A Nip of Good Cheer

Just a little Love Bite: When you ignore your
senses, you can miss out on something pretty
important.

Daystrum  Striplan,  second  in  command  of  the
Esson vampire coven, knows he’s been distracted
the  past  month  or  two.  He  just  can’t  figure  out
what  tugs  at  his  mind…or  rather…whom.  Every
night Daystrum’s dreams are plagued by a slender
male  figure  with  striking  blue  eyes.  When  he
wakes, his fangs ache with the need to sink them
into  the  man’s  column  of  tanned  flesh  and  taste
his  blood.  Unfortunately,  Daystrum  can’t
remember where or when—hell, even if—he’s met
the  man  in  his  dreams.  Then,  the  evening  of  the
coven Christmas party, Daystrum scents the object
of his obsession, Korbin Harris. He’s not the only
one  who  notices  the  human,  though.  Jaymes,  the
master  of  a  visiting  coven  also  expresses  his
interest,  and  that  vampire  doesn’t  have  to  beg
forgiveness  for  forgetting  their  first  meeting…a
meeting  that  Korbin  remembers.  Can  Daystrum
earn the forgiveness and affection of his wayward
beloved?

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A Nip of Good Cheer

ISBN: 978-1-4874-0153-5

Cover art by Carmen Waters

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Chapter One

ey, Kor, did you finish the calculus
homework?”

Korbin Harris looked up from the chemistry

book  he  was  reading  and  focused  on  his  buddy,
Brock  Sanchez.  The  broad-shouldered,  barrel-
chested  jock  stood  in  the  doorway  to  the  study,
scowling in confusion at the book he held open in
his hand. It didn’t take a genius to figure out what
his friend was looking at.

Knowing his good friend’s next question,

Korbin neatly sidestepped it by dryly stating, “I
am not doing your homework for you, Brock. You
know that.”

Brock entered the study and sprawled on the

sofa that Korbin leaned against, letting the book
bounce next to him on the cushion. “Aw, come on,
Kor,” he whined. “I just want some help. That’s
all.”

“No.” Korbin set his pen down and turned to

focus on the other man. “You want to copy my
paper.” He smirked at Brock’s crestfallen look.

“H

Charlie Richards

“Exactly how many times did you expect me to
fall for that? Six? Ten? Always?”

Poking his bottom lip out in a pout—which

looked completely ridiculous on the six foot two
inch, broad-shouldered blond—Brock mumbled,
“I only did it twice.”

“That’s because I only let you see my

homework  sheet  twice,”  Korbin  pointed  out.
Feeling  some  pity  for  his  friend,  since  he  knew
Brock  had  always  struggled  with  any  form  of
math,  he  held  up  his  hand  and  wiggled  his
fingers.  “Show  me  what  you’re  working  on.
Maybe I can help.”

Over the years, Korbin, Brock, and their two

buddies,  Tyson  and  Kai,  had  helped  each  other
through  countless  problems.  They  all  had
strengths  and  weaknesses,  and  Korbin  knew
they’d always have each other’s backs. Ever since
Brock  and  Tyson  had  stopped  the  bullies  on  the
playground—the  jerks  had  been  trying  to  force
Korbin  and  Kai  to  eat  the  sand  in  the  sandbox—
yuck—they’d  stuck  together  like  the  three
musketeers.  Except,  there  were  four  of  them,  of
course.

Times were changing though, Korbin thought

absently  as  he  listened  to  Brock  heave  a  sigh.  He
watched his friend push back to a sitting position,
grab  his  textbook,  and  begin  leafing  through  it.
When  they’d  first  started  college  three  years
before,  all  four  of  them  had  lived  in  this  big

A Nip of Good Cheer

farmhouse. Now, only Korbin and Brock shared
the space.

Over the past summer, the four had gone to

Kansas  for  a  quick  vacation  before  starting  their
senior  year  of  college.  While  there,  Kai  had  met
and  fallen  head-over-heels  in  love  with  Dorian.
They’d  also  discovered  that  Kai’s  odd  ability  to
turn into a platypus wasn’t so rare after all. Dorian
could turn into a California condor.

On top of that, they’d met a whole group of

men that could turn into animals, from wolves to
bears to lions…oh my! Dorian and his friends had
explained fated mates and how being a shifter was
genetic. That meant one of Kai’s parents must
have been a shifter as well. Unfortunately, Kai’s
mother and father had passed away when he was
two, and his aunt and uncle had raised him.

When they’d returned from vacation, Dorian

and  a  bunch  of  his  friends  had  followed.  After
that,  he  and  a  few  others,  including  a  couple  of
vampires,  cleared  out  some  dingo  shifters  that
were  abusing  humans.  Now,  Kai  lived  with
Dorian  southwest  of  the  city  with  a  number  of
other shifters.

Their other friend, Tyson, had pined after the

wolf shifter, Logan. Their buddy hadn’t admitted
it,  of  course.  Instead,  he’d  buried  himself  in
school, working on their website design business,
and  tasks  to  help  his  mother.  Tyson  would
probably  still  be  doing  that  if  Korbin  and  Brock

Charlie Richards

hadn’t  dragged  him  out  to  a  bar.  Coincidentally,
Logan  had  also  been  at  the  bar,  and  when  he’d
spotted  Tyson  picking  up  a  trick,  sparks  had
flown.

Korbin still thought Kontra’s mate, Tim, had

something to do with that. Rumor had it the guy
was half vampire, half shifter, and had visions.

In the end, Logan accepted Tyson as his mate,

then  went  about  the  process  of  wooing  their
friend.  As  Korbin  had  watched  the  process,  he
found  his  thoughts  often  turning  to  a  blond  man
that  had visited their home when Dorian and his
friends  had  arrived.  Dylan,  Kai’s  cousin,  had  at
first  thought  the  man’s  hair  was  dark,  but  then
he’d realized it’d been a trick of the light since the
guy was standing in the shadows.

After that conversation, Korbin’s buddies had

razzed  him,  so  he’d  ignored  any  other  questions
they’d posed about the man. Hell, it wasn’t as if he
knew  anything  about  the  guy.  Instead,  he’d
spoken with Kontra—a grizzly shifter and the de-
facto  leader  of  the  motorcycle  gang  that  Dorian
and Logan had been a part of—who’d answered a
few  questions  about  vampires.  He’d  learned  that
vampires  didn’t  know  their  beloved  unless  they
tasted  the  person’s  blood.  Still,  the  donor’s blood
should have called to Daystrum, and since he had
never returned, Korbin figured he was just smitten
and did his best to put him out of his mind.

A Nip of Good Cheer

Most of the time, Korbin managed just

fine…until the lights went out and the dreams
came.

“Okay, so explain how I figure out a limit

again?”

Brock’s voice pulled Korbin out of his thoughts.

That was good, because Korbin didn’t want to get
a  boner  while  talking  about  calculus  with  his
friend.  That  would  just  be  all  kinds  of  awkward.
He  turned  his  attention  to  something  he
understood, and that was limit calculations.

Why couldn’t emotions and attraction be as simple

as laws of mathematics?

For the next thirty minutes, Korbin worked

with  Brock.  The  use  of  numbers  and  formulas
relaxed Korbin as nothing  else  could. Even  while
Brock  cussed  a  blue  streak  at  how  ridiculous  it
was,  and  how  it  made  no  sense,  Korbin  found
himself grinning.

Finally, something seemed to click for Brock.

After successfully solving an equation, he threw
his pencil down on the page and snarled, “Why
the fuck didn’t the professor explain it like that?”

“Everyone has different teaching styles,”

Korbin reminded him. “You know that.”

Brock scoffed. “Why don’t you teach the

course?” he grumbled. “Then maybe most of the
class will actually pass.”

“I’ve thought about it,” Korbin replied absently,

his mind already on the next problem and how to

Charlie Richards

adequately explain the differences from the prior
one, so Brock would continue to make progress.

“What?”
Realizing what he’d thoughtlessly admitted,

Korbin slowly straightened and focused on Brock.
Well, shee-it. Korbin licked his lips and cleared his
throat.  He  shrugged.  “What?  You  think  I  don’t
know  I’m  a  good  teacher?”  He  went  for  a  cocky
smirk.  “I’ve  been  teaching  you  three  for  over  a
decade,”  he  said,  referencing  how  he  always
helped their other friends, too.

“Yeah, but—” Brock scowled, his thick brows

drawing together. His square jaw tensed for a
second, then he asked, “How come you never said
anything? I thought you were going into business
with us.”

Korbin nodded. “Of course, I am. That’s not

changed.”

Over their vacation, the four of them had come

up  with  a  business  plan  for  operating  a  website
design  company.  They’d  even  already  started
putting  everything  in  motion,  too.  Brock  would
handle  marketing,  since  he  had  a  way  with
people,  handling  the  face-to-face  interpersonal
dealings.  Korbin,  Tyson,  and  Kai  planned  to
handle the accounting and actual design work.

However, with his friends moving on, Korbin

had begun feeling more and more restless. He’d
realized that he really needed to start looking
ahead. What did he want to do with his life? What

A Nip of Good Cheer

did he want to accomplish? Korbin knew his
friends joked that he was the brains of their outfit,
and maybe it was true, but he needed more to
occupy him than part time work with his friends.

After months thinking on his past, reflecting on

what brought him the most joy, Korbin had
figured out what he wanted to do. He wanted to
share his knowledge and his love of mathematics.
To that end, he planned to become a professor.

Meeting Brock’s confused gaze, Korbin fisted

his hand and jabbed his buddy’s shoulder. “Hey,
relax. I’ll still be the brains of our company.”
Korbin winked. “I’m gonna need plenty of money
for grad school, after all.”

Brock rubbed his shoulder as he nodded. “All

right.”

Just the fact that Brock didn’t return the punch

gave away his friend’s concern. “How come you
never said anything before?”

Korbin closed Brock’s book and handed it to

him.  “Honestly?  I  didn’t  know.  So  much  has
changed over the last several months, you know?”
He  watched  Brock  nod  slowly,  so  Korbin
continued, “With Kai and Tyson out of the house
and involved  with their guys, it’s given me more
time to think.”

“You already think too much,” Brock razzed, a

smile  replacing  his  previous  serious  expression.
“And  graduate  school?  Really?  Damn,  man.”
Brock  rose  and  stretched  his  arms  over  his  head.

Charlie Richards

His shirt rode up, revealing his six-pack abs.
“Better you than me. I’m barely gonna graduate as
it is.”

Lowering his arms, Brock finally returned

Korbin’s hit, smacking his on the upper arm with
the back of his hand. With that one move, Korbin
knew  he  and  his  friend  were  okay  again.  He’d
been  uncertain  how  his  friends  would  take  his
decision.  Hell,  none  of  the  others  was  going  for
higher  education.  Of  course,  things  might  have
turned out differently if his friends hadn’t up and
gotten mated.

“Well, I don’t need any more training up.” He

winked, grabbed his book, and started toward the
door. “I got plenty enough charms for the ladies.”

Korbin scoffed. Where Kai had always been

openly  gay,  Tyson  and  Korbin  had  been  equally
open about being equal opportunities conquerors.
They  had  enjoyed  the  company  of  women  and
men  in  the  past.  Good  thing,  too,  since  Tyson’s
mate  hadn’t  had  previous  experience  with  men.
Tyson  had  popped  his  gay  cherry,  so  to  speak.
Brock  was  the  only  one  who  claimed  to  be  one
hundred percent straight.

However, Korbin had caught the big man

eyeing a twink a time or two. He didn’t know if
his friend had ever acted on it, but given the right
situation…and probably enough alcohol…Korbin
bet Brock would fuck a guy.

“Hey, did you pick up your tux, yet?”

A Nip of Good Cheer

Korbin glanced up from the algebra book he’d

just  picked  up.  He  planned  to  review  the  basics
before  going  to  meet  up  with  Paul  the  next
afternoon.  Participating  in  the  big  brother
program,  he  found  working  with  the  teenager
fantastically rewarding.

Returning his focus to his book, he opened it

and began flipping through it.

“Why do I need a tux?” Korbin had no idea

what Brock was talking about.

“For the Christmas party.”
Korbin frowned and once more gave his friend

his full attention. “What Christmas party?” Had
he missed something?

Brock frowned. “Don’t you remember when we

went to Kontra’s lodge and he talked about the
gathering being hosted by Adalric and his coven?”

“Yeah,” Korbin replied, drawing the word out.

“What does that have to do with me?”

Korbin sure as shit remembered. Anytime

anyone mentioned the vampire coven, Korbin’s
attention instantly fixated on the conversation. He
couldn’t seem to help it. Even knowing Daystrum
wasn’t interested in him, Korbin still found
himself interested in the sexy vampire.

Maybe I’m just fixating on an available

paranormal…

This wasn’t the first time that idea occurred to

him.

Charlie Richards

“We’re all going,” Brock stated. “Kai told you

he was ordering tuxes. They were ready for pick-
up  yesterday,  but  I  couldn’t  get  over  there.”  He
cocked  his  head,  his  expression  confused.  “I
thought  you’d  like  the  opportunity  to  see  those
vampire  guys  again.  You  said  one  of  them  was
hot, right?”

Appreciating how short Brock’s attention span

could sometimes be, Korbin snorted. “Yeah, but
that doesn’t mean he feels the same. It’s not like he
asked for my phone number,” he pointed out.

Grinning widely, Brock ran one hand under his

shirt  and  scratched  his  abs  absently.  “Well,  I’m
gonna  see  if  I  can  find  a  vampire  vixen  to  fuck.”
He  waggled  his  brows.  “I  hear  their  bite  is  hella
awesome.”

Korbin rolled his eyes. “Where did you hear

that?” Who had Brock been talking to?

Brock snickered. “That got your attention,

huh?”

Tapping his book’s cover, Korbin scowled. He

needed  a  subject  change.  “Look,  why  are  we
going?  I  mean,  I  understand  why  Kai  and  Tyson
would  go,  but  we’re  not  involved  with  any
paranormals.”  He  rubbed  his  hands  over  his
thighs,  nerves  hitting  him  at  the  prospect  of
actually seeing Daystrum again. “Why?”

Brock shrugged. “Who cares? As long as there’s

beer and women—”

A Nip of Good Cheer

“Brock, stop thinking with your dick,” Korbin

snapped. “Why are we going to a paranormal
Christmas party?”

Crossing his arms over his chest, Brock tucked

his book under his armpit and leaned against the
doorframe. “Dude, we’re going because Kontra
ordered us to go.” He scoffed. “You really want to
go against the bear shifter? ’Cause I sure don’t.”

“And did Kontra give a reason?” Korbin asked

slowly.  He  really  didn’t  want  to  make  a  fool  of
himself  if  he  could  help  it…like  by  throwing
himself  at  Daystrum  after  he’d  had  a  couple
drinks.

“Nope,” Brock replied. “But I didn’t really ask.

Ya know? If that big mother-fucker says jump, I’m
gonna  say  how  high.”  He  shook  his  head  and
pushed  away  from  the  wall.  “I’ll  get  both  our
tuxes  tomorrow,”  Brock  told  him,  then  began  to
exit Korbin’s room. “You have that thing with the
boy tomorrow, right?”

Korbin frowned at his friend. “Paul would knee

you in the balls if he heard you call him a boy,” he
warned. “He’s seventeen and won’t let anyone
forget it.”

Brock chuckled. “My bad. He just looks so

much younger.”

Nodding, Korbin agreed. Paul was seventeen

and looked fourteen. Not good for a young gay
teenager. “And that’s exactly why I’m reminding
you.”

Charlie Richards

“Thanks again for the help, bro,” Brock said,

uncrossing his arms and knocking the knuckles of
his free hand on the door frame. “I owe you.”

Korbin waved, acknowledging and dismissing

Brock’s  thanks  at  the  same  time.  As  he  watched
Brock  walk  away,  closing  the  study  door  behind
him,  he  prayed  he  could  somehow  manage  to
ignore the vampire.

A Nip of Good Cheer

Chapter Two

pon hearing Adalric calling his name,
Daystrum Striplan turned from the

Christmas tree he’d been decorating and peered at
his coven leader. “Yes, sir?” he asked, watching
the coven master close the last bit of space
between them.

“Are you done there?” Adalric asked, his gaze

sweeping over the tree.

“Uh—” Daystrum turned around to focus on

the tree he’d been trimming. He scowled at it.
Well, the tree he was supposed to be trimming. The
decorations were very one-sided. “No.”

Shit. How’d I manage to do that?
“Head still in your ass, old friend?” Adalric

asked, his voice so quiet that Daystrum figured
only he could hear it. He smirked. “Have you tried
yoga?”

Daystrum grimaced. “I just can’t seem to figure

out what’s bothering me. My mind keeps drifting,
like I’m searching for a memory I can’t
remember.” He crossed his arms over his chest

Charlie Richards

and peered at the Christmas tree, not really seeing
it. “Then this dream I keep having pops into my
mind and—”

Rubbing the bridge of his nose, Daystrum

paused and racked his brain for the right thing to
say. Should he tell his coven leader about the
dreams? Maybe Adalric would have some insight.
He glanced around, making certain others weren’t
too close.

“I’ve been having these dreams,” Daystrum

muttered the admission.

Adalric stepped close, his brows drawing

together. “Dreams?”

Daystrum just managed to keep from flushing.

This was so fucking embarrassing. Two hundred
thirty two years old, and now, reduced to an
adolescent. Fucking wet dreams messing with his
mind.

“Nightmares?” Adalric pressed.
Scoffing, Daystrum shook his head. “No. Try

the  other  direction.”  Slowly  letting  out  a  deep
breath,  he  glanced  around  again,  then  admitted,
“Erotic dreams. I know it’s a man by the feel of his
lean, hard chest. I can see his short black hair and
feel the soft strands running through my fingers.”
Daystrum  could  feel  his  prick  thickening  at  the
memory.  “Shit,”  he  mumbled,  turning  his
attention to the mostly empty ballroom.

The little-used, massive space really did look

spectacular.

A Nip of Good Cheer

“Are you pining over someone?” Adalric asked

softly. He laid a hand on Daystrum’s shoulder.
“Who is the man in your dreams?”

“That’s the problem,” Daystrum whispered. “I

don’t remember meeting anyone like that.”
Needing a subject change, he finished, “Anyway,
if I’m not focused, I switch to autopilot, and that’s
it. Muscle memory keeps me going, but my mind’s
not engaged.” Daystrum shook his head again and
started fixing the ornaments on the Christmas tree.
“It’s on the damned dreams.”

“That explains the order of lobster I just

received,” Adalric said.

The narrowing of the man’s eyes told Daystrum

that his coven leader hadn’t missed the not-so-
subtle subject change. Wait! Lobster? “Shit. Did I
not order enough?” Daystrum asked, alarmed. He
turned to face Adalric again, thinking of where he
could pick up a decent quantity of lobsters within
the hour.

Adalric chuckled and shook his head.

“Actually, I’m certain we’ll all be having lobster
right on through to Valentine’s Day.”

Daystrum’s eyes widened as realization hit.

“Aw, fuck.” He sighed and rubbed the bridge of
his nose. “How much did I order?”

“Oh, three hundred pounds of lobster.”
Watching the corners of Adalric’s lips twitch,

Daystrum mentally groaned. “Go ahead,” he
grumbled, knowing why it was so funny. He was

Charlie Richards

supposed to have ordered thirty pounds.
Somehow, Daystrum must have added an extra
zero. “Laugh.”

Adalric did just that. He slapped Daystrum on

his back and guffawed loudly. “Damn, buddy,” he
gasped out. “Good thing we have a few extra
guests.” He grinned widely. “I’ve already ordered
most of it to be put in the freezer.”

Despite himself, Daystrum chuckled softly.

“Yeah, yeah.” Then, he registered what Adalric
had said. “Wait. More guests? Who?”

Clearing his throat, Adalric rubbed at the

corner of his eye for a second as if wiping away a
tear, then focused on Daystrum. “Kontra is
bringing a couple of human guests.”

“Why?” Daystrum asked curiously, returning

to his task of fixing the ornaments on the tree.

He’d met Kontra Belikov, a grizzly bear shifter,

twice  before.  Once  at  a  human’s  home  when  he
and  Toni  Bastille,  one  of  their  coven’s  enforcers,
were  sent  to  meet  with  the  shifter,  then  again  to
help  the  shifter  and  a  few  of  his  pack-mates  take
over  a  rogue  dingo  pack.  That’d  been  an  hour’s
drive south of Santa Fe, closer to Albuquerque.

“They want to become donors or something?”
Daystrum wouldn’t find it surprising.

Vampires  could  hurt  or  pleasure  with  their  bite.
Once  humans  found  out  about  vampires,  they
often were more than happy to share their body in
exchange  for  their  blood—especially  when  they

A Nip of Good Cheer

realized  the  deal  came  with  free  food,  lodging,
and  spending  money.  While  Daystrum  couldn’t
say that was the way it happened with all covens,
in  their  own,  their  donors  were  very  well  taken
care of.

“That wasn’t the impression Kontra gave me,”

Adalric stated slowly. “He seemed to think we’d
be able to help one of them with something, but he
couldn’t invite one man without the other.” He
scowled and added, “He said he’d talk to us about
it this evening.”

Daystrum nodded, knowing why his coven

leader  appeared  concerned.  He  liked  knowing
why  others  were  coming  to  his  home.  Having
worked with the shifter gang-members before, he
grinned. “I’m sure it’s nothing terrible. Hell, he’d
have  asked  for  a  separate  meeting  if  there  was  a
real  problem,”  he  reasoned.  “Not  just  asked  to
bring them to a Christmas party.”

Adalric nodded slowly. “That’s why I find it so

odd,”  he  stated.  Then,  his  eyes  narrowed  as  he
focused  on  Daystrum.  After  several  seconds,  he
smiled  widely.  “Maybe  it’s  a  good  surprise.  I
know  the  shifters  are  settling  south  of
Albuquerque,  so  perhaps  it’s  just  a  request  for
collaboration  between  our  coven  and  his  people.
It’s  not  like  they’ll  want  to  create  problems  with
us.” He winked. “Maybe it’s even a gift.”

“You think the humans are a gift?” Daystrum

couldn’t keep the confusion out of his voice.

Charlie Richards

Shrugging, Adalric chuckled softly before

answering. “We’ll find out soon enough. Guests
start arriving in an hour, so finish up with that
tree, and get ready.”

Daystrum nodded and returned to decorating.

“Will do,” he commented absently, his mind
already drifting.

Hustling through the mansion, Daystrum

wrapped his bowtie around his neck and—
fumbling a bit—tied the damn thing. Who the hell
had requested the Christmas party be black-tie
anyway? Right…coven master Jaymes Martinez.

The vampire leader from just north of Amarillo,

Jaymes  Martinez  liked  formality.  He  acted  more
like  a  throw-back  from  the  old  Spanish  court
rather  than  a  Texan,  but  he  was  a  powerful
vampire.  Influential  and  with  a  coven  boasting
over a hundred vampires, Jaymes had to be pretty
savvy to have so many under his care and to keep
their secret.

As far as Daystrum was concerned, the guy

could  choke  on  his  fucking  bow-tie.  Of  course,  if
he  hadn’t  been  running  five  minutes  late,  he
probably  wouldn’t  be  feeling  that  way.  He’d
managed

lose

himself

his

thoughts…memories of his dreams and black hair
and smooth, milky white skin. By the time he’d
finished fixing the Christmas tree, he’d been hard

A Nip of Good Cheer

as a rock. A quick trip to his shower had been in
order, which had delayed him even more.

Now, Daystrum dressed on the fly. He finally

managed to get his tie to sit straight at his neck, so
he folded his collar down and buttoned the flaps.
Then,  he  swung  his  tux  coat  from  off  his  arm
where  he’d  hung  it  and  slipped  it  on.  Daystrum
paused  in  front  of  a  hallway  mirror  and  ran  his
hands  over  everything,  making  certain  it  all  lay
straight.

Daystrum ran his hands through his damp

blond hair, realizing it was overdue for a trim.
Shaking his head, he strode swiftly toward the
ballroom.

The festivities started and ended in the massive

room. Currently, the place was set up with tables
laden  with  finger  food,  the  festivity-required
spiked  punch,  plus  an  open  bar  and  a  massive
barrel filled with ice and non-alcoholic beverages.
Once  they  were  called  to  dinner,  a  group  of
volunteers  not  part  of  the  inner  circle—both
vampire  and  human—would  clear  most  of  the
tables,  leaving  plenty  of  space  to  dance,  should
people so desire after the meal.

Just before opening the door to the big room,

Daystrum heard his phone give off a low tone. The
sound told him that someone had just been
buzzed through the gate. He glanced at his watch,
noting that he was now ten minutes late.

Charlie Richards

“It seems I’m not the only one running behind,”

Daystrum muttered as he changed direction and
headed toward the front.

Upon reaching the hall, he peered out the

window and watched an older model sports car
stop in front of Connie, a female vampire acting as
a valet. She rounded the front of the Camaro as
both doors opened and two men emerged.

From behind the wheel climbed a tall muscular

blond,  bronzed  and  sporting  a  big  grin  as  he
handed his keys to Connie. Focusing on the man’s
mouth,  Daystrum  read  his  lips  and  realized  the
man  urged  the  valet  to  take  good  care  of  my  girl,
now.

Daystrum switched his gaze to the second male

and gasped. His jaw gaping, he felt his pulse
spike. The man was lean with short black hair that
contrasted his pale skin and blue eyes—currently
focused in a glare at the other man. Staring at the
man’s thin lips, Daystrum noticed he also sported
the smallest pencil mustache he’d seen in years.
His groin tightened as he was filled with a desire
to trace it with his tongue.

Getting himself under control, Daystrum pulled

the door open just as the pair arrived. He stepped
back and smiled at them. As he inhaled to issue a
greeting, the sweetest honey scent flowed over his
senses. He just managed to fight back a moan as
he motioned for them to enter.

A Nip of Good Cheer

Once inside with the door closed, Daystrum

managed  to  say,  “Good  evening,  gentlemen.”  He
held  out  his  hand  to  the  bigger  man  first.  “I’m
Daystrum  Striplan.  From  your  dress,  I’m
assuming you’re expected.”

Both men wore tuxes. While it was obvious

from  the  cut  and  fit  that  they  were  rentals,
Daystrum  couldn’t  help  but  admire  the  second
man,  thinking  it  looked  amazing  on  him.  Of
course, it could just be because the human looked
like  his  dreams  come  to  life,  and  Daystrum
wanted  to  touch  and  taste  so  badly.  His  mouth
watered and his fangs ached.

By the gods! Is this my beloved?
“Good to see you, again,” the big man said,

taking Daystrum’s hand. “Thanks for having us.”

Daystrum lifted one brow as he glanced

between  the  men.  “I’m  sorry.  I  don’t  mean  to  be
rude,  but  I’m  afraid  I  don’t  remember  you,”  he
admitted. “When did we meet?” Surely he would
have  remembered  meeting  the  slender  man  who
he highly suspected was his beloved.

Holy fuck! Is that why I’ve been dreaming of this

man? Because I’ve already met him? How the hell
could that happen?

The big guy nudged the smaller man’s arm as

he released Daystrum’s hand, grinning. “Told
you. You owe me twenty bucks.”

The second man’s pale skin took on a slightly

pink hue, which only intensified the sweet scent of

Charlie Richards

his blood. It took every bit of self-control
Daystrum had learned in his over two-century life
to keep from grabbing the young man and taking
a bite…literally.

“I apologize if I’ve forgotten you,” Daystrum

stated, thinking quickly. Then, he came up with, “I
had my bell rung pretty good several months ago.
Maybe it affected my memory.” And my senses, too,
if I didn’t remember this sweet-smelling man.

“I’m Brock Sanchez,” the big human stated.

“My  buddy  here  is  Korbin  Harris.”  Grinning
widely,  Brock  told  him,  “You  and  Toni  came  to
our  place  to  meet  Kontra.  That’s  who  invited  us
here. Hope you don’t mind.”

Confused, Daystrum glanced between them.

“That was your place? I thought it was the home
of Kai Sudderson.”

“We were his roommates until Kai moved in

with his mate,” Brock replied. He held up a hand.
“Hey, I understand why you don’t recognize us.
There was a fuck-ton of people there that day.”

“There was,” Daystrum agreed, racking his

brain for memories of his visit to their home. His
biggest  recollection  was  how  he’d  wanted  to  get
out of there. There’d been too many foreign scents,
shifter and human alike, and he’d just healed from
being  attacked  by  coven  members  gone  rogue.
He’d  been  on  edge,  still  jumpy.  Suddenly,  a
memory  hit  him.  Daystrum  focused  on  Korbin.

A Nip of Good Cheer

“You were in the kitchen,” he commented,
holding his hand out.

Korbin nodded as he reached out and took

Daystrum’s offered hand. “Yeah,” he replied
softly. “I was.”

Daystrum felt tingles shoot across his palm and

up his arm when Korbin’s hand slid into his own.
He longed to pull the man close, wrap his arms
around him, and taste his lips. Except Korbin
pulled his hand away, severing contact.

“Nice to officially meet you,” Korbin stated, his

smile looking a little forced.

Then, the words Brock had said registered with

Daystrum. A bet? They’d known who he was and
had bet on whether or not Daystrum remembered
them? Focusing on Korbin, Daystrum took in the
slight lines of tension around Korbin’s mouth.

Frowning, Daystrum cocked his head. “You

made a bet about…why?”

Brock laughed. “You’re a good looking guy,” he

said, boldly sweeping his gaze over Daystrum
before knocking his elbow into Korbin’s arm once
again. “You made an impression. Right, Kor?”

“Shut up,” Korbin snapped. His posture stiff,

he glared at his friend. “You’re such an asshole.”

“Hey! Brock, Korbin! You made it,” called Kai,

breaking into the awkward conversation. “I was
just heading back from the men’s room and
thought I smelled you.”

Charlie Richards

The young platypus shifter grinned widely as

he  pushed  his  thick  lenses  up  his  nose.  Then,  he
opened  his  arms  and  gave  each  of  his  friends  a
hug.  The  action,  however  brief,  sent  a  spike  of
jealousy  through  Daystrum.  He  wanted  to  wrap
his  arms  around  Korbin,  but  from  the  human’s
stiff  posture,  he  didn’t  think  the  move  would  be
welcomed.

Kai stepped back and looked Daystrum’s way.

His curious expression cleared just slowly enough
to tell the vampire that he’d scented his odd
reaction. Smiling, he glanced around the trio. “Let
me guess. Brock drove?”

“Hey, what’s that supposed to mean?” Brock

asked in mock offense.

Chuckling, Korbin replied, “Yup, and thought

he knew a better way than my GPS.”

The soft sound gripped Daystrum by the balls,

causing them to tingle and the orbs to roll in his
sacks. He wanted to hear that fantastic sound
again.

“Well, we got here,” Brock grumbled, but his

grin belied his irritated tone.

“Kai, there you are,” Dorian called,

approaching  the  group.  “I  wondered  what
happened to you. It seems the rest of your friends
made  it.  That’s  good.”  Smiling,  the  California
condor  shifter  moved  his  gaze  to  Daystrum.
“Good  to  see  you  again,  Second,”  he  greeted
formally, holding out his hand.

A Nip of Good Cheer

Daystrum took the avian shifter’s hand and

gave  it  a  quick  shake  as  he  replied,  “And  you,
Alpha  Dorian.”  Releasing  his  hold,  Daystrum
asked, “How are the dingo shifters doing?” When
Daystrum  had  helped  Dorian  take over the pack,
they’d  discovered  a  number  of  physically  and
psychologically  abused  dingo  shifters  along  with
the humans used as sex slaves.

“We have a budding Social Therapist who’s

joined us on a volunteer basis while he finishes his
degree,” Dorian replied. “It leaves me hopeful.”
While he answered in the positive, his tight lips
betrayed his worry.

“I’ve spent some time teaching my friends

tough subjects,” Korbin cut in. “I’m also planning
on  going  for  my  Masters  and  hope,  one  day,  to
become  a  professor  in  mathematics.  I  heard  their
education was extremely limited, so perhaps I can
help,” he offered. “If they learn the basics, maybe
they’ll  feel  more  empowered,  more  equal  in  the
pack.”

“That is an excellent idea,” Dorian agreed. “The

next  time  you  visit  Kai,  we’ll  definitely  speak
more  of  this.”  Smiling,  he  focused  on  Kai.  “Time
to  return  to  the  party.”  Looking  at  Daystrum
before he led his mate away, he added, “I believe
Adalric is looking for you.”

As Dorian strode away, his arm around Kai,

Brock and Korbin followed. Daystrum watched
the group walk away, fighting the urge to call

Charlie Richards

Korbin back. He desperately wanted to talk more
with the human…as well as other things.
However, Daystrum realized he’d need to tread
carefully.

While Daystrum hadn’t recognized Korbin as

possibly  his  beloved,  he’d  still  been  plagued  by
dreams of the man. If Korbin had taken the time to
discover  who  he  was,  even  after  just  a  single
glance across a crowded room—

Shit, had Korbin felt the attraction, too?
What if Korbin didn’t think Daystrum wanted

him? That would certainly account for his formal
behavior. Frustration filling him, Daystrum
suspected he had some groveling to do.

A Nip of Good Cheer

Chapter Three

ou just blew him off,” Brock pointed out
from where he walked at Korbin’s right.

Korbin refused to glance over his shoulder to

look at Daystrum, which was surprisingly harder
than he expected. He’d noted the subtle widening
of the vampire’s eyes and the flaring of his
nostrils. “Well, you’re the asshat that mentioned a
bet,” he hissed back. “Now, you made me out like
some kind of stalker. I don’t want him to think I’m
interested.”

“But you are interested,” Kai softly reminded

him.

“So,” Korbin replied. It didn’t matter if his

shifter friend could smell his arousal—hell if he’d
admit it right then. “He didn’t know who I was. If
my scent did it for him, he would have sought me
out long before this,” he reminded his friends. “I
have no desire to appear like some love-struck
sap,” he grumbled.

Brock bumped his shoulder into Korbin’s,

nearly knocking him over. Then, he draped his

“Y

Charlie Richards

arm over his shoulder, tipped his head close and
said into his ear, “Well, just look at another
vampire with a little heat, and I bet you fifty bucks
we’ll see sparks within an hour.”

Korbin snorted and rolled his eyes. Oh, how he

wished that was true. Wait, didn’t I just tell myself
that relationships should be more like mathematics? No
way did Daystrum want him, anyway. Turning to
meet Brock’s gaze, Korbin smirked. “All right,
you’re on.”

To Korbin’s surprise, Brock grinned widely,

leaned even closer so he could whisper in his ear.
“Just to get the ball rolling.” Then, he kissed
Korbin’s cheek.

His brows shooting up, Korbin twisted away

from him. “What the crap, Brock?”

Brock let him go, cackling hysterically.
Dorian lifted his left brow as he took in the pair.

“What did I just miss?”

Grinning, Kai looked up at his lover. “They’re

betting on how long it takes Daystrum to make a
move on Korbin.”

“Really?” Dorian glanced over his shoulder.
Korbin again found himself fighting the urge to

do the same.

Dorian hummed. “There’s definitely something

going on there,” he conceded, turning to look at
Brock. He grinned. “I’m in for forty-five minutes.”

“What?” Korbin squeaked, shocked. How had

this gotten out of hand?

A Nip of Good Cheer

“I’ll take an hour and a half,” Kai cut in. “The

rest of the reception and dinner should last about
that long.”

“I didn’t think of that,” Brock commented,

frowning.

“Dinner will not stop a vampire if they’re

dedicated,” Dorian stated, his voice full of
certainty.

“Hey, I’m gonna holler at Tyson,” Brock said,

smiling widely. “I bet he wants in on this.”

Growling softly, Korbin snapped, “Damn it.

What the hell, guys?”

As Dorian opened the door, revealing a massive

ballroom, Korbin’s friends just laughed. Kai
stepped away from his lover to slap him on the
shoulder, then led the way into the room. Korbin
tried to figure out if they were just giving him crap
or if they were actually serious, but as soon as he
stepped inside the space, he had to concentrate on
not gaping.

Christmas trees decorated in various themes

rimmed  the  room.  Ranging  from  maybe  eight  to
around  ten  feet,  some  were  decorated  in  crystal
and  silver  ornaments,  some  had  only  red  and
green  bulbs,  while  another  was  circled  only  with
lights,  construction  paper  chains,  and  strung
popcorn.  Korbin  idly  wondered  if  the  coven  had
many children and if they’d decorated it.

The trees ringing the room, tucked between

food and beverage tables, weren’t the only

Charlie Richards

decorations, either. There were garlands hung on
the wall and sprigs of mistletoe attached to the
ceiling. Korbin made a note to watch his step.

“Wow,” Korbin whispered. “It’s stunning in

here.”

“It is, isn’t it?” A man’s voice sounded from

beside him. “They’ve outdone themselves this
year.”

Korbin started and stepped sideways. His

friends were no longer in sight, and he wondered
how long he’d been standing there. Geez, anyone
who’d  looked  at  him  probably  thought  he  was
some  kind  of  hillbilly,  slack-jawed  yokel.  Just
because  he’d  never  seen  anything  like  this  didn’t
mean he wanted to advertise it.

“I apologize,” the stranger said. “I didn’t mean

to startle you.”

Finally pulling his gaze away from the

impressive  display  of  decorations,  Korbin  turned
to  the  man  standing  next  to  him.  He  wore  a  tux,
like  the  other  men  in  the  room.  The  dark  haired
stranger  stood  only  partially  facing  him  with  his
hands  clasped  behind  his  back,  stretching  his
jacket across his broad shoulders and accentuating
his wide chest. His lean waist tapered to long legs
that  Korbin  could  imagine  were  muscular  and
defined.  Finally,  Korbin  returned  his  focus  to  the
man’s face and discovered the guy’s head turned
toward him and the man watched him with deep
green eyes that danced with mirth.

A Nip of Good Cheer

Realizing he’d been caught staring, Korbin

flushed, his face heating. “Uh, sorry,” he
mumbled. Thinking quickly, he waved a hand at
the party goers. “I’m a little out of my element. I
apologize.”

“Not a problem,” the man assured. He pulled

his arms from behind his back and held out his
right hand. “Jaymes Martinez.”

“Korbin Harris,” he replied, taking Jaymes’

hand and giving it a quick shake. “Nice to meet
you.”

“Shall we get drinks?” Jaymes asked, indicating

a nearby beverage table with his left hand. “I
would enjoy a stiff drink before dealing with the
politics of covens interacting.”

Korbin felt his brows shoot up, nodding

absently. “Yeah. Yeah, that’d be good.”

When Jaymes settled a hand on the small of his

back,  Korbin  almost  jerked  away.  Still,  the  man
must have felt it, for he rubbed up and down his
spine soothingly. “Easy, I’m not trying anything,”
Jaymes  assured  with  a  smile.  “The  way  you
looked  at  me  gave  me  the  impression  you  swing
my way. Am I wrong?”

“N-No,” Korbin replied. “You’re a very

attractive man.”

Jaymes chuckled. “I’m glad you think so.

You’re very attractive yourself.” Stopping at one
of the open bars, Jaymes asked him, “Beer? Wine?
Mixed drink?”

Charlie Richards

Not wanting to get himself in trouble by

lowering his inhibitions too much, Korbin replied,
“A  beer,  uh,  Bud  Light,  I  suppose.”  Once  Jaymes
had  acquired  the  beverages—getting  a  gin  and
tonic  for  himself—Korbin  thanked  him.  Then,
after taking a sip, he asked, “So, uh, I don’t know
protocol or etiquette or whatever, but I’m human
and  fairly  new  at  this.  Are  you  a  vampire  or  a
human or a shifter?” He offered a smile, trying to
appear  self-depreciating.  “Am  I  allowed  to  ask
that?”

Winking, Jaymes grinned widely…showing off

a pair of fangs.

Nodding, Korbin whispered, “A vampire, then.

So, are you part of this coven? You mentioned
inter-coven politics, so I assume another coven is
here, too?”

Jaymes returned his hand to Korbin’s back and

led  him  toward  the  nearest  tree.  “There  are  two.
I’m  from  a  coven  north  of  Amarillo,  Texas.  We
came to discuss trading beef with Master Adalric,”
he explained. “He has a silk worm farm which is
actually  quite  impressive.”  Leaning  close,  Jaymes
confided, “There are many in my coven who enjoy
the feel of silk against their skin.” His green eyes
darkened. “How about you?”

Korbin opened his mouth to answer, then

meeting the other man’s gaze, realized the
vampire was most likely coming onto him. “Uh,

A Nip of Good Cheer

I’ve never had any,” Korbin admitted. “Is it, um,
nice?”

Chuckling, Jaymes straightened. “It is. Anyway,

this is just opening festivities to get to know each
other. Business talks begin tomorrow morning.”
Stopping before the tree, he told him, “So tonight,
I get to relax and enjoy myself.” He peered up at
the tree decorated exclusively with action figures
and frowned. “I don’t understand this.”

Korbin chuckled as he looked at the colorful

myriad  of  blue  Captain  Americas,  green  Hulks,
black  Hawks  and  Black  Widows,  along  with  an
array  of  others.  “It’s  an  Avengers  themed  tree.”
Turning  and  looking  around,  he  pointed  at
another.  “There’s  a  Toy  Story  themed  tree  and  a
Smurf one, too.” He grinned. “I wonder how many
kids are in this coven.”

“No idea,” Jaymes replied conversationally.

“We have about a dozen or so back in Texas.” He
chuckled. “Nothing like watching a little one
bounce around on the back of a horse, squealing
with glee, while learning to ride.”

Korbin tried to imagine that, nodding slowly. “I

bet it is.”

“What about you?” Jaymes asked. “Do you

have kids?”

Snorting, Korbin shook his head. “Uh, no.

Condoms are my friend.”

Barking a laugh, Jaymes grinned widely. “Yes,

yes, they are.”

Charlie Richards

Korbin appreciated the strong lines of Jaymes’

face.  He  liked  the  feel  of  the  vampire’s  guiding
hand on his back, the look of his strong body, and
the  melodious  sound  of  his  laughter.  As  they
neared  the  next  tree,  this  one  covered  in  silver
tinsel  and  white  angels,  Korbin  wished  he  could
feel  some  actual  attraction  for  the  man,  but  his
cock stayed mostly soft.

Too bad.
Still, Korbin could admit he enjoyed Jaymes’

company.

“What do you do for fun, then, Korbin?”

Jaymes’ lips curved a bit in a smirk. “Other than
making certain to always use condoms.”

Snickering, Korbin didn’t bother fighting the

slight flush that warmed his cheeks. “Well, I’m in
my fourth year of college and I’m gearing up to go
after my Masters in mathematics.”

“Really,” Jaymes sounded impressed rather

than surprised. “You’re a math wiz, then?”

“Eh, I’m okay,” Korbin replied modestly. He

wasn’t  going  to  admit  he’d  actually  managed  to
win  a  scholarship  through  a  mathematics-geared
foundation that would cover tuition for several of
next  year’s  classes…providing  he  could  continue
to keep his head in his studies and his grades up.
That  meant  he  should  be  putting  a  certain
unattainable  vampire  out  of  his  thoughts.  Maybe
the best way to do that would be to enjoy a bout of
fun with another vampire.

A Nip of Good Cheer

Tilting his head, Korbin stared discreetly up at

Jaymes. He again took in his strong lines and the
way the tuxedo hugged his body. The guy really
was sexy. Korbin just couldn’t figure out why his
dick wasn’t responding. Jaymes would have been
just his type if he wasn’t lusting after another man.

Oh, well. I shouldn’t get involved with anyone

anyway.

“I’m also looking for a suitable partner.”
Korbin’s jaw sagged open. “What did you say?”
Jaymes chuckled softly as he turned to face

Korbin  fully.  He  lifted  his  hand  and,  using  a
crooked  finger,  closed  Korbin’s  mouth  before
lowering  his  hand  to  Korbin’s  shoulder  and
squeezing  it  lightly.  “Is  that  such  a  surprise?  I’m
tired  of  being  alone  and  wish  to  spend  my  life
with someone. I find myself attracted to you, and
what  you’ve  told  me  about  yourself  so  far  is
intriguing.”  He  smiled,  his  green  eyes  sparkling.
“Not just another pretty face.”

“Oh, wow,” Korbin whispered. “Thank you.”

Licking his lips, he struggled to find a suitable
response. “You’re very straightforward.”

Nodding once, Jaymes replied, “Well, being a

mathematician,  I  figured  you’d  appreciate  that
approach.”  He  shrugged,  his  expression  serious.
“State  my  intentions  up  front  and  see  if  we’re
compatible.  A  relationship  should  start  with
friendship and be built on solid ground, right?”

Charlie Richards

“Y-Yeah, yeah, that’s right,” Korbin replied,

nodding.

Holy crap! Was this vampire really

propositioning him?

Jaymes smiled. “In that case, while I’m here,

may I take you to dinner? That way, we’ll be able
to get to know each other better,” he suggested.
Glancing around, he waved his sweating glass
almost absently. “In a more private setting.”

Well, I was just thinking I wished relationships

could be more straightforward…like math. See? Ask
and ye shall receive.

“I think I’d like that,” Korbin replied, meaning

it. Hell, just because he went out with the man, it
didn’t  mean  anything  would  happen.  Still,  it’d
make a fantastic diversion, and one never knew if
something would flair between them. “So, I know
you’re  a  vampire.  How  old  are  you,  Jaymes?  If
you’re  looking  for  a  partner,  I  assume  you’re  at
least a century.” Korbin grinned at Jaymes’ mildly
surprised  look.  “I’ve  been  around  enough
paranormals to know you all can live around five
centuries and ya’ll seem pretty patient.”

Jaymes chuckled and nodded. “Fair enough.

I’m three hundred and twelve…I think,” he
finished, his eyes narrowing.

“You think?” Korbin teased, enjoying the new

dynamic.

Nodding again, Jaymes grinned, showing off

his fangs. His eyes danced with mirth. “I spent my

A Nip of Good Cheer

formative years with a coven that didn’t celebrate
birthdays, so I didn’t really start keeping track
until I moved with my family to Portugal.” He
shrugged. “Once you hit a century and a half, they
all run together anyway. It’s my best guess.”

Korbin had never considered that. “Wow,

yeah.” His mind reeled at that revelation. “I can
see how that’d be.”

“Will you have dinner with me tomorrow

evening?” Jaymes asked. “Perhaps show me a
little of the town?”

“Sure, I can—wait, I can’t,” Korbin corrected.

“I’m meeting with Paul.”

Jaymes’ brows lifted. “Paul? Already dating

someone?”

Korbin scoffed, shaking his head. “No,” he

answered, waving the hand not holding the beer.
“I’m a volunteer in the local Big Brother, Big Sister
program. Paul is my little brother. I’m scheduled to
meet with him tomorrow evening.” Korbin only
met with Paul one Sunday a month, but this
happened to be that weekend.”

“Ah, I see,” Jaymes nodded, smiling.

“Volunteer work.” He sounded impressed. “Now,
I appreciate your thoughtful heart, too.”

Korbin wasn’t certain how to respond to that.

Fortunately, he didn’t have to.

“What’s your schedule on Monday look like?”

Charlie Richards

After mentally double-checking his schedule,

Korbin nodded. “I have school, of course, but any
time after six in the evening I’ll be free.”

“Good.” Jaymes grinned. “I will pick you up at

seven. Number?” he asked, holding up his phone.

Korbin didn’t even think about refusing. He

just rattled off his number.

“Pardon for the interruption,” a lithe blonde

female said, stopping beside them. “Master
Jaymes?”

As Jaymes turned to face the woman, he slid his

hand  from  Korbin’s  arm  to  his  back.  He  rested  it
lightly  between  his  shoulder  blades.  The  move
screamed  possession  to  Korbin  and  goose  bumps
broke out over his chest. He couldn’t quite put his
finger on the sensation he felt, and just kept from
moving away from him to make it stop.

“Yes?” Jaymes addressed the woman,

refocusing Korbin’s attention.

“We’re moving to the dining room, Master

Jaymes.” She tilted her head in deference, then
moved away.

Korbin registered the title. “Master?”
Jaymes turned to Korbin, a smile curving his

lips. He nodded. “Yes. I hope that doesn’t mean
you’ll cancel our date,” he replied, his expression
turning decidedly feral.

“Oh, uh, no,” Korbin responded. “Of course

not.” Somewhere in the back of his mind, though,
Korbin realized this could be a very bad idea.

A Nip of Good Cheer

Jaymes  was  a  coven  leader,  which  meant  there
was  no  way  he  would  change  covens  to  move
here.  Korbin  really  had  no  desire  to  move  away
from his friends or school.

Just what did I agree to?
As Korbin allowed Jaymes to guide him toward

the dining room, he worried he was already in
over his head…and they hadn’t even gone on that
date, yet.

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Chapter Four

ossessive rage unlike anything he’d ever felt
before surged through Daystrum. With every

fiber of his being, he wanted to tear Jaymes’ limb
from his body and beat him with it. How dare the
visiting coven master touch Korbin!

After leaving Korbin’s side earlier, Daystrum

had sought out Adalric. He’d wanted to share the
news that he’d figured out what had been causing
his dreams—and mental lapses—over the past few
months. Daystrum had met his beloved and not
even recognized him. Not his finest moment, that
was certain.

When Daystrum had located Adalric, his coven

master  was  in  the  middle  of  a  discussion  with
Kontra, Tim, and Gerald. Not wanting to admit his
failure  in  front  of  others,  he  had  simply  caught
Adalric’s  eye  and  nodded.  His  leader  must  have
sensed something, for he arched one brow before
returning his focus to the people he chatted with.

Daystrum had turned and began making the

rounds. He’d chatted with members of his own

A Nip of Good Cheer

coven as well as met a few visitors. All the while,
Daystrum had searched for Korbin. When he’d
finally spotted the human, Korbin had been on the
other side of the room, deep in conversation with
the visiting coven master Jaymes Martinez.

Starting across the floor, Daystrum had kept

one  eye  on  Korbin  and  Jaymes  as  he’d
maneuvered  between  couples.  He’d  gritted  his
teeth  and  forced  himself  to  offer  pleasantries  to
everyone  who’d  stopped  him  to  say  hello.  As  he
was the second of his coven, many had wanted his
attention, too.

Now, Daystrum watched another vampire lead

his  prospective  beloved  out  of  the  ballroom  and
into the dining hall. Clenching his jaw, he knew he
couldn’t  really  do  too  much  about  it  yet,  either.
Daystrum couldn’t openly contest Jaymes’ right to
speak with Korbin, since he’d neither marked the
young  human  in  any  way  nor  even  declared  his
intentions. He needed to speak with Korbin alone.

Daystrum didn’t relish the idea of apologizing

or groveling to Korbin in public. He’d do it as a
last resort, but he hoped to find a way around it.
With that thought in mind, Daystrum clenched his
hands into fists and followed the pair to the dining
room.

Rounding the table, Daystrum chose a place

where he could see Jaymes and Korbin’s faces. It
might be agony watching another vampire interact
with his beloved while he could not, but at least

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this way he’d be able to read their lips if the
conversations around him drowned out their
voices. He wanted to know what the pair spoke of.

Tim Laurent pulled the chair out next to him

and settled in the seat. Kontra, Tim’s mate, sat
next to the warlock shifter hybrid. Daystrum had
heard that due to the magick running through the
man’s blood, he didn’t shift into a European eagle
owl as his father did. Tim did, however, have
visions.

“You look like you’re about to spit nails,” Tim

commented,  picking  up  his  napkin  and  laying  it
across  his  lap.  “Good  thing  looks  can’t  kill,  or
Jaymes  would  be  flayed  alive  with  his  entrails
strung up on the garland like a trophy.”

Daystrum looked sharply at Tim, his eyes

widening in surprise. Tim smirked as he scoffed,
lifting one sandy brow pointedly. Grimacing,
Daystrum sighed.

“That obvious?”
Chuckling, Tim shook his head. “Naw, but I

knew before you did, so was watching for your
response.”

“You knew?” Daystrum frowned. “How?”
Tim tapped his temple. “Visions, remember?”

he reminded. “Why do you think I insisted they
come?” Then, he shrugged. “When Kontra
mentioned Korbin asked after you, it seemed odd
to me…until I had the vision.”

A Nip of Good Cheer

Daystrum sighed. “Should have recognized

him at his home.”

“Part of you did,” Tim replied. “But you’re

about to get a second chance.”

“What? What do you mean?” Daystrum asked

quickly, glancing from where Jaymes was
speaking to Korbin and back to Tim. “A second
chance at what?”

Tim scoffed. “Spending time with your beloved

of course.” His tone made it clear just how stupid
he thought Daystrum’s questions were. “He’s
about to get a phone call. Yep, there it is.”

Daystrum turned his head just enough to watch

as Korbin pulled his phone from…somewhere and
frowned at it. He read the human’s lips, knowing
he told Jaymes, I’m sorry. I need to take this. Please,
excuse me. Then, Korbin rose and headed out of the
room.

“Okay, that’s your cue,” Tim said.
“For what?”
Tim waved toward where Korbin had retreated

down a hall that led to a wing of guest rooms.
“You need to offer him a ride.”

“Offer him a ride?” Daystrum asked, struggling

to make sense of Tim’s words.

“Yeah, before he returns and asks Brock for the

keys to his car,” Tim replied. He pushed at
Daystrum’s shoulder. “Get going.”

Obeying the forcefulness of Tim’s words,

Daystrum rose before thinking. He frowned down

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at  Tim.  “I  can’t  just  leave  in  the  middle  of  the
Christmas  party.”  Still,  the  desire  to  track  down
his  prospective  beloved  and  help  him  rode  him
hard.

“I’ll explain to Adalric,” Kontra told him,

obviously having been listening to the
conversation. “Don’t look a gift horse in the
mouth, buddy.”

Daystrum decided that was enough for him.

“Thanks.”

Rounding the table, Daystrum hustled toward

the  hallway  where  Korbin  had  disappeared.  He
glanced  back  at  the  long  table  full  of  guests.  He
spotted Korbin’s friend, Brock, and watched for a
few seconds as the young man flirted with the two
women  sitting  on  either  side  of  him.  Yeah,
Daystrum  could  definitely  keep  Korbin  from
bothering his player of a friend.

Returning his focus forward, Daystrum inhaled

deeply. This time, even with all the strangers
filling his home, he easily picked up Korbin’s
scent. The spicy-sweet, masculine goodness of the
human’s blood flowed across his senses.

Daystrum followed the trail of Korbin’s scent.

Rounding  the  corner,  he  spotted  Korbin  pacing
back  and  forth  in  the  hallway,  three  steps  to  the
left, four steps to the right, and back again. Korbin
ran  a  hand  through  his  short,  black  hair,  then
rested  his  hand  on  the  back  of  his  neck  and
massaged the tendons there.

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Even clearly agitated, Korbin was the sexiest

man Daystrum had ever seen. However, he didn’t
like seeing the young man so worked up. Unable
to fight the need to soothe Korbin, Daystrum
started toward him.

Korbin had just hung up the phone when

Daystrum reached his side and rested a hand on
his shoulder. The human jerked sideways, away
from his touch, as he spun to face him. Daystrum
lifted his hands in the universal easy does it signal.

“Crap, you startled me,” Korbin muttered. His

cheeks flushed a pretty shade of pink as he held
his hand to his chest. “Wh-What are you doing
here?”

“I apologize,” Daystrum told him. “I saw you

slip away and wanted to make certain you were
okay.” He paused, thinking quickly, before
adding, “I could scent that you were a bit upset.”
Waving a hand vaguely toward the phone Korbin
held in his right hand. “Is everything okay?”

As he licked his lips, Korbin’s gaze flicked from

Daystrum to the wall toward the floor and back to
his face again. “Uh, n-no,” he said, shifting
nervously from foot to foot. “My friend Paul needs
help.”

Korbin returned his free hand to his neck and

massaged the tendons again, clearly agitated. He
lowered his gaze, then his cheeks flushed darker.
As Daystrum watched, Korbin’s eyes widened just

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a bit, then he snapped his head back up. His scent
intensified.

Daystrum’s mouth watered with the scent of

Korbin’s blood rushing to his face, the life-giving
force pounding through the veins of his neck. The
heady scent called to Daystrum. He took a step
forward and rested a hand on Korbin’s shoulder,
his thumb rubbing over Korbin’s pulse point.

“Korbin.” Daystrum whispered the human’s

name, his body nearly vibrating with the need to
pull the man into his arms and make him his own.
“Your smell—”

“I need to go,” Korbin whispered, tension

thrumming under Daystrum’s fingertips.

Daystrum lifted his other hand to cup Korbin’s

jaw. “And I need to taste your lips,” he whispered.
“Then I will take you anywhere you want to go.”
Daystrum knew it was a bit heavy-handed, but
with the scent of Korbin’s arousal and blood
causing his own senses to sing, his need overruled
his good sense.

Lowering his hold from his neck to Korbin’s

back, Daystrum tugged Korbin closer as he
lowered his head. With the hand Daystrum had on
Korbin’s jaw, he tilted his human’s head up. First,
Daystrum brushed his lips over Korbin’s upper
lip, then his lower, then he sealed his mouth over
Korbin’s.

Korbin let out a strangled gasp, and Daystrum

took full advantage of the opening. He thrust his

A Nip of Good Cheer

tongue  out,  slipping  it  between  Korbin’s  lips.
Swirling  around  Korbin’s  mouth,  Daystrum
explored the other man, enjoying his honey flavor
mixed  with  a  hint  of  beer.  He  lapped  and  teased
Korbin’s  tongue,  entreating  him  to  join  in
exploration.

Finally, Korbin’s lips relaxed, and he brought

his free hand up to grip the lapel of Daystrum’s
jacket. Leaning into him, Korbin’s head tilted just
a bit more and his tongue came out to lap against
Daystrum’s tentatively. Humming in appreciation,
Daystrum suckled gently on the appendage.
Korbin whined, feeding Daystrum’s need.

Wanting to hear more of those noises,

Daystrum scraped his fang lightly over Korbin’s
tongue. Korbin rewarded him with a groan and a
fisted, phone-filled hand pressed against his hip.
Daystrum growled into his mouth, liking his soon-
to-be lover’s responses. He wanted more…and he
sure as hell wanted Korbin as his own.

With that primal thought in mind, when Korbin

lapped  at  his  fang,  Daystrum  changed  the  angle
just  enough  to  once  again  scrape  his  fang  across
Korbin’s tongue. The prick, harder this time, drew
blood.  Daystrum  tasted  the  couple  of  beads  that
welled up, one sweet burst of flavor after another.

My beloved!
Daystrum wanted more, but as Korbin

whimpered and shivered in his grip, he
remembered where and when they were. Easing

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the kiss to an end, Daystrum sipped a few last
kisses to Korbin’s lips. He lifted his head and
smiled into Korbin’s dazed, dilated eyes.

“So handsome, beloved,” Daystrum murmured.

He slid his thumb along the bottom edge of
Korbin’s lower lip. “Just like in my dreams. I can’t
wait to live them.”

Korbin blinked and seemed to shake himself

out of whatever lust induced stupor he’d been
under. Too bad, in Daystrum’s opinion. He
thought it a good look on his human.

“Dreams?”
Daystrum chuckled roughly. Lust and desire

deepening  his  voice,  he  rumbled,  “While  I  might
not have smelled your blood when I entered your
home that day, something about you still called to
me.” He saw the uncertainty in Korbin’s eyes, and
grimaced  at  the  sight.  “You  are  my  beloved,
Korbin Harris,” Daystrum whispered. “I’m sorry I
didn’t  realize  it  right  away.  I’m  sorry  it  took  us
this  long  to  connect.  Now  that  we  have,  I  will
spend  however  long  it  takes  to  win  your
forgiveness. I will remain stuck to your side, your
every wish my command,” he vowed.

For several seconds, Korbin gaped. Then, he

scowled  and  shook  his  head.  “How  can  you  say
that? You don’t know anything about me, and you
were  in  my  house  and  didn’t  scent  me.”  Korbin
pulled  away  and  sighed.  “Look,  your  amazing

A Nip of Good Cheer

kisses aside, I don’t appreciate being jerked
around, and I gotta go.”

“I know you do,” Daystrum replied,

undeterred. He hadn’t thought his first plea would
convince  Korbin,  no  matter  how  nice  that  would
have  been.  “Come  on.  My  car  is  waiting  in  the
garage,  and  I’ll  take  you  wherever  you  need  to
go.”

Korbin hesitated, the way he rubbed his phone

against his pant-leg giving away his concern.

Daystrum lifted his hands, palm out. “I promise

I won’t force you to do anything you don’t want
or aren’t ready for.”

Korbin still stared at him uncertainly, so he

added with a wink, “Well, within reason. I can’t
promise I won’t try to…convince you.” He
grinned, showing off his fangs as he narrowed his
brows and gave his beloved a heated look.

To Daystrum’s pleasure, Korbin flushed. His

mouth  opened  and  he  swept  his  tongue  out  to
slide  it  over  his  bottom  lip.  Then,  he  must  have
realized what he’d done, or it could have been that
his  phone  vibrated.  “Shit,”  Korbin  hissed,  lifting
the  phone  and  swiping  his  finger  across  the
screen.  “Fine,”  he  replied,  almost  absently  as  he
read what must have been a text. “I need to get to
Fourth  and  Colkin  Street  in  Blue  Ridge.  That’s  a
little suburb west of Albuquerque.” He glanced up
and down the hall. “Which way to the garage?”

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Sensing Korbin’s sudden urgency, Daystrum

nodded  once.  “This  way.”  He  settled  a  hand  on
Korbin’s hip and guided him to the left. Daystrum
would  have  liked  to  feel  satisfaction  that  his
beloved  followed  his  guidance  docilely,  but  as
Korbin’s  focus  remained  on  his  phone  and  the
second text he’d received, Daystrum knew it was
because  the  human  was  preoccupied  with
whatever irritated him.

“How long to get there?”
Daystrum glanced at the address on the

screen…from  a  Paul,  and  fought  down  a  bite  of
jealousy. “I’ll plug it into my GPS and get us there
as  quick  as  possible,”  he  promised,  opening  the
door  to  the  garage  and  pointing  them  in  the
direction of his Lexus S-Class Sedan.

A Nip of Good Cheer

Chapter Five

ho is Paul?”
Korbin pulled his focus away from his

phone.  He’d  never  considered  himself  great  at
reading people he didn’t know, but even he could
hear the slight bit of tension in Daystrum’s voice.
Add  in  the  narrowed  eyes  and  white  knuckled
grip  the  vampire  had  on  the  steering  wheel,
Korbin could only come to one conclusion.

Daystrum was jealous.
While Korbin’s heart had pounded with

excitement  and  anticipation  when  Daystrum  had
claimed  him  as  his  beloved,  he’d  felt  a  fair bit  of
disappointment  and  trepidation,  too.  Why  hadn’t
the  vampire  scented  him  before?  They’d  been  in
the  same  house,  after  all.  Korbin  still  didn’t  feel
like he’d received a satisfactory answer, and until
he did, he wasn’t certain how close he wanted to
allow  Daystrum  to  get.  That  was  why  he’d  been
focusing  on  his  phone  and  not  on  his  very  sexy
driver.

“W

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“I work as a volunteer big brother,” Korbin told

him. “Paul is my little brother. He’s seventeen and
I’ve  been  his  mentor  for  about…two  years now.”
Deciding  he’d  better  tell  a  little  of  the  situation
before  they  got  to  the  teenager,  he  continued,
“About  a  year  ago,  Paul  started  asking  me  about
sex.” His face heated, remembering that awkward
conversation,  but  he  powered  through.  “He  was
figuring  out  his  sexuality,  so  I  had  the  safe  sex
conversation and all.”

Glancing toward him before returning his gaze

to the road, Daystrum cut in, “Did he have no
parents? Or a single parent who was too busy? Get
in trouble with the law?”

Korbin thought quickly, deciding how much he

could  share  without  breaking  Paul’s  trust.
Deciding  to  stick  with  what  was  public  record,
mostly,  Korbin  told  him,  “Paul’s  mother  was  a
crack-head prostitute. She’d lose custody  of  Paul,
get  clean,  then  relapse  and  lose  custody  again.  I
don’t know how many times it happened. I’m not
even sure Paul knows,” he said, frowning.”

“Some people should not breed,” Daystrum

grumbled.

Snorting, Korbin responded, “You got that

right.” He licked his lips, recalling where he’d left
off.  “Anyway,  she  finally  overdosed,  and  Paul
bounced  around  between  foster  homes  and  boys
homes.  He  landed  in  the  program  after  being
caught shoplifting.”

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“Damn, sounds rough,” Daystrum stated,

sounding sincere. “What did he shoplift?”

“Bread, peanut butter, jam, and a couple of cans

of sliced peaches and tuna fish,” Korbin told him.
“It’s why he wasn’t written off. He was only
trying to feed himself, so the store owner agreed
to drop charges if Paul went into the program.”

Chuckling softly, Korbin remembered their first

couple of visits. Paul had sat in stony silence while
Korbin  read  out  loud  from  the  teenager’s  text
books.  First,  he’d  read  an  English  text  book,
followed  by  a  pre-algebra  book.  Korbin  had  had
fun  with  that  one,  refreshing  his  memory  about
sines, cosines, and triangle calculation.

It’d been when Korbin was reading about the

Spanish  Inquisition  at  the  third  appointment  that
Paul  had  finally  started  asking  questions.  Okay,
he’d  more  or  less  made  a  belligerent  comment
about  how  stupid  people  were  to  go  against  the
Spanish  government.  That’d  led  to  a  discussion
about  the  pros  and  cons  of  fighting  for  equal
rights, the civil war, and slavery.

By the time Korbin had glanced at his watch

again,  they’d  exceeded  their  required  time
together.  Slowly,  Paul  had  begun  opening  up  to
him, culminating in asking if he knew anyone who
was  gay.  Korbin  had  hesitated  only  an  instant
before  admitting  he  considered  himself  bisexual,
had been with both sexes, and had an openly gay
buddy.

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“You’re smiling,” Daystrum commented. “I

take it you and he have become quite close.”

Korbin nodded. “Yeah. Yeah, we have. He’s

like the younger brother I never had. Me and my
friends  are  all  only  children,  which  probably
accounted for why we bonded so quickly in grade
school,  then  became  thick  as  thieves  by  the  time
we  reached  middle  school.”  Except  now,  they
were growing up and starting separate lives. Still,
they always knew they could count on each other.

“Anyway,” Korbin continued. “Like I said,

Paul’s feeling out his sexuality and he’s finally
come to terms with being gay.” He smiled a bit. “I
remember how proud he looked when he finally
said it out loud to me the first time.”

“The first obstacle with something like that is

accepting the fact yourself,” Daystrum stated.
“Especially with some of the bigoted shit people
can spew without even meaning to.”

“Yep,” Korbin agreed. “Paul heard kids at

school insult something by saying that’s so gay all
the time.” Grimacing, he commented, “Doesn’t
put being gay in a good light, does it?” He curled
his lip in irritation as he shook his head. “That’s
one of the reasons he struggled with it for so long.
Thoughtless comments.”

Daystrum reached over and rested his large

hand on his lower thigh. “I’m sorry it ended up so
hard on him,” he said, giving Korbin’s flesh a

A Nip of Good Cheer

gentle squeeze. “Why does he need help this
evening?”

Korbin stared at Daystrum’s big palm, feeling

the warmth of his hand. His breath hitched in his
chest as his pulse spiked. Breathing deeply,
Korbin struggled to focus. “Uh, he told his foster
father that he was gay this evening after supper.
Evidently, he didn’t take it so well.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Daystrum said. “Do

you know what happened?”

Shaking his head, Korbin’s gaze remained fixed

on Daystrum’s hand. “No, just that he had to get
out of there.”

When Daystrum rubbed his thigh lightly,

Korbin managed to drag his stare up to the
vampire’s face. The male seemed to be focused on
the road ahead, his hand moving absently. Korbin
found it damn distracting.

“Wh-what are you doing?”
“Hmm? What do you mean?”
“My leg?” Korbin elaborated, glancing toward

where Daystrum still petted him. “You’re rubbing
my leg.” Korbin wondered if that sounded as
inane to Daystrum as it did to his own ears.

Daystrum chuckled. He squeezed lightly, then

moved  his  hand  to  Korbin’s  knee  and  massaged
the  cartilage  there.  Korbin  shivered,  tingles
spreading  up  and  down  his  leg,  goose  bumps
breaking  out  over  his  skin.  He  didn’t  think  the

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feeling should turn him on, but his dick evidently
liked it, for blood flooded his groin.

“I like touching you, Korbin,” Daystrum told

him, his voice deepening. “Can’t blame a guy for
taking advantage.” He glanced Korbin’s way and
grinned. “Besides, we both know you like it. I look
forward to finding out just how sensitive your
knees truly are.”

“I have a date Monday night with Jaymes.”

Korbin immediately slapped his hand over his
mouth, uncertain why he’d blurted that little tidbit
of information out. “Sorry,” he muttered between
his fingers.

Daystrum’s hold tightened just a bit, though

not enough to hurt. Loosening his hand again, he
gently massaged away any perceived pain. “That
will make things more complicated,” he conceded.
“Coven masters don’t like to lose.”

“Are you sure I’m your beloved?”
Korbin whispered the question, wishing it were

true while still not believing.

“Yes.” Daystrum didn’t hesitate an instant, his

tone emphatic. “You are my beloved.”

“Then, how come you didn’t sense me before?”

Korbin asked what he really wanted to know.
“You were in my house.” He couldn’t hide the hurt
he felt. He’d been pining over the vampire for
months, after all.

Daystrum sighed. “I’ll explain,” he said. “I

promise I will, but—”

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“What?” Korbin cut in, irritation filling him.

“Why won’t you tell me now?”

“Because we’re here,” Daystrum told him. He

pointed toward the front of the Walmart. “See him
anywhere?”

Relieved and let down all at once, Korbin

replied,  “Oh.”  He  turned  toward  the  lit  up
entrance, searching for the familiar figure of Paul.
“There,”  he  said,  spotting  a  slight  figure,  which
appeared  even  smaller  due  to  the  overly  large
hoodie and his hunched posture.

“You sure he’s seventeen?” Daystrum asked

softly, bringing the car to a stop at the curb
nearby. “He doesn’t look it.”

“He knows,” Korbin responded flatly before

pushing the car door open and stepping out.
“Paul,” he called loudly. At the sound of Korbin’s
holler, Paul’s head came up and he began glancing
around. Korbin lifted an arm and waved. “Here!”

Paul picked up a backpack that had been

resting  near  his  feet  and  moved  toward  him
warily,  his  stride  hesitant.  After  a  few  paces,  he
must  have  recognized  Korbin,  for  his  pace
quickened,  becoming  surer.  The  slender,  auburn
haired  young  man’s  eyes  narrowed  as  he  swept
his gaze over Korbin.

“Geez, Kor. Where were you?” Paul asked,

stopping before him. Bouncing on the balls of his
feet, betraying his nerves, he shoved his hands

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into his hoodie and glanced uncertainly at the car.
“Did I, uh, interrupt a date or something?”

“Naw,” Korbin replied. “Was at a Christmas

party put on by a bigwig. Friend of a friend type
thing. No big deal.” He opened the back door and
motioned for Paul to climb inside. “Hop in.”

After Paul obeyed, Korbin returned to the front

seat and closed the door. He buckled his seatbelt,
then turned in his seat so he could see Paul. “Paul,
this is Daystrum,” he introduced, waving toward
the vampire. “He agreed to give me a ride.”

Daystrum turned and smiled, holding out his

hand. “Nice to meet you, Paul.”

Paul glanced toward Korbin as if seeking

reassurance, then stretched out his hand and
grasped it. “You, too.”

“And don’t worry,” Daystrum continued,

releasing Paul’s hand. “Even if we were on a date,
you could still interrupt.”

Sitting back in his seat, Paul glanced between

them. “Oh, you two are dating?”

Daystrum smiled widely, just keeping his fangs

hidden. “Not, yet, but we will be.” He winked and
lowered his voice as if to be conspiratorial. “Do
you know his favorite food? Color? Something I
can use to woo him?”

“Woo him?” Paul snorted. He grinned and

glanced toward Korbin before returning his focus
to Daystrum and replying, “Uh, food is shepherd’s
pie, color is purple—”

A Nip of Good Cheer

“Paul!” Korbin snapped in warning.
Snickering,

Paul

shrugged,

completely

unrepentant. “Well, it is.”

Daystrum chuckled. He smiled heatedly at

Korbin. “I’m sure I could find some purple fuzzy
handcuffs.” His look turned feral. “Maybe a
purple blindfold?”

Korbin’s breath hitched in his lungs. He

shivered at the desire clearly written all over
Daystrum’s face. His own cock thickened nearly to
the point of pain in response. Even his balls
tightened, and Korbin knew if Daystrum so much
as touched him he’d go off like a roman candle.

“Wow,” Paul whispered. “Talk about the

chemistry between you two.”

Yanking his gaze to Paul, Korbin focused on

breathing.

Paul’s eyes were huge in his face as he glanced

from Korbin to Daystrum and back again. “Just
accept the date, Kor,” he advised. “That way you
can get to the good stuff.”

“I completely agree with your friend,”

Daystrum rumbled. He crooked his fingers and
traced his knuckles down Korbin’s jaw. “Very
good stuff.”

Korbin felt his balls pull tighter and he

swallowed  hard.  Staring  into  Daystrum’s  deep
blue  eyes,  hot,  feral,  and  full  of  promise,  Korbin
knew  the  vampire  would  deliver  on  every  word
spoken.  Gulping,  he  lowered  his  gaze,  staring  at

Charlie Richards

the  middle  console  as  he  focused  on  getting
control of himself.  Here was neither the time nor
place—hell, being turned on nearly to the point of
pain in front of Paul royally  sucked—and Korbin
willed his dick to remember that.

Perhaps sensing his dilemma, Daystrum leaned

forward and pressed a soft butterfly kiss to his
lips. He released him and straightened in his seat.
“So, where are we headed?”

Korbin swallowed hard, getting some much-

needed moisture to his throat. “My place. I have a
couple extra bedrooms now that Kai and Tyson
have moved out.” He peered into the back seat as
he felt the car start moving. “You want to stay the
night, Paul? You can tell me why you’re at
Walmart by yourself at nine-thirty at night.”

Paul sighed and flopped backward, resting his

head back. He stared at the ceiling of the car and
mumbled, “Jackson didn’t take me coming out
very well.”

“I’m sorry,” Korbin replied, grimacing. The

words sounded so inadequate. “What’d he say?”

His features pulling into a scowl, Paul snarled,

“He accused me of molesting Caleb.” Sneering, he
grumbled, “As if I’d touch that brat with a ten foot
pole. Asshole.”

The blood draining from his face—and his dick,

thank god—Korbin turned around as much as the
seatbelt would allow. “He did what? Why the hell
would he say that?” While Korbin hadn’t been

A Nip of Good Cheer

certain how accepting Jackson, Paul’s foster father,
would be of Paul’s announcement, for him to
spew something like that…

Paul scoffed. “After I said my piece, you

know…I  figure  you  already  know,  but  I  just
wanted  to  confirm  because  I  don’t  want  any
confusion, I’m gay.” He paused and lifted a hand
to  his  face,  rubbing  his  eyes.  Paul  continued,
looking vacantly toward the roof of the car. “Caleb
immediately spouts off, is that why you look at me
in the bathroom?” He curled his lip. “As if.”

Daystrum growled. “And this…Jackson…he

believed Caleb?”

“What do you think?” Paul groused.
His heart heavy in his chest, Korbin reached out

and  touched  Daystrum’s  upper  arm,  feeling  the
tension in the bicep under his fingertips. “Jackson
took  Paul  in  almost  a  year  ago.  Caleb  is  his
biological son. He’s, uh…” Korbin hated speaking
ill  of  someone  he  barely  knew,  but  every  brief
interaction  reinforced  the  opinion  cultivated  by
Paul’s many stories. “Caleb’s an entitled jackass.”

“Really,” Daystrum growled.
The vampire glanced toward Korbin, a touch of

red in his eyes, betraying his anger.

Korbin rubbed Daystrum’s arm, trying to ease

his tension. Immediately he felt the muscles under
his palm relax. Focusing on Paul, he told him,
“When we get home, I’ll put in a call to Mrs.

Charlie Richards

Fallon. You can crash in one of our spare
bedrooms. We’ll get this sorted out. Don’t worry.”

Paul lifted his hand and glared. He shook his

head. “There’s no way to get this sorted,” he told
him.  “I’ve  been  kicked  out  for  coming  on  to  his
son. For something I never did.” He curled his lip
and scoffed. “For something I’d never do. He’s so
not  my  type.  I  like  older  men.  They  know  what
they’re  doing.  And  bears.  The  bigger  and  hairier
the better.”

“We all have preferences,” Daystrum assured.

“Hey, we’re here.”

Korbin glanced out the window, surprised to

see that they were indeed already at his house.
Nodding slowly, he returned his focus to
Daystrum as he listened to the door open behind
him and Paul moved to get out.

“Thank you for everything,” Korbin said,

disappointment spiking through him that their
time had come to an end. “It was awfully nice of
you.”

Daystrum gripped his upper arm and leaned

close.  Without  waiting,  he  sealed  his  lips  over
Korbin’s.  He  thrust  his  tongue  in,  sliding  it  and
tangling  it  with  the  vampire’s  own.  Sucking
Daystrum’s tongue, Korbin tightened his hold on
the  vampire’s  arm  and  pressed  as  close  as  he
could over the center console.

When breathing became paramount, Korbin

released a growling Daystrum’s tongue. He

A Nip of Good Cheer

gasped in several breaths, his chest heaving as he
looked into the vampire’s lightly glowing eyes.

“Yeah,” Korbin whispered. “I wanna see you

again.”

Daystrum nodded. “Good.” He leaned forward

and pressed a hard kiss to Korbin’s lips before
releasing him. “If you need anything, anything at
all.” He held out a card. “Call me.” He winked.
“Or I’ll get your number from Kontra.”

“I’ll call you,” Korbin promised. Then, knowing

he had other responsibilities, he pushed from the
vehicle. After a glance over his shoulder and a
smile at Daystrum, he shut the door and hustled
after Paul.

Charlie Richards

Chapter Six

y the time Daystrum made the drive back to
the vampire’s manor house near Santa Fe, it

was pushing eleven o’clock. He parked his car in
the  garage  and  rubbed  a  hand  over  his  eyes,
fatigue  and  need  mixing  in  his  system.  Feeling  a
tension headache coming on, he pushed out of the
car and headed into the house. Daystrum hoped a
shower,  complete  with  jack-off  session,  and  his
bed would ease him.

As soon as he walked into the house, Daystrum

realized  that  wasn’t  going  to  happen.  Not  right
away,  at  least.  He  had  just  made  it  to  the  back
stairwell  when  Benjamin  Raysis  approached  him.
The  young  vampire—at  thirty-one  years  old,
practically considered a child by most vampires—
waved  and  called  his  name,  jogging  to  catch  up
with him.

Daystrum bit back a sigh and turned to face the

man. He offered a tired smile and said, “Hey,
Benji. What can I do for you?”

“Hi, Day,” Benji greeted, grinning widely.

A Nip of Good Cheer

In Daystrum’s opinion, the guy had way too

much energy for it being after eleven o’clock at
night.

Benji stopped in front of him, bouncing on his

toes with excess energy. “I’m so glad I found you.
Master Adalric is looking for you. He thought you
were out because your car was gone, but I heard
you come home, so I told him I’d find you,” he
rambled.

Daystrum held up his hand, hoping to stem the

man’s verbal diarrhea. It worked. “Is the master in
his office? Or has he retired for the evening?”

“He’s still in his office. He has a few others with

him.”

Nodding, Daystrum settled his hand on Benji’s

shoulder and squeezed. “Thanks.” At Benjamin’s
enthusiastic nod, Daystrum scoffed. “And lay off
the caffeine.”

“Can’t. I have night watch,” Benji replied,

grinning broadly.

That was news to Daystrum. Had he approved

that? He’d have to check his records. Not wanting
to disappoint the man, he nodded. “Okay, then
take the time to do a perimeter check to burn off
some of your jitters. Get moving.”

Benji nodded quickly, then took off. Quick as

that, he was out of sight.

Daystrum chuckled and shook his head. Young

enthusiasm. It’d been decades since he’d felt that
way. Thinking of Korbin, he changed his mind.

Charlie Richards

His enthusiasm just had a new direction, that was
all, and he looked forward to exploring it.

Smiling to himself, Daystrum headed upstairs

and  to  Master  Adalric’s  office.  Fortunately,  his
own room was in the west wing. It allowed him to
remain  close  to  his  leader,  along  with  two  of  the
coven’s enforcers and the lead tracker, as they all
resided  in  the  west  wing.  Nearly  a  dozen  single
vampires occupied the second and third floors of
the  east  wing.  The  human  donors  enjoyed  the
comforts  of  the  south  wing,  and  guests  were
housed on the first floor of the east wing.

The few bonded vampires built small homes

deeper  on  the grounds.  Once  their  children came
of  age,  they  decided  between  themselves  if  the
vampire  were  to  remain  with  their  parents  or
settle in the manor with the others. Most chose the
relative independence of the manor even though it
also  meant  the  vampire  must  learn  some  form  of
higher  education  and  they  gained  the  equivalent
of manor chores.

Reaching Adalric’s office, Daystrum knocked

briskly. A second later, he heard his coven leader’s
voice beckoning him to enter. He took a deep
breath, then pushed the door open, ready to face
his coven leader.

Daystrum paused in the doorway at the

unexpected sight of Kontra and Tim seated on a
love seat along the wall. Opposite them sat
Jaymes, accompanied by one of his own enforcers,

A Nip of Good Cheer

Rhyme. Aladric sat behind a massive oak desk
while his beloved, Seth, lounged in a chair pushed
against the back wall behind him.

Over the months Seth had lived with them,

Daystrum had come to respect the human. While
Seth declined getting involved in most paranormal
duties, happy to spend hours in the manor
gardens, the human was quick to lay into anyone
who tried to come between himself and Adalric.

“Come in, Daystrum,” Adalric ordered,

motioning with his fingers. “Close the door.”

Moving forward, Daystrum closed the door

behind  him  and  settled  on  a  semi  comfortable
chair  facing  Adalric’s  desk.  “I  apologize  for
running  out  on  the  Christmas  party,  Master
Adalric,” he began, figuring he should get it out of
the  way.  Besides,  it  wasn’t  like  he  was  trying  to
hide the knowledge from his leader. “I found my
beloved at the party and he needed a ride.” He cut
a  glance  Jaymes  Martinez’s  way,  then  claimed,
“It’s the human Korbin Harris.”

Daystrum saw Jaymes’ eyes narrow and his

nostrils flare as he took in a sharp breath. Then, his
brows lifted a bit, and he cocked his head.

“Kontra let me know you were helping one of

his  human  friends,”  Adalric  began  slowly.  He
glanced  toward  the  pair,  his  brow  lifting.  “His
mate  even  insisted  it  was  important.  Now  I  see
why.”  Smirking,  Adalric  focused  on  the  couple.

Charlie Richards

“You know, you could have told me that straight
up.”

Tim shrugged. “If Daystrum wasn’t ready to

admit his connection with Korbin, it wasn’t really
my place to say,” he stated.

Daystrum scoffed. “And you telling me to go

offer Korbin a ride was your place?”

Giving Daystrum a cheeky grin, Tim stated,

“You’re welcome.”

“Where did you go this evening?” Jaymes

interrupted. “Who were you with?”

Surprised by the question, Daystrum glanced

toward Adalric, who just shrugged one shoulder,
before focusing on the other vampire. “I apologize
to you, too, Master Jaymes. I know you spent a lot
of time with Korbin this evening. I never meant
to—”

“I don’t give a shit what you meant,” Jaymes

snarled  suddenly,  rising  from  his  seat.  Stalking
toward  Daystrum,  he  growled,  “You  went
somewhere  and  had  contact  with  someone.  Who
did you touch?”

“I

didn’t

touch—”

Daystrum

started

defensively, then stopped and frowned. “Wait, we
went and picked up Korbin’s friend, Paul,” he told
Jaymes. “I shook his hand.”

Jaymes held out his right hand. “Give me your

hand,” he ordered.

Confused, Daystrum went to grip Jaymes’ hand

as if to shake it. Instead, as soon as he drew close,

A Nip of Good Cheer

Jaymes moved and gripped his wrist and tugged
his hand close to his nose. Daystrum jerked his
hand back, and Jaymes released him.

“I want to meet him,” Jaymes demanded,

returning to his seat. “Tomorrow. Take me to him
tomorrow.”

Daystrum read the aggressive lines etched into

the  other  vampire’s  face.  Jaymes  expected
Daystrum  to  obey  him.  Worry  filled  him  as  a
thought  niggled  into  his  mind  about  the  coven
master’s  response.  He  glanced  toward  Adalric,
who  sat  still  and  tense  in  his  seat,  watching  the
interaction.

Focusing on Jaymes, Daystrum held up his

hand in placation. “I would be happy to introduce
you to Paul, but there is some information you
should know about him first.”

Jaymes rested his hands on his thighs, his

fingers  twitching.  Daystrum  could  just  imagine
how  he  probably  wanted  to  wrap  his  hands
around his throat and throttle him. Not wanting to
push  the  master  vampire,  Daystrum  hurried  to
explain as best as he could.

Daystrum dropped the biggest bombshell first.

“Paul  is  a  minor.  He’s  seventeen  and  looks
fourteen.”  Ignoring  the  slight  pallor  of  Jaymes’
cheeks,  he  continued,  “He’s  an  orphan,  has  just
come out to his foster family,  and is currently  on
the  outs  with  them.  Because  of  this,  he’s  staying
with Korbin for the evening.”

Charlie Richards

Licking his lips, Daystrum glanced from

Adalric to Jaymes, gauging their reactions. While
his own coven leader appeared concerned and—as
he peered at Jaymes—sympathetic, Jaymes
appeared pale and rubbed his hands over his face.

Thinking quickly, Daystrum searched for

something positive to say. He swept his gaze over
Jaymes’ five o’clock shadow and hair on his arms,
revealed since he’d removed his tuxedo jacket and
had rolled up his sleeves. He remembered what
Paul had said and smiled.

“I did overhear Paul say that he liked older

bears,  so  being  plenty  hairy  should  be  in  your
favor,”  Daystrum  teased  softly,  pointing  at  his
arms.  “If  your  chest  looks  anything  like  that,
you’re his perfect man.”

Jaymes glared, even as the corners of his lips

twitched  and  his  green  eyes  glittered  with
amusement. “If he’s  my beloved, of course I’ll be
perfect.” The mirth filling his eyes dimmed  a bit.
“It  sounds  like  he’s  had  a  rough  time  of  it.  Any
idea how he’ll handle learning about vampires?”

Daystrum shrugged. “I’m sorry. I only met him

for a few minutes while driving him from Walmart
to Korbin’s home.”

A low growling rumble sounded from Jaymes

before the vampire cut himself off by clearing his
throat. “Sorry.” He shrugged. “If just the light
scent coming from you by shaking Paul’s hand is
any indicator, Paul is definitely my beloved.” He

A Nip of Good Cheer

shrugged. “The idea of him in another man’s
house, even one as sweet and kind as Korbin, rubs
me the wrong way.”

Tim snickered, drawing attention to himself.

Kontra  lifted  one  side  of  his  mouth,  giving  the
man  an  enquiring  look.  Rolling  his  eyes,  Tim
commented,  “Come  on.  I  remember  how
possessive you were when we first met.”

“And you rejected me, then got your ass

kidnapped,” Kontra rumbled, his jaw tense as he
wrapped his arm around Tim and pulled him
close.

Grimacing, Tim nodded. “Yeah, but I was on

my way to tell you I’d made a mistake, so that
should count for something.”

Kontra pressed a kiss to Tim’s lips, then rested

his forehead against the smaller man’s. “It does,
and now you’re safe with me,” he responded
gruffly.

“I think I just got a cavity,” Seth commented,

grinning.

Adalric turned toward his beloved and

smirked. “And if I were to draw you into my
arms, it would take all of ten seconds to have you
begging for my kiss,” he claimed.

Seth met Adalric’s gaze, his eyes darkening.

“Are you sure I’m the one who’d be begging?”

Growling, his eyes flashing red, Adalric turned

his chair and lunged at his beloved.

Charlie Richards

Daystrum had seen that kind of behavior

before.  It  always  led  to  Adalric  and  Seth  in  a
make-out session as good as any dismissal. Rising
to his feet, Daystrum cleared his throat and lifted
one  hand,  inviting  the  others  to  leave  the  office
before  him.  After  a  few  seconds  of  them
exchanging  glances  and  looking  toward  the  now
clearly  distracted coven leader, the group of men
left the office.

Tim stopped a few feet from the door and lifted

a hand to cover his mouth as he yawned, his jaw
popping loudly. “Mmm, wow. Sorry,” he
murmured, rubbing a hand over his face. “Day
ended up longer than I thought it would.”

“Looks like that’s our cue to get going,” Kontra

rumbled. He held out his hand to first Jaymes,
then Rhyme, and said, “It was nice meeting you
both.”

“And the same to you,” Jaymes replied. “And

thank you for urging me to meet up with
Daystrum this evening.”

Tim nodded. “Yep. No problem.”
“Is that why everyone was holed up in

Adalric’s office?” Daystrum asked curiously. “You
were waiting for me?”

“More or less,” Tim replied, a knowing gleam

in his eyes.

Daystrum nodded, fighting a yawn of his own.

“Right, a vision.”

A Nip of Good Cheer

Tim gave him a thumbs up. By then, they’d

reached  the  platform  at  the  head  of  the  massive
staircase.  Whitney,  a  female  vampire  who  was
overseeing  the  evening  security  shift,  appeared
from  behind  a  door.  Daystrum  knew  beyond  it
was a small lounge-style security room with many
monitors. Several stations were set up throughout
the  house,  since  several  sets  of  eyes  were  better
than just one, after all.

“If you need assistance to your destinations,

Whitney will be able to assist you,” Daystrum told
them. “Good evening.”

After one more nod to the group in general—

and after receiving a number of good nights from
the  men—Daystrum  finally  made  his  way  to  his
suite  of  rooms.  He  closed  his  door  and  began
peeling  his  clothes,  tossing  them  on  whichever
piece  of  furniture  happened  to  be  nearest  as  he
made his way to the bathroom.

While Daystrum normally considered himself a

neat  person,  the  ache  in  his  balls  was  getting  to
him. He wanted hot spray on his back, images  of
Korbin  in  his  head,  and  his  dick  in  his  hand.  As
soon  as  he  climbed  into  the  shower,  he  sagged
against  the  wall,  unmindful  of  the  chill
permeating his back, and reached for his bobbing
prick.

Daystrum sighed as he closed his eyes and

leaned his head against the wall. He kept his grip
loose, his strokes slow as he recalled the best parts

Charlie Richards

of  his  evening.  Remembering  the  feel  of  his
beloved in his arms, the taste of his sweet human
on his tongue, Daystrum shivered as his foreskin
retracted  and  a  bead  of  pre-cum  oozed  from  his
cap. The warm spray quickly washed it away, the
beads  of  water  hitting  his  sensitive  cap  and
sending tingles through his groin.

Groaning, Daystrum tightened his grip on his

dick  as  he  sped  up  his  strokes.  Unbidden,  the
image of Korbin on his knees entered his mind. He
remembered  how  Korbin’s  tongue  felt  sliding
against his own, how the human sucked lightly on
the appendage, and could easily imagine how his
mouth  would  feel  stretching  around  his  cock’s
head.  Korbin  would  peer  up  at  him,  meeting
Daystrum’s gaze with his lust-dilated eyes framed
by  thick  lashes  clumped  together  with  beads  of
water.

His balls tightened at the visual imagery. His

cock thickened and swelled. The little zing that
started at his tailbone shot up his spine, then back
down, made him gasp. His orgasm followed close
behind, swelling through him.

Arching his body, his mouth open on a low

moan, Daystrum stripped his prick as he spurted.
With  his  eyes  still  closed,  he  imagined  Korbin
swallowing  every  drop  of  his  seed.  His  throat
muscles would have to work quickly, his Adam’s
apple  bobbing.  Korbin  would  suck  him  until  he
finished, not missing a drop.

A Nip of Good Cheer

Then, Korbin would rise to his feet and tilt his

head, begging a kiss. Daystrum would be only too
happy to comply. Taking Korbin’s mouth in a
deep tongue-fucking, Daystrum would taste
himself on his lover’s tongue.

Hissing, Daystrum released his suddenly too

sensitive cock. He softened, but only to half-mast.
Pivoting,  he  put  his  back  to the  fall  of  water  and
rested  his  forehead  against  the  tile  wall.  Letting
the  hot  spray  beat  down  on  his  still-too-tense
shoulders  and  back  muscles,  Daystrum  hoped
he’d  be  able  to  play  out  his  fantasy  real  damn
soon.

Charlie Richards

Chapter Seven

t’s a lie!”
Korbin watched Paul jump up from the sofa

and  pace  the  living  room.  The  teenager’s  hands
were  fisted  at  his  sides,  his  arms  jerking  as  he
stalked across the room to the window. His cheeks
were  flushed  and  he  peered  outside  with
narrowed eyes.

Korbin wondered how much Paul really saw.
“I know it’s a lie,” Korbin soothed.
He wanted to go to the young man and wrap

him  in  his  arms  and  give  him  a  big  hug.
Unfortunately, he didn’t think Paul was ready for
comforting just yet. Being raised by first an addict
mother,  then  the  foster  system,  Paul  hadn’t  had
much  opportunity  for  loving  embraces.  That  was
just  one  of  many  things  they’d  been  working
through.

Instead, Korbin rose and walked slowly toward

Paul.  He  clasped  his  hands  behind  his  back,
mostly  to  avoid  the  temptation  to  touch.  His
group  of  friends  were  always  a  touchy  feely

“I

A Nip of Good Cheer

bunch. Standing at the window, Korbin watched
the storm clouds gather in the distance, thinking
they were awfully reflective of what was probably
going on inside Paul’s head.

“We’ll fix this,” Korbin vowed.
“How?” Paul turned and glared at him. “It’s

Caleb’s  word  against  mine.  He’s  the  biological
son,  the  good  son.  I’m  the  druggy’s  boy  just
skirting  this  side  of  the  system.  Why  would
anyone believe me over him?”

While Paul’s tone remained hard and

belligerent,  Korbin  could  see  the  fear  swimming
deep  in  his  pale  blue  eyes.  He  slid  his  tongue
along  his  bottom  teeth,  thinking  quickly.  Finally,
he reached out and placed his right hand on Paul’s
shoulder.  He  immediately  felt  the  young  man
tense under his touch, but he refused to let go. He
needed Paul to understand that he wasn’t alone in
this.

“Look, I have friends that, um—” Korbin

grimaced. How could one say this tactfully? “They
have ways of making things go away.” When
Paul’s eyes widened, Korbin realized just how that
sounded. “Shit, no. They’re not criminals, they
just—”

Korbin felt his face heat. He released Paul’s

shoulder  and,  with  one  hand  on  the  back  of  his
neck  and  the  other  on  his  waist,  stared  vacantly
out  the  window.  Did  he  really  have  any  right  to

Charlie Richards

blurt that paranormals existed and they might be
able to help find dirt on Caleb?

But this is my family. Maybe not by blood, but by

choice.

“Could you sit down?” Korbin asked,

motioning toward the sofa. “I’m gonna get us a
couple of sodas.”

Appearing confused, Paul crossed to the sofa

and flopped down onto it. “Okay?” He drew the
word out, looking questioningly at Korbin.

Korbin held up his hand and headed into the

kitchen. After opening the refrigerator, he grabbed
two sodas and set them on the counter. Then, he
gripped the edge and leaned back, lowering his
head to the quartz slab.

“You can’t really be thinking of telling him

about, about Kai or, or, or Kontra or, or—”

Korbin lifted his head.
Brock stood in the doorway, his mouth open,

gaping at him. “You can’t!”

“Brock,” Korbin whispered. “He needs my

help. How can I turn him away?”

“Look,” Brock began, striding forward and

leaning on the counter opposite him. “I like him
just fine, but to trust him with Kai’s secret?
Really?”

Korbin grimaced. “No, of course not,” he

agreed,  sighing  as  he  met  Brock’s  commiserating
look.  Crap.  What  had  he  been  thinking?  “I  still
want  to  ask  them  for  advice,  though,  because  as

A Nip of Good Cheer

much as I hate to admit it, Paul is right. As good
as he is now, he still has his past against him.”

Brock nodded. “I’ll take this soda to Paul and

tell him you’re making a phone call to a friend,”
he said, picking up one of the sodas. “You go call
Kontra.”

Flushing, Korbin glanced away. “I was, uh,

actually gonna call Daystrum.”

“Really.” Brock drew the word out, a wide grin

splitting his mouth. “My man! Way to go,” he
crowed, holding up his free hand in a fist.

Korbin fought down an embarrassed flush as

he lifted his fist and bumped it against Brock’s.
“He says I’m his beloved, after all.”

Brock nodded. “I saw you leave the table to

answer your phone, then Daystrum left the table
right after. Did he come after you?”

Nodding, Korbin admitted, “He drove me to

pick up Paul and we talked a little bit.”

“Cool,” Brock replied, his expression going

vacant for a few seconds. “That was about nine-
forty. I’ll have to do some calculations to see who
won.”

Korbin straightened and stiffened. “What? You

actually went through with that bet?”

Brock snorted and turned away, heading

toward the front. “Hell, yeah!”

Groaning softly, Korbin lifted the can of soda to

the back of his suddenly-too-hot neck. He loved
his friends. Really, he did. Sometimes, though,

Charlie Richards

they embarrassed the shit out of him. Korbin took
a second to send up a silent prayer to any god that
cared to listen that the bet wouldn’t get back to
Daystrum.

Yeah, not with my luck.
Shaking his head, Korbin strode out of the

kitchen  and  around  the  dining  room  table.  He
paused just a second to peer into the living room
and  spotted  Brock  talking  animatedly  with  Paul,
his  hands  flying  in  front  of  him,  punctuating  his
words.  Paul  sat  on  the  chair  opposite  him,  his
elbows  on  his  knees.  He  listened  with  rapt
attention,  his  mouth  open  just  a  bit  and  his  eyes
wide as he clutched the soda Brock had taken him
between his palms.

Korbin shook his head and smiled as he took

the stairs two at a time. Brock could talk away
anyone’s troubles. The guy had a funny sports
story for every occasion.

Reaching his room, Korbin went in but left the

door  open,  wanting  to  hear  if  someone
approached.  He  picked  up  the  business  card
Daystrum  had  given  to  him  from  off  his  dresser
and  stared  at  it.  Gathering  his  courage,  Korbin
pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed.

After two rings, a smooth deep voice answered,

“Daystrum Striplan.”

“D-Daystrum?” Korbin paused and cleared his

throat.

A Nip of Good Cheer

“Korbin, hello,” Daystrum greeted. Next,

Korbin heard Daystrum murmur, “Please excuse
me. I need to take this.” A second later, his voice
resumed normal volume. “Hey, Kor,” he greeted.
“I’m glad you called. For more reasons than just
because I like the sound of your sexy voice.”

Warmed by the compliment, Korbin smiled. He

bowed  his  head  as  he  leaned  against  the  dresser
and just enjoyed the sound of Daystrum’s voice. “I
like listening to you, too.” His cheeks warmed, but
Korbin  ignored  it,  liking  how  it  felt  to  flirt.  This
was  flirting,  right?  “So,  um,  how  long  did  you
think it’d take me to call?”

Daystrum chuckled. “After that goodnight kiss,

I’d  hoped  it  wouldn’t  be  more  than  a  day.”  His
voice  deepened  as  he  continued,  “I’m  not  an
exceptionally  patient  man  when  it  comes  to
something  I  need,  and  I  do  need  you  Korbin.  I
think my stupidity has kept us both waiting long
enough. Don’t you?”

Korbin shivered as those words sank in. Once

Kai and Tyson got together with their mates, their
relationship had proceeded at warp nine, going
from zero to living together in a matter of weeks.
Korbin wondered if he was ready for that.

“I suppose I’ll enjoy showing you that the pros

far outweigh the cons,” Daystrum continued.

Realizing he must have been quiet too long,

Korbin replied, “I’ve seen my friends mate, so I
understand the urge. I’m glad what I’ve been

Charlie Richards

feeling finally makes sense.” He scoffed, closing
his eyes. “It’ll be nice to give my right hand a
rest.”

Daystrum barked a laugh. “Oh, Korbin. I will

be more than happy to take over that task,” he
growled roughly.

Korbin snapped his head up. “Uh, did I say that

out loud?”

Chuckling, Daystrum replied, “You did. Don’t

worry, Kor. I feel the same way.” He sighed, the
mirth in his voice disappearing. “I owe you an
explanation, though.”

“Uh, okay.” Korbin wasn’t entirely certain he

wanted  to  know  why  Daystrum  hadn’t  noticed
him  right  away.  What  if  the  only  reason  the
vampire was interested in him was because of the
bond  pull  thingy?  Still,  if  he  didn’t  hear,  he’d
always wonder. “So, uh, why?”

Daystrum released a sigh just loud enough for

Korbin  to  hear.  “Well,  some  months  back,  there
was some unrest in our coven. I was jumped from
behind,  attacked,”  he  explained  softly.  “I  nearly
died, but a fellow vampire saved me. The mission
to  meet  up  with  Kontra  and  to  help  Dorian  free
the  slaves  was  my  first  time  out  in…months.”
Daystrum’s  tone  turned  cool.  “I  was  pretty
jumpy—still  thought  I  was  scenting  my  attackers
at  every  turn.  Then,  to  walk  into  a  home  filled
with  strange  humans  and  shifters…my  senses
were  on  overload.  Unfortunately,  I  ended  up

A Nip of Good Cheer

ignoring everything I was smelling, because I
didn’t feel I could trust it.”

While listening to Daystrum’s tale, Korbin

couldn’t  imagine  nearly  dying  at  the  hands  of
people  he  thought  were  friends.  He  certainly
understood  how  that  would  create  disbelief  in
oneself.  Not  to  mention  Korbin  figured  it’d  be
pretty tough for a vampire of Daystrum’s ranking
to admit to such weakness.

Korbin decided that meant more to him than he

could really say. It was certainly better than any
apology. In fact, he cared about something else
more.

“Are you okay now? Did you find who hurt

you?”

“Yes,”

Daystrum

replied.

“My

coven

dispatched those responsible.”

“Dispatched?” Korbin’s brows drew together as

he thought about that. His eyes widened in
realization. “Oh, uh, killed them?” Korbin didn’t
want to think about how his voice squeaked.

“Rogue vampires and the humans who work

with them are dangerous,” Daystrum warned.
“Keeping not only our coven but our race safe is
paramount.”

The safety of their race…right.
“Do you have time to come over this

afternoon?” Korbin asked.

Charlie Richards

“For you, beloved,” Daystrum rumbled. “I

would drop everything and make time. What time
would you like me there?”

Korbin could guess why Daystrum thought he

was  asking  him  over,  and  he  knew  he  needed  to
be  clearer.  He  didn’t  want  to  disappoint  the
vampire,  even  though  Korbin  hoped  they’d  get
there  soon,  too.  “Paul  is  still  here  and—”  he
paused, trying to figure out how to voice what he
needed.

“Oh, good,” Daystrum cut in. “I need to talk to

you about Paul.”

After gaping for an instant, Korbin snapped his

jaw shut before whispering, “You already know?”

Daystrum remained quiet for several seconds.

Confusion filling his voice, he asked, “Wait. Know
what?”

“About…about...” Korbin paused. He rubbed a

hand over his forehead. “About Paul’s problem?”

Again, Daystrum took a few seconds to answer,

and  Korbin  waited  with  bated  breath.  “While  I
know  Paul  is  only  seventeen,  I’m  certain  Jaymes
will  honor  the  need  to  wait  until  he’s  of  age.  It’s
not that big a problem.”

Korbin scowled. Huh? “I’m sorry. What does

Jaymes have to do with this?”

“What are we talking about?”
“Uh,” Korbin paused. Figuring he better blurt it

out and explain what Daystrum was getting
involved with, he explained, “Remember Paul

A Nip of Good Cheer

said Jackson accused him of molesting his son,
Caleb? Well, evidently Caleb confirmed it and
Jackson is pressing charges.”

“Did he?”
While Korbin understood why Daystrum

would ask, he couldn’t keep the indignation out of
his voice when he snapped, “Of course not. Caleb
is just a trouble-making asshole.”

“Calm down, Korbin,” Daystrum soothed.

“You know I had to ask.”

“I know.”
“And I was talking about Jaymes scenting Paul

on me last night when I returned to the mansion,”
Daystrum  told  him.  “He  is  under  the  impression
that Paul may very well be his beloved and wishes
to  meet  him.  You  should  know  he  will  guard
Paul’s  interests  jealously.  Paul  will  be  well  taken
care of, not just by my own coven, but by Jaymes’
as well,” Daystrum told him.

“Wow, really?” Korbin’s mind reeled. He sure

hoped Paul would handle the news of
paranormals well. Having grown up with Kai, the
idea of shifters had become old hat to him and his
friends. Learning about mates had been cool and
vampires even cooler. “At least, he’ll have plenty
of help adapting.”

“Look, we have a guy here, Garner Vorzman,

who’s brilliant with finding information,”
Daystrum claimed. “If Caleb is such a trouble-
maker, it will have showed up in other areas of his

Charlie Richards

life. Perhaps we can find something that will show
what a prat the boy is and throw doubt on his
claims.”

Korbin felt his heart speed up. “Really?”
“Absolutely,” Daystrum replied. “He’s family

to you. He’s family to me,” he continued. “That
means I use the resources of my coven to aide
him.”

“Thank you,” Korbin whispered, completely

overwhelmed at how Daystrum would just take
his word for Paul’s character without question. “I
really appreciate it.”

Daystrum rumbled his name. “Korbin.”
The sound sent tingles dancing across Korbin’s

skin. His heart-rate sped up and with just that one
word,  Korbin’s  body  reacted.  His  blood  flowed
south  and  his  cock  thickened.  “Day,”  he
whispered  in  response.  He  felt  his  cheeks  and
chest  heat,  this  time  from  arousal,  and  he  closed
his eyes so he could focus on breathing…and the
sound of the vampire’s voice.

“I want to be there for you,” Daystrum

murmured. “I told you if you ever need anything,
all you have to do is ask. I’m honored you took me
up on that.”

Korbin rested his head against the wall to his

left and sighed. “I wish you were coming here for
a reason other than—” he stopped and grimaced.
“Jeez, that would make me sound like a selfish
ass.”

A Nip of Good Cheer

Daystrum probably knew what he’d wanted to

say…that Korbin wanted Daystrum to be visiting
for a social call instead of to help Paul. He  heard
Daystrum  chuckle,  the  sound  seeming  to  reach
straight  through  the  phone  and  caress  his  balls.
“We’ll be getting to those visits soon enough, my
beloved,” he rumbled. “Now, give me Jackson and
Caleb’s  full  names,  their  address,  and  as  much
information  as  you  can  about  Paul,  Jackson,  and
his son. I’ll get to work and try to be there around
one or so,” he promised.

Glancing at his phone’s face, Korbin realized

that was only four hours away. He nodded, then
remembered Daystrum wouldn’t be able to see it.
“Right. Got a pen?”

“Yep. Fire away.”
Korbin switched his phone to speaker, then

scrolled through his phone’s address book. When
he  started  rattling  off  information,  he  could  hear
the  stroke  of  pen  on  paper.  Once  that  was  done,
Daystrum  warned  that  several  vampires  would
probably  be  joining  him,  so  Korbin  promised  to
have plenty of burger patties ready for grilling.

Explaining that Gladys Fallon was expected at

around three to discuss the charges, Korbin hoped
to have a show of support for Paul. He figured it
would be good to keep things on an even keel.
Korbin wanted the young man to know, family or
not, he wasn’t alone in this.

Charlie Richards

To that end, after hanging up with Daystrum,

Korbin called Kai and Tyson. Both men agreed to
come  by.  Next,  Korbin  headed  back  downstairs.
He  poked  his  head  around  the  corner,  grinning
widely  at  a  still  talking  Brock  and  a  clearly
confused Paul.

As he watched, Paul rolled his eyes and flopped

backward to sprawl on the chair. “Whatever,
dude,” he sneered. “That’s totally not true. No
way some girl believed you met Billy Crystal in a
Walmart.”

“Totally true story,” Brock claimed, grinning

broadly.

Korbin smirked. “To her credit,” he cut in, “she

was pretty drunk.” While Brock turned and
grinned at him, Paul gaped. Taking the opening,
Korbin beckoned them both with his hand. “Come
on, guys. We have guests coming for a late lunch
and we have potato salad to make. Get your asses
in here.”

“There’s people coming over?” Paul asked,

looking wary as he pushed to his feet.

Nodding, Korbin motioned him into the room.

“They’re coming to help. You’re not alone in this,”
he told him. Wanting to relieve the younger man’s
nerves, he added, “Come on. I’ll tell you all about
it.”

Well, within reason anyway. Jaymes can decide

when to share paranormals with Paul.

A Nip of Good Cheer

Chapter Eight

aystrum strode up the walkway of the large
farmhouse. At one time, the house had been

the perfect size for the four college friends. Now,
with two of them moved out, he’d expected the
place to be fairly quiet when he arrived.

He was wrong.
Sweeping his gaze over the four motorcycles,

Daystrum figured at least two of them belonged to
Korbin’s friend’s mates, Logan and Dorian. A
third was a bullet bike he’d guess belonged to a
hyena shifter he’d met during his first interaction
with the gang. Payson, if he wasn’t mistaken. The
last bike he didn’t have a clue about.

Daystrum knocked on the door, the half dozen

vampires  waiting  behind  him.  He’d  advised  the
group to dress casual, but even in jeans, shirts, and
jackets, they still looked out of place. Stiff posture
and  watchful  glances  marked  Jaymes’  two
enforcers,  Rhyme  and  Clarice.  Toni  looked  more
relaxed, but he’d met the humans before.

Charlie Richards

Garner always looked stiff and formal, but that

was  just  the  ex-military  vampire’s  way.  Much  to
the  vampire’s  displeasure,  Daystrum  had  chosen
to  drag  the  technical  guru  along.  The  guy  was
about as unsocial as they came, but he was a wiz
with  technology.  Daystrum  wanted  Paul  to  hear
what Garner had uncovered first hand.

Hell if Daystrum wanted to botch something up

in translation. Especially with something as
serious as molestation charges on the line.

When the door opened, Brock appeared in the

doorway. “Hey, guys,” he greeted before focusing
on  Clarice.  The  human  grinned  wider.  “Ma’am.
Please,  come  on  in.  The  brats  and  burgers are  on
the  grill,  should  be  ready  in  a  few,  but  there’s
plenty  of  sides  set  up  in  the  dining  room.”  He
stepped back and swung his arm, beckoning them
to enter. “Drinks are in the sink. Feel free to grab
whatever you like and make yourself at home.”

As Daystrum stepped into the home, Brock

waggled his brows at him. “Korbin is in the
kitchen.”

Nodding his thanks, Daystrum started that

way. After two steps, he felt a hand on his arm. He
turned to see Jaymes standing beside him and he
grinned. “That was Brock,” Daystrum told him
helpfully. “He lives here with Korbin.” Shrugging,
he added, “Consider this neutral territory. No one
here will attack you without provocation.”

A Nip of Good Cheer

“Got it,” Jaymes replied. He swept his gaze

around at the shifters and humans filling the
spacious living, family, and dining room. His eyes
narrowed as he stated, “Guess I’ll go mingle. I
know Paul’s in here somewhere.”

Unable to help himself…hell, he’d seen the

clearly fraternal way Korbin acted toward Paul,
Daystrum muttered, “Remember. Underage
human.”

Jaymes glared at him, his eyes flashing red for

just an instant. “I remember.”

Daystrum offered the coven master a nod,

lowering his gaze in respect. “And you should
know I will help in any way I can.”

“Good,” Jaymes replied gruffly. “You can do

just as you did if I get a little carried away.” He
grimaced. “When does he turn eighteen again?”

“Sixty-eight days,” Daystrum replied, deciding

Jaymes would appreciate specifics.

Jaymes nodded. “Just before Valentine’s Day.”

His eyes narrowed and his smile appeared almost
feral. “That could be fun.”

Daystrum smirked and patted him on the

shoulder. “I’ll bet.”

Turning away, Daystrum headed through the

home.  He  nodded  and  greeted  those  he  passed,
appreciating the clearly festive atmosphere. A  six
foot pine tree, still mostly bare, stood in a corner.
A  couple  of  men  stood  clustered  around  it,
hanging  ornaments,  while  a  couple  of  others  sat

Charlie Richards

on nearby sofas giving their two cents about how
the lights needed to be put on first.

Daystrum recognized Paul among them. The

young  man  smiled,  but  his  shoulders  remained
stiff.  Still, he appeared to be having a good time,
even with the worry that he clearly felt. Glancing
over  his  shoulder,  Daystrum  saw  Jaymes’
attention  riveted  on  the  group.  He  decided  the
vampire  master  could  introduce  himself,  so  he
headed toward the kitchen.

Spotting Korbin standing at the counter, his

back  to  him,  Daystrum  smiled.  The  man  chatted
with  a  smaller  male  who  stood  at  the  counter  a
few feet away—a shifter from his scent, although
Daystrum wasn’t certain what kind. The pair were
frosting  sugar  cookies,  adding  multicolored
glitter-stuff on top.

Unable to resist the odd attraction he felt at the

domestic  sight,  Daystrum  rounded  the  bar  and
stepped  up  behind  Korbin.  He  slid  his  arms
around  the  human’s  waist  as  he  bowed  his  head
and nuzzled Korbin’s neck.

Korbin squeaked and jerked. Only Daystrum’s

vampire  speed  kept  them  from  cracking  their
heads  together.  He  brought  his  right  hand  up  to
his  human’s  jaw  to  hold  his  head  in  place  while
tightening his left arm where it rested at his waist,
holding the man’s opposite hip. Just as fast as he
jumped, Korbin froze in his grip.

A Nip of Good Cheer

“Easy, sweet beloved,” Daystrum crooned,

kissing the pulse point under Korbin’s jaw. “It’s
me.”

“Yeah,” Korbin murmured breathily. “You just

startled me.” He tilted his head just a bit more and
peered at him out of the corner of his eye, sagging
against Daystrum, pressing his back—and his
ass—against him. “Welcome.”

Pleased by the response, and turned on as hell,

Daystrum licked and nipped along the cords of
Korbin’s neck. “Thank you,” he rumbled against
Korbin’s warm flesh.

Daystrum heard his beloved’s blood rushing

through  his  veins,  his  pulse  spiking.  Korbin’s
honey-sweet  scent,  how  he  felt  in  his  arms,  how
his  lithe  body  fitted  against  his  own,  everything
went  straight  to  Daystrum’s  head…the  little  one.
Groaning, he tucked his face against Korbin’s neck
and  just  breathed  him  in  as  he  rocked  his  pelvis
forward, rutting slowly against his ass.

A soft snicker filtered through Daystrum’s fog

of lust. “You all want to zip upstairs and finish
your bond?” the pale, black-haired shifter asked.
“I could cover for ya.”

After one more kiss and nuzzle to Korbin’s

neck, Daystrum forced himself to lift his head. He
eased his hold and looked at the man next to
them, who now stood with his back to the counter
with his arms crossed over his lean chest.

Charlie Richards

Grinning widely, the guy’s brown eyes sparkled
with mirth.

“As much as that idea does appeal,” Daystrum

stated  gruffly.  “I  will  not  have  our  first  time  a
hurried rush.” He switched his gaze to Korbin and
just about changed his mind. The sexy man leaned
against  him  fully,  his  chest  rising  and  falling  in
panting  breaths,  and  his  cheeks  and  neck
remained  flushed.  Swallowing  hard,  Daystrum
met Korbin’s gaze and whispered hoarsely, “I plan
to take my time with you.”

Korbin licked his lips, the pink bit of flesh

sweeping over his lips. “Y-Yeah, that’d probably
be best.”

Daystrum groaned. “Damn, Kor. You do test

my resolve.”

Unable to resist a taste of that tongue,

Daystrum lowered his head. He nipped and licked
at  Korbin’s  lips  for  a  few  seconds  before  sliding
his  tongue  inside  Korbin’s  mouth.  Humming  at
the  sweet  vanilla  taste—Korbin  must  have  been
sampling  the  frosting—mixed  with  Korbin’s
natural honey, Daystrum lapped at his soon-to-be
lover’s appendage.

His control stretched to the breaking point,

Daystrum  broke  the  kiss.  He  grinned  down  at
Korbin  and  whispered,  “Tonight.  I  brought  an
overnight bag. It’s in the trunk.” He had planned
to  wheedle  an  invitation  out  of  his  beloved,  but
screw that.

A Nip of Good Cheer

“Yeah, okay,” Korbin instantly agreed.
Before Daystrum could say more, he heard the

sound  of  quick  footsteps  skittering  over
hardwood.  He  turned  his  head  and  watched  as
Paul slid to a stop at the bar. His eyes were wide
and  his  face  flushed.  Daystrum  wondered  what
had upset him, but he didn’t have long to wonder.

“You got me a lawyer?” Paul blurted out.
What lawyer?
Daystrum exchanged a look with Korbin. From

his  beloved’s  confused  expression,  he  knew  he
was  wondering  the  same  thing.  He  opened  his
mouth,  then  closed  it  just  as  quickly  as  Jaymes
strode into view.

Smiling serenely, although his eyes lit for just

an instant when his gaze swept over Paul, Jaymes
glanced  around  the  room.  “I’m  sorry.  I  didn’t
mean  to  disrupt  the  festivities.”  He  shrugged,
rubbing  his  hand  over  the  new  beard  growth  on
his  face.  “We  were  passing  the  general
pleasantries  and  I  explained  I  was  an  attorney.”
Jaymes  smiled  at  Paul.  “While  you  did  jump  to
conclusions,  it  was  the  right  one.  I  can  and  do
intend to help you.”

Paul stared at Jaymes a minute…long enough

for Daystrum to catch the interest there before he
looked at Korbin. The scent of arousal intensified
in the room, betraying Paul’s interest even more. It
vanished just as quickly when Paul mumbled,
“How many people did you tell?”

Charlie Richards

Feeling Korbin straightening and pulling away,

Daystrum eased his hold. Korbin crossed to stand
opposite Paul, resting his hands on the counter
between them. Daystrum couldn’t help but move
to flank him, the need to support and be close to
his beloved too strong to deny.

“Everyone here has your back, Paul,” Korbin

stated softly. “Most of these men I consider
extended family. That means, they’re your family,
too.”

Paul crossed his leanly toned arms over his

slender chest. He jerked a nod, but if he were a
rubber band, he would have snapped with the
tension. “So, uh, what now, then?”

“Now, we eat cookies before burgers,” the

shifter said, placing one of their plates on the
counter between everyone. “Because it’s almost
Christmas, and we should have dessert first.”

“Excellent idea, Yuma,” Korbin stated, grinning

at the guy.

“And in the meantime,” Yuma added, “I will

track  down  my  wayward  mate  and  see  how  the
burgers  and  brats  are  coming.”  He  winked,
beaming at the group, before sashaying out of the
kitchen  to  the  sliding  glass  doors  leading  to  the
deck.

Daystrum opened his mouth, the question of

what  kind  of  shifter  Yuma  was  on  the  tip  of  his
tongue.  Remembering  Paul,  he  switched  ideas,
grabbed  a  cookie,  and  took  a  bite.  Sweet,  sugar-

A Nip of Good Cheer

cookie goodness exploded across his taste buds.
He hummed in appreciation, nodding at Korbin.

Gladys Fallon arrived early.
The group was still in the middle of gorging on

cheeseburgers,  jalapeno  and  cheese  bratwursts,
potato  salad,  and  broccoli  salad,  not  to  mention
the prerequisite chips and dip, tortillas and salsa,
as  well  as  rice  krispy  treats,  which  Daystrum
hadn’t had in years, so he’d enjoyed three of them.

The doorbell rang and Brock excused himself to

answer  it.  A  moment  later,  he  returned  with
Gladys  in  tow.  “Are  you  sure  you  won’t  change
your  mind?”  Brock  was  asking  her.  “We  have
plenty.”

Shaking her head, Gladys stared around

pensively. “I-I’m sorry. I seem to be interrupting a
holiday gathering.” She clutched her briefcase to
her bosom. “And I really don’t have good news. Is
there a place we can go and talk?” Gladys stared
at Paul when she asked, a smile that looked more
like a grimace creasing her painted red lips.

Korbin rose from his chair, wiping his hands on

a  napkin  as  he  stood.  “Sure,  we  can  go  into  the
study  or  the  bedroom  you  used  the  night  before.
Whichever  you  prefer,”  Korbin  said,  addressing
Paul.

A suddenly very pale Paul—and the poor

teenager didn’t have much color to lose—glanced

Charlie Richards

around the room. “Whatever,” he responded
belligerently, seeming to emotionally shut down.

Jaymes’ eyes narrowed as he, too, stood. Not

surprisingly,  he took charge by saying, “I  believe
the  study  would  be  best.  After  all,  this  is  a
business  meeting.”  He  focused  on  Korbin.  “If
you’d  please  show  the  way,  Korbin.  I’m  sure  we
can get this matter settled swiftly.”

Daystrum rose, motioning to Garner as he did

so.  The  group—including  Rhyme,  because  the
enforcer  clearly  had  no  intention  of  leaving
Jaymes’  side—followed Korbin as he led the way
through  a  pair  of  French  doors.  Inside  the  room,
two  desks  stood  on  opposite  sides  of  the  room
facing  each  other.  Bookshelves  lined  each  wall
behind  them.  On  the  far  side  of  the  decent-sized
room  stood  a  coffee  table  rimmed  by  sofas  and
chairs. A couple of notebooks, two laptops, several
text books, and multiple loose papers were strewn
across the coffee table.

Korbin rushed to the cluttered surface and

scooped  the  papers  into  piles.  After  closing  and
stacking the books and notepads, he straightened
and  faced  the  group.  “Sorry,  forgot  I  was  down
here  studying  the  other  night  and  didn’t  clean
up.” He swung his hand to indicate the furniture.
“Wherever.”

Gladys settled on one sofa. Jaymes rested a

hand on Paul’s shoulder and steered him toward
the opposite couch. While Paul sat, Jaymes rested

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against  the  armrest  next  to  him,  leaving  the
cushion  beside  Paul  for  Korbin.  While  Daystrum
didn’t appreciate his beloved holding the hand of
another, he knew the teenager needed the support.
Daystrum  exchanged  a  smirk  with  Jaymes,
knowing  the  other  vampire  felt  the  same  way
from the nearly imperceptible clenching of his jaw.

As Gladys opened her briefcase and pulled out

a file, she glanced around at everyone, then looked
at  Paul.  “As  your  social  worker,  I  really  do
recommend  we  go  over  this  in  private.”  She
hesitated  an  instant,  then  added,  “After  that,  it’d
be  best  if  we  looked  into  options  for  a  lawyer.
There are a number of state employed—”

“There will be no need for that,” Jaymes cut in

as  he  held  up  his  hand.  “I  am  Jaymes  Martinez,
Paul’s  attorney.  Please  allow  me  to  review  the
charges.”  He  smiled  coldly.  “There  is  no  need  to
read  aloud  the  ridiculous  accusations  made  by  a
young hooligan.”

Gladys’ eyes widened as she slowly held out

the  file.  “I-I’m  sorry,  but…hooligan?  Jackson
Lowman  is  an  upstanding  citizen  of  the
community,”  she  pointed  out.  “Allegations  from
this  family  are  serious  business.  I  don’t  believe
name-calling is appropriate.”

“Neither is covering up shenanigans pulled by

his son,” Jaymes responded curtly.

“Wh-what’s going on?” Paul whispered.

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100

Jaymes turned and lifted a brow at Daystrum.

He, in turn, looked at Garner. “If you would,
please? Please, explain why Caleb’s word may not
be quite so believable as Jackson would claim.”

Garner stepped forward and settled into parade

rest. The pale, slender vampire’s hazel eyes stared
straight ahead as he recited, “At the age of
fourteen, Caleb stole CDs from an electronic store.
He was caught. His father made a generous
donation

the

company’s

advertising

department  and  the  charges  were  dropped.  Later
that year, Caleb stole test answers and used them
to pass the test. He also sold them to several other
students.  Again,  he  was  caught,  but  no
punishment was given. The school, however, was
suddenly  able  to  buy  new  computers  for  the
science  lab.  At  age  fifteen,  an  inebriated  Caleb
drove his father’s car into a bulletin board. Again,
no  charges  were  levied  against  him,  however  an
impressive

donation

the

local

law

enforcement’s charity appeared in their account a
few days later.” Once finished rambling that
information, Garner stepped back and resumed
his previous position by the door.

“Are you claiming that Jackson has used his

position to cover up trouble his son has caused?”
Gladys asked, clearly indignant, the blood having
leeched from her face.

Jaymes smiled thinly as he pulled out a file

from his own briefcase. “Not claiming. Proving.

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101

Caleb  causes  trouble.  Jackson  covers  it  up.”  He
held  up  the  file  and  tossed  it  on  the  coffee  table.
“Here’s the proof. I wouldn’t be surprised if Caleb
was running at the mouth and realized his father
took him seriously. His acting out did begin soon
after  Paul  joined  their  household,  after  all.”  He
narrowed  his  eyes  and  added,  “Perhaps  he  plans
to do this to punish Paul for coming into his home
and taking his father’s attention away from him.”
His smile turned brittle. “To be honest, I don’t care
about his motives. I just plan to stop the boy from
getting away with his lies.”

Gladys glanced around the group, her brow

furrowed, and stared at the file. “What exactly do
you think I’m supposed to do with that
information?” She tilted her chin toward the
offending paperwork.

Jaymes’ expression could only be described as

satisfied. “Nothing. I just figured I’d give you a
heads up that the charges against Paul will soon
be dropped.”

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102

Chapter Nine

orbin relaxed on the sofa, a soda in one hand
as he watched Jaymes prepare to leave. The

vampire had stayed all afternoon and evening.
Even though it was after ten o’clock and Paul had
to head to bed for school the next day, Jaymes still
appeared reluctant to leave. Finally, he bid
everyone goodnight and headed toward the door.

Paul followed, his movements shy, clearly

giving away his infatuation to anyone that
watched. After seeing Korbin and his friends rally
around Paul, Gladys had chosen to overlook the
irregularity of it and leave him in Korbin’s home.
It helped that Paul would be eighteen in a couple
of months…and he’d threatened to run away from
wherever she would have ended up placing him.

Standing at the door, Jaymes cupped Paul’s

jaw,  leaned  down  the  nearly  a  foot  height
difference,  and  pressed  a  kiss  to  the  teenager’s
forehead. He whispered something Korbin didn’t
catch,  but  Paul  nodded  as  his  face  flushed  and  a
true smile finally curved his lips. Paul kept an eye

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103

on Jaymes through his lashes as the man left, his
expression wistful.

Turning to look at Daystrum, Korbin

whispered, “It’s good to see him smile. A real
smile,” he amended. “He hasn’t had it easy these
last couple of days.”

Daystrum, who sat beside him on the sofa,

lowered his arm from the back of the couch to his
shoulder and tugged him up against his side. “I’m
glad. He had to grow up fast, didn’t he?”

Korbin didn’t pretend to know what all Paul

had been through, but he nodded anyway. “I
imagine so.”

Paul stopped beside the sofa and smirked at

them. His smile widened into a grin. “I’m heading
to bed.” He winked. “Don’t worry. I’ll be wearing
ear buds, so make all the noise you want.”

Gasping, Korbin gaped as he watched a

snickering Paul bounce through the dining room
and up the stairs. From somewhere upstairs,
Paul’s voice filtered back down to him as the teen
called, “Have fun!”

Korbin felt his face heat. “I can’t believe he just

said that to me,” Korbin grumbled.

Daystrum chuckled as he leaned over and

pressed a kiss to his temple. “I happen to think his
suggestion is a good one,” he whispered throatily.
“Brock  has  gone  out,  so  other  than  a  soon-to-be
sleeping  Paul,  we  have  the  house  to  ourselves.”
He  licked  Korbin’s  earlobe,  then  blew  softly,

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104

causing Korbin to hiss as his skin tingled. “Let me
take you to bed, Korbin,” Daystrum urged. “I
want to make you mine.”

Taking less than an instant to decide, Korbin

nodded. “Oh, yes,” he agreed. “I think we’ve
definitely waited long enough.”

The speed with which Daystrum jumped from

the couch and held out his hand stroked Korbin’s
ego  like  nothing  else  ever  could.  Seeing  the  pale
red  glow  in  the  vampire’s  eyes,  betraying  his
need,  Korbin  took  his  time  to  take  Daystrum’s
hand, giving him a slow once over in the process,
lingering over the bulge filling out his groin.

Daystrum growled. “Oh, you little tease,” he

rumbled. “Show me to your room.”

Korbin grinned, anticipation heating his blood.

As he led the way through the house and up the
stairs, his cock throbbed harder with each step. By
the  time  Korbin  reached  his  bedroom,  he  felt
certain he’d leaked a wet spot visible even though
his  jeans.  However,  as  he  turned  at  the  sound  of
the  door  closing,  all  thought  fled  upon  spotting
the feral look etched over Daystrum’s features.

Walking around him, Daystrum took the lead

and headed to the bed. He stopped beside  it and
reached for the hem of Korbin’s t-shirt. Feeling the
backs  of  Daystrum’s  fingers  brushing  along  his
sides  as  the  vampire  lifted  his  shirt  caused  his
muscles to clench. Korbin felt the hairs on the back

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105

of his neck stand on end, and he hissed at the light
sensation.

“Lift,” Daystrum urged when his shirt caught

on his arms.

His heart rate speeding up, Korbin met

Daystrum’s gaze for a few seconds. He hadn’t felt
self-conscious about his body in years, not since
Brock had gotten him into jogging and lifting free-
weights. Compared to Daystrum’s wide, six foot
two inch frame, he’d appear scrawny.

Still, Korbin couldn’t deny Daystrum’s

request…and  he  really  wanted  relief  on  his  dick.
He  lifted  his  arms  and  shivered  as  the  cool
bedroom  air  hit  his  warm  chest.  His  nipples
puckered  and  when  the  shirt  was  gone  and  he
could  see  again,  Korbin  noticed  how  Daystrum’s
gaze was riveted to his nubs.

Meeting his gaze, Daystrum smiled as he

reached  for  Korbin’s  nipples.  He  pinched  them,
making Korbin gasp and shudder. Korbin reached
up  and  gripped  Daystrum’s  upper  arms  as  he
looked  down  and  watched  the  vampire’s  thick
blunt fingers work his sensitive nubs.

“Oh,” Korbin whimpered, pressing into the

delicious touch.

“Mmm,” Daystrum hummed. “Love how you

react to my touch.” He continued to pluck, rub,
and twist Korbin’s nipples.

Korbin’s chest flushed in response and he

panted softly, his skin feeling as if it was on fire.

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106

“What do you think?” Daystrum asked gruffly.

“Think we should get these pierced?” He pinched
Korbin’s nipples, accentuating his point. “I bet
you’d like that.”

Groaning, Korbin felt his prick ooze in his

briefs. “Y-yeah.” He’d seen some of the shifters
with piercings and had wondered what it’d feel
like.

“You do like that idea,” Daystrum growled. He

released a nipple and trailed it lightly down
Korbin’s chest. With his other hand, he continued
to lightly rub his left nipple. “Let’s see how
much.”

Daystrum’s fingertips reached Korbin’s waist

and  he  quickly  flicked  the  button,  then  gripped
the  zipper  tab  and  pulled  it  down.  Immediately,
Korbin’s  brief-clad  erection  pressed  between  the
flaps.  Daystrum’s  nostrils  flared,  obviously
scenting  the  pre-cum  soaking  Korbin’s  engorged
head.

Whimpering, Korbin bucked his hips as sizzles

of sensation zipped down his stalk to his balls.
“Oh my god,” he ground out through gritted teeth
as pleasure blind-sided him. His orgasm swamped
him, and he flooded his briefs with cum.
“Daystrum!”

Clutching tightly to Daystrum’s biceps, Korbin

shuddered  as  he  rode  the  crest  of  his  release.
Heated  bliss  coursed  through  his  veins.  Goose
bumps  broke  out  over  his  arms.  Breathing  hard,

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107

slowly coming back to himself, Korbin would
have felt embarrassed. Except, he felt fricking
fantastic.

Daystrum hummed, the sound primal and full

of  satisfaction.  “Such  a  pretty  sight,  your  body
flushed  in  pleasure.”  His  eyes  narrowed  as  he
stared  down  at  him,  a  pleased  smile  showing  off
his fangs. “I bet a Prince Albert would make you
shoot off like a rocket.”

Korbin didn’t have the words to deny that

request. While he wasn’t really certain he wanted
a piercing in the head of his dick, something told
him Daystrum would be able to drive him out of
his  ever-loving  mind  with  the  damn  thing.
However,  with  Daystrum  still  massaging  the
sensitive skin just below his cap and staring at him
as  if  he  was  Daystrum’s  favorite  thing  on  the
menu,  Korbin’s  cock  remained  hard,  and  his  ass
clenched in anticipation.

“Fuck me.”
Holy shit! Did I just say that?
“Oh, my sweet beloved,” Daystrum purred. “I

will do more than fuck you. I will lay claim to
your ass. We will be bonded for all of eternity.”
His eyes glowed red. “All mine.”

“Yes.”
Daystrum knelt on one knee and, using three

inch  long  talons,  sliced  through  Korbin’s  jeans,
underwear,  and  socks,  stripping  them  from
Korbin’s  body.  As  he  rose,  he  gripped  Korbin’s

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108

waist and lifted him. Showing off his vampiric
strength, Daystrum easily tossed him to the center
of the bed.

Bouncing once, Korbin grinned up at him. “I

liked those jeans, you know,” Korbin commented
breathily.

“I’ll buy you a new pair,” Daystrum growled.

“Now I have you here, and you’ve agreed to be
mine. I’m done waiting.”

Splayed on the bed, Korbin felt exposed…and

more turned on than he ever thought possible. His
dick,  already  sticky  with  his  cum,  bobbed  in  the
air.  Korbin  watched  as  Daystrum  slowly  began
pulling  his  t-shirt  over  his  head.  Panting  at  the
sight  of  the  vampire’s  broad,  bare  chest,  Korbin
licked his lips in appreciation.

“Then get up here,” Korbin demanded.
Korbin’s heart hammered in his chest at the

heated look Daystrum cast upon him. The
vampire growled low in his chest and began
working on his own jeans. “Oh, my sweet human.
There is no way I’m going to rush this.”

Korbin reached down and gripped his cock,

giving it a few slow strokes. He shivered at his
own touch, feeling far too sensitive for having just
come. “If we rush now, we can play around later,”
he offered.

Daystrum chuckled softly. Now naked, his

pale, muscular physic closed the foot or two gap,
then he climbed onto the bed with predatory

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109

grace. Daystrum kneed between his thighs and
knelt between them. He leisurely stroked his dick
as he swept his gaze slowly over Korbin’s prone
form.

“Oh, Kor. I do believe I have another idea.”
Without another word, Daystrum reached

down with both hands and grabbed Korbin’s hips.
He picked Korbin up bodily and flipped him.
Scrambling, Korbin landed on his hands and
knees.

“Day, what are you—” he started, peering over

his shoulder.

Daystrum’s eyes glowed red. He opened his

mouth, showing off his fangs. Then, he bent over
Korbin  and  sank  his  teeth  deep  into Korbin’s  left
ass cheek. Korbin’s back bowed. His body bucked
in  shock  at  the  sudden  pain.  Then,  the  sweetest
pleasure  spread  through  him,  moving  up  his
tailbone and spine.

When the wave of sensation hit the nape of

Korbin’s  neck,  he  moaned  and  shuddered  as
heated  bliss  caused  his  already  beaded  and
stimulated nipples to ache. In turn, that sensation
seemed  to  travel  down  his  treasure  trail,  past  his
belly  button,  to  his  groin.  His  balls  rolled  and
pulled  tight  as  the  warmth  caused  his  skin  to
tingle.

Korbin moaned as that same heat hit his dick

and he shot, his orgasm bowling over him.
Endorphins sent him soaring as he unexpectedly

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110

unloaded onto the comforter. He panted harshly,
trying to catch his breath as shivers of pleasure
racked his body.

“Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god.”
Daystrum chuckled softly from behind him as

the oddest sensation of teeth being extracted from
his  flesh  registered…sort  of.  He  realized  it  more
because  he  took  that  second  to  peer  awkwardly
over  his  shoulder  and  saw  Daystrum  pull  his
fangs free. His storm-cloud blue eyes twinkled as
he stuck out his tongue and licked at Korbin’s ass
cheek.

“Feel better now?” Daystrum crooned, his eyes

heavy-lidded and sated.

Except, when Daystrum rocked back onto his

knees, his thick cock jutted from the bush at his
groin.

Not completely sated, then.
Panting, his gaze riveted to Daystrum’s swollen

length, Korbin whispered, “As soon as that’s in
my ass.”

Daystrum’s eyes turned red once more. “Oh,

baby. All in good time.” He flashed a cat that ate
the canary smile. “Now, where is your lube?”

His body thrumming with anticipation, Korbin

pointed toward his nightstand.

Grinning, Daystrum swung from the bed,

yanked open the drawer, and pulled out the tube
of lube. He immediately opened it and poured a
liberal amount onto his fingers. Korbin nearly

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111

swallowed his tongue when Daystrum gripped his
prick and started slowly jacking his heavy length,
coating himself in the slick.

After a sigh of obvious pleasure, Daystrum

released his cock and climbed back up behind
Korbin. He draped over Korbin’s back, his cock
sliding easily between his thighs and prodding his
balls.

“My beloved,” Daystrum growled. “I will make

you mine.”

“Yes!”

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112

Chapter Ten

aystrum shivered at the feel of his cock
sliding between Korbin’s thighs. His dick’s

head bumped into his beloved’s balls, sending
spikes of heat down his stalk to settle in his own
testicles. Rutting slowly, Daystrum reveled in
finally being free to touch and feel his human.

Humming, Daystrum licked a stripe up the side

of  Korbin’s  neck.  He  enjoyed  the  taste  of  his
beloved’s skin, the mixture of the human’s natural
flavor, a tinge of salt from his sweat, and the smell
of  his  blood  just  under  his  skin.  To  Daystrum,  it
acted  as  the  headiest  aphrodisiac  and  he  wanted
to wallow in the scents, rub himself all over in it.

Between feeling his beloved under him and the

look  of  his  bite  mark  on  his  beloved’s  ass,
Daystrum knew he was so very close to the edge.
His  nature  demanded  he  take  Korbin,  mark  him
on  the  inside,  too.  Daystrum  wanted  every
paranormal that came into contact with his sweet
human to know that Korbin was taken.

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113

Needing that more than his next breath,

Daystrum grabbed the lube,  popped it open, and
poured a liberal amount on the fingers of his right
hand.  He  tossed  the  tube  aside,  then  touched  his
fingertips  to  Korbin’s  opening.  Gently  massaging
the striated star, he felt the muscle give easily.

Korbin moaned and canted his hips as best he

could, which wasn’t much with Daystrum
pressing into his back. Easing his hold and putting
a few inches between them, Daystrum peered
down and admired how his fingers looked buried
inside his beloved.

Daystrum listened to Korbin’s soft moans and

whimpers as he worked first one finger in and out.
Then, he worked in a second. Soon Daystrum
thrust in a third, stretching the ring. Feeling the
tight hold on his digits, his cock ached.

“Gods, you take my fingers so beautifully,”

Daystrum murmured. “Want my cock in here. Are
you ready?”

“Yeah,” Korbin panted. “Do it. Take me. Want

to feel you so bad.”

Growling, Daystrum pulled his fingers free. He

once more grabbed Korbin’s hips, this time
flipping him so he lay on his back. Korbin yelped,
then stared up at him with wide eyes.

“Damn. You could just ask, you know.”
Daystrum chuckled. “But manhandling you is

so much fun,” he purred. Seeing Korbin’s jaw
gape, he grinned widely. Daystrum’s gaze drifted

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114

lower,  spotting  his  lover’s  thickening  prick.
Settling his hand on his beloved’s chest, he spread
his  fingers  and  scraped  his  thumb  over  one  red-
worked  nipple  while  using  his  pinky  to  flick  the
other. Korbin hissed and arched, pushing into his
touch.  “That’s  it,”  Daystrum  growled.  “Show  me
how much you like it.”

When Korbin began reaching for his cock,

Daystrum used his free hand to swat his hand
away. “Hands by your head,” he ordered gruffly.
“I like seeing your dick wave at me—twitching
and begging for my touch.”

Korbin whined, but did as instructed. He rested

his  hands  beside  his  head,  his  fingers  curled  into
half-fists,  his  forearms  tense  as  he  struggled  to
keep  them  there.  As  he  stared  up  at  Daystrum
with  wide,  heavily  dilated  eyes,  Korbin’s  mouth
hung  slightly  open  and  he  let  out  soft,  panting
breaths.

Sliding his hand slowly down Korbin’s chest,

Daystrum traced the grooves of his belly. Going
lower, he splayed his fingers and allowed his hand
to capture Korbin’s cock in the V of his fingers. At
the same time, Daystrum crooked the digits he’d
worked into Korbin’s ass, pegging his prostate.

“Daystrum,” Korbin gasped.
“Yeah,” Daystrum growled. “Say my name.”
Daystrum took in his sexy beloved. Korbin lay

before him, his eyes heavy-lidded as he stared at
him. His face and chest were flushed with the rosy

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115

glow of arousal, his nipples were red and beaded
where Daystrum had worked them. Legs splayed,
cock hard and leaking, and when Daystrum’s
fingers were in Korbin’s ass, almost perfect. The
only way it could be better was if it was his shaft
buried in the man’s ass.

Pulling his fingers free, Daystrum gripped his

cock in one hand and moved his other hand to his
lover’s  hip.  He  pressed  hard  and  watched  his
dick’s  cap  slide  past  his  guardian  muscle,
stretching  Korbin’s  chute.  Pausing,  Daystrum
released  his  partially  buried  prick  and  used  his
thumb  to  gently  massage  the  stretched  ring
around his prick.

“My beloved,” Daystrum claimed.
Panting, Korbin moved his hands to either side

of his body. He twisted his fingers in the sheets
and rocked his hips, impaling himself on
Daystrum’s prick. “Now,” he chanted. “Want you
now. So hot. Never felt anything like it. More.”

“You’ll feel all of me,” Daystrum assured

gruffly. The squeeze around his dick sent tingles
up his stalk. Already close to the edge, he felt his
balls tighten, threatening to spill his seed before he
even managed to get all the way inside Korbin.
“Now.”

Leaning over Korbin, Daystrum slid his arm

under his beloved’s back. He cradled his lover’s
body to his own. After pressing a soft butterfly
kiss to Korbin’s mouth, Daystrum met his lover’s

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116

gaze steadily. He began to rock his hips, sliding
his cock in and out, burying himself ever deeper in
his lover’s channel.

Korbin held his gaze, his dilated eyes betraying

his  need  as  well  as  his  panting  lips.  He  wrapped
his  arms  around  his  torso,  gripping  his  shoulder
blades,  and  his  legs  around  Daystrum’s  waist.
Digging  his  heels  into  the  small  of  Daystrum’s
back, Korbin met each of his thrusts.

Daystrum growled softly, driving his shaft the

last  bit  into  Korbin.  He  bottomed  out,  his  balls
flush to his lover, and stopped. Turning his head,
he  nuzzled  Korbin’s  cheek  against  his  own.
Daystrum  mouthed  his  way  along  his  beloved’s
jaw-line  to  the  sensitive  patch  of  skin  below  his
ear.

Turning his head, Korbin gave him more

access, letting out a moan.

Moving slowly, Daystrum rocked his hips,

pulling his cock partway out. He mouthed at
Korbin’s skin, suckling lightly. His beloved
moaned and writhed in his grip, digging his nails
into Daystrum’s back.

The sensual sound was music to Daystrum’s

ears,  the  way  his  beloved  moved,  responded  to
him,  better  than  anything  he  could  have  ever
dreamed  or  imagined.  His  cock  seeped  pre-
ejaculate,  adding  to  the  slickness  already  in  his
lover’s  channel.  Korbin’s  chute  muscles  rippled
around him, the best kind of massage.

A Nip of Good Cheer

117

“Korbin,” Daystrum whispered his beloved’s

name like a prayer. “Finally in my arms,” he
continued softly. “Finally mine.”

“Yesss,” Korbin hissed. “And you are mine.”
Daystrum lifted his head from where he’d

sucked up a mark on Korbin’s neck and peered
down at his lover. He eyed the possessive glow in
Korbin’s blue eyes. “Yes,” he replied softly.
“Yours.”

Lowering his head again, Daystrum ran his

tongue along the thin mustache covering Korbin’s
upper lip before sealing his mouth over his
beloved’s. Korbin immediately opened to him and
Daystrum stroked his tongue into him.

Daystrum sped up his cock’s strokes, his

control slipping. Holding Korbin close, he fucked
his  beloved’s  mouth  with  his  tongue  in  imitation
of  what  his  dick  was  doing  to  his  ass.  He  drove
into  him,  swallowing  his  moans,  reveling  in  the
ripple around his shaft and the sounds Korbin fed
him.

Korbin’s body twitched and shuddered in his

grip. Throwing his head back, he broke the kiss
and arched his neck. His mouth opened on a silent
cry as warm seed flooded the space between them.

Feeling his beloved’s channel clamp down on

him, Daystrum let out a groan of his own. His
balls tightened. His spine tingled. He felt his cock
swell in Korbin’s strangling grip.

Daystrum lost his last bit of control.

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118

Growling low in his throat, Daystrum jacked

his hips. He slammed his prick in and out of
Korbin’s channel. Lowering his head, he sank his
teeth into Korbin’s flesh where his neck met his
shoulder.

Korbin screamed his pleasure.
Daystrum grinned around his mouthful of flesh

for  an  instant,  then  moaned,  his  eyes  practically
rolling  into  the  back  of  his  head.  Between  the
heady  metallic  taste  of  Korbin’s  blood  and  the
squeeze  his  beloved’s  channel  had  on  his  dick,
Daystrum  lost  the  fight.  His  balls  tightened  just
that  bit  more  and  his  cock  spurted,  coating
Korbin’s insides as he jacked his unloading prick.

Moaning around his mouthful of flesh,

Daystrum allowed his eyelids to slide closed as he
reveled  in  the  rush  of  bliss.  He  breathed  deeply,
inhaling  Korbin’s  honey-sweet,  masculine  scent
combined  with  the  heady  aroma  of  sweat  and
seed.  A  shudder  rolled  through  him  as  his  cock
gave one last spurt.

Easing his teeth from Korbin’s neck, Daystrum

blinked  a  few  times,  getting  hold  of  himself
enough to focus. He smiled at his beloved, loving
the  slack,  blissed-out  expression  on  his  human’s
face. With a vow to put that expression on his face
as  often  as  possible,  Daystrum  pressed  a  gentle
kiss to his lips.

Daystrum lifted his head again to find Korbin

peering blearily up at him.

A Nip of Good Cheer

119

Pulling a hand out from under him, Daystrum

cupped Korbin’s cheek. He used his thumb to
trace the fine hairs of his mustache at the corner of
his lip. For a second, he just admired the sweet
human Fate deemed his.

“Gods, you’re magnificent,” Daystrum finally

murmured. He enjoyed Korbin’s bemused look
and chuckled softly. “Stay right there,” he
whispered. “Don’t move.”

“Okay.”
Daystrum grinned, then he eased away from

him. When he slid out of Korbin, they both hissed.
Grinning, he winked, then slid off the bed and
headed toward the door.

Opening the door, Daystrum took a moment to

glance down the hall,  making  certain Paul’s  door
remained closed. He sure hoped the teenager had
indeed  been  wearing  headphones.  While  most  of
their  coupling  had  remained  reasonably  quiet,
Daystrum knew there were a few times that their
noise could certainly have carried.

After Daystrum confirmed the hall was empty,

he  hustled  to  the  bathroom.  He  soaked  a  hand
towel  with  warm  water  and  cleaned  himself
quickly.  Rinsing  the  cloth,  Daystrum  then  poked
his head out the door and checked the hall again.

While vampires weren’t prudes, Daystrum had

no desire to flash Paul. Hell, he didn’t have a
death wish. If the teenager saw him nude and
Jaymes found out…well, Daystrum didn’t want to

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120

imagine the consequences. Just knowing he had to
keep the kid away from anyone else, too, for the
next couple of months would cause enough stress.
It wasn’t like Jaymes could stick around. The
temptation would be too great.

Daystrum dismissed the matter and returned to

Korbin’s room. He’d dwell on Jaymes’ request to
keep an eye on his beloved when the vampire had
to return to his ranch another time. Now was time
for Korbin.

When Daystrum slipped back into the bedroom

and closed the door, he found Korbin had done as
requested. He hadn’t moved. Of course, it could
be because the young man appeared to be dozing,
his eyes closed, his right arm flung carelessly over
his head.

Advancing on the bed, Daystrum admired

Korbin’s  lean,  toned  body.  His  short  black  hair
stood  on  end,  his  cheeks  remained  flushed,  and
white  seed  was  smeared  across  his  flat  stomach
and  through  his  neatly-trimmed  bush.  With
Korbin’s  legs  splayed,  Daystrum  noted  the
mixture  of  slick  and  seed  coating  his  human’s
inner thighs.

Seeing the proof of their spent passion, of his

possession, Daystrum’s prick twitched. Smiling at
his dozing, debauched angel, he settled on the bed
and began cleaning his lover.

Korbin shifted restlessly on the sheets.

A Nip of Good Cheer

121

Daystrum glanced at Korbin’s face and noticed

his  beloved  watching  him.  He  smiled,  then
returned  his  attention  to  cleaning  his  lover.  Once
finished,  he  tossed  the  hand  towel  into  the
laundry  basket  visible  through  the  open  closet
door.  Finally,  Daystrum  climbed  onto  the  bed,
settled  on  his  back,  and  slid  his  arm  under
Korbin’s  shoulders.  He  tugged  gently,  rolling  his
lover until Korbin rested his head on Daystrum’s
shoulder, and he half sprawled on him.

Letting out a contented sigh, Daystrum smiled.
Korbin nuzzled his cheek on Daystrum’s chest,

then  began  stroking  his  fingers  through  his  chest
hair. “I know how paranormal matings work,” he
told  him  softly,  the  uncertainty  in  his  voice
catching  Daystrum’s  attention.  “I  suppose  you’re
going to want me to move in with you, huh?”

Daystrum opened his mouth to immediately

declare  yes.  Remembering  the  uncertainty  in
Korbin’s  voice,  he  paused,  and  instead  read  his
beloved’s  scent.  He  controlled  his  desire  to
demand his beloved move in with him right now
and  stated,  “That  is  usually  how  it’s  done.”
Petting  a  hand  down  Korbin’s  spine,  Daystrum
commented, “You say you know how paranormal
matings work, so I must ask what concerns you.”

Rubbing his palm over Daystrum’s chest,

Korbin murmured, “Well, I can’t just leave Paul
here with Brock. That’s, uh, not gonna work.”

Charlie Richards

122

Nodding, Daystrum could see his beloved’s

point. “I agree.” Thinking quickly, he smiled as he
landed upon an idea. “We’ll just have to adopt
him.”

“What?” Korbin sputtered, lifting his head to

stare at him in obvious shock.

Daystrum chuckled, grinning up at Korbin.

“Figuratively,” he amended.

His brows furrowing, Korbin settled his chin on

Daystrum’s chest so he could peer up at him.
“What do you mean?”

Ignoring the way Korbin’s chin dug into his

chest,  Daystrum  lifted  his  free  hand  and  rubbed
the  edge  of  lover’s  creased  brow.  “Well,  he  does
need  to  be  introduced  to  paranormals,  since
Jaymes  is  convinced  he’s  his  beloved.  There’s
plenty of room at the mansion. We’ll move him in
with us.” He chuckled and added, “Then I’ll have
plenty of help keeping an eye on him. Jaymes has
charged me with his safety for the next couple of
months.”

“What about Brock?” Korbin asked. “I can’t

leave him alone here. How would that be fair?
Leaving him to handle all the utilities and bills
and stuff on his own?”

Daystrum appreciated his beloved’s big heart,

sort of. Korbin seemed to worry about every else’s
welfare before his own. Daystrum realized damn
fast that he would have to be the one to do that.

A Nip of Good Cheer

123

“It seems Brock had a fantastic time at the

manor

yesterday,”

Daystrum

commented,

waggling his brows. “According to security, he
snuck out at three-seventeen this morning.”

Korbin snorted. “Yeah, that sounds like him.

Sex with no entanglements.”

“If he were to move in with us, too, he could

have  all  the  sex  with  no  entanglements  he
wanted.”  Daystrum  smirked.  “Then  he  wouldn’t
have  to  drive  home  in  the  middle  of  the  night,
either. He could just return to his room.”

A corner of his mouth lifting in a wry grin,

Korbin replied, “You think of everything, don’t
you?”

Waggling his brows, Daystrum replied, “I’m

not the coven’s second for nothing, you know.”

“Then I guess all we have to do is think up a

plan to convince them.”

Daystrum nodded before tipping his chin down

and kissing Korbin soundly. After a second, he
lowered his head to the pillow, then wriggled a bit
and yanked the comforter up over them. Once
covered, Daystrum rolled them under the blanket
until he peered down at Korbin, cradled between
his sweet human’s thighs.

“But tomorrow,” Daystrum declared. “Tonight

is for us.”

Swooping in to once more capture Korbin’s

mouth, Daystrum ran his hands over his lover’s

About the Author

Charlie  started  writing  fantasy  when  she  was
eight,  and  after  stumbling  onto  her  first  erotic
romance  at  age  nineteen,  she  realized  her  true
calling.  She  now  focuses  on  writing  gay  erotic
romance, normally of the paranormal variety, with
heroes of all kinds. With the help and support of
her  husband,  Charlie  finally  fulfilled  one  of  her
life-long goals…move to acreage with her horses.
You can often find her curled up with her laptop
and a cup of tea or glass of wine, creating her next
adventure. Charlie enjoys exploring the mountains
of her new Oregon home on horseback, 4-wheeler,
or motorcycle.

She can be reached at ch.richards2010@yahoo.com
Or visit her at www.charlie-richards.com

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