To Bite A Bear

Sometimes you need a grand gesture to prove your love, and sometimes a bear hug will do.

Harris Bender had a crush on vampire leader Rohan, so when the alpha male requests him to paint a
mural, he can only say yes. However, after a passionate encounter, Harris discovered Rohan is his
mate. Is the carefree artist ready to settle down with one man even if he’s extremely hot?

Rohan had been looking for his blood bonded for centuries. One taste of the bear shifter’s blood

and he knows he’s found the one. However, outside forces threaten to tear the couple apart. It will
take more than a flash of fang to put them in their place.

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living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

To Bite A Bear

ISBN: 978-1-77111-598-8

Cover art by Angela Waters

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Prologue

Rohan walked with his friend through the small art gallery. Large numbers of people had turned out
for the First Thursday Art Walk to see local artists displaying their wares. Paintings, sculptures and
art covered the walls and perched on pedestals throughout the building. Some of the art Rohan didn’t
understand, no matter how many years were under his belt. A few artists stretched the definition of art
so far, it no longer resembled anything Rohan wanted to put in his house. Rohan preferred the purity
of the classics. He didn’t get abstract art; he preferred good lines, a delicate touch and a defined
subject matter. The rest, he considered junk. Some might think him a snob, but at five hundred years
old, Rohan had long stopped caring what others thought.

“Look at that one,” Vick said. Rohan had already known he didn’t share his friend’s artistic taste,

but tonight, it was confirmed. The vampire liked anything with bright colors and oohed and ahhed his
way through six galleries. Some of the pieces Vick excitedly pointed out were beyond horrible.

However, in this one case, Vick was right at least about the artist.

Rohan froze mid-step. It took concentrated effort to continue his walk. The painting, a brilliant

display of bold colors and fine lines, took up most of the wall. The striking art piece called to Rohan
almost as much as the man standing beside it. Big shoulders, strong hands and an animalistic power
rolled off the dark-haired artist, who waved his hands expressively as he talked to his golden-haired
companion. If it wouldn’t have caused a scene, Rohan would’ve grabbed the gorgeous shifter and
dragged him home. However, with this being an art show, the artist might complain. The sign above
the painting read Harris Bender.

Rohan’s gums tingled with anticipation. He fought back the urge to march across the room and

plunge his fangs into the delicious shifter’s jugular.

“The artist is yummy,” Vick purred. “I bet he tastes delicious.”

Irritation flickered through Rohan. He didn’t want anyone else coveting the man who would be his.

“Yes, he is indeed,” Rohan agreed, struggling to keep his temper. “I think the coven might need

some artwork done. Maybe the entire coven mansion.”

“I can’t say I blame you.”

Rohan and Vick continued to examine the artist, neither of them moving from their spot despite

impeding the flow of traffic. “I’m guessing bear shifter,” Vick said.

“I concur.” Rohan turned and headed toward the exit.

Chapter One

Harris Bender watched as the vampire leader, Rohan, lit the caskets on fire. Vampires didn’t bury
their dead, they freed their souls by burning their bodies in a tradition as old as time. The flames cast
shadows on Rohan’s face, giving his handsome face harsh angles beneath sharp cheekbones. To
Harris, Rohan appeared beautiful at any angle. His fingers itched for a pencil to sketch out the scene.

The heavy weight of silence coated the proceedings as if surrounded by an invisible shield. No one

fidgeted or rustled. No birds sang in the distance. Even the bugs held their chirps and buzzes until
Rohan finished his eulogy for the vampires who had passed. Rohan’s sorrow pierced Harris’ heart,
as if he had personally experienced their loss when, in fact, he’d barely met them.

Poisoned blood from human donors had killed three vampires, compliments of the sorcerers. Eaton

had saved the rest of them by warning the vampires of the problem but not soon enough to save this
trio. Unfortunately, the sorcerers had gone underground where no one could find them, so the
vampires weren’t able to retaliate.

Harris didn’t have to be there. He didn’t belong to the coven and wasn’t a vampire. However, he

couldn’t let Rohan mourn alone. The few weeks he’d worked for the master vampire had forged an
odd friendship between the two men. A relationship Harris planned to take to the next level soon.
Rohan called Harris his beloved but hadn’t made any further moves despite the longing looks and
possessive behavior. After Rohan had a chance to mourn his friends, Harris would show the vampire
he didn’t have to be alone.

Rohan had come to Harris’ aid when Eaton had been kidnapped, and although Rohan didn’t end up

having to do anything, having the vampire leader there had given Harris the emotional support he
needed. Harris wanted to return the favor.

When the vampire turned around, he immediately searched the crowd. Harris saw the vampire

relax when Rohan caught sight of him. After whispering something to the people milling to his right,
Rohan  walked  over  to  join  Harris.  Without  ceremony,  Rohan  wrapped  a  proprietary  arm  around
Harris  and  scooted  him  to  one  side,  putting  Rohan’s  body  between  Harris  and  the  other  vampires.
Rohan  didn’t  like  other  people  too  close  to  Harris.  For  some  reason,  ever  since  Harris  started
working for him, Rohan had watched over him like a dog with his bone.

“You doing all right?” Harris whispered. He fought against the urge to hug Rohan closer. The

vampire leader probably wouldn’t appreciate coddling in front of his people. The way they stood
now, Rohan could’ve been offering support to Harris. Harris knew Rohan was absorbing some of his
calm. The vampire had said before that Harris zen-like peace soothed Rohan deep inside. Apparently,
the closer the proximity, the better the calming took.

Ignoring everyone else, Harris scooted closer to offer his presence if not his clumsy words of

sympathy. He’d always been more of a person of action, not verbal expression.

Rohan had taken his vampires’ deaths hard since he hadn’t been able to prevent the poisoning.

Sorcerers and vampires were mortal enemies, but from what Harris had heard, they’d been in a semi-
truce for years. Until sorcerers had poisoned the humans the vampires used for food, they had no idea
the sorcerers were going to attack.

Rohan didn’t speak, but he slid a hand down from Harris’ shoulder as he stepped away and tangled

their fingers together instead. “Thanks for being here,” he murmured in Harris’ ear, a soft, intimate
sound. His breath brushed across the soft hairs of Harris’ ear lobe. Harris fought back both a shiver
and the urge to turn his head for a kiss.

Before Harris could give in to any of his urges and after a quick squeeze of Harris’ fingers, Rohan

released him and stepped away. Harris immediately missed the vampire’s presence. His inner animal
yearned for contact with Rohan as if Harris couldn’t be complete without being close.

“You’re welcome. I’d do a lot more for you…” Harris confessed. He turned bright red. When

would he learn not to say everything in his head? With his friends, his tendency to blurt things out was
mildly embarrassing. With Rohan, it reached a more humiliating level. He might as well strip naked
and throw himself at Rohan’s feet.

Rohan turned to give Harris his full attention. He cupped Harris’ cheek with one elegant hand. “I’d

love to hear about what you might be willing to do. Later,” Rohan said.

Rubbing his cheek against the vampire leader’s palm, Harris lost track of his thoughts. There was

little he wasn’t willing to do to have Rohan touch Harris as if he cared. His inner beast fought to
come out and play.

“Easy, beloved,” Rohan said. “Keep the calm I love so much.”

Love?

Harris wondered how Rohan could toss such words around. Beloved. Love. Did the vampire not

understand the power of words? That a foolish bear’s heart might patter a bit faster when presented
with even casually tossed affection.

Harris took long, slow breaths to pull his bear back under his control. Years of meditation had kept

Harris mellow in the face of true emergencies. Aden had sent him to a monk years before to gain the
skills needed to find his inner calm and keep his bear subdued unless needed. Unfortunately,
whenever Rohan touched someone else, Harris had to wrestle back his inner beast. No one should
touch Rohan or speak to him unnecessarily or look in his direction. Yeah, maybe I do have a bit of an
obsession going.

He worried over his reaction to Rohan. When shifters became possessive, it usually meant they’d

found their mate. Harris didn’t know if he was ready for that level of commitment. He liked Rohan,

but vampires were different than shifters. Really different.

“Come on, let’s get you to bed. You’ve had a long day. This is the part of the ceremony where

people go to mourn alone,” Rohan said. He took Harris’ arm and led him back into the house, then up
the stairs.

Harris dug in his heels at the top. What is going on?

“Did I move in here?” Harris asked, confused. He’d come to support Rohan during the funeral, but

he’d had every intention of returning home afterward. He had already spent his day sketching out his
concept on the wall by the foyer. Harris didn’t need to live there.

“I like you close by,” Rohan said, his words final, as if he’d closed the subject. Nothing showed on

the vampire’s face. No teasing smile. No forbidding scowl. He acted as if Harris was the one acting
strange.

Harris tried to object. He opened his mouth to complain, to voice a negative response. He couldn’t.

Every atom in his body responded to Rohan. Harris tamely let the vampire lead him down the hall to
an empty bedroom. A large bed filled most of the space along with a wardrobe, a side table and little
else. Harris spotted two more doors in the room. “Where do those go?”

Rohan pointed to the left. “Bathroom.” He pointed to the right. “My room.”

“Your room?” Harris tried to hide his surprise. He’d initially hoped Rohan might be taking him to

the vampire’s bedroom. The fact Rohan gave him a choice raised his estimation in Harris’ eyes no
matter how stupid his supposition.

“Something wrong?” Rohan asked.

“Um, no. Nothing wrong.” Harris tried to shove his desires to the darkest corner of his mind. Rohan

didn’t need him drooling over him while he was still wrapped in sorrow over the death of his coven
mates.

Rohan cupped Harris’ face between his palms. “You would tell me if you had a problem, right?

The only reason I want you to stay is because it’s late and you’re tired. If you want to sleep in your
own bed tomorrow, you can.”

“What if I want to stay in your bed?” Damn, his runaway mouth had taken over again. Of course,

there were always the benefits of healing sex.

Rohan frowned. “I don’t think you’re ready to be in my bed, Harris. As much as I’d like you there, I

don’t want you to feel pressured.”

A tingle of yearning sizzled between them. Need pulled at Harris like a physical force. “You want

me. I know you do.”

Rohan dipped his head, placing his lips next to Harris’ ear. He spoke in his whiskey-smooth voice,

“I want you so much, I would give up blood to have you.”

Harris jerked back. “I thought you couldn’t have sex without biting.”

“For you, I would.” Rohan’s sincerity couldn’t be faked.

Harris licked his lips. “Kiss me.” If nothing else, he’d get at least one kiss before being sent to bed

like a child.

Rohan didn’t bother to ask Harris if he was certain before he wrapped his fingers around Harris’

head and held him still. Pressing his lips against Harris’ mouth, he sucked and licked until he gained
entrance.

Harris moaned and relaxed against Rohan, letting the vampire’s superior strength take his weight.

Rohan slid his tongue across Harris’ in a duel for dominance Harris had no intention of winning. In

a test of strength between them, they were probably evenly matched, but Harris preferred to be a
lover over a fighter. Molding his body to Rohan’s, he let the vampire take control.

He’d fantasized about Rohan touching him. Since their first meeting, Harris had dreamed of being

wrapped in Rohan’s hard embrace. The vampire didn’t have an ounce of fat on his large frame;
whether from his diet of blood or an excellent workout regimen, Harris didn’t know. Either way, he
appreciated the man’s physique and planned to explore it closer and with a great deal of attention.

Unable to resist, Harris slipped his fingers beneath Rohan’s shirt and caressed the strip of bare

skin he’d uncovered. Rohan’s skin, slightly cooler than Harris’, had a smoother, silkier quality than
other lover’s Harris had had in the past. Harris hummed in contentment.

Rohan jerked back, breaking their connection. “Don’t think of other people while you’re touching

me.”

“How do you know what I’m thinking? Can you read my mind?” Harris stepped back and away

from Rohan’s tempting skin. His fingers itched as if protesting the separation. He needed to solve the
puzzle that was the vampire leader before they jumped in the sack.

Rohan only allowed Harris to retreat a few steps before he grabbed Harris’ wrist. “Don’t go

anywhere, beloved. I can only read shadows of your mind, things you project and only when we’re
touching. It’s the way vampires beguile their prey. We hear what our prey wants, and we make them
think they are getting it. I heard you comparing me to others. I don’t want anyone but me in your mind
while we make love,” Rohan explained.

The wistful gleam in Rohan’s eyes melted the last tiny bit of resistance Harris had over making

love with a vampire. He didn’t know where this might lead, but he planned to enjoy the sex while
Rohan still wanted him.

Harris tilted his head as he examined his potential lover. “Why do you call me beloved? We barely

know each other.” He might be willing to have sex with the delicious vamp, but he wouldn’t be

calling it love anytime soon. Obsession maybe, definitely lust but not love. Not yet.

“I call you beloved because I know you belong to me. For a vampire calling someone their beloved

marks them to other vampires. No one is going to touch you or try to beguile you to their side if they
know you belong to me,” Rohan said.

“Do I?” Harris asked. “Do I belong to you? I don’t remember signing up for that.”

Bossy, possessive vampire.

Harris hoped he hid his grin as Rohan laid down the law—as if Harris would want anyone else

touching him. Although he’d had lovers in the past, none of them had ever made Harris crave them to
the level Rohan did by just walking in the room.

“Make no mistake, Harris, while you’re here, you belong to me. I won’t have another vamp

touching you. If you can’t follow those rules, you’re better off back at home.” Rohan’s eyes glowed
with the fervor of his statement.

“I didn’t know there were rules when I signed up to paint a mural,” Harris objected.

“You can paint a mural for anyone but don’t go into anyone else’s bed. You were mine the first

time I saw you at that gallery. You just didn’t know it yet,” Rohan said.

“Which gallery?” Harris had recently showed his work at several galleries in the area and hadn’t

seen Rohan there once.

“The Thornton-Brown Gallery. I saw you there at First Thursday a month ago. You were talking to

Eaton. I thought you were the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”

Harris laughed uncomfortably at Rohan’s words. “I’m not beautiful. Eaton is beautiful. I’m not

ugly, but I’m not as pretty as the others either.”

Harris didn’t have a confidence issue, but he lived with three completely stunning men. He knew

where he sat on the beautiful-man chart.

“There are different kinds of beauty, my stunning bear,” Rohan scolded. “To me, you are like the

finest blood wine. A person to be savored and appreciated over time.”

A blush burned Harris’ cheeks. Aden and Carey would roll their eyes at his susceptibility, but

Rohan was like Harris’ personal gravitational field and Harris a hapless moon revolving around him.
He knew Rohan had centuries to perfect his smooth lines, and Harris shouldn’t take them seriously,
but the vampire’s delivery rang with sincerity and twisted Harris in heart-shaped knots.

Harris didn’t object when Rohan pulled him back into the vampire’s arms. He sighed at the

rightness of Rohan wrapped around him. “I like you, too, Rohan. I don’t know where this might lead,
but I like you.” He’d also like to explore the vampire’s body in close detail, like he planned to sculpt
Rohan and needed to map out his skin.

“Good. I was hoping you’d say that,” Rohan murmured. He dipped down and breathed in Harris’

scent. “You smell delicious.” A groan rumbled through the vampire.

Harris froze.

“Like food?” He couldn’t help the tremor that worked its way through his body. Had his naivety led

to him being a vampire munchie? Carey would never forgive him.

“No, babe. You smell like mine. Even the humans we feed on, we don’t treat like food. They are

valuable members of our family. My coven isn’t the type to snack and go. Many of our human feeders
have been with us for years, which made their poisoning cut that much deeper.

Harris had learned that the poisoned humans were returned to their families for burial. Once dead,

the vampires lost all rights to their human partner. Since vampires were still considered the figment
of authors’ fertile imaginations, they weren’t granted partner rights even if they’d been with the human
for a number of years.

“Too much talking.” Harris grabbed Rohan’s shirt and yanked him closer. This time, he took the

more dominant role, knowing it would trigger Rohan’s hunter instincts. He nipped Rohan’s bottom lip
and tugged at it with his teeth.

Rohan growled; the feral sound had the hair rising on Harris’ body.

“You don’t need to feel like mine, you need to know it deep in your bones.” Rohan pushed Harris

over onto the mattress. Harris hadn’t even noticed they’d been moving in that direction until he landed
on the soft surface, bouncing slightly.

“Oh dear, what are you going to do with me now?” Harris asked. He couldn’t stop the ridiculous

smile he knew spread across his face. Belong to Rohan? Definitely. At least for the night.

The vampire stood above him and unbuttoned his shirt. Before Harris’ avid attention, Rohan kicked

off his dress shoes and stripped down the rest of the way to his black briefs.

“Nice.” Harris was mildly surprised Rohan didn’t go commando, but he wasn’t going to complain.

The sexy vampire could’ve made long white boxers and tube socks look good.

“Now, let’s see what you’ve been hiding from me,” Rohan said, his voice rough like a cat’s purr.

Harris laughed. “I wasn’t hiding. I was keeping my sense of mystique.”

“Well, you don’t need it anymore. Now, I want to unwrap my present.” Rohan stripped off Harris’

loafers and tossed them aside. “As much as I appreciate you dressing up for the funeral, I think I
prefer my scruffy artist.”

“Scruffy?” Harris pretended to take offense. “I’m not scruffy, I’m artistic.”

Rohan smiled, the first time that evening Harris had seen that expression cross his face. “Well, I

prefer you in your artistic mode. Though, you do clean up nice.”

Before Harris could think up a proper retort, Rohan unzipped his slacks and pulled them down

quickly, followed by his socks.

Harris’ cock bobbed up to greet him.

“I see someone doesn’t like underwear,” Rohan said, his eyes dark with lust.

“Too confining,” Harris admitted. He didn’t like to be bound. “If I could I’d do all of my art

naked…”

“That I’d love to see,” Rohan said.

“Mmm, if you pose naked for me, I’ll draw naked for you,” Harris promised.

“I’ll take you up on that.”

Before Harris could come up with a witty comeback, Rohan sucked the tip of his cock, and all

thought out of his head. “Oh, fuck.”

“Not yet but soon, my beloved,” Rohan promised. “I want you ready.”

“Then, make me ready.” Harris ripped off his shirt and tossed it off the bed. “Back or hands and

knees?”

“Oh, on your back. I want to see your face. I need you to know who’s fucking you,” Rohan insisted.

“I don’t need to see you to know who’s screwing me. I’m not that much of a slut,” Harris argued.

“Shush, you’re just looking for a fight now,” Rohan said. He kissed Harris hard, determined to

leave an impression. Rohan reached down for his pants on the floor and pulled a tube out of the
pocket.

“I guess we know who’s the slut,” Harris teased. “I don’t carry lube around.”

Rohan grinned and tossed the tube to Harris. “I didn’t know when you’d give in. I’ve been carrying

this in my pocket for two weeks. We might not need condoms, but we definitely need lube. Get
yourself ready; I want to watch.”

He knew it shouldn’t make him so hard, but Rohan’s commanding voice tripped all his sexual

wires. Barely taking his gaze off of Rohan, Harris flipped the top of the lube open and wet his fingers.
His eyes widened when he saw the size of Rohan’s erection. Damn, maybe he should’ve investigated
sex with vampires before.

“Only sex with me, beloved,” Rohan scolded. “You are my only, and I will have the same. Don’t

make me kill some hapless man for daring to touch what is mine.”

“No. I wouldn’t want you to have to do that.” Harris pushed one finger into his hole, relishing the

burn. Before Rohan’s hot gaze, he continued to add fingers and lube until he was confident the well-
hung vampire could enter him without causing injury.

“Now, get me ready,” Rohan stepped close enough for Harris to wrap a lube-coated hand around

his shaft. “Make sure you use plenty. I don’t want to hurt you.”

The consideration from a man many thought of as cold and vicious warmed Harris’ heart. He knew

Carey had reservations over Harris’ obsession with Rohan, but he also knew his friends wouldn’t
interfere as long as he was happy.

He rubbed lube across Rohan’s cock, making sure to coat it thoroughly until the vampire moaned

and pushed into Harris’ fist. “Keep that up and it will be the shortest fuck in history,” Rohan groaned.

Harris released him.

“Grab your knees,” Rohan ordered, his rough voice adding to Harris’ excitement.

Lust raging through him, Harris quickly complied. A moan poured from him as Rohan pushed

inside.

“You are so fucking tight,” Rohan growled. “When’s the last time you had sex?”

Harris opened his mouth.

“Never mind. Don’t tell me. I’d have to snap the fucker’s neck. No one should have this ass but

me.” Rohan proceeded to show Harris the wonderful reasons he was right.

Inside, Harris’ bear let out a low growl of approval. The beast liked the man, this vampire who

fucked like a king and smelled like home. Harris had the sinking suspicion that he’d found his mate,
and for a man who didn’t like boundaries, this was the harshest one of all.

Rohan leaned forward and kissed Harris while he plunged deep inside. His fangs scraped Harris’

mouth and sliced through his bottom lip. The slight sting caught Harris by surprise.

“Sorry, beloved,” Rohan said. “I didn’t mean to cut you.”

“Taste me.” The thought of Rohan taking nourishment from Harris had him on the verge of coming

apart.

Rohan didn’t wait for a second invitation; he clamped his mouth against Harris’ and sucked at the

wound. Heat surged through Harris, and he came with a whimper. The only thing that saved his
dignity was Rohan came soon after.

The vampire lifted his mouth and licked his lips. A new possessiveness glowed in his eyes. “Oh

yes, beloved, you are most definitely mine.”

Chapter Two

Harris examined his sketch with a careful eye. Snatching up his eraser, he glared at the too thick line.
No, that won’t work. A heavy-handed aardvark could do a better job. He growled in frustration. Ever
since he spent a night in Rohan’s bed, he’d had difficulty focusing. The vampire filled his thoughts
day and night. Two days had passed since their lovemaking, and Harris had successfully avoided the
vampire ever since.

His concentration was shot, and his usual calm took a vacation out of town. Growling, he scrubbed

at the line with the rubber square.

“It is fine. Let it be,” a silky-smooth voice came from behind him.

Manfully, Harris fought back the shiver from Rohan’s tone. No matter what the vampire said,

Harris’ cock always interpreted Rohan’s words as an attempted seduction, even when the sexy vamp
wasn’t trying.

Harris turned and raised an eyebrow at Rohan. “Did you become an artist overnight?”

Rohan grinned, flashing his fangs. “Don’t be touchy, beloved, erase your little mark if you must.”

Harris flashed fangs of his own, causing Rohan to laugh. “I don’t think you want to get into an

incisor contest with a bear,” he taunted.

“Now, I’ve been put in my place, haven’t I? Are you at a point where you can stop?” Rohan asked.

“Why?” Harris didn’t know what to do about the vampire. His inner animal whispered that Rohan

was his mate, but Harris wasn’t ready for anything permanent. As much as he loved the fact his
friends found their other halves, he had years before he was ready to settle down. Still, he couldn’t
resist Rohan standing so close. His scent alone had Harris hard and leaking.

Hot vampires with come-fuck-me eyes easily distracted Harris. At this rate, he’d be a gray-

muzzled bear before he finished his initial sketch for the mural.

“I’d like to take you out to dinner,” Rohan said.

Harris tilted his head as he examined the vampire. “I thought you didn’t eat real food.”

“I can eat it. I just don’t usually bother,” Rohan replied. “Copper River Salmon just came in.”

“And what will you be eating?” Harris tried a more forthright approach. What does a vampire

consume beside blood?

“Don’t worry. It’s a vampire restaurant; they feed all kinds,” Rohan reassured Harris. “You won’t

be required to feed me.”

Harris didn’t know if he considered that a good or bad thing. Although the initial idea of being a

vampire’s meal didn’t appeal to him, the image in his head of Rohan biting him had starred in more
than one jerk-off fantasy. Rohan had Harris all wrapped up in nerves and need, putting into jeopardy
his reputation as a laid-back bear shifter. So far, Rohan hadn’t bitten Harris, and he still didn’t know
if that was a good thing or not.

“What do you say?” Rohan’s dark eyes twinkled as if daring Harris to come play.

Sighing, Harris gave in. He couldn’t resist Rohan when growly and commanding. How could he

resist him in a playful mood? “I’d love to.”

Good thing vampires were immortal. It might be a few centuries before Harris finished their damn

mural.

“Don’t worry so much, beloved. You will finish when you finish. There is no rush,” Rohan said.

“I’ll come get you in two hours.”

His mind still on the vampire, Harris went back to his work. Whenever life became too

complicated, he could always depend on his art to take him away from his troubles. Except now, even
with the distraction of a huge mural to finish, thoughts of Rohan swept through his mind.

Harris hummed as he successfully finished off a flower. He wondered how Denton was doing with

the landscape business. Harris was supposed to help the crocodile shifter, but Denton had told him to
stick with his mural. Apparently, Marty had loaned Denton some of his hawks to keep them occupied.
Without being on the road all the time, the hawks were restless. Marty worked them hard to keep them
out of trouble.

The hawks’ help had proved a boon for Denton and Harris’ landscape business, since it freed

Harris to focus on his art. He still did design work for Denton when needed, but most of his current
energy went toward the vampire mural.

“Still here, I see,” a cold voice interrupted Harris’ musing.

He turned his head to find one of Rohan’s vampires watching him with cool green eyes. “Hello,

Vick.”

For some reason, Vick disliked Harris. The vamp had made it a point to wander by whenever

Rohan wasn’t around to bother Harris. He never did anything overt, but it was enough of a distraction
that Harris knew the vampire held an intense dislike for him, and he didn’t know why. He’d started
out friendly enough, but the closer Rohan grew to Harris, the less friendly Vick became. Harris
suspected Vick might have a crush on the head vamp.

“I hope this is going to improve. We wouldn’t want some piece of amateurish crap decorating our

house,” Vick sneered and flipped back his blond hair.

“Feel free to share your opinion with Rohan,” Harris said. He wouldn’t be bullied. He stood by his

art. Not everyone liked what he did, but Harris had a solid understanding of his artistic viewpoint,
and anyone who didn’t like it could go fuck themselves.

Vick faltered for a moment but rebounded fast. “I don’t want to bother him with domestic issues.

Besides, he’s too infatuated with you to understand your art is crap.”

Harris didn’t remember moving, but after the flush of anger passed, he found Vick dangling from

his claws and loud roars pouring from him. He slammed the vampire against the wall repeatedly until
a familiar deep voice broke through his rage.

“Harris, beloved, put Vick down.”

Harris snarled. He didn’t want to set down the vampire. He shook the smaller man a few more

times until he turned a delightful red.

“Now, Harris!” Rohan commanded.

The disapproval in the vampire’s tone had Harris tossing Vick across the room. The vampire had

gotten him into trouble. Bad vampire!

Harris snarled his displeasure as two other vampires rushed forward to drag the bad vampire out

of the room.

Rohan stepped forward.

Harris snorted his displeasure.

“Now, don’t be that way. You would’ve felt horrible after you killed him,” Rohan said.

Harris sincerely doubted it. That vampire needed a good killing. He couldn’t remember why, but he

was certain of it. The bear snorted his disapproval of Rohan’s assessment.

“Shift back, beloved,” Rohan said.

The handsome vampire didn’t attack or order. He merely waited on Harris. With his anger gone,

Harris allowed the change to overtake him. Gasping, he reached out to grab the wall but, instead,
found warm flesh.

Rohan wrapped his arms around Harris. “What happened?”

“I’m not sure. It’s been a long time since I lost control like that.” He thought back to before the

change. “Vick came here to say rude things, like usual—”

“What do you mean like usual,” Rohan interrupted.

Harris shrugged. “He always comes in here and pokes fun at my work or says something snide.

Usually, I ignore him, but for some reason, it really bugged me today.”

The vampire hadn’t let up since Harris started work. He didn’t know what Vick’s problem, was but

hopefully, smacking him against the wall a few times knocked some sense into him.

“I will talk to him. He won’t come near you again,” Rohan promised.

Guilt struck Harris. “I don’t usually attack people.” He didn’t want Rohan to think he was an out-

of-control shifter. Generally, he had excellent control. A combination of a snarky vampire and sexual
tension had led to his temper snapping like a dry twig in the summertime.

Rohan cupped Harris’ face and forced him to face the vampire. “You have the right to not be

bullied in my house. Defending yourself is not a crime.”

The kiss froze Harris with shock. He hadn’t expected Rohan to go from nothing to an intense lip

lock. Harris rubbed against the vampire. His clothes had ripped during the change and dangled like
rags across his skin. The sensation of rough fabric against naked flesh made the entire situation far
more erotic than a mere kiss. Harris leaned into the embrace, more than willing to follow wherever
Rohan wished to lead.

When Rohan broke away, Harris growled his displeasure.

“Don’t be that way, beloved. I plan to take you out to dinner first, then we’ll see where it leads. Go

to your room and get dressed,” Rohan instructed.

Harris kissed Rohan’s cheek, making sure to slide their faces together and rub off some of his scent

on the vampire. “Are you sure you want to eat? I can think of something else to do with our time.” All
his silent vows to stay away from the vampire’s bed vanished when the chance to be with Rohan
appeared again. Maybe he should move to a new country. He doubted there was another way he’d be
able to resist Rohan.

His cock, ready and eager for action, rose happily between them.

Rohan wrapped his cool fist around Harris’ erection. “As much as I want to take you up on your

offer…” He tightened his hold.

Harris gasped. Rohan’s grip didn’t have quite enough pressure to bring him off but enough to keep

him interested. His hips convulsed on their own. “I want to feed you first, so later, I can take your
blood.”

Harris nodded, not really listening to the vampire’s words. “Take me,” he groaned.

“Oh, I will, my beloved, but only after I have you fed. I don’t want you passing out because I’ve

taken too much blood from you,” Rohan’s wonderful touch disappeared.

Harris growled. It was either snarl or cry. “You didn’t have to stop. You could’ve gotten me off

then bought me dinner.” He was flexible like that.

“No. I want you to anticipate how it will be when I have you back in my bed.” Rohan scraped one

fang across Harris’ neck.

Shivers racked his body.

“First, I will feed you, then you will feed me. After that, I will fuck you until you’ve forgotten

anyone who’s come before me and refuse to acknowledge anyone who wants to come after. You will
be mine, beloved. Everyone will know not to touch you—ever.” Satisfaction poured off the vampire
in waves as if he were already anticipating that magical moment.

When Rohan released him, Harris stepped back. His mind fought with equal urges to wrap himself

around Rohan and flee. Harris knew he had to put some distance between them before he agreed to
whatever Rohan wanted no matter his views on the subject. “I’ll go to get dressed.”

Unable to face the vampire any more, Harris fled to his room. Over the past few days, he’d

collected enough of his wardrobe to fill the closet of the room adjacent to Rohan’s. The vampire
allowed Harris his temporary independence, but Harris knew his time was limited.

The vampire pushed all of Harris’ buttons, handsome, kind and really supportive of Harris’ art.

Rohan would make the perfect mate. However, Harris wasn’t ready for perfection. He planned on
keeping his flawed life a little bit longer. Maybe he should take a few days off to go to the cabin.
Rohan had said the mural didn’t need to be done right away.

Harris’ greatest fear was that he’d finally commit to Rohan only to have the vampire toss him aside

when he was done with him. Vampires didn’t mate and keep their other half for the rest of their lives.
Sorrow tried to grab onto Harris like a bear trap, but he shook it off. He didn’t tend to dwell on things
he couldn’t change. He’d enjoy Rohan while he could. If things worked out, he’d stick around until the
vampire tired of him. Harris might be a dreamy artist, but he wasn’t a fool. He wouldn’t beg for the
crumbs of Rohan’s affection. As soon as the vampire began to tire of Harris, he’d head back home.
Harris might be heartbroken in the end, but he was a person who enjoyed what he had while he had it.

Smiling, Harris dug through his clothing and found a relatively nice pair of slacks and a button-up

shirt. He wasn’t a dress-up kind of guy, so he hoped Rohan didn’t plan to take him any place fancy.

The restaurant smelled divine. Rohan had taken Harris to a steak and seafood restaurant

overlooking the water. Harris had heard of this place before but had never eaten there. A discreet
sign posted Copper River salmon had just arrived.

Harris loved salmon. His inner bear gave a happy growl.

“I see I chose well,” Rohan commented.

Harris nodded. “Yes.” He could smell the chef cooking the fish in the back. Delicious.

Rohan slid his fingers through Harris’, clasping hands as he led him to the server podium. “The

coven recently hired a new chef here. Let’s see if he lives up to your standards.”

“Good evening, Master Rohan. Welcome,” the maître de said smoothly.

It figured that a vampire-run restaurant would know the vampire leader by sight.

“Thank you. Table for two,” Rohan ordered.

“Oh yes, of course, sir.” The maître de waved a hand and beckoned a server forward.

The waitress wore a black sheath dress and high heels.

Harris bet her feet killed her at the end of the day.

“This way please,” she turned and led them between rows of white cloth-covered tables.

Harris released Rohan’s hand to walk behind him, enjoying the view. The water was nice, too.

“Here you go, gentlemen,” the waitress waved them toward a beautiful spot overlooking the sound.

“Thank you,” Rohan said. He brushed the waitress aside to seat Harris himself. The vampire’s

possessive touch calmed Harris’ bear. His inner animal relished Rohan’s attention. If he were a cat
shifter, he’d be purring. Foolish bear.

Rohan sat himself across from Harris, a pleased smile crossing his face as if everything was now

right in his world.

“I’ve heard they have the best salmon in town,” Rohan declared.

Harris laughed. “You can stop selling, I’m already here.”

“Sorry. It’s been a while since I took someone out to dinner,” Rohan said.

Harris suspected that Rohan’s dates were usually dinner. A waiter appeared by their table.

Dressed in black pants. a white shirt and tie, he matched the restaurant for elegance. “Hello,
gentlemen. I’m John. I’ll be your server tonight. Can I get you something to drink?” The waiter’s gaze
slid across Harris with an appreciative glance, but he carefully turned his attention to Rohan when the
vampire growled.

“I’ll take a glass of AB positive, and my companion here will try…”

“Water, I’ll have some water,” Harris interrupted.

“He’ll have water,” Rohan finished.

“Excellent.” John nodded and left.

“Afraid I’ll take advantage of you?” Rohan asked.

“No. I want to remember if you take advantage. I’m not much of a drinker.” Harris had never been

able to handle his alcohol. Even with his larger body mass, something about liquor affected his brain
poorly.

“I’ll remember that.”

“So, how long has this been vampire owned?” It made sense for the vampires to buy their own

restaurant. Not many places offered choice of blood off the menu, even in Seattle where the
population had a more liberal slant.

Rohan nodded. “Two years. A few of our members run it. The wait staff are human but most of the

managers are vamps.”

“Huh.” Glancing around, Harris could tell the restaurant did pretty well. Most of the tables were

full, and the wait staff rushed about. “Is that how you knew about the salmon?”

It didn’t occur to him that, until now, that Rohan probably didn’t usually track food trends.

“Yes, beloved, that’s how I knew about the salmon.” Rohan propped his chin on his hand. “You

fascinate me.”

“Why? I imagine you’ve met a lot of people over the years. I can’t be very different.” Harris

needed reassurance that he wasn’t simply one more person to warm Rohan’s bed. Strange, he wasn’t
usually so needy, especially after his pep talk about taking things as they came.

Rohan shook his head. “You are more special than you know. You are my blood bond. I’ve waited

for you all these years, and now, you are mine.”

The waiter returned with their drinks and interrupted them. “Are you ready to order?”

Harris’ mouth dropped open. He still couldn’t find any words when he turned to face the waiter.

“He’ll have the salmon special. I’ll be fine with just the drink,” Rohan replied.

“Very good, sir. Would you like rice or potatoes with that?” John stood attentively waiting for

Harris’ response.

“Um, potatoes, please.” Harris clung to that answer as if it were the last solid truth in the universe.

How am I supposed to respond to Rohan’s statement? His idea of not being tied down and taking
things as they came faded under Rohan’s insistence that he was the only one for him.

Harris’ mind was still spinning when the waiter gave an approving nod and walked off to put in his

order. Shaking his head, he tried to find out more information. Maybe they were talking about
different levels of commitment. Harris had never heard of vampires sticking with one person before.

“Is that like a mate?” Harris hated to admit how little he knew about vampires.

“Sort of. As I understand it, for a mate, you crave each other but can be apart. Is that right?” Rohan

asked.

“Yes. It’s uncomfortable to be away from your mate, but as long as your mate is alive and well,

then you are fine,” Harris said.

Rohan took a sip of his glass of blood before he responded. “A blood bond means once we mate, I

will never be parted from you. You’ll be the entire source of my blood. I won’t be able to drink from
anyone else ever again.”

Fear struck Harris. “I thought vampires didn’t have permanent mates.” Everything he’d heard and

read about vamps stated they didn’t do forever bonds.

“It’s rare,” Rohan agreed. “Most vampires never find the one meant to be theirs. I’ve never even

met a vampire who has. Blood bonds are the objects of fiction in a vampire world, but I found mine. I
found you.” Triumph sparkled in the vampire’s gaze.

Harris gulped his water, hoping his panic didn’t show.

Rohan sighed. “Now, I’ve made you uncomfortable. I’m sorry, beloved. What about you? Do you

think we’re mates? I can’t imagine you are everything for me and I’m not your mate. You can’t be
bonded to another. I won’t stand for it.”

Harris’ heart pounded in his chest, pulsing in time to the blood vessel throbbing in his forehead.

How had a simple meal turned into a lifetime commitment? However, he couldn’t lie.

“You haven’t had more than a drop of my blood. How can you tell that I’m the one for you?” Harris

grasped at the straw clinging to that one truth.

Rohan smiled. “I can tell. You smell like mine.”

Harris didn’t know what to say. He’d hoped the vampire would notice him. He’d gotten his wish.

“Tell me. I know you can identify your mate after sex,” Rohan said. The vampire wasn’t going to

let it go. Harris could tell.

Thankfully, the waiter arrived. “Here’s your salmon.” John set down the plate before Harris. “Can

I get you anything else?”

Desperate to focus his attention on anything other than the vampire across from him, Harris stared

at his meal. “Um, no, this looks good.”

He shoved a bite into his mouth. If he was eating, he couldn’t say something stupid.

Rohan took Harris’ left hand and sandwiched it between his own. “Don’t panic, beloved.

Everything will work out. I know we are meant to be together.”

“You think so?” Harris desperately needed to talk to Carey or Denton; hell, he’d even take Eaton’s

advice at this moment. A friendly voice would go a long way to settling his nerves.

“When we get back home, you can call your friends,” Rohan assured him as if reading his mind.

They were touching. For all Harris knew, Rohan did just read his thoughts.

Harris blushed. “Thank you. I will.”

“I hope you will look to me in the future to provide guidance.” Rohan released his grip on Harris’

hand and took a drink out of his glass.

“What’s it like?” Harris asked curiously.

“What?”

“Drinking blood out of a cup versus a person. Is it different? Disgusting?” Harris needed to know

all the little things that made Rohan tick. He couldn’t help it. Whether he chose to acknowledge it or
not, Rohan was his mate.

Rohan shrugged. “It’s not my favorite. I prefer the feel of warm flesh against my lips and the pulse

of a heart beneath my tongue. But, when nothing else is available, it will do.”

“You ordered AB blood. Is that your favorite?” Harris asked.

Rohan shrugged. “I generally like it better in a glass than the others. Most blood tastes better from

the source.”

Harris swallowed back his nervousness. Despite its quality, he could’ve been eating ash for as

much as he tasted the food.

“You worry too much, beloved. There is no rush. We can take things one day at a time,” Rohan

reassured Harris.

“But, if I am your blood bond, then we will have to stay together.” Harris’ hand shook. He set

down his fork.

“I’m confused,” Rohan frowned. “I thought all you shifters hoped to find your other half, and yet,

here I am and you are almost frightened I might be the one.”

Harris picked up his fork and toyed with his food. “I know. It’s silly, but the idea of a mate and the

reality of one are very different. I like the idea of someone meant to be mine someday. I guess I’m not
ready, and to find out you’ll be completely dependent on me for sustenance is unnerving.”

Rohan smiled. “How about I won’t bite you until you’re certain I’m your mate.”

Chapter Three

Rohan tried to be patient while Harris finished his meal. He concentrated on making his mate more
comfortable with their relationship. He didn’t want his bonded to be worried about their connection.
Being the mate of a vampire was different than with another shifter. Shifters became obsessive over
their bonded but not to the level of vampires. Rohan almost felt sorry for his adorable bear shifter.

He’d make sure Harris never lacked for anything and was able to focus on his art while Rohan ran

the coven. He saw no reason for Harris to change his ways. Surely, they could find all kinds of
projects to keep the creative man occupied. He had a feeling if Harris wasn’t busy, trouble would
follow.

Now, with the sorcerers still on the loose and potentially after anyone Rohan might care for, Harris

had a big target on his broad chest. Rohan would have to talk to Carey and make sure the hawks were
watching Harris whenever he went out of vampire territory.

“Hey,” Harris nudged his foot. “What are you thinking about?”

“Your safety,” Rohan confessed.

Harris tilted his head. “I’m fine. I can take care of myself, you know.”

Rohan remembered how confidently the bear shifter had handled the big gun when they went to

rescue Eaton and nodded. “That’s true. However, sorcerers are tricky and might bewitch you
somehow.

“Nope.”

Rohan frowned. “What do you mean nope?”

“Aden had us inoculated. I can’t be charmed.” Harris shrugged as if of course he’d had the anti-

charm shot.

“I’ve heard they pulled that shot.”

“Not until after we got it. Aden made sure we were inoculated. He was, too. None of us can be

charmed.” Harris’ engaging grin had Rohan smiling back.

“I can’t tell you how happy that makes me.” Not only would Harris be safe from sorcerer

enchantment, but also from unscrupulous vampires trying to bespell him. Some vampires could
control minds, Rohan included. The more he heard about this Aden, the more he wanted to meet him.

Harris took another bite of salmon. The waiter had brought an extra-large portion as if he knew the

bear shifter needed more food than most.

“How is your mural coming along?” Rohan asked. He’d given the artist the job to keep him close,

but he couldn’t deny Harris had a brilliant talent. His vampires were always going on about the
beauty of Harris’ work.

“All right. I’m still working out all the details.” Harris shrugged off any interest over talking about

himself. “Mind if I ask you something?”

Rohan wondered if he’d regret his answer. “No, of course not.”

“How old are you?” A blush burst across Harris’ cheeks like a flower blooming beneath the sun.

“It’s not considered polite to ask a man his age,” Rohan scolded. “Let’s just say I’ve been around

the block a couple hundred times.”

Harris laughed. “So you’re much older than me.”

“Yes. Is that a problem?” Rohan had never thought about the age gap between them. After all, both

shifters and vampires had long lives.

“No,” Harris denied. “I was just curious.”

“You are a rather curious fellow, aren’t you?” After spending years with vampires who had seen

and experienced everything, Harris’ interest in his surroundings was a refreshing change.

Harris grinned. “I am. I’m very curious about your bedroom right now.”

The waiter coughed as he approached the table. “Is there anything else I can get you? Dessert?”

“Have you ever had sex with a vampire?” Harris asked innocently.

“Yes, sir.”

Harris propped is chin on his palm. “And how was it?”

The waiter grinned. “It was good.”

“Did you go back for seconds?” Harris asked.

“Leave the poor man alone,” Rohan scolded.

“No, that’s all right, I don’t mind answering. Vampires tend to have several lovers. I was just a

one-night stand; we weren’t emotionally attached or anything.” The waiter waved between them. “Not
like you two.”

Rohan nodded his approval.

“Except, of course, you get a vampire all to yourself.”

Harris laughed delighted.

“Our special tonight is honey ice cream with a honeycomb crisp,” the waiter offered, a knowing

smile cured his lips.

Harris’ eyes glowed as he turned a brilliant grin on Rohan. “You planned this!”

“Yes, I did. Would you like ice cream?”

“I would.” Harris nodded vigorously.

Rohan had known it would be worthwhile to twist the chef’s arm. He’d insisted the man come up

with a dessert worthy of a bear. If Harris didn’t love it, the restaurant would need a new pastry chef.

John went off to put in their order.

A short time later, a man in a white chef uniform stomped toward their table. “You the bear

shifter?” he asked Harris.

“Yes, is that my dessert?” Harris clapped his hands together with joy.

A long sigh left the chef as his bad temper dissolved before Harris’ obvious happiness.

“Harris, beloved, this is Chef Tibor Park; he’s in charge of the kitchens here.”

“Nice to meet you. The food is amazing here!”

Tibor’s usual scowl faded to a faint smile that Rohan had never seen the chef give anyone.

“Well, I hope you enjoy your ice cream.” Tibor set the bowl down before Harris and waited with

arms crossed.

Rohan narrowed his eyes at the chef. If Tibor said one rude thing to Harris, he would snap his neck.

“Oh damn, this is good,” Harris’ ecstatic noises had Rohan’s cock hardening. No one should get

that much joy out of ice cream. Rohan watched with increasing lust as Harris licked and sucked on his
spoon in an obscene show of enjoyment.

“I’ve got more in the back,” Tibor mentioned, licking his lips.

“Have the driver collect it before I go,” Rohan said, dismissing the chef with a wave of his hand.

He’d have a small freezer placed near Harris’ work area and give him daily ice cream breaks if it got
him more of those sounds. Tibor didn’t need to be there to hear them.

“Will do. It was nice meeting you, Harris,” Tibor said the words with a taunting look at Rohan.

“Looks like you have your hands full.”

“I hope so,” Rohan said.

* * * *

The flight of stairs had never stretched so long before. Rohan rushed Harris upstairs, his fangs
dropping again in anticipation. He hadn’t ever yearned to taste someone this badly before. That brief
drop he’d tasted the night before had been only a prelude to the delicious taste of his blood bonded.
He couldn’t wait for more.

Slamming open his bedroom door, he almost shoved Harris inside in his rush to get the shifter into

his bed. If he were anyone else, Rohan’s push would’ve landed him across the room. However,
Harris was solid. Nothing shook Harris mentally or physically. The man made solid rocks appear
jittery and unstable compared to him. Rohan liked that about Harris. He enjoyed Harris’ calm. Harris
would be a great counterpart to Rohan’s more volatile personality.

Harris paused a few steps from the bed.

“Did you change your mind?” Rohan asked cautiously. As much as he enjoyed the thought of biting

Harris, he wouldn’t push if the shifter changed his mind.

“No, but that is a damn big bed,” Harris said admiringly.

Rohan laughed. “I’m now even happier I got such a large one.”

He’d originally bought it because of his own size. At six feet three, a lot of beds weren’t

comfortable. He ordered one from a local craftsman who did amazing woodwork. Until now, he
hadn’t realized how many bears were carved into the piece.

“Amazing workmanship,” Harris admired. “I’d love to have a bed like this.”

Rohan growled. As if he’d let Harris sleep alone. “You can use mine and make sure you like its

comfort level.” He resisted the urge to tell Harris he couldn’t sleep with anyone, anywhere except
with him. Possessiveness fit him strangely like a too-tight suit.

Harris turned around. “Where do you want me?”

“Why don’t you lie on the bed?” He held back the demand that Harris strip first. It wasn’t his place

to make that suggestion. Proceeding with caution was his path of the night. Although they’d already
made love once before, biting someone during sex added an entirely new dimension to lovemaking.

“Do you want me to take off my shirt? Where do you like to bite?” Harris asked. The eagerness in

the bear shifter’s voice had Rohan harden more in anticipation.

His mind ran amuck with all the places he’d like to suck blood from the bear shifter. Some places

he just wanted to suck.

“Yeah, shirt off would be good. I don’t want to drip any blood on it.”

Some vampires weren’t tidy and spilled blood after they drank. Rohan hadn’t done that in years.

However, he still wanted to see Harris without a shirt again. Without a trace of shyness, Harris
stripped off his top, exposing hard muscles and a thick, lightly furred chest. Vampires didn’t have hair
on their bodies except for their head.

Yum.

Rohan stripped off his own shirt and tossed it on the floor. Harris’ admiring gaze didn’t help his

cock go down. He could practically feel the shifter’s eyes tracking across his body.

“You don’t mind the hair?” Harris asked.

For the first time, he sensed unease from Harris, as if with the added pressure of a blood bond the

shifter had become unsure of himself.

“Oh no. I like the fact you are a bit of a bear in both forms.” Rohan grinned.

Harris laughed. “Have a bear fetish, do you?”

“Absolutely.” He had never had one before, but damn, if he hadn’t changed his mind. Vampires

were all about new experiences. “Thanks for feeding me.”

Harris didn’t say anything, but he laid down and put his arms to his sides, as if unsure what to do

with them. “It’s not a favor. If you are my bonded, it’s my pleasure and my responsibility. I don’t like
the thought of you drinking from someone else.”

“Just relax, love. I won’t hurt you.”

“I know,” Harris replied. “I trust you.”

Rohan scanned Harris with his psychic energy. One of his unique skills as leader was his ability to

sense emotions. Harris smelled of lust, and waves of affection poured off the bear shifter, wrapping
Rohan in a blanket of warm emotion.

Walking over to the bed, Rohan hesitated for a moment. Harris wouldn’t be like the others he’d fed

from before. He’d never brought anyone else to this bed or had this level of anxiety over a donor.
Something told him his life wouldn’t be the same once he took Harris’ blood.

“Are you waiting for an invitation?” Harris teased. “Because I’m inviting.”

Rohan couldn’t resist the sparkle in his bear shifter’s eyes. Keeping his gaze locked on Harris’, he

climbed on the bed and crawled across Harris’ body until he straddled Harris’ waist.

“Oh, you are so warm!” The heat pouring off Harris had Rohan giving up his teasing to curl up on

Harris’ chest, pressing his cheek against all that warmth.

Harris laughed. “You remind me of Denton on his heat rock.”

“Denton? Oh, your crocodile friend,” Rohan remembered. “I have to admit, I do feel a bit like a

lizard sunning. Vampires naturally run a bit cooler than other species. I don’t remember you being this
warm the other night.”

“I’m warmer right after I eat,” Harris explained.

When Harris stroked Rohan’s head, he almost wished he were a cat shifter so he could purr. Harris

cherished Rohan as if he were truly something precious instead of a means to an end. Rohan could
easily let the world fade away as he lay cradled in Harris’ arms.

“I thought you were going to eat,” Harris’ voice rumbled beneath Rohan’s ear.

“In a minute,” Rohan’s eyes drooped down. He’d feed in a little bit, after he’d absorbed more of

Harris’ affection. The emotions drifting from Harris unknotted the tension he hadn’t realized had built
up over the past few weeks. If he could keep Harris beneath him for days, he’d be perfectly happy.

A knock at the door brought forth his ire.

Furious, he marched over to the door and ripped it open. “Someone had better be dying,” he

growled.

“A cop is here. He wants to talk to the leader.” Madeleine’s eyes were wide and panicked.

“I’ll be right there.” Rohan slammed the door. He turned back to find Harris sliding his shirt back

on. “What are you doing?”

“I’m getting dressed. I’m not going to see the police with my shirt off,” Harris explained as if

annoyed he had to point out the obvious.

“You aren’t going to see them at all. The cops are nothing but troublemakers waiting to pin things

on my coven. They come every month or so to try and get me to confess to something,” Rohan argued.
He wouldn’t let them get their hands on his sweet bear.

“Here’s your shirt,” Harris said, calmly handing over the garment.

Rohan put it on. “You aren’t talking to the police.”

“Of course not; I’m going for moral support,” Harris replied.

Rohan dressed quickly and tried to ignore Harris walking beside him when he left the room. He’d

have to watch out for the shifter.

“Officer Eales, how are you today?” Rohan asked with pretend congeniality. The policeman stood

in his foyer, his hard eyes examining his surroundings as if certain Rohan was carrying on some
nefarious plot that needed to be uncovered. He’d lost count of the number of times someone falsely
accused him of something just to send him to jail.

The cop narrowed his eyes at Rohan. “I don’t suppose you’d like to confess and save me from

having to waste both of our time,” Eales sneered.

“Is there a problem, Jeff?” Harris’ deep voice interrupted the cop’s rant.

The dramatic change in the policeman took Rohan by surprise. The scowl vanished and the disdain

was a distant memory; instead, a warm smile and a jolt of pure happiness poured from the policeman.
“Harris, my man, what are you doing here?”

Harris stepped forward and shook Eales’ hand like old friends. “I’m painting a mural for the

vampires. Want to see?”

The cop began to nod but caught himself. “Sorry, man, maybe another time. I’m here on official

business. I have a complaint that Rohan here attacked a tourist tonight between the hours of eight and
ten.” He scowled at Rohan. “I’m supposed to take him in for questioning.”

“It wasn’t him,” Harris said, stepping in front of the vampire.

Eales stared at Harris. “And how would you know?”

“Because we were at dinner earlier with plenty of witnesses to corroborate our story. I had salmon

and honey ice cream.” Harris narrowed his eyes as if daring the cop to argue with his statement.

Rohan stayed silent and waited to see what Eales would do.

Eales closed his notebook. “Okay, if you vouch for him, I’ll list it as a mistaken identity. I’d advise

you to keep track of your vampire friend. Someone is gunning for him.”

“Thanks, Jeff.”

The cop gave Harris another handshake and a slap on the back, flashed a glare at Rohan, then left.

“That’s it? He’s not going to ask any more questions,” Madeleine stared at Harris in shock.

Harris shrugged. “Jeff owes me a favor or two. I saved his fool brother from a real bear attack a

few years ago.”

“Oh. Good thing we were together tonight,” Rohan said. “Things could’ve gone a lot worse.”

“You might want to put some feelers out to find out who accused you. That’s pretty specific. Most

humans don’t know one vampire from another,” Harris said.

“True, that’s a good point.” Rohan’s stomach growled. “Come on; now that you saved me from

potential jail, you can feed me and finish being my personal hero.”

He didn’t want Harris to know he suspected the sorcerers. They might have gone underground for

now, but like cockroaches, they would scuttle out of the darkness soon.

Harris smiled. “I’d love to be your hero.”

Of course he would. Harris beamed joy like a child on Christmas morning. Rohan couldn’t wait to

have that big body beneath him again.

Madeleine caught his arm as he walked past. He hissed at her.

She dropped her hold. “Sorry, sire, I needed direction. Do you want me to ask around like your

bear said?”

“The bear has a name. He is called Harris. Use it when referring to him,” Rohan snapped.

Confusion filled Madeleine’s eyes. “But you always said the name of our donors don’t matter.”

“Harris isn’t a donor. He’s my blood mate,” Rohan snapped and immediately froze.

He hadn’t meant to announce it so soon to the coven, but now that it was out, he knew Madeleine

would spread the word.

His inner voice didn’t have any answers except the truth. Harris belonged to Rohan.

Madeleine’s eyes went wide. “Congratulations, sir.”

“Thank you. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got an appointment with a man about a bed.”

He found Harris sitting nervously at the end of his bed, as if uncertain whether to stay or run. The

shifter’s emotions ping-ponged all over the place. Excitement. Lust. Affection. All collided together
to swirl into a mass of scents that slammed into Rohan’s head. He shook his head to clear it. Forcing
his mind to a new clarity, he examined the situation. Drinking from his mate while excited could lead
to a bad experience.

Pulling off his shirt, Rohan tossed it on a chair and climbed onto the bed. With care, he helped

Harris out of his clothing, then he stripped down, all the while whispering words of encouragement.

“Ah, my sweet bear. Thank you for the save tonight. I didn’t relish being thrown into a cold, hard

cell.”

Harris smiled at Rohan’s words. “You have a beautiful voice.”

The fact Harris couldn’t be enchanted added to Rohan’s pleasure. It wasn’t beguilement making

Harris willing to donate his blood but the mate pull. The ease with which Harris offered himself to
Rohan calmed the tension in his chest. He’d never had anyone give themselves so freely before.
Harris simply tilted his neck and gave up everything purely because he knew Rohan needed to feed.

“My mate needs, so I provide,” Harris said as if understanding Rohan’s confusion.

“If only everything in life was so simple,” Rohan said. At least this power between them, this

connection didn’t have to be overly complicated. Rohan knew Harris had reservations about being a
permanent mate to a vampire, but Rohan didn’t think it was anything they couldn’t overcome.

Rohan rolled them until he lay splayed across Harris’ chest. The shifter’s heat poured across him in

a soothing warmth he could wallow in for days.

“I think I’m going to make you my new bed,” Rohan said dreamily.

Harris laughed. “I thought I was your meal.”

“I like to eat in bed,” Rohan replied.

Harris stroked Rohan’s head. “Bite me,” he demanded. “You need to eat.”

Rohan nodded. He did need to eat, but strangely, the comfort he received from cuddling with Harris

took over his usually overpowering impulse to feed. Maybe it was the mate bond, but Rohan knew he
didn’t need to hunt down this prey. Harris wasn’t a feral human or a partier looking for a cheap thrill.
No, Harris was like a bear in his den ready to snuggle for a long winter nap. Whatever Rohan needed,
he was confident his mate would provide.

“I’m enjoying the moment,” Rohan said. He lifted his head to place kisses on Harris’ neck.

“You aren’t eating,” Harris pointed out.

“I’ve never met anyone so eager to be bitten,” Rohan complained.

Harris gave up. “Fine, don’t bite me then.”

Rohan bit deep. Rich, lush and delicious, Harris blood poured across Rohan’s tongue like

paradise. The small drop he’d had the previous evening hadn’t done Harris justice. Tonight, curled up
with his mate, Rohan would swear he could taste Harris’ affection for him in his blood.

It took him a moment to realize Harris was starting to fade. He reluctantly pulled out his fangs and

lapped the hole closed.

“Harris, beloved, are you all right?”

Harris blinked his eyes open. “Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?” He cleared his throat a few times since

his voice sounded rough and scratchy.

“Here’s some water,” Rohan snatched up the glass someone had provided for them. He handed it

over to his mate.

“Thanks.” Harris took a few drinks, never taking his eyes off his Rohan. He handed it back empty.

Rohan took it without comment and put it back on the table.

“What’s up?” Harris asked.

“I almost drained you,” Rohan said. “I understand if you might want to leave me after that.”

Remorse hit him with sharp fangs. He could’ve seriously injured Harris. He knew better. He
should’ve shown more restraint.

Harris smiled. “I don’t know what you did or didn’t do, but I feel fine.”

“Good.” Relief made him weak. Good thing he was already lying down. He rested his head on

Harris’ shoulder. Once they rested, he’d pleasure Harris until he never wanted to leave Rohan’s bed
again. Rohan stroked Harris’ head. “Go to sleep, love. Thanks for feeding me.”

“You are always welcome,” Harris replied.

Chapter Four

“We found him wandering outside.” Two of Rohan’s vampire guards led in an unannounced visitor.
Rohan found himself under examination by a handsome human man in his early forties who resembled
Harris’ friend Carey too much for it to be a coincidence.

He froze at the chill in the human’s expression. Rohan had met ancient vampires who couldn’t

project the amount of coldness the human before him did with his icy blue eyes.

Vampires surrounding him didn’t appear to intimidate the human. Rohan didn’t sense even a

smidgen of unease. A pool of calm emitted from the man similar to Harris’ zen-like peace, as if he
had no concerns about being able to handle the situation. From what he’d heard, Rohan knew this
could only be one person.

“You must be Aden Gale, Carey’s father,” Rohan said. He knew he had to proceed with caution,

even though the human was the trespasser. Harris considered Aden a father figure, and he respected
the human’s opinion. Rohan’s usual approach of tossing out anyone who annoyed him wouldn’t work
in this case.

“And you’re Rohan,” Aden replied. “Could we talk privately for a moment?”

Rohan nodded. “Please, leave us,” he told the guards.

“Your highness,” protested Madeleine. “How do you know we can trust him?”

Rohan raised an eyebrow at her. “You think I can’t handle one human?”

“No, sire, sorry. Let me know if you need anything,” Madeleine said.

“I will. Go see if Harris needs a snack.” His artist often became famished while working on his

mural.

“Yes, sire,” Madeleine bowed and vanished out the door with the other guards.

“You should let Harris prepare stuff himself. He enjoys cooking. It helps his creative process,”

Aden offered his advice.

“Thank you for the tip,” Rohan said, reluctantly appreciative. He certainly needed all the help he

could get in making a positive environment for his bear shifter. He’d never had to create a home for
someone before, and he doubted he was up to the challenge. “What can I do for you?”

“You can make sure I don’t have to kill you and upset Harris,” Aden said as if he were answering a

question about the weather.

Rohan tensed. Apparently, the stories he’d heard about Aden weren’t exaggerated. “You walked in

here to threaten me?” He let his voice turn deep and reveal his annoyance.

“I did ask you to dismiss your people first so you wouldn’t feel compelled to embarrass yourself

by trying to kill me,” Aden offered as if he had genuinely done Rohan a favor.

Laughter bubbled up in Rohan’s chest. “What would you know about killing a vampire?”

“Quite a bit actually,” Aden replied with frightening calm. “I’ve had to take a few out in my time. I

admit I’m getting a little slower with age and it might take me more than the ten minutes it used to, but
I still know how to shoot an iron arrow true.”

Rohan froze. It was a well-guarded secret that iron killed vampires faster than any other metals.

The knowledge in the hands of a hard-core fighter didn’t ease Rohan’s anxiety at all. “How did you
learn that?”

Aden’s feral grin didn’t reassure Rohan. “Let’s just say I’ve had to deal with a few in my time.

Harris really likes you. Don’t break his heart, or you won’t be alive to regret it.”

Before he could respond to the threat, Aden turned around and headed for the door. As he

approached it, the door swung open and Harris wandered through.

“Rohan, do you mind if I paint around the mantel, too?” Harris asked, his attention on the paper he

was sketching on.

“Harris, you can do whatever you’d like,” Rohan said, a smile curving his mouth. Whenever he

saw his blood bonded, the bear shifter lifted his spirits.

Harris glanced up and caught sight of the maniac. “Aden!”

The joy in Harris’ voice had Rohan grinding his teeth. Harris shouldn’t be that happy to see anyone

but him. He barely resisted the urge to snatch Harris out of Aden’s arms as the two men embraced.

“What are you doing here?” Harris asked after pounding Aden’s back enthusiastically. Rohan

reluctantly gave the human points for not falling over from Harris’ exuberance.

“I’ve come to threaten your lover,” Aden said casually.

“Oh!” Harris looked from one man to the other with interest. “How did that go?”

Aden nodded. “Pretty well, I think. I didn’t completely scare him away.”

“Well, that’s good.” Harris glanced at Rohan through his lashes as if checking his status. “No

injuries?”

Aden patted Harris on the back. “Not yet. Call me if you need anything.”

“Always,” Harris said.

With one last manly hug, Aden left.

Harris let out a long sigh. “Well, you wanted to meet Aden,” he offered cheerfully.

“That is true.” Rohan tried to remember why he thought that was important. He’d definitely have

the human investigated. Find out if Aden truly had killed a vampire before. Somehow, he doubted
Aden ever lied about his conquests. The man had an air of frightening efficiency. He refocused his
attention on Harris. “Did you come to find me for some reason?”

Harris shuffled his feet for a bit and looked down at his shoes. “I was hoping you might be

available to go to the theater with me tomorrow night.”

“I didn’t know you enjoyed plays,” Rohan said, pleased at Harris’ initiative. So far, he’d been the

one to make all the moves. To have Harris ask him out gave him hope for their future. Not that he
planned on letting the shifter leave him in this lifetime, but it was nice to think they’d at least get
along.

“There’s a new play opening tomorrow. I did some volunteer work on the set design for the theater,

and they sent me a nice set of tickets as a thank you,” Harris rushed his words together as he spoke,
conveying his nerves over the invitation.

“I’d love to go with you,” Rohan replied.

The bear shifter’s smile couldn’t get any brighter if he tried.

* * * *

Harris smiled as he examined the theater. The Chinese theme spread from the foo lions in the lobby to
the dragons and phoenixes decorating the ceiling and walls. An enormous imperial five-toed dragon
emerged from the ceiling above, carrying a light in its mouth that represented the pearl of wisdom.
Harris loved both this theater and musicals.

“You didn’t tell me it was a musical,” Rohan growled.

Harris patted Rohan on the leg. “Hush, you’ll enjoy it.”

The groan he received made him smile more. It was sexier that Rohan might not enjoy the play but

was willing to sit through it anyway to make Harris happy.

As soon as the lights went down, Rohan set his hand on Harris’ thigh and left it there throughout the

first act. Harris didn’t argue since Rohan’s fingers didn’t wander. Harris enjoyed the simple evening
of going out to dinner and a play with his man.

Could he call a vampire his boyfriend? Or did he need to use the more formal blood bonded

designation? Maybe partner would work for human friends who didn’t know about vampires.

He waited until the intermission when they were standing back in the upper-story lobby to broach

the subject. “So, how do I introduce you to people? Are you my boyfriend? My partner?”

Rohan narrowed his eyes at Harris. “I don’t care what you call me as long as you call me yours and

everyone understands we’re together.”

He held out his arm for Harris to take and escorted him into the foyer to get a drink. “How about a

soda?”

“No. But I’ll take a cookie.”

Harris happily waited beside Rohan as he ordered Harris’ dessert.

“Vampire, you must die!” a man screamed from the crowd. Before Harris could react, a thin, dark-

haired man lunged at Rohan with a knife. Rohan ducked, but the edge of the knife caught his arm.
Furious at the sight of his mate injured, Harris swiped at the attacker, throwing him off the balcony
with the force of his hit.

Rohan laughed. “My hero!”

Harris caught sight of blood dripping down Rohan’s arm. He quickly grabbed some napkins and

pressed them to the wound. “Are you all right?”

“Just a little nick, I’m going to go rinse off. I’ll be right back. Wait here and behave.” Rohan kissed

Harris’ cheek.

“I don’t make any promises,” Harris grumbled. He didn’t know what was wrong with that kid who

attacked Rohan, but he’d put an end to him if he came after Rohan again. The last worries as to
whether Rohan would be a good mate or not vanished. Harris wouldn’t feel this protective of just
anyone. Rohan was the one. The other half of his soul.

He watched Rohan touch one of the stone foo lions as he walked down the hall leaving a slight

trace of blood in his wake. Harris hoped the cleaners noticed that and wiped it down. For a moment,
he thought the statue moved, but maybe the stress of the night was getting to him.

“Are you okay, Harris?” A man dressed in a suit with a name badge approached Harris. He

recognized him as Duncan, the theater general manager. “I heard you were attacked by that guy with a
knife. He’s being held by security, and we called the police. Were you hurt?”

“No, I’m fine. My friend was the one attacked, and he only has a scratch.” Harris peeked over

Duncan’s shoulder to see if Rohan was returning yet.

“I’m sure the police will want to speak to you when they arrive,” Duncan said knowingly.

Harris nodded. “Let us know when they get here.” He looked nervously around at all the people

staring. He didn’t like being the focus of the employees’ attention. He just wanted to leave. He didn’t
like Rohan being apart from him. “Excuse me; I’m going to check on my friend.”

“Oh, of course. Let us know if there is anything else we can get for you.”

Harris made some non-committal sound before rushing after his vampire.

Rohan was emerging from the bathroom when he approached. “Hello, beloved.”

“Are you okay?” Harris asked.

Rohan nodded. “I’m almost all healed.” He held up his arm to show Harris the slight scratch now

barely a visible line.

The lights dimmed, letting them know it was time to return for the second half of the play. “How

about we go home,” Harris said. Immediately, he tried to bite back his words, but they were already
there like the giant elephant in the room. He now considered Rohan’s mansion his home. When had
that happened?

Rohan slid his uninjured hand around Harris’ and tugged him toward the stairs. “Let’s go, beloved.

I’ll need to make some calls and see if can learn more about this attack.”

Harris reviewed the encounter in his mind. “I don’t think it was random. The guy’s eyes weren’t

right, and he knew you were a vampire. I’m thinking a sorcerer put him up to it,” Guilt churned
Harris’ stomach for tossing the guy. For all he knew, the human had been enchanted with no control
over his actions.

“Hey, don’t beat yourself up about it. You didn’t know. You were protecting your mate,” Rohan

soothed.

As they reached the bottom floor, they spotted Rohan’s attacker. He stood in handcuffs, apparently

none the worse for wear except for a bruise on one cheek from where Harris had hit him.

“I’m sorry, man,” the brown-haired man said. “I don’t know what happened. I don’t even own a

knife.”

“Uh huh,” the arresting officer flicked a gaze over Rohan and Harris. “I’m taking him to the

downtown station. Come by and fill out a report tonight. You have enough witnesses to corroborate
your story.”

“I’m really sorry,” Rohan’s attacker shouted as they hauled him out of the lobby.

“I think you’re right. I think he was used,” Rohan said.

Harris scanned the crowd. The theatergoers were beginning to thin now that the excitement had

faded and the lights were flickering for them to return to their seats. One minor attack with no injuries
wouldn’t stop them from their play, especially when the attacker had been captured. The incident
would merely give them something to whisper about over late-night coffee.

“I’ll have one of my vamps go spring him. I’ll send Madeleine; she can wipe the arresting officers’

minds so they don’t remember the arrest. We can then interrogate him for answers.”

“No.” Harris shook his head. “What if the point is to bring him in the middle of the vampire

enclave? I’ll ask Carey to pick him up. You can still send vamps to do the mind wipe, but my friends
can interrogate him and let us know what they learn.”

“You trust them to find out the truth?” Rohan opened the outer door to let Harris through.

“Yes.” Harris stepped outside then scanned the area around them, searching the night for any

hidden dangers. “Carey will find out what the attacker knows if he knows anything.”

Harris sniffed. The whiff of something unusual, something that didn’t belong, reached him.

“Something wrong?” Rohan asked.

“I thought I smelled ash.”

“Could be a wood-burning stove or someone’s hibachi,” Rohan said. “I called for our driver while

I was cleaning up. He should be here soon.”

“Good.” A quick scan of the buildings around them didn’t reveal any balconies where a barbecue

could be placed. Instead, a sea of office buildings met his gaze.

“I don’t see anything,” Rohan replied, but Harris noticed the vampire continued to examine the

surrounding area as they waited for their driver.

“Something’s coming.” Harris didn’t bother to mention what. He didn’t know, but it tickled at the

edge of his mind as if trying to gain entrance. “Crap, I think it’s a sorcerer.”

Rohan’s frowned. “How do you know?”

“I can smell him,” Harris said. “I think he’s trying to spell me.”

The tingling sensation of someone trying to access his brain went from light to more heavy-handed,

still a useless endeavor but more uncomfortable.

“He can’t be that far away if he’s trying to control you, but I don’t see anything,” Rohan said.

“I thought they’d gone away?” Harris had hoped they were gone for now.

“No.” Rohan shook his head. “It would take more than burning down their home to make them

leave. They hate vampires. They want our territory, and I’m sure now that their hideout has been
discovered, they will want our land more than ever.”

“I don’t know why you guys can’t get along. If you overlook their evil mind-wiping tendencies and

soul-sucking control, sorcerers aren’t that bad,” Harris teased.

“We’ve been fighting for hundreds of years. Just because there are more humans here now doesn’t

mean we’ll give up our fighting ways,” Rohan explained.

“I know, but there is enough room for everyone. Why does there have to be a fight? Why are

sorcerers so determined to wipe everyone out?”

Chapter Five

Rohan raised his right eyebrow at Harris. “Aren’t you one of the people who almost eliminated a
werewolf pack?” He’d heard some wild stories about the four men who lived in the Queen Anne
mansion even before he’d met Harris. He’d wondered how many of them were true until he’d been
part of a party to rescue Eaton from the sorcerers. The four men didn’t take any prisoners. If Eaton
hadn’t walked out on his own, they would’ve razed the building to the ground and possibly salted the
earth afterward for good measure.

Harris’ bashful smile spiked Rohan’s desire. The bear shifter was a tempting combination of sweet

shyness  and  bravery.  However,  Rohan  had  learned  over  the  past  few  weeks  that  Harris’  boldness
faded  when  it  came  to  personal  matters.  He  comfortably  shouldered  a  large  weapon  and  handled  a
brush  with  ease;  however,  having  him  share  his  emotions  ended  up  in  stumbling  words  and  wistful
smiles.

If Rohan couldn’t smell the need pouring off of Harris whenever Rohan was near, he’d swear the

bear shifter didn’t need him as badly as Rohan craved Harris. Mindful of the possibility of being
watched, Rohan slipped his hand around the back of Harris’ neck, relishing the feel of warm flesh
beneath his fingers. Harris shuddered from the touch.

The limo stopped in front of them. Not waiting for the driver, Rohan opened the door and all but

shoved Harris inside. He didn’t want his mate to be a large target for any attack. He didn’t know what
the sorcerers were up to, but an encounter with them had never resulted in anything positive.

Harris didn’t speak as they headed back to Rohan’s house. “You’ll be safe in my house,” Rohan

reassured him.

“I’d be safe at my house, too,” Harris countered.

“No!” Rohan didn’t trust anyone else to watch over Harris. “I need you by me. I won’t be certain

you’re safe unless I can see you.” He didn’t try to hide the panic piercing his chest.

Harris touched Rohan’s knee. “Hey, I’m fine. You were the one under attack.”

“I was, but if they know how I feel…”

Harris frowned. “How do you feel?”

Rohan cupped Harris’ face. “If you were injured, I’d never forgive myself.” He held back the

words he yearned to say. Harris wasn’t ready to hear about Rohan’s dedication. The rest of the coven
was going to have to get used to having a bear in their midst, because Rohan planned to be around for

a long time. They were doubly bound by vampire and shifter bonds, they couldn’t be parted.

“I’m a bit tougher than you seem to think. I’ve trained with Aden. Unless it’s a Special Forces

soldier trying to take me out, I’m pretty safe. I’m not exactly a fluffy kitten, you know.”

Rohan realized he needed to do damage control. “It isn’t that I don’t think you can protect yourself.

It’s just that I worry. You are precious to me.”

Harris lunged. His hard mouth pressed against Rohan in a soul-searing kiss. For the first time in

centuries, Rohan let another person take the lead. Harris wasn’t like the others; he had nothing to gain.
The shifter only wanted Rohan. The vampire could feel the need pouring off his mate in waves of
hunger like a feral beast. Harris licked, nipped and held Rohan still while he feasted on Rohan’s
mouth.

“I need you,” Harris moaned.

Not close to what Rohan was hoping for, but maybe, one day Harris would change need to love.

Rohan relaxed beneath Harris. “How do you want me?”

“Right there,” Harris slid to the floor of the limo, then deftly unzipped Rohan’s pants. “I’m going to

suck you down, and when we get back to your place, you can fuck me into the mattress.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Rohan hardened even more after hearing about the details.

“It does, doesn’t it?” Harris said agreeably. He slid down Rohan’s underwear, exposing his cock.

Wrapping a big hand around Rohan’s erection, Harris lapped at the tip. “You taste delicious.”

“I’m glad you think so.” He’d never seen anyone that invested in sucking him before.

“Like honey,” Harris flashed Rohan a teasing smile through his dark lashes.

“No biting,” Rohan warned. “That’s my thing.”

“Not even a nibble?”

“No.” Rohan tried to keep his voice firm while Harris did obscene things with his mouth. For a

sweet-natured man, he knew his way around a man’s cock. Rohan firmly pushed away how Harris
became experienced. If he met a single one of Harris’ ex-lover’s, he’d snap their neck. No one should
know the joy of Harris’ touch except him.

Rohan slid his fingers through Harris’ hair, touching the soft strands with forced gentleness. He

really wanted to grab Harris’ head and fuck his mouth, but he couldn’t treat his mate as harshly as he
might have treated a one-night stand in the past. Harris would be his forever. His mate needed a softer
touch.

Harris swallowed Rohan’s cock, making Rohan’s eyes roll back into his head with pleasure. “Oh,

beloved, you are so good at that,” he whispered. Unable to resist Harris’ mouth, Rohan gave himself

up to his lover’s touch. Harris swallowed Rohan’s cum with little difficulty, then sat back on his
heels with a wide smile.

“Like honey.”

Rohan laughed. “Come back up here.”

Harris zipped and tidied Rohan back up before joining him on the seat.

Rohan opened his arms for Harris to snuggle closer. If anyone accused Rohan of being a cuddler,

he’d deny it to their last breath, which would quickly follow their statement.

“Kiss me,” Rohan demanded.

“Bossy!” Harris scolded.

“Yes, I am,” Rohan agreed.

An explosion rocked the limo. “What was that?” Harris jerked his head around to look out the limo

window.

“Sorcerers,” Rohan peered out the window. “Fuckers.”

Harris pulled out his phone and started dialed frantically.

“What are you doing?” Rohan asked.

“Getting help.” Someone picked up the phone, but Rohan didn’t know who until Harris called him

by name. “Carey, help! Sorcerers are attacking our limo. We’re downtown by the courthouse.”

He must’ve received a positive response, because he disconnected the line and peered out the

window again.

“This car is bomb proof,” Rohan said. He couldn’t hide his irritation over having Harris depend on

someone else.

“But, is it sorcerer proof?” Harris asked. “Some of them can shoot some pretty bad stuff.”

“How do you know?” Rohan asked. “When we went to the sorcerer’s last time, they didn’t put up

too much of a fight.”

“I did some research after that encounter,” Harris admitted. He ran his fingers through his hair,

ruffling the parts Rohan had smoothed over. For a brief second, Rohan saw the beast beneath the
surface.

“What did you learn?”

“That they must be up to something bigger, since they let us go so easily. They probably have plans

we know nothing about. After trying to poison you and succeeding with some of your people, they’ve
gone underground to plan and plot. I don’t trust them. They are inherently evil. Their leader froze his
own son,” Harris reminded him.

“Whatever happened to Gallen?” The last he’d seen of the young man was at Carey’s house.

“I put him in the garden,” Harris admitted.

“What do you mean you put him in the garden?” His visions of a crystal coffin displayed among

the roses drifted in his mind. An idea not dismissed by Harris’ next words.

“Well, he’s like Snow White without the dwarves. He can’t wake up until he’s kissed by his

prince. I wanted to do this huge glass coffin thing, but Aden thought it would attract the cops, so I
made him a metal filigree one. You can’t even really see him unless you know he’s there.” Harris
said, warming to his topic.

“Doesn’t he get rained on?” Rohan asked reluctantly fascinated.

Harris shook his head. Aden knew a witch who owed him a favor. The witch put a spell on it, so

Gallen doesn’t get drenched. It was the only way Carey would agree to the garden thing.

“Surely, there’s a way to free him.” Amusement curled Rohan’s mouth. He doubted he’d ever be

bored with Harris by his side.

“Carey’s been calling around to see if anyone knows how to break the curse, but so far, they’ve all

said we need to find Gallen’s mate. That’s the only way to break the spell. According to the last
wizard, Gallen’s mate will feel the pull toward him. It’s a matter of waiting,” Harris explained.

Another explosion rocked the limo.

Harris tensed.

“We’ll be fine,” Rohan said. He stroked Harris’ arm. “The driver knows what he’s doing. We’ll

get home safely.” Even as he said the words, he vowed to wipe out every sorcerer he came across for
causing that moment of fear in Harris’ eyes.

A loud piercing screech and the scrape of claws across the top of the limo alerted Rohan to a new

presence.

“Eaton’s here,” Harris said.

The explosions ended. Rohan didn’t like being the one to cower in the vehicle while others fought

his battles. However, Rohan didn’t dare open the door and expose Harris to a potential enemy.

“I should go help him,” Harris declared.

“No!” Rohan shouted. No way would he let his bear put himself in danger, not while Rohan still

could protect him.

“Why not?” The confusion in Harris’ eyes settled Rohan’s conviction.

“Because you might be able to hide the fact that a huge eagle has entered downtown but a bear

could get tranqued.”

“True, but if they come after you, all bets are off.” A flash of fang revealed Harris’ bear had risen

to the surface.

“Easy, love. Let’s get home in one piece before we worry about anything else. We’ll be safe here,”

Rohan assured him.

“Are you certain about that?” While they were talking, the divider between driver and the

passengers slid down. Vick grinned at them through the opening in the reflected mirror. Not an
expression Rohan saw often on his lips.

“What are you doing here?” Vick never drove the limo. Rohan didn’t even know if Vick had a

proper license.

“I came to make sure the sorcerers didn’t miss,” Vick replied. “They have a tendency to fail in their

attacks.”

“You’re working for the sorcerers?” Rohan couldn’t hide his surprise. Vick had been a valuable

member of the coven for six years. “Why?”

“Because they promised me I could lead once you were gone,” Vick said, his eyes wild.

“You could lead now if you weren’t such a gullible idiot,” Rohan said. “You think they’re going to

leave anyone alive to be in charge of anything? They’ll kill all of us, and you first, since they’ll know
they can’t trust you.”

Vick snorted. “They said you would try and get me to turn on them, but once I kill your pet, you’ll

be docile.”

“You kill my blood bonded and I’ll rip out your throat,” Rohan said, putting as much conviction in

his voice as he could. He couldn’t lose Harris. If anything happened to the bear shifter, he’d never
forgive himself.

Another explosion went off, and Vick pulled the limo over to the side. “That’s my signal.”

Rohan peered through the tinted glass. He could see people milling about outside, but he didn’t

know enough of the hawks to figure out which side the people were on.

“It doesn’t matter who wins here. I’ve got what I need.” Vick pointed a gun at Harris. “I know you

wouldn’t want to endanger your pretty bear.”

“Aww, you think I’m pretty?” Harris batted his eyes at the vampire.

“I think you are the reason we are failing as a species. Too much interspecies mingling,” Vick said

in a disgusted voice.

“You do know that as a gay man, I wasn’t going to reproduce anyway, right?” Rohan asked, dryly.

“Don’t be a smart ass, Rohan. You could’ve been the best ruler ever, but instead, you dull our fangs

and restrict our hunting. We could run this city, but you have us hiding in the shadows, afraid of
humans hunting us. I say, let them come, we’ll use them for food.” Vick giggled.

“Which sorcerer is yours?” Harris asked unexpectedly.

“What?” Vick asked.

“You’re obviously under a sorcerer’s control. Which one?” Harris persisted.

Rohan peeked outside. “Vampires can’t be controlled by sorcerers, Harris.” There, that was

definitely Eaton punching out a sorcerer.

“He doesn’t control me,” Vick said. “He loves me.”

Rohan’s head snapped back around. “You fell in love with a sorcerer?”

Harris and Rohan exchanged knowing glances. A sorcerer could influence a vampire if the vampire

was stupid enough to drink his blood.

“I’m not in love,” Vick sneered. “We are partners. I don’t touch men.”

“Are you the one who poisoned the humans?” That was one thing Rohan hadn’t been able to figure

out. How the humans had become poisoned. He foolishly hadn’t believed a member of his coven
could’ve done such a thing.

“You are a bit slow, aren’t you? Didn’t think any of your people could turn on you?”

Rohan owed Madeleine an apology. Privately, he’d thought she might be the source of the problem.

“I guess I hoped the people I’ve cared for over the past few centuries had some loyalty,” Rohan

admitted. The betrayal hurt more than he thought possible.

“You know how it goes. It’s all about what you’ve done for us lately,” Vick mocked.

Without warning, he fired his pistol. Harris jerked back. A blossom of blood spread across his

chest.

“No!” Rohan screamed. Horror took over his good sense as Harris blinked up at him with pain-

filled eyes.

Another weapon fired. The sound had him snapping around in time to see a hole appear in Vick’s

head before the vampire tumbled over onto the seat. The limo door swept open and Aden appeared in
the opening.

“Harris has been shot!” Rohan shouted. He couldn’t think. Panic overwhelmed his mind like white

noise. With shaking hands he tried to stop the flow of blood pouring from his mate. For the first time,
he didn’t want the life-giving liquid, not if it meant the death of his beloved.

“Keep it together, boy!” Aden snapped. With quick, efficient movements, Aden stripped off Harris

shirt and turned him to examine the wound. A hole pierced Harris’ back. “It went through. We need to
get him back to the mansion.”

“M-my house is closer,” Rohan stuttered out.

“We don’t know who in your coven to trust. This guy might not have been the only one.” Aden

pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket. “Keep pressure on his wound.”

Before he could respond by more than taking control of the cloth, Aden stepped back and slammed

the door behind him.

“I can do this. Stick with me, beloved. I need you by my side.” Words of love and adoration

tumbled from Rohan’s lips. He couldn’t stop spilling every thought and secret to Harris. Throughout
the drive, Harris said little and his labored breathing frightened Rohan. “Please, beloved, don’t leave
me.”

If Harris were a human, Rohan could’ve saved him with a bite and converted him to a vampire.

Shifters didn’t work like that. Once a shifter, always a shifter. Rohan could bite Harris until the end
of his days and he’d never become a vamp.

“I-I’m not going anywhere,” Harris whispered. Heavy lids covered his usually vibrant eyes, and he

lost consciousness.

Rohan chilled as he imagined the emptiness of his years without Harris.

There was at least one thing he could do to save his mate. Being a vampire master came with a few

extra abilities. Focusing on his lover, Rohan poured energy across their psychic link until Harris’
forehead relaxed from some of the tension. “Stay with me, and together, we’ll hunt down the fuckers
who did this to you,” Rohan vowed.

Chapter Six

Harris floated on a sea of peace. A fluffy cloud surrounded him on all sides as he drifted peacefully,
his mind empty and calm.

Come back to me, beloved.

A man’s insistent voice interrupted his serenity. Harris frowned. He recognized that tone.

Demanding. Determined. Shaking it off, Harris returned to his nothingness. Maybe his friends were
right, he did overcomplicate things. This was where he belonged.

Don’t you even think about leaving me!

Damn, the intruder of his dreams was quite insistent. Why does he keep interrupting my quiet?

Wake the fuck up, boy!

Aden.

Harris jolted awake, gasping. He blinked rapidly to bring the room into focus. He was back at the

mansion on Queen Anne. It took him a moment to realize Aden and Rohan stood over his bed, glaring
at him.

“About time you woke; you were just being lazy,” Aden scolded, but Harris could see the relief in

Aden’s hard features. Years of exposure to the stern man had made reading Aden come down to an art
form.

“Sorry,” he replied.

Aden nodded to show Harris was forgiven. “I’ll leave you here with your mate. You’ve worried

him enough.”

Harris smiled as Aden turned and left the room without another word.

“He really loves you,” Rohan said as if trying to explain Aden’s cold behavior.

Harris laughed. “I know.” He examined Rohan’s expression and saw stress around his eyes and the

scent of worry pouring off of him. “What happened?” He unconsciously rubbed a sore spot on his
chest.

“Vick shot you,” Rohan explained.

“Oh right.” He didn’t know how to soothe the pain in Rohan’s voice. Harris didn’t think they had a

greeting card for their situation. “But I’m fine now, right?”

Rohan nodded. “Yeah, your fine.”

Tears filled the vampire’s eyes. Harris scooted over on the bed. “Come here.”

Without argument, Rohan crawled up on the bed beside him. “I thought I’d lost you. I should’ve

snapped the bastard’s neck. I was so shocked that I had no clue this entire time. I guess I’m not as
smart as I thought.”

“Hey.” Harris wouldn’t let anyone insult his mate, even Rohan. “There’s nothing wrong with

trusting the people who are supposed to have your back.”

Rohan laughed, a sad, forlorn sound. “Supposed to is the operative phrase. What if he wasn’t the

only one? What if more of my coven is involved? I never thought Vick would turn on me. We were
together in the coven for six years and friends for a lot longer.”

The pain in Rohan’s voice tore Harris apart. “Hey, you have me. Together, we will figure this thing

out. If we have to, we’ll have Aden strap them all to lie detector tests and force them to answer.”

Rohan laughed; this time, real amusement filled the sound. “I never thought a human could be so

intimidating.”

“When I was young, I used to imagine he was part robot like in those Terminator movies.”

“The last one where the guy looks human?” Rohan asked.

Harris nodded. “Yeah.”

“I could see that,” Rohan agreed. “I haven’t been a very good mate.”

Rohan’s voice, low and confiding as if he was sharing a painful secret, tore away the last of

Harris’ dream. “You are an excellent mate. It’s not your fault you didn’t know Vick was a traitor.”

He could smell the guilt and shame pouring off of Rohan. “Hey.” He cuddled his vampire close and

stroked his hair. It amused him a bit to play the part of caretaker. Rohan generally wasn’t the type to
want to be coddled. Harris knew he was one of the privileged few who would ever see the vampire
so vulnerable. “It’ll be all right.”

“It will.” Rohan said, his words gaining some of their former confidence. “Rumors have spread

over your death. I’m sorry to say, beloved, but you didn’t survive the bullet.”

“That is sad,” Harris agreed. “I’ll miss me.”

Rohan laughed. “I am going to return to my coven today and test them to figure out who also might

be responsible. I doubt Vick acted alone. He wasn’t exactly a mastermind, and even with clear

direction from a sorcerer, he wouldn’t have been able to pull it off.”

“I see you’ve given this a lot of thought,” Harris said. His heart sped up as he imagined Rohan

confronting his people.

“Relax, I’ll be fine,” Rohan said. “I can hear your heart racing, and I know you are worrying. If I

run into any trouble, I’ll call you.”

“But, what if they kill you? How are you going to call me then? I doubt they’ll have cell phones in

hell!” Harris snapped.

Rohan smiled. “So certain I’m going to dance with the devil, my love?”

“Don’t toy with me, Rohan, I don’t like this at all,” Harris warned.

“Will it make you feel better to know your scary Aden is wiretapping me and waiting outside the

coven house to intercede if necessary,” Rohan said.

“Yes. Is he going to do that?” Relief swept through Harris. Aden wouldn’t let Rohan be injured.

Not that he didn’t think his powerful vampire couldn’t handle himself, but he would feel better if
Rohan had backup.”

“He mentioned it as a possibility,” Rohan said.

“Take him up on it. I’ll worry a lot less if I know Aden is there.”

“You trust him that much?”

Harris knew Rohan didn’t understand Harris’ unwavering devotion to Aden. “When I was younger,

I’d been captured by a hunter. He’d killed my parents, and for his own sick amusement, he locked me
in a cage and kept me in his backyard. Carey ran across me when he was vacationing with his father.
When Carey realized I was a shifter, he went and fetched Aden. Aden killed my captor in front of me
so I would never have to look behind my shoulder for the rest of my life. Then, he took me home and
raised me. There’s nothing Aden Gale could ever do that would shake my faith in him,” Harris
vowed.

“I had no idea,” Rohan said. “I must remember to thank your Aden for killing the man who caged

you.”

“No need,” Harris said. “I said my thanks years ago. Aden knows I’m grateful.”

Rohan nodded. “I begin to see why you have so much faith in your friends.”

Harris smiled. “I want to come with you to the coven. How they react to seeing me alive might be

even more telling. I’ll be able to scent who is deceptive.”

“You didn’t with Vick,” Rohan pointed out.

“I did, but I figured I just hated him because he’d been in your bed,” Harris confessed.

“He’s never been in my bed.”

“I know that now. He’d implied it before.”

“Why didn’t you just come ask me?”

“Because, I didn’t want to come off as a needy idiot who couldn’t cope with his older lover having

sex before him. I was trying to be sophisticated,” Harris grinned.

Rohan kissed Harris on the cheek. “Next time, just ask.

Harris nodded. “Will do.”

He’d been foolish by trying to be worldlier. His mate didn’t care if Harris had a bit of innocence

around him; anyone would be more naïve than a centuries-old vampire.

“Let’s get you some food, beloved. After you’ve eaten, we’ll go see who in my coven needs to be

burned to meet their gods.”

Harris nodded. They were done messing around. Whoever thought it was a good idea to mess with

the coven leader had just made their last mistake.

Rohan entered the coven mansion, Harris at his back. He knew Aden was listening in through the

small microphone mounted on Rohan’s shirt in place of one of his buttons. He felt like a secret agent.
Unfortunately, he probably resembled one of those bumbling, clueless spies they had in comedies
instead of James Bond.

Harris squeezed his shoulder, laying his nerves to rest with one touch. He’d been lucky to find his

bear shifter. When he thought he’d lost Harris, his grief had almost been unbearable. Rohan knew if
Harris had died, he would’ve happily gone too. Now, he figured someone else in his coven had
figured out the same thing. Get rid of the companion and the vampire would follow.

The first person he saw through the doors was Madeleine. She barely paused in her walk across the

foyer. “There you are.” Her gaze flashed to his office and back. He would’ve missed the action if he
hadn’t been looking for it.

“Oh, Maddie,” Rohan said softly. “How could you?”

Madeleine didn’t even pretend to not understand. “Because he would make me his wife. To you,

I’ll always only be a soldier.”

She pulled out a pistol.

“It doesn’t have to be this way,” Rohan objected. “You can still get out of it.”

His lieutenant’s twisted smile told him she had no intention of doing any such thing. “You always

were blind, Rohan. I just never knew you were stupid, too.”

She disengaged the safety, pointed it at Rohan, then fell to the ground—a bullet through her

forehead.

“Nice shot, love,” Rohan said.

“I thought so.”

He’d been shocked when Aden had suggested they arm Harris, but now, he was glad they did. No

one would suspect Harris of hiding a weapon. The sweet artist had a more ruthless side Rohan was
just now beginning to appreciate. The man who comfortably handled a firearm to rescue his friend
turned out to be an expert in most weapons.

“Who do you think is hiding in your office?” Harris asked.

“I don’t know, but I don’t like the fact that the only person we ran across so far is Maddie.” This

time of day, the mansion was usually filled with people. Humans, vampires, visitors ran in and out of
the mansion to take care of things for most of the day. To see no one around worried Rohan.

“The hawks are circling outside. We can call them in if we need to,” Harris reminded him.

Rohan took a deep breath. He didn’t know what he was up against, but he knew standing outside the

doors wasn’t going to find him the answer he needed. Had he been fooling himself this entire time?
Did his people not truly respect him and only followed him until someone better came along? This
newfound insecurity grated at his nerves. I’m a good leader, dammit!

Harris squeezed his shoulder. “Let’s go, mate.”

The glow from Harris’ support was only surpassed by the mate designation. He doubted Harris

even realized what he said, but it still caused a happy warmth to flow from Rohan’s chest.

With a nod to his lover, he pushed the den door and swept it open.

A sorcerer sat in Rohan’s chair behind the large wooden desk. Two more henchmen sat opposite

him, obviously bodyguards.

The sorcerer glanced up, and Rohan recognized him. Theos, the leader of the sorcerer’s, gave him

a smug, slimy smile.

“Oh, you survived, that’s too bad,” Theos said in a tsk-tsking tone as if Rohan had disappointed

him by his lack of dying.

“I hate disappointing you, but I plan on taking back my coven,” Rohan said as he tried to figure out

a plan. “Where are they, by the way?”

“Who?” Theos asked. Rohan wasn’t the least bit fooled by his fake innocence.

“My coven. Where are they?”

“I wouldn’t worry so much about your coven as I would yourself,” Theo countered. He flipped a

paper over on the desk. “I have a document here I need you to sign, so I supposed it is good that
you’ve survived. It amazes me that none of your foolish coven members realized the building and land
revert to the state in case of your death. Putting your people out in the street, shame on you.”

Theos shook his head sadly as if he were truly concerned with the plight of the displaced.

“It’s to discourage people from trying to assassinate the coven leader,” Rohan explained.

“Finding that effective, are you?” Theos mocked.

“Not particularly. The way I see it, there are two of us and three of you. I like those odds,” Rohan

said. Secretly, he hoped Theos didn’t have a dozen more henchmen nearby at his beck and call.

“Kill me and you’ll never find out where I hid your coven,” Theos warned.

“Who said I wanted them back; they’ve only caused me trouble,” Rohan bluffed.

Theos grinned. “Nice try, but it took us so long to infiltrate your coven because most of your people

are ridiculously loyal. Now, if you sign this paper giving us all rights to your land and property, I’ll
let your people go.”

“And if I don’t?”

“I’ll make your bear kill himself,” Theos said confidently.

Rohan thought over the possibilities of where a handful of sorcerers could take a vampire coven

and came up with a limited number of options. He had no doubt they were down in the basement. He
flashed a look at Harris, who nodded. He hoped they were both on the same page. It took a few
months of bonding before a vampire couple could read each other’s’ minds; until then, they were at
the mercy of guessing.

“Go ahead,” Rohan said.

“I warned you,” Theos said. Rohan felt the prickle of magic rush across him on its way to Harris.

Harris pulled out his pistol and pointed it to his head.

“One last chance,” Theos said.

Has the inoculation worn off? Maybe Harris hadn’t really been given the shot. Doubts crowded

through Rohan’s head, but he did the one thing Harris always claimed he could, he trusted Harris’
friends.

“Go ahead,” he dared.

Theos narrowed his eyes. Harris shot both of the henchmen before turning his gun toward the head

sorcerer. Rohan had taken his gaze off the sorcerer when Harris began shooting. He gasped when he
turned back. Theos was gone.

“He’ll be back,” Aden said. He human slid through an open window as he spoke. “Sorcerers are

like cockroaches. The only time they’re truly dead is when you have to scrape them off the bottom of
your shoe.”

Rohan wondered if the human had had a bad experience with sorcerers in his past, but he didn’t

feel like he knew Aden well enough to ask. “Thanks for your help.”

Aden nodded at Rohan with a bit of old-world charm. “Always happy to help family. Your

vampires are in the basement. I suspect that most if not all of them are innocent.”

“Thanks.” Rohan watched the human until Aden had gone through the doors and completely

vanished from sight. His father had always taught him to not to take his eyes off the biggest predator in
the room.

“What do you say, love? Shall we go and rescue your people?” Harris asked.

“They’re our people,” Rohan said. “And yes, let’s go rescue them.”

Rohan took the arm Harris held out to him and headed down the stairs where they did, indeed, find

all the vampires and humans alike. Rohan couldn’t stop smiling. It had been a good day in the end.

Epilogue

Aden approached the filigreed casket. Gallen lay there still as death. He didn’t know why he felt
compelled to visit the sorcerer’s casket, but he couldn’t help himself. A compulsion hit him every
time he came to visit Carey.

He couldn’t pass by the garden without checking on the sorcerer lying there. He almost felt sorry

for the kid. After his stay in a sorcerer’s dungeon, Aden harbored a deep hatred of the species, but
this sorcerer wasn’t like the others. The kid was as much a victim as much as any of their prisoners
before, his life on hold while the enchantment stayed in place.

“Hang tight, kid, I’ll see if I can find your mate,” Aden whispered. For some reason, he didn’t like

the idea of anyone kissing Gallen. Not that he was homophobic or anything. Hell, he was bisexual
himself but generally abstained from sex of any kind. Sex led to relationships, which took away from
his focus of watching over his boys and taking special projects for the government.

He thought Gallen might become another kid under his protection, but he didn’t feel paternal

toward this one. Instead, he wondered if Gallen’s lips were as soft as they looked and if he was
breathing properly.

Aden sighed. He had another trip out of town in the morning, his last one for a while. “I’m getting

too old.”

He knew soon he’d have to retire. He might still be faster than most of the men his age but that

didn’t make him quicker than everyone else. Time for Aden Gale to be put out to pasture before
someone buried him under one.

“See you later, kid,” Aden said. Impulsively, he reached through the metalwork to stroke Gallen’s

cheek. “Fuck, I’m definitely too old for this.”

He turned and walked away, determined to erase the image burning in his mind of a young man, the

age of his own son, and the odd, almost overwhelming, need to kiss him.

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