

the grateful look Valter gave me. He didn’t want to have to step in.

“Sorry, baby, of course.” Kyle carried me towards the garage. It was then I noticed Brian

standing there with his gun out and ready. I stared at him with wide eyes.

He just shrugged. “For all we know Paul was sent to be a distraction or there are other guys

watching the house, waiting for something to come up to take a shot. It never hurts to be ready. They
were helping you and I was watching everything else.” He reached out and mucked up my hair. “Glad
you’re okay. I kind of like you.”

“Ditto,” I chuckled. I snuggled into Kyle’s arms as he carried me up to his bathroom, noticing

his body was tense as he didn’t say a word. Something was going on with him and I wasn’t sure how
to help him, and I really wanted comforting too. But it wasn’t like that was something a person just
asked for. Was it?

He set me on my feet and I grabbed the waterproof lube as he turned on the shower. Kyle

stepped out of the way and started to move out of the bathroom.

“You’re leaving me?” I asked in shock.
“Are you hurt? Do you need my help?” he asked as he eyed me over, not meeting my gaze.
“My knee hurts but I can handle that. I don’t want you to go.”
“I failed you, Trev. You can’t want to turn to me after I almost let you get raped,” he growled.
“You didn’t almost anything, Kyle,” I whispered, understanding now. “You did save me. I need

you. I need you now.” I stepped closer and tugged on his shirt until he looked at me finally. “Make it
go away, please? I don’t want to think about Paul ever again. Only you. I go in there alone and I’m
going to think about what could have happened and cry. I go in with you and you’ll comfort me and
remind me how perfect what we have is and that’s all that matters.

“Make love to me, Kyle. I want to feel you. Not think about him touching me. Please? Don’t

leave me. You have nothing to feel bad for.” I was rambling and handling this all wrong but yeah, I
was feeling raw and needy. So sue me.

“It is that because I do feel that,” he mumbled cryptically as he yanked off his clothes. I wasn’t

sure what that meant but I hurried and finished getting naked as well. “This seems so crass after what
you just almost went through.”

“No. You show me tenderness,” I argued. “It’s a different side of the coin.”
“I–I was going to tell you tonight,” he whispered against my lips as he guided me back into the

shower. He took the slick from my hand and I watched as he got his cock ready.

“Tell me what?” I moved under the water just to rinse off any dirt on me at least because it was

obvious we were doing this right away.

“It’s all ruined now though. He ruined it. I was going to tell you in our new house. He ruined it

and hurt you. He could have taken you from me and I would have died. I was so stupid to not be by
you.” He was acting almost manic now. Kyle moved his hands under my ass and lifted me up. I
wrapped my legs over his hips as he pushed inside of me. “I could have lost you!”

“You didn’t, Kyle. I’m right here,” I assured him. “I’ll never leave you.”
“You can’t. Not ever, Trev.” He kissed me deeply as he started rocking our bodies together. I

grabbed onto his hair and enjoyed the pleasure he was bringing me. I would never get tired of being
with Kyle. I loved him so deeply it was timeless and I’d known for days it was how I felt for him. I
was ready to burst with it.

“Bite me, my mate,” I gasped, knowing he needed the connection.
“Yes, bite the man I love,” he growled.
Then I gasped for a whole other reason. His fangs sank into my neck and I cried out as joy raced

through my body and not just from the pleasure his bite brought me. I came all over us, his hands
moving me faster as he pushed his cock deeper inside of me. Kyle didn’t finish though, simply licking
the bite closed and drawing out my climax as best he could as I enjoyed it. When I was spent I sagged
against the tiles.

“That’s what I wanted to tell you tonight,” he whispered as he stared into my eyes. “I was going

to light candles and have wine and chocolates after we moved into our house. I was going to tell you I
loved you and ask you to be my mate and if I could claim you. But it’s all screwed up now. I didn’t
mean to tell you like this. He could have taken you from me and I freaked.”

I nodded as he spoke, smiling like a loon. “I love you too, Kyle. And yes.”
“Yes?”
“Yes, of course, you big dope,” I giggled. “And I think this was better.” His eyebrows shot up to

his hairline and I let out another laugh. “Yes, what you planned was sweet and romantic and that’s
great. But this is real life and you said it when I needed it most and this was perfect, Kyle. This is
what being in love and being mates is about. Being there for each other. I want wine and candles and
chocolates tonight when you claim me and sex me silly, but nothing was ruined.”

“Okay then.” His smile was so bright it could have lit up the entire state for a week.
“Now take me again because you didn’t finish and I can’t have my mate unsatisfied.”
“Baby, you satisfy me in every way,” he purred. But he still sexed me up until we were both

screaming and the water ran cold. It was worth it.

Afterwards he carried me into the bedroom as if I was the most precious thing in the world and

kissed all my boo-boos better, as he called them. Kyle was a goofball like that at times. And I was
pretty sure I didn’t have any bruises or marks in several places he kissed but I wasn’t stupid enough
to even think of complaining.

“Coffee me. Breakfast me,” I purred as he eyed me over as if debating another round. “We only

have the truck for today, Kyle.”

“Fuck it. I can rent it for tomorrow too,” he growled. “Taking care of you and making sure

you’re okay is more important than the damn truck.”

“Thank you and I know that you truly feel that way,” I assured him, touched he always reminded

me how much he valued me. “But I’m okay now, really. I want to move on and never look at this
block again. I’m excited for your new house and to update it and starting our new jobs.”

“It’s our new house. Start calling it that or I swear you’re sleeping in the guest room and not our

bed,” he threatened gently. I smiled and nodded. It was hard for me. We’d been together a little over a
week. I hadn’t paid anything for this new house. I got to claim any ownership to it why? I mean, who
would logically agree that was sane? “I swear I’m going to hang a sign on the side of the house saying
it’s both of ours right after I tattoo your ass that it’s mine.”

He was being playful but I saw the lust in his eyes at the idea and how immediately his cock

turned rock hard right in front of me. Kyle quickly turned away, acting as if he was getting dressed,
but I knew him better than that. He was trying to make sure he didn’t influence me to do something I
might not have wanted to.

And just like that I knew what I’d be getting him for a mating gift.
“We need to call our elders!” I said excitedly as if I hadn’t heard or noticed his comment. I leapt

off the bed and quickly got dressed. “And I need to get waxed.”

“What?” Kyle gasped and spun to face me so fast he just about fell on his ass. “W–Where is y–

your s–seal going t–to be?”

“I’m not telling,” I purred as I rubbed my hands right above my cock, making it clear where it

was going to appear. “You going to tell me?”

“I don’t know actually. Vampires are crazy apparently,” he chuckled as he licked his lips,

staring at my body with lust. “There’s no specific spot. It appears wherever it’s needed most or some
shit. No one knows what the fuck that even means.”

“Odd but I’ll have fun looking for it,” I giggled. I shook my head and jogged out of the room,

leaving him to think about what my seal would look like so I could have a moment with Valter or
Brian alone. I needed a favor and a guard. It wasn’t until I reached the kitchen that I frowned. I would
need money for my plan and I didn’t have any. Shit.

“Actually you don’t. I could help you with that,” Valter offered.

“I swear, can you read minds too?” I drawled as I cocked out my hip and gave him attitude. One

day I seriously was going to tie down the man and tickle him until he told me what he was.

“I’d enjoy that but Kyle would get jealous,” he snickered, shaking his head. “I can’t hear

everything, just really loud thoughts. And you’re a pretty passionate guy so you think most things
loudly.” I nodded. That kind of made sense. “Do me a favor?”

“Sure.”
“Ask Kyle what I am once our assignment’s over. People tend to freak and then I can hear it. It

sucks for me and I like you guys. Kyle’s oddly cool with it which is really rare for me and I’d just
really like to leave it be for now.”

“Okay, whatever’s easier for you, Valter. But you’re my buddy now no matter what you are,” I

swore to him. “You’re a good person and that’s all that matters to me.”

“But I’m really not,” he said sadly before turning away. I saw a deep longing in his eyes first

though. That sucked. He was though. I really hoped someone one day could show him that. “Thanks. I
doubt it but that would be nice.”

Yeah, he could hear me. Right. “So you can help me with the plan? Which plan?”
“Well I can take you to get waxed after we get loaded up,” he chuckled, shaking his head. “The

other thing I can use like a magical flame, sort of. Like dragon’s breath but not really either. It’s hard
to explain. Just know it won’t hurt like a tattoo needle and would be a hot spot when your mate
touched it. Hell, I could make it glow and all kinds of cool shit if you wanted.”

“Yeah, sign me up for that,” I giggled. “Way better than what I had planned. What kind of design

are you thinking?”

“Let me get Kyle talking.” He gave me a wink. See? Good guy. And he was making breakfast.
Just as he was pulling the first pancakes off the griddle, Amery and Kirby came bursting through

the door, having heard what happened to me. They’d been coming over to help move anyways, Ginger
and Cinnamon watching the kids for the day, and since it was the weekend they were off work. But I
guessed they’d skipped picking up the coffee when Brian let them know the situation.

“You had one job,” Kyle teased when he joined us in the kitchen.
“Oh fuck you,” Amery grumbled and then started chanting. Moments later there were trays of

Starbucks coffee on the table.

“I’m surrounded by genies,” I gasped, glancing between Valter and Amery. “Okay, I want a pony

and a swimming pool next. Oh, and a silk something ceremonial because Kyle’s claiming me tonight
and I thought that should be part of it or something.” I smirked when they stopped laughing and
blinked at me when I slipped that in.

Kirby was the first to catch it, gasping before he launched himself at me. “Awesome! Welcome

to the family, Trevor! Are you excited?”

“Yes, but just more on cloud nine that he loves me,” I giggled, glancing at Kyle. “I love him too.

I mean, he’s like my dream guy.” Yeah, I was totally gushing and mooning over him. So fucking what?

We sat down to breakfast and I just about drooled over my stack of pancakes and bacon. Was it

wrong that in some part of my head I thought maybe about asking Kyle to let me give Valter oral sex
every morning to get breakfast like this? I mean, it would really be for both of us, right? I didn’t want
to demean the man by trading it for food, but after the first bite I was hooked on his cooking.

“It’s not demeaning, but you obviously aren’t thinking with anything but your stomach,” Valter

snickered as he set a latte in front of me. “That and Kyle’s been so busy stuffing you with other things

that you have sex on the brain now.”

“What are you guys talking about over there?” Kyle asked hesitantly and I felt my face go pale.
Valter just shrugged. “He had a random thought about what he’d be willing to do to get you guys

breakfast like this every morning because he loves his mate so much.” Well, it wasn’t exactly that
selfless but I was appreciative of the spin. Kyle gave me a wink to let me know it was all good and I
settled back with a smile to enjoy breakfast, coffee, and good conversation with friends before
starting the rest of my life.

Yes, what happened that morning with Paul sucked, but as I thought about it, it was worth it. As

crazy as it sounded, it was to me. I was actually glad it happened because it meant Valter had been
there and I learned something I think was really important to my healing process.

“You okay?” Kyle asked me when everyone was finishing up. I blinked up at him in shock,

realizing they were all quiet and staring at me… And my plate was empty.

“These were soulful pancakes,” I chuckled. “I was just thinking how I’m glad Paul came after

me today.” I held up my fork when they balked at me and quickly drank some of my now-lukewarm
coffee because my throat was dry.

“Because you know it wasn’t you being weak,” Valter answered their unasked question for me. I

nodded and Valter explained to Kirby and Amery what he’d told us earlier.

“I wasn’t weak then. It kept bugging me that no matter what would have happened or where I

would have ended up I should have left the first time he hit me. I’ve pulled my life together again after
escaping hell. It bothered me that I was so weak and had given up on life and hope that staying with
someone that abusive was what, better than sleeping on the street? I just didn’t get it. Now I do and I
feel worlds better about a lot of things.”

“I’m glad you got what you needed to help you heal,” Kyle said cautiously. “Let’s just make sure

it’s a nice, calm question-and-answer session next time, okay?”

“Yes, absolutely. I’ll get right to work on that, you goof,” I drawled. And just like that the

tension was broken. “Let’s go move into our new home.” I got a winning smile for calling it ours, and
if Kyle was happy then I was.

Chapter 8

It ended up Amery invited a doctor over to help us. Well, actually, they had been talking about

expanding the clinic to include a chiropractic wing. I had listened intently while Amery explained that
it helped magical users of all kinds with their life force or chi to open them up so they could tap into
their power. Also for younger shifters who were learning how to transform it helped make the change
as painless as possible.

Those were just a few of the benefits. I couldn’t get over that. We were so reliant on being able

to heal faster than humans and most had been raised to believe we’d either heal or not. I’d met lots of
paranormals who thought hospitals and doctors for our kind were just a waste of time and resources.
My parents being some of them.

And I guess it wasn’t just a clinic anymore with all the additions and doctors that were now on

board. It was a full hospital. Which was great. I didn’t really have a clue what that all meant, but it
seemed to make our friends happy which I wanted, so I smiled and nodded along politely.

Anyways, the doctor had been talking with Amery about adding on a chiropractic wing and was

so excited about the prospect she had dropped everything to get on a plane to meet with him. Except
Amery had already committed to helping us today. Kyle was shocked when he heard this, telling our
friend that was more important than helping us move. We could have handled it.

“It wasn’t a big deal,” he chuckled, shaking his head as he lifted one end of the couch. “She just

said she’d be more than glad to help and then realign our spines when we were done as a
demonstration of how much better people can feel if they take the right care of themselves even if
we’re paranormals. I guess healing doesn’t mean our bodies know the proper placement for all of our
discs. I didn’t know that and I am a licensed doctor.”

I liked her already. And when a pretty blonde showed up with a bright smile it was like I

couldn’t help but smile back. She jumped right in and her enthusiasm was infectious as she talked a
mile a minute.

“Okay, so say we do this,” she hedged as she raced around the kitchen and put any leftover items

into boxes. “What would be the next step? Funding? How would we do that? I mean, adding on a
wing has to be a boatload of money, right?”

“How old are you?” Kyle asked, glancing at Amery as if wondering if that was stepping over the

line.

“A hundred and twenty but I know, when I get excited I sound like some twenty-year-old,” Dr.

Erin chuckled easily. “It’s just, I’ve been studying chiropractic since there’s basically been
chiropractic. And there’s the potential for so much more, and especially with paranormals, that I’m
just thrilled when someone finally sees that. You wouldn’t believe how often people call me a kook
or a witch doctor because I’m not an MD.”

“Yeah, I used to be a witch doctor and it’s kind of something that never leaves your resume once

people learn,” Amery drawled. “I’ve got all kinds of medical training and that’s what some focus on.
Like, really? Let it go. That’s how I practiced medicine centuries and centuries ago.”

“I meant no offense,” she said gently. “I’m half witch. The other half is fairy so I’m magical and

powerful. That’s why I get how important it is to make sure nothing’s blocking your chi and you’re
flowing the right way.”

“I agree. Let me talk to Elder Rice and see what he thinks. If you’re willing to do some research

projects I might be able to get Shea Mayer to fund some of it.”

“Dude, I’d do anything for Shea Mayer,” she blurted out. “He’s like my hero. Yes, research,

totally. Bring more people into the loop that it can help. All about that.”

Amery chuckled as he brought out some boxes and went to make his calls. We kept loading up

and talking as we went but something was irking me. Not in the something was wrong or the hairs on
the back of my neck were standing up, just more looking at a shelf and I could tell something was out
of order but I couldn’t see it yet.

“Wow, that’s so not the ending I would have had if I found a kid in my garage,” Erin chuckled

after Kyle told her the story of how we met. “I’d have some steroid guy threatening me as if it was all
my fault or something. I swear my karma sucks or something. I never have that kind of good luck to
meet the man of my dreams.”

“But you’re very pure of heart and have a good soul,” Valter said quietly.
“Yeah, um, thanks,” she whispered nervously before practically darting outside with more

boxes. And just like that it hit me. It was tension. I’d been feeling tension from her and Valter. I saw
the sadness in Valter’s eyes, though his face was that stoic blank look he normally kept on it. I
grabbed the ottoman to Kyle’s favorite chair and stormed out after her.

Once I got it loaded I grabbed her wrist when she went to go back inside and pulled her into the

street so the truck was blocking us from view of the house.

“Look, I like you so I’m just going to spit it out,” I said, trying to keep my growl at bay. “I don’t

know what your issue is with Valter but get over it. He’s a great guy. He was being nice to you and
you raced out of there like the devil was trying to drag you to hell. You hurt his feelings!”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to,” she sighed and rubbed her hands over her head. “I’m sure he’s

great. He just scares the crap out of me. It’s like every instinct inside of me is telling me to run. Sure,
witches can be good or bad. But fairies? Fairies are pretty much always of the light, or at least my
mother is, so for me to meet someone like him, it’s just instinct to run. I mean, aren’t you freaked to be
around a—”

“No and I don’t care what he is,” I snapped, cutting her off. “I know he’s powerful. I also know

he’s one of the nicest, sweetest, and most moral people I’ve ever met. He’s helped me and Kyle more
times than I can count already. He’s here protecting my mate from a bad cop and that’s his job, but yet
he’s making breakfast, helping us move just to be nice. He saved me from a bastard earlier today and
gave the guy a chance to clean up his life before doing whatever he does.

“I don’t know what you see but you’re letting what you’ve heard or your reading of his power

alter  what  you  believe  of  him  and  that’s  not  fair.  My  parents  used  to  tell  me  that  all  fairies  were
whores  who  spread  their  legs  for  everyone.”  Her  eyes  flashed  with  anger  and  I  was  pretty  sure  I
made my point. “But people run their mouths and make generalizations. I don’t care if that was true
for every other fairy. You are your own person and I will form my opinion of you based on what  you
do.”

“Yeah, okay. I get it.” Erin nodded and then looked at me with pleading eyes. “I was trying. Just

know that. I mean, think of it as walking into a room with a bunch of shifters that are your animal’s
biggest predator. Your gut would tell you to run.”

“Yup, but my gut would tell me to run if I walked into a room with a bunch of strangers after

what I’ve been through,” I chuckled. “Doesn’t mean I’d think any of them deserved it.”

“Fair enough. I’ll do better.” She took a deep breath and seemed to center herself. “Let’s go

move you.” I patted her shoulder, smiling when I had to reach up to do it. We headed back inside, the
air much more relaxed now.

“He’s giving me a magical tat later with Kyle’s name when he saw it in my head earlier that I

wanted one because Kyle mentioned it,” I told her, trying to show her how sweet Valter was.

“That’s cool. See if he can do the blue flames one. I love those.”
“I don’t know what that is,” I admitted. “And he’s going to try and ask Kyle about it in a way he

doesn’t get suspicious so he can figure out exactly what my mate would want.”

“Oh, I can get on board with that,” she snickered, giving me a wink. “So what is the predator

you would fear?”

“Hawks.” I shivered. “Or any large bird really. My tiny ribbon garter snake doesn’t like them,

even real ones when I’m in human form.”

“Wait, say that again?” she hedged as we joined the others. “What kind of animal are you?”
“Ribbon garter snake.”
“Spell that.” I did and she had a confused look on her face. “So is that different from a gardener

snake? I mean, I’ve never heard of a garter snake. Did people wear them as garters at some point?
Like an olden days chastity belt? You can have my daughter if you can get past the rattler around
her thigh, kinda thing?”

Everyone stared at her like she might be growing a second head. It was Kirby who spoke first.
“Where did you grow up, Erin?”
“Chicago,” she answered. “What does that have to do with it?”
“Have you always lived in a big city like that, not a lot of open spaces, or never gone camping?”

Brian asked, trying not to laugh.

“Yeah except for when I was getting my different degrees, but then I was on campus which is

like its own city so yes. And no, camping is, well, I need a shower and a toilet. This girl is not a bear
who goes in the woods.”

“Then I’m pretty sure your city girl is showing,” I snickered.
“Oh damn,” she drawled, glancing down at her outfit. “I swear I normally keep it better hidden

than that.” We all laughed as she pretended to tuck some imaginary thing back into her jeans as she
turned away as if it was indecent. Then she faced us again and held her hands out. “All better? Not
showing?”

“Yeah, you’re good, goof,” Kirby drawled.
“Okay, then hit the city girl with what I got wrong. So it’s the same snake I’m assuming?”
“Yup.” I lifted one end of the entertainment unit until Kyle hip checked me out of the way so he

and Valter could handle it. That was cool. I was short. I could stand there and look pretty while the
big guys did the heavy lifting.

“Okay, so work with me through my logic on this one,” she mumbled as we followed them out,

checking their path was clear. Nothing was worse than carrying massive shit and something was in
the way. “So you’re a groundskeeper by profession mostly because your snake is so good with
gardens and helping plant life, right?”

“Yes.”
“And your kind of snakes are found in gardens, overgrown bushes, that type of thing.”
“Yes,” I agreed, getting where she was going.
“Was the guy who named the species something Garter?”

“Not to my knowledge,” I snickered.
“Okay, I take back my laughing earlier,” Brian conceded. “The city girl makes a really good

point. I just thought it was funny. I guess if you’ve never seen one that it makes sense to think it was
called a gardener snake.”

“What, because animals outside of the city wear signs with their names on them?” Erin drawled.
“Um, no,” Brian chuckled. “And again, good point. I just always thought they kind of looked like

suspenders as a kid. I mean, if you had two of them. Mouth was the clasp side, and isn’t that basically
what garters are? Suspenders for women to hold up stockings?”

“And we might have found the logic for the name!” Erin cheered, giving Brian a high five.
“Personally I liked yours better.” Valter shrugged as he set four boxes in the truck. “A snake

that’s natural habitat is a garden and helps them would logically be called a gardener snake. Not an
animal that might be used as holding up ladies’ underthings. That’s just weird.”

“I agree but thanks for saying it so I don’t feel silly.” Erin gave him a smile and bumped his hip.

Valter returned the gesture and I mentally gave myself a pat on the back. Go me. I helped. Sometimes
people just needed a push to get over their shit and see that not everything in the world was good or
bad and that some things or people weren’t as they seemed. “I think it’s cool you turn into a snake
though. I met this badass viper snake shifter once.”

I saw Valter’s eyes light up and wondered what was going on now. “Badass as in crazy or

evil?”

“A little of both I’m pretty sure,” Erin chuckled. “But she had this really cool tat of her mate’s

name on her hip. It was made with magical blue flames and I thought that was so cool. I’m so going to
find someone who can do that if I ever get mated.”

“It’s a really, really unique talent,” Amery replied in awe. “Very few can do it.”
“What is it?” Kirby and Kyle asked together.
“Most magical tattoos have some sort of element to them,” Amery explained as we kept loading

more and more stuff. I was glad that we were almost done. I was ready for lunch. “Like our seals
become a hot spot for us. But a blue flames tat does that and more. It’s like a portal to the soul. If she
got her mate’s name then it’s one only for him. He could touch it and see her innermost desires. Being
intimate with her while touching it would be like brushing her soul during sex.”

“Wow,” those of us who learned what it meant just then whispered.
“That’s really cool,” I added. I caught that Kyle gave me a longing look but then when I turned

towards him he quickly focused on the box in his hands. I glanced at Valter and saw the smile on his
face as he nodded. Good. He knew what to do then. “Speaking of seals. Did you call your elder?”

“Yup and the UPAC main office,” Kyle purred. “Did you call yours?”
“Yup,” I giggled. “Did they give you a time?”
“Our mating should be recorded between six and eight tonight our time.”
“They have people in the UPAC main office so late in Scotland?” Brian asked in shock.
“There are paranormals all over the world who might need something, and an elder sleeping

doesn’t stop that. Someone has to be up at all times to man the bat phone,” Kirby chuckled. “Besides,
it normally ends up being the night shift who records matings or what they consider little stuff that
happened during the day.”

“Okay then,” the human chuckled. Yeah, it was strange to us too.
“How about Valter comes with me to run that errand and we’ll meet you at the new house with

lunch?” I offered, waggling my eyebrows at Kyle. “I need to get that done before our mating seal and
your initials adorn my body.”

“Are you going to tell me where it’s going?” he growled as he grabbed me around the waist. In a

flash I was up in his arms as he kissed along my neck. “Is it really going where you were teasing me
or are you being mean and leading me astray?”

“It’s really going there,” I moaned as he kissed that spot that melted me, making me fold and

admit the truth like a cheap house of cards. “There’s another surprise I want to get you and I won’t
cave no matter how much you torture or try to fuck it out of me.”

“Yeah, that would be such a hardship for either of you,” Amery chuckled. “Come on. We have

lots to do if you’re getting hitched as early as six.”

“I love you,” I whispered against Kyle’s ear, trying it out now that we weren’t just in our bubble

of the shower.

“I love you too.” He snuck in a kiss and pulled out his wallet. “Take my debit card and pay for

what you need and lunch.” I opened my mouth and he shook his head. “Don’t argue. You’re doing this
for our mating and because you know it will get me hard so it’s the least I can do. After you start
work and get a paycheck you can do the same for me. Whatever.”

I thought about that and nodded. Okay, that was fair. If we were getting married we could have

joint accounts. I could deal with this. I gave him another kiss and left with Valter, saying my last
good-bye to the house I met Kyle at… And making sure to flip off the house I’d spent time with Paul
and his horrid son at.

But that was all over now.
“So I saw how he’d want it in his head. Do you trust me with this?” Valter asked quietly as I

navigated on Valter’s phone while he drove us to the salon Kirby recommended me to go to.

“Of course. Just spell his name right,” I teased. “He wants the blue flames thing, right?”
“Yeah, big-time. I mean like has a huge hard-on for it.”
I smiled and then a thought hit me. “But it will take your power to do it. It won’t hurt you or

drain you to do it, will it?”

“No, it’s not big. I might eat an extra sandwich but I’m good.” He glanced at me funny when we

were at a stoplight. “You’re the first person who’s ever asked me that of all the people who come to
me asking for magical tats. I swear it’s about the only reason people seek someone like me out.”

“You’re my buddy. I don’t want you hurt. I’d go get a regular tat if it did something bad to you.”
“And thanks for what you said to Erin. I heard in her head how bad she felt about the way she

reacted to me. She didn’t realize she was doing it as much as she was until you said something. No
one’s ever done that for me either.”

“Then I deem you need new friends. Seriously, they suck if they don’t have your back better.

You’re  awesome  and  just  because  someone’s  a  werewolf  and  they  grew  up  on  Grimm  fairy  tales
doesn’t  mean  they  should  be  worried  that  the  guy  is  going  to  blow  their  house  down.  Kyle’s  not  a
soulless  being  who’s  going  to  drain  me.  Things  change.  People  aren’t  the  legends  and  we  know
better. It’s just a matter of smacking them out of their fears sometimes.”

“Still, it meant a lot you did that for me.”
“It was my pleasure.” I patted his arm and bit back a shiver. I felt that sometimes when I touched

him. I got why Paul said Valter was death. I got that impression from him too. And maybe he was but
then death was a cool guy and so be it. I didn’t care what he was or what his energy felt like. That

didn’t matter to me just like that I turned into a tiny snake didn’t make me less of a person. It was what
we did that mattered in this life and Valter was the highest of characters.

The waxing wasn’t fun. I’d done it a few times before, not since before Paul though so it was

like starting from scratch. I whimpered and whined a bit but perked up when I reminded myself why I
was doing this. When she was done, she stepped out and Valter stepped in the little room with me.

“Dude?” I asked as I gestured to where she left me rubbing cooling aloe salve stuff on my groin.
“Where else did you plan on me giving you a magical tat so Kyle wouldn’t see?” He raised an

eyebrow at me.

“Oh, I thought you just like chanted and it was done. You need to see the area?”
“Yeah, you dork,” he snickered. “You want the tramp stamp like you told me?” I nodded,

glancing at him. “That’s what Kyle wants.”

“Whatever you saw I want to give my man,” I confirmed and sat up before leaning forward. I

winced because skin just waxed that felt on fire shouldn’t be pressed together. Valter touched my hip
and instantly it was all better. “Dude, I lurves you fiercely.”

“Yeah, yeah, you’re taken,” he snickered. I felt his fingertips touch my lower back, and putting

into words what it felt like was nearly impossible.

“It’s not like burning but more the cool water running over the burn afterwards,” I mumbled. “It

tingles but pulses and soothes all at the same time. What’s up with that?”

“There’s not really an instruction manual to any of this shit. Hell if I know, Trevor. I’m just the

one writing it.”

“Gotcha.” Then I gasped as I swear it was like he touched something deep inside of me.
“Don’t fucking move,” he growled. “I’m not getting blamed if you move and fuck it up.”
“Sorry,” I whispered, mostly because it was so freaky what I was feeling. I swear to the gods, it

was like he was touching my soul and maybe he was. But whatever he was doing, it was like Kyle
was wrapping his arms around me and holding me tightly through it. Odd? Yes, but then the thought
made me smile. Shouldn’t that be what love was? A person meant so much to someone else that they
literally were a part of their soul.

“Okay, done,” he muttered. Then I heard a thud and on instinct I jumped to my feet.
“Valter!” I gasped and raced over to him. He was on the floor, his head obviously having hit the

tile hard. I knelt down and checked his pulse, good and strong. “Oh, you stupid, stupid man!”

I quickly got dressed except my shirt and sat him up. Luckily there was a watercooler in the little

room so I wet some paper towels and held them to his forehead.

“Sorry,” he mumbled as he came around. “It’s been a while since I’ve done that and I guess I’ve

been so busy scanning the area around where you guys have been staying, checking that every thing’s
been safe, I’ve been using too much energy.”

“Can you make it out to the car and we’ll get you some food? Let’s get your batteries

recharged.” As much as I wanted to yell at him, everyone pushed too hard sometimes when they
didn’t mean to. It wasn’t like the body had a damn gas gauge on it. He gave me a look and I rolled my
eyes. “I’m driving. I can drive your damn car.”

“Yeah, okay, right.” I helped the big man to his feet and then out of the room. The woman gave

us a funny look as he leaned on me as we walked over to the counter. I paid after slipping on my shirt
when Valter told me it wouldn’t hurt my tat. Then I got him to the car and cursed. I hadn’t even looked
at it yet!

I drove us to Jimmy John’s and ordered enough food for an invading army. But with three

massive  paranormals  and  one  big  human  who’d  been  doing  most  of  the  moving,  I  wasn’t  all  that
surprised.  Erin,  Kirby,  and  I  were  the  normal  ones.  Okay,  Kirby  and  I  got  two  sandwiches  but  that
was  normal  for  shifters  who  had  worked  up  an  appetite.  Valter  got  six  foot-long  sandwiches,  three
pickles, three bags of chips, and two cookies.

Riiiight. Okay then. We’d just roast him a whole pig for dinner then too.
By the time we got to the new house, he’d snarfed down one of the sandwiches and pickles,

assuring me he felt much better. I parked, we carried everything in, and I was shocked to see
everyone loudly drinking beer and celebrating… Since most everything was still on the truck.

“It’s over!” Kyle announced as he ran over to me. “It’s all over!”
“Us?” I whispered in horror, mostly because I couldn’t think how that would make him so

excited.

“No,” he growled, grabbing my shirt in his fist. “We will never be over.” Then he mashed his

mouth down to mine. The kiss was so good, so toe curling that I dropped the bags of food and threw
my arms around his neck.

“Get a room!” Erin called out before whistling.
“Try staying with them for over a week,” Brian snickered.
“So what’s over if not us?” I asked as I felt my knees just about give out.
“My boss is in jail. The threat’s over. The protection detail is over. Brian said they’d help

unload and then they’re taking off.”

“Just like that?” I gasped, blinking at him with wide eyes. That seemed a little rash.
“Yeah, well, it turns out the Lieutenant had a hunting cabin no one knew about until yesterday,”

Brian explained, his tone turning somber. Valter let out a string of cuss words and I knew it was bad.
“They’ve found over a dozen bodies already. All known paranormals that have gone missing either
from the surrounding areas or have passed through the Springs.”

“He’s a serial killer?” Wow, I hadn’t seen that one coming. Kyle and Brian exchanged a glance

and I knew that wasn’t all. “What? Just get it out now.” Brian sighed and opened a can of worms I
didn’t want to know.

“Serial killers normally keep trophies. They’re in it for the kills, the numbers, something. The

Lieutenant didn’t. He didn’t see them as people. They found a pit with a cover like they do when they
shut down illegal dog fighting and then find bodies of dead dogs. That’s where they found these
people. This isn’t a serial killer case. He doesn’t need to kill. He thinks he was doing the right thing
to rid the world of freaks or whatever.”

“Fine, he’s just fucked in the head then.”
“Yeah, we’ll more than agree with you there,” Kyle said sadly. “He hid his crazy well. I never

knew. I knew he didn’t have any paranormal friends, but that doesn’t mean much. I don’t have many
human friends and I don’t have any problem with humans. You tend to befriend people you have
things in common with.”

“And it’s really hard to make friends with people you’ll have to watch die one day,” Amery

whispered. “Really hard.”

“Yeah, it is,” Valter agreed, looking at Brian. I felt for them. I could tell they were buddies

outside of the job. “So what about the people they thought were in on it with him?”

“Once people found out that the Lieutenant was killing, they all started fessing up to everything

because they had no clue he was murdering anyone,” Kyle explained. “There were several who
pulled shit but nothing like murder and they didn’t want to be implicated in that.”

“Yeah, I don’t blame them,” Kirby snickered. “You kept some shifters from passing the police

exam is a shit move, but fine, you get smacked. So not the same as killing shifters.”

“Right?” I gave a snort. So not even in the same ballpark. I smiled at Kyle. “So it’s really over?

Do you get your job back?”

“Yes, and yes, but I didn’t take it.”
“What?” I gasped, my eyes practically bugging out of my head. He’d loved being a cop.
“There’s too much damage done,” he said quietly. “I will forever be a troublemaker there even

if that’s not fair. And people might be suspended and reprimanded but they’ll be back and they don’t
want me there. I can’t be happy like that. I’m going to handle security for the hospital and take side
clients and consult with the State Police if they ever need an extra hand.”

“What kind of cases?”
“Cases like yours,” Kyle whispered as he cupped my cheek. “It kills me that you had no one to

turn to. We’ll tell people at the hospital that if they ever see someone come in beat up or hear of
someone who they think needs help that they can get it now. We won’t let anyone else get trapped.”

“You are the best man ever.”
“As long as I have you. You make me want to be that way. I like the way you see me.”

Chapter 9

We unloaded everything in good time, given everyone was drinking and celebrating that Kyle’s

Lieutenant was in jail. It was sad and happy. Sad that those people were killed of course, but at least
their families could grieve now and know what happened. Happy that the bastard had been caught and
the threat against Kyle, and by extension his friends, was gone.

He could put it behind him now and I think the Colorado Springs Police Department would end

up a much better place for the changes this would force them to make. I hoped so at least.

But when our mating seals were seared onto our bodies around six thirty we couldn’t get rid of

everyone fast enough. I did make Valter promise we were going to hang out next weekend if another
crazy protection detail didn’t come up. I got the feeling the man just needed a friend who didn’t look
at him as anything more than that. He looked shocked at the invite and touched when I refused to take
no for an answer.

By the time he and Brian left, Kyle was already in the shower. I locked up the house, cleaned up

a few things, and said fuck it to the rest. We had a week to unpack what we needed and begin fixing
up the house before we started our new jobs. Besides, it wasn’t like the house was going anywhere.
We’d just work on it a room at a time. We already said we’d do the kitchen first and had a list of
things we were getting tomorrow.

When I got to our room, I couldn’t help but laugh that the bedframe wasn’t put back together.

Like I really cared. So the box spring and mattress were on the floor. Oh no! The sex would suck
because of that.

Yeah right. Sex with Kyle could never be bad.
“Take your time in the shower,” Kyle said nervously as he walked out of the bathroom in

nothing but a towel. I glanced at his body, not seeing his seal. We hadn’t been in the same room when
we’d gotten them so I had no idea where he’d been grabbing in pain.

“I love you. I’m thrilled to have your initials on me forever,” I reminded him with a smile. I saw

the tension leave his shoulders and mentally sighed that I’d said the right thing.

“I was a little worried you had buyer’s remorse when you were so adamant Valter come over.”
“No, Kyle. Nothing of the sort,” I gasped. “I love you. He’s our friend. He’s lonely and I swear

no matter what he is, that man has been mistreated. I understand what that feels like and while I’m
spoken for, that doesn’t mean I won’t be there for someone I care for when they need it.”

“You wouldn’t be the man I love if you didn’t.” He leaned in and gave me a quick kiss. “I’m

sorry. It’s just still new and with all the ups and downs today, I find myself feeling at sea more than
tied to the dock.”

“I understand but I swear I’m so in this I’m standing on land.”
“Good. Then get clean,” he growled playfully.
I ended up taking the quickest shower I could while getting every inch of me perfectly scrubbed.

I also slicked up my hole for my mate. I had a feeling when he saw not only my seal but my tat he
would jump me.

I hoped so at least.
“I’m coming out,” I giggled before opening the door. I gasped and almost dropped the towel I

was holding around my waist in shock. The room was lit up with candles, a bottle of wine was
chilling in an ice bucket, there was a box of expensive chocolates on a tray table by the bed, and my

mate was holding two wine glasses as he sat on it. Kyle’s back was against the wall and the towel
was draped over his stomach, groin, and went between his legs. “It’s perfect.”

“Really?”
“Yes. This is amazing,” I cooed as I hurried over to him. I got on the bed, careful not to lose the

towel, and sat back on my heels as I took the wine from him. “Thank you. I’m sorry I didn’t do
something like this when I claimed you instead of just doing it without even asking.”

“Hey, I’m glad you did.”
“What?” I asked, almost choking on the sip I had taken.
“Think about it. If you hadn’t you might have still been in the guest room, Trev. We could have

danced around each other, let our insecurities get in the way of just being happy. We jumped in this
way. You didn’t trick me or play me. It was an accident but I’m still glad. I love you. Now we’re
finishing tying ourselves together because we’re in this forever and by choice.”

“Well, I have another surprise for you,” I said nervously. I downed my wine and set the glass on

the tray table. Kyle watched me with wide eyes before doing the same. I took a deep breath and took
off the towel.

“Baby, it’s beautiful, just like my mate,” he whispered in awe as he traced his fingers over the

seal above my groin. I shivered in delight and my cock went hard and hit him. “Glad he’s happy to
see me.”

“He always is,” I giggled.
“I’ve got a similar surprise.” He pulled away the towel and I gasped when his seal was in the

exact same spot as mine. “Apparently fate decided we needed to match.”

“And you’re okay with that?” I asked hesitantly as I reached out and touched it.
“Oh yeah. I think it’s perfect. We can even start getting waxed together because I shaved tonight

but I think the growing back in will suck.”

“We’ll make it a date,” I giggled and then stopped, frowning when I realized I might have

screwed this all up.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” I could hear the concern in his tone as Kyle cupped my cheek.
“I did something which is really my surprise as your mating gift but now I’m worried it wasn’t

the right thing. We don’t really match anymore.”

“Our seals do. That’s all I meant. I love that they’re in the same spot,” he hedged. I bit my lower

lip, still not sure. “Show me, Trev. Please?”

I nodded and turned around, already having checked out the tat several times in the mirror and

even showing Kirby. I thought it was wicked cool. It was my mate’s name in blue flames, and when I
say flames, it was a deep blue that seriously looked like it was coming off my body like in 3-D.

“Trev!” he gasped.
“No good?” I bit my lip to keep from crying. “Valter did it for me.”
“I love it,” he growled as he moved me onto all fours so he could study it better. “I fucking

adore it. This is awesome beyond words. When he told us what this was and what it did for mates I
knew I was going to track someone down who could do it so I could get one. I wanted that with you.
And here you got one. I love you so much, Trev.”

“I love you too, Kyle.” I felt a thrill go through me at his words and then again when he traced it.

I moaned and heard him chuckle. “He saw in my mind that I’d decided to get a tat after you said you
wanted me to have one on my butt declaring that I was yours, even though you brushed it off as no big

deal. He suggested a magical one and then Erin told me about this and she brought it up to see what
you thought and we did it after the waxing.”

Apparently him touching it also turned me into a rambling pile of goo.
“I love it. I need you.”
“Yes, claim me,” I whimpered. “I slicked myself up.”
“Always so considerate,” he purred. Kyle plunged into my body and I groaned in delight. His

right hand moved over his name while his left hand rubbed our seal. It drove me fucking crazy with
lust and need as he thrust into me over and over again. I knew his seal was rubbing my body as well
and it was pushing him to his limits because I don’t think we’d ever started out so fast.

The next thing I knew he was biting me already and drinking. That’s how hot this got him. It

really worked for me. Then he pulled his fangs out and I heard him bite again right before he rubbed
his wrist over the wound on my neck. I screamed out my love for him as I came so hard lights flashed
behind my eyes and my vision went dark. Kyle roared out my name and filled me with his seed as I
felt not only the mating bond but the magic from the tattoo fill us.

His soul really did touch mine and I saw his deepest desire was to love me forever and show

me how special I was so we would be happy always. He truly was the best.

We collapsed to the bed together, my mate not even being able to move off of me in time before

our bodies gave out. He’d never done that before. I was more than okay with it, wanting him to stay
inside of me after what we shared and the feeling of his weight on me reminding me we were one
now.

“I love you, Trev. Nothing will ever separate us now,” he whispered as he kissed my shoulder.
“Thank the gods for that,” I sighed, meaning it from my heart.
“I love my present. That’s the best present I’ve ever gotten in my two thousand years.”
“Your birthday’s technically not for a few more hours, Kyle.”
“You remembered? I didn’t think I told you the date,” he hedged.
“Of course I remembered,” I giggled as he pulled out of me and rolled over as I did so we were

facing each other. “I asked Kirby the exact date. That’s why I was pushing to call the elders right
away and I wanted to make sure I got this today. We were moving and I’m demanding to get waxed
and had planned on getting a tattoo which without Valter takes a while. I’m not normally a diva. I
knew it was your birthday tomorrow. I wanted this to be your mating present but also your birthday
present to be that you were balls deep in me staring at it when midnight hit.”

“Best mate ever,” he purred before kissing me. He leaned over and picked up his phone.

“We’ve got three hours until then. I’m sure we can do it again and still be going at it at the midnight
mark.”

“Yeah, I’m sure. Just don’t also be surprised if you get woken up with a blow job or several on

your special day.”

“Best. Mate. Ever,” he growled, punctuating every word. “I’m so glad that damn kid wandered

into my garage.”

“Me too,” I giggled as he pounced, slamming his cock into my hole. “Me too.”

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