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Copyright © February 2012, Eden Cole
Cover art by Mina Carter © February 2012

Amira Press
Charlotte, NC 28227
www.amirapress.com

ISBN: 978-1-937394-31-8

No part of this e-book may be reproduced or shared by any electronic or
mechanical means, including but not limited to printing, file sharing, and e-
mail, without prior written permission from Amira Press.

Channing Moon

Eden Cole

1

Chapter One

Channing pulled his glasses off and rubbed his eyes with the heel of his

hand. They burned from staying up all night again. He couldn’t help it
though. The certifications he needed had to be completed, or he’d lose his
job. That’s what his boss had told him a week ago, and it was bad enough he
was the newest tech there. If the economy got much worse, he didn’t doubt
for a second that he’d be cut. Consultants were always the first to go when
companies started downsizing.

Just as he stood up stretching out the kinks in his muscles, the alarm

clock on his bedside table went off. He glanced over to discover it was
already seven thirty. Damn, not much time to shower and get into the office. Maybe he
would catch a break and get assigned to a bigger job, get the client eating out
of the palm of his hand, and impress his boss enough to give him a raise. Fat
chance.

He moved away from the card table, which was a make shift computer

desk and promptly stepped on his untied shoe lace. The floor coming up to
meet his face was nothing new. Neither was the wrenching of his ankle.
Channing grumbled and rubbed the pain away while kicking off his sneakers.
He’d forgotten to get undressed last night.

After a shower, he found the cleanest pair of dark slacks and a shirt and

pulled them on. Rooting through his closet turned up a pair of black shoes
without strings. He hated loafers, so these mock sneaker type had to do. At
least he was less likely to make an ass of himself or break equipment because
he knocked it to the floor stumbling over his own feet. Channing despised
thinking of himself with the stereotypical “nerd” moniker, but he kind of did
fit the bill.

A swipe through his hair, which needed a trim, and a heavy roll on of

deodorant, which he’d forgotten before dressing, and he was out the door.
His mode of transportation might look cool, like a mini-motorcycle, but
everyone knew what it was—a moped. “Damn, I am a nerd.”

For once luck was on his side. Traffic remained light all the way to work,

and he arrived by a minute before nine. He sighed and climbed off his

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moped before he locked it up and walked into the two story store front on
Main Street. The whole exterior of the building was glass panels, and each
was tinted to reflect bronze in the morning sunshine. Channing had always
liked the appearance of GraveChoice IT Support. The place looked ritzy, and
they had a couple high level clients.

The bell rang over the door when he strolled in. His buddy Jason was

behind the counter, eyes glued to a computer screen as usual. “Channing,
dude,” he said without looking up.

“Hey, Jason,” he responded headed around to his normal work area.

“Anything going on this morning? Where’s Graves?”

“Here,” his boss said walking into the room. “I’m glad you’re on time for

once, Channing. Do you have anything for me?”

Channing pressed his lips together and tried to keep the frown from his

face. He tossed his backpack on the desk and rifled through it for the couple
of certs he’d gotten last night. “I have these. The rest I’m still working on.”
He handed over the papers, a bit worse for wear traveling in his pack.

Graves looked them over with little interest. “Good. Get the rest in.

Anyway, today you’re in luck.”

Channing raised his brows. “How so?”
“I’ve got a job for you. This is the most important client I have, so you

can’t muck it up. If I had anyone else available, I’d send him, but you’re it.
Raz will take the lead. You’re his assistant. You two need to get going now.”

Excitement brewed in Channing’s gut. This was his chance to prove

himself, even if he was an assistant. He could shine and show Graves what
he was made of. At the same time, knowing the client was at the top of the
list tangled his stomach into knots. If he messed up, he was definitely out of
a job.

“Who’s the client,” he asked with a casualness that was all fake.
“Derek Saban,” Graves said.
A wave of panic washed over Channing. He’d heard the name before but

didn’t know Saban was one of Grave’s clients. Derek Saban was one of the
people in his parents’ circle of acquaintances, people with money and
connections. All he needed was for Saban to report back to his parents that

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he was working as a lowly tech. Then again, the last time he’d heard the
man’s name mentioned back at home, it was because his father had been
trying to do a business deal with him. That had fallen through. As far as he
knew, his parents had considered it a huge feather in their cap to link
themselves with the self-made millionaire. He hoped the connection was still
distant. Over the last year or so, he’d kept his parents out of his life, and he
wanted it to stay that way.

“No problem. I can take care of him,” he said.
Graves eyed him with a stern expression and gave him the instructions

and lecture he’d given to Raz. Channing listened, but his mind was abuzz
with the possibilities. When Graves had worn down, Channing gathered his
pack and didn’t bother turning his computer on. From the sound of the
issues Saban was having, they’d be out of the office all morning. He couldn’t
help the excitement he felt as he went back out to the street.

Raz had gone to get gas and was just pulling up in his car when Channing

stepped out. “Hey, you know where we’re going, right?” he called.

Channing frowned. “We’re not riding together?”
Raz shrugged. “I have some business to take care of afterward, so I can’t

bring you back.”

“Damn, I thought we’d get a chance to go over the job.”
Raz shook his head. He was just a few years older than Channing, but

he’d been at this game forever. Everyone said he was a genius and had once
owned his own software firm. No one knew what had happened, but rumor
had it he’d had some kind of breakdown. Probably just that—rumors.
Channing found it hard to believe given Graves’s anal attitude to his staff
and the jobs they did.

“See you there,” Raz called and pulled off with a screech of tires.
Channing slitted his eyes. “Asshole.”
He ran back in for his helmet and then hopped onto his moped. Of all

vehicles to arrive at Derek Saban’s house on, he had to come like this. He
just hoped the man would be busy with a phone call or some other task long
enough for Channing to park and get to the door.

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When he pulled up to the driveway, Channing stopped and checked his

map once again. This had to be the place. The drive was a good half mile and
curved among trees on both sides of the road. From where he was, he
couldn’t see the house. He was somewhat surprised there wasn’t a gate, but
he didn’t doubt there was some type of security out of sight.

The house came into view, and he blinked at the huge mansion. A stone

and brick exterior had ivy crawling up the walls, blinds covered the windows,
and just so much character, Channing liked it right away. Every tree and
shrub was manicured to perfection. Raz’s car was already parked out front,
and Channing compressed his lips in irritation. He was fifteen minutes late. If
everything went well at this point, it would be a miracle.

Channing Moon

Eden Cole

5

Chapter Two

Derek stood at his office window, one hand in his pocket and staring out

over the front lawn. He knew a frown marred his face, but his mood was
shot to hell. The problems with his home server irritated him, especially since
he’d lost several key documents to a business deal he was working on. He
should have done a backup, but he hadn’t, and he’d had to call in tech
support—first to locate the files and then to clean up the mess. He suspected
a virus or a hack, but there hadn’t been evidence of it on his computers.
Since electronic equipment wasn’t his forte, he would leave it to the
professionals. That didn’t mean he was comfortable with it, or patient.

The moment the bright yellow moped pulled into view, his mood began

to lighten. He hid a grin at the sight of the slim man climbing off the vehicle
and removing his helmet. Derek took in the messy hair, the glasses, and the
rumpled clothing. If this guy wasn’t a stereotype, he wasn’t sure what was.
Still, there was an appeal about him, too, a scent of innocence that stirred
Derek’s interest. The question was, was he gay, and could Derek have a little
fun with him?

The tech who had come earlier sat behind Derek clicking away at his

keyboard. Every now and then, he mumbled to himself. Derek put both men
to be in their mid-twenties. At least the one outside had to be. The other,
who didn’t appeal in the least, might be thirty or close to it. Being already
thirty-five, Derek didn’t usually fool around with younger men, but the
bumble bee tech called to his wolf for some play time.

His housekeeper knocked and then opened the door to announce,

“Channing Cutter, sir.”

“Thanks, Gladys.” Derek watched to be sure she shut the door, and then

turned his attention to the newcomer. He took in a deep breath, inhaling the
man’s scent. Definitely human, but cute. “You’re with GravesChoice? You’re
late.”

Channing began stuttering an apology, but Derek wasn’t listening.

Instead he watched how the man moved. Not graceful in the least, but his
muscles were sleek and long. He fit his slacks nicely, and the bulge in the

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crotch had Derek wondering just how big his cock was. Maybe a decent size
even for a slim man.

The other guy who had identified himself as Raz stood up. “I need you

to handle things here while I check the server,” he told Channing. Raz turned
to Derek. “Sir, if you can show me to the room where you keep the server, I
can get started there.”

“Sir makes me sound like an old man. I can’t break Gladys out of it, but I

won’t take it from you.” He narrowed his eyes at Raz. “Call me Derek.
Gladys will show you.” His irritation resurfaced a little at the fact that Raz
didn’t even blink or seem intimidated by him. Most people, whether they
knew he was a werewolf or not, were somewhat overwhelmed by his
presence. He commanded that type of reaction on first meeting people
whether he intended it or not. This tech didn’t appear to notice, but Derek
was sure he was human.

He leaned over the desk and punched a button on his phone. When his

housekeeper answered, he instructed her on what he wanted her to do.
Derek had no intention of losing the opportunity to talk to Channing while
they were alone. When the other man left the room and his office door
closed, Derek sat on the edge of the desk and crossed his arms. He knew by
Channing fidgeting before settling in to flick his long fingers over the keys
that he was nervous about Derek being so close. Derek smiled at the bent
head. He considered running his fingers through the locks in need of a cut
but restrained himself.

“So, are you new to all this?” he asked.
Channing’s head popped up, and Derek appreciated the pink tinge to his

cheeks. “I guess it’s pretty obvious, huh? But don’t worry, sir, uh, I mean
Derek. I know what I’m doing. My part of this job is routine. Raz is going to
dig out the problem. You can trust his knowledge. If your files are still in
here, he’ll get to them or trace where they went to.”

“I appreciate that.” Derek leaned closer to the man. Right now, he didn’t

give a rat’s ass about his files. What he wanted to know, only Channing could
answer for him. “Do you have a girlfriend?”

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7

Channing choked. His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down at a rapid

pace, and Derek enjoyed the show of Channing stuffing his fingers into his
hair and then running them along his slacks. He peered at the computer
screen like it was a lifeline and then glanced at Derek before losing his nerve
once again and dropping his gaze to his lap.

“No,” he said at last. “I happen to be gay…and…I don’t have a

boyfriend right now.”

Derek could have howled in delight. He couldn’t believe his luck.

“Really? Interesting. Then tell me, Channing.” He dropped a hand over the
younger man’s and felt a tremor. “Are you a virgin? Have you been with a
man before?”

“I―I don’t see how that has anything to do with the job,” Channing said.
Derek perked up his ears. He heard the tech’s heartbeat accelerate, and

he smelled something that was even sweeter. Channing was turned on. Derek
had no doubt if he got a look under the desk, he’d be presented with a very
nice erection.

“It has everything to do with what I want,” Derek told him.
Channing parted very pink lips to say something else, but Derek covered

them with his own. He couldn’t believe how sweet the man tasted. He
pushed his tongue into Channing’s mouth and tilted his head higher. With a
hand at his throat, he kept him immobile while he feasted on lips that were
criminally soft.

After a few moments, Channing broke away and jumped to his feet. He

staggered back and dragged a hand over his mouth. “You have no right to do
that. I’m not like that. I mean…”

Derek narrowed his eyes at him, but he didn’t approach. “Like what?”
Channing looked away and frowned. The tight line of his lips was cute,

Derek thought with amusement.

“I don’t sleep with clients. Besides, I could lose my job if Graves found

out.”

Derek sat down on the edge of the desk. “What he doesn’t know won’t

hurt him. I want to play with you. Say yes, and I promise I will give you

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8

pleasure you’ve only dreamed of.” He let his gaze drop down suggestively
over Channing’s body. “You’ve had it in that sweet ass of yours, right?”

This time Channing’s face flamed. “Mr. Saban!”
“Derek, remember?” Derek pulled his wallet from his back pocket and

removed a card from it, one he reserved for those he wanted to get to know
on a personal level and having nothing to do with business. He stood and
approached Channing. When he drew up to the man, he pulled him against
his body and had the satisfaction of finding out first hand the effect he had
on Channing. His cock was hard when it met Derek’s thigh. Derek grinned,
and Channing looked away. Derek forced his chin up. “I think we both know
we want this. Here’s my card with my number on it. Call me whenever you’re
ready.”

He released the tech and let him get back to work. Whatever he wanted

physically, he did need the job taken care of, and he didn’t want to jeopardize
Channing’s employment. By noon, his files had been recovered, but Raz had
to do more work at his office to find out who was behind their movement.

“There was definitely a hack,” he told Derek, “and I found a virus set to

release on Monday at nine. That thing would have wiped out a lot more than
two files. Trust me. All of your data would have been corrupted.”

Derek plucked a paperweight from his desktop and crushed it in his fist.

He swung away from the two men so not only didn’t they see his face, but
they wouldn’t catch sight of his inhuman strength. Someone was fucking
with him, and he had every intention of finding out who. This was personal,
not just some random idiot with too much time on his hands. Monday at
nine a.m. was when he was due to present for a very high-powered client.
That was why he’d needed his server cleaned up and the documents found.
The weekend had been set for getting his presentation in order and for going
over all the numbers.

“Thank you,” he said to the two of them when he was calmer. “I need

you to get me that trace as soon as possible. Tell your boss I will pay
whatever is necessary to have you get to the bottom of it. Is that clear?” He
would call Graves himself to be sure the non-disclosure forms that had been

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signed were honored and to be sure the job didn’t go to anyone else. He
would also put in high praise for Channing.

While he saw them to the door, Derek felt like Channing was trying to

get his attention, but he was too distracted about who could be behind the
attack. He figured he’d given the man his number. If he was brave enough,
he would call. If not, well, Derek had never had trouble finding a lover.

Channing Moon

Eden Cole

10

Chapter Three

Saturday night, Channing sat in his computer chair, legs drawn up to his

chest with a sandwich in one hand and Derek Saban’s card in the other. He’d
read the words again and again, but there wasn’t much to read. The small,
white rectangle had been printed with just Derek’s first and last name and his
cell number. Nothing more. Channing didn’t imagine this plain slip of
cardstock was the man’s business card, so it must be what he gave out to
those he was interested in for sex. Just how many had he distributed? Five or
less? A hundred?

The thought made him hesitate, but Derek was right. He’d been turned

on the second he walked into the room. Derek Saban was tall, at least six
foot four, and his body looked like it was solid muscle with broad shoulders.
Channing had always been attracted to men like that. He loved a confident,
sexy man, but Derek went beyond all that to arrogance. He also came off as
dangerous. Should he even consider seeing him? Anyone with eyes could see
Derek was way out of his league.

Then again, what if things went wrong, and Derek got spiteful. One word

to Graves could destroy him and have him in the unemployment line.

“He can be generous, too,” he mused as he chewed peanut butter and

jelly on white bread. Derek had spoken to Graves and given him high praise
for his knowledge and professionalism, going way beyond anything that
Channing had done, but that had landed Channing another higher level job.
If he stayed on course, he would be set.

When he finished the last bit of food, he picked up his cell. Before fear

could paralyze him, he dialed Derek’s number. The phone rang once, and
Derek answered in a clipped tone.

“Saban,” he said.
Channing shivered. He remembered the man’s anger at learning someone

had hacked his system. Before he turned away, Channing caught a glimpse of
the rage, and it had been terrifying. Once again, his misgivings arrested him,
and the words stuck in his throat.

“Anyone there?” Derek demanded.

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“Uh, yeah, it’s Channing,” he said. “Channing Cutter. I’m not sure you

remember me, but—”

Derek dropped his tone low and seductive. “Oh I remember you all

right. So you made your decision, huh? I’m glad. When can I see you?”

Channing sat forward in his chair and dropped his feet to the floor. He

shifted around and cleared his throat. “You move fast. I was thinking we
could go out to dinner or something.”

Derek didn’t respond for a few moments, and Channing wondered if

he’d changed his mind or hung up. He looked at his phone, but the line
remained open.

“We could,” Derek said. “Afterward, when we’ve both worked up an

appetite. You know where I live and how to get here. Come to my mansion
tonight around nine.”

Damn, was he always so bossy and controlling, Channing wondered.

“Okay, I’ll be there.” He hung up with his heart beating so wildly, he had to
close his eyes and will it to slow.

Had he just agreed to have sex with Derek Saban? Clearly, Derek wasn’t

the type to be boyfriends and see each other exclusively. Channing saw him
more as the love them and leave them type, the kind of man that would have
a lover longing to be with him but oblivious to how he had walked all over
his heart. Channing chewed on a nail while he thought about it. He’d been in
love twice in his life, and both times were murder, both on his health and his
ability to think straight. Back then, he was still living at home, and he didn’t
have any serious bills of his own. He couldn’t afford to crawl under his
blankets and not come out for a couple weeks. Then again, maybe he was
more mature now that he was twenty-five. He would go into this eyes wide
open and protect his heart. No falling in love with Derek Saban.

* * * *

After brooding over it for several hours in between cleaning his

apartment and a few errands, Channing decided to wear jeans and a T-shirt
that said, “I stopped fighting my inner demons. We’re on the same side

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now.” He didn’t think it was all that appropriate, but whatever. Derek
wanted what was under the clothes. He felt warmth creep into his cheeks
thinking like that and headed out to his moped.

“Stop blushing, you idiot,” he scolded himself. “He’ll think you’re

immature and inexperienced.”

In some ways he was. He’d had a couple lovers. There hadn’t been

anyone serious for a while, so he was really horny. The problem was a lot of
women came on to him before they realized he was gay. A few figured they
could change him if he gave them the chance. Channing had been interested
in boys as long as he could remember, probably starting with his fifth grade
math teacher. Later, when he was grown, he’d admitted it to his parents
when they tried to set him up with a friend’s daughter. Boy, that dinner had
been a disaster. His mother didn’t accept his lifestyle, and his father had gone
silent. Channing had decided it was time to strike out on his own. He’d never
looked back no matter how tough things got.

Derek answered the door in his usual attire—dark slacks and long-

sleeved shirt. He wore no tie, and his shirt had been unbuttoned to reveal a
little of his chest. Channing noted the absence of hair. He liked a bare,
muscular chest. Desire must have been reflected in his expression, because
Derek’s turned hungry, almost like an animal who had spotted his prey. His
eyes were so dark, he couldn’t be sure if they were actually black. The step
faltered that Channing had taken forward to walk into the house. He had a
sudden urge to turn and high tail it out of there, but Derek encircled his waist
with an arm and compelled him inside.

“I’m glad you didn’t keep me waiting,” he intoned, and Channing

shivered.

“Yeah, uh, I remembered where I was going, and I left early. My moped

can’t go more than thirty miles an hour. Sucks sometimes.”

Before he even finished with his explanation, Derek leaned down and

tipped his chin up to kiss him. Channing brought his hands to the older
man’s waist and allowed just the tips of his fingers to touch him. He tried
holding himself erect and indifferent, but the kiss, Derek’s presence, and his
scent all worked to make him lean on the big chest. He couldn’t help parting

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his lips for Derek’s tongue to invade his mouth. This kiss was even better
than the first one, which had stolen his sleep that night reliving it.

Derek raised his head and then led Channing down a hall. They came to

winding stairs, and Channing swallowed. “We’re going up already?”

Derek raised an eyebrow. “I thought that’s what we both had in mind.”
Channing tugged at his shirt collar out of habit, which he usually did

when he was wearing dress shirts. He didn’t like doing it to his T-shirts
because it stretched them out of shape. “Mind if I have a beer?”

Derek smiled. Channing should have felt more relaxed, but even with

straight, white teeth the man still appeared predatory. “Of course. I have
some in the mini-refrigerator in my bedroom. Come on up.”

When they reached his room, Channing paused at the door. The space

was more extensive than his entire apartment. He stepped inside and took in
the massive bed that had to be a king size. Thick cream carpeting set off a
deep burgundy wood frame. He didn’t know anything about furniture, but
the place shouted money. Not that he was overly awed of course. His
parents’ place wasn’t exactly a mansion, more like mini-mansion. He had
lived in relative luxury all his life until he set out on his own. His mother had
cut off his trust fund in an effort to get him back, but Channing chose
freedom.

Derek took a beer from the refrigerator he’d mentioned and twisted the

cap off. “Thanks,” Channing told him and took a sip while moving away.
Derek didn’t let him get far. He followed and crowded Channing from
behind. The feel of his hard cock both excited and set Channing’s teeth on
edge.

“The way you’re shaking, you make me think you’re a virgin,” Derek

quipped.

“I told you I’m not!” Irritated at himself and at Derek, he reached behind

him and grabbed hold of Derek’s cock. He gave it a good stroke and
squeezed it. Derek moaned low in his throat and kissed along Channing’s
neck.

“Oh, yeah, baby. It’s going to be good with you. I can already tell.” He

worked Channing’s jeans open and the zipper down. When he reached inside

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he grunted. “Already so hard. Tell me, is your ass still tight? Will I have
trouble getting my big cock in you?”

Channing tried not to fall on the floor like a scared little school girl. He

didn’t even get why he was so nervous. Okay, he hadn’t had a man as big as
Derek, and they’d definitely not been as mature, but still, he’d taken it back
there plenty of times with the lovers he did have.

“It’s been a while,” he admitted.
Derek jerked him around to face him and took the beer from his hand.

He thumped it on the nearby dresser and then began backing Channing up
toward the bed. “Good. I want to fight to get in you. I want you to squeeze
the hell out of my dick and milk me dry. But first…”

He gave Channing a shove that landed him on his back and dragged his

jeans over his hips along with his boxers.

“First, I’m going to suck your cock and make you shout my name.” His

dark eyes glittered as he stared at Channing’s erection. “Tell me. Are you
sweet? Spicy?”

Channing licked his lips. His cock bobbed almost like an invitation to his

new lover. He was average sized, but he wasn’t ashamed of it. His shaft had a
good thickness, and from the expression on Derek’s face, he wasn’t
disappointed. “Taste it and see,” he teased in a somewhat shaky tone.

Derek grinned. He slipped down to his knees at the side of the bed and

leaned in. Rather than head straight for Channing’s cock, he aimed lower to
lick his balls. A shudder rocked Channing to his core. He bunched the covers
under a fist and pushed a hand through his hair. Derek gave his balls another
swipe and then sucked one into his mouth. He moaned, and the vibration
echoed through Channing, making him quiver in delight. Derek was right. He
was going to enjoy this like never before.

Derek continued to play with his balls, kneading them gently, licking and

sucking them, and then he moved on to that little patch of skin between
Channing’s cock and his balls. He’d never known it was so sensitive, that it
could get his orgasm building deep inside of him. By the time Derek reached
his cock, Channing was more than ready for it.

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15

His lover swallowed his dick and pulled on it until Channing’s hips came

up off the bed. He gasped for breath and moaned. Slowly, he began pumping
into Derek’s mouth. The man was able to take him so deep, it didn’t seem
possible. Channing’s point of climax rose higher and higher. He knew he was
about to blow, but he struggled to hold it, to feel the overwhelming pleasure.

All his fear melted away, and he linked his hands behind Derek’s head to

keep him in place while he fucked his face. Seeing his tool disappear inside
Derek’s mouth was a real turn-on, and he didn’t let his gaze wander from the
sight for a second.

Derek sucked him like he loved his flavor or was hooked on it. He pulled

back long enough to lick Channing from balls to tip and back again.
Channing was close. He raised a leg and hissed through his teeth. Derek
reached under him to grasp his ass cheek. He hauled Channing up to his
mouth and swallowed him.

“Derek,” Channing moaned. “I’m coming! Oh, hell, yes! I’m coming.”
Not seconds after his announcement, come exploded from his cock. He

expected Derek to let him go, but he kept sucking, and in amazement,
Channing watched his Adam’s apple go up and down as he swallowed every
drop. When Derek was done, he made noisy eating sounds as he cleaned up
Channing with his mouth and tongue. After he was done, he sat up and
began unbuttoning his shirt.

“Now it’s my turn. On your belly, baby.”
Channing was still wearing his T-shirt and nothing else. He rose up and

yanked it over his head before tossing it on the floor. Then he flipped to his
stomach. Derek brought a hand down on his cheek with a sharp twack then
rubbed the sting away. Channing moaned. He lifted his hips and arched his
back. Derek teased his anus with a thumb, massaging in a circle. Channing
heard the sound of him sucking a finger without looking back. The next
instant, moisture touched his hole, and Derek penetrated using one digit,
then two, and finally three.

Derek whistled in obvious appreciation. “Mm, yes, this hole is tight. I

don’t want to loosen it too much. My cock can do that. I don’t think I can
wait. You’re ready for me, baby?”

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Channing shivered. His previous lovers had never used endearments with

him. He found he liked it and nodded, not trusting his voice. Before Derek
could move to push his dick inside, Channing glanced over his shoulder. He
wanted to see how big his lover was. Shock and fear mingled when he got a
load of the monstrous cock. Damn, he must be proud of that. Derek’s cock was
all of eight inches, maybe more. The shaft was so thick, he wondered if he
could have wrapped his fingers all the way around.

“Fuck,” Channing said, “you’ll kill me.”
Derek raised his eyes and met Channing’s. “I can eat you out for a little

while.”

“T-That won’t be necessary.” How could words make him so weak with

desire? “Do it. I want it.”

The first piercing robbed Channing of breath. He lost the ability to hold

himself up on his knees and collapsed, but Derek caught him. Grateful the
man was taking it slow, Channing concentrated on not tensing up to cause
himself pain. The entrance of the oversized shaft didn’t hurt him so much as
fill him and create such pressure, he felt like he couldn’t take it.

“Okay?” Derek asked and stopped moving.
“Yes,” Channing managed. “You’re so big. Every man must be a tight

squeeze.”

Warmth stole over him when Derek kissed his back. “You’d be surprised.

It’s as if you’re brand new, and I like it. I’m going to take pleasure in breaking
you in. You’ll beg me take you again and again.”

“I never beg,” Channing quipped, but Derek only chuckled.
He rested his hands on Channing’s hips and thrust. Channing moaned

and dropped his chin toward his chest. He did his best to arch into the man
behind him, but Derek was so much bigger, he felt like he had no control.
Something told him that’s the way the millionaire liked it. He wanted to
dominate Channing and make him bow to his knees. With Derek’s size, he
didn’t really mind all that much. Even if this was the only night they spent
together, it was well worth it. He only hoped this wouldn’t be the last time.

When Derek was fully seated inside of him, he began a slow stroke that

robbed Channing of speech. His limbs trembled, and he kept his eyes half

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17

shut. Derek reared back and smacked his ass, then rubbed out the sting.
Channing clenched his teeth. Nobody had ever done that either. He was a
virgin in so many ways, but it didn’t matter.

“Do it again,” he asked in a low, rough tone.
Derek gave him another smack, but this time he let it ache while he

pounded Channing’s hole. After some time, his arm came around Channing’s
waist in a viselike grip. He raised him off the bed a little and drew him tight
against his hard body. They slammed together over and over. Channing’s
breathing became shallow and noisy. His head dropped back to Derek’s
shoulder, and the older man covered his mouth in a greedy kiss. A spasm
that caused Derek’s hips to grind into Channing’s let him know that his lover
was ready to release. He welcomed the warmth that spread over his insides.

“Mm, yes,” Derek muttered in a ragged tone Channing didn’t recognize.

He’d dropped to the bed as soon as Derek let him go, and when he heard the
strange tone, he forced himself up to peer over his shoulder. Derek had
already risen and disappeared through a doorway that Channing assumed was
the bathroom. Exhaustion stole over him, and he lay back down to rest just a
few seconds. A little while became a deep sleep of total satisfaction.

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18

Chapter Four

The bed dipped low, and Channing opened his eyes. At some point,

Derek must have turned off the light. He couldn’t see much other than a
shadow moving across the room. The bedside clock read after two in the
morning. He should get up and get out of there, but the energy to move
wasn’t there. After he’d fallen asleep, Derek had awakened him twice to take
him again. The man’s sexual appetite was endless, and Channing didn’t mind
in the least. If he wasn’t going to get any more after tonight, he might as well
get all he could get. He grinned thinking about it and curled tighter beneath
the sheet that Derek must have tossed over him. He drifted off and woke up
again a thousand times.

The next instant Channing opened his eyes, the silvery glow from the

moon illuminated the room. Derek must have thrown open the curtains. His
lover stood unmoving in the doorway leading to the hall.

“I should get out of here, I guess,” Channing said and sat up. The sheet

fell to his lean hips, and he bunched it in both fists. His inability to gain
much weight or grow his muscles more hadn’t bothered him over much, so
he had no idea why he was so fidgety all of a sudden. When Derek stepped
farther into the room, he figured it out.

While he couldn’t see the expression in Derek’s eyes, something told him

the man was in a whole different mindset than he was earlier. He kept
coming closer, taking well-placed steps like he expected Channing to skitter
away like some frightened animal. When the low growl started, Channing’s
stomach really bunched into knots.

“Derek?” he called.
“Yes,” Derek answered, but his voice held a deadly chill to it. Channing

swallowed. His throat had gone dry.

“W-What’s going on?” he made himself ask.
“Come here,” Derek said.
Channing shook his head from side to side without taking his eyes off

the man. Feeling crowded, he scrambled off the bed and scooted across the
room to the far wall. If he could make his way around without setting Derek

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19

off, he could escape. Derek only shifted the direction he took and moved in a
way that cut off Channing’s route.

“I don’t understand. Why are you acting like this?”
Derek paused a moment. He blinked hard and shook his head as if he

struggled to come out of a fog. Nothing appeared to work because he sniffed
the air, and those black eyes turned back toward Channing. Derek must have
tossed on a robe the last time he left the room because he looked down at
himself as if he wondered where the hell it had come from. He ripped it from
his shoulders, and Channing flinched at the sound of the tearing material.
The robe fell in a pile at the older man’s feet, and Derek stood naked once
more.

Channing shifted his gaze to Derek’s body, which was a model of

perfection in the pale moonlight. His cock jutted erect from his body, and
even in his fear Channing felt the stirrings of desire. Staying, though, was
probably a mistake. He didn’t get what was going on with this man, but self-
preservation told him to make a break for it.

He sucked in several calming breaths and then tensed all over again to get

ready to run. With a burst of speed he darted forward aimed at ducking
around Derek. The man seemed bigger than before, taller even. That was
impossible, and Channing put it down to his fear. He bent low and ducked
under Derek’s arm. He got two steps before an arm like corded steel
encircled his waist and slammed him back against Derek’s body. All the air
rushed from Channing’s chest, and he gasped and coughed. Derek hauled
him up off his feet. Channing might be small, but he prided himself in
keeping his wiry body at least strong if not pumped like many guys he saw.
He elbowed Derek in the ribs and kicked at his legs. They were planted with
his feet apart.

Derek’s hold tightened. He moved a hand down Channing’s front and

grasped his cock then licked a spot behind his ear. Channing moaned. Damn
it all, he wanted it. Derek’s hands on him made his struggle a losing battle.
He tried breaking the hold, but they ended up on the floor, him on his knees
and Derek bent over him from behind. He crawled forward, but the man
followed. Channing felt his hard cock at the entrance to his ass. He clenched

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his jaw, and when Derek entered him, he cried out. He didn’t realize he was
going to come with the hard thrusts until his juices exploded from his cock.
Derek only hauled him in tighter and kept slamming his dick home.

Channing crumpled onto his side, his eyes closed, and his breathing

shallow. Something sharp stabbed into his side where Derek held him, but he
didn’t flinch. He lay unable to move while the big man claimed his body over
and over again. This was too good even as sore as he knew he would be later.

When the growl of ecstasy came, it was followed by warmth soothing the

ache in Channing’s hole. What came after that took away all the pleasure he’d
just had in having the roughest sex he’d ever had in his life. Derek’s teeth
sank into the hollow at his throat. The pain far overshadowed a sore anus.
He shouted and writhed, trying to get away, but Derek didn’t let go for a
long, long time.

* * * *

Derek woke up and frowned when he realized he was on the floor.

“What the hell?” He rose and stretched, his bones cracking and muscles
protesting. He had a devil of a headache, but he was confident his body’s
natural abilities would kick in soon and heal everything that was wrong. The
fact that he could was the one blessing he appreciated in being a werewolf.
Not that he minded being what he was. He’d been born that way, so he
didn’t care one way or another. The wolf was a part of him, and at least being
a blood-born were, he wasn’t swayed by the moon. Well, not entirely. He
could shift whenever he pleased, but every now and then, a full moon made
him a little friskier. Not a bad thing at all, he thought with a grin.

Channing had left, he noted with disappointment. He’d been good, oh so

good, pushing into, and he smelled amazing. Derek’s ultra sensitive nose had
been abused with many strong scents, from women’s perfume to trash in the
alleys of his overcrowded city. There were pleasant ones as well, of course,
but nothing as intoxicating as Channing Cutter.

“Mm, and he tasted good, too,” he murmured.

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21

He strolled into the bathroom thinking of Channing and deciding he’d

give him a call for another night together in his bed. A glance in the mirror as
he turned on the tap made him freeze and his blood run cold. The dark
stains on his mouth were unmistakable. Shaken, he bared his teeth and
opened his mouth. Now that he was looking at himself, he tasted it on his
tongue, that coppery flavor that was so familiar. No, I couldn’t…I wouldn’t!

He rushed back out to his bedroom, and the evidence was sitting on the

cream carpet, a spot of blood. He’d bitten him. He’d bitten Channing. A
thousand thoughts rushed through his mind as he snatched his cell phone up
and began dialing Channing’s number. He’d been taught practically from
birth the rules. After he reached twenty-one, which had been years ago, he
must never under any circumstances bite another person with whom he had
a sexual connection unless he wanted to make that person his mate. Derek
was thirty-five, but he’d had no intentions of taking a mate any time soon,
and definitely not a human.

Still, his concern was for Channing. He must have been terrified. Derek

knew how wild sex could get when he gave over to the beast inside him, but
why had he given over in the first place? Why the hell couldn’t he remember
any of it beyond the first few times he’d taken Channing?

When the line went to voicemail for the fourth time, Derek swore.

Channing either wasn’t taking his calls or was ill. Derek needed to get to him
and check to be sure he was okay. Then he had a lot of explaining to do.
He’d heard of werewolves making others, and the change was not pretty.

A knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts, and Gladys called

through the door, “I’ve brought your morning coffee, sir.”

He searched around him for his robe and picked it up from the floor.

The material was in tatters, and he swore once again. After finding another
and slipping into it, he called for Gladys to enter. He took the cup she
offered with gratitude. “Gladys, have one of the cleaners come and take care
of this,” he said, indicating the stain on the carpet.

“Yes, sir.”
“And call my doctor. I’m coming in today. You can reach me on my cell

to tell me the time. After eleven should be good enough.”

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22

She nodded and disappeared out the door with a straight face. Gladys

was human, but she’d been around shifters all of her life. He was sure she’d
seen this and more in her time, and he trusted the woman to keep her mouth
shut about his business. Now he needed to shower and find the man who
would likely be tied to him for the rest of his life, like it or not.

* * * *

“I don’t know what the hell is going on,” Derek told John, his friend and

physician. “I don’t remember a thing, and you know I would never willingly
break our rules. I would never bite a human.”

John rubbed a hand over a stubbled chin, making Derek wonder why he

hadn’t had a chance to shave that morning. “I’ll take a blood sample and rush
it through at the lab. You realize you can be reprimanded for this.”

“Of course, damn it!” Derek growled and then calmed himself. “I know.

I just…need answers. I hope you can give them to me.”

John laid a hand on his shoulder. “If there’s something there, you can

guarantee I’ll find it. Don’t worry. Now go and look for your mate.” The
pinched smile on his friend’s face was exactly how Derek felt about it. His
kind didn’t normally mix their blood with human or other types of shifters.
Hell, some of their kind had gone so far as to trace a potential mate’s
genealogy to be sure it was a good match. No one who knew him would
believe he would do something so stupid and irresponsible as to take a
human for his lifelong partner. The thought put him off breakfast, and he
left the doctor’s office to track down Channing while he awaited the blood
test results.

Two days later, Derek drove up to a house he hadn’t been to before, but

he knew the people who owned it. A middle-aged couple with a medium
sized company had tried to do business with him a few years ago. He’d found
the deal lacking in his favor and weighted toward theirs. He had no trouble
allowing partners to make their fortune using his resources, but he needed it
to be profitable on his end as well. The Cutters were self-centered and cared

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23

only for what they could get. He’d been younger but not a fool and cut the
negotiations short.

After not finding Channing at work or his apartment no matter how

many times he stopped there, Derek had looked into whether he had family
in the area.

He pulled his cell from his jacket pocket and punched in a phone

number. “Saban!” came the too exuberant voice.

“Cutter, how are you?” Derek asked, not really caring. He got straight to

the point before the man could answer. “I’d heard you were thinking of
meeting with Arrow. Any chance of us getting together to discuss it?”

The pause was pregnant. Derek imagined the man giving a silent whoop

as if he thought he had Derek where he wanted him. “Oh, I’m really tight
this weekend. My wife is throwing a shindig at the house and invited a few
key people.”

Derek gritted his teeth. “So you’re not available?”
“Because it’s you,” Cutter gushed, “I’ll make myself available.”
“I know,” Derek said as if the thought had just occurred to him, “why

don’t I join your party? I’ll be there in an hour.”

“Uh, sure, sure. Listen, bring a change of clothing or two. We’re making

a weekend of it, probably take in a few rounds of golf while we’re at it.”

Derek suppressed a groan. “Fine.”
He hung up before the man could say anything else. Now he had an in to

Channing’s home, and soon he would make his mate understand how his life
would change and there was nothing he could do about it. Derek was not
looking forward to dealing with Channing’s opportunistic parents, but in a
short while, he’d have this mess sewn up.

His cell phone rang as he pulled away from Cutter’s house and headed

back to his own. He answered right away when he saw John’s name on the
display. “John, you made me wait two days. What do you have for me?”

“You’re not going to like this, buddy, but it’s bad news.”
Derek steeled himself. “Tell me.”
“You were drugged just like you suspected. The bad part is that it was a

synthetic formula made especially to target weres. Someone wanted you out

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24

of control, and from what you told me, they got just what they were looking
for.”

Channing Moon

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25

Chapter Five

“Hey, dude, what have you been getting yourself into?” Raz asked him.

Channing had considered not answering his cell phone, but when it flashed
that Raz was calling, he thought it might be about work. Not that he could
have gone in. While his friend spoke, he pulled aside his T-shirt to have a
look at his wound. The thing felt a whole lot worse than it looked. Red and
swollen, it burned like a son of a bitch, and the pain wasn’t just localized to
the area surrounding the wound. From his shoulder to his chest and arm, it
was as if a poison was spreading throughout his body. He shook from head
to toe and thought for the millionth time that he should go to the hospital.
Some unknown fear kept him from doing it.

When he realized Raz was calling his name, he snapped out of his

preoccupation. “What do you mean?” he said of Raz’s comment.

“Derek Saban came by here looking for you. I mean everybody knows

he’s gay, but man he seemed really intense, even angry that we didn’t have
your address. Only Graves has that, and he wasn’t in the office. How’d you
piss this guy off, not let him have any?”

Channing sank to the floor and dropped his head in his hands. “Don’t be

stupid. There’s nothing between us. I don’t know what he wants.” He sat
there trying to figure out what to do next. If Derek had come by his job, it
was a matter of time before he found his apartment. Jason, who was a closer
friend than Raz, knew where he lived because they sometimes did Friday
night movie marathons together. If Derek came back and Jason was there, he
might not see a reason not to tell him what he wanted to know. Channing
had to find somewhere safe until he figured out what to do.

He licked his lips and tried to take on a casual air. “Listen, Raz, I was

wondering if I could crash on your couch for a couple of nights. I swear it
won’t be longer than that.”

Raz was quiet for a minute then said, “I’ll call you back.”
He hung up, and Channing sat there staring at nothing and unable to

focus on anything. When his phone rang again, he pressed the connect
button without looking to see who was calling first. Jason’s cheerful tone

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26

bellowed down the line. “Score! Channing, dude, why didn’t you tell me you
got the great Derek Saban running behind you? Enjoy it for all us regular
guys who could never get a lover that hot.”

Channing’s throat went dry. “You gave him my address?”
“Of course, you’re my buddy, and I don’t hold it against you for finding

someone before me.” If Channing considered himself a nerd, his friend
Jason was a super nerd. They’d never been interested in each other. “He had
flowers and everything.”

Channing pushed himself up off the floor and looked around for his

shoes. He considered whether to pack a bag, then decided it would take too
much time. “How long ago was this?”

“Forty-five minutes.”
Channing hung up on his friend still chattering away about Derek like it

was the best thing that could have happened to him to have a boyfriend that
tried to eat him and was in reality some kind of animal. Channing quaked at
the thought. Up until that moment, he hadn’t let himself remember the way
Derek’s eyes had looked, the way he growled and bared teeth that were
anything but human. He had to move and do it now. After grabbing his
laptop and a bag of important software discs he kept in a small bag, he left
everything he owned in the apartment and walked out. With nowhere else to
go, he headed to the last place he ever thought he’d be forced to return to—
his parents’ place.

* * * *

The glass in Channing’s hand tilted, and the liquid sloshed over the side,

spilling onto his hand and his shoe. He felt it but never took his eyes off the
man smiling and chatting with his father as if they were old friends. Derek
had found him. He supposed he shouldn’t have been surprised. After all they
were in the same circles. He’d only hoped for more time.

“This is my son, Channing,” his father said and guided Derek toward

him. Channing froze in place. His mind skittered to escape, but he was
grounded.

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27

Derek’s black gaze met his, and he smiled, but all Channing saw was the

hungry wolf. “We’ve met,” Derek intoned. His deep voice still brought a stir
in Channing’s crotch area, but he ignored it. The raised eyebrow in the
predator appeared to indicate he knew the effect he had. “Channing did
some work for me recently on my computer.”

His father waved a hand and frowned. “Oh, that’s just a hobby.

Channing intends to come work in management with me at my company.
Isn’t that right, son?”

When hell freezes, sure, Dad.
“If you’ll excuse me,” he said instead, “I’m not feeling well. I’m going to

go to my room.” He escaped amid his father’s protests, but there was no way
he was staying down there, feeling Derek’s eyes on him, knowing the man
was waiting for the right opportunity to pounce. He considered running
again, but he couldn’t leave his parents. They might drive him nuts and didn’t
get him, but he loved them all the same.

In his room, Channing paced the floor wondering what to do. Maybe he

could warn them somehow, or he could talk to Derek and get him to leave.
He swallowed considering that idea.

“Channing.”
He jumped hearing the deep voice of the last person he wanted to see.

He spun around, eyes wide. “What are you doing in my room?”

Derek stepped inside and shut the door behind him. “I needed to talk to

you.”

“No!” Channing darted past him to the door and wrenched it open. He

checked the hall, finding it empty. “Get out of here. The coast is clear.”

Derek sighed. He took Channing’s hand off the knob, and a shock of

awareness arrowed through his body. The wound on his shoulder began to
throb. Channing let out a small squeak and chided himself for sounding like a
girl. He backed up. Derek followed and shut the door.

“We will talk. I know you’re afraid, but I promise you, I’m not going to

hurt you.”

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28

Channing frowned. “You mean anymore? Because you did. Bit a fucking

gash in my shoulder. Are you some kind of cannibal?” He realized he
rambled on in his fear, but he couldn’t stop himself.

Derek took a few steps in his direction, and Channing backed up until

the door hit him in the back. His air supply was all of a sudden in short
supply. He clenched his fists and his jaw. Even if the man was twice his size,
he would fight harder this time, but Derek made no move to touch him.
Channing looked into his eyes and noted it wasn’t because Derek didn’t want
to.

“You don’t feel it yet, but you will,” he said.
Against his better judgment, Channing had to ask. “Feel what?”
“The longing—to be with me, to touch me. The wolf will awaken in you,

and his one desire will be to be with his mate, to solidify what’s already
begun.”

“Wolf!” Channing croaked. “You really are insane, aren’t you? Everybody

overlooked it probably because you’re rich. My parents would be idiots to go
into business with you.”

Derek’s eyes narrowed, and his jaw tightened. “Get something straight

now. I’m here for you and you only.”

The claim in his words sent a pulse of raw need straight down to

Channing’s cock. He licked his lips, and Derek followed the movement with
his gaze. As if telling him it was coming had awakened something inside
Channing, an insane urge rose up to move into Derek’s arms and offer his
body to him. Panic set in, and he scanned the room, frantic to get away from
both the feeling and Derek.

Before he could take a step, the bigger man moved in front of him and

grasped his jaw. Channing brought a fist up to slug him, but Derek barked,
“Calm down.” Immediately, he dropped his tone lower. “It’s okay, Channing.
Everything is going to be okay.”

Channing struggled at first, but then he made the mistake of looking into

Derek’s eyes. Some power or hypnosis—whatever it was—took hold of him,
and he couldn’t glance away. A calm washed over him as if someone had

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29

poured warm butter over his head. The sensation was soothing and kept him
where he was.

“I’m able to help you because I belong to you, and you belong to me,”

Derek explained. “In time, you will be able to do this. You’ll need lots of
training.” He hesitated and then continued. “I’m sorry. I never meant to
connect us in the way that I did. Not at all really. What’s done is done, and
now it’s my responsibility to take care of you. You will never want for
anything. You will never suffer.”

Derek’s lips grazed his, and Channing closed his eyes. His body strained

to move closer. In this state, he couldn’t fight it, so he drifted into Derek’s
arms. The other man welcomed him there as if his embrace was home.

“What are you?” Channing asked.
“A werewolf. I was born this way.”
Channing chuckled although he wasn’t feeling light-hearted. “They exist

in fairytales.”

The corner of Derek’s mouth turned up. “Then you are my princess.”
Channing shoved out of his hold, and as soon as he did, his thinking

cleared. “I don’t know what you did to me, but don’t touch me. And get the
hell out of my room. I want nothing to do with your weird fetishes.”

To his surprise, Derek strolled to the door, but he stopped when he

reached it and looked back at Channing. “I will come by here tonight. Like it
or not, we are now one. That bond will only grow stronger. I have to take
care of some other business for now. Don’t worry. The wound will heal
without a scar. Again, I’m sorry, baby, but you belong to me now.”

His gaze swept Channing from head to foot and paused at his crotch. In

response, Channing’s cock grew hard. A low growl of desire started in
Derek’s throat, and then he was gone. Channing sank onto his bed to stare at
his laptop sitting open. If he didn’t stop him, Derek Saban would devour him
whole with him going willingly.

* * * *

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30

Half the night, Channing lay awake, waiting for Derek to come so he

could tell him to get lost. The lying asshole hadn’t shown up. He didn’t know
why that should piss him off, but it did. He rolled over in bed and realized he
was sweating. The sheets under him were soaked. Pushing up to a sitting
position, he dragged an arm over his forehead. Now what? A fever? After
stumbling to the bathroom, he leaned on the sink because his legs were
rubbery. Splashing cold water in his face didn’t snap him out of the brain fog,
and when he looked in the mirror it was to find a haze coated his eyes. He
blinked and scrubbed at his eyes over and over, but nothing worked. Without
thinking, he reached up to scratch his shoulder and then froze. He’d done it
out of habit. The last couple of days, his wound had itched like crazy. Now
he felt nothing.

He scrambled out of his T-shirt to try to see the wound. If his eyes

weren’t working, his fingertips sure were. There wasn’t the least little trace of
a wound. The skin was as smooth under his touch as it had been. Derek
hadn’t been lying about that. What was he becoming?

He left the bathroom and tumbled onto the floor. A curse flew from his

lips as he struggled up. He didn’t even have the excuse of having shoestrings
to trip on. Probably why Derek had taken advantage of him, because he was
both a klutz and an easy prey. He gritted his teeth when he felt despair wash
over him.

“Come on, Channing. Snap out of it. It’s not that bad,” he chided

himself. But then the pain started in his head behind his eyes. His ears
burned, and he cried out, a sound that was more a howl than anything else.
Panic took him back down to his knees, and he dug the heels of his hands
into his eyes. “Come on, Channing, please.”

Strong arms came around him and lifted him up against a hard chest.

Channing jerked and would have fought his way to his feet, but Derek made
a soothing sound. “Easy. I’m here. I’ll take care of you through the change.”

“No!” Channing groaned. “I won’t. I can’t.”
Derek said no more for the moment. He just carried Channing to the bed

and laid him down gently. As if his care ignited the symptoms, Channing’s
skin began to burn, and his muscles felt like they’d gone up in flames. He bit

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down on his jaw, gasping for breath. With all the strength gone from his
body, he couldn’t stop Derek from removing the clothes he was still wearing.

“Don’t do that,” he whispered.
“I have to, baby,” Derek said. “You’ll rip out of them soon enough, but

I’m guessing right now your skin feels like it’s on fire. Less material, less
pain.”

Channing peered at the man between slits. “Then why are you getting

undressed.”

Derek grinned. “Support.”
Channing expected him to try something, but all he did was climb onto

the bed next to him. He lay close but didn’t allow his body to touch
Channing’s. Channing somehow felt the loss and longed for Derek even if it
would hurt him.

“This is going to get a lot worse before it gets better,” Derek explained.

“Basically, all of your bones will break for the first time in your life. It will be
excruciating. I must be by your side. I’m the only one who can be. A wolf
shifter is controlled by his alpha or his mate, if necessary. You will lose
control during your change tonight, but I promise not to leave your side.”

Channing squeezed his eyes shut. “I don’t want this.”
“I know.”
“This is your fault.”
“I know.”
He opened his eyes and looked at the bigger man leaning over him. The

emotion he caught in his gaze tightened his chest. Derek put a hand out as if
to stroke his cheek, but stopped half way there.

“You see me?” he asked.
Channing frowned. “Of course.”
“At some points, you won’t be able to. It’s all a part of it, but when it’s

over, you’ll be better.” He pointed to Channing’s glasses on the nightstand.
“You won’t need those. You will see, hear, smell, run better. Everything.
Even your coordination and speed will grow exponentially.”

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Channing didn’t believe a word of it. All he felt was sick. “I’ll wait for

that one. You haven’t seen how clumsy I am. I’ve broken more laptops
knocking them on the floor by accident than I care to admit.”

Derek chuckled. “You’ll see. Now rest. We’ll get through the change, and

then I will give you something to eat to get your strength back. Nothing
before that or we’ll have a mess to clean up.”

That Channing believed because his stomach roiled like a bitch. He felt if

he’d eaten dinner he would have tossed it up long ago. When the pain
became too much for him to bear, he begged Derek. “Take me to the
hospital. I can’t deal with this. They can give me something.”

Derek shook his head, and to Channing’s shame, he felt moisture in his

eyes. He fought tears. There was no way he was going to cry like a little boy.
No matter what. “Please,” he begged again.

“I’m sorry, baby. I can’t.” Derek kissed Channing’s hair, and he might as

well have stuck a needle into his brain. Channing shouted between clenched
teeth and fought not to pass out. Derek soothed him. “I’m sorry. Soon,
before daybreak. Come, baby, look at me. I will try to help you.”

Channing looked. Whatever that power was Derek had, now he wanted

it. Any way to relieve some of his suffering.

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Chapter Six

Dawn cracked the horizon, and Channing lifted his heavy eyelids to

watch Derek sleeping beside him. Despite all he’d been through, Channing
couldn’t help taking in the bigger man’s expansive chest, the way a line of
dark hair extended down the middle of his stomach and lower to disappear
beneath the sheet slung over his hips. Channing put out a hand to push the
sheet lower and grunted in alarm. Instead of a hand, he had a paw. Four of
them. He jumped to his feet on the bed and howled in alarm. Derek woke
and covered his muzzle.

“Easy, boy,” Derek said.
“I’m not a dog, damn it! Don’t call me boy.”
“You’re in your wolf form. It’s okay,” came the reply.
Channing froze. Had he just heard Derek’s voice in his head? No, it

couldn’t be. Maybe he was so upset he hadn’t paid attention to his lips
moving. Either way, he panicked and tried to pull his nose out of Derek’s
hold, but the man held on. He wrapped an arm around Channing’s head and
dragged him close.

“You must calm down, Channing. Do you want your parents to come in

and see you this way?”

Channing clamped his jaws together, although to his disgust he whined.
“I’ll teach you to change back,” Derek told him.
As much as they’d struggled together over the last few hours, Channing

was less shocked. He’d had some time to get used to what was happening to
him. He’d come to believe what Derek had told him, but this form had
thrown him for a loop. He didn’t even remember changing. All he knew was
he’d dropped into an exhausted slumber, and now there were feelings inside
him he didn’t know how to explain or what to do about.

He bobbed his head in assent, but Derek frowned. “Speak to me here.” He

touched his temple.

Channing jerked in his hold, and Derek released him. “Uh…why are we

able to do this? Are you really talking in my head, or am I talking in yours? Is it a
werewolf thing?”

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“It’s a mated pair thing.”
If Channing were in human form, he knew he would have blushed.

Mated. They were as one. Derek had explained it in the calm, commanding
tone he’d told him everything else over the last few hours. Channing hadn’t
thought he was listening because of the pain, but apparently he had been. He
and Derek were like a married couple, but for how long? Until they got sick
of each other? And how could he accept that? He’d had no choice in the
matter. At first he’d been pissed off, and the first bit of strength that had
come over him earlier, he’d considered breaking that bastard’s neck. Then he
reconsidered. There was no turning back, and if he was going to survive, he
needed Derek. The one thing he couldn’t fully believe was that what he felt
for the man was anything but lust—and that went both ways. He’d never
love Derek, and Derek sure as hell didn’t love him.

“Look at me, my love.”
Embarrassed, Channing met his eyes, and something deep inside pulled

at him.

“Assert your authority over the wolf. Let him know who is boss. Give in to your

humanity.”

Channing didn’t think the words were having any affect or that he got

the whole “separation yet togetherness” of his human side with his wolf side.
All of a sudden, his bones began to crack and pop. They lengthened, and the
hair covering his skin melted away as if by magic. Where he couldn’t do more
than growl or bark, his vocal chords changed, and his tongue loosened. He
cleared his throat a couple of times. Derek’s arms encircled him and brought
him closer to his chest. Channing’s cock tightened from the touch as if it had
found its partner.

With everything inside of him, Channing resisted. He wanted to give

himself time to think this through, but his body sang with Derek’s every
caress. He could do no more than part his lips in ecstasy when the man’s
hand slid over his stomach and began stroking his cock. He shut his eyes as
he drew in a sharp breath.

“I don’t want…” he began but knew it was a lie. He more than wanted it.

He needed it. Still, what if it was some other werewolf? Would he want him as

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much as he wanted Derek? Could either of them cheat? As soon as Derek
moved to his ass and teased his hole back there, all questions left Channing’s
head for the moment. He could figure out the details later. For now, he
needed to be possessed by this man, or he’d lose his sanity.

Derek wrapped an arm across Channing’s chest and caught his gaze to

watch him while he stuck a finger into his mouth. Channing sucked the
finger with eagerness for a long while, and as he did Derek growled low in
his throat. The vibration from the other man’s moan stimulated Channing’s
desire and took it to new heights. When Derek pulled his finger from
between his lips, Channing held still while his mate threaded it into his ass.
He arched his back and raised his hips. A cry tore from his lips with the
penetration, and then Derek began stroking the digit in and out of his ass
over and over. The sensation, the way his anus grabbed onto it and held on,
made him shake in pleasure.

“D-Don’t stop,” he stuttered.
Derek pulled him closer and kissed his shoulder. “I don’t intend to.

You’re mine now, sealed to me for as long as I live. I won’t let you go, and
no one can come between us.”

Channing didn’t know if that confirmed that the mating meant they

would always be together or Derek’s possessiveness. A bit of rebellion rose
inside of him, but he couldn’t be bothered to explore it with what Derek was
doing to him.

“I want your cock,” he moaned.
Derek nipped his ear. “In good time. Play with yours for me.”
Channing obeyed and took his cock into his hand. He stroked it at the

same time that Derek teased his ass. The pleasure was unbelievable. He
ducked his head and watched as he drew his palm over the smooth, leathery
surface. Precome leaked from the tip, and he brushed his fingers in it,
allowing the thick cream to coat them. On impulse he brought his hand up to
caress Derek’s bottom lip. His lover licked the shiny wetness away and parted
his lips for more. Channing obliged him, and Derek sucked hard at the same
time he thrust his cock into Channing’s ass.

“Oh, yes,” Channing moaned. “More, give me all of it.”

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Derek grinned. He moved his arm down from Channing’s chest to his

waist and jerked him backward. “Getting a bit commanding aren’t you?”

“Goes both ways,” Channing said.
Derek shoved him forward until Channing landed on both hands and

knelt on his knees. His lover moved behind him and shoved his cock into
Channing’s ass. He pounded deep and hard, holding Channing in place with
his hands at his hips. Channing could do nothing but take it. Why wouldn’t
he, feeling as incredible as it did. He knew Derek was claiming him again and
again, marking him. Channing took it and mentally opened himself up to
Derek. As if they were one person, Channing sensed Derek’s mind sort of
combining with is own until he seemed almost aware of his lover’s thoughts.
Just when words and pictures that were not his flitted on the edges of his
conscious, he came—more violently than he’d ever done before. A cry was
wrenched from his throat, and Derek caught him up off his knees. Their
torsos were crushed together, Derek’s dick buried to the hilt inside of him.
Sweat made a sheen on their skin, and they collapsed in a heap panting.

* * * *

By the time Derek decided to leave bed, Channing was nowhere around.

His lips tightened as he stepped into the shower. He was pretty sure his mate
was safe here in his family home, but he didn’t want to take chances either.
Someone was gunning for Derek, and until he figured out who, he had to
make sure Channing was safe. Sure, he was a werewolf now and could rip a
man apart with barely a thought, but he was also basically a cub. If the
person trying to sabotage him got serious and hurt Channing in some way,
Derek would hunt him down and rip him a new asshole.

He had a few leads, and he’d gone to make some phone calls when he’d

left Channing earlier the day before, but he was waiting for a friend to get
back to him. As he considered his mate, he smiled. He’d never thought about
taking on a mate before. Well in passing he had, when he got lonely on
occasion, but Channing had been unintentional, and while he did feel guilty
about changing the man’s life so drastically, he had to admit he enjoyed it.

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Derek could search in his mind right now and sense where his lover was.

He knew Channing’s emotions. In fact— He froze and then frowned. Right
at that moment, Channing was feeling both nervous and attracted to
someone. Derek gritted his teeth. He dressed as quickly as possible and
wrenched the door open to stride down the hall at a clipped pace. If some
fool of a person thought they could seduce his mate, he would see the man
strung up by his toes.

On the first floor, he picked up a new scent, and flared his nostrils. He

knew this person and didn’t like it that he was present at Channing’s parents’
house. He’d not been there before. When Derek stepped out onto the deck
at the back of the house, he paused and scanned the yard. At the far end
stood Channing with two other men. Derek recognized Channing’s friend
from work, Raz, the man who Derek had wondered about with him being
unintimidated. Now he knew why. He was obviously dating a werewolf. He’d
be used to their moods and had learned to roll with it. That knowledge didn’t
please him in the least.

As Derek approached, he knew the werewolf had scented him, as well as

Channing. His mate had gone on alert, and whatever attraction he’d felt to
the man was gone to be replaced by skittishness. Derek had every intention
of explaining to his lover how unhappy he was with him playing with any
other wolf.

His eyes never left his quarry, so Derek scarcely controlled his rage when

the bastard reached out a hand and grazed it over Channing’s abs. “You’re a
very sexy playmate for Derek,” the man said. “If he’s not careful, I might just
steal you away.”

Channing’s face turned crimson. Derek crossed the space between him

and the group in seconds. He rested a hand at the man’s nape and gave a
small squeeze. The only thing that kept him from ripping the man to shreds
was the humans present. “Ramon,” Derek growled. “Long time no see.”
Derek allowed his claws to sink into the man’s skin. To his credit, Ramon
didn’t wince. “What are you doing here?”

Ramon turned an even, white smile onto him with piercing golden eyes.

Derek knew them well. They’d had an affair for a couple of years, one that

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lasted longer than any previous relationships he’d had. Ramon had thought
Derek would make him his mate, but he had always refused. Ramon was too
dominant for his taste. Wild in bed, but not easily tamed. Derek liked a
challenge, but he’d wanted a more docile lover. Like Channing.

“Derek, so good to see you,” Ramon said as if they’d ended on good

terms and not at each other’s throats. “I was just passing through.”

Derek lowered his brows. “At a private party?”
The other man shrugged. “Well, I’ve done business with Cutter. I mean,

who hasn’t?”

The insinuation was plain, and Derek picked up on his mate’s offense.

He released Ramon with reluctance and stepped to Channing’s side. He
didn’t touch him, but he let his soothing presence be felt. “Watch your
mouth,” he ordered. “You don’t want to offend my mate because in doing so
you offend me.”

“Always so plain-spoken.” Ramon sighed. “You were the best. I’ll give

you that.”

This time Raz seemed put out, but Derek didn’t give a fuck about him.
“You and he used to…” Channing said in his mind.
“It’s in the past. No need to be jealous.”
Channing swore. “Who’s jealous? I was just asking.”
Derek glanced over at him, enjoying the pink cheeks. Damn, he was

beautiful. All Derek wanted at that moment was to take him back to bed and
show him he had nothing to worry about. “You are mine now. There is no one else
for me.”

Channing’s lips tightened. “Not by your choice. What happened? You never told

me.”

Before Derek could respond, Ramon spoke again. “So this is the kind of

man you wanted to make your mate. I guess I had a little too much
testosterone in me.”

Derek bared sharp teeth, knowing he couldn’t be seen by any other

guests. “Is that a little whine I hear in your voice, Ramon?” His gaze shifted
to Raz. “He not keeping your lust at bay? Perhaps you should stop dabbling
among humans.”

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“Asshole!” Raz launched at him, but in an instant Channing stood in

front of him, blocking the human’s path. He wondered if his mate realized
the speed at which he’d just moved. His actions were cute, but he didn’t need
protection from a human—or any other creature for that matter.

Channing shoved Raz back with a little too much force. The slender man

slammed onto the ground and almost flipped back head over heels. Derek
swore and wrapped an arm around Channing’s waist to hold him against his
chest. He lowered his voice to whisper in Channing’s ear. “Easy. You have
increased strength that you can call on at any time. However, that ability can
crush a human. You’ll need to learn to control it.”

Channing blanched. “I’m sorry, Raz. I didn’t mean to go at you that

hard.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I don’t know what came over me. I
just couldn’t let you hurt Derek.”

“Channing!” The squeak of alarm from his mate’s mother caught of all of

their attention. His lover wiggled in Derek’s hold, and he released him with
reluctance. His cock had gone hard, and irritation rose inside of him. When
two werewolves mated, they usually spent an extended period of time alone
together working out their lust in every conceivable way possible. If they
didn’t, the pent up need made for very grumpy shifters that no one could
bear being around. Their situation had extenuating circumstances. Derek
needed time to find out who was gunning for him first. Up until now, the
attacks weren’t too serious, but he had no idea if and when they might be.

“Channing,” his mother said and grabbed for his arm, “you’re neglecting

your guests. Now let me reintroduce you to Mary. She’s been wanting to see
you again for the last five years.”

The two of them walked off, but Derek didn’t follow. The less he heard

Channing’s mother’s high-pitched drone, the better. He was not threatened
by her taking his mate to see a woman. While he watched his lover move
though, Ramon stepped up behind him and placed his hands on Derek’s
hips. The brush of his cock against Derek’s ass did nothing for him.

“I know you miss us,” Ramon murmured in his ear.
Derek brushed his hands away, a milder reaction than he wanted to give

at that moment. “No, I don’t.” He spun to face the man. “I think you need

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to focus on your plaything. He’s looking a little green around the gills. The
only man that will share my bed from now on is Channing.”

He walked away from his ex-lover aware of the anger radiating off the

man, but he didn’t care. He intended to take Channing by force or by
seduction and find a secluded spot to exorcise some of his pent up lust.

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Chapter Seven

Channing stared up at the moon and then closed his eyes. He basked in

the pale light as if it was the sun. There was no warmth. Not physically
anyway. He did feel something, a pull, an increase in the animal instinct
inside of him. Ever since he’d been turned and shifted for the first time, he
felt it growing stronger. Tonight with the moon high in the sky, almost full
but not quite, he wanted to let go. Of his humanity, of his reasoning. He
wanted to give in to Derek, who had pursued him for endless sex. He wasn’t
complaining of course, but he’d wanted it to stay firmly in the late night
hours when his parents were in their beds along with the other guests.

His mother had also been busy trying to push him onto some girl. She

was sweet and beautiful with a nice body. He’d give her that. Still, it did
nothing for him. No, Channing got a boner only when Derek walked into the
room, all hard muscle and stern jaw. His piercing gaze would scan the room,
and Channing almost trembled like a woman knowing Derek looked for him.
He craved to be in his lover’s arms at all times, but Derek couldn’t see that all
he wanted to do was keep the peace while he was here.

Of course that led to why he was hanging around his family home in the

first place. At any time, he could do as he’d done in the past—just leave and
never come back. That’s what he wanted, but it would also mean embracing
the new life he would lead with Derek. His lover had already assumed
Channing would give up his apartment and move into his mansion. Just the
thought terrified Channing. Trusting that Derek would have chosen him
even if he hadn’t been out of his mind that night was hard to believe,
especially with a muscular god of a man like Ramon as an ex. Channing could
never compete with that. The way he and Derek argued, and all Channing
and Raz could do was stand there listening, was pathetic. Derek and Ramon
looked like a perfect couple. He shouldn’t be in the picture.

“Well, well. Alone?”
Channing whirled to face Ramon. He frowned. “Derek doesn’t want me

around you.”

The man smirked. “You always do what he says?”

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Channing pressed his lips together to keep from saying what he wanted

to. Questioning Ramon’s relationship with Derek would only reveal how
insecure he was. Sure, his vision was better than twenty-twenty, and he could
move like he’d never done before, but at heart he was still nothing more than
a nerd. A scrawny one compared to Ramon.

The shifter strolled up to him, and for a minute Channing thought he

was going press against him, but he moved to the side at the last second and
took up the space next to him. He was still too close, but Channing
pretended not to be intimidated.

“Were you born a werewolf just like Derek?” he asked instead.
“Yes. I am a pureblood.” The pride was unmistakable. “That’s why

Derek and I belong together. There’s not many of us out there. We shouldn’t
have broken up, and you…you were an accident.”

Channing froze. How would he know the circumstances of Channing’s

conversion? Unless Derek told him. They were closer than Derek led him to
believe. “I had nothing to do with that.”

Ramon grabbed his arm and squeezed until it hurt. “Then leave him.

Break the bond.” Channing gritted his teeth to bear the pain. He felt like his
bones were about to snap under the pressure and tried to summon his own
strength to pull away, but it wasn’t working. His lips parted on a gasp.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. The bond is forever, until one

of us dies. You’re not suggesting I kill myself are you, because if you are, you
can go fuck yourself.”

All at once, Ramon let go of Channing’s arm and stepped closer. His

chest met Channing’s. He was taller by several inches, so his crotch met
Channing’s stomach. He seemed thick but not rock solid. “Cheat,” Ramon
suggested with lips inches away from Channing’s. “When you are a bonded
mate, you have no desire for anyone but your other half, but you can have
sex with others. If you do without your mate’s permission, then you break
the bond. You become a free wolf to choose whomever you want to be with
from then on. Don’t tell me Derek didn’t inform you of this? Your education
is lacking.”

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While Ramon’s words shocked Channing, what surprised him more was

that Derek hadn’t come roaring down here to the back end of his parents’
property like some rabid dog ready to kill everything in his path. He’d shown
a thousand times how connected he was to Channing, aware of his feelings at
all times. He should have known that Ramon had been hurting his arm.
Channing didn’t feel like he needed to be rescued, but well…he was pissed
off when Derek should have been there and he wasn’t.

“Thanks for the information,” he told Ramon in as casual a tone as he

could muster in his anger. That was another change he’d noticed in himself.
Anger. If he gave in to it, he could fall into rage he’d never known before.
Being a werewolf was tricky and terrifying at the same time. He hated
agreeing with Ramon, but he did feel that there was so much more Derek
should have shared with him. In fact, he wanted to find his lover and
demand an explanation on several items. “I have to go.”

Channing didn’t care if Ramon thought he was afraid. He felt compelled

to find Derek. Every fiber of his being longed to be at his mate’s side. While
he peeked into the room where many of his parents’ guests were
congregated, he tried searching inside of him to see if he felt Derek’s
emotions. As far as he knew, he was dead with no insight on how the wolf
abilities worked. They sprung out at him uncontrolled at odd times—like
when he’d knocked Raz on his ass. He’d meant to give a light shove as a
warning, nothing more.

Derek was in none of the rooms Channing expected him to be in. Had

he gone back to his bedroom? Not that he’d spent even one night between
the sheets. Derek had preferred to be on top of or behind Channing, and
Channing hadn’t had much say in the matter. Not that he’d wanted to. He
had enjoyed every caress, every kiss, and the more he thought of it as he
searched the house, the more he wanted Derek right now. Channing
imagined himself leaning against the wall, back arched so his ass poked out
and Derek taking him roughly like he enjoyed doing. Channing moaned.
“Damn it, Derek, where are you?”

He came to Derek’s room and quickly checked the interior. The sheets

were undisturbed. His room was next. The blankets had been tossed on the

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floor after their earlier tryst. Channing had meant to come back and
straighten up, but he hadn’t gotten around to it. Still, Derek wasn’t there. He
continued on down the hall.

While he strode past a door at the opposite end of his and Derek’s

rooms, Channing’s ears perked up at a sound. He recognized that particular
moan as he’d heard it at least a dozen times from Derek when he was in the
throws of passion. Channing’s stomach dropped, and his throat went dry. He
wrenched the door open and came to a halt at the sight before him. Derek
lay in a bed on his back naked. Raz, wearing only a shirt, straddled his hips
ready to come down on Derek’s cock. Channing didn’t have a chance to
choose whether he wanted to give into the wolf. In an instant, the beast had
full control, and the only thing on its mind was to kill the human who dared
to touch what belonged to it.

Channing didn’t hear his clothes tearing off of him or feel his bones

snapping. He knew he’d changed because the wolf wanted it, and he was
running on all fours. Raz’s startled and then terrified gaze fell on him
seconds before Channing landed in the middle of his chest. The two of them
toppled over the side of the bed, and Channing growled and swiped a paw
across Raz’s torso, ripping into the flesh. Raz cried out in pain, and blood
spattered on Channing’s face. This wasn’t enough. He wanted the man dead.

Someone came up behind Channing and dragged him off of Raz. He

assumed it was Derek, but his mate still lay on the bed unmoving. Channing
snapped at the hands holding him.

“Derek, damn it, control him,” Ramon shouted.
Channing sank his teeth into Ramon’s arm. The hold loosened, and he

broke free. He went at Raz again, this time sending him crashing into the
dresser. “Help me, Ramon, please,” Raz screamed. “He’s going to kill me.”

Raz brought a vase down on Channing’s head, and blood seeped into his

eyes. He shook it away and stalked his prey again.

“Channing, are you up there?” his mother called from the hall. “What’s

going on? I thought I heard something break.”

Ramon darted to the door and slammed it then turned the lock.

Channing sank his teeth into Raz’s thigh, bringing a cry to the human’s lips.

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The fear that clogged Channing’s nostrils excited him to attack again, but
Ramon dragged him away a second time. “Get Derek on his feet, Raz,”
Ramon commanded. “Only he can control him. If I shift and fight him, he’ll
die, and there won’t be any forgiveness.”

Raz whined, holding his wounded leg. “All you care about is Derek! You

don’t give a fuck about me.”

“Do it now!” Ramon hauled Channing to the far wall and pinned him

there. Channing growled and fought. With Ramon in his present form, he
knew he could get away. Just a matter of time, but he liked the challenge. He
knew what Ramon was saying and wanted him to change. How dare he think
he could win a fight between the two of them. Never. These men could both
die for touching Derek.

When Derek groaned, Channing shifted his attention to his mate.

Derek’s eyelids were droopy, and his head bobbed. He was drunk? Channing
didn’t remember seeing Derek drink much, definitely not enough to lose
control of himself. He realized he didn’t know the man very well at all. Yet
they were connected. Raz pulled him to a sitting position and smacked
Derek’s face. Channing let out a growl and broke free of Ramon’s hold.
Before he could leap on Raz, Ramon got to him first and jerked him to the
side.

“Let’s just get out of here. If we shut him in, they can work it out on

their own. Move now, Raz, before he kills you.” He and Raz made for the
door with Channing on their tails. Channing just got a nip at Raz’s ankle
before the door slammed in front of him. He growled and scratched his
claws at the door. Only a crash behind stopped him. Derek had fallen from
the bed. He crawled in human form on hands and knees and pulled
Channing from the door with an arm around his throat. Channing choked.

“T-Think I’m in t-trouble. Call Joh—”
Derek went unconscious, and the blood drained from Channing’s head

until he felt like he’d faint. He shifted without thinking about it and took
Derek into his arms. Even with his added strength, his bigger lover was a
struggle to get to the bed. He searched the room for clothes and found them
and dressed Derek. In his wallet, he discovered a business card for a doctor

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with the first name of John. He had to hope this man knew about them and
could help. Channing dialed the number.

“Is this John Talbot?” Channing asked when someone answered.
“It is. Who is this?” The deep voice was polite but cautious. In the midst

of an emergency, he couldn’t help wondering if this was another ex-lover of
Derek’s.

“This is Channing Cutter. Derek Saban is…my mate.” He paused,

waiting for the man to give him an indication of whether he knew of wolf
shifters. He didn’t want to be the one to give away their secret from
ignorance. “Uh, do you know Derek?”

“He’s a friend.”
Channing swore. “Look, he’s in trouble. I thought he was drunk, but I’m

beginning to change my mind. I think his ex poisoned him or something. If
you’re a doctor and can help him, please tell me what to do.” Warmth stole
into his cheeks when he heard his voice crack. Stupid. He didn’t care about
Derek that much. All this crazy stuff only started because of him. His mother
was probably going nuts wondering what was going on up here, and he had
no idea how they would get out of the house and what to tell her in
explanation either.

“Give me your address. I’ll send a car,” the doctor said.
Channing sighed in relief. “Thank you. And uh…you know he can’t go

to a regular hospital, right?”

The doctor grunted. “He chose you?”
Channing tightened his lips and hung up. He knew he wasn’t right for

Derek. He damn sure didn’t need everyone reminding him. In half hour, he
managed to get Derek out to the car that had arrived in ten. Somehow,
Ramon had gotten everyone out of his path, so he’d had no questions to
answer from the humans. As he helped Derek into the car, he chided himself
on thinking that way, that it was now them and the humans, and he was on
the side of the shifters, which he supposed he was. Like it or not.

John Talbot met them at his office door and took Derek from

Channing’s arms to carry him to a back room. Channing followed gritting his
teeth and trying to convince his wolf that the tall, muscular man with his

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hands on Derek was only trying to help. He paced, chewing his thumbnail as
John leaned over Derek and shined a light into his eyes. Derek didn’t
respond.

“What happened?” John demanded.
Channing snarled at him, but John only stood there waiting for an

answer.

“I don’t know,” Channing admitted at last. “I found him this way.” He

had no intention of admitting that Derek had been about to have sex with
another man at the time. “Can you help him?”

John brushed a hand through dark, curly hair. The muscles of his chest

were clearly defined behind a T-shirt. From the way he was dressed,
Channing guessed he’d called him after work hours. “I can. This is probably
the same drug that… It’s formulated to target werewolves. Doesn’t wear off
so easily with our faster metabolisms, and from the look of it, I’m guessing
someone gave him a whole lot more than…”

Channing stomped over to the doctor and grabbed a handful of his shirt.

“Something tells me you’ve seen this before with Derek. Tell me! I have a
right to know. Like I told you, I’m his mate.”

Derek’s lips compressed, and his brows dropped. He shook off

Channing’s hold. “I sense your connection, but that doesn’t mean you weren’t
the one who drugged him. Maybe you did it to get yourself connected to a
powerful shifter who is successful among humans. Maybe it got out of hand,
and you gave him too much. Now you want me to save him.”

Channing narrowed his eyes. “I don’t give a fuck what you think I did or

didn’t do. You save Derek, or I will kill you. Is that plain enough?”

They squared off eye to eye, each glaring, and Channing had no doubt

that if he did get into a fight with this man, he stood a good chance of losing.
Still, he would give it all he had if John let Derek die.

Finally, the doctor muttered, “I don’t need your threat to move me to

save my friend.”

Channing watched his every move between pacing and trying to stay

calm. Every time he glanced at Derek, he was so still it was terrifying, so he
had to look away convincing himself his mate wasn’t dead. After a while,

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John, frustrated with his constant questions, sent him out of the room.
Channing accepted only because he figured John would keep at him rather
than focusing on Derek. In the waiting area, he dropped into a chair and
rested his head in his hands. At some point, he must have dozed off because
the next thing he knew he was staring up into Derek’s eyes.

He jerked up, but Derek laid a hand on his chest and sat down at his side.

Channing turned his head away from the caress in his hair, but Derek tipped
his chin up and kissed him. For a few minutes, Channing allowed the tongue
to slip between his lips and enter his mouth. He kissed his lover because
everything inside of him craved it, but that didn’t change the facts.

Channing broke away from Derek and stood up to face him. “You’re

okay?”

“Yeah.”
Derek pushed his hair away from his forehead, making Channing wish it

was his fingers tangled in the silky locks.

“Thanks for helping me,” Derek said.
“I didn’t really have a choice. I couldn’t let you die.”
Derek hesitated. “I don’t remember much…”
“Let me explain it to you then.” Channing glanced toward the back

office, but the door was closed, and John was nowhere in sight. “While
Ramon tried to rip my arm off calling it ‘seduction’ I guess, Raz was busy
fucking you.”

“That’s a lie!” Derek ground out.
Channing fell silent.
“I know we’re still connected,” Derek said, but the distinct guilt in his

expression made Channing’s stomach hurt. “I feel you. You’re my mate. If I
had cheated, the bond would be broken.”

“That’s interesting, because you made me believe we were stuck together

for all eternity.” Channing turned toward the door. “I’m glad you’re alive.
Now I have to go home and explain to my parents why a wolf tore about one
of their bedrooms, and one of their guests slammed the door in my mother’s
face to cover it up. Then again, who knows, they might already be dead since

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I rushed out of the house leaving the same bastard who poisoned you alone
with his accomplice.”

“Channing, don’t be flip. It’s not attractive,” Derek snapped.
“Fuck you.” Channing walked out onto the street, but his mate was close

behind. He caught Channing’s arm and forced him around to face him.
Channing had had enough fighting for the night and didn’t struggle. When
Derek saw he wasn’t, he wrapped an arm around Channing’s waist and
dragged him to his chest. No one walked the streets at that late hour, but
Channing didn’t care who saw them either.

“I’ll help you straighten things out at home. After that you and I are

going away.”

Channing stared. “What do you mean?”
“I wanted to keep you here so I can deal with whoever is after me, but in

doing so it’s screwing with our relationship. You and I will solidify what we
have. Then I will come back here—alone—and deal with whoever has it out
for me. When I’m done, I’ll bring you back to live with me.”

Channing swore. “You really think it’s all up to you, don’t you? I have an

out. I don’t have to be with you. Besides, we’re not right for…”

Derek grasped his face between two hands, and his eyes burned into

Channing’s until he couldn’t look away. “I don’t give a damn about anybody
else. If you are foolish enough to have sex with another man to break our
bond, you should know I will kill him without a second thought. You are for
me. No one else. You’re right. I’ve been unfair to you. I’ve not allowed you
to get to know me and what we are. I’m trying to make it right. Channing,
I…”

He dropped his head as if he tried to work out his next words. Channing

kept quiet, waiting to hear what he had to say. He had to admit if only to
himself, he liked knowing even if there wasn’t a bond, Derek wanted to be
with him alone.

“Honestly, it kills me that you had to protect me. I wanted to be the one

to take care of you. I feel your hurt at thinking I betrayed you. If I had been
in my right mind, what happened never would have. I’ll do everything I can

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to build your trust in me, but we need the time together. So, I’m asking you.
Please, come away with me.”

Channing stood there in silence for a long time. He knew the sacrifice in

Derek’s pride for him to ask Channing rather than command him. Derek was
used to having others obey his orders, and he didn’t have to be taught the
rules of wolf shifters to guess that Derek was the natural leader in their
relationship. He found that he wanted to give them a chance even if he did
feel inadequate.

“Fine,” he muttered, and Derek pulled him close for another kiss.
“You won’t regret it,” his lover murmured against his lips. “Before our

time is up, you will love me.”

Channing rolled his eyes. “Is that an order?”
“It’s a promise.” Derek smacked him on the ass and then turned to go,

holding onto Channing’s hand.

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Chapter Eight

Channing splashed down into the water and cut easily through it beneath

the surface. He loved swimming. Maybe it was because his natural clumsiness
disappeared once he was off dry land, and the fact that he didn’t have too
much muscle and little fat helped him in some way. Who knew why, but he
couldn’t get enough, especially now that he was a werewolf. The murky
depths didn’t scare him, so he swam all he wanted at night.

When he popped his head above the surface, he searched for the

shoreline and spotted Derek. His perfect mate, who was good at almost
everything from all he’d learned about him, couldn’t swim. Channing grinned
when he sensed Derek’s irritation. He gave in and waded out of the water.
Derek’s gaze never left his body as he walked up the sand to where he sat on
a blanket.

“Maybe it’s because you’ve got too much muscle,” Channing wondered

aloud.

Derek reached out and pulled him forward so that Channing had to settle

onto his lap facing him. “For what?”

“Swimming. I was thinking about the fact that you can’t swim and

figured it was because you’re too heavy with muscle.”

Derek’s jaw twitched. “It’s not that I can’t. I don’t choose to.”
“Whatever, dude.”
Derek smacked his bare ass, and Channing laughed. He had to admit it

was a good idea to come to the private beach. Derek had told him he owned
a small place, but to avoid problems, he’d secured another house for their
time away, somewhere no one knew about. So far, it was perfect.

Channing leaned back from Derek’s chest and looked down at him.

“You’re wet.”

Derek shrugged. “You want to undress me?”
Having been skinny-dipping, Channing had not a stitch of clothing on,

but Derek had come down to the beach in shorts and a T-shirt. Even that
was too much material when Channing wanted to see his mate and run his
hands over the man’s smooth skin, glistening in the moonlight. His dick

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hardened as he drew Derek’s shirt over his head and tossed it away. His
thighs flexing, Derek lifted his hips up off the blanket, and Channing worked
the shorts down over his hips. Derek’s cock was just as hard when it sprung
free.

“That’s nice,” Channing commented, rubbing a thumb across the tip.
Derek grinned. “You’re not as embarrassed as you were at the

beginning.”

“How could I be when you want to fuck all day, every day?”
“If I’m too much for you—”
“Don’t be stupid!” Now Channing’s cheeks did warm. Even though

Derek had been right, he felt more confident about them being lovers, Derek
still knew how to get him riled up. He didn’t mind the teasing though. The
relationship was new and exciting. He felt himself falling in love, but he
wouldn’t admit it to Derek yet. Nothing his mate said convinced him that
Derek loved him and that it wasn’t just lust he felt. That scared Channing
and made him think that at some point he was going to get his heart broken,
but it didn’t make him back off. He needed to be with Derek and was okay
with it.

“I don’t like it when you’re too far away from me,” Derek scolded him.

“Especially in the water.”

“It’s safe. You said yourself that no one knows where we are.”
Derek frowned. “That’s not what I mean.” He ran his hands over

Channing’s chest and tweaked his nipples. Channing parted his lips and let
his head fall back a little. He loved when Derek touched him. He loved when
the man looked at him—like he couldn’t get enough. Channing couldn’t
either, but knowing Derek wanted him sent his desires to new levels. Derek
leaned forward and began licking Channing’s nipples. He drew first one into
his mouth and then moved to the other. The tip of his tongue circled the tiny
taut peak bringing a moan to Channing’s lips.

“What do you want?” Channing said.
“I want you at my side at all times,” Derek told him. The words were

more of a command than a statement. “I want to eat you up.”

Channing shivered. “Sometimes your lust scares me.”

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“Turn around and kneel between my legs.”
Channing did what he was asked and raised his ass high so Derek could

reach it. One swipe of Derek’s tongue made him shiver, and he had to fight
to hold still, with his forehead on his hands.

“You’re salty,” Derek commented, but he didn’t stop licking. He sucked

gently at Channing’s cheeks and squeezed his thighs. When his mouth closed
over Channing’s hole, all strength left his body. He held the position he was
in because Derek kept him there, at his mercy, as he ate Channing out.

When he was done, he smacked Channing’s ass and leaned back.

Channing knew what to do. He sat up and raised himself on Derek’s lap. His
ass was wet enough so that he eased down onto Derek’s cock with no
problems. The thick rod glided inside of his anus with his mate sucking in a
sharp breath, no doubt from the pleasure. All Channing knew was that he
was amazingly full. He loved how hard Derek got, how he filled him until he
felt like he couldn’t stand it.

Slowly, he raised his hips and then brought them back down. He held

onto Derek’s cock to keep it in. Derek pushed up at the same time Channing
came down. When they needed to go still, it was as if they’d read the need at
the same time. Channing lay back against Derek’s chest, and his lover
encircled his waist. They kissed for a long time until Derek broke it. He
thumbed Channing’s flat nipples, making his balls ache with their full load.

“I can stay like this forever,” Derek murmured.
Channing nuzzled his cheek, and dropped his gaze to their bodies so

tight together. “If I couldn’t have sex for some reason, would you find
another lover?”

Derek frowned. “Why are you asking silly questions? We are one. I will

always take you.”

That wasn’t what Channing meant, but he didn’t press the issue. In his

heart, he was making love with Derek, but he knew to Derek it was just hot
sex. Great, but not love. He shuddered once again, and his lover’s hold
increased. Derek began to pump into him hard and fast. Channing’s breath
left his chest in a whoosh. He gasped through moans while trying to get

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control. When it was hopeless, he gave into the sensations, flowed with them
and let Derek take him to an explosive orgasm.

Derek always knew when he was ready or needed to come. He closed his

fingers around Channing’s cock and began working it in rhythm to his
thrusts into his ass. Channing cried out his lover’s name again and again.
When he came, his mind spun. He pitched forward, but Derek held him in a
viselike grip. Warmth spread inside his ass, and he sighed in complete
contentment.

Derek eased Channing off of his lap, and they stretched out on the

blanket side by side. Yawning, Channing rolled over so that he faced his mate
and curled against his chest. Their skin was coated with a mixture of water
and sweat, but neither of them cared. Channing liked being in that state after
making love with Derek. He’d always enjoyed a level of satisfaction when
they came together.

Channing yawned, and Derek kissed the top of his head. “Sleepy?”
“Mm,” Channing said.
“Take a nap,” Derek told him. “When I’m ready to go back to the house,

I’ll carry you.”

Channing blinked heavy-lidded eyes. “I think I can make it under my

own steam.” He dropped off soon after in a cocoon of security and
contentment of being where he belonged.

* * * *

Channing strolled into the kitchen and came to a dead stop. “Wait, we’ve

been eating out all week. You cook?”

Derek pinned him with a hard glare. “Yes, I cook. I’m not helpless, and I

haven’t always been rich enough to afford going out every day. Once upon a
time, I was homeless.”

Channing dropped onto a stool at the island counter. He watched his

lover move back and forth from the stove to the refrigerator to the counter.
Something about Derek in a pair of shorts and an apron, barefoot, turned
him on. “I don’t know a lot about you.”

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“What do you want to know?”
Channing hesitated. They were having a great time together, and he

didn’t want to bring up anything that would ruin the mood. “Why were you
homeless? Don’t you have any family? Why would anyone want to hurt you?
Are you that ruthless with business that you made enemies?”

If his rapid fire questions annoyed Derek, the man didn’t show it. He sat

a plate of eggs, sausage, and biscuits in front of Channing and another beside
it. Hot coffee in mugs had already been placed on the table, and butter, jelly,
cream, and sugar completed their options. Channing never bothered with
such elaborate breakfasts, and he couldn’t afford to eat out very often, so this
was a special treat.

Derek sat down beside him and laid a hand on his thigh a moment as if it

was a prerequisite to eating. “You sure you asked everything?”

“For now.” Channing smirked and nabbed a piece of sausage to pop into

his mouth. A hint of maple. Yum.

“Yes, I have family,” Derek began, and Channing raised his eyebrows in

surprise. Derek frowned and looked away. “We don’t get along very well.
They are under the false impression that they can rule me and my money. I
cut ties a long time ago and hardly ever see them.”

Channing nodded. “I know how that is. Not the money part.” His cheeks

warmed. “Just ruling. You saw how my mother tried to match me with some
woman. Sheesh, I don’t know how many times I’ve told her I’m gay.”

Derek caught his chin and brought him in for a kiss. “She’ll figure it out.”
“Go on.”
“I was homeless because I was ignorant. I hadn’t learned to play the

business game yet. I made some bad investments and foolishly decided to
quit my job before I did it.” He shrugged. “One thing led to another with
bills coming due, and I found myself with nowhere to go. I didn’t choose to
return to the pack, so…”

“The pack? Is that what you call werewolf families?”
“Not necessarily. A pack can be any group of werewolves who decide to

throw their lot in together, with a leader to oversee everything. My family
was a pack, but there were others a part of it who were not blood relation.

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My father was the head. He was not a wise man when it came to money.
They do like to live closer to nature and embrace the wilder side of our kind.
That doesn’t interest me.”

Channing glanced around at the luxurious beach house they were renting.

The place was no shack. They had way more space than two men needed.
“I’ll say.”

“Do you think it’s too much? Are you unhappy with the way I live?”

Derek asked. “We could move into a smaller house if you prefer when we get
back.”

Channing stared at him. “You’d do that for me?”
“You’re my mate. I can’t overlook your desires.”
The warmth spreading throughout Channing’s heart had him ducking his

head over his plate. “It’s fine. I like your house okay.”

“I’ve made mistakes in my past, Channing, and in business, there will

always be enemies. However, I didn’t think that any of them would gun for
me in the hopes of ruining me. The attacks have felt more personal. As I told
you on the way out here, I don’t believe Ramon is behind it. He took
advantage of the drug in my system for his own purposes.”

Channing opened his mouth to speak, but Derek cut him off.
“Before you ask, I checked. Ramon was out of the country when this

whole mess began. He might want to break our bond, but he enjoyed my
money when he and I dated. What he wants more is to be with me, not to
ruin me.”

Channing put his fork down. The jealousy raging in his heart took his

appetite. Why couldn’t he just feel confident about Derek? The man couldn’t
keep his hands to himself when Channing was around. He’d just said he
would live in a smaller house and give up his incredible mansion if that’s
what Channing wanted. Couldn’t that be love? Or was he ignorant of the
shifters’ ways. Maybe it was all a matter of course, and doing something for
Channing meant Derek’s life would be easier because they were connected.

“I can guess what you’re thinking,” Derek said, and Channing started. He

didn’t want to be so transparent.

“Did you read my mind?”

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“No, we don’t have that ability. Not exactly.” Derek stroked his cheek

and locked gazes with him. “You’re jealous of Ramon. Don’t be. If I wanted
to be with him, I would. He holds no appeal for me anymore.”

“You don’t understand how that doesn’t really make me feel better.”
Derek frowned.
“You could feel the same way about me tomorrow. Nothing’s

guaranteed, and I’m opening myself up to—to—whatever this is. I don’t
know if I get it. I like having a lover again, but I never had it last.” He didn’t
bother saying he’d only been in two relationships. That sounded too lame.

Derek stood up and pulled him from his chair. He took Channing in his

arms and kissed him for long moments. When he raised his head, he said in a
thick, deep tone, “I can explain it to you a million times, and if you want me
to, I will. But it’s going to take time for you to see. You are me, and I’m you.
No one can tear us apart. I won’t let you go, and I know you don’t want to. I
love you, Channing. That might be hard to believe, but it’s true.”

“Love.” Channing almost shouted the word. Coming from nowhere, so

unexpected, it shook him from head to toe. His fingers spasmed where he
held onto Derek’s arms, and he was lost in the expression in Derek’s eyes
that echoed what he’d longed to hear. “You love me?”

Derek grinned. “Is that so hard to believe?”
Channing swore and broke away. “When you can have men like Ramon?

Of course! His body is—”

“Don’t talk about his body.” Derek frowned. “You’re not the only one

who can feel jealousy.”

Channing stared. He’d never thought of Derek being jealous. He’d always

thought of him as self-assured, in complete control of himself—and many of
those around him for that matter.

“I don’t expect you to love me right now, but I hope some day you will.”
“Are you blind?” Channing moved back into Derek’s arms. “I love you.

That’s why I feel insecure. I’m sorry. I never thought you could love me, but
I already figured out days ago that I love you. I want to be your mate as long
as I live. On one hand I see that we’re connected because of the shifter bond,

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but in some ways we’re even more vulnerable. Every damn man we come
across wants you.”

Derek spun him around and shoved him forward. Channing caught

himself with his hands on the edge of the counter, and Derek moved up
behind him. The hard bulge in his lover’s shorts told him what was on
Derek’s mind. “I’m going to fuck you right here and now, and then I will
spend my life proving to you that you are the only one for me.”

Channing moaned in ecstasy when Derek lowered his zipper and reached

in to play with his cock. “You’re not mad at me?” he managed to say around
moaning.

“No.” Derek caressed the hollow at the base of Channing’s neck with his

lips. “As shifters we are bonded from the bite, but it doesn’t force us to love
each other.”

Channing gasped. “It doesn’t?”
“No. Now, be quiet so I can enjoy my mate’s perfect body.”
“Mm, yeah, take me now, Derek. Don’t stop until my ass is sore.”
“Whatever you want, baby.”

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Chapter Nine

Derek hadn’t been completely honest with his mate, which he hated. He

wanted more than anything to protect Channing. Oddly enough, he loved
Channing’s innocence to what they were and all the darkness that could be a
part of being a werewolf if one gave into it. He’d not told him about a
particular stretch of time in his past when he’d chosen to give into the beast
on a regular basis. He didn’t want Channing to think less of him, but more
importantly, he didn’t want to frighten his lover. Channing wasn’t used to the
aggression that rose inside. He loved some aspects like not needing glasses or
swimming or not being afraid of the dark. However, it was Derek’s control
that kept Channing in many ways. As long as he stayed by his mate’s side,
Channing could be safe until he matured.

One thing he’d decided not to admit to Channing was that he suspected

who was behind the attacks. One person from his past was an old enough
wolf to rival Derek. This person had the power to subdue him if he chose,
and the means to drug him. Considering that fact, he rose from bed trying
not to disturb Channing and walked down to the kitchen. They’d been back
home two days. Derek had kept his mate with him at the mansion, but they
planned to return to his apartment tomorrow and pack up Channing’s stuff
to bring here. He had had every intention of leaving Channing back at the
beach house, but the man could be stubborn when he wanted to. With him
threatening to travel home after Derek left, he had no choice but to bring
him along. At least having Channing close, he could protect him.

In the kitchen, he tugged the cabinet open beside the refrigerator and

stared down at the case of his favorite energy drink. Not that he had trouble,
being a shifter, but he’d grown to like the flavor when he was in college and
one of his human friends offered it to him. Now he drank it several times a
day. Each can was sealed, and there were no signs of tampering. Yet, the
drink was the only constant in his diet. He’d had one the night he bit
Channing, and he’d brought some with him to Channing’s parents’ house.
What he didn’t understand was why he wasn’t out of his mind every time he
drank the beverage.

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He pulled one away from the case and sat it on the counter. Another idea

came to him. He left the drink where it was and headed to his office. His cell
phone was upstairs, and he didn’t want to risk waking Channing to make the
call, so he did it here.

“Hey,” he said when the connection went through, “I need to see you

about something. Are you free in the next half hour?”

“I’m here. Come by.”
“Good. I’ll be there soon.” He hung up.
Back in the bedroom, he grabbed clothes, his shoes and phone, and left a

message for Channing.

Be back soon. Please stay here and wait for me. I love you. – Derek
Hopefully, being in town with him was enough for his mate, and

Channing wouldn’t come out looking for him. When he faced the man who
had been coming after him all this time, he could at least be happy that he
did it alone, and Channing was safe. Standing beside the bed, he stared down
at his lover. Channing’s hair was a mess all over his head. He needed a cut,
but Derek liked it the way it was. From their time in the sun, Channing’s skin
was warm brown like honey, smooth with defined muscle. He would always
be somewhat slim, but Derek liked that too. In fact, he couldn’t imagine any
characteristic that was a part of his lover he didn’t want to stay the way it
was. He bent and planted a light kiss on the soft lips, and Channing moaned.
Derek flicked a lock of hair off his forehead and walked on tiptoe out of the
room. Soon enough, he would be back, and he had every intention of making
love to Channing the rest of the day and into the night.

* * * *

Channing started awake when the phone kept ringing. He swore with his

eyes half closed. “Are you going to get that?”

No answer.
“Hey,” he called again. The phone stopped ringing, and he punched at

his pillow and settled his head on it. Shifting his position, he grunted. His ass
was sore, but not as much as it had been last night. Derek had taken him at

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his word and worn him out. Even so, he was eager for more when he’d
rested longer. With his eyes closed, he grinned. His heart beat faster. Derek
loved him. A man like Derek Saban loved him. Unbelievable was what it was,
but he didn’t doubt it anymore. Derek was his, and no other man was getting
him. In fact, he felt like if any of those bulky, meaty guys even tried to
breathe his air, he’d knock their teeth down their throat. He chuckled and
then acknowledged that he was up. There was no going to sleep now that his
head was filled with thoughts of Derek. He wanted to see him and touch
him. He wanted his kisses and to look into Derek’s eyes and catch the lust
and love there like usual.

Channing sat up yawning and looking around. At the same time he

noticed the note, the phone rang, and he frowned. Derek had left without
him after the speech he gave about Channing staying at his side. He leaned
across the bed to Derek’s side and flicked the house phone off its cradle.

“Hello?” He fully expected to tell whoever it was to either call Derek on

his cell or accept that he wasn’t around at the moment. Waking up to find his
mate gone with such an intense craving for the man did not put him in a
good mood.

“Channing, I’m guessing?” the person said.
The voice sounded familiar, but he couldn’t recall right off who it was.

“Yeah. Who’s this?”

“Let me get straight to the point. I have Derek, and I’m going to kill him

if I don’t see you in person in the next twenty minutes.”

The phone slipped from Channing’s hands, and he fumbled to catch it.

His hands shaking, he ended up knocking it onto the floor with a loud thump
before he could get a hold of himself to speak again. Thinking of Derek
being hurt brought a growl to his throat, and the coppery taste of blood on
his tongue told him he’d grown out his teeth to sharp points. When he
spoke, his voice held a gravelly tone that was deeper than it had ever been in
his life. “If you hurt him, I will hunt you down and kill you…slowly.”

The man chuckled. Because he didn’t appear startled by the change in

Channing’s tone, he suspected Derek’s kidnapper was a werewolf. He was
new, but he had no intention of letting that stop him from doing whatever it

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took to get Derek back. If anything happened to him…well, it didn’t bear
thinking about. He would get him.

“Where?” he demanded.
When he got the information, Channing dressed in a hurry and ran

downstairs and out the front door. He didn’t even pause at his moped but
sprinted around to the side driveway leading to the garage. Derek’s Humvee
was sitting there, and he already had a set of keys to it, given to him the day
they came home. Within seconds, he was down the drive and on his way to
the address the man had given him.

Not until Channing drew up to the small country cottage did he place the

voice with the person he remembered. At the front door, he didn’t need to
ring the bell. “Hello, Channing.” Dr. John Talbert smiled pleasantly as if this
were a casual visit. Channing leaped from the foot of the steps to the top and
smashed into John’s chest, sending them both crashing toward the floor. Just
as his back hit the tile, he flipped Channing over his head. Channing slid
along the floor and cracked his hip on the wall. He winced in pain but was
on his feet in a flash, facing John.

“Where is he?” he demanded.
“Safe.” John stood at a more leisurely pace and brushed his clothes off as

if even a speck of dust had settled on them. Channing noted the bastard
wasn’t even breathing hard, and here he wanted to give into his pain and rub
his hip. John strolled toward the small living room off the front hall. “Care to
join me for a cup of coffee?”

“Fuck you!” He took a step forward, but the man’s dark glare—the beast

obvious in their depths—made him second guess his intentions. “Where’s
Derek? You need to tell me now.”

“Calm down, boy,” John spat. For a moment his façade of calm

disappeared, and Channing had the satisfaction of knowing he wasn’t in total
control like he wanted him to belief. John’s jaw had tightened, and a vein
pulsed in his temple.

“I’m not a boy,” Channing said. “I’m twenty-five.”

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“You were young and inexperienced as a human and more so now that

you’re a werewolf. I’ve been around a lot longer, and I was born werewolf. I
can take you down any time and barely break a sweat.”

Channing narrowed his eyes to slits. “You think that makes you better

than me? I’ve seen your type all my life too. If it wasn’t the people who were
born richer than my Dad with better connections, it was the other geeks who
thought because I was new in the computer field that I’m ignorant.”

Instead of anger, amusement clouded John’s gaze. “One has nothing to

do with the other. Either way, you’re being here serves a purpose. Now come
into the living room and let’s sit down to talk. Or you can try to fight me in
the hall. Your choice.”

Channing hesitated. He peered around. The house seemed small and

ordinary. He had somehow expected any doctor Derek used to have better
means or at least to live more comfortably. Maybe this was a house for
disposing of people that crossed him. A vision came to mind, of John in the
woods behind the cottage burying bodies. He shivered and decided to sit
down with the man, at least until he could come up with a strategy to outwit
him. John had spoken the truth when he said he was far more experienced.
Channing had felt the strength of his muscle when he tossed him like a rag
doll.

“Fine. We can sit down and talk,” he conceded. “But then you tell me

where you’re keeping Derek.”

John made no commitment either way. He walked ahead of Channing as

if he had nothing to be afraid of. That pissed Channing off, but he had to
admit he was at a loss. In his mind on the way over here, he’d imagined
jerking the guy up against a wall and pounding on him until he confessed
where he was keeping Derek. Nothing had gone as he’d expected.

They sat before a tray already on the table, complete with a coffee pot,

mugs, and even pastry. Channing hadn’t eaten anything that morning, and he
was surprised he even had an appetite. He ignored the coffee figuring the
bastard might have drugged it and grabbed a cream cheese strudel. Fresh, it
melted in his mouth, and he’d wolfed it down within two seconds before
John began talking.

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“I’ve known Derek since we were kids, feeling our beast, giving in to our

wilder natures.”

Channing looked up from the tray. Derek had said something like that to

him but didn’t elaborate, something about being wilder in his past. “What did
you do?”

John’s eyebrows rose. “Now you’re interested because you think I’m

going to tell you more about Derek, things he never told you.”

Channing’s lips tightened, but he shrugged. “Whatever. I trust him.”
“Because you’re bonded or because you know him?”
“Get to the point, Talbot, or tell me where my mate is.”
John took the time to add sugar to his coffee, stirred it, and sat back after

taking a sip. His calm drove Channing to grit his teeth. He was no good at
playing these games. He was out of his league, just as he felt he was with
Derek. However, he’d come to the conclusion that Derek was for him, and
he wasn’t changing that view because of his insecurities. Not anymore. Derek
loved him. He had that to hold on to.

“Do you know that he killed my mate in cold-blooded murder?” John

asked.

Blood drained from Channing’s head causing his head to spin. “What?”
“You heard me,” John said. “Fifteen years ago, Derek killed my mate.”
Channing surged to his feet and paced. He pushed a hand through his

hair and turned back to the doctor. “There must have been more to it than
that. Derek is not a murderer.”

John eyed him with pity for a few minutes. “Our kind gets one chance

and one only. The person meant to be our mate is a perfect match. I was
fortunate to find her early.”

Channing gasped. “Her? So you’re not gay?”
“Did I give any indication that I was?” The offense was obvious. If

Channing wasn’t so worried about Derek, he would have laughed.

“Sorry.”
“Yes, Olivia was a born shifter, like Derek and I. We grew up in the same

pack. Most were his family, and myself and Olivia were transplants from
another. We were orphans. She and I knew right away that we were a match.

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We planned to exchange bites. Derek, who was jealous from the start,
pushed for us to wait until we were older, until we’d lived more and
experienced more.”

Channing frowned. “I don’t see anything wrong with that. Lots of people

realize they are too young to commit and wait. That’s not just a shifter
thing.”

John slammed his coffee cup on the tray, and the delicate piece shattered

with hot coffee spilling everywhere. The man didn’t even jump at the burns
he must have felt, which was a testament to how angry he was. All calm had
gone out the window, and for the first time, Channing was nervous.

“You don’t get it.” John stood up and came around the table to face

Channing. “He’s not the perfect man you give him credit for. He convinced
me to put off mating with Olivia. Then he lured us both out for a run in the
woods, and under the guise of just letting our beasts have some fun, he
hunted her. He broke her neck, and she died. Now you see? He murdered
the only person that I could ever love, the only person that I could ever bond
with.”

Channing sagged against the mantel behind him and held on because he

felt like he was going to collapse onto the floor. He’d seen the violence in
Derek held in check. Hell, he felt it in himself when he was angry, but could
Derek have done what John accused him of?

“I just don’t believe…” he began, but his cell phone rang. He froze, and

so did John. Channing pulled it from his pocket and looked down. The
breath left his lungs in a hurry at Derek’s name flashing on the screen. “You
said—”

Moving at lightning speed, John snatched the phone from Channing’s

hands and stabbed the connect button and then the speaker. He grinned as
he answered. “Hello, Derek.”

For a few seconds, Derek said nothing and then, “Where’s Channing?”
Channing recognized the same deep tone he’d used earlier, when he’d

been losing control to the beast. He could imagine Derek was afraid for him.
In fact, he swore he could feel it, burning in his chest. Thinking about their
connection, he recalled how they could speak to each other without words.

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Why hadn’t he remembered earlier? He could have called to Derek and
confirmed whether John had him, but he hadn’t been thinking straight.

“I’m here, baby. Tell me you’re safe,” he called out mentally.
John grinned. “Oh, you’ll have to say whatever it is you’re saying out

loud, I’m afraid.” Channing hated the smug expression on the man’s face.
“Your greed allowed me a certain amount of control.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Channing demanded.
“Channing! Baby, are you okay? Where are you? John, if you’ve hurt

him—”

Earlier, the calm had morphed to rage, but now John seemed almost

tipsy with happiness. “Don’t worry, Derek. All I’ve done is feed your mate
something I developed to block the mental connection between the two of
you. I imagine you were both so worried about each other that you never
noticed you couldn’t communicate. You see, Channing, the drug wasn’t in
the coffee. It was in the pastry.”

Derek let loose a string of curses. Channing heard furniture being

upturned and material ripping. He knew Derek had lost it, and he wasn’t
going to be able to talk again until he calmed down. John appeared to come
to the same conclusion because he pressed the End Call button and pocketed
Channing’s cell phone.

“If I had planned this from the beginning, it couldn’t be more perfect.”

He grinned. “I phoned Derek and told him to meet me. I knew he was
starting to suspect it was me behind the attacks. He thought he had
everything in his control. You noticed that about him, haven’t you? His
arrogance took him away from you long enough for me to lure you here.
Now he’ll get to see how it feels to lose the person he loves the most.”

A cold chill ran down Channing’s back. As much as he searched his

mind, he had no idea how to get out of this mess. If he didn’t think of
something soon, he and Derek would be separated forever. More than his
own life, he thought of the pain Derek would experience. He couldn’t let that
happen. If he wasn’t stronger than John, then just maybe he was smarter.

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Chapter Ten

Derek ran through the trees at top speed, only stopping occasionally to

be sure he was still on the trail. He’d heard his phone ring before he left
John’s office, where he thought he’d been meeting him. Being so upset, he’d
been unable to change back to his human form. Fear and rage had let the
beast loose, and unless satisfied, it would not relinquish control. The wolf
was on the right track, though. If he couldn’t get information on the phone
about where Channing was being held, then he had to track him by scent.

When they were young, he, John, and Olivia had played for hours

learning to track using scent. Each would take turns hunting the other two.
They’d honed their skills and become very good at it. The problem was that
giving in to the wolf came with a certain amount of risk as well. Everything
was instinct, and sometimes it could get out of hand.

He knew why John hated him. He’d thought all those years ago that his

friend had forgiven him. Now he knew differently. Olivia’s death had been
an accident. She’d been trying to prove that she was superior to him. He
didn’t understand why she was so driven and why it mattered all of a sudden.
That last day, Derek had gotten it into his head that if he just let her win and
make it look good, she’d back off, so he issued the challenge. Olivia had
jumped on it and declared he should be the first to hunt for them. He agreed.

Her scent had been easy to pick up. She wasn’t as clever as John or

himself at finding ways to mask it. The moment he came upon her in the
thicket, he’d realized his mistake. Olivia grew angry and snapped him. Her
attacks became more aggressive, like she was looking to hurt him. Back then
it didn’t take much for Derek to lose his temper, and in wolf form, his
instincts took over—self-preservation and the will to fight. Before he knew
it, his jaws had clamped around her throat and a shake of his head had
broken her neck.

The pack leader, his father, had investigated and come to the conclusion

that it was an accident and that Olivia had incited him, a young, undisciplined
werewolf. While he realized Derek hadn’t meant to kill her, he still paid the
price—exile from the pack. Later when he made his fortune, his family had

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invited him back, but he refused. Even if it wasn’t obvious they wanted to
get their hands on his money, he’d never really forgiven them for abandoning
him, nor forgiven himself for what he’d done. He’d thought he was more
fortunate than he ever deserved that his best friend forgave him. Now he
knew differently. John had been harboring his hatred for fifteen years.

Memories of the past faded from Derek’s immediate thoughts when a

small cottage came into view. There was no mistaking both John’s and
Channing’s scents. He crouched low toward the ground and stalked closer
while pricking his ears forward and back to catch any sounds. When he
stepped onto the back porch, he paused. A small window stood above him.
He could break it and jump through, but he had no idea how close Derek
was to Channing and if he held a weapon on him. When voices reached him
from just beyond, he strained to listen in.

“I don’t want to be with him anymore than you want me to be,”

Channing was saying. Derek clenched his jaws tight to keep from growling
his hurt. Channing went on. “You know how this bond works. It makes me
feel like I love him, when I know I don’t. I mean he didn’t even give me a
choice. He attacked me, and next thing I know I’m a werewolf. Not the plan
I had for my life let me tell you.”

Derek paced in confusion a minute. Channing knew what he said wasn’t

true. Derek had explained it to him, that bonding didn’t make a person love
his mate. Had he not believed him? Then it came to him. His baby was
counting on John being ignorant of that fact, but to what end?

“You know that if I sleep with someone else, our bond will be broken,

right?” Channing asked.

“So?” John spoke with hesitation.
“So, it’s one more way to get back at Derek if his mate is taken away

from him. Imagine his humiliation to find out I chose someone else over
him. It almost happened recently with another guy. I’m pretty sick of the
number of men from his past at this point.”

If Derek could have frowned in his wolf form, he would have. He didn’t

know if Channing was looking to delay whatever John had planned to do to
him or what. John wasn’t gay, so he couldn’t imagine the man going for the

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idea, and bringing in someone else would get messy. Channing hadn’t
thought this thing all the way through. He needed to take action before it
went too much further.

To his surprise, John chuckled. “You know I’m not gay. I assume you

were offering yourself to me.”

“Offering myself? No.” Derek heard steps and guessed that Channing

walked toward John. He wouldn’t accept John touching Channing—or
anyone else for that matter. John would be dead before more than a fingertip
touched his mate. When all was silent, he strained his ears to hear more. A
growl started in his throat at John’s tone when he spoke again.

“I―I don’t like…” John stuttered.
“Come on,” Channing interrupted. “I know a curious man when I see

him. You’ve wondered. Maybe not with me, but with Derek. But you hate
him, and I get it. Just think of putting your dick in the place he’s claimed as
his own. Maybe we could even take a few pictures to tease him with. If I’m
dead, the pain will fade. Trust me. Derek is a cold son of a bitch. He’s all
about himself. No, the picture—the sex—that’s the way to strike an arrogant
man like him, in his pants, over and over again.”

Derek saw red. He backed up a few paces and crouched ready to jump

through the window. He had heard enough.

“I have to admit I like the plan,” John declared. “I’m…uh…nervous

about it. You know. I haven’t done that before.”

“All you do is get it hard and stick it in,” Channing said. “Here, I’ll show

you.”

At the sound of the zipper going down, Derek shattered the window and

landed in the middle of the floor. He barely paused a second before he was
on them. He sent Channing flying backward and lurched for John. In an
instant, his old friend shifted, and they tumbled about the floor, biting at
each other while trying to get the upper hand. Derek pounced onto his chest
and knocked him to the floor on his side. John twisted away, and they faced
off again.

Around and around, they circled each other. John was the first to strike.

He came at Derek, but Derek leaped to the side and spun to catch the other

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wolf around the throat. Déjà vu washed over him the moment John howled
in pain, and he let go to back away.

John dropped to the floor panting, and Derek watched blood pool on the

floor by his throat. Seeing it brought his humanity back, and he shifted. He
leaned over John to have a look, but the wolf snapped at him. All the fight
was gone, so Derek wasn’t too worried. “Accept that this is over, John.
Please. I don’t want to kill you. If I could go back and give my life for
Olivia’s I would, but I can’t change what happened. I’m sorry.”

Derek heard Channing’s sound of protest, but he didn’t turn away from

his friend. After some time, John shifted, but his labored breathing hadn’t
improved. “I worked tirelessly…nights…to create that formula. I could give
you a timed release. The dosage would build up in your system until it took
full effect. You were too stupid to know, too predictable. I own the shop that
supplies it just for you.” He laughed without humor, and Derek saw the
sorrow in his eyes. “I knew it was her. She was to be mated to me, but she
fell in love with you. It drove her mad because she knew it could never be. I
will never forgive you for that.”

Derek reached a hand out to touch his friend, but John ducked away.

Before he knew what John intended, the man had shifted again and jumped
through the window. Derek ran over to it, but he didn’t care. “John, wait!”

His friend was gone.
Derek cursed and punched the wall. He couldn’t make it right. Nothing

he could say or do would ever make it right. Channing stood at his side and
laid a hand on his arm. Derek glared at him tight-lipped. “What do you want?
To throw more insults at me? Too many men from my past getting on your
nerves, right? I’m an arrogant son of a bitch according to you.”

Channing raised an eyebrow and smirked. “You got that last part right.”

He threw himself into Derek’s arms and kissed his lips so thoroughly, Derek
lost the ability to think of anything other than his mate. He crushed
Channing to his chest, loving the hardness of Channing’s cock on his thigh,
and pushed his tongue between the soft lips. A moan erupted from his
throat, and he lifted Channing into his arms to carry him to the small bed in
the corner. He laid his lover down and climbed on the bed next to him. Not

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questioning whether Channing wanted it, he pushed his mate’s legs apart and
settled between them. Channing’s strong thighs locked him in place, making
Derek’s dick twitch in anticipation of taking him. Still, Derek hesitated.

He raised his head and peered down into Channing’s eyes. “What you

said to John…”

“I didn’t mean it.” Channing caressed his cheek. “I already said I love

you, Derek, and I can’t believe you’re questioning that. It kind of makes me
feel good, a man like you. You’ve got everything going for you, and I was
always the weak little nerd who depended on my parents. Even when I left
their house to strike out on my own, I had to go back.”

Derek frowned. “That was my fault.”
“No, baby.” Channing pulled him in for a kiss, and Derek was only too

happy to give him whatever he wanted. “It was fate. Like we were talking
about before, we’re mated but we’re not forced to love each other. I love you
so much. I’d give my life for you. I’d even fuck another man.”

Derek growled. “You weren’t going to go through with that?”
Channing grinned. “If I had to I would have. I knew I’d always be with

you no matter what, whether we’re bonded or not. I believe in us. I believe in
you.”

Derek looked away. He was about to rise, but Channing held him. He

could have broken free with no trouble, but he didn’t want to. Channing’s
warmth and his love soothed the pain of what he had done. He could almost
believe that one day he’d let it all go and truly live. He saw himself helping
John to do the same. Damn, so this was what love did to a man—cut his
balls off and handed them to his mate.

Derek looked down and pinched the button open on Channing’s pants.

He pushed the sides of the zipper wider and tugged Channing’s cock into
view. Brushing his fingertips through the tiny silky spirals at the base of his
lover’s shaft made his cock even harder. He licked his lips and took the dick
into his palm.

“Are you sure you want to be with me?” he asked.
A shudder passed over Channing, and he closed his eyes, lips parting.

“You ask me that while holding my dick?”

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Derek grinned. He slipped down the bed and took the stiff erection into

his mouth. A few long sucks and a lick, and he glanced up. “I never claimed
to play fair.”

Channing moaned. “You are controlling and arrogant. You play dirty to

get your way, but that’s what I love about you. It’s what I want. Take me,
Derek. I want to belong to you. I want you to command me and take care of
me. Do whatever you want. I don’t care. Just stay.”

“I promise I will, my love.”
He tugged Channing’s pants all the way off and threw them on the floor.

He was already naked, so he raised his lover’s legs and hungrily licked at his
pretty ass. He kissed it and rimmed it with his tongue. A little pressure and
Channing was crying out his pleasure. Because he couldn’t stand being
outside of his mate another second, Derek climbed up the bed and jerked
Channing by his thighs onto his lap. His cock needed no guidance as it slid
home. They both shouted their pleasure, and Derek began ramming every
inch of his cock as deep as he could get it. Too soon he was ready to fall, and
he collapsed onto Channing’s chest as he emptied his hot seed into his ass.

The End

TuÉâà à{x Tâà{ÉÜ

Eden Cole is the author of several erotic works including male/male and

ménage, and she has many more on the way. Please visit Risky Ink at

riskyink.blogspot.com

to find out more about her first time series, her wolf

shifter series, and her cop series of male/male novellas.