Wolves of Stone Ridge 06 Goading the Enforcer

Jared Templeton returned to Colin City for one reason, to
make it through his sister’s wedding. After that he wanted to
return to his home in Massachusetts and go back to his
blessed solitude and his life as an assassin. He didn’t plan on
attending a viewing for a deceased mentor, agreeing to help
his shifter friend rescue a blind man, or learning that he had
a shifter mate, a male shifter mate. He’d never been attracted
to a man before, but he couldn’t deny that he lusted after
this one. And he had no clue what to do about it, or how he
could fit the wolf shifter into his life if he did give in to his
desires.

Carson Angeni is the enforcer for the Stone Ridge wolf

pack. He’s followed his alpha’s commands and obeyed him
without question, even to the point of taking lives to ensure
the safety of his pack. When he’s faced with a mate who kills
for money, with no remorse and no conscience, he questions
Fate’s choice. How can he accept someone who seems to get
his jollies by goading those around him, not to mention
Jared lives halfway across the country? But as he gets to
know the man, Carson learns that there is more to him than
Jared’s brash exterior displays. There’s definitely a
connection between them and both have trouble denying it,
but Carson can’t accept Jared’s work as an assassin. And
when Carson discovers that Jared knew from the beginning
that he was Carson’s mate, it creates even more tension
between them. Can Carson learn to trust his mate while
trying to convince Jared to give up the only life and the only
job he’s ever known, to settle with him in Stone Ridge?

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Goading the Enforcer

ISBN: 978-1-77111-101-0

Cover art by Martine Jardin

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Goading the Enforcer

Wolves of Stone Ridge: Book Six

Charlie Richards

For those that hate reading a cliffhanger ending as much

as I do… May we never have to go through one again.

Chapter One

ared stared up at his childhood home. Ten years was a
long time to stay away, even though he knew it was for

the best. He didn’t want his life as an assassin to touch his
parents or sisters. But when his mother had told him his
older sister was getting married, he’d had no choice but to
make the trip to Colin City. Jared took a deep breath and
climbed out of his rented Porsche, prepared to put on the
façade of his life.

He hadn’t even reached the porch when the door swung

open and Patricia stepped out and rested her hands on her
hips.

“You are so giving me a ride in that!”
Grinning up at his sister, he drawled, “Oh, yeah? Who

says?”

He was ready when she screeched and launched off the

porch and into his arms. He swung her around in the air,
laughing the whole time. She pecked his cheek before
pulling back and grinning. “Welcome back to Colin City.
Hasn’t changed much, has it?”

“Nope, it sure hasn’t,” he replied, setting her back on her

feet. “Where are Mom and Dad?” he asked, his gaze straying
to the empty doorway.

Patricia immediately sobered, making alarm bells go off

in Jared’s head. His sister rarely did serious, which meant
this was big. “Mr. Giovanni was killed. They thought you
were coming into town tomorrow, so they’re at the

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viewing.”

He frowned. “What happened?” he asked as he headed

back to his car to grab his bag, already thinking of what dark
shirt he had to go with the black jeans he wore. He was glad
he hadn’t checked into his hotel yet and still had his clothes
with him.

She grimaced. “It’s kind of weird, really. The story is he

was out jogging and got hit by a car. Hit and run. The police
haven’t arrested anyone though.”

“Well, if it was a hit and run, then they wouldn’t know

who it was,” Jared pointed out, dropping his bag on the
dining room table and pulling out a black sweater. He
whipped the light blue button-down shirt he wore over his
head and quickly replaced it. Catching Patricia’s expression,
he lifted a brow. “What?”

“Why are you changing?” she asked.
“I knew Mr. Giovanni growing up. I’m going to pay my

respects,” he replied. He picked his keys back up and eyed
his sister. “Where is it at?”

Letting out a sigh, she said, “Give me a sec and I’ll come,

too.”

Five minutes later Jared was back in his car, driving

toward Colin City Memorial. Patricia turned to look at him.
“I only saw him a few times growing up. Why did you
spend so much time with him?”

“He taught advanced computer courses when I was in

high school. He’s the one who helped me get ahead and win
that technology scholarship.” He grimaced, knowing the
man wouldn’t approve of what he’d ended up doing with
his skills, but he could still pay his respects to the deceased.
“I kept in touch with him for a number of years.”

“That was him, huh?”
Nodding, he fell silent, thinking how his life had changed

after he’d gone to college. During his second year, he’d

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saved a woman’s life, taking the life of her attacker in the
process. In his panic over what he’d done and afraid of
getting charged, he’d hid the body and made it look like the
man had run away instead. That had been the first of many
deaths to dirty his hands, but the money was good and he
really didn’t mind the work as an assassin. He didn’t know
what that said about him, but there it was.

He pushed those thoughts away. He was on vacation. It

was a mandatory vacation, but a vacation nonetheless.

They arrived at the memorial center and headed into the

building, quickly locating the viewing. Jared stood in line,
listening to those around him tell stories of the man. When
he reached the side of the grieving sister, he offered his
condolences.

“How did you know my brother?”
Jared reached out and took one of her hands in both of

his, offering comfort. “He was my teacher in high school,”
he explained. “He tutored me and helped me get a
scholarship. The world has lost a truly great man.”

“Aye,” the man standing next to her replied when it

became apparent the woman was too choked up to answer.
“Kyle was a great man. He’ll be missed.”

Releasing her hand, Jared turned to study the speaker. A

large, shaven-scalped African American with dark brown
eyes returned his gaze and Jared had the distinct impression
he was being measured. He nodded, forcing himself to move
aside. Then he stepped up to the casket.

Jared’s eyes narrowed. He was familiar with killing blows

and the marks they left on a body. Mr. Giovanni’s death was
not the result of a hit and run. Although mostly hidden by
the suit jacket and tie, Jared still saw the thin discolored line
around Kyle’s neck, which told him a completely different
story. Someone had garroted the man.

“What the hell?” he muttered, forcing his body to get

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moving again. He regarded the crowd, wondering if anyone
else had noticed the discrepancy. As he strolled toward the
bar, his gaze locked onto a pair of ice blue eyes that stared
right back at him.

Sucking in a surprised breath, he raised one brow and

lifted his chin toward the bar. He didn’t have long to wait
until the huge blond appeared next to him. “Tanis,” the
other man growled.

“Grady.” Jared grinned for a second before schooling his

features into a more appropriate expression for attending a
viewing while he remembered the mission where he’d met
the detective. He’d ended up sick as a dog in the middle of a
foreign country, which allowed some insurgents to capture
him. If it hadn’t been for the man next to him, he would have
been killed. He spotted his sister headed toward him,
leading his parents and turned to the man who’d rocked his
world by shape-shifting into a tiger. “Better call me Jared
here,” he murmured quietly. “And hit and run my ass.”

He spotted the flicker of amusement in Grady’s eyes

before the shifter could hide it. “Jared then and you’re
right.”

Patricia draped a wrist through Jared’s arm and smiled

coyly up at the big detective. “Hello, Detective Stryker. My
brother’s not in trouble, I hope.”

Jared wanted to roll his eyes, but resisted the urge. First,

this was in no way the place to flirt. Second, the man didn’t
look like he played for the other team, but Jared knew Grady
was gay. His sister was barking up the wrong tree.

Grady gave a respectful nod. “Of course not, Miss

Templeton.” Before he could say more a slightly heavy man
with steel gray hair pulled into a queue that ran down his
back stopped beside Grady and wrapped a proprietary arm
around his waist. Grady smiled fondly at the man and the
gray-eyed stranger’s face made something click in Jared’s

Goading The Enforcer

memory.

Two months ago, he’d done research for Grady on a

Doctor Gordon Digby, a psychiatrist. He’d sent his tiger
friend most of the information he’d located, but kept a few
details to himself. Like a recent picture he’d located as well
as a few details of the man’s—shifter’s—likes and dislikes.
He hadn’t thought it pertinent at the time. Now he knew
he’d been mistaken.

He ignored his sister’s surprised gasp and stuck out a

hand. “I’m Jared Templeton. You must be Doctor Gordon
Digby. I’ve heard so much about you. It’s a pleasure to
finally meet you.”

Gordon’s brows shot up and he glanced at Grady before

taking Jared’s hand. “Nice to meet you, Jared. I’m afraid I
can’t say the same.”

Grinning, he shrugged. “Can’t say I’m too surprised. Not

much to say about me really.”

Grady snorted, quickly covering it with a cough.
“I’m in town for my sister’s wedding. I hope we can catch

up,” he said to the detective, letting his hazel eyes meet
Grady’s for a second, requesting information and offering
aid at the same time.

For a second, he didn’t think the big man would take him

up on his offer, but then Grady wrapped an arm around
Gordon’s shoulders and grinned. “Sounds like a plan. We’re
playing poker tomorrow night at my buddy’s place. I’ll text
you the address if you’re available.”

Jared smirked. “You’re texting now? Well, how about

that?”

“Yup. I’m moving up in the world,” Grady teased good-

naturedly.

“Will miracles never cease,” he quipped back,

remembering how he’d had to bust Grady’s balls,
figuratively of course, to get the man’s promise that if he

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ever needed anything he’d call. The tiger hated technology.
After chuckling over Gordon’s snort, Jared grinned and said,
“Yeah. I came in early to make sure I had extra time. You
have my number.” He winked at Gordon and added, “I’ll
bring the Hefeweisen.”

As he turned away and greeted his parents, he heard

Gordon mutter, “Who is that and how the hell does he know
what kind of beer I like?”

He almost felt bad for causing trouble for the tiger.

Almost.

Wrapping his arms around his mother, he said, “Patricia

told me where you were. When I heard, I had to come and
pay my respects.”

He didn’t think they were really going to play poker, but

he’d picked up a twelve pack anyway. Carefully following
the instructions Grady had sent him, he turned his Porsche
onto a gravel driveway and stopped, staring at the ruts and
holes. “Well, damn,” he grunted, easing the car forward,
doing his best to avoid bottoming out.

From the state of the driveway, he expected the building

to be a rustic little cabin in a weed-strewn clearing. He
couldn’t have been more wrong. The massive lodge with
beautiful stone trim shocked him. He parked next to a truck
and headed toward the impressive building.

The door was opened after only a few seconds by a short

blond man with vibrant blue eyes. Jared had never found
himself attracted to a man before, but even he had to admit
that this guy was cute. He grinned and held out a hand.
“Hello, handsome. I’m Jared Templeton. Grady invited me,”
he said.

The man took the hand and chuckled. “I’m Lark and

don’t let Declan hear you say that to me.”

“Too late. I heard,” an accented voice snarled.

Goading The Enforcer

He released Lark’s hand and lifted it in placation,

chuckling softly. “Don’t worry. I’m not gay, but even I can
appreciate that your…” he paused, realizing the large man
who now had a possessive arm around Lark’s waist had
been at the funeral. He’d assumed he was the sister’s
husband or boyfriend. He’d been wrong. This man oozed
alpha male from every pore. “Let me guess. You’re a shifter
and Lark is your mate?”

The growl from Declan almost drowned out Lark’s

shocked gasp. Suddenly, Jared found himself pinned against
the door, an angry two-hundred-fifty pound male holding
his throat. “How do ye know about us? Who the hell are
you?”

He grinned, flipping through the different moves he

could use to break the bigger man’s hold and wondering if
they’d work on the shifter. Instead he held out a hand, never
breaking eye contact. “I’m Jared Templeton. You must be
Declan McIntire. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”

“Whoa! Whoa, Declan, wait!” Grady rushed into view. “I

was gonna tell you about Jared earlier, but it kinda slipped
my mind with everything going on,” he said in a rush,
resting one hand on Declan’s shoulder and the other on the
man’s arm. “He can help us.”

Declan’s lip curled. “How can this human help us?”
An indignant huff sounded from Lark. “Excuse me, big

guy. Human standing right here. Do you want to sleep
upstairs tonight?”

Slowly, the hand around his neck eased and dropped

away. Declan stepped away and pulled his mate into his
arms, a sheepish expression on his face. “Sorry, baby,” he
whispered. He gave Jared one more scowl before heading
into the house.

Grady turned to Jared and shook his head. “Are you

trying to get yourself shredded?”

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Jared shrugged. “Of course not. How’s Gordon? Is he

here?”

“Yeah, he’s in the other room and thanks for your

comments last night. It took me an hour to convince him I’d
never fucked you,” Grady muttered, leading the way into a
large study.

Laughing, Jared followed.
Twelve people crammed into the room made the study

seem much smaller than it really was. He already knew
Gordon, Lark and Declan. Grady introduced the others.
Travis, Rainy and Cliff MacDougal—it didn’t escape his
notice that Travis and Rainy were clearly a couple— sat on a
leather couch. On an easy chair sat Shane Alvaro, who
Declan introduced as his beta. Todd Abernathy was curled
up in Lyle Sullivan’s lap in a matching recliner. Nick Greely
and Carson Angeni sat on another, smaller sofa. The several
inches between them told Jared that they were not a couple.
And he made thirteen. Jared grinned. My lucky number.

His gaze returned to Carson. With long black hair

framing classic native American features and a bump in his
nose telling him it had been broken at least once, add in a
firm, tone body, bronzed skin and piercing brown eyes, the
man was truly stunning. He stared unashamedly for a
second, watching Carson stare right back at him. He
suddenly found himself reevaluating his earlier statement
about not being gay. In the span of ten minutes he’d found
himself appreciating the features of two different men and
this second guy definitely made his prick take notice. Huh,

maybe I’m bisexual.

His grin widened further and he turned to where Lark

now sat curled up on Declan’s lap. He waved a hand
between them. “Okay, ya got me. Lark is handsome, but this
guy’s stunning. He just might make me reconsider my
sexuality, because he’s definitely fuck-worthy,” he finished,

Goading The Enforcer

giving Carson a lascivious wink.

Ignoring the shocked silence caused by his rather sadistic

sense of humor, Jared settled into a chair and focused on
Grady. “So, since it’s obvious this isn’t really a poker party,
why don’t we cut to the chase?” His gaze turned predatory
as he focused on Grady. His lips curved into a malicious
smile and his voice lowered as he asked, “Who do you want
me to kill?”

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Chapter Two

arson forced his breathing to remain slow and even,
refusing to react to Jared’s words. It didn’t help that the

very mention of fucking between them had his dick so hard
it hurt. Good thing he wore loose pants or he’d be hurting.

The second the muscular, light brown haired human had

stepped into the room and he’d caught Jared’s scent, Carson
had known. This man was his mate. Then Jared had opened
his mouth and all Carson’s hopes were dashed. Not only
was Jared not gay, or even bi, regardless of his barbed
words, he was a damn assassin. What the hell is Fate thinking?

As Declan’s enforcer, Carson spent his life upholding

shifter law. How can this happen? What can I do? He’d looked
for his mate for almost seventy years and then to be saddled
with this man, a man with no conscience and an obvious
knack for raising ire in others, if the snarled words said by
his alpha while in the hallway that the entire room had
overheard, was any indication.

It only took two seconds for Carson to realize that, if he

decided he wanted the man, he’d have to fight not only
Jared, but the man’s profession as well. Slowly rising, he
wondered if the human would be worth it. Fate only knew.
“Fuck-worthy, huh? What makes you think I’d sully myself
with someone like you?”

That drew Jared’s attention. The human lifted his gaze

until he looked Carson in the eye. He had the audacity to

Goading The Enforcer

wink. “Oh, I’d be the best lay you ever had, Injun.”

Carson certainly couldn’t argue that. The man was his

mate, so of course he’d be the best lay he ever had, but the
Injun comment stung. And it didn’t take a genius to realize
that was why he’d said it. It just confirmed that the human
enjoyed riling people. Taking a second, Carson narrowed his
eyes and studied the human. In his line of work, being a
good judge of character was essential. He saw things others
often missed, usually able to peg a person’s personality
within five minutes of meeting them. The skill allowed him
to quietly advise his alpha of possible problems in the pack.

Still, Carson almost missed the wary gleam in Jared’s eyes

that made him realize the man didn’t really mean anything
by his comment. It was his mate’s way of keeping people
away. He kept his face impassive as understanding dawned.
The human just may care about others after all. Jared just
couldn’t show it.

A small smile curved Carson’s lips. In the next second, he

grabbed Jared’s shoulders, hauled him to his feet and pinned
him to the wall with his body. “I doubt you could handle
me,” he growled.

He slammed his lips down on his mate’s, knowing

instinctively that he’d surprised the man and that didn’t
happen often. Jared probably didn’t expect him to willingly
demonstrate his sexuality in front of all these people, but
these were his pack-mates and he knew they had his back no
matter what.

When Jared moved his hands to Carson’s shoulders,

presumably to push him away, Carson grabbed the man’s
wrists and pinned them to the wall above his head. Then he
pried the man’s mouth open with his lips and tongue and
sank into the warm, wet heat. An explosion of masculine
flavors hit his senses and Carson growled low in his chest in
appreciation of Jared’s unique taste.

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Seconds later, he felt Jared’s tongue begin to duel with his

as the man fought for dominance even while pinned to the
wall. It took everything in Carson to keep from rutting
against his mate. Instead, he kept his hips away from Jared’s
body, hiding his obvious desire for the human.

They came up for air, both of them panting. Jared

somehow managed to find his tongue first. “Well, all that
proves is you can kiss, Injun,” he teased. “I’ve found that
plenty of great kissers suck in bed.”

Carson growled, not wanting to hear about his mate’s

other bed partners. Before his lust-infused brain could
manage to compose a thought, Declan commanded,
“Enough. We’re here to plan a rescue for Dagus, not
compare dick sizes. Carson, sit down!”

Releasing Jared, who still grinned like a loon, he returned

to his seat. Jared did the same, openly adjusting a nice sized
erection. When Carson glanced down at it and then back up
to his face, Jared winked again.

“Carson, tell us what ye’ve learned,” Declan ordered.
Tearing his stare away from Jared, Carson swept his gaze

over the others in the room, seeing expressions that ranged
from curiosity to amusement. Giving himself a mental shake
to refocus on the purpose of their meeting, he eased forward
in his seat and rested his forearms on his knees. “The
complex is three times what we originally thought. There are
three levels underground, in addition to the one we can see.”

He picked up his laptop and pulled open a file as he

spoke. “The ground floor is offices and conference rooms,
nothing to raise suspicion if authorities were to check the
place out.” He swung his laptop around so the others could
see. “In this office here, which is occupied by the senior
accountant, there is a sliding panel hiding a door to an
elevator.

“The first underground floor is comprised of labs. The

Goading The Enforcer

second and third are made up of exam rooms, cells and
cages.” He twisted his lips in disgust as he said the words.
His stomach churned. “Currently, Dagus is being held in
one of these cells on the east wing of the second floor.”

“Who’s Dagus?” Jared asked mildly.
“He’s the brother of a friend,” Carson snapped, irritated

at being interrupted.

Jared cut in again. “And what do you want with him?”
Grady answered, “We need to rescue him. This building

is owned by a company called the Crystal Lake Corporation.
They’re a research company, but what they research on the
sly is how to combine shifter DNA with human. The shifters
are held against their will,” Grady growled. “Dagus is a
human they took to trade for one of their own that we are
holding. We want Dagus out and don’t want to give up
Miach. He’s too valuable a resource if we can get him
talking.”

That had Jared’s brow lifting, but he only asked, “Got a

picture?”

“I’ll find you one,” Grady replied.
Jared nodded.
Lifting a brow as he watched Jared, Carson waited to see

if he had any other questions. He got a smirk and a wave of
his hand for his trouble. He fought against the urge to roll
his eyes and returned to his monitor. “The security is tight.
Employees have pass-cards they scan, logging when they
enter and leave the building. Guests must have an
appointment. Even pizza delivery is monitored,” he added
dryly.

“To access the hidden elevator, there’s a fingerprint

scanner, along with the pass-card and they must match.
Now, we have a contact on the inside who is willing to get
us in the building, but since Pascal Ignoto is an accounting
assistant, he doesn’t have access to the elevator.” Carson ran

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a hand through his long black hair, feeling the frustration
welling again. “We don’t yet have a way of getting the door
open so we can reach the elevator once we’re inside.”

Jared leaned forward, his scent intensifying as he closed

the distance between them and stared at the map. “What is
this?”

Carson had trouble focusing on the man’s words, let

alone what his mate pointed at and he felt grateful that the
laptop hid his twitching erection. Looking at the screen, he
spotted the box Jared pointed at and answered. “It’s an air
vent.”

“How big is it?”
“Uh, let me see,” he replied, swinging his computer back

around and flipping through a few more schematics. “Forty-
eight inches by eighteen inches.”

“I can get through that.”
His head jerked up. “What?”
Jared had the audacity to grip the laptop and pull it

closer. “Right here it connects to the elevator shaft. I can
slide through the vent system and—”

“No,” he interrupted quickly. “It’s way too narrow. You

could get stuck.” There was no way in hell he wanted his
mate trying to squeeze through that.

Jared’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t think that’s your decision,

Carson.” He relaxed back in his seat and looked around the
group. “The only other man in this room that could possibly
fit is Lark and I’ve got a funny idea that Declan isn’t letting
his mate anywhere near this place.”

“Ye’re right about that,” the big alpha growled.
Grinning, Jared said, “You didn’t have a way into the

elevator and I just gave you one. In fact, I have the computer
skills to rewire the damn thing so we can use it without
cutting out someone’s eyeball. There’s no reason to refuse
me. Besides, I’ve been in tighter places than that,” he scoffed.

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Carson had to fight back his initial reaction, to confess

that the man was his mate and he didn’t want him putting
his life at risk. Instead, he turned his head and stared at
Declan. “Then we have a way into the elevator,” he said, but
he couldn’t hide the tension in his jaw and he knew Declan
noticed. He’d have some explaining to do later.

They made plans to enter the facility the day after next,

knowing they’d need a little time to schedule a last minute
meeting with their contact. As much as Declan’s decision,
prompted by Grady’s suggestion, to send Jared into the
meeting alone irked him, Carson had to admit that Jared
would be the least likely to raise suspicions, since he wasn’t
familiar to people in the area and he was familiar with covert
operations. They wouldn’t know his face.

After sending all the information they had to Jared’s

secure email so he could study it over the next day, Carson
wanted to jump out of his skin. He couldn’t touch the man,
since Carson wasn’t certain he wanted to try to pursue him.
On the other hand, the kiss notwithstanding, he wasn’t even
certain Jared would welcome his advances. There were a lot
of hurdles and he needed time to think. To do that, he
needed space away from the man.

He put away his laptop and left Jared talking with Lyle,

Grady and Gordon. Before he could make a clean get-away,
his alpha caught up with him.

“Come with me,” Declan ordered, leading the way into

the empty living room. Carson swallowed hard as he
watched his alpha pace for a moment. After a moment,
Declan turned toward him and said, “That was quite a
display ye made before the meeting started. I’ve never seen
ye attack someone quite like that. Care to explain?”

Carson cleared his throat and ran a hand through his long

hair before confessing, “He’s my mate. It was a little hard
to…focus.” He hated having to admit that.

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That had Declan’s brows lifting. “And yet ye were just

about to leave without speaking with him. I know that he
knows about shifters and mating, so why is that?”

“Because I haven’t decided if I’m going to pursue him,”

he answered honestly. “I need time to think.”

“Not certain?” Declan’s glare surprised Carson. “What

aren’t ye certain about?”

“He’s an assassin… And straight,” he objected.
Declan crossed his arms over his powerful chest and

stared at him for several long seconds. Carson forced himself
not to squirm under his alpha’s knowing gaze. “He didn’t
appear too straight to me when ye both were making out in
me study.”

He couldn’t stop the flush that worked up his neck. “It

shouldn’t have happened.” The softly spoken words nearly
tore out his heart, but there it was and under his alpha’s
watchful gaze, he kept talking. “I’m not sure I want to try to
turn a self-professed straight man into my mate. Besides,” he
added, “could I learn to trust a guy like that to give up
women for me?” he asked, rubbing a hand over his face. “I
mean, he’s an assassin. His life is cloaked in lies and death.
I’m your enforcer. I don’t—”

“Ye’ve dealt yer own killing blows, Carson,” Declan cut in

gently. “And since many times it was at my behest, how
does that make ye different?” Before he could reply, Declan
held up his hand. “I understand about the lies and the
problem about him giving up women. He’s a human and
they don’t always feel the same pull we do.” He wrapped a
big hand around Carson’s shoulder and squeezed. “Ye do
have a lot to think about, me friend. Going after yer mate
could be life changing for ye. Take a day. Decide if it’s worth
it.” He smiled. “Ye have me support either way.”

Carson nodded, relieved that his alpha understood. He

pulled open the door and stepped into the chilly night air.

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“Just remember one thing,” Declan said, causing him to

turn back and look at him. The big man stared at him hard
before whispering, “Ye only get one.”

Carson watched his alpha disappear into the house,

feeling more confused than he could ever remember.

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Chapter Three

ared stood in the shadows of the darkened hallway and
watched Declan escort Carson to the door. Their murmur

of words after they’d stepped outside made it impossible for
him to hear what else was said. He probably shouldn’t have
eavesdropped on their conversation, but he couldn’t help
himself. The habit was too ingrained to stop just because he
wasn’t on a job. He smirked. Well, technically, now I am on a

job. So much for a vacation.

The smile faded just as quickly as he remembered the two

men’s conversation. So, Carson thinks I’m his mate. That put
an interesting spin on things, didn’t it? He didn’t blame the
man for not jumping him and trying to claim him. Jared
couldn’t really even tell himself how he’d respond to that.
He’d admit that the kiss was hot, but he’d never been
interested in a guy before. What was it about Carson that
drew him? Huh. Mate-bond, maybe?

“Hey, what are you doing?”
Grady’s voice had him spinning. He hadn’t even heard

him approach, which told Jared just how out of it he’d been.
Jared stared at his friend, searching for an answer. Is Grady
my friend? Maybe. “I think we need to talk,” he finally said.
“Is there a pub nearby? I’d like to buy you and Gordon a
beer.”

That had Grady’s brows lifting. “Sure. It’s a bit out of

your way though. The closest one is in Stone Ridge, which is

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fifteen minutes in the other direction.”

“No big deal,” he said, shrugging. “I’m a night owl, so a

long drive in the dark won’t be an issue for me.”

“If you’re not expected anywhere, you can crash in our

spare bedroom,” Grady offered, leading the way back to
Gordon.

“Maybe,” he replied, unwilling to commit. He didn’t

know if he could sleep in Grady’s home. Although he
trusted the tiger, he wasn’t quite so comfortable with the
man’s mate.

He watched Grady greet Gordon with a deep kiss and

found himself wondering what it would be like to be in a
committed relationship. His work had never made such a
thing possible. He supposed that meant Carson’s worry was
well founded. Why the hell does that bother me so much?

When they walked outside, Gordon let out a long, low

whistle. “Damn. Nice ride!”

Jared grinned. “Yeah. What can I say? I’m a car snob. I

always special order something when I’m not at home.”

“Where do you call home, Jared?” the big man asked.
“Boston,” he answered. “I went to college there and liked

it so much that I had to buy a place just north of there.”

“Follow me,” Grady said and Jared lifted his hand in

acknowledgement.

To his surprise, they never reached the town. Grady

pulled his truck into the driveway of a small house and shut
the vehicle off. Stepping from his car, Jared took in the two
story, darkly painted home, wondering what the man was
up to. He obeyed warily when Grady motioned for him to
join him on the porch.

Grady must have noticed his tension, damn cop instincts,

because the man grinned and leaned against the railing.
“Sorry for the change of plans,” he said when Jared got close
enough, his voice carrying softly on the evening wind. “It

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occurred to me that one of the reasons we’re using you is
because your face isn’t known. I didn’t want you seen at a
bar with me where someone could report our meeting.”

Jared nodded. “I can get behind that,” he said, seeing the

sense in Grady’s explanation. Stepping on the porch and
following the tiger shifter into the room, he teased, “Of
course, then you’ll miss out on that free beer.”

The other man laughed, leading him into the small house.

“We’ll take you up on it another time.”

He walked through a small foyer and into the living

room. Jared glanced around, taking in the large flat screen
TV and a pair of reclining love seats. Hooked to the TV was
an impressive sound system. He walked over to it and
looked closely at the set-up before turning and grinning at
Grady. “Nice. Like your toys, huh?

Grady laughed. “Not me. That’s all Gordon.”
Gordon walked into the room and grinned. “Can’t watch

my soaps without surround sound,” he stated, handing
them each a Bud Light.

For a second, Jared stared at Gordon before he started

laughing. “You almost had me there, Gordon. Good one!”
He took a sip of his beer and settled onto one of the sofas.

Laughing along with him, Gordon and Grady settled onto

the other small couch. “It’s really for the football games,”
Gordon admitted. “I’m a diehard Dolphins fan.”

“You’re a little out of your fan area, aren’t you?” Jared

teased.

Gordon shrugged, his mirth disappearing. “You know I

used to live in Georgia.”

“Ah. Yes, of course.” Jared nodded. He took another sip

of the beer before pinning his hazel-eyed gaze on the big
man. “No hard feelings, Gordon. I was returning a debt.”
Before the other man could pry, he said, “So tell me about
Carson. He’s part of the…” He paused and grinned. “What

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do you call someone important in a pack?”

Grady chuckled. “He’s the pack enforcer and would you

be asking about him because you made out with him?”

Schooling his features into an amused smirk, Jared

replied, “It was a very nice kiss, but no. I’m interested in the
posturing. If it hadn’t been for the alpha, I’m fairly certain
he’d have refused my option out of hand. Why is that?”

“Well, yeah, he’s the one in charge of finding the place’s

weakness, so for you to point out an entry so easily
definitely would raise his hackles,” Grady allowed.

Jared nodded, wondering how much more he could pry

without sending Grady’s cop instincts into overdrive. He
took another swallow of beer, buying time. “Well, I
definitely don’t want him thinking I’m stepping on his toes.”
Then he smiled, “Although, riling him was entertaining.”

Rolling his eyes, Grady warned, “Do you really have a

death wish? Carson is a formidable enemy if you piss him
off.”

It was just the opening he needed. “Well, then perhaps I

should make certain he knows I’m not a threat. I want to
work with him to save Dagus’s life.” He cocked his head,
amused at the irony. He’d come on vacation and found
himself in a situation where he was saving a life instead of
taking it. “Where does he live? I’ll find time to visit him in
the morning after my tux fitting.”

“Tux fitting?”
Jared grinned. “I did come to town for my sister’s

wedding, after all.”

Grady nodded. “Of course.”
Grady rattled off Carson’s address and Jared committed it

to memory. They sat and talked for an hour about the
problems they’d been facing with the scientists in the area.
Jared found himself seething at the treatment of the shifters
and had to mentally take a deep breath to calm down.

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When they offered him a second beer, Jared declined and

took his leave. He drove the hour back to Colin City,
listening to the soothing whine of the Porche’s powerful
engine as he zipped along the curving mountain roads. Even
though he’d been offered a room at the house by his parents,
Jared had opted for a hotel. Sitting in the whirlpool tub in
his suite, he booted up his laptop, checked his firewalls and
logged into his accounts. A smile curved his lips when he
confirmed that he had indeed been paid by his last
employer. It had been a simple job, needing only his
customized rifle and scope, plus a spotter. He’d taken Raul
with him, the one man he trusted.

Thinking of his longtime friend, he picked up his phone

and dialed. “Hello, Raul,” he teased, hearing the man’s
sleepy greeting.

“Hey, Jared,” Raul grunted. “What the hell do you need

at this hour?”

“I’m just confirming that you over-nighted the items I

requested,” he replied. Jared grinned and pulled the phone
away from his ear for a moment. Even at a distance of six
inches, he could still hear Raul’s outburst, but at least it
didn’t blast his eardrums.

“What the fuck, man? Of course I sent it! Why’d you call

at three thirty in the morning for that?” Raul snarled. Then
the man became eerily quiet for several heartbeats and Jared
knew what his next question would be. Predictably, Raul
asked, “I thought this wasn’t a job, Jared. What’s going on?”

He blew out a quiet breath. “It isn’t. At least not in the

traditional sense,” he amended. “I’m helping a friend.”

Raul snorted. “You? Helping a friend? I didn’t even know

you had any friends.”

That comment made Jared pause and think for a moment.

He stared out the window, contemplating the other man’s
words. Raul was right. Other than him, Jared had never

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claimed to have any friends. Although, with his lifestyle it
wasn’t surprising, it was still a sobering thought. What made
Grady so different? Did these shifter creatures simply
intrigue him? Or was it something else? Jared had no idea,
which suddenly bothered him even more.

Glaring at the phone as if it were the cause of his

suddenly sour mood, he sneered. He lifted it back to his ear
and replied, “That’s not your concern, Raul. Thank you for
sending those items.” He hit the end button on his phone
and tossed it onto the tile at the foot of the whirlpool tub.
Rubbing his temples with his fingers, he sank into the water
up to his neck. Maybe he was just getting too old for this
game. But what the hell else would I do?

No longer finding the water soothing, Jared rose and

dried himself off. Tossing the towel over his shoulder, he
walked naked onto his balcony. Leaning on the rail, he let
the chilly mountain air tease his skin and senses. He let the
cold snake around him, calming his irritation. Once he felt
more like himself, Jared walked back inside, crawled into
bed and went to sleep.

So, he’d lied about the tux fitting. Jared had brought his

own from home. The next morning he spent with his family,
which was an interesting experience. He hadn’t seen them in
person in so long and their lives were so different than his
own that it was hard to relate to any of them. He met
Brandy’s fiancé, a decent looking brunet with a bright smile
and eyes only for his sister. Jared could see the love between
the pair and he hoped the harsh realities of the world
wouldn’t destroy that.

Patricia had arranged for a champagne brunch and he

struggled to socialize. Other than his family, he didn’t know
anyone. He could honestly say he’d had more fun in the
wolves’ den plotting how to extract their friend. He sighed,

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taking a tiny sip from his champagne glass, trying to keep
up appearances. He made a point of never drinking too
much, since his job required that he always keep his wits
about him.

“Hey, Jared! There you are,” Brandy called a little too

loudly, but he managed not to cringe. She wrapped her arm
through his and started dragging him through the crowd. “I
have someone I’d like you to meet.”

He’d faced down men with guns, ninjas and had even

been tortured without backing down, but when it became
clear his sister was leading him toward a woman, Jared felt
the unmistakable desire to run. It suddenly occurred to him
that this brunch could be nothing more than an elaborate
scheme to set him up.

“This is Cindy,” Brandy introduced. “Cindy Pritchard.

She’s a schoolteacher at the local high school. I was just
telling her about how fond you were of the late Kyle
Giovanni. God rest his soul,” she added, clearly as an
afterthought.

Blanketing his expression into a bland smile, Jared

reached out his hand and shook Cindy’s hand. “Nice to meet
you, Mrs. Pritchard. It was indeed a shame to see Mr.
Giovanni pass while still in his prime.”

“Oh, no,” the woman giggled, before her eyes widened. “I

mean, yes, it was a shame about Kyle, but no, you don’t
have to call me Misses. Just Cindy is fine.”

Keeping his expression the same, he nodded. She’s

obviously had one glass of champagne too many. “Of course,
Cindy. Did you work closely with Mr. Giovanni? What
classes do you teach?” Did you know he was a shifter? Are you
one? He kept those thoughts to himself as he conversed with
Cindy. She really was the opposite of his usual MO for what
he looked for in a woman, someone who knew the score and
didn’t expect more than a few hours of mutual pleasure.

Goading The Enforcer

Jared realized the woman was on the prowl for a

husband, but even with that knowledge, he realized he
could probably have a few nights of meaningless sex with
her and then walk away. She was attractive, with glossy
brown hair, expressive blue eyes and full breasts. Too bad he
didn’t feel even a modicum of attraction to her. In fact, even
as he looked at her dark brown hair, his thoughts conjured
up an image of black hair long enough to wrap around his
fist so he could hold in place the head that was attached to
the mouth he ravaged as he pounded into the firm body
beneath him. His dick sprang to life faster than it had since
puberty and Jared had to fight back a groan as his pants
suddenly became too restrictive.

“What do you think?”
Cindy’s question jerked him back to the conversation.

“I’m sorry? My mind wandered. The hotel beds are
definitely not as comfortable as home’s, no matter what their
ads say,” he said with a smile. “What were you asking?”

“I wanted to know if you’d be interested in going to

dinner with me this evening. I understand there aren’t any
wedding plans.”

She looked expectantly at him, her blue eyes shining with

what could only be hope. Jared searched his brain for a
response that wouldn’t crush the woman but would still get
him out of sitting through a meal with her. To his utter
shock, his future brother-in-law saved him the trouble.

“Jared, Brandy said you were over here.” Terry grinned at

Cindy. “I’m sorry, Cindy. I just need to borrow Jared for a
few minutes to discuss the bachelor party.”

Jared smiled at Cindy and lied smoothly, “We’ll talk in a

bit.” When she was out of earshot, he glanced sideways at
Terry. “Thanks. I haven’t seen my sister in ten fucking years
and she tries to set me up!” he growled.

Terry chuckled. “What can I say? I make her happy.” To

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his soon-to-be brother-in-law’s credit, he didn’t seem at all
intimidated by Jared’s ire. “She just wants everyone else to
be as happy,” he said cheekily.

Licking his lips, Jared suddenly smiled. “Tell her I’m gay.

I’m sure that’ll back her off.”

His brother-in-law froze, stared at him for a second and

then shrugged. “Sure, but she won’t believe it and then I’m
gonna say I told you so.”

Jared wasn’t certain if Terry believed him or not, but he

smirked anyway. “Let me worry about that. Just be certain
she sets an extra plate for my date.”

After another shocked look from the other man, Terry

started to laugh. He slapped him on the back. “For being a
douche who hasn’t visited in ten years, you’re all right! I’ve
heard them wonder why you’ve never come back and now I
know.” Terry winked. “You were just afraid of how they’d
take you being a fruitcake!”

Jared showed plenty of teeth when he smiled back. “Just

don’t let my date hear you call us that. He may be gay, but
he’ll still beat your ass.”

After a laugh, Terry nodded. “Got it. Now, about the

bachelor party.”

Jared grinned and nodded. “Sure. What are we doing?”

As he listened to Terry, Jared really only thought about one
thing. How am I gonna convince Carson to come as my date?

Goading The Enforcer

Chapter Four

arson stepped out of his car and inhaled deeply. He
frowned and shook his head. He’d been smelling his

mate all day, even though he knew the man wasn’t around.
Even here at home he thought he detected a whiff of Jared’s
scent. It was distracting as hell at work and he needed to get
his head on straight.

Letting out a sigh, he strode up his walk, unlocked his

front door and entered his home. A wall of Jared’s scent
nearly had Carson’s eyes crossing as blood raced to his groin
and his dick stiffened in his tan slacks.

“Welcome home, darling.”
The teasing voice had him whirling to the left and Carson

found the object of his obsession sprawled across his couch.
Lust bolted through him, followed closely by anger. A snarl
tore from his lips as he stalked toward his mate. His wolf
wanted to dominate the man, to teach him who the alpha in
this relationship would be, but Carson reined in that desire.
He didn’t know if he would try to claim Jared and until he
made a decision, he refused to flirt with the man.

He leaned over the man, placed both hands on the back of

the couch on either side of Jared’s head and used his body to
box him in and get into his personal space. “What are you
doing in my house?” he growled.

Much to his consternation, Jared didn’t seem the least bit

intimidated by his display. He grinned up at him. “I came to

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apologize.”

“Apologize?” he repeated inanely. The human’s answer

left him more confused and even a bit pissed off that he’d
just repeated it like that. He leaned closer until his nose was
only inches from his mate’s. Probably not the best tactic.
Trying to focus as Jared’s scent tantalized his senses, Carson
sneered, “Do you break into people’s houses to apologize
often?”

Jared’s grin managed to grow. “Actually,” he whispered

back, “you have the honor of being the first person I’ve
apologized to in over ten years.” His mate’s eyes sparkled
with what only could be described as mischief. “I also
wanted to know if it was a fluke.”

“A fluke?” he asked before he could control his tongue.

Carson immediately wanted to smack himself for once again
parroting his mate.

“Yeah.” Before he could move, Jared reached up, tangled

his hands in Carson’s long, black hair and yanked his head
down into a demanding kiss. His startled squeak allowed
Jared access to his mouth and his mate plunged his tongue
inside, stroking it against his own.

The heat, taste and smell of the human enthralled Carson,

just as it had last night. He growled possessively, before
settling his body on top of Jared’s and moving his hands to
cup his mate’s jaws. Carson thrust out his tongue, dueling
with Jared’s as they both battled for dominance of the kiss.
His hard shaft throbbed in his slacks and he gave in to the
need to rut against the man beneath him. Rocking his hips
forward, he discovered that Jared’s cock was just as full.

Carson managed to tear his mouth away from Jared’s, but

he couldn’t still his hips or disguise the breathy growl as he
spoke. “Is this what you wanted to know, Jared?” he
snarled, anger filling him that he’d somehow managed to
lose control of his own body. “You wanted to know what it

Goading The Enforcer

would be like to kiss a man, to feel his dick pressing against
yours?”

Jared grinned cockily. “Never really thought about it

before,” he replied with a wink, “but since you gave me one
hell of a boner last night, I wanted to know if it’d happen
again.” Jared rocked his hips up, rubbing his shaft in
counterpoint with Carson’s. “Fuck, that’s good.”

His hazel eyes dilated and while one of the hands in

Carson’s hair tightened, Jared dropped the other one to
Carson’s hip in an attempt to control the pace.

Carson’s wolf snarled, seeing the move as a fight for

dominance. Somehow, he managed to get his hips to stop
moving. He gripped the wrist of the hand at his waist and
pinned it to the sofa beside Jared’s head. Then he reached
down and unfastened his slacks. His cock sprang from the
open flaps, the angry purple head already gleaming with
pre-cum.

“Commando, interesting,” Jared said after a glance down.

His hips rocked a bit and he grinned. “How about you help
me out now?”

Smiling confidently, Carson used a thumb to caress the

ridge of Jared’s dick through his jeans. “Stroke me and I’ll do
that.”

Jared hesitated and Carson wondered if he’d see his

words as the challenge they were. Finally, Jared grinned
crookedly. “Fair enough.” Still, it took the man a couple
more seconds to unwind his hand from Carson’s hair and
wrap his fingers around his cock.

His mate’s warm hand stroking him firmly nearly had

Carson shooting right then. His body shuddered slightly and
he had to swallow hard before he could get his fingers to
cooperate and open Jared’s pants and work them low
enough to maneuver his mate’s cock through the hole of his
boxers.

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Unable to resist, Carson scraped the nail of his thumb

over the slit of Jared’s cockhead, scooping up the glittering
drop of fluid. He locked gazes with Jared and licked his
finger clean. Satisfaction filled him when Jared’s breathing
stuttered for a second, his eyes dilating in arousal before his
lids dropped to half-mast. Carson rocked forward, pressing
his aching shaft against Jared’s and manipulated the other
man’s fingers until Jared’s grip encompassed both their
cocks.

“Like this,” he growled, settling his hand over his mate’s

and showing him how to pump them both.

When Carson started thrusting his hips, making his shaft

slide against Jared’s, the body under him trembled. Jared’s
head dropped against the couch and a low moan escaped his
parted lips. “Oh, fuck, that’s good.”

If he hadn’t been a shifter, Carson wasn’t sure he’d have

heard Jared’s strangled words. His gaze focused on the
man’s neck, beautifully presented for him and he leaned
down to lick and nibble the other man’s tendons as they
continued to masturbate both their cocks. His mate’s
breathing sped up. He rocked his hips in counterpoint,
creating delicious friction. He tilted his head further, giving
Carson more access.

Carson felt his canines tingle and he fought the desire to

wrap his jaws around the man’s shoulder and bite as he
scraped them over the fleshy area he longed to sink them
into.

“Oh hell, yeah,” Jared breathed huskily. “Feels so fucking

fantastic. Nip me, Injun. Show me your wild side.”

He reared back at the man’s words, his entire body

freezing as he stared down at Jared. “What the fuck did you
say?”

Jared’s intense and heated look shocked Carson. Did the

human know what he was asking? Then a slow, feral smile

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curved Jared’s features and the other man’s body bucked.
Carson found himself tumbling unceremoniously to the
floor. Shock held him immobile as his backside landed on
the throw rug. A hard body pressed on top of him and he
found himself pinned by Jared’s lighter, wiry frame.

Jared’s naked, leaking cock ground against his own,

making him groan and thrust up into the delicious friction.
When his mate grabbed his wrists and moved them over his
head as he leaned down and bit into Carson’s neck, his wolf
howled in outrage. Carson’s need to dominate his human
took control.

Wrapping a leg around Jared’s calves, he used his shifter

strength to flip them. He felt Jared wriggling beneath him,
but refused to release him as he used his claws to shred
Jared’s shirt from his shoulders. He prepared to give Jared’s
jeans the same treatment, but their wild movements already
had them pushed to Jared’s ankles.

He flipped the human onto his stomach and plastered his

body over Jared’s, finally taking a moment to run his fingers
over Jared’s lean, tone body. He rubbed his aching erection
against Jared’s ass, his pre-cum easing the glide as he shoved
his dick between the human’s cheeks. “You want wild, do
you, Jared?” he growled.

“I don’t think you can deliver, Carson,” Jared jeered,

looking at him over his shoulder.

Carson felt Jared’s knees bend and his legs splay as he

bucked under him. The move spread Jared’s cheeks and his
dick sank further between them. A low growl erupted from
his throat as he pinned his mate beneath him and rutted
against him for several seconds. Then the man’s words
registered and he snarled. “I’ll give you wild, human,” he
growled.

He leaned sideways and fished the lube out from under

his couch cushions. The move left him just off balance

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enough for Jared’s next buck to knock him sideways.

A low growl escaped him and, lube in hand, he lunged at

his mate. Jared landed on his back, grinning cheekily up at
him as he cradled Carson’s body between his thighs. “What
else ya got, Injun?” he asked, his hips bucking, but now the
move was clearly intended to stimulate and not to get away.

The friction on Carson’s cock, the lusty gleam in Jared’s

eyes and the slight tilt of his mate’s head, giving him just the
slightest look of submission, had Carson’s wolf howling
with excitement. “By the time I’m done with you, you’ll be
begging me to let you come.” He growled the promise
around his lengthened canines, no longer able to control his
wolf’s urge to dominate their pushy mate.

“Not gonna happen,” Jared denied. But then the man let

out a low groan of his own when Carson shimmied down
his body and swallowed his cock in wet, sucking heat.

Fingers buried in his hair again, urging him on, but

Carson refused to be rushed. He sucked the head lightly as
he tried to use his shoulders to push Jared’s thighs wider,
but the man’s jeans impeded his actions. He pulled off his
mate’s cock with a slurp, ignoring the other man’s moan of
protest. He grinned up at Jared, catching his eye for a
heartbeat before he flipped the man onto his knees. He
draped his body over the other man’s back, rubbing his cock
between his legs, nudging the tender skin behind Jared’s
balls with the head of his dick.

Popping the lid on the lube, he poured out a large dollop

of the slick onto to his fingers. He put just enough room
between their hips to rub the liquid over Jared’s taint. He felt
the man’s body tense beneath him, so Carson reached under
them and gripped Jared’s cock in a tight hold. He stroked
firmly while slipping one finger into his mate’s hole. It only
took him a second to find Jared’s prostate and the body
beneath him jerked as Jared howled.

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“Nice wolf impression,” Carson teased, slipping in a

second digit and fucking his mate with his fingers.

“Fuck you,” Jared growled.
Carson chuckled. “Oh, no. I’m going to fuck you, Jared,

but not before you beg me for it,” he promised. Jared shook
his head and Carson grinned into the nape of his neck. “Oh,
but you will, human,” he whispered. “You’re going to be
trembling, your body burning with need and only I will be
able to quench it.”

Jared gasped beneath him as Carson stroked his prostate

again and again. Using both hands, one alternating between
stroking his mate’s cock and fondling his balls and the other
stimulating the sensitive bundle of nerves inside his rectum,
it only took a couple minutes for Jared’s body to betray him.
Jared trembled and jerked, alternating between shoving back
against the now three fingers in his ass and the hand
manipulating his genitals.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” Jared whispered. “Why—”
“Why what, Jared?” he purred. Carson nibbled his mate’s

neck, using the last of his limited hold over his wolf to keep
from sinking his fangs into his neck and ramming his cock
deep into the man’s ass.

Instead of answering him, Jared looked over his shoulder

at him. His hazel eyes were filled with lust and need.
“Fucking do it already. You know you want to. Take me,
Injun. Fuck me.”

It wasn’t necessarily begging, but it was damn close.

Carson grinned. He rubbed over his mate’s prostate a couple
more times before pulling his fingers out and leaving his
mate empty. “Is that what you want?” he asked, bumping
his cock’s head against Jared’s twitching hole.

“Yes, damn it. Sink your dick in me already.”
“I suppose I could do that,” Carson whispered. Still not

willing to hurt his mate, he ordered, “Push out for me.” To

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his surprise and pleasure, Jared did it without question and
Carson’s cockhead popped easily into Jared’s well-prepared
hole. Then the man slammed backward, making Carson
bury his dick balls deep inside him.

He heard Jared’s shocked, pain-filled gasp and snarled.

He dug deep inside for some semblance of restraint. Carson
wrapped one bronzed arm around Jared’s body and hauled
him upright to lean against him. “Don’t move,” he snapped.
His other hand remained on Jared’s shaft, working the
softening member until it was once again hard and
twitching. “There’s a difference between being wild and
being cruel, Jared,” he whispered solemnly before nipping
his mate’s ear. “I am one, not the other.”

“And yet still you want me to beg,” Jared pointed out.
Carson smiled and sucked gently on the tender skin

behind Jared’s ear, liking the shiver that worked through his
mate’s body. “Having to wait for your pleasure makes it that
much sweeter when you attain it, my m-man. I can give that
to you. I can give you so much.” He snapped his mouth shut
before he said something he shouldn’t.

“Then fuck me and give me an orgasm,” Jared snapped.

“Fucking move!”

The last vestiges of control snapped and his wolf’s

instincts took over. He slid partway out of Jared’s warm,
tight hole and slammed back in, adjusting his angle with
each stroke until he found what he was looking for. Jared’s
body trembled and jerked, telling him he’d found that
special bundle of nerves. Noting that spot, he started fucking
his mate in earnest, making certain to hit his prostate on
every stroke.

Combined with his hand on Jared’s dick, it didn’t take

long for the human to start babbling nearly incoherently as
he shuddered and shook in Carson’s arms. He leaned
forward, struggling to make out the man’s ramblings. Jared

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dropped his head on Carson’s shoulder. The move exposed
his mate’s neck to him completely and he started to nip his
way up the tendons he desperately wanted to mark. The
move also put Jared’s mouth near his own ear and his words
suddenly made sense.

In his pleasure-drunken haze, Jared muttered, “Fuck, yes,

let me feel you. Only ever wanted your cock. Never wanted
another. Please let me come. Let me squeeze you. Only want
your cock to fill me. Take me.”

The words were enough permission for his wolf and

before Carson could rein in his burning desire, his instincts
had him sinking his canines into Jared’s neck.

Charlie Richards

Chapter Five

flash of pain shot through Jared’s shoulder, chased
quickly by the most intense pleasure he’d ever

experienced. The feeling zinged straight to his balls. The
already over-stimulated orbs pulled impossibly tighter to his
body and his cock exploded. Jets of semen shot from his
cock, landing across the rug and Carson’s fingers.

Through the amazing endorphins making his senses float,

he was dimly aware of Carson behind him. The shifter
shuddered, his arms tightening convulsively as he buried his
cock deep one more time and came.

It was an interesting sensation, feeling another man’s cock

up his ass and warm seed filling his rectum, but not
unpleasant, he decided. In fact, it probably wouldn’t take
much to get addicted to Carson’s touch, especially if future
sex was just as primal. The man was fucking hot when he
got riled. Well, he was fucking hot all the time, but getting
the tightly leashed wolf to lose control like this was
indescribable!

Jared grinned at his slowly softening cock. He trembled as

Carson licked his neck. Glancing over his shoulder, he
smirked. “Thanks, Injun. That was…beyond belief,” he
admitted. “We’ll have to do it again,” he added with a wink.

It took a second for the shifter to lift his head and meet

Jared’s eyes. Although it was fleeting, Jared knew he hadn’t
imagined the haunted look in the wolf’s brown eyes. “Yeah,”

Goading The Enforcer

Carson whispered.

Fucking hell! What happened? The twinge in his shoulder as

they moved apart registered and realization hit. Holy shit! He

just mated me! And he still doesn’t know that I know we’re mates!

Uncertain how to fix this problem, after all, he didn’t

really know where he’d be in a week, he smiled and grabbed
his jeans, pulling them up from where they were bunched at
his ankles. “So, I have an idea for a second date. Will you
come to my sister’s wedding with me?”

Carson took his time answering, straightening his pants

and pulling his shirt off, dropping it on the cum streak
across the rug. He nodded. “Yes. I’d like that,” he finally
said.

Jared nodded, the tension in his neck easing. Odd that

he’d been worried. “It’s Friday, two days after our rescue
tomorrow.” He grimaced. “Speaking of which, I sure hope
we get done with the rescue before nine.” At Carson’s lifted
brow, he grinned. “It’s Terry’s bachelor party.” He suddenly
grimaced. “Damn, I hate clubs. Too many people to keep
track of.” He started tucking his cock into his jeans, but
paused when he saw Carson’s thunderous look. His shaft
twitched and he struggled not to leer at the man. Well, well! I
thought out-of-control-Carson was hot. Angry Carson is
stunning! “What’s wrong?”

The wolf shifter’s eyes narrowed and he took a deep

breath. “Nothing. What time should I pick you up from your
hotel? Do I need a tux or will a suit do?”

Letting the odd reaction go, Jared replied, “A suit is fine.

If you want to go early with me, pick me up at two in the
afternoon. I’m at the Holiday Inn Express.”

Carson nodded. “I know the one. I’ve set up the meeting

with Pascal for four o’clock tomorrow afternoon. Once you
disable the outside security, a pair of shifters will enter
through each side door and four through the front. There

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won’t be much time before an alarm sounds and more
security will try to come from the lower levels. We need to
secure the elevator before then.”

Jared didn’t blink at the man’s sudden shift from sexy

lover to wolf enforcer. He’d had to make that kind of radical
change enough times himself. Besides, for some reason Jared
knew Carson was uncomfortable, perhaps even regretting
their time together. It filled Jared with an unfamiliar
emotion, something difficult for him to define, but he knew
he’d have to figure it out eventually.

“Thanks for the romp, Injun,” he murmured. “I’ll see you

tomorrow.” He leaned close and brushed a quick kiss over
the lips of a surprised Carson before slipping out the door.

Jared hiked silently through the forest, his mind running

in circles around what had just happened between them and
what it would mean for his future. When he slipped behind
the wheel of his Porsche, he knew only one thing for certain.
Even though he’d first used the derogatory term for Indian
to rile Carson, now he used it as a term of endearment and
he’d never given a pet name to anyone before, ever.

Never in his wildest imagination would Jared have

thought he’d willingly walk into a police station and yet
here he was. He needed someone to talk to about this
situation with Carson and Grady was the only one he could
think of. While waiting for easily the most uptight woman
he’d ever seen to acknowledge him, it occurred to Jared that
he’d never imagined he’d let another man fuck him either.

A smirk curled his lips just as the woman, Michelle the

nameplate said, looked up at him. No wonder she was so
unhappy. Her brown turtleneck sweater looked
uncomfortable and restrictive. She frowned at him. “Can I
help you?”

Jared gave her a benign smile. “Is Detective Stryker in,

Goading The Enforcer

please?”

“Yes. Who should I tell him is here?”
“Tanis.” No way in hell was he telling his real name to

this woman and he knew his non-descript clothes would
make it difficult for her to remember him within an hour.
He’d use the art of plainness more times than he could count
over the years.

A moment later, he spotted Grady striding between desks

toward him. The detective paused in front of him, for a
second a frown marred his brow as he discreetly scented the
air around them. Well, shit. I should have thought of that. Damn

shifter noses.

“Follow me, please,” Grady ordered.
Jared didn’t bother replying, just followed the big tiger

between desks and into an office. He closed the door behind
him, turned around and discovered Grady in his personal
space. The shifter sniffed his neck and frowned. “Who is
she?”

There was no point in pretending he didn’t know what

Grady was talking about. He just hoped the man wasn’t too
shocked that the gender was wrong. He forced a smile.
“Carson.”

For a second, confusion clouded the detective’s features,

then his brows drew into a glare. “Holy shit! Carson
Angeni? I know you made out the other night, but what the
fuck? I thought you weren’t gay?”

Uncertain what to say for a moment, he glared at the

floor. Finally, he lifted his gaze and pegged Grady with a
frustrated look. “It’s your bloody Fate that chooses. Why
don’t you ask her?”

That had Grady’s jaw dropping. “You mean you’re

Carson’s fated mate? Holy shit!” Grady hissed again. He
paced away from him, turned back and ran a hand over his
jaw. The right jab to his stomach took Jared completely by

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surprise. Pain exploded through his ribs as he bounced
against the wall.

“Fucking hell, man! What the hell was that for?” he

snarled after he could catch his breath.

“You knew,” Grady snapped. “You knew Carson thought

he was your mate last night when you asked about him,
didn’t you? Why didn’t you say anything?”

Growling in frustration, Jared dropped into a chair. “Of

course I knew!” he declared. “I overheard Carson telling his
alpha after the meeting.” He frowned. “How the hell was I
supposed to know he’d go all feral on me when I pushed
him a bit?”

That had a corner of Grady’s lips curling and one brow

ratcheting up in a look of disbelief. “You pushed him a bit?
We both know better than that.”

“All right, so it was more than a bit,” he muttered,

throwing up his hands.

“You fucking challenged his wolf, didn’t you?” When

Jared glanced away, Grady growled. “Un-fucking-
believable. I’d belt you a new one, but then Carson would
have my hide!” he nearly roared. He paced his office for a
moment, before clenching his jaw and glaring at Jared.
“What about after your vacation? You’re leaving in four
days. What then? Now that you’re mated to him, he’s only
able to get it up for you!”

Jared’s eyes widened as he realized what he’d, however

inadvertently, pushed Carson into. “That sucks!” he
whispered.

“Fucking right, it sucks!”
Jared groaned and ran a hand through his short, dark

hair. After a frown, he realized the unfamiliar feeling he’d
been experiencing was guilt. He lifted his head and
grimaced. “I can do my line of work from anywhere, but
Carson seems a little straight-laced. He’s probably not too

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pleased with the idea of mating an assassin, huh?”

Grady snorted. “Ya think?”
Jared glared angrily. The man didn’t have to sneer at his

line of work that quickly. Some people really needed to die.
Sure, he’d taken a couple questionable hits when he was first
starting out, but after that he’d always researched who
they’d asked him to kill before accepting the contract. If the
punishment didn’t fit the crime, he didn’t take it.

Jumping to his feet, Jared slammed his fists onto Grady’s

desk. “I do what needs to be done. He’s a fucking wolf
enforcer. Certainly he’s had to kill a few people! So he didn’t
do it for money, they still needed to die!”

Grady lifted a hand. “Keep your voice down, Tanis.”
Growling softly, Jared paced the tiny room. After a

moment of silence, he rounded on Grady. “What the fuck
am I supposed to do? Give up my way of life because of
fucking Fate?”

He watched Grady’s shoulders drop and his brows

crease. It took him a long time to meet Jared’s gaze. “I can’t
answer that for you.”

Charlie Richards

Chapter Six

hy’d ye mate him?”

Carson turned to see Declan slip between the

trees behind him. His alpha wore all black, like himself. A
pair of wolves was stationed at every side entrance, while
Grady and Lyle and a couple more wolves were waiting at
the front.

He sighed, returning his gaze to the camera on the edge of

the Crystal Lake Corporation’s property. He was impatiently
waiting for the nearly silent hum of power to disappear, his
signal that Jared had succeeded in his task of shutting down
security.

“He broke into my house. He pushed me, challenged my

wolf.” Tension seeped into his shoulders as he thought
about the evening before.

“Did ye lose control, Carson?” Declan asked.
He glanced at his alpha, but the man was staring at the

building, his head cocked as he, too, listened. “Yes. I wanted
him to submit and he did. A little too much,” he growled.

“What are ye going to do? Do ye need help with

anything?”

And that was his alpha. No judgment, no disapproval,

just understanding, just a desire to see the member of his
pack happy. “I’m not sure,” he admitted. “I may need you to
lock me up tonight.”

That had Declan’s brows lifting. “Excuse me?” he

“W

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growled.

He grimaced as he met his alpha’s concerned gaze. “Jared

is going to a bachelor party.”

Declan grinned. “Why not crash it? I’m sure I can get a

couple wolves to go with ye to keep the peace.”

That had Carson smirking. “I could do that.”
Before more could be said, the buzz of power

disappeared. Both men sprang to their feet and sprinted
toward the building over one hundred yards away. Carson
reached the door first and yanked it open. Men’s shouts
echoed through the halls and he led the way down the
corridor. He turned a corner and spotted three men holding
guns on a petrified human.

He growled. “That’s Pascal and the door to the head

accountant’s office. We need to get in there.”

“Well we’re not leaving Pascal high and dry after what he

did for us. Let’s take these men out.”

Carson nodded once before bringing up his silenced

Glock and lunging forward. He brought the handle of the
weapon down on the back of one man’s head, sending him
crumbling to the ground. His alpha was right next to him,
giving a second man the same treatment. The third man
turned toward Carson, crying out in alarm. Carson swung a
large fist, connecting with the man’s jaw. The human’s head
snapped back, but he didn’t go down, telling Carson the
man had probably been altered.

Declan jumped into the fray and between the two of

them, they quickly brought the man down. Carson looked at
the human, whose eyes were wide in shock. “I’m Carson
Angeni. We spoke on the phone. Where’s Jared?”

Relief seeped into Pascal’s expression. “Oh. Thank God!”

he said. He turned and headed into the room and Carson
and Declan quickly followed. “He already headed into the
shaft.” He glanced back at them while pointing at an open

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vent. “That guy is flexible! I never would have thought
anyone could fit in there!”

A growl rumbled through Carson’s chest, but he quickly

cut the sound off with a cough when he saw the human’s
eyes widen. “Sorry,” he whispered. “When did he head in?”

“Ten minutes ago,” Pascal answered after a glance at the

clock. “I don’t know why it’s taking him so long!”

Even as he spoke, a loud thump sounded from the

vicinity of the elevator shaft. Then a loud screech echoed
through the room and something thudded on the other side
of the door. Carson heard a second thud and then a crack
appeared in the wall. Quickly he and Declan wedged their
fingers into the crack and heaved, forcing the wall open.

They revealed a sweating, dirty, cursing mate. Seeing

them, Jared straightened and grinned. “Hey, Injun. Sorry it
took so long. Shorting out the security also shorted out the
damn elevators and doors. I had to hot wire them.” He
slapped his hands over his clothes, brushing off the dust and
cobwebs. “Ready to go then?”

Unable to help himself, Carson stepped forward, grabbed

the nape of Jared’s neck and pulled him into a hard kiss.
After releasing him, he whispered, “Now I’m ready.”

To his surprise, Jared chuckled and leaned forward to

give him another quick kiss. “All right then.” He turned
away and Carson let him go, following him through the
door.

Declan laughed quietly, but only said, “Pascal, come with

us. The others should know ye on sight, but better safe than
sorry.”

The four of them piled into the elevator and to his shock,

he watched Jared lean forward and scan his own eye while
swiping Pascal’s pass-card. Jared met his gaze and winked.
“Why do you think it took me so long to rewire it?” He
pinned a stare at Declan. “You should let your group know

Goading The Enforcer

that if they can get hold of a pass-card, they can use the
elevator to follow us. The retinal scan activates the shaft, but
it doesn’t actually verify who is using it anymore.”

Declan nodded as the elevator started moving. He spoke

quietly into the radio, ordering certain groups to stay above
and guard their asses, plus one pair of shifters to remove the
three men from the accountant’s office, while other groups
needed to sweep the first floor labs and the cages on the
third floor.

Seconds later, they stopped on the second floor and ran as

silently as possible down the hall. Declan held Pascal back
since he was the noisiest, leaving Carson and Jared up front.
They came to the room Carson had memorized on the maps
he’d found and stopped at a door. He tried the handle, but
found it locked. “Shit,” he hissed.

“Hang on,” his mate murmured, leaning close and staring

at the locking mechanism. Jared pulled out a roll of cloth and
unfolded it. He pulled three slender rods from the cloth,
tucked the wad of linen back into his belt and inserted two
of the rods deep into the lock with one hand. With the third
rod, he began to poke and prod, shift and slide them around
the small, oval hole. Carson shifted impatiently, glancing up
and down the hall uneasily. Jared must have seen the
movement from his peripheral vision, for he said, “I’m
almost done.” The last word was punctuated by a faint click.

“Nice, white man,” he murmured, pushing the door open.

Something in his chest warmed at the soft smirk on his
mate’s face.

He found Dagus curled up on a cot, recognizing him from

the myriad of pictures Drake had left with them. The dark-
skinned man jerked to a sitting position and backed away
from them. “Who is it?” Dagus whispered.

“Easy, Dagus. My name is Carson Angeni. I’m with

Declan. We’re here to help you.”

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He kept his tone soothing and prayed Dagus would come

easily. He didn’t want to knock out the already traumatized
man. The captive’s words came as a shock. “I want to hear
Declan’s voice.”

“I’m right here, Dagus,” Declan responded from behind

them. “Yer brother is worried sick about ye, lad. Let’s get out
of here, aye?”

Dagus’s chest released a breath and a relieved smile

curved his lips as he pushed to his feet. “Thank you for
coming.”

Carson went to him, resting one hand on his shoulder and

the other on the small of Dagus’s back. “We never leave our
own,” he promised. “Do you know if there are others on this
floor?”

Dagus nodded. “I know the room to my left is occupied.

I’ve heard noises, but can’t identify them. When they first
put me here, there were noises from the room on the right,
but I haven’t heard anything for two days.”

“We’ll start with the room on the right then,” Declan said

from the doorway before slipping away.

Jared moved to the left and Carson gritted his teeth as he

disappeared from sight.

“Right is empty!” Declan called.
“Left is not,” Carson heard Jared say right before a snarl

echoed through the hall.

Carson brushed by Dagus and skidded to a stop at the

sight that met him in the doorway. A large spotted cat
crouched over Jared, his incisors inches away from Jared’s
throat and a low growl emanating from the shifter’s throat.

Acting on instinct, the instinct that told him another

shifter threatened his mate, Carson leapt forward. He shifted
in midair, clothes shedding from his body as he transformed
into his lupine form. He slammed into the larger animal,
jaws latching onto a malnourished neck. The skinny animal

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buckled under his weight, yowling piteously. Carson
immediately backed off, keeping himself between the shifter
and Jared, growling out a warning.

Declan appeared over his shoulder with Pascal at his

elbow and Dagus in tow. “We’re here to help ye. I’m alpha
of a nearby wolf pack. Let me show ye the way out.” When
the shifter hunched in on itself and snarled, Declan stepped
forward. He held up a dart gun in one hand and an open
palm in the other. “I don’t wish to hurt ye, young one. Let us
help ye. Me pack can care for ye and keep ye safe.”

Seconds later, the leopard shifter mewled sadly. It rushed

forward and rubbed against Declan’s leg, trying to get as
close as possible. Declan grimaced. “Oh, Lark is so not goin’
to like this,” he muttered. Shaking his head, he indicated the
rest of the doors. “Let’s check out the rest of these and get
the hell out of here.”

After shifting back to human form and wrapping a none-

too-clean sheet around his waist, Carson followed the others
down the hall. They checked out the remaining rooms,
finding one after another empty, but the stench and unclean
conditions made Carson shudder. He prayed they didn’t
find any more shifters here and he thought his wish may be
granted until Jared unlocked the door to the last room.
Inside they found a bunny cowering in the corner. In some
spots, the white fur was matted, in others it was gone. The
right side of its haunch had been shaved and three incisions
cut into its flesh, now sewn together with purple thread. It
tried desperately to get away, but couldn’t put weight on its
right hind leg.

Jared leaped at the animal, catching it carefully around its

chest. He pulled it close as he rolled to his feet. The look on
his face showed absolute horror as he stared around the
soiled room, dirty newspaper strewn across one corner of
the place, obviously used as the animal’s bathroom. Carson’s

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shifter nose made it nearly impossible to approach his mate
as Jared walked out of the room.

His hazel eyes glittered as he stepped close and

whispered, “Is this a shifter, too?”

Carson leaned close and sniffed. Underneath the scent of

feces, chemicals and terror was the unmistakable smell of a
rabbit shifter. He swallowed, took one last look around the
room, taking in the inhumane treatment forced upon the
creature and nodded. “Yes. He’s a shifter.”

Jared snarled, making the animal in his arms squeal in

panic while thrusting out his back leg in an attempt to get
away. His mate wrapped the animal up in a loose embrace
while crooning softly. “Easy now, little bunny shifter. No
one else will hurt you! You have my word on that. You’re
safe now. You’ll never be hurt again.”

He watched in surprise as the rabbit stopped fighting

Jared and his mate tucked the little shifter close to his chest
before stalking back to the elevator and punching the button.
He could read agitation in every line of his mate’s body, but
didn’t know what to do to ease it.

Waiting for the elevator to open, Declan pulled his radio

out and spoke into it, asking for a report. Carson heard
Lyle’s static-filled voice tell them that he and Grady found
two more shifters on the third floor and freed them after
being forced to take out four guards. They were already on
the main floor heading out of the building. Nick and Cliff
had swept the first underground floor and found nothing
but empty labs.

As they stepped into the elevator, Jared whispered, “I find

it odd that the place is so empty.” Suddenly, he stabbed at
the button for level one, making them lurch to a stop one
level underground. “Take him,” he ordered, thrusting the
bunny toward Carson. He reached out automatically,
surprised when the animal struggled and thrashed, trying to

Goading The Enforcer

get away from him. Jared stepped close and drew the
shifter’s attention. “This is my mate Carson, little bunny.
He’ll guard you with his life.”

Completely floored, his brain froze in shock. Jared knew!

Jared knows he’s my mate! How can he know this? Before he
could even get close to voicing that question, Jared pressed
the button for ground level and darted out of the elevator.

He roared in anguish, slamming one fist on the closed

doors. The struggling bunny caught his attention and
Carson pulled it close, forcing his voice to come out soft.
“Easy, rabbit. You’ll be just fine. I’ve got your back.”

Carson desperately wanted to stay on the elevator and go

back down a level, but he wouldn’t make his mate out a liar.
Instead, he tucked the rabbit close and followed his alpha
and Pascal, who carefully guided Dagus out of the building.
Carson noted that Lyle joined them once they were out of
the building and he prayed his mate hurried along.

Ten minutes later, he waited near to where he’d hidden

while waiting for the cameras to be shut off. Most of the
others waited nearby, knowing his concern stemmed from
waiting for his mate’s safe return. Declan had ordered a
number of wolves to take the shifters they’d found to Rainy
and Lark for treatment, but Carson had been unable to
relinquish the rabbit. He knew it irrational, but his mate had
entrusted the small shifter’s care to him and he refused to do
any less.

He absently threaded his fingers through the bunny’s fur,

trying to keep himself as calm as the animal in his arms.

When the building exploded, Carson lost it, screaming

Jared’s name as he launched toward the burning structure. It
took the combined strength of Lyle, Grady and Declan to
restrain Carson. As flames licked from the windows, his
muscles gave out and they let him sink to the ground. Tears
streamed down his face as he curled around the bunny Jared

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had entrusted him with. If it was the last thing he did,
Carson would keep the other shifter safe.

Goading The Enforcer

Chapter Seven

ared pulled Carson close, trapping his mate in his arms
and the rabbit Carson still clung to between their bodies.

“Easy, Injun. Be still. I’m here.” Never in his wildest
imaginations did he think he’d be comforting another man
because he howled in agony over thinking he’d lost him. He
didn’t think even his friend of twelve years, Raul, would feel
that way. It was a novel idea for Jared that someone cared
for him so much.

His scent must have finally hit Carson, for the man’s wild

eyes finally lost some of their glazed look and Jared found
himself pinned to the ground under two hundred pounds of
very sexy male. Answering Carson’s desperate kisses with
his own, Jared let the man’s desire wash over him, making
his cock fill and his balls pull tight. When he thought he’d
explode just from kissing the man, he pulled back, panting
for breath.

Carson growled in frustration, but Jared turned his head,

saying, “Hey man, I like you, too, but I’m not into
exhibitionism.” Jared’s eyes met the oddly pale pink orbs of
the rabbit’s, forgotten in Carson’s exuberant greeting. It sat a
foot away from their shoulders, a gleam of interest lighting
its eyes as it took them in. “You doing okay?” he asked the
creature, for lack of a better thing to say.

The rabbit stood up on its back legs, looked around once,

then settled back onto all fours and wiggled its tail. Jared

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smirked, thinking that was as good an answer as any.
Perhaps not okay, but the shifter was at least content to sit
surrounded by a group of other shifters.

The deep breath from Carson’s chest caught his attention

and he returned his focus to his mate. Well, fan-fucking-tastic.

I really do think of Carson as my mate. What the hell am I going to

do now?

Although he felt anything but calm, Jared forced a smile.

He ran a hand through the long, straight hair he found
himself fascinated with and forced Carson to meet his gaze.
“Why were you so upset?” he whispered.

“I thought I’d lost you.”
His simple admission, so honest and so straightforward,

shocked Jared to the bone. His astonishment must have
shown in his expression because Carson’s face darkened a
bit and Jared realized the man was blushing. He leaned up
and kissed his lips gently. Not knowing what else to say, he
whispered, “You need to let me up, babe. We have a rabbit
to help.”

He glanced meaningfully at the rabbit shifter still

watching them avidly. Jared wondered what the little animal
looked like in human form. Was it so fascinated with them
because it was actually a woman or what?

A sigh from the bigger man had him refocusing on

Carson. The wolf shifter nodded and rolled off Jared,
clutching tightly to his sheet and surprisingly, Jared missed
the man’s weight on him. Jared rolled to his knees and
stared at the bunny. “Are you staying like that?”

The animal hunched in on itself and Jared nodded.

“Right.” He picked up the shifter and rose to his feet. He
glanced around, surprised to see that they were now alone.
“Uh…your friends?”

“Privacy,” Carson muttered before leading the way

through the woods. They walked in silence for several

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minutes, then Carson turned and glared. “How’d you
know?”

It took him a second to realize what Carson referred to,

but once he did, Jared had the decency to flush. “I overheard
you talking with Declan that first night.”

To his surprise, Carson’s face clouded with anger. “You

knew you were my mate when you came to the house and
pushed me yesterday? What the fuck?” he roared.

Jared took a step back from the upset man and frowned.

“What does it matter?”

“You fucking challenged my wolf, then submitted to it.

Now we’re mated, I’m fucking bound to you and you’re
blowing up buildings and making me think you’re dead.”
Jared’s brows lifted as Carson built up a head of steam.
“Then you’re going to leave in three days and I’m going to
slowly go fucking insane without you!” Carson glared, spun
on his heel and prowled a few strides away. He turned back
around and roared, “Why didn’t you fuck with someone
else’s life?”

Jared’s jaw dropped as he watched his mate stalk into the

forest and disappear amidst the trees. A sharp pain unlike
anything he’d ever felt before stabbed through his chest and
he gasped. “My god,” he whispered, his eyes widening.
He’d never truly set out to hurt the man. When he’d broken
into the house to talk to Carson, he’d gotten just as carried
away as the other man obviously had. He knew they’d both
enjoyed it.

Movement from the animal in his arms caught his

attention and he nearly dropped the shifter. Instead, he
managed to fall to his knees, but still the creature gave a soft
hiss as it hit the ground. Jared didn’t know if it was from
pain from the impact, or if it was due to the contortions the
shifter’s body was going through.

What fur the animal had receded, bones contorted,

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tendons popped, limbs lengthened and its head reshaped.
Seconds later, a small albino-skinned man lay curled up on
the ground, gasping for breath. Even curled up, Jared knew
the man couldn’t be more than five feet tall and his alabaster
skin and white-blond hair made him look like he hadn’t seen
sun in years.

Staring up with pain-filled, pale pink eyes, the guy

whispered, “You really fucked that up.”

Jared stared at the shifter for several seconds before

whipping his shirt over his head and growling softly. “Yeah.
I fucking figured that out already,” he snapped. He watched
the man cringe and Jared sighed and shook his head. “I
won’t hurt you. You know that.” Lifting his palms up, he
forced a smile. “I think we need to get you out of here. Don’t
you?”

The man nodded hesitantly.
“And to do that, we need to get some clothes on you.

You’ll be swimming in it, but at least you’ll be covered,” he
said, holding up his shirt. After another hesitant nod, Jared
forced himself to gently cover the man with his shirt. “Do
you heal when you shift, like in some of those fantasy
books?” he asked, curiosity filling him as he took in the
stitches that had somehow transferred to the man’s human
side.

“That’d be really nice, but no,” the small man whispered.

“The injuries remain. Things that are part of our skin, like
stitches, shift with us, but things that are on us, like casts, do
not.”

“If you don’t mind my saying, that’s just weird,” Jared

commented, hefting the tiny man into his arms and heading
through the forest. He kept looking around, hoping Carson
would reappear, but they reached where he’d parked a
getaway car without seeing him again.

“He’s not around anymore,” the guy said as Jared set him

Goading The Enforcer

into the passenger seat.

“Who?” Jared asked, though he knew the answer.
“Your mate,” the bunny shifter answered softly. “He

won’t stay away long though.”

Jared climbed into the car and stared at him. “Why do

you say that?”

“Because you’re his mate.” Cocking his head, he frowned.

“Why’d you mate him if you didn’t plan to stick around?”

Running a hand through his hair, he glared out the

windshield. “I didn’t do it on purpose,” he growled. He
grabbed his phone and punched a number. Grady answered
on the second ring. “It’s me. I have the bunny shifter with
me. He needs medical attention. Where do you want him?”

“Take him to Declan’s,” Grady ordered.
“Be there in thirty.” Jared hung up the phone and got the

car moving. After several moments of silence, he asked,
“What’s your name?”

“Casey Streusel.”
“Nice to meet you, Casey. I’m Jared Templeton.” He

flashed a smile toward the guy. “How long have you been
with those guys?”

The albino cocked his head. “What’s the date?”
“September twelfth.”
“Three months and eighteen days,” Casey whispered

with a shiver.

Jared had no idea how to comfort someone. He patted the

man’s bare knee gently. “I’m taking you to Declan McIntire.
He’s the alpha of the nearby wolf pack. He’ll take very good
care of you, Casey.”

“Why’d you blow up the building?” Casey whispered.

“Did you get everyone out?”

A fresh wave of anger swept through him at the treatment

of the people held there and Jared’s grip tightened on the
steering wheel. “Because it will set them back. They’d closed

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down for the night, so no one was there that late except the
guards.” He hazarded a glance and from the way the man
immediately looked away, Casey had seen the icy glint in his
hazel eyes. Jared knew he could make people uncomfortable
with his cold detachment about taking other’s lives. “The
guards were dead, Casey,” he said.

He didn’t bother telling the young man that he’d found

three hiding in the labs. How the shifters who’d checked the
labs had missed them, he wasn’t certain, but they wouldn’t
bother anyone else now. And he hadn’t bothered to check
the third floor or the offices, so it was entirely possible there
were still people living when the building went. He gave a
mental shrug. Oh, well.

“You weren’t carrying any bombs,” Casey mused softly.

“How did you blow up the place?”

Jared chuckled. “A few household chemicals in the proper

proportions.”

“Oh.”
A moment later, he looked to the right and saw his

passenger was asleep. When he arrived at Declan’s house, he
rounded the hood of the car and gently eased Casey into his
arms. The small man instinctively mewled unhappily before
snuggling against his chest and slipping back into sleep. As
he crossed the yard toward a smirking Grady, the irony of
the situation wasn’t lost on Jared. He’d just come from
killing a half dozen guards and yet he carried one small
shifter to safety.

“Where do you want him?” he asked gruffly.
“Upstairs, third door on the left,” Declan ordered.
Jared turned toward the alpha’s voice and saw the big

man pointing up the stairs overlooking the dining room. He
followed the instruction and settled the small man on the
bed. Casey stirred, shifting restlessly. The shirt rucked up,
revealing far more than Jared wanted to see on any man,

Goading The Enforcer

with the exception of Carson. Oddly enough, he couldn’t
wait to see more of that man and hoped he could figure out
a way to apologize to him. He paused in the act of laying a
blanket over Casey’s body. When did I decide this whole thing

was my fault?

Pushing the thoughts away, he gently roused Casey. He

introduced him to Grady and Declan, knowing the small
man probably remembered their faces from the rescue.
When Lark walked into the room, Casey cringed away from
the doctor. “No,” he murmured. “No more.”

Settling on the bed, Jared pulled Casey into his arms.

“Easy, little bunny,” he crooned. “These are good people.
They won’t hurt you.”

“Are you sure?” the man asked, his eyes so big. “They

won’t sell me?”

“Sell ye?” Declan murmured. “Why would we sell ye?”
“You’re predator shifters,” he whispered as if that

explained everything while staring around the room. “You
mate with humans.” He looked up at Jared and added, “No
offense,” even as he clung to Jared.

Jared smiled, rubbing Casey’s back lightly. “Grady tells

me that not all shifters are so accepting of outsiders, but
that’s not the case with this pack, little one. They are the
ones who asked for my help to break into the facility to save
a blind human, who is the brother of a leopard shifter’s mate
not in their pack, but living nearby.”

At Casey’s shocked expression, he ruffled the man’s hair

lightly. “They won’t hurt you. I’ve heard Lark is an excellent
doctor and will take great care of you.”

“Will you stay here?”
The squeaked question nearly tore his heart out of his

chest and Jared couldn’t imagine what the man saw in him
that made him latch onto him like this. He was a hired killer.
The shifter knew that. Why would Casey think he would

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take care of him?

He flicked his gaze to Grady, who lifted a brow in

interest. Jared knew the tiger shifter’s thoughts mirrored his
own. What the hell does the little shifter see in me?

Jared looked back to Casey’s hopeful face and nodded.

“Sure. I’ll stay for a little bit. I’m in town for my sister’s
wedding, so I have plans late this evening.”

“Okay,” he whispered.
Settling Casey back on the pillows, Jared leaned against

the headboard as Lark looked the man over. “I’ll need to
draw blood to see if there’s anything we need to treat you
for,” Lark explained, preparing a needle. They both saw
Casey’s panicked expression and Jared gently squeezed his
shoulder while Lark explained, “We had a friend escape
from there with things he needed treatment for. If we hadn’t
gotten to him, he would have died without help. We don’t
want the same to happen to you.”

Casey nodded jerkily.
“Where are you from?” Jared asked conversationally,

trying to take his new friend’s mind off what Lark was
doing.

“Arizona,” Casey replied. “A half hour south of Tucson.”
“Yeah? A bunny troupe or something?” he teased.
That earned him an eye roll. “A group of rabbits is called

a herd and no. I left my herd when I refused to mate with
the female my family arranged for me.”

“Not into women?” Jared asked curiously, “Or just not

that particular female?”

Casey lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “I don’t know. I’ve

never been attracted to anyone that way. They kicked me
out, so…”

He looked slightly panicked for a moment and Declan

stated, “Ye need not worry about me reportin’ ye in me
territory, Casey. I don’t hold with the same values other

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alphas do. Who ye mate with or don’t mate with is yer
choice and just because ye’ve been banished from yer herd
for that reason, I certainly won’t do the same. Yer safe on me
pack land for as long as ye need to stay.”

Casey’s eyes widened and he looked toward Jared for

confirmation. Jared winked. “Declan’s a decent guy, for a
wolf.” At the alpha’s un-amused snort, Jared laughed.

By the time Lark was done examining Casey, the small

man was struggling to stay awake. And after getting a
sandwich and a glass of milk, he was out like a light. Jared
sighed and headed out of the room. “Is he going to be okay,
Doc?” he asked Lark as he paused in the kitchen.

Lark shrugged. “He seems okay so far. The blood tests

will tell if anything serious was tampered with internally.
The stitches were kept clean, so at least infection’s not an
issue.”

Jared nodded. “When he wakes tell him I’ll swing by

tomorrow around noon.” He ran a hand through his short
hair. Staring out the window, he settled his hands on his
hips. “He seems to have developed an instant dependency
on me. I’m not sure what to make of that,” he admitted.

“I can’t tell you how to react to that, Jared.” His brows

furrowed in thought as he stared up at him. “From what I’ve
heard from Declan, I know you have enough things you
need to work out with Carson.” He rested a hand on Jared’s
shoulder and Jared lifted a brow in question. “Carson’s a
good guy. A little stiff sometimes, but none of us want to see
him hurt.”

He recognized a warning when he heard one and crossed

his arms. “Thank you for the vote of confidence, Lark,” he
muttered. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

With that, he turned and headed out of the house. Pulling

open the front door, Grady caught up with him. “Hey, make
sure you take a shower, man.”

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Jared frowned over his shoulder at Grady as the other

man followed him to his car. “What the hell does that
mean?”

Grady grinned. “You smell like bunny, Jared. If you run

into Carson again smelling like Casey, you’ll only make your
problems worse.”

“Damn shifter noses,” Jared grumbled, pinching the

bridge of his nose between two fingers. After a second, he
nodded. “I’d planned on getting cleaned up anyway, but I
do appreciate the warning.”

“Why wasn’t he with you?” Grady asked curiously,

watching as Jared settled behind the wheel of his car.

Jared shook his head. “We had a fight. He stormed off. I

don’t know where he went.” He had to admit that part
bothered him more than just a little bit. He wasn’t familiar
with the area, so wasn’t certain where he should even look
for the man if he’d wanted to find him.

Grady tapped the hood of the car. “Don’t worry. He

won’t go far. Fate only gives us one mate,” he reminded
him. “Now that you’re mated, he won’t stray.” Then he
grimaced, “And he’s going to be extremely jealous that
you’re going to a bachelor party.”

Confused, Jared frowned. “Huh? Why?”
“Never been to one, huh?” Grady asked, smiling

sardonically. “Strippers are a pretty normal occurrence and
it wasn’t too long ago you claimed to be straight, my friend.”

“Oh,” Jared murmured. He frowned, not liking that if the

situation were reversed, he’d probably be pissed, too. “Well,
if you see him, tell him to swing by Spacers. I already told
my soon-to-be brother-in-law that my date was a man, so it
probably wouldn’t surprise him to see that same man show
up.”

Grady’s brows shot up. “You seriously already told your

family about him?”

Goading The Enforcer

Jared shook his head. “Not all of them. Just the groom.”

Then a thought occurred to him and he groaned. “Of course,
by telling Terry, he’ll feel obligated to pass that information
on to my sister, who’ll very quickly tell everyone. Huh. I
didn’t see my family last night. After fucking Carson, I kind
of hid in my room,” he admitted.

“Sex with a man is a big step,” Grady acknowledged. “I

can see how you’d want to take some time to get your head
on straight and panic in private.”

Jared grimaced. “Yeah, that was about right. When I’m

with him, it’s easy to forget everything else. The attraction
is…” He shook his head as Grady laughed.

“Yeah, I know, man.” He grinned. “I have a mate,

remember?”

“So do I,” Jared whispered, losing focus of his

surroundings as he thought of the man and how it felt to be
held by him. His cock started to stir at the memories and he
suddenly found it difficult to remember why it was so
important to attend that bachelor party instead of hunting
down his mate. Shaking his head, he smiled ruefully up at
Grady. “And now I have to figure out what to do about it.”

Charlie Richards

Chapter Eight

arson stepped into Spacers, still marveling over Grady’s
words. His mate had already told his family about them? What

did that mean? Coming out to one’s family was a big step.
Jared wouldn’t do that if he planned on leaving and never
seeing Carson again, would he?

Uncertain of his welcome, he remained on the outskirts of

the room so he could scope out the place. He appreciated
Declan’s promise of a couple other wolves there and easily
spotted Nick and Trace seated in a corner talking. He had no
notion of either man’s orientation, but neither seemed
particularly interested in the dancer. He traded nods with
the other shifters and let his gaze rove over the clusters of
men.

It only took him a moment to spot Jared sitting at a table

with a half dozen other men. While the others stared at the
woman on stage, laughing and cajoling each other, Jared
lounged back in his chair, which Carson noted was against a
wall, and surveyed the rest of the bar.

Seconds later, their eyes met and a flash of heat lighted

Jared’s eyes and one side of Jared’s lips curved into a small
smile. Assured of at least a moderate welcome, Carson
started toward them. He noticed a blond man slap Jared’s
arm, trying to get his attention. Jared broke their gaze and
frowned at the man, dropping his eyes to look at where the
man touched him, before lifting a brow in question.

Goading The Enforcer

The man, oblivious to Jared’s displeasure at the contact,

waved a hand at the brunet dancing and stripping. Jared’s
gaze flicked over the woman, but to Carson’s pleasure, no
interest was expressed in his look. Carson drew close
enough to hear the blond’s comment.

“Not to your liking, man?” the guy said. “I like blondes

myself, but redheads really get me going,” he added with a
leer.

“Oh, I like mine with long raven hair,” Jared quipped

back. “It gives me something to hold while I fuck them.”

Carson nearly swallowed his tongue and struggled to get

words out when he reached the table. “Jared,” he finally
managed.

“Carson,” Jared purred, standing and gripping his

shoulder. “I’m glad Grady passed on the message. Join us.”
He pulled up another chair and settled it between him and
another man. “This is Terry, my soon-to-be brother-in-law,”
he said, indicating the man to Carson’s right. “These yahoos
are his buddies, Lance, Phil, Tom, Larry and Brady.” He
pointed at a man as he said a name, going around the table
counterclockwise. “Guys, this is Carson Angeni. He’s a
forest ranger in the area.” He grinned at Carson. “In the
summer, I’m going to talk him into showing me some of the
more secluded places.”

He grinned back at Jared, he and his wolf on the same

page about what to do at those secluded places. “I’d be
happy to, Jared,” he replied. “Anytime.”

“Are you eventually coming back to stay?” Terry asked.

“I know Brandy would be happy to hear that, even with the
shock you gave her yesterday. How many of your family
have you heard from?”

Jared chuckled. “I turned my phone off,” he admitted. “I

figured I’d give them time to settle down. Think about it a
little, you know?”

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Terry laughed. “Yeah, there was definite confusion. I still

don’t know if they believed me.”

Shrugging, Jared replied, “There will be no doubt left by

the day after tomorrow.”

“What are you talking about, Terry?” Brady cut in. “What

shock? Did you tell them you’re a serial killer or
something?”

Carson nearly choked on the beer Jared had poured from

the pitcher for him. His eyes widened and he stared at Jared.
To his surprise, Jared laughed. “Knock it off, you ass. You’re
scaring my date,” he replied easily. “I don’t come around
much because I’m gay and didn’t know how to share it.”
Then he grinned at Carson, his gaze turning heated. “But
now I have a reason to come out to them.”

Beer spewed from the mouths of three of the men, Lance

laughed, Tom paled and Terry stared at Carson. He met the
other man’s gaze evenly, trying to decide how that
revelation was going to be swallowed by the groom’s group
of friends. They were in a strip bar with nearly naked
women dancing not too far away, but now everyone but
Terry stared at Jared.

“You’re a fucking fairy! But how? You look normal!”

Larry gasped, his eyes nearly bugging out of his head.

The blond who sat on the other side of Jared shifted away,

clearly uncomfortable being that close to Jared. “Why the
fuck are you here?” Brady asked.

“It’s Terry’s bachelor party.” Jared shrugged. “Just

because I don’t have any desire to screw the entertainment,
doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate a woman’s grace and
ability.”

Brady’s gaze switched to Carson. “Long, black hair…” he

whispered. “You’re the guy he’s fucking.”

Before he could formulate a response that wouldn’t be

rude or crude, Jared drew everyone’s attention by laughing

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loudly. “Don’t be ridiculous. Carson’s fucking me.” But then
he turned speculating hazel eyes on Carson. “Of course, he
does have an ass that I do intend to tap at some point, but
we haven’t really discussed it yet.”

That comment had Brady and Phil leaping to their feet.

“You two better leave, right now!” Phil snarled.

“Sit down, Phil, Brady,” Terry jumped in. “This is my

bachelor party and I invited them. They are more than
welcome here.”

Brady glanced at the other guys uncertainly. Tom refused

to meet anyone’s gaze, which Carson found interesting.
Instead, the man took a long swallow of his drink.

Lance rolled his eyes and leaned back in his chair. “Sit

down and shut the fuck up, Phil. I never realized you were
such a bigoted ass.”

Phil’s face heated. “You’re okay with these fags?”
Lance shrugged. “I have a cousin in San Francisco who’s

been in a committed relationship with his man for eight
years. That’s a hell of a lot longer than any of my father’s
marriages,” he stated dryly.

Slowly, Brady sat down, his face coloring, but he reached

for his beer, took a sip and then looked back toward the
stripper, who now wore only a thong as she twisted and
shimmied around the pole.

Shoving his chair back, Phil stalked around the group.

Terry rose as the other man stopped next to him. Phil lifted a
fist. “We’ve been friends for eight years and you’re choosing
these fruits over me?”

Terry stayed silent for a moment and Carson was ready to

stand and offer to leave. A hand on his thigh made him keep
still. Finally, Terry lifted a brow and nodded. “Yes. Jared is
family and even though I like you, you’ve always been an
ass.”

Phil’s fist pulled back and this time Carson did leap to his

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feet. His shifter speed and instincts served him well and he
managed to get between the groom and Phil. He took the
punch to his jaw and pain exploded through his head.
Through a haze of pain, he heard shouting and saw Phil pull
back his fist again.

He braced for another impact, lifting his arms to ward off

the blow, knowing he couldn’t strike the human back and
run the risk of seriously injuring him. But the blow didn’t
come. A glass shattered and men cried out in shock. Carson
blinked, struggling to clear his vision. He spotted Jared grab
Phil around the middle, swing him around and slam him
face first into a nearby table. Somehow, he’d managed to
maneuver one of Phil’s arms behind his back and it was
pulled high and tight to his body. Jared’s other hand was
draped over the back of Phil’s neck, forcing him to remain
still.

The cold look on Jared’s face told Carson how close his

mate was to doing the man serious injury. “Wait, Jared,
wait,” he said through a suddenly dry throat. He couldn’t
describe the feelings cascading through him at the fact that
his mate was defending him. As a shifter, it should be the
other way around, but it didn’t stop the flood of pleasure
sweeping through him.

He laid one hand on Jared’s back and the other on the

hand that pulled Phil’s wrist toward his neck. “Don’t hurt
him, Jared,” he leaned close and whispered. “That will only
raise questions we don’t want to answer.”

Jared turned his head to stare at him and glared, but the

anguish filling those vivid hazel eyes softened the look. “But
he hit you.”

“And now he’s been bested by a fag and all his friends

know what kind of man he is,” Carson whispered back. “I’m
fine. Let him go and we’ll have a drink, huh?” he asked,
entreating his mate with his eyes. He rubbed Jared’s back

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and prayed his scent would soothe the human like it would
a shifter mate.

To his relief, Jared’s hold loosened. He leaned close to

Phil and snapped, “Don’t let me see you try to hurt someone
I care about again, or a broken arm will be the least of your
problems.”

Carson must not have been the only one who heard the

cold edge in Jared’s comment, because Phil actually
trembled. The whites of his eyes showed as he scrambled to
get away from Jared. Once the man was out of sight amidst
the crowd, Jared turned and lifted a hand to Carson’s jaw,
tracing the tender area gently.

He tried not to flinch, but didn’t think he’d quite

succeeded. Jared’s brows creased and Carson lifted a hand,
wrapped it around Jared’s and slid his mate’s hand to his
shoulder. “I’ll be fine. Just give me a day.” He winked and
grinned. “I’m a quick healer.”

Jared let out a breath and nodded. “Let me know if it

pains you any worse. I’ll take you home and we’ll put ice on
it.”

Touched at his mate’s thoughtfulness, Carson smiled.

“Thanks. I’ll let you know.”

He leaned in to lay a soft peck on Jared’s lips, but then

remembered where they were and stopped. Clearing his
throat, Carson started to straighten.

Jared growled and moved the hand from his shoulder to

the back of Carson’s neck. “If I’m going to do something, I
do it all the way,” he hissed before plastering his mouth over
Carson’s.

The kiss was brief, hard and way too short. By the time

they sat back down, the rest of the table was sitting and
discussing the stripper, a redhead this time. On a
conversation lull, Terry leaned over and said, “Thanks for
taking that hit. I owe you one, man. Can you imagine how

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angry Brandy would be if I showed up tomorrow evening
with a black eye?” Terry shuddered.

Carson shook his head. “If it weren’t for me, that

wouldn’t have even happened.”

“Phil has always been an ass, but he’s always had my

back when I needed him.” Terry grimaced. “I don’t condone
his behavior, but I do hope he comes around.”

“He may just yet,” Carson murmured, though he didn’t

have much hope for that. Most bigots didn’t.

After a nod, Terry leaned toward Jared. “Hey, man! Since

you’re involved with Carson, are you really moving out here
in the summer?”

Carson froze, his beer halfway to his lips. Jared smiled

faintly and Carson finished lifting his drink and taking a sip.
From the corner of his eye, he watched Jared shrug. “It’s
something I’m entertaining. I travel a lot, so should be able
to base my business out of anywhere.”

“Oh, yeah? I thought you did commodities.”
Jared shook his head. “Not any more. I’m into security.

People pay me to break into their buildings.”

Terry frowned. “Really? People do that?”
Jared laughed. “Oh, yes. It’s not real lucrative, but I’m

good at it.”

“Breaking into secured buildings?” Lance asked

incredulously, the brunet leaning across the table toward
them.

Jared just laughed harder. Carson shook his head. “He

did a job this afternoon,” he said. “He’s excellent.”

“Really? Amazing!” Tom whispered.
Suddenly, Carson didn’t like the way Tom was looking at

his mate. Now it made sense why the man had paled and
looked away at the mention of being gay. He was in the
closet. When he caught Tom’s gaze, the man swallowed
hard and tried to hide the look. Apparently, Tom was very

Goading The Enforcer

deep in the closet.

He tried to dismiss the man, since Jared had obviously

come out to his family for him, but it was difficult. They
hadn’t really made any commitments to each other. He
realized they’d have to have a chat about that and soon. “I’m
surprised the bouncers didn’t try to kick us out,” Carson
muttered, leaning close to Jared.

Hearing the comment, Lance snickered. “They were on

their way over, but since you were defending Terry’s good
name here, Larry and I greased their palms, as it were.”

Carson’s brows shot up. “Really? You bribed them?”
“Sure,” Larry replied with a shrug. “We knew you’d calm

your man and I gotta say, if someone had hit my girlfriend, I
wouldn’t have been nearly as kind as Jared.” Realizing what
he’d said, Larry sputtered, “Not that I’m calling you a girl,
man.” He blushed. “Sorry.”

Snorting, Carson reached for his beer. “Not a problem. It

was an apt analogy.” He lifted his drink in salute. “Thank
you.”

Larry waved away his words and turned back to the

show.

Two hours later, a slight buzz singing through his system,

Carson realized the group was preparing to leave. He
couldn’t say what any of the dancing girls had looked like,
having been too focused on keeping up with the
conversation and not exploding as Jared massaged his thigh
under the table, occasionally brushing his rock hard cock.

“Well, I guess you pass muster,” Jared stated, holding out

a hand to Terry. “Welcome to the family.”

Terry laughed. “I better, after you used me the way you

did. Damn, your family really had no idea,” the drunk man
chuckled, waving a hand between the two men. “But it’s
obvious you care for each other. I’m sure once the shock
wears off, they’ll be fine with it.”

Charlie Richards

“What do you mean?” Jared said, cocking his head.
Terry blushed. “Fuck, I shouldn’t have said that.”
“Well, you better tell me everything,” Jared ordered, his

tone firm. Looking at his mate, Carson realized he hadn’t
seen his human refill his beer glass all evening and it was
still a quarter full. Interesting, did the man not drink?

“Shit,” Terry slurred. “Your mom nearly passed out. She

dropped onto the couch and your little sister had to get a
cloth for her head. Your dad called me a liar and threatened
to send the wedding bills to me if I didn’t stop spreading
rumors about you being gay.” He blushed. “Sorry, man.”

Carson paled at Terry’s words and he turned to see how

Jared took the news of his parent’s not-so-accepting attitude.
Jared let out a breath slowly and stood, then he smiled.
“Don’t worry about it, Terry. Tomorrow’s the rehearsal
dinner. I’ll set them straight.” Helping the groom to his feet,
he said, “I apologize for putting you in that position.” Terry
nodded and Jared wrapped an arm around his waist. “In the
meantime, let’s get you home.”

He turned to Carson and handed him a keycard. “I’m in

room three-oh-one. Just let me make certain he gets home
and I’ll be there in thirty minutes.” Then to Carson’s shock,
Jared leaned toward him and placed a quick peck on his
lips…right in front of everyone…again.

One thing could be said for his mate. He told the truth

about when he decided to do something. He really did do it
all the way.

Goading The Enforcer

Chapter Nine

ot damn, you really are gay,” Terry whispered as
Jared helped him from the strip club.

“Guess so,” he replied, grinning. His future brother-in-

law wasn’t the only person he’d shocked by his little
displays of affection. After settling the man into the car, he
paused and cocked his head. “Thanks for not making it a big
deal. I know I put you in a tight spot by sharing that tidbit. It
didn’t occur to me until afterward that you’d probably end
up telling my sister.”

Terry chuckled sleepily. “Don’t worry about it. I couldn’t

give a shit either way and if people were fucking smart,
they’d realize sexual orientation isn’t what makes a man.”

Jared nodded and headed around the car, surprised to

find an ally in Terry. “Saddle up, boys,” he called to the
others as he settled behind the wheel of Lance’s SUV. Most
of the men planned to sleep at Terry’s place and since he
didn’t drink much anyway, he’d volunteered to drive. It
gave Terry and his crew one last night to act like bachelors
without worrying about one of them DDing.

Ten minutes later, he pulled into the driveway and cut the

engine. “Wake up, you bums,” he ordered. Many of the men
grumbled and started moving, but Terry didn’t even stir.
Jared chuckled at the passed out man. Shaking his head, he
rounded the vehicle and hauled the guy out in a fireman’s
carry.

“H

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Lance took his keys, Larry dug the groom’s keys out of

the man’s pocket and led the way into the house. Following
them

through

the

rooms,

dropped

Terry

unceremoniously onto a bed and grinned. “You all get the
honor of undressing the groom. I have my own man waiting
for me,” he added with a wink.

Good-natured ribbing followed him out of the room and

Jared had to admit, he liked those guys. He locked the door
behind him and headed to his Porsche. He wasn’t certain
what caught his attention, but suddenly all his senses went
on alert. Slipping into the shadows near the driver’s side
door, he scanned the area.

To his surprise, Brandy got out of a car parked on the

street and headed toward the house. She paused at the back
bumper of the Porsche, twisting her hands in clear agitation
as she tried to peer into the shadows. “Jared?”

“Good god, Brandy,” he scolded, stepping into the light

of the streetlamp. “It’s after three in the morning. What the
hell are you doing here?”

“I had to talk to you before the rehearsal dinner tonight,”

she said. Her big brown eyes, so like their mother’s,
conveyed her worry. “Is it true?”

At least she didn’t beat around the bush. He leaned a hip

against the car and crossed his arms over his chest. “Is it true
that I’m gay?” She nodded. Jared rolled his eyes. “I hate
labels,” he grumbled. “I always have. You know that. But if
you need a nice little box to put me in, I’d prefer you use
bisexual.”

Some of the tension in her shoulders eased. “Oh, so you

do like girls?”

And, shit. He suddenly knew where this was going. Jared

decided he’d better nip this right in the bud. “I’ve enjoyed
women in the past, yes, but none have ever affected me the
way Carson does. I don’t care what others think. I plan to

Goading The Enforcer

explore a relationship with him and see where it goes.”

Even as the words came out of his mouth, he had to hide

his own shock at them. He did want to get to know Carson
better, Jared realized. He wanted to find out what made the
man tick, find out what pleased him, what his pet peeves
were, his past and most definitely, Jared wanted to explore
the explosive passion that bubbled beneath the surface any
time they were in the same room.

“Well, how long have you known him? Does he live in

Massachusetts?” Brandy asked tentatively.

“I’ve known him three days and he lives outside Stone

Ridge.” He forced a smile. “Just think, if it works out, I’ll be
moving closer to home.”

She seemed to ignore that second part, fixating on his first

words. “Three days? How can you feel that way after three
days? You’ll be creating chaos for the family!”

Glaring, Jared asked, “How long did it take you to realize

you wanted to know everything about Terry?”

She huffed, setting her fists on her hips. “Well, that’s

different.”

“Why?” Jared growled out. She opened her mouth to

answer, then snapped it shut, but Jared knew what she’d
planned to say. “Because he’s a man?” he sneered.

“Yes! You never expressed any interest in men, why start

now?”

Even though her words were true, there was no way in

hell Jared would admit to them. “You haven’t seen me in ten
years. How the fuck would you know that?” He shook his
head, strode to the driver’s door and pulled it open. “My
man saved your man from a black eye on his wedding day.
You should be thanking him, not busting my balls because I
like him. More than I like you right now!”

At her gasp, he paused and took a deep breath. “I’m

sorry, Brandy. That was uncalled for.” Staring at her pale

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face, he shook his head. “Carson has come to mean a lot to
me in a very short time. I’d appreciate it if you gave him a
chance. Don’t ostracize us just because of his gender.” His
lips quirked into a smile. “He makes me want to be a better
man,” he admitted. He knew she didn’t understand as he
slid into his car and left her staring after him as he drove
away. And Lord willing, she never would.

As he drove back to his hotel room, a jaw-cracking yawn

over took him. Blinking back his exhaustion, he looked
forward to what was to come. His dick had been hard all
evening until he ran into his sister and his desire to see the
man again, even though it’d been less than an hour, grew
with each mile that passed under his car’s wheels.

By the time he stood outside his room’s door, his cock

once again pulsed in his jeans and he prayed Carson had
taken him up on his offer. After locking the door behind
him, he stripped as he moved through the suite of rooms. He
made his way to the bedroom and sucked in a breath.
Sprawled across the comforter was the man he couldn’t
seem to get enough of, the man who consumed his thoughts
and he was naked.

Jared hadn’t seen the man nude when they’d fucked two

days ago. Now he looked his fill, taking in the bronze skin,
impressive muscle definition and tall, strong body. Long
lashes hid Carson’s dark brown eyes, long black hair spread
across Jared’s pillows, an almost straight nose accentuated
high cheekbones and full lips Jared found he loved to kiss.

His gaze swept down the man’s body, taking in the dark

flat nipples, the sculpted abs and the tiny treasure trail of
hair starting below Carson’s belly button and leading the
way to the thin thatch of dark curly hair, nestling around the
man’s impressive, even while semi-erect, cock.

His focus glued to that proof of Carson’s manhood and

suddenly Jared found his mouth watering. He wanted to

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taste. He wanted to feel the man’s dick fill up with blood as
he sucked it, feel it come to life in his mouth. Never one to
deny his urges, especially when his lust-filled mind couldn’t
find a good excuse not to, Jared crawled onto the bed and
over to his lover.

Pausing over the slightly plumped flesh, Jared cocked his

head and swallowed. He’d never done anything like this
before and a case of nerves hit him hard. He wanted to
please this man, more than he’d ever wanted to please
anyone else. He realized how important Carson had already
become to him.

He leaned down, inhaled deeply of the man’s musky,

masculine scent and had to fight back a groan. Carson
smelled amazing and Jared’s cock twitched where it hung
between his legs. His nerves, erased by the desire swamping
him, let Jared take his first taste of man, swiping his tongue
up the underside of Carson’s cock, tracing the thick vein
running its length. Liking the feel of the smooth flesh on his
tongue and enjoying how the man beneath him moaned
softly in his slumber and shifted restlessly, his legs sliding
further apart as if in invitation, Jared circled the flat of his
tongue around the cock’s head before dipping the tip of his
tongue into the slit. A drop of pre-cum oozed out and Jared
rolled the flavored gem around on his tongue, analyzing the
slightly bitter taste and deciding he liked it.

Opening his jaw wider, he sucked the head of Carson’s

shaft into his mouth and flicked his tongue along the glans,
knowing how much he liked it when that soft wrinkled flesh
was worked. A low moan sounded from Carson and a hand
slipped into Jared’s hair. He looked up through his lashes to
see Carson’s hooded, lust-filled eyes staring down at him.

He smiled around the flesh in his mouth and moved

further down on Carson’s shaft, taking another couple
inches into his mouth. It didn’t take long for his gag reflex to

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make itself known and Carson knew he wouldn’t be able to
get much more of Carson’s eight-inch dick into his mouth.

When Carson bucked under him, trying to get more from

Jared, he reacted by wrapping his fist around the stalk of the
man’s erection. He increased his suction and worked the bit
of length he couldn’t get into his mouth with his hand.

The fingers in his hair tightened as Carson gasped his

name and started babbling. “Jared! Oh, gods that’s good.
Wish you could see what you look like with your mouth
wrapped around my dick. So fucking sexy. So hot. Ugh!”

Carson’s other hand tangled in the sheet as he thrust up

and Jared had to grab the man’s hip to keep him from
gagging him, even with his hand helping to keep too much
from his mouth. He pulled off the hard, silky flesh with a
pop and Carson growled his frustration. Jared grinned up at
him. “Are you going to come for me, Carson? Are you going
to fill my mouth with your seed?” Carson’s eyes widened at
Jared’s words and his smile turned feral. “Let me taste you,
mate,” he ordered.

The man under him moaned as Jared once more took the

mushroom head of Carson’s shaft into his mouth. He used
his tongue to flick the glans as he sucked strongly, then
dipped his tongue into the man’s slit, encouraging more pre-
cum to ooze from the leaking opening. He worked the stalk
with one hand and moved the other hand to Carson’s balls,
rolling and tugging the twin orbs. He felt the man’s testicles
pull tight and knew Carson’s orgasm was inevitable.

Still, the first shot took Jared by surprise and he had to

swallow quickly as Carson’s penis shot a second string of
cum onto his tongue. He did his best to keep working the
man’s shaft, prolonging his orgasm as he swallowed him
down. Finally, the dick in his mouth began to soften and the
man actually whined as it became too sensitive.

Jared released him and crawled up his man’s body.

Goading The Enforcer

Grinning at the thought, yeah, he liked calling Carson his
man. Weird! He settled his body over his blissed-out mate
and slid his cock into the crease of the man’s thigh, enjoying
the smooth glide through his own spit against the man’s
skin.

“I want in your ass, Carson,” he crooned right before

taking the other man’s mouth in a demanding kiss. He
swept his tongue inside repeatedly, mimicking what he’d
like to do to Carson’s ass. The bigger man’s hands clamped
onto Jared’s ass and pulled him close as he ground up into
him, but Jared refused to allow him to take over the kiss. He
had every intension of proving that this wouldn’t be just a
one-sided relationship.

Relationship? Holy fucking god!
He broke the kiss and Carson’s brows rose in question.

Jared stared down at Carson, his brain replaying what he’d
said to his sister. Even when not around the man, he wanted
him. That had never happened to him before.

Yeah. Yeah, I want a relationship with Carson. “I’ve never

been in a relationship before,” he whispered, his thumb
caressing Carson’s kiss-swollen lips. “But with you, I want
to try, but you need to know I can’t be your bitch. Even
though you’re a shifter, we have to be equals. I can’t have it
any other way.”

“I…” Carson paused, staring up at him for several

seconds. His expression ranged from disbelief, to concern, to
fear, to acceptance. He exhaled a slow breath and gave a
single nod. “I haven’t been on the receiving end in a long,
long time, Jared, but if that’s what you need, I’d like to give
it to you.”

Jared didn’t miss the other man’s increased breathing or

the slight sheen of sweat that broke out on Carson’s face,
telling him Carson worried about what would happen if
they did this. He leaned down and nuzzled his mate’s face.

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“I’ll make it pleasurable for you, Injun,” he promised. “And
we’ll do it face to face, so your wolf won’t think I’m
dominating you. No doggy style.” Carson gave him a
relieved smile for his teasing.

Reaching into the nightstand, Jared pulled out a brand

new bottle of lube and opened it. He smiled sheepishly at
Carson’s questioning look. “What can I say? I’ve been
craving you ever since I left you that afternoon. I wanted to
be ready,” he added with a shrug.

That had a smile curving Carson’s thin lips. “You planned

to seduce me?”

“I didn’t think you’d need much seducing,” he whispered

back before nipping Carson’s earlobe. “Now walk me
through how to prepare you. I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Start by pouring a glob onto your fingers, letting it warm

briefly. Then insert one finger past my guardian muscle…”

Jared listened to the man, working him open step by step,

stunned at not only the amazing give of Carson’s body, but
of the tight heat that now surrounded his fingers. His dick
jerked and he moaned at the feel of the man beneath him.
“Fuck, I want in here.”

Just as he whispered the words, his knuckles pressed

against a spongy bump deep inside Carson’s channel. The
man beneath him shuddered and moaned. His cock twitched
and jerked, a drop of pre-cum oozing from the slit. “Oh, hell
yeah. I’d forgotten how good this felt. More, Jared. Fill me
with your cock.”

“Oh, yeah,” Jared growled. He eased his fingers out and

smeared the remaining lube onto his dick, then guided the
head of his penis to Carson’s twitching hole. “Ready?” he
whispered.

When Carson nodded, he pressed forward. It took more

pressure than he thought it would to pop the head of his
shaft inside the shifter and he gasped as the tight ring of

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muscle clamped down on him. He trembled, listening to
Carson hiss as the man below him stared at him and
shivered. He held his position, using more strength of will
than he’d ever thought he possessed. He waited until Carson
relaxed around him.

“Now,” Carson moaned. “Fill me now.”
He didn’t need further prodding and pushed his hips

forward. He felt his cock sink into a channel so hot, so tight,
it was like nothing he’d ever felt before. “Oh my god,” he
groaned once he’d sunk all the way to the hilt. “I never
imagined anything could feel like this.”

While sliding into Carson’s body felt amazing, pulling

back out was indescribable. Pleasure so intense that Jared
shook with it rolled over his senses as he felt Carson’s walls
squeezing and massaging his sensitive dick. Breathing
deeply, he forced his hips to start a measured thrust and
retreat action. Exquisite pressure unlike anything he’d ever
imagined surrounded his cock, making tingles shoot
through his balls and up his spine.

Carson’s clutching hands on his shoulders brought him

back to the moment and he stared into the liquid brown eyes
of the man he was beginning to care deeply for. He adjusted
his angle, searching for that same spot he’d managed to hit
with his fingers. On the fourth try, he knew he’d struck pay
dirt.

The shifter’s body arched against him and Carson cried

out his pleasure. Fighting his urges to just rut into the body
beneath him, Jared kept his thrusts smooth and measured,
nailing his lover’s gland over and over. He leaned close and
sucked on the skin where Carson’s neck met shoulder,
knowing it was the exact spot where Carson had marked
him on his own body.

Moaning, Carson trembled. He rocked against him,

meeting Jared thrust for thrust. The sounds of skin slapping

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skin, grunting bodies and the smell of sex and sweat filled
the room. Jared felt his balls pull tight as tingles of pleasure
zipped up and down his spine and he knew his orgasm
quickly approached, but he wanted Carson to come again
first. He reached a hand between them, wrapped it around
Carson’s prick and stroked.

The shifter’s breath hitched, the pupils dilating nearly to

cover his eyes and then Carson’s dick exploded. Cum shot
from the tip of his cock and coated both their chests and
Jared’s fingers. Carson’s chute clenched tight, holding
Jared’s dick in a stranglehold of pleasure that had him
erupting on the next stroke.

He roared as the ecstasy of his release coursed through

his system and he barely managed to keep from collapsing
on the panting man below him. Soft kisses along his neck
made him smile and Jared looked down to see the relaxed
look in Carson’s eyes.

Once he’d regained a modicum of control, he eased his

softening shaft from Carson’s ass, eliciting a soft gasp from
the other man. He rolled off the bed, his legs unsteady as he
made his way to the bathroom. Cleaning himself up, he
realized he’d never been affected by sex like he was with this
man. For once in his life, he wanted more, so much more.

Returning to the bedroom, he carefully wiped down his

mate, all while Carson silently watched him. Letting out a
soft sigh, Jared crawled back into bed and settled next to the
man. Jared had wondered at his reception and relief filled
him when Carson turned and pulled him close. He let
himself be manhandled by the bigger man and found
himself turned so Carson’s front was spooned up against his
back.

At first he tensed and Carson must have felt it. He stroked

his hand down Jared’s chest and nibbled the back of Jared’s
neck sensually. “Relax, babe,” he whispered. “It’s just me

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here.”

After several slow breaths, Jared turned slightly and

looked over his shoulder at Carson. “I’ve never slept with
anyone before,” he admitted.

Carson smiled and pecked a kiss to his shoulder. “Be

careful. You could get used to it.”

Smiling back, Jared whispered, “I’d like the chance to

try.”

Charlie Richards

Chapter Ten

arson woke slowly, aware of the solid body in front of
him and the amazing sense of calm his wolf felt. He knew

immediately when his mate became aware of him, for the
man’s body stiffened slightly. Teasing his fingers through
the soft hair trailing across Jared’s chest between his nipples,
he nuzzled the back of Jared’s neck in an effort to soothe
him.

It worked and Jared’s body sank back against him.

“Mmm, this is a nice way to wake up,” Jared murmured.

“Let me show you an even better perk of waking with

me,” he crooned, willing to use persuasion to get his mate to
want to stay with him.

Carson enjoyed how Jared’s breathing sped up as he

trailed his hand down and teased the hard flesh of his
morning hard-on. “Oh, yeah?” Jared whispered as he rocked
his ass against Carson’s waking wood.

“Oh, yeah,” Carson repeated, shoving against Jared’s ass.

“You gonna let me in here?” he asked, gripping one of his
mate’s ass cheeks.

“Mmm, I can get behind that,” Jared teased.
“I think I’m behind that,” Carson chuckled, enjoying the

man’s humor. “Where’s the lube?”

Jared reached up and grabbed the tube from the

nightstand and handed it over his shoulder to him. Carson
smiled, pleased that his mate didn’t even question him. In

Goading The Enforcer

fact, from the way Jared rocked back into his groin, Jared
wanted it just as much as Carson did.

He took his time preparing his mate, sliding first one

finger in and then two. He rubbed the man’s gland every
few strokes, loving the way Jared moaned for him. He
pushed Jared’s top leg forward, instructing his mate to prop
it on a pillow, opening him further. It only took a couple
moments for Carson to slide a third finger inside Jared.

When he deemed Jared ready, he pulled his fingers out,

lubed up his cock and pushed his way slowly into his mate.
As silky warm pressure surrounded him, he moaned softly
and buried his face in Jared’s neck. “Oh, fuck you feel good,
Jared. So hot. So tight.”

Jared growled and pushed back against him as Carson

moved. “Fuck me, damn it. I want to feel you.”

Loving his mate’s enthusiasm and taking Jared at his

word, he sped up his strokes. He gripped his mate’s hip
tightly as he rocked into Jared over and over again, knowing
his hold would leave bruises on the human’s skin and loving
that he’d marked him that way.

Jared groaned loudly, holding nothing back as he

expressed his enjoyment. “Never thought I’d enjoy this so
much, but I love how you fill me, Carson,” he growled.
“Your cock fills me so completely.”

Carson snarled. “So good, so good,” he repeatedly

panted. “Love how you take my cock. I’m gonna fill you,
baby,” he said. “Gonna fill you so good.”

“Oh, yeah,” Jared moaned.
Unable to resist his desire, Carson felt his canines extend

and he wrapped them around the fleshy part of Jared’s
shoulder. As he felt his balls pull tight and his orgasm
approach, he bit. Jared’s blood flowed into his mouth and
his mate cried out in shock before moaning in bliss as the
cock in his fist shot stream after stream of seed. The man’s

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ass clamped down on Carson’s dick. Carson groaned around
the flesh in his mouth and emptied himself into his mate.

Seconds later, he carefully removed his canines and licked

Jared’s wound clean.

“I thought you only did that when you mated,” Jared

whispered several moments later after his breathing had
somewhat evened out.

Carson chuckled. “Who the fuck told you that?” He

kissed the back of Jared’s neck to take the sting out of his
words. “We bite to enhance our sexual pleasure,” he
explained.

“Oh,” Jared commented softly. Then he looked over his

shoulder at him and glared. “You’ve bitten others? You have
more than one mate?”

The man’s anger took Carson by surprise, until he

realized from where it stemmed. Jared is jealous! Carson
leaned forward and nuzzled his human’s neck. “You’re the
only one I’ve ever bitten, Jared. I’ve never even been
tempted by another,” he told Jared softly.

Jared’s gaze searched his face for several seconds before

he whispered, “Okay. Good.”

Carson let the silence fall between them, content to just

relax and hold his mate. Half an hour later, his bladder told
him he could no longer put off his morning routine.

As he headed to the bathroom he heard Jared ask, “What

time is it?”

He glanced at the clock on the end table. “Almost eleven.”
“Shit,” Jared growled, rolling to a sitting position on the

bed. “We need to get moving. I told Casey I’d visit him at
noon.”

“Who’s Casey?” Carson snapped, before he could rein in

his possessiveness.

Jared chuckled, crossing the floor and kissing him gently.

“The bunny shifter. You can come with me,” he added with

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a grin before disappearing into the bathroom.

“Are you sure about this?” Carson asked for the third

time, his voice slightly muffled as he pulled off his shirt.

Jared smirked. “For the last time, yes! With Phil refusing

to speak with Terry, my brother-in-law insists that you take
the guy’s place in the wedding line-up.” He held up the tux.
“I’m pretty sure it will fit you.”

Pulling on the black and white outfit, he frowned. “This

was supposed to be for you, wasn’t it?”

“Yup,” Jared replied, “but I traded it in for one your size.”

He sighed, looking away. “I didn’t have the heart to tell my
family that I owned one.”

“You own a tux?” he asked incredulously. “Why would

you own…” At the thinning of Jared’s lips, Carson’s brows
shot up. “Oh,” he muttered, realizing it may be needed to
get in and out of high-end parties.

“Let’s see how this looks,” Jared said, changing the

subject.

His human mate expertly creased and buttoned the shirt

around his neck and tied the tie before helping him into the
jacket and smoothing it over Carson’s broad shoulders. Jared
took a step back and grinned. “You’re one sexy man,
Carson.”

“I’m your sexy man,” he whispered, unable to let the

opportunity go for him to express the seriousness of their
relationship.

Smiling, Jared nodded. “I know.” He stepped forward

and pecked an all-too-brief kiss to Carson’s lips. “That’s not
something I’ll ever forget.” He stepped back and gave him a
serious look. “I do plan to come back to Stone Ridge, Carson.
It’s just going to take some time to get my shit straightened
out.”

Before he could ask Jared to expound on that comment, a

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pounding on the hotel door told them they were out of time.
Jared crossed to the door and opened it, revealing Lance.
“You fairies ready?” he quipped, grinning, but Carson knew
a good-natured tease when he heard it.

Jared rolled his eyes and turned to Carson. “And this

breeder just epitomized one of the many reasons it took me so
long to come out,” he snarked back, sweeping his arm
toward Lance.

Carson couldn’t help it. He started to laugh at their

banter. He’d never have thought Jared had that kind of sense
of humor. Both men watched him in shock as he doubled
over for several minutes before he could manage to get
himself under control. “Okay,” he gasped. “If you two are
done casting pebbles, let’s go. We don’t want to be late.” He
sobered as another thought hit him and he grimaced. “That’s
all I’d need,” he groused, “to meet your parents by holding
up the wedding.”

“Ah, Injun, relax,” Jared crooned. “Everything will be

fine,” he promised, throwing an arm around Carson’s
shoulders and leading him out of the room. He didn’t resist,
just let his mate help him into the back of the vehicle before
Jared slid in next to him. Lance settled behind the wheel and
they headed toward the church.

Carson felt his tension ratchet up degree by degree the

closer they neared the church until he could hardly keep
still. His wolf paced inside his mind and his foot tapped the
floor as he bounced his leg restlessly.

Once Lance parked his vehicle, Jared waved a hand at

him in a shooing gesture. “Give us a moment. We’ll be right
in.”

“Sure,” Lance said, his gaze drifting to Carson, who knew

his face must have been pale from the way the human’s
brows drew together in concern. “Everything okay?”

Jared smiled and nodded. “Yeah. My man here is just

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having a case of nerves. Nothing to worry about.” After
Lance nodded and left, shutting them in the car together,
Jared pulled Carson into his arms. “Are you okay?”

Carson nodded before burying his face in Jared’s neck

and inhaling his human’s scent. The musky scent of his mate
soothed his wolf and he felt his pulse settle. Slowly he eased
away and looked into his mate’s eyes. “I’m fine. Just never
met a date’s parents before,” he admitted. Then he grimaced.
“That’s male or female dates. I’ve never had a serious
relationship either.”

Jared nodded, smiling. “Then I’ll tell you this now. It

doesn’t matter if my parents like you or not. I’ve been
protecting them by keeping them at a distance for years, but
you are the man I want to figure out a way to spend my life
with. It may not be easy, or immediate,” he warned, “but I
swear to whatever deity you believe in, it will happen.”

Cocking his head in surprise, Carson stared at his mate,

reading the sincerity in every line of his face. “Okay,” he
replied simply, uncertain what else to say. His mate’s
expression gave him not only hope, but the strength to get
out of that car and head into the church. He could do this.
He could meet the family of his mate. Pausing at the door,
he settled a hand on Jared’s shoulder and whispered, “I’ll
hold you to that, mate.”

Without another word, the pair walked into the building.

Carson and Jared were greeted by the men he’d met the
other night, Larry, Tom and Brady. He smiled and shook the
hands of each, returning their greetings. Ten minutes later,
Terry came and gave each of them a quick man-hug,
complete with backslapping.

Following behind him were two well-dressed couples.

One man had dark hair and hazel eyes and Carson
immediately pegged him as Jared’s father. The woman on
his arm had blonde hair and brown eyes, a fine bone

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structure and although she smiled, a worried crinkle still
lined her eyes.

He felt Jared’s arm go around his waist in a claiming

gesture and Carson cast a smile in his man’s direction while
grinning at Terry. “Congrats, man and I’m honored to stand
with you and your friends.”

Terry grinned. “After taking that punch for me, how

could I do any less?” His eyes fixed to the slight
discoloration on Carson’s jaw. “Doesn’t look too bad. Hope
it doesn’t hurt much.”

Carson shook his head. “Naw. I’ve got a hard head.”
“Good. That’s good. Thanks again. I can’t imagine what

Brandy would have said if I’d showed up to our wedding
with a black eye,” Terry said with an exaggerated shudder.
He turned, pretending to notice the couple of parents for the
first time. “Mom, Dad. Mr. and Mrs. Templeton. This is
Carson Angeni.” He grinned. “Good man to have watching
your back and Jared’s boyfriend.”

“Never could get used to that term,” Jared muttered.
“I could have used a few others,” Terry pointed out with

a smirk.

“I think boyfriend will work just fine, young man,” a

heavy-set brunet admonished before turning to Carson. “I’m
Lila Brussels, Terry’s mother. Please call me Mrs. B. All
Terry’s friends do and from the way you saved the day, I’m
certain you will become a close friend in no time, especially
since you’ve snagged the attentions of Brandy’s brother.”
She grinned and turned to Jared. “What a handsome boy,
don’t you think,” she said, winking at Carson.

Carson chuckled, suddenly feeling more relaxed,

knowing that at least one couple didn’t have a problem with
them. He turned and looked at Jared, meeting his eyes and
giving him a heated stare. “Yes, ma’am. I do believe you’re
right.”

Goading The Enforcer

A throat clearing had Carson smoothing out his features

and turning to the other set of parents. Jared settled his arm
on Carson’s shoulder. “Mom, Dad, this is the man who’s
talking me into moving back here.” He lifted a brow and
gave them something Carson could only call The Look. “Be
nice!”

Mrs. Templeton stepped forward and held out a hand.

“Well, I think it’s wonderful that my baby boy has finally
found someone to bring him back home. It’s very nice to
meet you, Carson.”

Carson reached out and took her hand. He brought it to

his lips and kissed it old-world style, which made Jared’s
mother smile, just as he’d hoped. “The pleasure is mine.”

Mr. Templeton stepped forward and Carson took his

hand as well, although he refrained from kissing it, offering
pleasantries instead. “Good to meet you.”

After receiving a look from his wife, the man cleared his

throat and said, “I won’t lie and say I’m okay with this.” He
ran a hand through his hair and sighed. “It’ll take some
getting used to, but since it’s been years since we’ve seen
Jared… I’m happy he’s found a measure of happiness.” He
grimaced and looked between them. “That’s all any parent
really wants for their child. Happiness, right?” he growled,
obviously uncomfortable.

Jared smiled and slapped his father on the back. “Thanks,

Dad. I appreciate it.”

The wedding coordinator took that moment to come

scurrying through the place and hollering for everyone to
get into their places. Carson thought it sounded more like a
theatrical production than a wedding, but what did he
know? Jared grinned from where he stood next to him and
winked. “That went well, huh?”

“Yeah, good thing I don’t have parents you need to

meet,” Carson growled softly.

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That had Jared frowning. “Why don’t I get to meet your

parents?”

Carson shook his head. This was so not the place for this

conversation. “They’re deceased,” he whispered. He knew
he’d have to explain about poachers trying to clear out the
wolves in southern Oregon eventually, but now was not the
time for it. Besides, it had been almost fifty years since it had
happened. That’s another thing I’ll have to explain. I’m ninety-
seven years old and Jared’s aging will slow down. Another time.

“I’m sorry, Carson. How’d it happen?” Jared whispered.
Carson’s reply was cut off by the sounds of an organ and

then the bridesmaids appeared. A few moments later,
Carson found himself escorting some woman he didn’t
know down the aisle, praying she didn’t see anything into it
and that he’d never see the woman again.

Goading The Enforcer

Chapter Eleven

amn it!” Jared snarled, slamming the phone onto the
holder. Carson had refused to answer his calls every

night for the last five days. Pacing the room, Jared thrust his
hands through his brown hair and thought furiously. Sure
they hadn’t confirmed any real plans, but he’d told Carson
that he’d be back. Jared just hadn’t been able to give a date.
After the amazing twelve hours they’d spent together in his
hotel room after the wedding, how could Carson just shut
him out like this? They’d talked every night for a week, then
all of a sudden, nothing. The man refused to answer or
return his calls!

Picking up the receiver, he dialed another number. A

moment later, a deep voice answered. “Didn’t think you’d
be calling me for a while. What’s up?”

“Damn it, Grady. Is Carson okay? He hasn’t answered my

calls all week. What the hell is going on out there? Is it the
scientists again?” he couldn’t stop his rant, desperate to
think it was something other than that Carson just didn’t
want to speak with him. “If it is, I’ll hunt down each and
every one of those sorry sons of bitches and—”

“Whoa, there, Jared. Stop before you say something that

makes me have to arrest both of us! Carson’s okay, although
a little out of sorts. With his mate halfway across the
country, I’m not surprised. I saw him yesterday at Declan’s.
What’s going on?” Grady asked. “Carson said he spoke with

“D

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you the other day.”

Jared let out an angry snarl. “The other day would be

Sunday night. It’s Friday. I can’t get him to pick up! I talk
with Casey more than I talk with my mate. What the hell is
that man’s problem?”

He heard a longsuffering sigh come over the phone. “Is he

not happy with the time-table you’ve established for you to
come back? Yesterday, he seemed upset when I asked when
you were supposed to return. He said you were still
discussing it.”

“Fuck!” Jared yelled, throwing his brandy glass across the

room. It shattered with a satisfying spray of glass.

“I’ll take that as a no. Is it still a month out or something?”

Grady asked slowly, having obviously heard the shattering
crystal.

Letting out a long breath through his teeth, Jared pinched

the bridge of his nose. “I haven’t given him a date, yet,” he
admitted.

“Bloody hell, man! What’s your problem? You know his

wolf can’t handle a prolonged separation,” Grady
reprimanded. After a second of silence, because really Jared
had no idea what to say, Grady warned, “Distancing from
you is probably the only way he can keep from going out of
his mind. He needs you, man.”

“Okay,” Jared whispered, thrusting a hand through his

hair. “I miss him, too. I knew the minute I stepped onto that
god-damned plane that I needed to get back to Carson as
soon as possible. As soon as I hit home I started moving
around accounts and erasing electronic trails so I could do
just that, but when he stopped answering my calls I just…”
He shook his head, suddenly realizing he should have given
Carson some kind of timeframe. “Fucking hell. Do you know
his schedule for the week?”

“Uh, no, but I’m sure I could get it from Declan. What’s

Goading The Enforcer

up?”

“I only have a few things left to take care of and then I’ll

come out. Hopefully, it’ll only take a few days, but I can’t
make a guarantee.”

“All right,” Grady replied. “I’ll get back to you, then.”
Jared disconnected his cell and dropped it on his desk

before crossing to his sideboard and pouring two fingers of
brandy into a fresh glass. He stared at the amber liquid for a
moment before downing the alcohol. He cringed at the burn.

“You’ve been restless since you’ve been back and I’ve

never seen you drink this much.” Jared turned at Raul’s
comment. His friend flopped onto a sofa and sprawled. “It’s
been almost two weeks since you returned and you still
haven’t accepted another job. What’s up with you?” he
asked, waving a hand at the shattered glass and lifting a
brow.

Jared crossed his arms over his chest and leaned a hip

against his desk. He took a deep breath and popped his
neck. “I fell in love,” he replied bluntly.

Raul spit out the sip of rum he’d just put in his mouth.

“What?” he sputtered, once the coughing stopped and he
could take a breath.

He shrugged. “Not what you were expecting?” Jared

asked, smirking. The other man’s response and gaping
mouth answered his question easily enough. “Well, here’s
something else then. Not only did I fall in love, I fell in love
with a man.”

“Well, what the hell, Jared?” Raul ran a hand through his

thick red hair. “I didn’t even know you liked men!”

“Me neither,” Jared admitted, shrugging. He pushed off

the desk and walked to the fire. He rested his hands on the
mantle and stared into the flames. “Carson is one of a kind.”

“Well, that’s…wow.” Raul came and stood next to him.

“What are you going to do? Does he return your feelings?”

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Jared glanced toward his friend before returning his focus

to the flames. “I didn’t know I felt this way until I had to
walk away from him,” he admitted. “I know he’d prefer to
have me with him, but he doesn’t approve of my choice of
occupation.”

To his surprise, Raul snorted. “Not many people would,”

he commented.

“You do have a point.” He turned and rested an arm

along the wood to stare at Raul. “You seem awfully calm
about this.”

“This?” Raul asked, waving a hand vaguely and lifting a

brow.

Smirking, he stared at his friend for several seconds, but

Raul’s expression gave away none of his friend’s thoughts.
“The fact that I just told you I’m seriously entertaining the
possibility of a relationship with a man.”

“Oh, that,” Raul scoffed and rolled his eyes. “I have a

nephew that’s gay. Very, very gay, actually,” he added with
a chuckle. “My oldest sister’s son came out three years ago.
She flipped. I had to explain that it wasn’t anything she did.
It’s just the way nature makes some people.” He shrugged.

“Yeah, nature,” Jared whispered. At Raul’s questioning

look, he shook his head. “I guess I’m going to have to find
something else to do with my time.” He frowned and stared
into the fire again.

Raul slapped him on the back. “So where are we

moving?”

Jared turned his head to stare at his friend. A slow smile

curved his lips. With Raul’s support, the idea of uprooting
his life, especially for Carson, suddenly didn’t seem so
daunting. “Thanks,” he whispered, wondering when he’d
come to depend on his friend so much.

Raul grinned back at him. “Come on, man. After

everything we’ve been through? This is small potatoes.”

Goading The Enforcer

“I guess you’re right, but what the hell am I going to do

with myself?” Jared frowned. That question had plagued
him ever since he’d gotten home. Stepping off that plane,
he’d already known he’d end up returning to Colorado
eventually, but he didn’t want to do it until he knew what
he’d do when he got there. Jared just wasn’t the type of
person to sit around and do nothing and he knew it. He’d go
crazy within a month.

“Don’t worry about that so much,” Raul replied. “You’re

rich. It doesn’t really matter. Now where are we moving?”

Jared grinned, suddenly feeling relieved he had a friend

who could put it into perspective. “Stone Ridge, Colorado.”

“I can’t believe you talked me into coming in here with

you,” Raul snapped.

The tension in his friend’s shoulders told Jared exactly

how uncomfortable the man was to be walking into a gay
bar. “Aw, come on,” he teased, hiding his own unease. It
wasn’t so much having to walk into a gay bar that bothered
Jared, it was the fact that somewhere amidst these dancing,
gyrating bodies was his mate. “Are you afraid some cute
twink will catch your eye?” At Raul’s glare, Jared laughed.
“Oh, sorry. Didn’t realize you were looking for a bear.”

“Shut the fuck up, man. I don’t want either and you know

it!” He shoved his hands into his pockets and shouldered
between men to lead the way to the bar. When the
bartender, a muscular brunet probably in his late twenties
gave him the once over, Raul hunched his shoulders,
growled his request for a Heineken and looked away. “And
I’m perfectly fine with my masculinity,” he grouched.

Jared slapped him on the back and chuckled at his

friend’s hissed comment. “I know. I appreciate the support
you’ve shown me over the last few days.” He took the two
beers from the bartender and handed one to Raul before

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paying. “Now, drink your beer and loosen up.” His gaze
swept the dance floor and then the tables, trying to make out
features in the darkened interior. “Grady said they’d be here
tonight,” he muttered.

“An Indian, right? Is that him?”
He followed his friend’s line of sight. He spotted Declan’s

bald head first. He could make out Lark tugging on his
hand, obviously trying to convince him to dance. To Jared’s
amusement, he watched the big alpha wolf cave to his
mate’s pleas, heave himself off the booth’s bench and
disappear amongst the gyrating bodies.

That’s when Jared spotted him. He was dancing with

Dagus and another wolf, whose name he didn’t remember.
A shot of jealousy speared through him and he growled.
“Yeah. That’s him.”

“Dude, you okay?” Raul gave him a concerned look.
Taking a deep breath, Jared nodded. “Yeah. Guess I better

go say hello.” He pointed at the booth Declan had vacated.
“If you don’t want to join me on the dance floor, that’s my
friend Grady and his husband, Gordon. Feel free to interrupt
them.”

Raul turned to look where he pointed at the kissing

couple. “Shit. I don’t think so. Now that you’ve found your
man, I’m going to…”

“Hey there.” Both men turned to look at the speaker. A

five foot eight-inch brunet with shining green eyes and a big
grin was staring at Raul like the man was a steak and he
hadn’t eaten in a week. He boldly rested a hand on Raul’s
arm, which to Jared’s amusement, caused his friend to tense.
Their new friend didn’t seem to mind. “I’m Bobby. You
want to dance?”

“Okay, you gotta admit he’s cute,” Jared said to Raul.

Bobby beamed up at Jared for a second before returning his
focus to his friend.

Goading The Enforcer

He watched his friend pale slightly, making his red hair

and freckles stand out just a little more on his skin. “But I’m
straight,” he squeaked.

Bobby shrugged. “Does that mean you don’t know how

to dance?” He rubbed his hand up and down Raul’s tense
arm. “Oooo, nice.” He grinned. “I promise not to bite.”

Jared snorted a laugh and slapped his friend on the back.

“Go dance with the man,” he cajoled. To his utter
amusement, Raul downed the rest of his beer, handed Jared
the empty bottle and then Bobby led his obviously shell-
shocked friend to the dance floor.

Setting the empty on the bar, Jared headed through the

crowd in the direction he’d glimpsed his mate.

Charlie Richards

Chapter Twelve

arson downed the shot of tequila Grady handed him.
Only a few were privy to the reason why Carson had

been so tense the last two weeks. The alcohol sent a burning
trail down his throat to settle in his stomach. It was his sixth
shot of the evening and since it took far more alcohol to get a
shifter inebriated than a human, he appreciated that the tiger
shifter kept them coming between beers.

He just wanted one night where he didn’t have to fight

his wolf’s desire to track down their mate and drag him back
to Stone Ridge. One night of peace.

“I want to dance,” Dagus announced.
Carson cocked his head and rose. “I’ll go with you,” he

volunteered. It beat sitting there with his thoughts and
Gordon’s concerned looks.

“Me, too,” Phillip said. He put down his half-full beer and

stood.

Carson knew the plan would be to sandwich their blind

friend between them, giving Dagus a sense of security while
still having the freedom to dance to the music. After
downing the rest of his beer, he followed the pair onto the
dance floor. He moved up behind Dagus, met Phillip’s look
over the shorter man’s head and nodded. Then they started
to dance.

He settled his hands on Dagus’s waist, right below where

Phillip held him and began to swing his hips, letting the

Goading The Enforcer

music move him. Carson took a deep breath, growling in
frustration when he smelled the phantom scent of his mate.
He decided scenting his mate when he wasn’t anywhere in
the vicinity and never had been must be similar to people
that had lost limbs. There were reports that sometimes they
could feel phantom pain in the non-existent limb.

Letting his eyes slide to half-mast, he emptied his mind

and let the music take him. He swung his hips in time to the
beat, the buzz of alcohol in his veins loosening his limbs.

Three songs later, he felt a pair of strong hands grip his

waist and a hard cock press against his ass as a man
plastered his body to Carson’s backside. He growled low in
his throat before turning a glare over his shoulder at
whoever interrupted his solace.

His eyes widened in shock. “Jared!” he whispered as his

mate’s scent enveloped him, making his cock harden and
strain against the confines of his jeans.

“Hello, Injun,” Jared greeted silkily, right before he

gripped Carson’s chin and took his mouth in a deep kiss.

He’d never been into public displays of affection, but

somehow Carson found himself turning and wrapping one
arm around his mate’s waist while burying the other in
Jared’s short, soft hair. They deepened the kiss, their tongues
and mouths dueling for dominance. He ground his aching
shaft into Jared’s, pleased to find the other man just as
turned on.

The hoots and whistles from those men dancing around

them weren’t enough to deter Carson’s conquest of his
mate’s mouth. It wasn’t until the lack of oxygen threatened
to make him pass out that he broke the kiss. He stared into
the dancing hazel eyes of his mate and could think of only
one thing.

“How long are you here for?” Carson needed to know

how long he had with his mate.

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100

“I’m not going anywhere, Carson,” Jared revealed with a

smile. “Well, at least not unless we discover other friends to
rescue.”

“You’re not…” Carson paused and glanced over his

shoulder to see an amused smirk on Phillip’s face and a grin
on Dagus’s. Evidently the other wolf had told their friend
what caused the interruption. “Are you okay without me?”

“Sure. Go sit down,” Phillip answered, clearly amused.
Carson pulled his unresisting mate across the floor.

“Hey,” he heard Jared say, “Isn’t that Phillip? I didn’t get the
impression he swung that way.”

Carson shook his head. “He doesn’t, but he’s quite

comfortable with the scene. He told us that he used to go out
with Todd when his brother wanted to dance.” At Jared’s
surprised look, Carson laughed, his heart suddenly lighter
than it’d been in weeks. “Evidently, Phillip was always
extremely over-protective of his older brother. He’d go to
keep an eye on things and eventually felt comfortable
enough to dance, too. When Todd mated with Lyle, Phillip
kinda lost his purpose, you know? So when we rescued
Dagus, he just naturally moved his protective instincts to
him,” he explained. Reaching the table, Carson looked back
at the dance floor and shrugged. “Dagus doesn’t seem to
mind.”

“Hey, Jared! Ya made it, man! What do you think of the

place?” Grady’s words caught Carson’s attention and he
frowned as he watched Grady slap Jared on the back, a big
grin splitting the tiger’s features.

Carson glared. “You knew he was coming tonight?”

Frustration and betrayal shot through him. He’d thought
Grady his friend and all this time the other man had known
Jared was returning. Then shame filled him. He’d been the
one to refuse to answer Jared’s calls for the last week. After
six days of not getting any indication from his mate of when

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101

he planned to return, he’d let despair take him. Carson had
worried that being across the country had put too much
distance between him and Jared and his mate had no longer
felt the pull to return to him. He’d buried himself in work,
exhausting his body so he could sleep at night.

Grady held up his hands in the face of Carson’s

conflicting emotions. “I wasn’t sure if he’d make it in
tonight. I let Jared know where we’d be every night this
week.” The big tiger fisted his hands and settled them on his
hips. “It’s a full time job keeping you busy at night so you
didn’t drive yourself nuts,” he pointed out.

At Jared’s questioning look, Carson blushed. “Oh, Injun,”

Jared whispered. “I’m so sorry I caused you pain.”

Carson shook his head. “I should have trusted you when

you said you’d return, but every time we spoke and you
never said anything about coming back, it hurt,” he
admitted bowing his head. “I hated not knowing when I’d
see you again.”

“You won’t have to worry about that ever again,” Jared

vowed. The smaller man wrapped his arms around Carson,
buried his hands in his hair and pulled his head down for
another kiss, this one deep and thorough, full of promise.

Jared licked his bottom lip, asking for entry, which

Carson immediately gave. Their tongues tangled in slow
caresses, sending shocks of pleasure down his spine to settle
in his balls. He could feel them pull tight to his body as pre-
cum oozed from his dick, soaking the fabric of his jeans.

He broke the kiss and rested his forehead against his

mate’s. “We keep that up and I’m going to come in my
pants,” he whispered.

Grinning, Jared winked. “Can’t have that, can we.” Jared

pushed him into the booth across from Gordon and Grady,
where he proceeded to settle his near arm on Carson’s thigh
as he leaned on the table with his other arm. It effectively

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102

blocked the view of anything below Carson’s chest, which
Jared quickly took advantage of by sliding his hand up and
cupping Carson’s cock through his jeans.

Carson hissed through his teeth, his eyes widening in

surprise as pleasure shot like liquid fire through his veins.
His hips jerked in an effort to get more pressure on his cock
and Jared chuckled, grinning evilly as he massaged him. His
breathing picked up and he struggled to still his body.

“We’re going to go dance a couple songs while you two

get reacquainted,” Grady said with a laugh. The pair
disappeared amongst the throng of dancers.

Jared leered at Carson. “I’ve been meaning to ask. Do you

want me to move in with you or should we buy a house
together?”

“Uh,” Carson had trouble focusing on his mate’s words,

since Jared’s hand under the table was unbuttoning his jeans
and carefully lowering the zipper. “We’ll have to see what’s
on the market.”

“We could do that,” Jared replied, nodding. A wicked

grin lit his features as he slid his hand beneath the fabric of
Carson’s boxers and maneuvered his dick through the hole.
The warm air of the club caressed his heated skin and Jared
took his engorged cock in a firm hold and stroked it. “You’re
right. This would definitely be a problem for dancing,” he
commented. He leaned close and brushed a soft kiss against
Carson’s lips. “And I do plan to dance with you, Injun. I’m
going to plaster my body to yours and grind my cock
against your thigh. I’ll let you feel how hard I am, how
excited I am for you to take me home and fill my ass,” he
whispered.

The picture his mate’s words created had a whimper of

need escaping Carson’s lips. It’d been too long since he’d
been with his mate and the scent of Jared’s desire had his
balls pulling tight against him. Jared swiped his thumb over

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103

the head of Carson’s shaft before pressing it into his slit,
sending sparks down his shaft.

“So close,” Carson panted. No longer able to control his

hips, he thrust up into Jared’s firm grip, unable to get
enough of his mate’s touch.

Jared moved his lips to the tender skin beneath Carson’s

ear. “Grab a handful of cocktail napkins from the table,” he
ordered. “We don’t want to make a mess out of that nice
green shirt you have on.”

Carson scrambled to obey as Jared’s hand sped up and his

lips sucked on his sensitive skin. He’d just managed to get a
wad of napkins over the head of his cock when Jared nipped
his neck. His balls pulled even tighter, his thighs trembled
and his dick pulsed. Warm release soaked the napkins as
Carson bit back a hoarse cry.

“That’s it, Carson. Show me how much you missed my

touch,” Jared crooned.

His mate continued to nibble and suck on his neck as

Carson came down from his orgasm. Warm sensations
cascaded over Carson, knowing his mate had returned to
him, wanted him, intensifying his release. Finally, he pried
his eyes open and looked at him. “What about you?”

Jared grinned. “You can suck me in the car later.”
Carson chuckled, but his cock twitched at the thought of

tasting his mate’s cream. He leaned forward and kissed
Jared. “I look forward to it.”

Just then, a pair of men he didn’t recognize flopped onto

the seat across from them. “You wore me out, Bobby. You
sure can dance.”

“Hello, Raul,” Jared greeted the redhead, amusement

clear in his tone. “I’d like you to meet Carson.” Jared turned
to look at him, grinning with his knowledge that Carson was
struggling to discreetly tuck his dick back into his jeans
under the table while keeping a wad of cum covered

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104

napkins away from his clothes. “Carson, this is my buddy
Raul. He helps me with jobs on occasion and chose to
relocate with me.”

“Jobs?” he questioned, taking the opportunity to

discreetly finish righting his clothes. “I thought…” Well, I

guess he didn’t really say he was quitting, did he? I just sort of

assumed…

“Don’t worry, Carson,” he softly reassured, brushing a

finger down his jaw. “You remember the business I told
Terry’s friends I do? Well, it shouldn’t take much to open up
a base of operations here.” He grinned cheekily. “I bet I can
even get a recommendation from Declan.”

Carson grinned, certain the relief he felt showed clearly

on his face. “I’m sure you could.” And he meant it. Jared had
already proven that he had skill at breaking into high
security facilities. Now the man planned to get paid for it.

“So this is the guy you fell in love with and uprooted our

lives for?” Raul interrupted.

Carson froze for a second, surprised at the man’s words,

before he swung his gaze to focus on Jared. “You love me?”
he whispered.

Jared glared briefly at Raul and then took hold of

Carson’s hand. “Yeah. I love you, Carson.” He squeezed the
hand he held before bringing it to his lips and nipping the
skin of Carson’s palm sensually. “You think I’d move ‘cross
the country for just anyone?”

The mix of playfulness and intensity had his heart beating

faster in his chest, as a fresh wave of desire flowed through
him. Carson buried his free hand in Jared’s short dark hair
and pulled his face close. “I love you, too, Jared,” he growled
and then took his mate in a hungry kiss. His cock started to
fill again and Carson dropped the tissues on the floor, no
longer caring what happened to them or who may find them
later. He grabbed his mate’s thigh and pulled him closer still.

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105

“Awe.” Bobby’s sappy sigh cut into his senses and Carson

eased the kiss to an end, remembering where they were.
“You guys are so cute together!” He turned to Raul, leaned
close and batted his eyelashes playfully. “Do you think we’ll
ever be like that?”

Carson could hear the teasing in the young man’s tone,

but evidently Raul didn’t. His eyes widened like a deer in
the headlights and he tried to pull his arm free. “No! I told
you…”

Bobby started to laugh. “Yeah, yeah, straight boy,” he

teased. “But you do make a great dance partner.” He
gracefully unfolded himself from the seat and grinned.
“Anyone want a drink?”

“Bobby Truman?”
The young man spun around, his eyes widening

comically. “Detective Stryker! Hi!” For a second the guy
glanced around, obviously looking for someone, then his
eyes returned to Grady’s imposing figure. He opened his
mouth as if to ask something, but snapped his jaw shut
when Grady shook his head once. “It’s good to see you,”
Bobby said instead.

Carson wondered how the pair knew each other, but the

warning that had flashed across the big tiger shifter’s
expression didn’t invite questions. The grin he focused on
Bobby didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I’m off the clock right
now, Bobby. Call me Grady.” Bobby nodded and Grady
glanced at the table and spotted Raul. “Is this your date?”

Raul sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Jared

laughed. “Naw. Raul’s a friend of mine from Massachusetts.
He’s just dancing,” he added with a grin. Jared slid from the
booth and held a hand out for Carson. “Speaking of dancing,
I believe you owe me a couple before we get out of here.”

Carson grinned and gripped his mate’s hand, loving how

natural it felt to tangle their fingers together. “Then let’s get

Charlie Richards

106

to it, because I have plans for your ass later,” he growled,
squeezing his mate’s rear firmly.

“Oh, well, do tell, Injun. Do tell,” Jared teased.
The others at the table chuckled as they sauntered onto

the dance floor, both of them grinning largely. Carson pulled
his mate into his arms and sighed. Jared was there, with him,
to stay and he couldn’t wait to get home.

About the Author

Charlie lives on a mini ranchette in Utah with her handsome,
supportive husband. She started writing fantasy when she
was eight and after stumbling onto her first erotic romance
at nineteen, she realized her true calling. She now focuses on
writing erotic romance, often of the paranormal variety, with
heroes and heroines of all kinds. You can often find her
curled up with her laptop and a cup of tea or glass of wine,
creating her next story, which could pair a sexy hero with an
adventurous heroine… or maybe with another handsome
hero. Charlie enjoys horseback riding, jump lessons with
Apache, watching movies with her husband and listening to
her muse tell her about her next project.

She can be reached at ch.richards2010@yahoo.com
Or visit her at www.charlie-richards.com