Full Moon Dating: Coy and Denver

Torquere Press Publishers

1380 Rio Rancho Blvd #1319

Rio Rancho, NM 87124

Copyright 2014 by Julia Talbot

Cover illustration by BSClay

Published with permission

ISBN: 978-1-61040-636-9

www.torquerepress.com

All rights reserved, which includes the right to reproduce 

this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever except 

as provided by the U.S. Copyright Law. For information 

address Torquere Press. Inc., 1380 Rio Rancho Blvd #1319, 

Rio Rancho, NM 87124.

First Torquere Press Printing: January 2014

Printed in the USA

Full Moon Dating: Coy and Denver

By Julia Talbot

“Adelia, are you sure you sent all the paperwork to 

Denver Allen?” Stone had called the eccentric vampire 

millionaire to set up the initial meeting between him and 

his potential match, Coy Martindale. Allen had been on 

board. Intrigued. The paperwork had to be in place, though, 

and the blood-borne pathogen waiver was missing, as was 

the indemnity in event of wild animal mauling stuff that 

always had to be signed if one half of the pair was a shifter.

His girl Friday (her words) glanced up from blowing on 

her black and orange striped fingernails. “Of course I did. 

He dislikes computers, so I sent it FedEx overnight. Should 

be back here by three today.”

“Okay.” Damn. Coy was waiting for his call, and it was 

a full moon tonight. He had to make that call before five, 

Central time.

“Stop fretting, Boss. These two are gonna turn each 

other down, anyway.” Adelia sniffed, the sound perfectly 

encapsulating her feelings on Harve’s techno-matches as 

opposed to her finding potential matches by gut feeling.

“Harve says they’re dead on, honey.”

“I didn’t say shit, the program did, and I’m right.” Harve 

wandered through, glasses perched on his head, a sheaf of 

print outs in his hand.

“Bullshit.” Adelia pouted, which was adorable with that 

lipstick she wore. “That little wolf is going to fight back. 

He’s not subby.”

“Who’s to say the other one isn’t? We’re not supposed to 

be oogling the files. The computer does it.”

Stone looked at Harve. “Did you just say ‘oogling’?”

“I did.” Harve leered at him, one eyebrow gyrating 

madly.

“Wow. That’s...” He didn’t have the words. Harve was a 

nut.

“Well, I think there’s more to matching people up than 

algorithms,” Adelia said, shrugging one bare shoulder. She 

really needed more appropriate work clothes. Today it was 

an off the shoulder pinup girl sweater and a poodle skirt. 

“Uh-huh. That’s why you work for a computer dating 

service?”

“Nah, I work here for the pretty geek bosses and hot 

psychology computer dorks.” Now it was Adelia’s turn to 

leer. “If I could just get them to hook up...” 

 

Stone frowned at her, trying to repress her overtalking 

tendency. The expression had no effect on her. 

Harve muttered, heading out without responding to her.

Stone wasn’t sure if that was good or bad. He was 

just gonna let it go for now, though. He had to get that 

paperwork on file.

“Call the vamp, Ades. Make sure he knows he faxes the 

papers or he doesn’t get a bite.”

“You got it. What time do they normally wake up?”

“Hell if I know.” He had no idea about vampire sleeping 

habits. He’d never slept with one. 

“Huh. Okay. I’ll call and leave a message.”

“Thanks, Ades.” He grinned at her before wandering to 

Harve’s office, just to see what the man was up to. Well, 

that and he liked to look at Harve’s ass. 

Harve was pacing, looking at goddess knew what, 

muttering under his breath.

“What’s up, man?” He watched. Back and forth. Uhn. 

That ass.

“Hmm? Oh, a weird ghost in the code.” Harve smelled 

good. Edible. 

Stone licked his lips, wanting a piece of that so bad. 

Harve’s body tightened, cock filling as he stared. Oh, 

fuck. Surely it wasn’t code making the man get a happy, 

right? 

Harve went to sit, hide behind his desk, cheeks pink.

“You, uh, need any help with that... problem, you holler. 

Okay?” He needed to go back to his office. Now. 

Harve’s eyes were the hottest thing he’d ever seen. Stone 

thought he might just burst into flames.

“Boss? Vamp on line two.” 

Shit. Adelia’s timing sucked. 

“I’ll be right there, Ades.”

Damn it.

He and Harve exchanged a look, then a tiny smile curved 

Harve’s lips. “Later, Bossman.” 

“Later.”

Much later. And more naked.

***

Denver, huh?

Both the dude and the place. 

Weird.

Coy grabbed his little go bag and headed to the truck 

he’d rented. It was a hot little GMC and he wanted to put 

it through its paces. He was going to see this guy, fuck real 

quick, then go run in the mountains. 

He’d always wanted to try that, since he was a pup. Now 

was his chance, because there was no way him and Mr. 

Denver Allen were going to spend more than one night 

together. The man was gloriously beautiful, if the picture 

was real, but he was classy. Pinstripe and pussy shoes 

classy. 

Vamps were all prissy and shit anyway. He liked men, 

hard, hungry, needy men, not... gentlemen.

He grinned when he slid into the truck. She was a beauty. 

Oh, hell yes. He settled into the seat, tickled as hell that 

the paperwork was all done and he could just head out of 

the airport, as soon as he found some Luke Bryan on the 

radio. He did love to sing.

He liked the air out here, too. Crisp, fairly clear, even 

for a city with obvious smog. It looked like once he got out 

into the trees it would clear up even more. 

Okay. Supper with the bloodsucker in Golden, then, if he 

was lucky, a pre-hike orgasm.

If he had his tail right now, it would be wagging. An all 

expenses paid vacation was worth the few drops of blood 

he’d probably lose. 

Hell, he’d only signed up for the site on a dare from his 

incredibly mated and oh-my-goddess pregnant sister. She’d 

read something about the success rate of online dating for 

gay werewolves or something. She was always reading 

crazy lifestyle magazines. 

He’d said no and then? Tears. Whoa tears. Hormones. 

Jeez.

So, here he was, just because she wanted him to be as 

happy as she was. 

At least he wasn’t going to have to worry about little 

half-fuzzy, half-toothy babies. He grinned at the idea. 

Science probably said no on that one. Could vamps 

reproduce that way? All he knew was what he read in 

books. 

Bitey nursing babies, though, that made his balls draw up 

and hide.

He hit the highway, almost missing the turn due to his 

thoughts. Crashing now would suck. 

The directions on his phone led him to this... gate. Lord, 

look at that place. It was something like out of a movie. Not 

a horror movie, exactly, but maybe a gothic kinda thing. 

There was a keypad on a stand right there by his driver’s 

window.

He grabbed his phone, looked at the text he’d gotten. 

Number. Was there a number?

Damn it. Oh. There was an intercom button, too. That 

deflated the mad-on he was working up.

He pushed the button, nose working as the wind brought 

in amazing scents -- pine and wood smoke and cold. He 

wanted to run and run. 

“Mr. Martindale?” The voice was... young. Not at all 

cultured. 

“Yep. Coy Martindale. I’m here to see Denver Allen, 

please.”

“Mr. Allen is expecting you. Come on through.” The 

gates clanked, then swung open. 

“Okay.” Okay. Gates. How very Batman.

Maybe a vamp needed protection. That whole sunlight 

thing had to be tough.

Oh, man. To never see all this in the daytime, that would 

suck. That was why people came to the mountains, right? 

Sun, trees, fresh air? Although the snow in the moonlight 

would rock his sock... whoa. He pulled up to the house, 

sitting there with his teeth in his mouth. 

Goddamn.

This was like... Hill House. Like a movie mansion. All 

turrets and stained glass. 

Dude. 

That sort of rocked. 

Coy slipped out of the truck, nose working. The place 

smelled so good, like wood smoke and earth, like clean air 

and something undefinable. Something he’d never smelled 

before. 

He headed to the door, knocked. No more pussyfooting.

The door opened to reveal a young man with white blond 

hair, wearing a pair of cutoffs and rainbow socks. “Hey, 

you must be Coy! I’m Addison. The butler.” 

“The butler. Howdy.” Jesus wept. “Nice socks.”

Addison struck a pose like a Greek statue. “Thanks. The 

boss is waiting for you. He had me make lamb. Local. You 

like Colorado lamb?”

“I don’t know. I’m sure I do. I like meat.” There weren’t 

that many sheep where he was from.

“Well, if you hate it, I have a steak I can sear off real 

quick. Come on. He’s waiting in the dining room.” Addison 

trotted off, leaving him to shove his cap in his back pocket 

and follow, his boots ringing on marble floors. 

The place was so big that breathing echoed. Weird. 

The doors to the dining room were those big sliding 

things, pocket doors, maybe. The chandelier almost blinded 

him, but he caught glimpses of dark wood and Persian rugs 

before the scents made it impossible to concentrate. 

His wolf started clawing up his spine, climbing and 

wanting out, warning him that he was somewhere new. 

Odd. 

The meat had to be the lamb, and man, was he gonna like 

lamb. He could tell. The earthy, spicy scent underneath all 

that was even more an addiction. He’d caught a whiff of it 

outside, but now it slapped him in the face. 

He shook his head, trying to focus, to control himself and 

ease back the urge to howl.

“Mr. Martindale?” 

Coy finally saw the man at the end of the table when he 

stood, extending a hand. 

“I’m Denver Allen.” 

“Coy. Hey. How goes it?” Why are you slumming?

Because this guy was slumming if he was going to 

be fucking Coy. Denver Allen was tall, lean, but well-

built, with broad shoulders and narrow hips. He had pale 

blond hair and icy blue eyes that damned near glowed in 

the bright light from the chandeliers. His pressed jeans 

probably cost more than Coy’s whole wardrobe. 

Denver had an air about him, though, that was totally at 

odds with the fine furnishings. He was a predator. 

Too bad wolves weren’t prey. “Thanks for the invite to 

your place.”

“Thank you for coming. I wasn’t sure you would.”

“The folks at the dating place seemed to think we were 

perfect.”

“I know.” Denver Allen advanced slowly, coming to 

offer a lean, pale hand. “I confess, I saw the profile they 

sent and was intrigued enough to play along. Addison is the 

one who signed me up, and nearly lost his job because of 

it.” 

“Oh.” Oh, well then. For sure this was a one-time deal. 

No one knew someone well enough to fill those things out. 

He felt a little bit like a rube, but politeness was beaten into 

his bones, so he shook. “My sister asked me to do it. She’s 

pregnant.”

“Is she? I imagine she’s utterly mood-swinging.” Denver 

smiled, showing the slightest hint of fang, which was oddly 

sexy. “Addison, I fear, did a lot of subtle question asking. 

He’s forever poking me to tell him stories. I think he must 

have had a checklist of items.” 

“Yeah. It was a long form and I bet you didn’t expect a 

cowboy from the sticks to show up.” 

“Come and sit.” Denver took his hand and led him to the 

table. The smell almost brought him to his knees. 

“Lamb, your man said?” His mouth watered.

“Indeed. I love the smell of food.” They sat, Denver at 

the head of the table, him one seat to the right. The butler 

kid appeared and lifted the lid off all the trays. Jesus, that 

was a feast.

He knew his nose had to be going a mile a minute and 

his eyes felt hot, the shapes of the food more pronounced, 

the colors leached away.

“There’s no need to play nice. You must be hungry.” 

“I am and it smells stunning. Rich.” His tongue tripped 

over the words. God, way to be classy, Coy.

“Then eat up. You will not offend me.” Denver pushed 

the platter at him. 

He nodded and pounced, the lamb rich on his tongue, his 

wolf rejoicing in it. Goddess Moon, the meat was intense. 

Cooked rare, the coppery tang was so good on his tongue. 

One bite led to another and another, and no one stopped 

him. Soon he had devoured the whole thing, wiping his 

mouth on his sleeve. 

Oh, wow. Way to make an impression, man.

Denver didn’t seem appalled. In fact the man sat there, 

smiling, leaning his chin on his hand. 

“Sorry. Sorry. It was good, thank you.” 

“Not a problem. Trust me, Addison is happy to have 

someone to perform for.” 

Coy sat back, cheeks heating as he saw how much he’d 

eaten.

“Are you upset?” 

“A little embarrassed. I was hungry.”

“You’ve been traveling all day.” Denver studied him a 

moment. “Would you like more?” 

“No. No, it was delicious.”

“Mmm. Well, apparently, Addison agonized over dessert. 

If you like, we can go to the drawing room and have a drink 

while you let supper settle.”

“Surely. Would you like some help clearing up?”

“Oh, let Addison earn his keep.” Denver stood, waiting 

for him. 

“If you’re sure...” He stood too, still a little stunned by 

the carnage he’d left.

“I am. Trust me, he gets bored.” 

How could anyone get bored in a place like this? You 

could do one room a day and stay busy for a month. 

He followed Denver into a parlor that looked like it was 

out of some weird old movie. The furniture loomed and 

twisted, and carved faces stared down from the rafters. Like 

a castle. Nuts. 

“This place is something else...” Something crazy.

“Oh, you have no idea. An old friend of mine left it 

to me. He brought it over brick by brick from Europe.” 

Denver chuckled. “It’s a monstrosity.” 

“He brought it? Wow.” He went and touched the wall. 

How did that work? How long would that take?

“Yep. Took about a decade.” Kicking off his shoes, 

Denver plopped on a grand settee, which was covered in 

pillows with weird pop art on them. 

Coy stopped, actually looked at Denver, saw the man.

There was an edge under the perfection. The man had 

some hard angles and some beautiful planes to his face 

and body. There was something predatory hiding under the 

casual ease.

He liked the angle of Denver’s hips, the way the man 

just... sprawled. 

“Are you... I mean, I assume you’re into men. Have you 

been with one of my kind before?”

“I haven’t, actually. Men, yes. Dozens.”

“Why... Oh, you didn’t. Your guy did.” That was why. 

“Come sit.” Denver patted all those cushions, watching 

him like a hawk. 

He headed over, his boots sounding so loud. So fucking 

loud. He sighed when he hit the Persian rug again, muffling 

the sound. He sat, feeling graceless. 

“Addison is well aware of my... interests. I am not 

particularly good at meeting people, but I have wanted to, 

erm, branch out.”

“Taste some shifter blood?” He gave Denver a half 

smile, a wink.

“Yes.” The hunger that flared in Denver Allen’s eyes 

actually made him sit back a bit, his heart starting to thump. 

Denver’s eyes were on his throat, and he swallowed 

around a lump, trying to focus. This wasn’t what he’d 

expected. At all. Oh, it was about sex, for sure, but there 

was an air of danger, which made him slide from willing to 

turned on in about a second.

His chest rose and fell fast when Denver slid closer to 

him. He expected body heat when someone was that close, 

but it wasn’t there. 

How fucking weird.

He shivered, hands wanting to curl into fists. Not that 

Denver read as cold. No, those pale eyes burned for him. 

He could see the man’s fangs, silvery and needle sharp, in 

that smile. 

“What happens now?” His voice was all growl.

“Well, there is dessert. Or perhaps I might have a sip of 

your blood. See how we both like it.”

Coy nodded. “If it’s bad, I reckon we should find out 

now.”

He held out one hand, offered his wrist.

“Oh, no. No, I prefer something stronger.” Denver 

grabbed his hand, pulling him close, chest against his. 

“Stronger.” He couldn’t fight the low rumble. He didn’t 

offer his throat.

“Mmm. The wrist is too far from the heart. Not enough 

force.” 

“You only wanted a sip.” 

“Yes, but why deprive myself?” The last two words were 

said against his skin. 

His balls ached and his heart was racing, thrumming 

in his chest hard enough to make him dizzy. The feel of 

Denver’s fingers around his wrist shocked him, cool when 

he was hot. Then those fangs sank into his neck, hard. 

Coy barked out his shock, lightning slamming down his 

spine. He scrabbled at the couch with his fingers, trying to 

find something solid. The pillows slipped from behind him 

and he started to slide, his boots not getting purchase on the 

floor.

Denver caught him with one arm around his back, 

keeping him from falling. The suction felt intense, like all 

of his blood tried to rise to the surface of his skin. The pain, 

though, faded easily, morphing into blistering pleasure.

His cock thumped in time with his heart, his balls so 

tight it scared him a little. 

Denver groaned, nails scraping down his belly and he 

yelped, chin lifting to offer more. 

How long could this go on? He’d bleed to death, right? 

Except he felt stronger, not weak. 

Coy reached for his cock, needing to shift it, his jeans 

too tight.

“Mmm. Yes. Get it out.” Denver licked at his throat, 

right where the holes sat. 

His hips rolled up, the zing of his nerves distracting him 

from his needy cock.

“Coy. Get your dick out.”

“Right. Right, sorry. Stupid.” He was fucking flying.

“No name calling.” Denver smiled, his lips stained with 

blood. Coy’s blood. 

His zipper seemed complicated as hell, and his needy 

prick wasn’t helping one bit, pushing at the teeth.

“Let me help, hmm?” Denver made quick work of it all, 

leaving Coy blinking, gasping when cool air hit his cock. 

No one did that, left him off center and gasping. No one.

He wasn’t sure if he approved or not. Didn’t matter, not 

when Denver grabbed his dick. 

The touch -- which he’d expected to be cold, damn it 

-- was blistering, and he growled and started humping 

immediately. 

“So responsive.” Denver stroked in counterpoint, giving 

him friction. 

“I...” He didn’t expect to be so fucking turned on, so 

goddamned excited.

“No. No self-consciousness. This is too good for that.” 

Denver struck again, fangs cutting through his skin easily. 

Later he would swear that time stopped, that his heart 

ceased, and he howled, the sound tearing from him. 

He thought he might just die, but he would be happy.

The fingers around his prick squeezed and tugged, 

pulled hard and his balls drew up. He humped, his muscles 

clenching as he pushed up. 

The suction at his throat intensified, and he grabbed 

Denver’s shoulders, digging in so he had something solid in 

his world, which spun crazily. Those heated hands mapped 

his body, dragged over his skin, driving him nuts.

He arched and wiggled, trying to get more, but he could 

only have what Denver gave him. Those muscles were like 

steel, Denver holding him still. 

Finally his only option was to melt back, lips open as he 

gulped in air. 

Denver licked that spot on his neck again, kissing a line 

up his neck to his mouth.

He blinked up, dazed, aching. “Need to come.”

“Anytime you need.” Denver made this noise that was 

like a growl, sending shivers down his spine. Then a line of 

stinging heat zinged along his slit, and he shot, howling out 

his need.

Denver just made approving noises, stroking his cock to 

ease the tiny snapping pain. Not that it mattered. Coy was 

just gonna be a dry husk. 

His head slumped back against the sofa, his throat 

working.

Kissing the place where his pulse beat the fastest, Denver 

smiled against his skin. “Yes. Yes, I can see why they 

thought we might make a match. Stay the night.”

Before the question settled in his brain, he was nodding 

in agreement. His bones were melted, his heart racing, and 

he couldn’t fathom walking away. So much for a good fuck 

and a nice hard run in the woods.

This shit could get really complicated. 

Fast.

Denver murmured softly, hands dragging on his skin. He 

shivered, feeling so good, so spent. Of course, he had no 

idea if Denver needed to come or what. 

“You need?” He wasn’t an asshole and he wasn’t one of 

those men who took his pleasure and just left.

“Oh, I’ll have you tonight, love, but for now I have what 

I desired most. Blood is everything to someone like me.”

“I can’t believe I let you bite me.” He felt drunk, baby-

headed. “We don’t know a thing about each other.”

“Mmm. I look forward to learning.” Denver rose, lifting 

him as easily as a doll. 

His eyes flew open, and he flailed for a second, just like 

a puppy, and Denver vocalized for him, the sound soothing 

and deep. When he relaxed, Denver moved, carrying him 

up the stairs and down a long hall to an opulent bedroom 

with heavy, industrial window shades. 

The bed was the size of a Mack truck, and there were at 

least a thousand covers -- all shiny and puffy and decadent. 

Coy had the urge to wolf out and dig them up into a nest so 

he could curl up. There was something about this guy that 

had his wolf right on the edge. 

He had to get his shit together. He couldn’t just go all 

fuzzball with a relative stranger. Especially one who wasn’t 

a fellow shifter. A vamp, for fuck’s sake. 

A bloodsucker. 

Fang-monster.

He was chuckling as Denver tossed him onto the bed.

“What are you laughing about so hard?”

“Giddy. Blood loss.” He started laughing harder.

Denver got naked and settled next to him, smiling easily. 

“Do you need more protein?”

He opened his mouth to say no, then he got it, barking 

out laughter. 

Denver finally just kissed him to shut him up. 

The kiss went wild in a hurry, both of them diving into 

the caress like they were starving. He was, a little, his body 

shaking with it. Denver’s prick blazed against his belly, and 

he reached down, wrapped his hand around it. He’d thought 

this man was cold? Christ. 

Denver bared his teeth, snapped at the air a bit, and Coy 

chuckled. Someone needed. 

“Are you laughing at me, sweet?” Denver rode his hand.

“Yep.” Totally. It was the first time he’d felt solid since 

the bite.

“Bitch.” Denver laughed with him, pinching at his 

nipple.

“Not. All male.” He proved it, rolling his own prick 

against Denver’s thigh while he worked that pretty dick.

“Mmm. Spicy, too. Tingly on my tongue. I like it.” 

“Shifter blood’s not bad, hmm?” 

“Not bad?” Denver rolled them, looming over him. 

“Addictive.”

“Hey, there.” He had to force himself not to tense.

“Are you afraid of me?” Denver’s pupils dilated, like 

he really liked that idea. Or maybe he was just ready for 

another sip. 

“I’m not afraid.” He was going to bite back, maybe.

“Oh. Well, that’s okay, too.” 

Denver’s smile made him blink. God, that was beautiful. 

The world felt a little dizzying, actually, like he’d been 

smoking green. Maybe he did need a bit more protein. 

Maybe there was too much blood in his dick, making his 

brain deficient. 

Maybe it was the light in Denver’s eyes. Denver licked 

his throat. Fuck. Fuck, that was... He groaned, eyes rolling 

back in his head.

“You like it, too. The edge of danger.” 

“Fuck, yeah. Normal life is so... normal.”

“It is. I’ve been so bored, Coy. So very bored.” Denver 

struck, puncturing his skin so easily. 

He groaned, dragging Denver across the mattress, his 

cock heavy like a club between his thighs. Denver rubbed 

back and forth, teeth working his skin. The man was on fire 

now, skin two degrees too hot, at least. 

Coy jacked that sweet cock, working hard and fast, 

thumb at the tip. The feeling of Denver drinking from him 

spread from his neck to his toes, throbbing all the way. His 

heart pounded, slamming in his chest, beating away. He 

couldn’t breathe right, couldn’t get enough air.

Let it happen. Relax into it.

Relax? How the fuck could anyone relax? This was 

enough to make him want to thrash, to throw Denver off 

and run in circles chasing his tail. 

Denver, though, had other plans, keeping him right there, 

touching and biting and fucking flying. The man held him 

down, one arm like an iron band around him, fangs just 

impaling him. 

Somehow his hand on Denver’s prick, it kept working, 

kept jacking. He felt like it had a mind of its own, because 

his was sure burning itself out. 

The world went sparkly around the edges, tinged with 

red, fuzzy. He snapped at the air, growling, and Denver 

laughed. The sound was pure joy.

He rubbed the tip of Denver’s cock, fingers sliding on the 

slit, dragging hard. 

“That’s it, pup. I like it a little rough.” 

God damn it. He was looking for tension, not that easy 

laugh. Gritting his teeth, he gave Denver rough, scraping 

his short nails down to Denver’s heavy balls. 

“Good boy.”

He growled low. “Not a boy.”

“Yet you’re so hesitant.” Denver’s smile maddened him. 

The wolf in him surged up, his pride stinging. He’d 

fought the other males, made it on his own when other 

bachelor males gave their bellies to the alpha and he 

refused. He was far from fucking cowardly. 

Denver hummed. “That made your blood tingle even 

more.”

He pounced, biting down, going for Denver’s belly. The 

man flipped him like a pancake, holding him against the 

mattress, the casual, untapped strength making Coy blink. 

Teeth snapping at the air, he fought that hardness, that 

weight. He was his own wolf, damn it. 

“Yes. Yes, just so. Don’t hold back.” Denver actually 

reached around and patted his ass. Like he was a puppy. 

He whipped around, teeth sinking into Denver’s upper 

arm, and he shook it, like Denver was his prey.

The man finally sounded surprised, the yelp he got 

utterly satisfying. Then Denver pulled him away. “Don’t 

drink too much, love. It might make you sick. I have no 

idea how my blood will affect a wolf like you.” 

Then Denver took his lips again, fucking them good and 

hard with that amazing tongue and they were off to the 

races again.

Coy humped, the need so sharp it was almost pain.

They were fucking wild, the bedsheets sliding under 

them, rips sounding as they struggled for more pleasure. 

Denver was relentless, driving him higher and he threw 

his head back, howled. His hips sawed back and forth, his 

breath hitching. 

He cried out, body giving it up again. He shot so fucking 

hard he couldn’t see for a second. The roaring in his ears 

refused to quiet down, his blood rushing in his veins.

Heat sprayed over his side, Denver groaning against his 

skin and he soared, totally unsure what to do.

Denver decided for them, wrapping around him like an 

octopus. 

Okay. Okay, good. Sleeping.

Sleeping now.

He blinked once, and then he was gone, dreaming about 

the moon.

***

Denver watched Coy Martindale sleep like a puppy, all 

curled in and snoring a tiny bit. How had this wolf captured 

his imagination so completely in such a short time?

His entire body was alight -- it was like he’d tapped 

into pure electricity. He could power an entire city, for 

goodness’ sake. He’d pushed a little too much, he could 

tell, but Coy had taken it all beautifully. 

Oh, he was having a ball. He should have tried a service 

ages ago. Addison knew the world better than he did now, 

he supposed. He’d give the lad a bonus.

He ran his fingers down along Coy’s spine, petting like 

the man was in wolf form. Coy arched, shifting under his 

touch. So responsive. Denver thought Coy’s reaction to a 

little force was more surprise than distaste. The man had 

been alone too long. 

Wolves were pack animals, yes? Hierarchy oriented? 

He grabbed his iPad and started searching. He needed 

information. That was his stock in trade, after all. He was 

good at gathering. 

Sociology. Habits. Mating. Territory. Needs. Fuck, this 

was fascinating. His hand kept touching, petting Coy’s 

skin. That was even more fascinating, that amazing skin. 

Every time Denver hit a hot spot, Coy shivered. This 

man needed someone to belong to, and Denver had never 

tasted anyone he wanted more. 

He traced the line of the man’s nose, smiling as it 

wrinkled. Then he pressed his finger against Coy’s lips. 

They opened, then the suction started, slow and steady.

Oh, fuck.

He moaned, his cock rising, his body rather urgent in its 

need.

Still sound asleep, Coy fellated his finger, soft happy 

sounds on the air. Such a natural, so sensual.

God, Denver wanted that mouth around his cock. 

He smiled, then licked his lips “Coy...”

The big brown eyes opened, blinked at him, sleepy and 

confused. 

He stroked Coy’s chin, his throat. “Suck me, sweet?”

Those sweet lips opened and he nodded, easing Coy 

down. Yes. Yes, he needed. He praised, petting Coy’s hair 

as he slipped his cock into Coy’s mouth, hot and wet and 

perfect. The suction was heaven, Coy hungry for him, eager 

to suck.

He pressed his hips forward, then pulled back, willing to 

do the work for his sleepy new lover. 

One heavy hand wrapped around his hip, warm and 

solid, controlling the speed. So into control, his Coy. A 

habit he would help break. 

Coy’s tongue slid along his shaft, slapping the tip, 

driving him mad. He moved faster, pushing Coy’s limits 

a bit. The hand at his hip tightened, squeezed. No. No 

warnings. He held Coy’s cheeks, not forcing anything, but 

definitely owning the tempo. The happy little growl around 

his prick was hot as fuck.

The point of surrender was always the sexiest thing. 

Almost as good was the danger. Almost. One way or the 

other, they needed to explore it all together. 

He arched and pushed in deep, Coy swallowing around 

him, over and over. Yes. That was perfect. Necessary. He 

backed off, let Coy gulp in a few breaths, then pushed in 

again.

The man was so natural at giving, so wonderfully open. 

The suction increased and he swallowed back a cry, eyes 

rolling. “Just there. There, pup. Fuck.”

Coy moaned for him, hands on his thighs, and Denver 

took what he needed. He’d feed again soon, which was 

crazy. He’d already fed more in one day than he had in 

almost a year. The rush was addictive, though, the burn of 

Coy’s energy like a flame.

He could live on it forever.

The thought shocked him into orgasm, his body rocking 

back and forth with the violence of it. 

Coy groaned, swallowing over and over, taking him in 

like a natural. He petted that springy, dark hair, praising. 

“Want to bite you now, love.” 

Deep brown eyes met his, looking fuck-dazed. “Again? 

Hungry vamp.”

“You make me so hungry.” He stroked Coy’s cheeks. 

“Are you too tired? You can say no.”

“I just napped. I’m... buzzing.”

“Mmm.” He liked that idea. Electricity seemed to flow 

between them, stronger every time they touched. 

He drew Coy up, nibbling on the man’s lips, teasing.

Coy wrapped around him, arms and legs, clinging like a 

limpet. 

He got them settled, cuddled together, Coy’s hard cock 

against his belly. Denver reached for it, pinching at the tip. 

He licked his lips, his fangs tingling. He wasn’t famished, 

just wanting, so he could play this time, tease.

Denver actually wanted to see what Coy looked like 

when he came. He wanted to know what made Coy need.

He pinched the slit closed at the tip of Coy’s prick, 

watching to see what that did. Coy bared his teeth, snapped 

at the air, then humped his hand restlessly. 

“I like that, sweet. How you need that.” 

“You... you have some weird magic, man.”

“Do I? How so?” He stroked down, then up. 

“I’m not so... wanting.”

“I think you are. I just think no one has ever known that 

you really want to.”

Coy nodded, shook his head, nodded again. Someone 

was conflicted. Denver would have to work on that a little 

at a time. Too bad he wasn’t a patient man. He slapped the 

tip of Coy’s cock with the palm of his hand. 

“Fuck!” Coy arched like he’d been popped with 

electricity.

The play of muscles under Coy’s skin fascinated him, so 

he did it again, nipping Coy’s collarbone at the same time. 

“Stop it!” Coy struggled, which just activated his prey 

drive. Oh. Oh, he could hunt this one. 

He growled low, getting an answering sound from Coy, 

who pulled away, eyes flashing. 

“Be careful, pup. I’m in the mood to play, but I play 

rough.”

Coy’s lip curled. “Try me.”

The man shuddered and suddenly he was face to face 

with another predator -- possibly the biggest wolf he’d ever 

seen. 

“God, you’re beautiful.” He touched the white and gray 

muzzle, pleased that Coy didn’t bite him. “Run, love. I’ll be 

right behind you.” 

He got a toothy grin, a toss of the huge head and then 

Coy was off running. 

Denver whooped, running behind, trying to give Coy a 

bit of a head start. Coy took off like a madman, barreling 

wildly down the hall.

They careened around the corner and down the stairs, 

thudding like crazy. Coy’s claws scrabbled, and Denver 

slid, and they headed for the kitchen.

When Coy hit the tile, the wolf’s back end went 

spinning.

Denver swiped out with one hand, but missed, coming 

away with a few feathery hairs. Quick little shit. Okay, so 

maybe not little. That wolf was bigger than Coy the human. 

Coy scrambled around the kitchen island, claws 

skittering on the floor.

“Shit! Wolf. Wolf in the kitchen!” Addison screamed, 

hopping up on the counter. 

Coy barked, nose wrinkling.

“Just Coy, Addison.” Denver grinned, feeling it stretch 

his cheeks. “Open the back door, will you?”

“S-sure. Sure. He won’t bite me?”

“Pretty sure.” Denver wanted to chase and Coy wanted 

to run. “I’ll be back before daybreak.” 

“I’ll leave the back door unlocked.” Addison carefully 

climbed down, headed for the back door.

Coy vibrated, but was kind enough to stay still until 

Addison was out of the way. 

As soon as it was clear, though, the wolf took off, 

seeming to disappear in a puff of smoke. That made the 

challenge all the better, and Denver ran, tasting the air. 

Coy proved to be clever, zigzagging before heading for the 

woods, the cover of the trees.

Yes. Yes, that would scramble the senses of most 

animals. Vampires were a little more complex, though, as 

Coy was about to find out. Oh, he didn’t sparkle or fly, but 

he could leap into the trees pretty easily. 

He started hunting, eyes searching the woods for the heat 

mark of his pup. Blood surged through his veins, lighting 

up his world. He could see the tiny animals, birds and 

squirrels, but he wanted Coy. Now.

There.

A flash of energy moved, incredibly fast, but too big to 

miss. He tracked it a moment, the pattern becoming clear 

in his mind. He moved from bough to bough, speeding 

over the leaves. Denver felt light, and so fast. It was almost 

flying.

Coy turned suddenly, heading out into the open, 

surprising him. 

Keeping low to the ground, the wolf stayed to the 

shadows, ears swiveling. That tail waved like a flag, telling 

Denver how much fun Coy was having. 

Denver slowed, letting the anticipation build. They both 

knew how this would end. He would catch his pup.

It was inevitable.

The chase still excited them. His cock was hard again, 

not really hampering him, just making it more interesting. 

He threw himself from the trees, leaping for Coy, who 

barked and took off like a shot.

Denver tore after the fool wolf, across the meadow and 

into another copse of trees. 

Goddess, he hadn’t had so much fun in centuries! He 

stayed on the ground this time, skirting the trees to the 

outside so he could keep speed up.

Coy turned, crouching, and suddenly he was prey. 

Denver hooted and put on a burst of speed, letting his wolf 

give chase. 

The sound of paws slamming into the ground chased 

him, drove him faster. He pushed himself harder, letting all 

of his focus fall to the terrain. His wolf was close, breath 

on the back of his neck. He dodged, sliding between two 

trunks. 

He heard Coy scrabbling, sliding on the leaves. Yes. 

Such a good hunter. 

Sniff sniff sniff. He could hear Coy searching for him.

Grinning, he moved faster than he had this whole chase, 

coming back around behind Coy to grab that tail. Coy 

whipped around, barking furiously.

He laughed, jumping back to keep from getting bitten.

His wolf pounced, as tall as he was, tongue sliding on his 

face. Denver chuckled, rubbing that heavy fur, giving Coy 

praise. Coy wagged and lapped him, those bright gold eyes 

glowing. 

“Good hunt, hmm? We should get back before it starts to 

get light, though.” 

Coy’s teeth nudged his shoulder, then the big wolf 

jumped down. 

There was no reason they couldn’t have fun on the way 

back. He turned and raced back toward the house.

This time Coy ran with him, beside him, loping easily. 

Yes. He moved faster, knowing Coy could keep up now 

unless he put on his Superman cape. It was fascinating, the 

economy of movement that his wolf had. Those muscles all 

worked together, the tail constant temptation. 

When they reached his home, they both slowed, cooling 

down. He didn’t want Coy to get sick, Hell, he had no idea 

if Coy could. 

Coy stretched, skin rippling, muscles jerking and 

moving. The man stood before him now, instead of the 

wolf, grinning like a fool. 

“Haven’t run in a bit?” Denver asked. 

“Not like that. Not where I’m so close to Her. The 

Moon.” Look at that amazing fucking smile.

“The moon is bright here, hmm?” He drew Coy close, 

rubbing them together. 

“Huge.” Coy’s prick was firm, heated against his thigh. 

He hummed with pleasure, reaching to stroke it. “I like 

how you feel.” 

Long and curved, needy and fat in his fingers -- it was a 

lovely cock. He stroked it up and down, loving the tactile 

sensations. Coy made the most amazing noises, too, low 

and deep and hungry.

“Sweet. I could get lost in you.”

“I-I thought I’d meet you and run.”

“Well, you did, technically.” He pulled at Coy’s cock a 

little more, tugging hard. 

“Uhn.” Coy’s eyes crossed and that was it for 

conversation.

Worked for him. Denver wanted to get as much loving 

in as he could before sunrise. Hell, he wanted Coy to have 

enough that the wolf was still there when Denver awoke 

at sunset. No running, no hiding. The urge to bite that fine 

cock was so strong he actually moaned. Better to save that.

“Don’t stop.” Coy’s voice was pure growl.

“Not a bit.” No, he had no intention of quitting.

“Good. Damn, man, fucking amazing.”

“Oh, pup, we’ve barely started.” The words came out 

like a promise.

The moonlight poured over Coy, limning the fine body, 

the pulse in Coy’s throat. So beautiful. Denver licked that 

spot, feeling life under his lips. His wolf arched, driving 

into his touch, eyes fastened on the moon.

He knew what it was like to be tied so closely to 

something. For him it was the blood. And this moon-soaked 

life force he’d discovered was an addiction. He wanted 

more of the spark that sent new life through his old body.

Coy’s fingers tangled through his hair, pressed his lips 

more firmly against the heated column of Coy’s throat. 

He hummed before he bit down, letting hot liquid flow 

between his lips.

A sharp howl rang out, filling the air, vibrating against 

his nerves. 

He closed his eyes, pulling hard with his lips, his body 

swaying, and all the while he was jacking Coy hard, 

dragging against that sweet dick. He wanted his new lover 

to come so much that all he could do was eat, sleep and 

orgasm. 

And hunt.

That had been exhilarating. He licked the wounds on 

Coy’s neck. “Inside, pup. Before your moon leaves us.”

His fingers were wet with seed and he licked them clean, 

too, the flavor so close to blood it make him groan. He 

jerked a little, his body wanting more, but the sun was less 

than an hour away. 

“Inside. You’ll burn.”

“I will.” That sucked. He knew well. 

One arm wrapped around him, drawing him in, the care 

in that touch surprising him. Coy took him inside, almost 

acting like the tiniest umbrella ever. 

“You want me to stay? I can.”

“Of course I do.” What a ridiculous question. “Addison 

will try to make you insane. He gets lonely.”

“I need a nap. He’ll have to wait.”

“He can. Sleep with me if it doesn’t bother you.” He 

chuckled. “No coffins.”

“Are you going to be dead? I wolf out in my sleep and 

I’d hate to gnaw on you.”

“A chew toy! No, I sleep like the dead, but if you tried to 

eat me I would wake up, love.” What a good pup. 

“Good. That would be awkward.”

“Yet somehow adorable.”

They settled in the bed, Coy almost immediately fuzzy 

and curled up around him. Denver stroked the heavy fur, 

fascinated. He had time before he dropped off, just enough 

to fill his nose with Coy’s scent, let his body find a good 

position. 

The warm tongue groomed him, easing him down into 

sleep. What an extraordinary night. He couldn’t wait to see 

what happened next.

***

Coy slept hard, snoozing through the entire day only 

waking from hunger around five. The sun was beginning 

to go down, and he padded to the kitchen in wolf form 

because he had no idea where his clothes were.

“Wolf! Wolf in the kitchen!” Addison laughed, 

brandishing a wooden spoon, obviously not scared now. 

He barked, wagging hard, hoping for a snack, a bite. 

“Want some cheese, man?” Tossing him a bite, Addison 

hummed a little, chopping things that smelled good. 

He hopped up, front feet on the counter. Oh, yummy!

“Hey, now. No counter-surfing in my kitchen.”

He snorted, tossed his head. He had manners. Some.

Addison rewarded him with more cheese. 

He snapped it up and then headed outside to do his 

business and his rounds, look about a bit. It was cold, 

smoke coming from his nose. Lord, that was freezy. His 

paws ached a little until he got them moving. Everything 

was icy, the crystals building between his toes. He licked at 

one to see if it got better.

Ow.

It was stuck.

Pokey.

Ow.

He finally got loose, and limped back to the house. It 

would take more than five minutes to be a snow wolf. 

When he got into the kitchen a hot towel dropped over him. 

Oh, yay. That was lovely, drying the frost off him. 

Strong fingers dried him, ruffled his fur, warmed his 

bones. He wagged, licking the air, and Denver chuckled. 

“Look at you. You stayed.”

Of course he had. He’d promised he would. He arched 

his back, digging in with his paws.

Denver’s fingers massaged heavily, pushing into his 

muscles. That got his blood moving again, warming him. 

“Did you want a glass of red, boss?” Addison asked, 

grinning at them like a fool. 

Denver really dug in, making Coy lose his butt a little. 

“Not now, thank you. We’ll see how peckish I am later.”

The words were warm and happy and Coy really didn’t 

pay too much attention to them. He just pushed into that 

sweet touch. 

“Have you had a snack, Coy?”

A bite, really. Snack suggested something else.

“I gave him some cheese. I’ll make him something 

yummy,” Addison said. 

“Thank you. Something with meat, please. He’ll need it.”

His tail wagged furiously. Meat.

“Yeah, he looks like that’s a good idea.” Addison 

chuckled and went to the fridge.

Coy leaned into Denver, nudging the man’s balls.

“Are you being naughty?”

Was he?

Possibly.

He chuffed happily and did it again. 

Denver laughed for him. “Eat. Then we can bathe 

together.”

He nodded, muzzle rubbing as he did. Bathing was good. 

He wasn’t a water hater. Meat first, though. Hungry. Coy 

flopped down on the floor, watching Addison. Waiting. 

“I got to sear it off, just in case. It’s from the Whole 

Foods. If you hang around, I’ll find a local provider.”

Coy wagged once, happy to be settled here in the warm 

kitchen. Denver sat, too, on a stool at the island, and that 

must have been odd, because Addison stared at the man. He 

rolled over, moving to mouth one of Denver’s ankles.

“Toothy pup.” Denver didn’t seem worried. 

He wasn’t! He was just nibbling a little. 

“Just don’t draw blood.”

He nipped Denver’s big toe.

“Trying to get me a piece at a time. I get it.”

He didn’t know about that. The smaller toes would be 

challenging. 

“Here.” Addison slapped a seared piece of meat down in 

front of him.

The world went red and he pounced, snarfing it up. Oh, it 

was still juicy inside, coppery and perfect. He lapped every 

drop of the blood up, his belly happy and full. Better. He 

hadn’t even known he was so hungry. 

He went to Addison, headbutted the man in thanks. 

“No prob.” Addison stroked his ears. “Go spend some 

man time with the boss.”

That sounded like fun. He padded over, bit Denver’s 

ankle, then took off running. 

Denver laughed, and Coy heard the slide of feet on the 

floor, following him. 

Play!

He turned a corner and then stopped and spun, crouching 

to leap. Coy flew through the air, and Denver caught him 

right out of it, turning and tossing him down the hall.

Landing on his feet, he immediately turned to pounce 

again. His paws skidded on the slick floor, but he got 

purchase enough to run. 

Denver’s laugh caught him, then those hands did, fingers 

digging into his fur. Those strong arms cradled him a 

moment before Denver threw him through the air once 

more. 

They did it three or four times before he shifted, meeting 

Denver as a man.

Their bodies slapped together, Denver moaning, 

grabbing him and kissing him. He pushed into the caress, 

tongue fucking Denver’s lips, teasing the sides of those 

sharp fangs. He got a tiny puncture wound for his trouble. 

The tiny sting was nothing compared to the rush of 

pleasure. The sensation made his heart beat harder, strain 

to give Denver more. It was like his blood had grown 

overnight, filling his skin. Like his body knew he had to 

feed Denver. Crazy. Totally. 

Still, he wanted those teeth digging into him.

“Bedroom, sweet. I want to bathe before I snack.” 

“Bedroom.” He could have a bath.

Denver carried him, which was still so weird. He was not 

exactly light. 

“Am I heavy for you? At all?”

“Not really. I mean, I can tell you’re more solid than an 

average human.”

“By at least one hundred pounds.”

“Mmm. I’m always so afraid humans will break. 

Addison was meant to be a feeder, you know. He turned out 

to be a bleeder.”

“Sick blood?”

“No clotting.” Denver let him slide to the floor in the 

bathroom. “I had no wish to hurt him.”

Coy approved. “He’s a nice man.”

“And a good cook, apparently.”

“Yeah.” He leaned in, licked a line along the man’s 

collarbone. Salty.

Denver slid one hand into his hair, holding him close. 

“Water.” He licked again, nibbling a bit.

“Huh?” Denver pulled back a few inches to frown. “Oh! 

Shower. Yes.” 

“Mmmhmm.” He stepped in and went back to tasting. 

The water poured down on them, making him hum. 

Coy rubbed, sighing happily. He was glad Denver was 

tactile. He liked contact, when he could get it.

This was so dangerous, all this focus on him alone. 

It could be enticing, addictive. It felt amazing. Denver 

touched him like he was the only man on earth, like he was 

precious, but not fragile. 

He bit down, letting it sting a bit.

“Toothy pup.” Stroking his hair, Denver chuckled. 

“Don’t draw blood too much, love. I have no idea what it 

would do to you.”

“No breaking the skin. Got it.” He bit again.

Denver moved, the motion sensual, sinuous. 

Slowly, Coy moved to his knees, refusing to let his mind 

do more than record how good this felt. He wanted to taste, 

touch, learn Denver all over. He let his tongue drag over the 

tip of Denver’s cock, the water making everything slick. 

“That’s it, Coy. Suck it. You have a mouth made for 

this.”

His cheeks burned, but his moan tore from him and he 

took Denver’s cock in, tongue slapping the big vein along 

the side.

“Yes.” Denver pushed into his mouth, demanding, 

warmer than last night, and Coy took more, moaning as the 

fat shaft spread his lips. Denver was like a force of nature. 

Coy took Denver’s prick in to the root before backing off, 

working the tip.

The sounds he got encouraged him. So did Denver’s 

hand on the back of his head. 

They found a rhythm, pushing deep, then letting Denver 

slip almost free. The shower rained down on them, the 

water hot, good, shutting out the world. Coy grabbed that 

tight vampire ass and tugged, keeping them close. He 

wanted everything, all Denver had to give him. 

Denver groaned, fingers tangling through his hair, 

dragging just enough to sting, to rev him up. He loved that 

little tug, the way Denver humped back and forth with 

those lean hips. He started swallowing with every thrust 

in, pulling hard. Denver’s cock hit the back of his throat, 

swelling even more. 

The wild sounds pouring down over him made Coy want 

to howl. He didn’t. He just sucked. Hard.

Denver offered up a cry that drew goosebumps all over 

him, just before heat poured into him. It amazed him, how 

hot Denver’s come felt sliding down his throat.

“Good. Good pup. Fuck.” Denver grinned down at him, 

face feral and wild. The gleam of fangs just under Denver’s 

lips made Coy shiver.

He stood up, pushing into a hard, wild kiss, his prick 

heavy, pushing against Denver’s hip. Denver grabbed him, 

holding him up with one hand, the other going to his cock, 

helping him. Those fangs poked at his lips, making him 

moan. 

“More.” He needed. Now.

“Tell me, baby boy. Ask me.” 

He growled deep in his chest, shaking Denver a bit.

“No. I want to hear it.” Denver stood fast, not letting his 

growl intimidate.

“I want you. Now. Damn it.” He snapped at the air, teeth 

clicking.

“No biting, pup.”

“Need you. Fuck me. Bite me.” 

“That’s it.” Denver radiated a savage sort of satisfaction, 

and the man pressed Coy against the shower wall, teeth 

stinging Coy’s throat.

He arched, swallowing over and over. His body lit up 

like a live wire. He shook, swaying, ass sliding on the 

tile. He kept his feet, but barely. So slippery, but the water 

warmed him so well, Denver’s bite making him cry out 

over and over. 

His hands scrabbled over Denver’s slick skin, trying to 

get the man closer. Thank God Denver seemed to want the 

same thing, because the man rubbed up on him. 

They humped, rutting for a few long minutes, their cocks 

dragging together. Then Denver’s slick fingers slid inside 

him, wet with something not water. Soap? It didn’t sting. 

He squeezed, then bore down, taking Denver in.

Those hard fingers stretched him, opened him up, and it 

felt perfect, buzzing inside him. He pushed up on his toes, 

then sank back down. Denver groaned, nodded against his 

skin, so he did it again. Which was when Denver bit him 

again. It was a cycle of amazing pleasure. 

Coy wasn’t sure what to do, where to look, how to 

breathe. So he let his head fall back, pushing his weight 

toward Denver’s hand. Those long fingers stroked inside 

him, lighting him up. He gasped when Denver touched on a 

sweet spot inside him, pressing against his gland. 

“Oh, there.” Denver muttered the words and then the 

touch came again.

Coy howled with how good it was, his cock pushing up 

against Denver’s belly. In a move so fast his brain couldn’t 

figure it, Denver spun him, body pressing against his spine, 

cock against his hole, teeth against the side of his throat.

Grunting, Coy pressed back with his hips, encouraging 

Denver to push inside his body.

That thick, heavy prick pierced him, driving a deep 

groan from his chest. Denver was relentless, not giving him 

any time to breathe. The world started spinning, whirling 

around them, slow and dizzying. Coy gulped air, his chest 

rising and falling, his muscles tight. 

The bloodsucker drove inside him, slamming into him, 

stealing his sense. All he could do was lean on the wall and 

hold himself up.

And feel. He was totally into feeling this.

Denver yanked him up a little more, teeth sinking into 

the skin at the back of his neck. The sting made his toes 

curl, made his hips jerk a few restless, random times. 

“Mine. Is it too early to claim you?” Denver asked.

“Probably, don’t stop.” They could work out details after 

orgasms.

“No. No stopping.” Those hips drove against his ass. 

Coy’s entire body was on fire, lit up and hungry for it. 

Denver took everything he had and amplified it, made him 

crazy with need. 

His hands slid on the tile, his cock caught where he 

couldn’t reach it.

“Don’t worry, pup. I’ll take care of you.” 

“Need.” He wanted it to go on and on.

“I have what you need.” Denver bit him again, making 

him wail. 

His balls drew up, his muscles jerking and rolling. His 

heartbeat pounded in his ears, thrumming. His cock slapped 

his belly, so hard he thought he might come without even a 

touch. 

“Wait for me.” 

Like he could. His orgasm built in his balls, all the way 

up to his belly. 

Denver reached down and tugged his balls away from his 

body, growling. “Wait. For. Me.” 

“Denver!” He arched, hips jerking restlessly. Oh, fuck 

him raw, that was blisteringly hot.

“That’s it, pup. Keep it together.”

Sharp little bites stung all against his skin, over and over, 

making him need to howl. Denver stroked his cock now, 

too, giving him friction. Still, the man whispered, “Not yet. 

Not yet.”

He panted, his head hanging on his neck, his body 

rocking with every thrust. He chanted to himself, “Wait. 

Wait.”

There was no way he’d disappoint Denver, not now. Not 

here.

“My sweet boy.” Denver’s fangs grazed his shoulder. 

“Now, baby. Now.”

“Now.” The sting of Denver’s bite buzzed through him, 

blazed inside him and he shot, emptying himself against the 

wall, even as Denver spent inside him. It was another cycle, 

blood, moon, seed.

He didn’t want it to end. At all.

“It doesn’t have to.” Denver’s words were soft, but he 

heard them in every inch of his body. He vibrated, his wolf 

fighting to get out and run in circles. He leaned back, head 

rubbing against Denver’s chest.

Denver stroked his belly, easing him. Low sounds 

bubbled out of him, and he melted back into the caress. 

He thought vamps were evil or whatever. Denver was his 

fucking hero. And the best lay he’d ever had.

“Stay?” Denver kissed his neck.

“You sure? So soon?” He had to nod.

“Yes. Yes, I mean it.” Denver helped him stand on shaky 

legs and rinse off. “I thought there was no way the silly 

dating people could give me a mate.”

“I didn’t know your kind mated.”

Denver laughed out loud, the sound purely joyful. “I 

didn’t either.”

Coy hooted, turned and took a hard, happy kiss. 

Yeah. He would stay, at least for now. He thought sure 

he’d fight anyone who tried to out-alpha him. But damn. 

Denver was it for him. 

Good thing it looked like Coy was the right wolf for 

Denver.

***

Denver watched Addison tease Coy with a piece of meat 

the size of his head. The two of them were ridiculously 

cute, and had no idea Denver was watching them. 

Coy snapped, catching the edge of the piece and shaking 

hard, growling playfully. The two of them wrestled all over 

the kitchen, Addison starting to pant with effort.

“You’re strong. Christ, man...” Addison grabbed the 

counter with one hand.

Coy backed up, tugging, that tail wagging like a flag. 

Addison had no chance. None. Zero.

“Denver! Help! He’s winning!”

He grinned. “Oh, no, don’t get me involved.” 

Coy chuffed around the meat in his mouth.

Addison snorted, then yanked the meat hard, which 

surprised Coy enough to let go.

Addison tossed the steak toward him and Coy leapt, teeth 

snapping. Such strong jaws. Denver was fast, though, and 

ducked out of the way, laughing. Coy stalked him, teeth 

bared, tail high like a flag.

“No biting, love.” He backed off, teasing, dangling the 

steak. 

Coy barked and pounced, the heavy weight landing 

square on his torso. He laughed and rolled, tossing the pup 

aside easily. 

“You two are wrecking my kitchen!” Addison hollered.

He glanced at Addison, which took his attention off Coy 

for a split second. 

Coy snapped at the steak, teeth sinking into the fleshy 

part at the base of his thumb. Shit! Denver yanked back, but 

those razor sharp teeth just cut and dug in, blood spurting.

Coy yelped, jerked back, then pushed in with a bark, 

lapping and trying to help stem the flow.

Denver pulled away. “No. Coy! No, it could hurt you.” 

He had no idea what his blood would do to Coy. 

His blood poured out and Addison screamed as Coy 

pushed him down, frantically trying to stop the flow.

“No. Addison, stop him. Blood in the fridge.” Sparks 

started to dance before his eyes. 

“Blood. Right. Coy, feed him!”

Suddenly Coy was human, throat pressed against his 

fangs, life pouring into him. Yes. Oh, God. He closed his 

eyes and drank. 

Coy slumped against him, heavy and hot, blood curing 

him.

Denver blinked. “Coy? Love?”

“Den...” Coy’s eyes flashed, a sudden, wild light behind 

them.

Denver caught him, hands on his arms. “Coy. Baby?” 

“Denver. It burns.” 

“No. Oh, no. Addison, help me get him upstairs.” He 

would never forgive himself if Coy sickened and died over 

something so fucking stupid as a piece of steak. 

“I’m okay. Are you better? I didn’t mean to bite.” Coy’s 

eyes rolled. “Not a bad dog.”

“No. Not bad.” He ran up the stairs, wanting to get Coy 

in bed. 

“I tried to make you better.” Coy twisted in his arms. 

“Hot, Denver. It burns.”

“Shh.” He had no idea what to do with hot. He was so 

cold. “Addison, he’s burning up.” 

“What happens when someone drinks from you, boss?”

“I have no idea what happens with a shifter.” He didn’t 

know. Humans it could kill or make slaves. 

“I... I’ll get a cool bath started? Aspirin? Can dogs have 

aspirin?”

“Yes. I’m fairly sure.” 

“Okay, aspirin and cool water. I’m on it.”

Coy panted, staring at him, unblinking. “Mate.”

“Coy. I’m so sorry.” He stroked Coy’s cheeks, feeling 

useless.

Addison came in, water and rags in hand. “Stop 

apologizing and start helping.”

“What can I do?”

“Cool him off. I don’t know, you’re the ancient bitey 

one.”

“You deal with sickness!” Denver hadn’t been sick in 

centuries. 

“Magical werewolf sickness?”

“Christ.” He grabbed the water and cloths. “We have to 

get his fever down.”

“Yeah. I’m running the bath now.”

“Do it fast.” He dabbed at Coy’s chest, his face.

His pup whimpered softly, hands sliding over the sheets. 

Blisters rose on Coy’s skin, and Denver rubbed ice over 

them. Steam actually rose up at the contact. “Addison? 

How’s that bath?”

“Bring him!”

He hoisted Coy back into his arms and pelted into the 

bathroom. He needed Coy in the water. 

Coy arched when he hit the water, eyes flying open. 

“Cold!”

“Shh. It will help your fever.” 

It took all his strength, but as soon as he had Coy 

submerged, the struggles eased. 

“Yes. That’s it, pup. I’m so sorry. Just breathe.” 

It had been an accident -- had been inevitable, his pup 

was mouthy as fuck -- but he hadn’t intended it to happen. 

Now he had to figure out what kind of damage he’d done. 

“Is it working, Denver?” Addison was pale as milk.

“He’s calming down. I--” He shook his head. “I don’t 

know what to do.”

“I don’t either. How about... does he have a pack? Are 

they going to come eat us?”

“Maybe.” He chewed his lip. “Call Full Moon.”

“You’re sure? Are you going to get in trouble? I can tell 

them I did it.”

Addison was a good man.

“It was an accident. They might know someone who can 

tell us what to do.” 

“Okay. Okay. Right. I can do that. You keep his fever 

down.”

“I will.” He tested the skin of Coy’s belly.

Coy grabbed his wrist, squeezing. “Mate. Mate. Mate.”

“I’ve got you.” He did. No matter what happened, he 

wasn’t leaving. 

Those eyes -- bright gold and glowing with an internal 

fire -- stared at him, into him. 

“What’s going on in there, pup?”

Burning. We’re burning up. Are we going to die?

“No. No dying.” Damn it all, he’d been around for ages 

and he had no clue about werewolf physiology. When Coy 

recovered he’d look into it. Educate himself.

Books. Coy laughed, the sound wild. Want to hunt in the 

snow.

“We will, love. I promise. Not now, though.” He needed 

ice to add to the water, but tap water would do for now. 

Denver turned it on. 

Never thought I could mate with you. Thought I’d come 

and leave. Not find home.

Mine. He sent the word directly into Coy’s head, just like 

his love was doing to him. My wolf. 

In the center of his mind, a howl began to build, deep 

and feral, tearing at his soul. He didn’t let go of Coy’s body, 

even though he wanted to clap his hands over his ears. 

“Let it out, pup,” Denver said aloud. “Let it out.” 

It wasn’t coming from Coy, though, it was growing 

inside him, like a roar, and when Coy screamed, Denver did 

too. He flat-out howled, really, the sound foreign, a little 

scary. 

“Boss? Boss, are you okay?”

He blinked over at Addison, the man seeming to blur a 

bit. Honestly, he had no idea if he was okay. He tried to 

talk, but it came out growly.

“Oh, shit. He’s going fuzzy. The boss, not the wolf. Oh, 

Jesus fucking Christ...”

He could hear Addison, freakishly loud next to him. 

Coy groaned, twisting in the water, the sounds inside his 

head constant. 

Denver bared his teeth, snapping at the air. He hurt, his 

body stretching. 

Addison was screaming, but his mate’s call was louder, 

infinitely louder. He pressed down into the water, holding 

Coy down with his weight, his fur so wet now. His fur.

Coy convulsed, the sound in his head terrified. Mate! 

Mate, I need you!

Here. I’m here. Tell me. He would do anything to help 

Coy. Anything. 

Here. Those glowing eyes met his, staring, burning. 

Denver. You’re beautiful.

Are you better?

Coy looked... different.

You’re here. We need to hunt. Those eyes turned on 

Addison. Run, human. You are good. Run. Now.

“Shit.” Addison knew. Smart Addison. Backing away 

slowly, Addison babbled into the phone. “Panic room. I’ll 

be in the panic room when you guys figure out what to do 

here.”

There wasn’t any running, nothing to tempt the prey 

response. Brilliant man. His heartbeat was enough to tempt 

Coy, though, and Denver held him down. 

Coy chuffed softly, a sudden sly wickedness in the 

sound. Changing. We’re changing.

Yes, Both of us. He had no idea what that meant, had no 

clue what he was now. 

I’m sorry. Are you angry? Coy’s nostrils flared. You don’t 

smell angry.

No. Not angry. No eating Addison. 

Oh, that got him a laugh. He looks yummy. I’m hungry, 

Denver. So hungry. 

We’ll hunt, love. As soon as--

Addison’s voice came over the intercom. “I’m in the 

saferoom. I have three day’s food and water. Let me know 

when it’s safe to come out.”

Good man. 

Coy was furry and Denver realized, distantly, that he had 

no idea when it had happened. It didn’t matter. Nothing 

mattered but them. He nipped at Coy’s muzzle, climbing 

out of the tub and shaking furiously.

A sharp happy bark filled the air and water sprayed 

everywhere, the scent of them like a drug.

He turned, slipping as his four legs reminded him he 

hadn’t ever had that many before.

Coy headbutted him, keeping him upright, balanced.

Denver chuffed, the sound surprising him. So animal. 

Hungry. Hungry, Mate. Hunting.

Coy encouraged him out of the house, out into the snow, 

into the darkness. The world out there was quiet, the hush 

of night and snowfall meaning they’d hear anything that 

moved.

He spared a heartbeat feeling sorry for anything out here 

that was alive. Then he ran, feeling even faster and more 

agile than he had on two legs. 

Coy drove him, nipping at his heels, laughing at him 

when he snapped. He was used to chasing, not being 

chased. And he was used to hunting men, not game. 

Suddenly Coy stopped, sniffing hard, then he took off at 

a run, paws digging into the snow.

Denver swerved, changing direction, biting back the 

excited yelp that tried to escape him. 

Deer. 

Deer.

The heartbeat began to pound in his ears, the rhythm 

punctuated by Coy’s growl.

Some tiny part of his brain apologized to the poor 

animal, just like it always had his human feeders. Then he 

put on a burst of speed, the snow flying up behind him. Coy 

wasn’t working with him -- Coy was him, just as he was 

Coy, both of them moving as one, a killing machine. He 

could hear Coy’s thoughts in his head, teaching him, telling 

him how to flank the deer. 

Against them together the beast had no chance and they 

feasted, Coy’s hunger near starvation.

They would need more. Now that Denver’s initial urge to 

hunt was sated, though, he knew he could offer Coy a good 

deal of meat at the house. 

Those eyes gleamed at him, glowing. Hungry. Need, 

Mate.

I know, love. I know. Can you come with me?

There was nothing left of the deer but fur and bones.

Hungry. HUNGRY!

Follow, love. I can get you all the meat you can eat. 

For a long, terrifying moment he thought Coy would 

fight him and Denver wasn’t sure if he could fight like this 

without hurting his lover. His Mate. He refused to look 

away, to back down, and Coy finally looked away, chest 

working as the big head dropped.

Come. He made it a command, turning to go back to the 

house.

Energy was zipping through him, and he growled, 

resisting the urge to turn to his mate, sink his teeth into 

Coy’s nape and hump. Later, when Coy’s fever had run its 

course. 

There was a litany of words blanketing his mind, Coy’s 

song. Most of them related to hunger. 

Denver ran, letting his legs stretch, feeling wind and ice 

on his face. 

Coy followed, only chasing down a squirrel and doing 

his damnedest to catch a feral cat. Denver barked his 

pleasure with his mate, amazed at the sounds that poured 

out of him. 

He felt more alive than he ever had, even at his first 

feeding. His paws pounded the earth, and he ducked his 

head to be more aerodynamic. 

Coy sniffed around the house, tail like a flag.

He chuffed again, knowing Addison would be hiding. He 

just had to get them inside. 

Every inch of the foundation was explored before Coy 

came to him. Safe. 

Meat. He licked Coy’s whiskers, the feeling natural and 

yet utterly foreign. 

Meat. Coy agreed immediately, huge paws battering at 

his back door.

The door swung open, and Denver leaped in front of 

Coy. Addison had opened it that; he could smell the man, 

but he wasn’t in the kitchen. Good man. 

Coy bit his hindquarters, then jumped on the counter. Oh, 

bad dog.

Denver reared up to nip at Coy’s foot. Rules!

Coy yelped and snapped back and suddenly Denver’s 

sight went red, and they were fighting, tugging and 

growling until Coy was under him, belly exposed, throat 

between his teeth.

Mine. My wolf Coy. He was the alpha here, damn it.

Coy groaned, the sound vibrating inside him, and then 

his mate relaxed, went boneless under him.

He gnawed a little, then shook Coy’s ruff, making an 

approving sound. Now for the fridge.

He looked at his paws. How did he... He looked at Coy, 

curious. How do we change back?

You think about your man self. About your skin.

No. He had to think of his vampire skin. He would never 

be merely a man. He grinned at the thought, and before he 

could blink, the world shimmered, his body convulsing. 

Coy stared at him, tail wagging slowly. Just like that.

“Huh.” His voice sounded odd, but it was his voice, 

his vocal chords accepting his will to speak. “Let me feed 

you.”

Hungry. Hungry. Coy’s teeth were long, longer than he 

remembered, wickedly sharp.

He stared a moment, then pulled packages out of the 

fridge, knowing Addison had stocked up in case Coy 

stayed. 

His pup pounced, the song in Denver’s head almost 

hysterical. Coy’s metabolism was going, ninety to nothing, 

burning through everything. He had no idea what he would 

do if it didn’t slow down. It had to, though. Denver knew 

his body was made to take everything in through the blood, 

to discard impurities immediately. Coy was much more 

like a human and a wolf. His body had to fight the vampire 

infection with fire. 

One way or another, he was going to have to triple his 

butcher budget.

***

Coy ate until he threw up, then he ate again before 

heading outside, burying his nose in the snow. 

Hot. 

So hot.

Hot and hungry.

Burning.

The bath had helped and not, and now he didn’t know 

what else to do but roll in the snow, trying to ease the ache 

in his bones. 

His mate was beautiful, stunning, the perfect alpha.

If anyone came to claim Denver, Coy would bite them. 

Hard. Snap. He growled, jumping up, just to make sure that 

idea was in his mind and not in the snow. Wet, icy stuff 

flowed up with him and he bit at it, then turned and chewed 

his tail.

“Coy. Coy, come in. You’ll freeze.”

He was burning alive. Wolves didn’t freeze. Not that he 

was an arctic wolf. He was more the Texas kind, but it got 

cold in North Texas. 

Coy. Denver’s voice rang in his head. Come to me.

Mate.

He followed the voice, the sound laced with command. 

Denver was wolf now, as well as vamp, which made it 

easier to submit somehow. It was in his makeup, to be pack. 

He loved Denver already, but this was chemical. They were 

mates of the blood. 

“Inside. The sun will be coming up soon. You’ll fry.”

Fry? Him?

“You had my blood, love. A lot of it. I went wolf. Who’s 

to say the sun won’t burn you?”

Denver drew him in, closing the door, a bowl of chopped 

up meat in one hand. “Come to the bedroom, love.”

Bedroom.

He liked beds.

Denver lead the way, more meat on a tray, which smelled 

good.

Meat. Food. Food. Foodfoodfoodfood.

“Yes, love. You’ll need it.” 

He let Denver lock them in the bedroom, in the dark, 

before he pounced the meat, eating heartily. Yes. Oh, good. 

Coppery. 

Denver was already in the bed, curled up in the covers 

before he finished eating, eyes watching him.

Come rest, love.

Rest. 

Rest.

He could do that.

He leapt onto the bed, grooming Denver, entire body 

growing heavy and still as the sun rose.

Warm.

Denver was cold. So cold. He wrapped his body around 

Denver’s with the rest of his strength. 

Protect you, Mate. Always.

He could feel Denver’s pleasure, and it took the last of 

the pain right out of him, letting him fall into sleep like a 

rock into deep water. 

Oddly enough, the hunger followed him down.

***

Denver slipped from the bed early in the evening, the sun 

barely down. Coy slept hard, his body human now instead 

of wolf. The lean cheeks were sunken now, the flat belly 

shrunken. Coy’s metabolism was burning, buzzing like fire. 

Denver had to figure out how to fix this, how to keep Coy 

from starving to death. 

He would start with Addison, who would have done a 

ton of research while they slept. He grabbed his phone. 

“Addison? How are you? What did you discover?”

“That your wolf eats a lot.”

“He’s starving. You can see it.” He sighed. “I need help.” 

“I talked to the service and they are sending someone. 

He should be arriving within the hour. He’s a specialist in 

cross-species issues.”

“No shit? A specialist.” He had no idea they made those. 

“I guess? His name is Cole. Do people name kids Cole?”

“No.” Denver chuckled. “They name them Addison.” 

“Butthead. Is Coy okay? I mean, right now.”

Sobering, Denver shook his head. “He’s sick. But he 

should sleep another hour.”

“Then come out, have some blood. Feed.”

“Thanks.” He hoped he could feed on something not 

Coy. The deer had sat fine. 

He left Coy snoring, shutting the door with a click and 

heading for the huge walk in closet so he could make 

himself presentable. He had to meet with the expert. God, 

he was cold. Layers. Sweater. Undershirt. Slacks. Two sets 

of socks. 

He made his way down to the kitchen, where Addison 

had set out a steaming mug for him. No sign of the man 

himself, which Denver totally understood. He drank deep, 

his mind on his pup, sleeping and starving. 

What if he’d killed the pup? What if they hurt Addison. 

This was a fucked up mess.

A truck came to the gate, the intercom sounding. “I’m 

looking for Addison. I’m Cole. The Full Moon guys sent 

me.”

“I’ll buzz you in.” He hit the gate release, then the 

intercom to the panic room. “The expert is here. Do you 

want me to bring him up or should I deal with him?”

“I’m coming down to help.”

“Thank you.” He shivered, the world tilting a little. 

The truck pulled up to the house, and Addison’s step 

sounded behind him. He turned, reaching out, needing 

something solid. 

“I’ve got you, Denver. I’ve got you. We’ll make it 

better.”

“I can’t let him die, Addison.” He clung to Addison’s 

arms. “I have to help him.” 

“We will. I swear. This guy’s a professional.”

“I hope so.” His body felt icy.

“Do you need a bite? Are you hungry?”

“Not from you. I might go too far.” He didn’t want to 

upset Addison, insult him.

“Yeah, that would suck.” Addison squeezed his hand. 

“I’ll let the guy in.”

“Thank you.” Denver sank down on a stool at the kitchen 

island.

It only took seconds for Addison to bring back a dark-

skinned man with a hooked nose, ebony hair worn back 

in a braid. “Cole Bytheway. Don’t ask, my mom is a nut. 

Where’s the wolf?”

“Upstairs. Sleeping.” His joints creaked when he rose.

“Let’s go.” The gruff mannerisms would normally 

aggravate Denver, but the air of urgency was a comfort.

He led the way, hurrying as much as he could. This was 

for Coy.

His lover was awake, pacing, growls sliding from under 

the door. Good man, though, not coming after Addison. 

“He might try to eat you.”

“He won’t.” Cole didn’t look worried at all, just waited 

for him to open the door. Coy surged out, barking and 

dancing, letting Denver know that he was not supposed to 

be locked away.

“I know, love.” Even the wolf looked skinny, ribs 

sticking out.

“He’s starving.” Cole leaned down, looked at Coy, right 

in the eye, and Denver tensed, waiting for an attack. It 

didn’t come, though, and Coy’s head tilted, a curious sound 

on the air.

“Can you help him?” Even if the man couldn’t warm 

Denver up, it would be worth it if he could help Coy.

“I can help you both. Either that or kill you both. 

The virus is killing him, you have to drain him, let him 

transform.”

“Drain him?” He wasn’t sure he could do that. How 

could a vampire turn a werewolf?

“His blood is being eaten by the virus, he’s starving. He 

needs his blood to metabolize correctly.”

“Draining him will do this?” He raised his brow, rubbing 

Coy’s ears.

“If it doesn’t, it will kill both of you, just faster than this 

slow starving.” So straightforward, so blunt.

“Then we’ll try it.” The idea scared him. He’d never 

even tried to create another vampire.

“Good.” Cole looked at Coy again, at the glowing yellow 

eyes. “I’ll stick around. You’ll need someone here for 

emergencies. You’ll also need food for both of you. Meat. 

Lots of meat.”

“Addison?”

“I’m on it boss. I have a delivery coming to replace what 

Coy ate, and he can get me more.”

“Double whatever you think. They’ll be ravenous,” Cole 

said.

Addison stared at the Cole guy for a moment before 

nodding and scampering off. 

Denver stroked Coy’s head. “I need your man, love.”

Mate. The single word was worried and scared and tired, 

all at once.

Please, love. He says this will work. They had to try. 

He wants you to kill me.

No. He wants me to get rid of the blood that’s making 

you sick. It was a fine hair, but he was willing to split it. 

One way or the other, he needed to try and make his pup 

whole, right.

Coy whined, then the wolf shimmered, the man 

appearing, so skinny, eyes burning in his skull. 

Cole groaned softly. “Soon. Soon, friend. There is no 

time.”

“How do we know you’re not a liar?” Coy asked, 

swaying.

“You have to trust me.” Cole had gone pale, like their 

suffering weakened him somehow. “I know this can work.”

Denver growled a little, “Enough talk. Come to bed with 

me.” He pulled Coy to the bed, knowing they’d need to be 

horizontal.

“Growly old bloodsucker.” The tease was weak, but 

there.

“I am.” He spread Coy out, covering the lean body with 

his own before looking over his shoulder. “Get out. This is 

ours.”

“I’ll be with your butler.” Cole lifted a hand and left 

them, firmly shutting out the world by closing the door. 

“I’m sorry, love,” Denver said. “You didn’t ask for this.”

“I don’t want to hurt you. Will this hurt you?”

“No. No, it’s what my kind do.” He stroked Coy’s jaw. 

“You have to trust me, love.”

“Trust you?” Coy chuffed. “We’re mates. We mate for 

life.”

“One way or the other.” Did Coy’s cheeks seem more 

sunken?

He leaned in, nuzzled Coy’s throat, focusing on pleasure, 

peace, hope. This wouldn’t hurt. It wouldn’t.

No, he would make it good for both of them He knew he 

could. Denver focused on joining them, their minds. It was 

almost laughably easy, Coy’s consciousness reaching for 

him, wrapping about him.

All he had to do was send a wave of love and need to 

Coy and his lover relaxed, melting against him. Denver 

didn’t wait to strike. He sank his fangs deep into Coy’s 

throat.

***

Coy dreamed about diving into volcanoes, swimming in 

fire, screaming as he burned, calling for Denver.

A hand reached down from the smoke and he grabbed 

it, knowing that the hand was Denver, was hope, was help. 

The cool, pale skin should blister under his heat, but instead 

it pulled the steam from his veins, his heart staggering 

under the pressure of it.

He sucked in one deep breath after another, Denver 

dragging him up into the moonlight, the cool, wonderful 

moonlight. Every pull seemed to put out one more flame.

By the time he was out of the volcano, he was panting, 

cool and comfortable, if hungry.

Very, very hungry.

Denver chuckled, the sound low, sensual. Then 

something pressed to Coy’s mouth, liquid pouring into him, 

filling him.

He fed, life buzzing through him like pure lightning. 

MATE! Mate, FOOD!

Yes. I love you, so.

Love! He danced about, head tossing, tail wagging.

Denver laughed with him, the sound pure joy. It’s 

working.

Run with me! Come. Show me your tail! He was so 

awake, so alive.

Soon, love. Soon. We must finish.

Finish? He didn’t understand.

Just lie with me. Denver sounded so pleased.

He bobbed his head, flopped down beside his mate with 

a happy growl. He felt so good. Did Denver feel good? He 

hoped so. It felt like Denver was happy. He rolled over onto 

Denver’s lap, paws batting the air.

Such a puppy.

Happy. He turned, nuzzled Denver’s belly with his 

muzzle. You saved me.

We did it together. Denver stroked his fur.

The ground was soft, like a bed, warm. Stable.

Home.

He was home wherever Denver was, and that was the 

truth. 

Soon we’ll wake up, love. The Cole man will want to see 

us.

The coal man... Oh. Oh! Did I die?

In a way. It’s still you, though, so I think we made it.

Can we run now? He wanted to play. To hunt. 

No, love. Wake up with me. We’ll eat together. Denver 

rubbed noses with him.

Wake up with you. He focused on his man self, on his 

legs, on the scent of his vampire.

His eyes popped open, and he looked at Denver, who 

still slept. He poked the man in the belly. “You said to wake 

up.”

“Ow.” Denver’s eyes popped open, so ice blue and clear. 

“Coy. No fever.”

“No. No, I’m not hot. Hungry, though.” He stretched, 

baring his teeth as he did.

“So am I. Addison said there would be meat.” Denver sat 

up, yawning, fangs showing.

“Am I better? I feel better, amazing.” Almost high.

“You are better. Let’s go get meat.”

“Meat.” He licked his lips, his teeth sharper than he 

expected. “Am I like you now?”

“And I’m like you. I think.” Denver gave him another 

smile, softer, happier. 

“What does that make us?”

“Apex predators.” The strange voice made him growl, 

deep in his chest. This was their den. Theirs.

Denver glanced at the door, which was open a crack. 

“Eat before talking.” 

“Yes.” And whoever that was at the door could be 

breakfast.

“No, child.” The words were sure, strong, and they 

rocked Coy back a little. 

“What... what are you?”

“Nothing you need to worry about right now. Right now, 

you need to eat.”

“Eat,” Denver agreed. “Is Addison safe?” 

“He is. I sent him into town for a few things. He needed 

some air.”

“Oh, good.” Denver seemed pleased, so Coy was too. 

He headed to the kitchen, though, bare and stalking 

the scent of fresh meat. By the time he hit the tile, he was 

fuzzy, sniffing hard. Mate. Mate, come. Food. Eat.

Here. Here, love. Yes. Denver was like him, strong and 

furry and beautiful, the wolf more white than gray.

Oh, there would be running and grooming and playing 

and hunting and...

A platter of meat hit the floor and they pounced, 

growling and tugging on pieces as they fed. There was no 

worry about who might bite who, just teeth and chewing 

and fresh, coppery food. 

They cleared the platter, then settled into grooming each 

other, both steadfastly ignoring the man who sat at the 

table, sipping coffee. Stranger. He was a stranger, even if he 

had helped them. The man had odd eyes, too, one dark and 

one light. 

“Did you two get enough?” The man moved like they 

were family, like there was no reason to fear.

Denver didn’t growl, though, and it was his house, so 

Coy settled for baring his teeth a little. 

The coal-man chuckled. “I’m not a threat. Just someone 

here to help. In fact, I’m much more interested in nibbling 

on Addison than either of you. I’m not into the pack 

hierarchy.”

Denver chuffed, a happy sound, like all was right with 

the world. Interesting. 

Coy curled up, muzzle on Denver’s back, tongue sliding 

on his teeth. He’d figure it out later. 

Or not. 

Wolves cared not for strangers.

***

It had worked. The blood exchange had healed both him 

and Coy, and Denver couldn’t be more pleased. They had 

fed three times during the night under the watchful eye of 

Cole, and napped in between. When dawn broke, they slept 

like Denver always had, the sunlight lethargy taking them 

both.

When he woke, Coy was still deeply asleep in the way 

of youngsters, so Denver dressed and went downstairs to 

check on Addison. 

Addison was cooking, the smells of meat and sugar and 

-- he sniffed -- potatoes redolent on the air. “Boss! You’re 

awake and not fuzzy.” 

“Indeed. And you are not eaten. Go us.” He gave 

Addison a hug, ignoring the shocked expression he 

received. “Thank you.”

“I’m glad you’re okay.”

A soft growl filled the air. “No hugging my boy.” 

He spun, noting the large man lounging, watching. 

“Your boy? Are you claiming him as barter for our cure or 

something? That’s rather archaic.”

“No. No, the service pays me. I’m claiming him, full 

stop.”

Addison wouldn’t look at him, cheeks deep red. Denver 

poked the lad. “Are you all right with that?”

“He says we can stay, I can keep working for you. He 

travels a lot and...” Addison lifted his chin, revealing a deep 

bruised-looking bite mark. “You sleep hard, you and Coy.”

“We do, indeed.” He nodded at Cole. “Very well. You’re 

welcome anytime as long as Addison is agreeable.”

“I find him very agreeable.” The wide grin, the glint of 

teeth reminded Denver of a shark, somehow.

Addison mumbled something and went back to stirring. 

Adorable. 

“Thank you as well, Cole. For saving Coy.”

“There aren’t many of us -- crossbreeds -- and the 

world can’t support too many of us. I’m called to save the 

strongest ones.”

“Well, I appreciate it, at any rate.” There was a story 

there, and some day he’d learn it, but for now, he had a 

great deal of change to accept. Change was hard for a 

vampire as it happened so rarely. He thought Coy would be 

a great incentive toward accepting it.

Speaking of Coy... The sound of paws on hard wood 

sounded, his pup padding in, cold nose pushing right 

against his balls.

Denver squeaked, knowing the sound was undignified at 

best. “Cold, love.”

Coy stepped back, chuffing softly, unrepentant. Mate. 

Come to bed. Hungry.

Denver had the sinking suspicion Coy wasn’t asking for 

food. He chuckled. Sinking. Who was he kidding. He was 

doing far more rising. “You two behave,” he told Cole and 

Addison, following Coy up the stairs. 

He thought the laughter he heard from below was 

exceedingly wicked and pleased.

***

“Shit, that was a close one. Never had to send in Cole 

before.” Harve looked downright unnerved. 

Adeila was the one with the unflappable, sunny smile. 

“They’re still a satisfied couple, and I hear Cole hooked up 

with the butler.”

“That’s creepy,” Stone muttered. He didn’t like to think 

of the enigmatic Cole hooking up with anyone. That guy 

was all teeth. “Make sure he gets his bonus for good work, 

huh?”

Adeila chuckled. “Like I said. I think he already did.”

Harve grunted. “Well, at least someone got something.”

Stone gave Harve the fish eye. They’d never finished 

what had started with those twin hard-ons in the office, but 

he couldn’t really be blamed. Dying clients were bad. That 

had to take precedence. He and Harve could work out their 

sexual tension later on. Right?

A stack of folders hit his desk. “We got some good 

referrals from the guys in Wyoming. A whole bunch of 

lonely sheep-eating wolves have applied.”

“Adelia!” He bit back a chuckle, trying for stern. “We 

don’t talk about clients that way.”

“Sure we do. We just don’t do it in earshot of the clients. 

Who are we working on next?” Adelia asked, popping her 

gum like some old-school detective movie secretary.

“Not them.” He waved the folders aside carelessly. 

“You’ve had your shot, and so has Harve. My turn to match 

up an unlikely pair.”

“Oooh.” Her eyes lit up, and she perched on his desk. 

“Do tell.”

Harve came close, too, peering over his shoulder at his 

computer, which wasn’t fair because the man smelled like 

musk and soap and potential sex. His body tightened. Stone 

ignored it.

“Well, there’s this Siberian tiger named Evgeni and 

a snow leopard shifter named Feng. On paper they look 

totally incompatible, but I have this gut feeling...”