Bite My Cookies

Who Needs Christmas? 9

Bite My Cookies Twelve elves left the North Pole to be free of all things Christmas and have been living together for decades. They have gone without their mates for years, but when the first of the twelve finds his, the others have hope of finding theirs. Champ is an elf that hates cookies and the way his friends treat him for loving food. When Champ meets Ali—the man who he loves so much more than food—he realizes he must fight to keep the mate he treasures safe. Ali is a remarkable chef stuck in a rut working for a man that thinks he owns Ali. When Ali meets Champ, the bond they share gives him the strength to find a way out. Will the risk that Ali takes pay off, or will it have irreversible repercussions that could destroy Champ and Ali’s love as it is just beginning to grow? Genre: Alternative (M/M or F/F), Paranormal, Shape-shifter Length: 35,309 words

BITE MY COOKIES Who Needs Christmas? 9

Joyee Flynn

EROTIC ROMANCE MANLOVE

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK IMPRINT: Erotic Romance ManLove

BITE MY COOKIES Copyright © 2011 by Joyee Flynn E-book ISBN: 1-61926-142-1 First E-book Publication: December 2011 Cover design by Jinger Heaston All cover art and logo copyright © 2011 by Siren Publishing, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

PUBLISHER Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

Letter to Readers Dear Readers, If you have purchased this copy of Bite My Cookies by Joyee Flynn from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

Regarding E-book Piracy This book is copyrighted intellectual property. No other individual or group has resale rights, auction rights, membership rights, sharing rights, or any kind of rights to sell or to give away a copy of this book. The author and the publisher work very hard to bring our paying readers high-quality reading entertainment. This is Joyee Flynn’s livelihood. It’s fair and simple. Please respect Ms. Flynn’s right to earn a living from her work. Amanda Hilton, Publisher www.SirenPublishing.com www.BookStrand.com

DEDICATION To everyone who loves my craziness…You know the only reason you appreciate it is because you are too!!

BITE MY COOKIES Who Needs Christmas? 9 JOYEE FLYNN Copyright © 2011

Chapter 1 “Seriously? Again?” Cave laughed while his mate, Justice, leaned against the wall and shook his head. “Oh shut it,” I growled and threw on my jacket. “It’s the best food in the city! You just haven’t tried it, so you don’t understand its addictive qualities.” “Foodie,” Justice teased. I playfully stuck my tongue out at him since I wasn’t really cranky with him. He was an easygoing guy who didn’t judge and didn’t care about a person’s quirks as long as they were happy. He was the type of mate I hoped to have one day. “Champ! Focus! And stop staring at my mate. It’s creepy,” Cave ordered, complete with a pout and foot stomp. “Sorry,” I mumbled and looked at the floor. It wasn’t like I wanted Justice for myself or would ever contemplate trying to steal him. I simply wanted a mate of my own. “I just hope my mate doesn’t think I’m a freak and is like Justice. Everyone else picks on me, but he only teases because he’s got too big of a heart to be mean.” “Hey now,” Justice said gently as he hopped up on the kitchen counter. “No one’s been trying to be mean when they tease you, Champ. I think they do it just for a little camaraderie with you, and that’s all they know about you.”

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“What? That I’m a big pig? Maze is just as bad as I am, so why do I get all the shit?” I asked, shooting Cave an evil look as I threw his earlier words back in his face. “You think we’re being serious?” Cave replied as his face paled. “Champ, you’re completely healthy with a good weight for your height. You’re not fat or chunky, so that’s why we tease you for always eating. We can’t imagine where you put it. And this is your, what, eighth time going to this restaurant this week?” “Tenth,” I answered, looking at my feet. “You’ll see how good it is tomorrow. I made reservations for all of us to go.” “That was very nice of you to think of us.” Justice elbowed his mate, who nodded. “Yeah, I can’t wait to see what all your hype is about,” Cave said with a smile, but then got serious. “None of us ever meant to hurt your feelings.” “Whatever.” I ’ported out of there to the alley behind the restaurant because I was tired of the conversation. We didn’t teleport to places unless we had a secure place to ’port into so we didn’t get accidently seen appearing somewhere. Emergencies were exceptions. Not that a dark alley was really all that great of a locale, but since the drive from Deerfield to the loop was a joke around dinnertime… I’d be bald at the end of it from pulling out all my hair. After my first time here, I found a corner in the alley to ’port to instead. I walked around front, still cranky from my conversation. But when I entered Food For Thought and caught wind of all the divine scents, I felt my bad mood slipping away. “Welcome back, Mr. Smith,” the perky hostess, Janet, said as she eyed me over like the special on the menu, starting with my eyes and lingering a little longer than appropriate on my groin. “I have your table ready.” “Thank you so much,” I replied with a genuine smile as she took my coat. Her blonde ponytail bobbed dramatically, swishing against the nape of her neck, and she was still smiling when she turned back

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to me. It was so infectious that I felt my own smile kick up a notch brighter. Girls might not do it for me in the sack, but I can appreciate beauty when I see it. Besides, her less-than-subtle flirting was kind of cute. I followed her to a quiet, little table in the back, practically bouncing as I went. So I liked to eat. What’s wrong with that? “Your waiter will be right with you.” Then she gave me one last smile before going back to her hostess stand and leaving me to my thoughts. I worked out. I wasn’t overweight or a glutton really. I was just always hungry. Elves in general eat a lot because we have very high metabolisms, but I seemed to have an accelerated one. My friends joked, calling me the king of are you going to finish that? So what? I didn’t like perfectly good food going to waste either. I didn’t see what the big deal was. Maze was always stuffing his face, too. The only reason I could think that I got picked on was that I actually labeled everything, breakfast one, breakfast two, lunch one, lunch two, dinner one, and dinner two. Throw in some snacks and…okay fine, I ate like a horse. Just not our Horse, though he didn’t exactly eat like a rabbit either. “Hello, my name is Kevin, and I’ll be your waiter. Tonight’s special is duck with Madeira, bacon, and olives.” “Hey,” I said with a shy glance at my menu. The guy was staring as if I’d offer myself up to him for the news. I knew I wasn’t bad to look at, but sometimes I wondered if people were attracted to me because I was a magical being. Maybe some humans could just tell and they were drawn to us. I didn’t really know, but sometimes it unnerved me when people were so forward with their attraction, like Kevin undressing me with his eyes. “Chef Drake is working?” “Yes, sir,” he answered with a smile. “What can I get you started with?” It wasn’t so much that he’d said something to make me uncomfortable, but there was just something about him that rubbed

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me the wrong way. Maybe it was the crooked smirk on his lips or the way his eyes raked over my body as though he was mentally undressing me. Whatever it was, I decided to listen in on the guy’s thoughts because he was a little disturbing. Big mistake. “Give me one night, baby, and I’ll rock your world until you want no other. I bet he likes to ride cock. Damn, he’s so fine, he’s practically giving me a toothache. But he’s so shy and didn’t seem to notice when I left my number on his receipt before.” Whoops! I’d thought that was the number for the restaurant in case I needed to complain or something. My bad. “I just want to lay him on the table and shove my cock in his tight ass after he gives me a blow job. He’d beg for me to pound his sweet—” That was enough of that. Stylishly mussed hair, perfectly white teeth, and the slim body of a swimmer—he wasn’t hard on the eyes. His thoughts, however, were having a negative effect on my appetite, which was saying a lot. “I’ll take whatever wine is suggested to go with the duck,” I said, clearing my throat. I felt even more nervous after his thoughts and the images he was broadcasting. “I’d also like a bowl of that potato– cream cheese soup, please, and that grilled calamari. Oh, and that sweet bruschetta. I forget the name.” “Is someone joining you?” he asked with a raised brow. Fine, it was a lot to order for one person’s appetizer, but it still annoyed me after talking with Cave earlier. It wasn’t really any of the waiter’s business anyway. Why couldn’t he just bring me my food and leave me alone? “The reservation is for one, thank you,” I answered. I knew my eyes were showing my anger, so they’d gone from their normal light green to a deep green. Hopefully that would help get the point across to Kevin that I wasn’t interested. “Well, good thing you obviously keep in shape then.” He chuckled. I wasn’t laughing. Guess he’d missed my hint. “And you were wanting the duck?”

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“Yes, and another order of it to be ready for when it’s time to pay the check.” That had been my standard MO since finding this gold mine of food. “Is there any way to meet Chef Drake tonight?” It probably sounded pathetic, but the man was like a rock star to me. “I’m sorry, no,” Kevin answered, not looking very sorry at all. “It’s a Friday night, and with the holidays, we’re just too busy to have the Chef come to the tables.” “Maybe next time,” I mumbled, feeling like a kid who’d been waiting in line to see the Easter Bunny only for the guy to go on break. Part of me was confused with my desire to meet the Chef. Sure, his cuisine was out of this world, but he wasn’t the first awesome Chef in a restaurant I’d eaten in. It was the first time I’d ever wanted to meet one though. Then again, his food really was that good. I mean orgasmic good. Like offer-myself-to-him-on-a-platter-if-he’d-keep-working-here-andfeeding-me good. “Here you are.” I’d been so lost in my thoughts that I hadn’t even realized my waiter had left until he was back and setting down the wine and soup on my table. I barely gave him a grunt before digging in. I moaned as the creamy liquid rolled over my tongue and my taste buds exploded into a celebratory dance. Maybe this Chef really was some magical being. Could a human really make such divine creations? The potatoes weren’t mushy or overcooked like you’d find in most restaurants, nor was the cream cheese overpowering. Every bite was as perfect as the last, and I barely stopped my eyes from rolling back in my head. “Well, at least he has good table manners and doesn’t use a shovel as he stuffs his face,” Kevin mumbled as he walked away, thinking I couldn’t hear him. One of the perks, or negatives, of being an elf, depending on how someone looked at it. We heard everything. “I could break him of his constant eating.” I wanted to shout Fuck you. But I liked this restaurant too much and didn’t want to get kicked out of it. He seemed to think he’d get

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me under him by the end of the night, but not only didn’t I bottom for anyone, Kevin wasn’t my type. I didn’t go for men who thought they could change me into what they wanted. I liked who I was. When he came back with the rest of my appetizers, I was calm as I spoke to him. “You should make sure your customers can’t hear you before you start talking about them.” Kevin’s eyes went wide as he opened and closed his mouth like a fish. I knew he wanted to say something, but in the end, he just scampered away like a coward. Yeah, that’s what I thought. I ate everything he brought, wondering if it would be bad form to lick the plates clean. Probably, but that didn’t mean I didn’t want to. “Here you go,” Kevin said brightly when he brought my duck, acting like nothing had happened. He brought me a fresh glass of wine and gave me what he probably thought was his best seductive smile. It gave me the creeps. “Thanks.” I focused on my food, hoping he’d take the hint and leave me be. It worked, which showed me he finally understood that there was no chance in hell I was interested. I was about halfway through my meal when someone interrupted me. “You seem to be enjoying your meal,” a deep-timbre voice said from behind me. “If by enjoying you mean willing to follow the Chef around for life naked and call him daddy if that’s what he wanted, then yes.” I didn’t have much of a brain-mouth filter, and sometimes things just slipped out. “I’m not into the whole daddy thing.” He chuckled. Fuck! “You’re Chef Drake?” I asked as I glanced up nervously at the handsome man. My tongue almost rolled out of my mouth and wagged at the stunning man standing beside my table. His light brown hair was cut short with just a hint of curl and natural blond highlights that most people had to spend hours in a salon to get. His piercing blue eyes held an alertness that said he saw everything that went on around him, but at the moment, they were focused solely on me. Even

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the man’s trimmed facial hair was sexy, and who the hell has sexy facial hair? “I am,” he replied with a smile as he sat down across from me. “Alastar Drake. And I was told you’re Jim Smith, who came in last week to critique our restaurant and hasn’t left since.” “I’ve left,” I mumbled with a pout. Why did everyone pick on me? I knew what I liked and didn’t hesitate in having it if I could. I could have all the food I wanted. What was so wrong with that? “Hey, I didn’t mean it as an insult,” Alastar said gently as he reached out and covered my hand with his own. His hand was so large that it completely covered mine, and I couldn’t help but imagine how those hands would feel running over my body. “I love people who like to eat and enjoy food. I love to cook for people and make them happy. It’s why I became a Chef.” I tried to ignore the tingling in my hand and arm from his touch. It felt like electric currents traveling up my arm and short-circuiting my brain though. His hands weren’t soft or rough, but somewhere in the middle, and I didn’t move for fear that I’d startle him, and he’d stop touching me. “You’re not like any Chef I’ve ever seen.” “Is that so?” he asked with a smirk and raised brow. “And what are Chefs supposed to look like?” “Big, hairy, Italian guys who sing while they cook,” I answered instead of blurting out that he was hot. “Oh, with bushy mustaches and checkered aprons.” He stared at me a moment before throwing back his head and laughing loudly. The sound was music to my ears, maybe the best thing I’d ever heard. It made my stomach flutter, though not uncomfortably. I’d just never felt anything like that from a simple laugh before. “I’ll try and fatten up for you,” he teased. “No! You’re hot. Don’t ruin that.” Yeah, no filter. Was I really that freaking shallow? Alastar blushed, but I also saw the lust flaring in his eyes. “What are you doing later tonight?”

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“Nothing,” I answered immediately. “Whatever you want me to do, I’ll be doing.” Did I care if it made me sound desperate, needy, and maybe a little slutty? You bet your ass it didn’t. I wanted the man, and I had no issues with letting him know it. “Wow, you really like my food.” He chuckled again and gave me a wink. “Normally when everyone goes home for the night I test out new recipes for the menu. Since you’re such a fan of my work, and I like looking at you, I thought you might want to join me. I can always use an honest opinion.” It would have been such a line coming from anyone else. But he was blushing as he said it, his face saying he was pretty sure I’d turn him down. “Would it involve dessert?” I asked, practically drooling as my cock twitched in my pants. I wasn’t sure if I was excited about the food or the treat it would be to lick the man in front of me all over. “I–I could m–maybe work some i–in,” he stuttered and then cleared his throat, took a deep breath, and let it out slowly before continuing. “So are you saying yes?” The way he looked at me said he was really hoping I was. “Wild bears couldn’t keep me away.” I turned my hand over in his. Sure enough, he flinched just like I thought he would, and didn’t seem to realize he was still touching me. He didn’t pull away though, so I took that as a good sign and began running my thumb over his hand. My soft caress caused him to shiver, and I knew tonight would be about more than just food. “What time would you like me?” Yes, the innuendo was intended there. I saw no point in tap-dancing around the issue when it was obvious that we both wanted this. “We close at ten,” Alastar answered in a husky voice, his tongue darting out to wet his bottom lip. My eyes followed the movement, and it took every ounce of willpower in me not to lean across the table and suck that soft, pink tongue into my mouth. “Most everyone is cleaned up and gone by ten thirty.” Huh? What was he talking about? Sorting through the last couple of seconds, I searched for the conversational track we’d been on. Why

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were people leaving at ten thirty? Oh, yeah! “Would you get in trouble if I was here while people were still here?” I couldn’t wait to see him, but I’d be damned if my impatience would hurt his job, and not just because I loved his cooking so much. It was obviously important to him, and I found I wanted him to be happy. “No, I do it off the clock, and the owners like when I experiment. I’ve just never invited anyone to help before, but it won’t be a problem.” His eyes darted around, not meeting mine, and I had a feeling that he wasn’t being completely truthful about that. Surely he wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize his job though. Not wanting to rock the boat before we’d even finished setting up our date, I didn’t push the issue. “So I’m special,” I purred instead, more interested in him than the duck now. “You know you are,” he admitted as his face heated up again. It was a striking contrast against his creamy skin, and I found myself smiling at how adorable he looked. A man of his size probably wasn’t called adorable too often, but that’s what I thought in that moment. “I can’t believe someone as beautiful as you would even consider spending time with me.” Wow, he didn’t have much of a self-esteem for a hot guy. He could be licking that divine potato soup off any part of my body he wanted, right there on the table, and he didn’t even know it. I wondered what he’d think if he knew my cock was throbbing in my jeans and making a valiant attempt to break through my zipper. “I know Kevin said he was interested and planned on taking you home.” Now it was my turn to throw back my head and laugh. That was fucking priceless. “Kevin’s a pompous jerk who looks down his nose at me for eating as much as I do and wants to break me of the habit. I didn’t even realize he’s waited on me before because he doesn’t hit my radar.” We both turned to glance at the man. He was staring right back, looking as if he was chewing nails he was so pissed.

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His eyes flashed menacingly while he worked his jaw back and forth, obviously grinding his teeth into a fine powder. His arms were stiff at his sides, his hands clenching and relaxing over and over like he was imagining wrapping his hands around one of our throats. Even his greasy blond hair seemed to crackle with rage. He didn’t look exactly jealous though, which struck me as weird. If he wanted in my Jockeys so damn bad, shouldn’t there be at least a little envy directed toward Alastar? “I’d better get back to the kitchen,” Alastar said quietly, interrupting my contemplation of the waiter as he pulled his hand out of mine and stood. His fingers lingered, gliding over my palm, and he gave me a crooked smile as he smoothed the front of his shirt. “It was really nice meeting you. I hope to see you tonight.” He rushed off before I could even reply, looking straight ahead as he marched purposely back toward the kitchen. His shoulders were stiff and slightly rounded, his gait a little awkward like he wanted to run but knew he couldn’t with so many people watching him. What was up with that? What did Kevin have to do with anything regarding Alastar? I didn’t know, but I’d be finding out tonight when I came back, that was for damn sure. I could just beat the crap out of the snotty waiter and demand he tell me, but that seemed kind of in bad taste. Besides, I didn’t want to get Alastar in trouble. I finished my dinner and held my hand up for the check. Kevin took his own sweet time getting my to-go order and bringing me my bill. It seemed to take even longer to get my credit card back after paying the damn thing. Needless to say, the asshole wasn’t getting a tip. The best I could say was that the entire transaction happened in silence, which suited me just fine since I had nothing to say to him. Once I had everything gathered, I stood from my table, gathered up my boxes, and shoved my wallet into my pocket before making my way to the alley. As I ’ported back to the kitchen, I realized what I needed to do to feel better about my talk with Cave. Making my way through the house, I tracked him down to the media room with Justice

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and a few of our friends, following the sounds of their shouts and laughter. I made a fork appear, snatched it out of the air, and handed it to him along with my food. “Try it. It’s duck, which you love, and was tonight’s special.” “You don’t have to do—” “Eat it,” I ordered and bared my teeth. He’d said his piece, and this was my chance to make him eat his words…or the food. Whichever or both. “Right, okay,” he said hesitantly as he reached for the box. I was the jokester of the group, always happy and having fun. I also pulled pranks a lot to keep things lively. Not that we’d needed that since the first mate came into our lives. So it was understandable that my growly attitude was throwing him for a loop. Cave flipped open the lid on the box and stabbed a chunk of duck and put it in his mouth. He never looked away from me as if to say See? I’m eating it! He chewed slowly, and it took only a second for his eyes to go wide briefly before closing as he moaned. “Oh, fuck, that’s good.” It was almost indecent, the way he was carrying on with the duck, but I knew from experience that it was just that damn good. “If you apologize now, then you can have the rest.” I chuckled, feeling vindicated. “I’m sorry, and I love you. I’ll kiss your feet and ass if you give me that,” he blabbered and tried to take the container back as I lifted it out of his hand and smirked. I pulled it away with a laugh and shook my head. A strange look settled over his face and eased back down in his seat. “Wait, if I eat that, what are you going to have for your second dinner?” He wasn’t being a jerk or teasing me. I really did eat two of every meal. “I have a date with the Chef to help taste his experimental recipes.” “You lucky fuck,” Cave whined as I gave in and handed him the container. He’d just taken another bite when his mate smacked him upside the head. “Ouch! Not the date part but because he’s getting

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more food. This is the bomb,” he said, trying to defend himself as he rubbed the back of his head with his free hand. “Let me taste.” Justice chuckled and opened his mouth, leaning forward and wagging his tongue. “I only share this with you because you’re my mate and I love you,” Cave declared and gave Justice a forkful. “Holy shit!” Justice exclaimed after his bite, his eyes going round as saucers. “That’s fucking awesome. I’d stalk the Chef if I was single.” “And he’s hot.” I giggled, my cheeks heating up from the admission. “I finally met him tonight, and damn, he doesn’t have the body of someone who cooks all day. He must work out or something.” Just thinking about that tight body and those lean muscles was having a direct effect on my libido. “We want some,” Horse said with a pout as he and Bren came by us. “We’re going there tomorrow night for dinner.” I rolled my eyes at his antics. I swear sometimes we all acted like children who wanted to play with any new toy someone else had. “You could always bring home leftovers from your date,” Bren replied with a wink. “If I can,” I hedged, thinking that one over. “I don’t want to make it seem like I just said yes because he’s the Chef. He’s sweet and gorgeous. I wouldn’t feel right if he thought I just wanted his food.” I mean, I did want his food, but that wasn’t all I wanted. “Give him a blow job then get leftovers,” Cave said with his mouth full of food. “Jesus, this duck is awesome. He didn’t create this magically? He’s human?” “Yeah, I wondered the same thing until I met him. When he touched my hand there was no power besides attraction.” They all gave me evil smiles and wiggled their eyebrows at that. Brats. “Anyways, I’m going to go get cleaned up for my date.”

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I got a few good lucks and well-wishes as I left the media room. It was Horse I heard speaking softly when I got to the doorway. “I wonder if this guy’s food is so enticing to him because he’s Champ’s mate? I mean I can see the food being awesome, but he’s been going there twice a day for a week.” “No, the food really is just that good,” Cave replied with a chuckle. “A Chef would be a perfect mate for Champ though.” “Maybe. I hope the guy is his mate though. Champ seems really smitten with him, and I’ve never seen him like that before.” “True,” Cave conceded. It was true. I never really got excited for a date, even if there was going to be good food. Now I was nervous after overhearing their conversation though. Was Alastar Drake my mate? Shit. What should I wear?

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Chapter 2 I was back in the alley at a quarter after ten, shaking with anticipation and a good dose of fear. I started to walk around front when I noticed the back door to the kitchen was open, and I could hear shouting. “I said no, Marcus! Why can’t you just leave me alone?” Alastar shouted, his voice hitting a higher octave in his distress. “Because I own you,” Marcus snarled. There was a crack of flesh snapping against flesh as if someone had just been slapped, and I didn’t care if it wasn’t my place to interrupt. I wouldn’t let someone as nice as Alastar get beat up, my mate or not. “No dates, Alastar! Kevin told me you’ve got some little twink coming tonight to sample your goods.” I caught the double meaning there, and while I’d hoped there might be some naked fun on the agenda, this asshole made it sound so cheap. “And said twink is here,” I said smoothly, leaning in the doorway as if I didn’t have a care in the world. “I’d tread very lightly the next few moments if you value breathing. Marcus, was it?” “Get the fuck out of here, dickhead,” he growled, turning on me. He was very snarly but he wasn’t a shifter or wolf. I think he was just an angry guy who yelled so much his vocal cords were raw. “The date’s canceled.” “Since the date wasn’t with you—” I gave him the once-over, making it clear I found him lacking. “You don’t get a vote.” “Alastar’s mine!” Wow, was he pissed! There was even a large vein bulging on his forehead. Gross but kind of comical because I

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could picture a little, pink, slimy baby alien bursting out of it and calling him momma. I have a twisted sense of humor. Sue me. “Did you buy him? I’m sure that’s pretty illegal.” I let an evil grin spread across my lips. “And I just happen to have a cop in the family.” The guy gave a very unattractive snort. “The cops can’t touch me.” I noticed the Russian accent then and realized this guy might be connected to Chicago’s underworld. “Well, I’m also friends with Mickey Murphy. Does that help?” I asked, changing tactics. Marcus’s face went pale. Yup, right button to push. “You’re full of it. Mickey wouldn’t get involved with the likes of you.” What did that even mean? Whatever, this guy wasn’t playing with a full deck, obviously. “Involved with me? No. Mickey doesn’t swing that way, and I’m not a criminal. We became allies when his son started stalking my brother’s partner. You know how that turned out.” It had been all over the papers that Kyle Murphy had been found with two bullets in the back of the head. There was all kind of speculations as to whether it had been a hit or Mickey cleaning house. “Yeah, yeah I do.” Marcus swallowed loudly. “Fine, have your date tonight, but you touch him and you’re dead. I don’t care if Murphy is your uncle. Alastar’s mine.” “Oh, you might want to check who you’re threatening before you do.” I gave him another look, tilting my head to study him. “You really aren’t that bright, are you? How have you survived this long?” He snarled at the insult but didn’t address it. “Fine, who are you?” “Jim Smith,” I purred, just to be a snot. “One of the twelve Smiths of Smith Enterprises. We’re also really tight with Peter Whitted. I’m sure you know of him, too.” Peter was head of the Chicago werewolf pack and was the main source of muscle for hire in the city. Granted, he was picky about who he worked with and which jobs he’d take, but people knew of him. He

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had quite a few gangs scared of him and wouldn’t come on his turf. The man wasn’t a fan of crime. He helped on shit the police couldn’t legally. But he wasn’t a bully. I could see the wheels churning in Marcus’s head and decided just to end this conversation. “You have no play, Marcus. You can’t be stupid enough to think you do. Walk away from Alastar and don’t ever look back.” “I’ll be back,” he said ominously, shooting Alastar a look that could kill before storming out of the kitchen. The second he did I closed the door and locked it before racing to Alastar, who looked ready to toss his cookies. All the color drained from his face, his brow was coated in a clammy sweat, and he was looking a little green around the edges. Not that I could blame him. Anyone would be shaken up after being threatened by an asshole like Marcus. I caught him under his arms as his wobbly legs gave out and he started to go down. I lowered him to the floor gently, unsure of what to do from there. All I knew was that I wanted to take care of him, but I didn’t know if he’d let me. “I don’t know whether to thank you or scream at you for making things worse,” Alastar mumbled as he let his head fall back to the cabinet behind him with a thud, closed his eyes, and groaned in defeat. “If you’re part of the mob, please just leave now.” “No, I’m not mob or a criminal.” I chuckled as I placed my hand against his forehead, brushing away the damp hair that clung to him. He was burning up, probably with anger, nerves, and his other swirling emotions. I opened his Chef jacket, but his hands covered mine as I went to take it off. “I don’t get naked until at least the third date.” His eyes were open now, watching me intently. “As much as I’d love to see you naked, I’m actually trying to get you to cool off. You’re burning up.” “Okay,” he whispered as he released my hands and let me do it. I found a towel then, got it wet with cool water, and held it to his face.

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“Why aren’t you running away after seeing Marcus? Hell, why did you threaten him?” “Because you’re a nice guy who’s in a bad spot, and I don’t like it when people take advantage of someone.” It was the gods’ honest truth. “Has he hurt you before?” There was a solid handprint bruise forming on his cheek. I moved the towel to there, hoping to soothe the ache a little until I could get a proper ice pack on it. Just the sight of his pain sent my blood boiling with anger, but I reined in my emotions and remained calm. My date had enough on his plate without me freaking out and adding to it. “Wanna tell me why he thinks he owns you?” “Yes, he’s hurt me before when I refused him. And no, I don’t want to tell you.” He sighed and covered my hand with his again, squeezing it weakly. “But since I just dragged you into my bullshit, it’s only fair I tell you.” “Honey, I walked right into it. This isn’t your fault. I heard you from the alley and came in. I could have left or kept walking. This was my choice.” The last thing I wanted was Alastar to feel guilty that I was now on Marcus’s radar. “Either way, you need to know,” Alastar whispered, his eyes filling with tears. “My parents were killed when I was fifteen. No one wants to foster a child that old, and I didn’t have any family. I was sent to a boys home and got a job busing tables so I could buy schoolbooks and clothes that weren’t falling apart. It was a hole-inthe-wall diner, but the owner was the cook and a really nice man. “He kinda took me under his wing. He apologized constantly for not letting me stay with him, but he didn’t have the qualifications to be a foster parent. Plus he was older, like seventies, and didn’t think anyone would give him an emotionally scarred teenager to take care of. But he was the one who I learned my love of cooking from. He was friends with Marcus’s dad, a sweet Russian immigrant. “He died when I was eighteen, and the diner went under since his kids took over and they were morons. I wanted to go to cooking

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school, but it costs money. Marcus’s dad, Richard, offered to pay for my training if I’d come work for him when I graduate and sign a ten year contract. “Marcus was always a creep, a real bully, but he stayed away from me because of his old man. Well, Richard died last year, and Marcus took over the restaurant. And since his dad paid for my school, Marcus seems to think he owns me because we’ve got a contract. I don’t know if I can last five more years with him as the boss always trying to force me to have sex. He started progressing into smacking me around a few months ago.” “You know Marcus is a criminal, right? Was Richard?” “No,” he answered adamantly. “Richard was a good guy. Marcus has always been involved with drugs and dealing. He’s started using the restaurant to do it, and Richard would roll over in his grave if he knew that.” “So you’re not breaking your contract out of loyalty to Richard?” It seemed silly when he was being abused. I mean, I understood keeping one’s word. Elves were loyal almost to a fault, and we never broke our word of honor. But to me, smacking Alastar around negated that. “What do you think Marcus would do to me if I left, contract or not?” he asked with a soft smile as if already resigned to the fate. “I’d be dead. That doesn’t mean I’m going to let him have me, but he won’t hurt me too much because then I’d be unable to work. He makes a lot of money off this restaurant.” “What if you paid him back for the schooling? Then you’re staying on because of the contract only and Marcus can’t warp it into it being about you owing him because Richard paid for your school.” “How would I come up with that kinda money? I took a huge pay cut when Marcus took over. I mean, the waiters make more in tips than my entire paycheck. I can barely afford my apartment. He wants me under his thumb. Hell, my contract says I can’t ever get a pay cut,

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but I’m too scared of Marcus and his druggie friends to do anything about it.” “Let me think on that. I might have an idea,” I answered with a smile as I wrapped an arm around his waist and helped him to his feet. “I won’t do anything illegal or sell myself,” he said firmly. I shook my head and stepped away. I tried to blame the fact that he was being treated badly for the comment, but it still smarted. “I’m not like that, Alastar.” “I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking.” He leaned forward and kissed my cheek. The skin tingled a little from the soft brush of his lips, and it took all I had not to reach up and touch the spot like some lovesick teenager. “I know you’re not. You just walked in front of a rabid bull named Marcus to help me.” He picked up his coat and gave me a smile. “My friends call me Ali.” “I like it.” I fidgeted with my jacket, debating if I should take it off or not. “Do you want to reschedule? I’d understand if you need—” “No!” He seemed to realize he had shouted then and cleared his throat. “No, I’d like you to stay and have our date. You’re the first person I’ve risked Marcus’s wrath by asking out. I don’t want you to go.” “Okay, then I won’t.” I was smiling like a loon at his response. Well, not the part about Marcus’s wrath but that he wanted me there. Ali showed me where to hang my jacket as he put his Chef one back on and pulled up a wooden stool for me. I nodded my thanks, but went in search of a bottle of wine before taking the offered seat. I held up two different bottles for Ali’s approval since I wasn’t sure which one would go better with the food he planned to cook. He pointed to the white Vinho Verde, and I poured two glasses before I plopped down to watch him work. He was a master of his tools. I never thought a Chef could be deadly, but with the way he wielded his knives, I certainly wouldn’t want to get into it with him ever.

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“I let my brother and his partner have my second dinner when I got home. They loved your duck,” I said when it seemed as if neither of us knew how to start a normal date. “My whole family’s got reservations here tomorrow night. After they tried the duck, he ordered me to do whatever was necessary to bring home more. He thought if I gave you a blow job, you wouldn’t think I was just after your food.” His hand slipped on the next downward slice and bounced off the butcher block, causing me to wince. If it had slipped the other way, Ali would have lost a finger. “Sorry.” I sucked my bottom lip between my teeth and chewed on it as I felt my cheeks burn. “You don’t have much of a filter on that mouth of yours, do you?” he asked with a smirk. “No, sorry. It annoys people.” I glanced down at my hands, shaking my head. So much for trying not to stick my foot in my mouth. “I like it.” Ali chuckled and went back to his chopping. “It’s a refreshing change. But I wouldn’t mention sexual favors when I’m cooking.” “Yeah, you almost lost a finger.” They were such nice fingers, too. Long and slender like the hands of an artist, and in a way, I guess they were. “That, and it’s a pain in the ass to cook with a hard-on,” he admitted with a shrug and a shy smile. “That got you hard?” I asked hopefully. Maybe I could do this dating thing after all! “Umm, yeah, like hard as nails, hard,” he muttered and went over to the walk-in fridge. I figured he needed something for the recipe, but my ego was telling me it was because he needed to cool off. Either way, I wanted to follow and see what sexual favors could be done in there.

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“So, what are you making?” I asked casually, ignoring my growing ardor. I refused to be the horny guy hitting on Ali after Marcus had basically tried to force himself on the man. Ali gave me a smile and looked relieved. Guess it worked. “You like seafood?” “Who doesn’t?” I answered, scoffing at the idea of not liking seafood. “I’ve made Clams Casino before, but I just feel like something’s missing. So I want to tweak the recipe and see—what?” he asked when he saw I was staring at him. “You really do love cooking.” I chuckled. “Your eyes light up, and you look like a kid on his birthday when you talk about it.” He shrugged as a cute blush worked its way up his neck, over his cheeks, and right to the tips of his ears. “I know it’s not the most respected job, but to me, it’s a form of art, making it all come together. And in the end people get to eat my art and hopefully enjoy it.” I smiled inwardly because I’d been right about the art thing. “Hey, I respect your profession,” I said gently, realizing it was a sensitive topic for him. “I’ve been coming twice a day for a week since I found this place, and that was before I knew you were so hot.” “Want to help me?” Yes, with lots of things, I thought, but didn’t say it when I realized he was unused to anyone hitting on him. “I’m a horrible cook. My whole family is.” “Yeah, right.” “No, seriously.” I laughed, thinking about how we had takeout almost every meal. “Most people keep a fire extinguisher in their kitchen but never use it. We’ve replaced ours at least a dozen times because we had to use it.” “Wow. How do you guys survive?” he teased as he placed his bin of clams on a cookie sheet one by one.

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“We have every take-out place or anywhere that delivers on speed dial.” He laughed at that, and I felt bad leaving out part of the truth that we could create food magically. That was odd. I never batted an eyelash when I had to lie to keep our cover. Maybe Alastar was the one? “You have a big family?” “Eleven brothers and eight of them have partners. One came with twins he was a sperm donor for, and we all instantly fell in love with the munchkins.” “Eleven brothers?” he asked as he froze in preparing his meal. “We’re not blood,” I explained, again feeling a twinge of guilt at giving him our cover story. “We all met in the foster system, and when we were of age, legally adopted each other and changed our last names.” “That’s nice,” Ali said with a wistful sigh. “I wish I had siblings. It might not have been so hard to lose my parents then.” “Yeah, they’re good guys. You’ll really like them. And they’re going to love you since you feed me.” “Oh?” he asked with a raised brow, figuring out there was a story there. “I have a crazy high metabolism, and I eat like a pig, as they all say. I have two of every meal.” “You’re expensive to have around then.” He chuckled. For once, I didn’t feel like I was being teased though. His laugh was amazing and did funny things to my insides. “Oh, we’re rich,” I admitted and then winced. He gave me a look that let me know he’d figured it out. “You mentioned Smith Enterprises when you were talking to Marcus and your jacket probably costs more than I make in a month.” I nodded, thinking how to phrase what I wanted to say next. Then I remembered how Ali said my not having a filter was nice, so I just blurted it out. “So it’s okay with you that I have money?”

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“Why wouldn’t it be?” He looked at me like I was growing a second head. “I don’t care that you do, but I don’t prefer my dates to be bums.” “Some of my brothers’ partners had a problem recently at how much money we had. I guess not knowing the extent of it upset them because—I’m not really sure why, to be honest.” “Maybe they felt as if your brothers weren’t up-front about it. I’m sure you have a big house that would be a clue, but couples who live together normally discuss those things. Maybe they didn’t discuss them before it being dropped on their lap.” I gazed at him with my jaw hanging open. “Did you also study psychology?” “No, I just read a lot. And I tend to listen well. A lot of the kitchen and waitstaff like to vent to me, so I hear a lot about relationship problems.” His mention of the waitstaff made me remember something Marcus had said earlier. “Speaking of waiters here.” Ali cringed as if knowing what I was going to say. “What’s up with Kevin? He related to Marcus?” “Yeah, his cousin. He’s head of the waitstaff as I am of the kitchen. Marcus only hired him to keep an eye on me and because I’m not Kevin’s type.” “Be grateful for that,” I said, rolling my eyes. “That guy’s an ass and needs to watch what he says around the customers.” “Yeah, he’s a whiny bitch.” Ali snickered. “He’s one of those pathetic Doms.” My heart fell into my stomach. He thought Doms were pathetic. Fuck! How would he react to my being a member of Leather No Lace? “So you’re not a fan of Doms,” I mumbled, not making it a question. “Why, are you one?” he teased and then glanced at me when I didn’t answer. His face fell into a frown as he shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot. But I did also see the lust flare in his eyes. What the

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hell? “If people want to live the lifestyle, that’s their choice. But Kevin isn’t a real Dom. He’s one of those posers who like to treat twinks like shit and have them lick his boots before he kicks them. Those kinda people make me sick.” “Me, too,” I agreed, a sliver of hope taking hold inside of me. “But dominant men who like to take charge are okay with you?” “Yes, as long as both parties agree to it.” He went back to preparing the clams as he glanced at me from under his eyelashes, but looked away quickly before asking his next question. “Are you dominant?” “I am,” I answered honestly. There was no point in hiding it or beating around the bush about what I liked sexually. It always came to bite me in the ass later when I did. “I liked to take charge and take my partner to places they’ve never been. I’m not like a Dom, Dom who wants to be called sir and collars someone. I just like to call the shots and please the person I’m with.” “What do you mean by take them to places they’ve never been before?” he asked, his voice going deep with desire as he flashed me a look filled with heat and wanting. “I’m a big fan of toys. Like if we were together as a couple I’d ask you to wear a butt plug at work sometimes. It would get me hot knowing it was inside of you while you cooked, keeping you primed and horny for when you came home to me. I’d tie you down and show you the fun of being restrained, maybe even spanked. We have a play room at our house filled with toys, swings, and contraptions my brother invents.” I could see the desire growing the more I talked. Ali had started panting and put down the knife so he could wipe off his sweaty palms on his pants. “What else?” “I like an audience. My brothers and I are all members at Leather No Lace, and I’ve reserved the glass rooms there several times. We’re exhibitionists, and it’s not uncommon for some of them to watch when I’m having sex in the play room. We’re a very sexual group,

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always horny.” Elves in general had a high sex drive, but I couldn’t explain that part just yet. “And if we were a couple, what would you do to me right now?” He probably hadn’t even realized he was doing it, but he kept moving closer to me as I spoke, and his hands kept twitching like he wanted to touch me but was holding back for some reason. “I’d order you to drop your pants and let me eat out your firm ass before I bent you over one of the counters and fucked you silly. Then I’d take you back to my place and treat you like a king all night. I wouldn’t let us sleep until you had at least four, maybe five orgasms.” “It wouldn’t take long,” Ali whispered, now standing right next to me. I slid off my stool, making sure my body brushed against his and he felt my hard-on. “It’s been a really long time since I’ve even had sex, and I’ve only done it a few times.” “Such a shame with a body like yours,” I purred as I slid my hands up his chest. “Would you like me to show you all there is out there? All the fun and pleasure I can bring you?” “Yes please,” he whimpered, leaning into me so that I could feel his body trembling beneath my palm. That was all I needed. I yanked his head down and mashed our lips together. Ali moaned and wrapped his arms around me, lifting my much smaller frame onto the counter. I was about five-five and he had to be at least six-five. I wasn’t kidding when I said he wasn’t built like a typical Chef. He was tall and muscular, not an ounce of fat on him. I sucked on his upper lip, demanding that he open for me, and pushed my tongue into his mouth when he did. He made that seductive whimper again, and I took that as he liked what I was doing. I thrust my hips against his, and since he was in between my legs, our clothes-covered cocks brushed against each other. Fuck, I wanted this man! There was only one thing I needed to know. I ripped my mouth away from his and asked, “Can you still cook after I fuck you silly? Or would I be ruining your work and the food?”

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Chapter 3 “Umm,” he mumbled as he shook his head to clear away the lust. “I should get the clams in the oven so they don’t go bad. They’ll need twenty minutes or so of cooking time before the next step.” “Go save the clams before I change my mind.” I chuckled and pushed him away playfully. He was pouting, so I leaned forward to brush my lips over his mouth. “I know it’s been a long time for you, but five more minutes won’t matter, okay? I’m not going to disappear before we have lots of hot sex over and over again.” “Okay,” he groaned and adjusted his hard-on with his hand. I watched him quickly move around the kitchen with the fluidity of a dancer. The man might have been making edible art, but to me, he was the work of art in the room. When he was finished, he came back over to me, practically bouncing. “Done!” “Good,” I purred as I ran my hands up over his chest and nibbled on his lower lip. “Will you submit to me tonight, Ali?” “Yes please,” my soon-to-be lover whimpered. “I like to hear you whimper and beg, honey. It gets me so hard my dick is leaking. As much as I’d like you to suck it, we don’t have time this round.” He shivered and moaned at my words. “I want you to undo your pants only, the Chef jacket is hot, and bend over so your chest is on the counter. Let me take care of the rest.” “Okay,” he squeaked and did as I asked. It took him a minute to get his pants unbuttoned because his hands were trembling so violently, but he eventually managed it and pushed them down his hips. There was an awkward moment when his pants got caught up in

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his shoes, and I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling when he growled in frustration. When he was finally naked from the waist down, he bent over, pressing his chest against the counter as instructed and tilting his hips to present his gorgeous ass to me. Sliding off the counter, I rounded him slowly, groaning as my fingers slid over one ass cheek, pulling a soft moan and full-body shiver from him. Fuck! The man had firm mounds one of the gods might be jealous of. I dropped to my knees behind him and skimmed one finger along his crease before I spread his cheeks wide. “Has anyone ever licked you here before?” I asked in a husky voice I barely even recognized as I ran my fingers over his twitching hole. “No,” he whispered as his body started to shake in earnest. “I’ve never been penetrated.” “Fuck me.” I couldn’t go slow after hearing that. I dove right in. I licked and sucked on his tight, puckered flesh as if he was my last meal. When I went to spear my tongue into him, he tightened up, his hole clenching and his ass cheeks flexing in my hands. I gave one cheek a firm smack. “Relax and let me in.” “Do that again,” he begged. So he did want to be spanked! “Later tonight, I promise. We don’t have enough time right now, and I need to be buried inside of you before I go insane. Spread your legs farther.” I tapped on the inside of one thigh, urging him to open for me. He immediately complied and relaxed back down on the counter. I fondled his sac, rolling his balls in between my fingers and giving them a gentle tug as I pushed my tongue inside of him. I moaned at how good he tasted, woodsy with a hint of something completely Ali. I didn’t have a name for it. I just knew that no one tasted the like him. I ate his ass only for a minute before making a single-use packet of lube appear. I undid my pants and pulled my aching cock free of its confinement before I slicked up my fingers. I couldn’t stretch him just

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with magic, otherwise he’d know I was different, but I could use it to help me. I slid one inside of him, making his hole open for me. As I stretched him, I kept licking and scraping my teeth over the smooth flesh, giving soft bites to his firm mounds. “Please, please just fuck me already,” he begged as his legs shook. “I want to feel you, Jim.” I closed my eyes against the pain in my chest as I pushed in a second finger. I wanted him to be calling out my real name, not my human one. Ali had to be my mate for me to have that reaction, but my fangs weren’t trying to pop out. I ignored the confusion I felt and set on the sole purpose of pleasing Ali. When he was ready for a third finger, I tried to slide it in with the others, but he went tense again. Easing my fingers from his clenching hole, I moved so I was in between him and the counter then leaned forward and sucked on the head of his dripping cock. I worked the base of his thick length with one hand while I used my lube-slicked fingers to skim along his perineum and tap at his hole again. He moaned wantonly and relaxed, allowing me to insert all three fingers. Moments later, I had him ready. I pulled off his dick, removed my fingers from his ass, and stood, using the rest of the slick on myself after rolling on a condom. “Say yes, Ali. Let me have you,” I said in my best seductive voice. “I need you.” “Yes, fuck, yes, take me!” He cried out as I moved behind him again and covered his back, rubbing my cock against his hole. I sighed in relief that he hadn’t changed his mind and pushed inside of him, trying to go slow, but it wasn’t easy. “Fuck, it burns.” “Too much? That will go away once I start moving.” I rubbed his lower back, upset I was causing him any distress. “No, it’s okay. I’m just surprised maybe.” He took a few deep breaths when I bottomed out inside of him, and I held still, letting him get used to the invasion. “It’s passing, I’m ready now.” “I’ll start slow.”

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He glanced up at the timer and shook his head. “Seven minutes until the clams are ready.” Fuck! I’d taken more time getting him ready than I thought. I grabbed his hips and started thrusting in and out of him fast but not hard, short jabbing motions to make sure he was stretched enough. And that’s when my fangs slid out. He was my mate! I’d found my mate after all of these years. I was so happy that I’d not only found my other half, but it was someone like Ali, that I wanted to cry. Ali moaned liked a slut and reached back to pull his ass farther apart for me. I take it he liked it. “You feel so fucking good, honey,” I cooed as I picked up the pace, surging into him as a loud groan rumbled in my chest. “Is the burning gone?” I didn’t want to hurt him, but I couldn’t stop. The tight, slick heat that surrounded my cock was better than heaven, and the way his inner walls convulsed around me sent my head spinning. “Yes, feels amazing. I never want it to stop,” he admitted and turned his head to look back at me over his shoulder. I buried my face in his back between his shoulder blades. I wasn’t sure I could get my fangs to retract while I was so focused on our coupling, and I didn’t want to scare him. Now that his hole was used to me, I started taking him harder, not really slamming into him yet but working up to it. Ali really liked that, giving soft cries each time I buried myself in him to the root. And when I started nailing his sweet spot, I almost laughed at the ramblings that came out of his mouth. “Oh god, oh fuck, never been like this. So fucking good. How did I not know I wanted to bottom? Maybe it’s just being with you? Yes, that must be it. You know what you’re doing, and I really like you, even before you showed me I want to become a sex addict.” “Only to me, Ali,” I growled and pumped my hips faster, digging my fingers into his hips as I pounded into him. “You’re only to become addicted to sex with me!”

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“Yes, yes, of course,” he moaned and then cried out as I reached down and started stroking his dick furiously. “Gonna—Jim!” The muscles in his ass clamped down on me as he rode his orgasm, convulsing in waves around my cock as I struggled to keep thrusting through the vise grip. He shot his seed all over the counter and my hand. Ali lifted his head as much as he could at the awkward angle and screamed until he started to go hoarse. When I realized my mate was sated, his cock pulsing with the last of his sperm, I let myself go. I groaned loudly into his back as I came inside of him, cursing the latex that was keeping me from my mate fully. The condom thing would stop real soon. I needed to come inside my mate and mark him from the inside out as mine. Almost as much as I was dying to bite him. We were both shaking from aftershocks of our coupling when the timer on the ovens started beeping. I pulled out of Ali with regret and took care of the condom, tying it off and finding a waste can to deposit it in. “Can you move?” I asked gently, knowing full well that his legs had to feel like mush. Hell, I wasn’t feeling too steady myself, but I figured I was a little better off than him. “I’m trying.” He giggled, honest to goodness giggled. “In a minute maybe.” He slumped over the counter, his head lolling to the side so that I could see the goofy, contented smile on his lips. “Tell me what to do with the clams.” I chuckled as I tucked myself back in my pants and zipped up. “Just take them out of the oven and put them by the pans I have out. Don’t burn yourself though. I like the way you touch me too much.” “Good to know.” Oh, my mate was fun when he was sexually sated. I finally got my fangs to retract and set about to help my mate. By the time I got all the trays of clams out, my mate had finally moved and was fixing his pants.

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My mate! I had a mate! I’d found my mate. Mate, mate, mate. I just wanted to dance around, shake my ass, and chant the word until I became mute I was so happy. “So this is the part where you leave now, right?” Ali asked so quietly that I even had trouble hearing him with my heightened elven senses. “I thought you wanted me to help sample your creations?” I was confused until I turned to face him and saw the dejected posture he had sitting on the stool. His head was down, hands in his lap fidgeting, complete with shoulders slumped. It was the most heartbreaking thing I’d ever seen and my chest constricted with emotions. “Hey, now. What’s going on, honey?” “Nothing, just waiting for you to leave,” he whispered, still averting his eyes and refusing to look at me. Oh, shit. Just how many people had hurt my poor mate? I moved in front of him and pushed his hands out of his lap before straddling his thighs. I gently took his face in my hands, stroking his cheeks with the pads of my thumbs, and tilted his head up, forcing him to look at me. “I don’t want to leave, Ali. I don’t know what bastard hurt you, but I’m not like them.” I paused, another possibility dawning on me. “Do you want me to leave? Did you not enjoy being with me?” “I loved it,” he blurted out and then closed his eyes with a sigh as his shoulders sagged again. “I don’t want you to leave, but experience has taught me you got what you want, so now it will not matter what you promised earlier.” “I’m not going anywhere until you tell me to,” I said firmly and kissed him. He was staring at me with wonder and a little hope when I leaned back. “I’ve been with two guys who promised me the sun and the moon, but the moment after we had sex, they were gone. Why are you still here?” “Because I’m not like them,” I answered with a smile. “And I’ve become addicted to all things Ali. I want our night of passion and

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pleasure you said we could have. And then I want another night of it, and another. I like you a lot, honey. I want something real between us.” “Okay, I’d like that.” The smile on his face was worth any discomfort I’d felt laying all my feelings on the table for him. “Good. Now get your sexy ass to cooking for me before I fuck you on another surface in this kitchen.” I smiled and waggled my eyebrows at him to take the sting out of my order. “Yeah, that sounds like a horrible punishment for not listening to you.” He chuckled and rolled his eyes. I slid off of his lap and let him stand before taking his seat on the stool. “Fine, get to work, or I’ll get you so hard you can’t function and I won’t fuck you then.” He paused in his walking back to his workstation and glanced at me over his shoulder. “There’s a mean streak in you, isn’t there?” “You have no idea.” I gave him my best innocent smile, and Ali laughed. I let him get to work, mixing and chopping and whatever else he was doing. Sautéing, I was pretty sure, but I was such a screwup in the kitchen that no one should ever ask me anything to do with cooking. I realized he was humming as he moved around and put together something I knew would be out-of-this-world delicious. Every so often he’d glance up and give me a wink as if checking I still was really there. I was stalling by not saying anything and simply watching him. We needed to talk. Ali deserved to know what I was now that I knew we were mates and what all that encompassed. “Do you believe there are things in this world that most humans don’t know about and don’t understand?” I asked, wincing at how bizarre and vague that sounded. “Random topic change.” He chuckled and nodded. “But sure. People are either full of themselves or just stupid if they think they know everything that’s out there or we’re the only planet with life.”

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Oh gods. He thought I was talking like aliens. How did everyone else do this with their mates? “But not everything different is scary, right?” “No, of course not,” he answered as he put his finished meal onto two plates for us to sample. “Are you different, Jim? Is this your way of saying you’re a werewolf in disguise?” “And if I was?” I whispered and now took the dejected pose he had been in earlier. Ali was quiet for a few minutes. I couldn’t take the silence any longer and dared to glance up. He was standing there frozen with the pan tilted over the plates, staring at me as if I’d just grown three extra heads. “What are you, Jim?” “Promise you won’t run?” I asked, not hiding my fear and tears from him. I realized that probably wasn’t the best way to start the conversation, so I quickly added, “I won’t hurt you, I swear it, Ali.” He swallowed loudly a few times, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down the column of his throat, and tried speaking, but it didn’t seem to be working for him. Ali settled on nodding his agreement and set the pan down. It clattered against the stove, and he released it quickly, fisting his hands at his sides, but not before I noticed their trembling. Not knowing what else to do, I turned my head so he could see my ears and let them change back into their normal pointy shape. “O–Okay s–so y–you have a–abnormally pointy ea–ears,” he stuttered as his eyes darted around the room. “I can handle that.” “I’m not human, Ali,” I said quietly as I faced him and changed back my ears. “And I didn’t plan on telling you, but there’s something here and it’s eating me that you don’t know the truth or even my real name.” “What’s your real name?” he asked, almost seeming angry. I decided I couldn’t do this anymore and block his thoughts. Fuck. “How could he keep something as important as his fucking name from me? I gave him my virgin ass. I’m so stupid when it comes to men!”

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“I didn’t tell you because you’d know I was different then. I’m sorry, Ali. We have to keep what we are secret or it could get really bad for me and my family.” “Right, okay, that makes sense. We shared something intimate and now he wants me to know the real him. That’s a good sign. He’s obviously not a bad guy whatever he is if he stepped in to help me with Marcus. Fuck! Do I really want to know he’s not human? What is he?” “Yes, you really want to know, Ali. We can’t start something real if you don’t know the real me. You don’t want me to lie to you.” “You heard what I thought. Or did I say it out loud?” He was holding tightly to the edge of the counter and taking deep breaths as if trying not to hyperventilate. “No, I listened in your thoughts. One of my gifts is I’m a telepath,” I explained gently. “Okay, wait. Don’t add anything into the stew just yet.” Of course he would use cooking analogies. I couldn’t help but smile at how adorable and sweet he was. “Let’s eat this before it gets cold. I’ll ask you simple questions, get my ingredients in line, and then decide what to make or if I should run screaming.” “Whatever’s easier for you,” I agreed. I watched him, checking to see if he was going to faint like some of the other mates did when they learned about us. Ali pulled over another stool and brought out plates to us, along with another open bottle of wine. Couldn’t say I blamed him on that one. “What’s your real name?” he asked after finishing off what he had in his wine glass. He went to grab the bottle with a shaky hand, but if he did, we’d have wine everywhere. So I reached over and poured him some more. “Thanks.” “Champ. My real name is Champ. Jim is my human name so I blend in better.” “Yeah, Champ would raise a few eyebrows.” He took a bite of his meal and eyed me over. “I didn’t think Jim was a good fit for you.

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You seemed like you’d have a rarer name. Granted, I wouldn’t have thought Champ, but I like it.” “I’m glad,” I replied shyly. I dug into my own plate and moaned appreciatively. “You are a master. This is amazing.” “I think it was the hot sex that inspired me.” Ali chuckled, his cheeks flaming with embarrassment. “I’m just going to have to keep inspiring you then,” I purred as I leered at his perfect body. “Such a hardship for me.” “Wait, flirting later,” he panted and squirmed on the stool. “What are you, Champ?” “I’m an elf.” He dropped his fork, and it clattered against his plate. “One more time?” “I’m an elf,” I repeated, bracing for his reaction. “Like pointy ears, lives in the North Pole, and wears felt for clothes, elf?” “Pointy ears, yes, you’ve seen those. I was born in the North Pole though I don’t live there anymore and all elves don’t either. We’re older than Christianity as a race, probably older than humans themselves. And no, no fucking felt. That’s just a fictional, human portrayal of us.” “So Santa is real?” He looked like a hopeful kid. “Really? Why does everyone focus on that when they find out about us?” I asked, not even hiding my growl. “Yes, friggin Santa is real.” I cleared my throat and tried to calm down when I realized he was gaping at me. “Sorry, I’m not a fan of Christmas. It’s one of the reasons we all left the North Pole.” “Okay, fair enough,” he said quietly and started nodding like a bobblehead doll as he ate. I took a few more bites, waiting for more questions. When I glanced at him again, he was gaping at me for a whole other reason…I was moaning like we were having sex as I ate. “Sorry, it’s just really good and I love to eat,” I apologized.

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“You mentioned more sex tonight? Like now?” Ali asked, and he practically shoveled the rest of his food in his mouth. “You’re okay with me being an elf?” I couldn’t even hide my surprise. “It’s strange, I’ll give you that. But I know you’re a good person, and it’s not like you told me you’re underage or anything that would not make me want you sexually anymore. The rest will take me a little bit of time to adjust to. I’ll have more questions, but I figured that was the biggest hurdle, and now after watching you make love to the dinner I made you, I want you to do the same to me.” “Clean up while I find to-go boxes,” I growled and leaped from my chair. Ali nodded as lust flared in his eyes. We moved quickly, and I could feel the sexual tension growing in the air. Five minutes later we were both ready, but I swear it felt like it had taken hours. “Should I follow you?” he asked, and I shook my head. “I didn’t drive. I teleport when I come here. The traffic from Deerfield to Chicago Loop would be hell twice a day.” “You teleported?” he whispered, looking as if he might be on information overload suddenly. “One thing at a time, right?” I ran my hands up his chest, and he set the food containers down and pulled me into his arms. “All I want to focus on is how I feel around you, but the rest is a lot, Champ. I’m trying.” “I know you are, honey. You haven’t fainted, which means you’re doing better than most people when they find out.” “Thanks,” he said and kissed my temple. “So you’re going to ride with me?” “Can I just teleport us both home? We’re running out of night to play. You need to get some sleep. You’re working tomorrow, and I won’t have you tired around fire and sharp knives.” “That’s either the sweetest or weirdest thing anyone’s ever said to me.” I could hear the laughter in his tone. “Okay, beam me up, Scotty.”

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I started to correct him but then realized it was a Star Trek reference. Glad he was joking instead of completely freaking out. I held on to him as I grabbed our doggie bag—couldn’t forget that— and teleported us to my house. We appeared in the kitchen, and no one even batted an eyelash that we’d just showed up. We were all pretty used to it by now. Well, most of us. “Fuck!” Egan yelped and moved closer to Box. “That still scares the shit out of me when you guys just pop into a room.” “You get used to it, sweetie,” his mate said as he pulled Egan onto his lap. “I’ll protect you.” “Why do I think that protection involves both of us naked?” “I am horny,” Box admitted with a pout. “It’s been way too long since I’ve been inside of you.” “Box, it’s been three hours!” “Still too long.” Egan seemed to think about that before nodding. “Fine, but I get to pick which contraption you use on me.” “Deal!” Egan leaped off Box’s lap and they raced out of the room. I knew where they were heading, but Ali just stood there with his jaw hanging open in shock. “Forgive them.” Horse chuckled as he gestured to the door. He stood and came over to my mate, hand outstretched. “They’re newly mated and having their own version of a honeymoon.” I cringed, hoping Ali missed that whole mated thing since we’d not gotten that far yet. I now realized it was a bad idea to bring him home where he’d meet my family before I explained everything to him. Live and learn.

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Chapter 4 “Uh-huh.” Ali shook Horse’s hand on what seemed to be like autopilot. “So you’re all elves?” “No.” Bren chuckled as he came to shake Ali’s hand, too. “The little guys like Champ and Horse are all elves. The rest of us are their human mates. And the twins are human, too.” “Human mates,” Ali parroted. Yeah, I had been hoping for too much that someone wouldn’t let that slip out. “We didn’t really get to that part yet,” I said gently, shooting Horse and Bren a dirty look. “Oh shit, sorry, man,” Bren replied, looking properly chastised. Then he saw our large doggie bag and apparently forgot to feel guilty. “Sweet! You did bring leftovers. Did you give him the blow job for them?” “Bren!” Horse exclaimed and cuffed his mate upside the head. I handed them over to Bren, not caring who got them anymore. “Sorry, I just got off shift and I’m starved. My stomach does all the talking when I’m hungry,” Bren apologized. “Wait, if you were working today, then how were you home earlier?” I asked, completely confused. “Oh, I came home to have lunch with Horse,” he answered with a wide smile, and I knew they didn’t actually eat any food. I was just grateful he didn’t mention how he’d gotten home. After we went through the claiming ceremony our mates could ’port to us at any time. That wasn’t a conversation for right now with how freaked out Ali already was.

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And that’s about when I realized my mate was no longer standing next to me. Actually, all three of us noticed it then and saw he was slowly backing away from us to the door. Granted it was the door to the garage, but I understood the point was to get away from us, or just me. “Ali, do you want me to take you home? Has this gotten to be more than you can handle just yet?” I asked softly as I approached him slowly with my hands held out in surrender. I was treating him like a spooked animal, hoping he wouldn’t claw or bite me. “Mates,” he said, shaking his head. Yeah, he didn’t know what to do with that one. “Like how animals mate for life in the wild? Like soul mates?” “Yes,” I sighed in defeat. His gazed snapped to me then, and he frowned. “Do you not want me for a mate? Is that why you didn’t tell me and look so sad?” “No!” I gasped and closed the last few feet between us. “I want you, Ali. I was going to tell you but later since you seemed on information overload. I’m sad because you’re upset, and I didn’t want that. This wasn’t how I planned on you finding out something so important.” He eyed me over and said nothing, but he was projecting his thoughts so loudly because he was upset. “Okay, that was a good answer. I can see his point on that. I am acting like a scared kid facing the monster in his closet. It’s just hard to believe he wants me. No one ever wants me. Well, Marcus does but—” “I am nothing like Marcus,” I growled and leaped into his arms. He caught me with a grunt, and I wrapped myself around him like a monkey, clinging to him as though he’d disappear if I so much as loosened my hold on him. “I know this is confusing and new and scary, but I am nothing like that bastard. I don’t want to hurt you. I want to love you, take care of you, and be everything you need and

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ever wanted. I want us to experience life together and show you passion you never imagined. He just wants to own you.” “You’re right,” he whispered and leaned his forehead against mine. “You’re nothing like him. I would never have asked you out if I thought you were. You’re sweet and kind and funny and interesting and set my blood on fire every time I look at you. Even though I’m a little freaked out about all of this, I’m hard as fucking nails.” “Oh gods, I want you,” I moaned into his mouth as I plundered it, delving inside to get a taste of the sweet depths within. He turned and braced me against the wall, one hand holding me up by the ass, and the other pressed flat against the wall beside my head. Our tongues twisted and twined, sliding together and dueling. Ali moaned and growled into my mouth, thrusting his hips against mine as we kissed with a passion I didn’t know existed. It was as if the rest of the world slipped away— “You have to share, Bren! He didn’t bring it just for you!” Why shouted as a scuffle broke out behind us. “Get your own food,” Bren snarled. —and it was just us. Almost. I was going to kick all their asses. “I’m trying to a have a moment with my mate here,” I growled as Ali chuckled. “Well, hurry up, we want to offer ourselves as slaves for your mate if he’ll cook for us!” Horse grunted and then a chair crashed over. With an annoyed sigh I got down off my mate and turned to my family. “Oh my gods! You’re all savages!” I hollered and they froze. Horse and Flower were wrestling over an open container, both with their faces shoved in it. Bren had another one while he was trying to use one of the kitchen chairs to keep Daran and Otis back like a lion tamer. “I take it they like the food.” Ali laughed so hard he held his side. “Don’t you people ever get fed around here?”

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“Not like this,” Bren moaned. “Baby, ask the nice man to come work for you and bribe him to feed your mate.” “Even if you don’t want Champ, please want us,” Horse whined and then snarled when Flower grabbed the container. He then lost it to Why, who jumped on the counter and scarfed it down. “We’ll pay you whatever you want and give you lots of time off. We don’t need every meal, but we’re so tired of takeout. Just feed us with your yummy goodness!” “That’s it!” I gasped and turned back to Ali. “Work for us a few mornings or whenever you’re free and pre-make us some meals. That’s how you get the money to pay off Marcus!” “No! I want him full-time,” Why bitched and stomped his foot. “He’s your mate and should want to be here anyways. Why go work at a restaurant where he has to work with waitstaff and other cooks and bitchy customers? We have an army to feed here. We can give him the best equipment, pay him more than they ever could, and we’ll throw in Champ, who will dote on you in the deal. He’s supposedly fabulous in bed.” “Thanks, guys,” I groaned. Wow. This like took the cake in most embarrassing family introductions ever. “He is fabulous in bed.” Ali chuckled and then turned bright red. “I’m under contract at the restaurant I work at.” There was a chorus of groans and cussing. “But Champ is right that I would like to pay someone for his father putting me through cooking school. Maybe he’ll leave me alone then.” “Or we could just feed him to the wolves if that would make you happy and want to feed us,” Flower offered with a bright smile. This time it was one of the mates cuffing an elf upside the head. “Ouch! What did you do that for?” “He is new to your world, my love,” Otis explained and shook his head. “Your little comment has him paling and looking ready to faint.”

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I glanced at Ali and sure enough he was really pale. “He wasn’t really serious, Ali. Though after Marcus hit you, I can’t say I don’t think it’s a good idea.” “Someone hit your mate and he’s still alive?” Why asked, his eyes going wide. “Guys, back off,” I snarled. “Ali knows I’m an elf and that’s about it and he found out about half an hour ago. Next person to freak him out will never eat his cooking again.” “Sorry,” all six said at once, looking properly chastised. “I need to think,” Ali muttered and pulled away from me. He walked over to the fridge as we all watched and opened the door. He gasped and then opened the freezer part. We had an industrial-size fridge and freezer in our kitchen. And yet, none of us cooked. As if that didn’t scream a house full of bachelors. Well, before we started finding mates. Now I guess it just said lots of people. “There’s no food in this house,” he accused, looking between each of us. “We have takeout.” Flower shrugged and glanced at us. “How am I supposed to think if I can’t cook? You wanted me to cook, but I can’t, and I can’t think if I’m not cooking!” Okay, my mate seemed to reach the breaking point and was moving into hysterical. Horse whipped out his phone and sent off a text message. I wondered what that was about. “I don’t want to freak you out anymore, honey, but we can make anything appear that you want with our magic. Just tell us what you need.” I wasn’t even going to try and approach him this time. “Everything I used to make that Clams Casino but more of it to feed your army.” He placed his hands on his hips, and I could hear the underlying duh in his tone. Before I could answer, every elf in the house was racing into the kitchen.

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“This man is going to cook for us. Oh, and he’s Champ’s freakedout mate,” Horse said firmly. Glad that got mentioned after the food. “And obviously we have nothing in the house he can use. So, Shadow, Flower, and I will make pots, pans, knives, any tools he needs since we’re the oldest. Next three take the seafood and dairy. The three after that take fruits and vegetables. The last three take anything else he needs.” “Got it,” we all immediately replied. Horse turned to my freaked-out mate with a sympathetic smile. “You’ve already had enough shock today. Just close your eyes and don’t watch this. Think in your mind or say aloud everything you need as specifically as possible and we’ll fix this. You need to cook to think and we’ll help you do that. Right now we don’t care whether you’re an awesome Chef or if you suck. You’re our bother’s mate, and we’re here for whatever you need.” “Okay then,” Ali replied with a nod and closed his eyes. He started listing things quickly. I don’t know about the other groups, but I was pretty sure mine made a few duplicates. It took twenty minutes and a lot of concentration, but I think we did a pretty good job in the end. When he was done, Ali opened his eyes and gasped. “Don’t think about it just now,” Horse said gently. “Just pretend we pulled it all out of the fridge and you just missed it there.” “Right, okay, I can do that,” my mate mumbled and got to work. I was kind of at a loss at what to do so I sat down at the table and realized everyone else was following suit. I didn’t realize we were all staring at him until he said so. “Guys, you might as well be hovering over my shoulder. I’m not used to being watched by so many people while I do this.” “Oh, sorry,” Shadow said quickly and snapped back to reality. “Making things appear like that is really kinda draining. So I think we were all just zoning out until the spoils of our labor were ready.”

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“What do you mean, draining?” Ali asked curiously as he went to chopping. “Anytime you do magic it’s draining, or just pulling things out of thin air?” “Technically anytime it drains us to some extent,” Horse explained while Cave and Maze started getting drinks for everyone. Flower and Button started gathering plates and utensils. Ali put the clams in the now-preheated oven and leaned against the counter on his forearms. “Explain it to me like I’m five or have no idea about any of this because I don’t.” Ali went to the fridge and pulled out a beer. We didn’t tend to have food that could be made into anything and didn’t come in take-out containers…but we always had booze and pop! “Teleporting takes almost no energy, and we rarely feel the effects of doing it after we’re adults. Lifting things with magic isn’t bad either. It’s when we make something from the particles in the air, like food or whatnot, that’s draining. Organic items are easier than say the knives and pans we made.” Horse scrunched his brows together. Yeah, it wasn’t an easy thing to put into words, but he was doing better than I could. “That’s why some of us can make fireballs bigger than others of us. Our power grows with our age so then things aren’t as taxing then. The older we are, the more we basically turn into our own little nuclear reactors,” Button said, taking over the conversation. “Energy and magic churn in us, growing and building. So we use it here and there and more is made. We use a lot of it, and it’s like our batteries need time to recharge. “Food helps with that along with sleep. Shockingly enough, sex helps if it’s with our mates. Since they are the other half of our souls or soul mates, depending on which ideology you follow, the closeness and bond formed helps kick-start our magical recharge.” Ali looked a little perturbed on that one. Yeah, I wasn’t even sure I followed Button’s explanation and I was an elf.

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“So following that logic, it would be safe to assume that your power grows when you mate?” Ali asked, glancing around at everyone…everyone but me. That was vaguely insulting. Then again, I wasn’t mated, so I couldn’t really answer the question. “Actually yes, and even we didn’t know that would happen,” Horse answered with a surprised reaction. “So Santa’s real, you guys were all born in the North Pole. How come you left? Do elves make the toys there?” He wasn’t scared anymore. In fact he sounded excited, like this whole other world was opening up to him, and I guess it was in a way. But there was still one problem. He was asking everyone but me. Shouldn’t I be the one my mate wanted to know more about elves from? It hurt. Well, maybe not hurt, but I was definitely pouting. I scooted out my chair and left the kitchen, heading to the media room. It wasn’t like I was needed or anyone noticed I’d left. My friends were all excited about us getting a mate in the house that could actually cook and was fucking amazing at it. And Ali was now excited to learn about elves. I wasn’t really needed. I plopped down in my chair and turned on my Xbox. I wanted to shoot something. I loaded the last Halo to come out and started playing. It didn’t really work at making me feel better, but I didn’t get any more upset, if that makes sense. Why would Ali ask everyone but me? Did he not want to be with an elf but was still curious about them? Maybe the idea of having been intimate with one repulsed him but he was afraid to piss us off. I played for an hour before I felt someone approaching from the doorway. “Why are you in here?” Ali asked hesitantly, not seeming sure he should approach me. “What do you care?” I grumbled and didn’t take my eyes off the game. Sure, I could see him in my peripheral vision, but I didn’t

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acknowledge him full-on. “Took you long enough to notice I was gone.” “I saw you leave, but I didn’t know what to do,” he admitted quietly as he moved next to me and knelt by my chair. “Why did you leave? I thought you’d be happy I wanted to know more about elves?” “Yeah, maybe if you didn’t ask everyone but me. What was I supposed to think then? How did you think that made me feel? My mate wanted to know but not from me.” I paused before pushing on and admitting my worst fear. “Are you upset you were intimate with someone not human?” “No!” Ali gasped and scrambled up onto the chair with me. I grunted under his weight and almost laughed. He had a foot on me, yet he was sitting in my lap. “I didn’t realize I was asking everyone else until you left. I’m not sure why I was even doing it. At first I just was kinda throwing questions out there and you weren’t answering. But then it was like it wasn’t as scary if I was asking general questions instead of specific ones about you.” “That makes sense, I guess,” I conceded and hugged him to me. “So we’re good? You’re not going to run screaming from the house and have men in white jackets take you to a padded room?” “Well, that last part is always a possibility.” He chuckled. “But no. Of all the possible mythological creatures you could be, elf is the least scary. I’m good with it. Just give me time to get used to this whole mates thing. I can’t promise to just jump right into that.” Yeah, he only thinks we’re not scary because he’s not seen us in action, I thought to myself before replying. “I understand that. I wasn’t even going to throw us being mates at you yet. We have all the time in the world. I just need you to know that I didn’t realize you were my mate when I threatened Marcus. I didn’t have an ulterior motive, I swear.” “Horse said that you guys don’t always know your mates until you have sex with them or smell their blood. I believe you, and even if

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you did know, I wouldn’t be upset you tried to protect me. Either way, I think it’s sweet and I’m grateful.” “Cool,” I sighed and leaned against him. “Did you feed the troops?” “Dear god, they’re like rabid animals when it comes to food.” He chuckled, shaking his head. “Does no one fill their food bowls ever?” “I told you we eat takeout all the time. Guess you believe me now, huh?” I couldn’t help the wide grin that spread on my face. I knew he was teasing but really liked my family. That meant a lot to me. “Yeah, and then some. As long as none of them are allergic to clams, there should be no problems, and they shouldn’t be hungry for a few hours at least.” He paused and gave me an impish smile. “I thought you were the one who ate a lot in the family? If you eat more than them, I’m going to have to make extra meals for you guys.” “So you’re taking us up on my idea?” I was thrilled he trusted me enough to listen to me. “Yeah, Horse already cut me a check. He prepaid and is paying me an outlandish amount. A thousand dollars a meal and he bought fifty. I told him I’d cook for free when I was here as your mate, but there is just no arguing with that man.” “He’s kinda the boss around here,” I agreed with a nod. “Yeah, he said that, too.” Ali sniggered. “He explained about him being the oldest and whatnot. When he told me how old, I decided I shouldn’t argue with him either. He’s got years and experience on his side. But the check is for more than my cooking school even was. I’m going to pay Marcus tomorrow after putting it in the bank. If he doesn’t back off me and just let me work, I’m breaking my contract.” I thought about that and didn’t know how to ask what I wanted to, so again, I went with Ali saying my lack of filter was refreshing and simply spit it out. “Do you want backup? Is there a chance he’ll get violent at the restaurant with witnesses?”

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“No, he’s stupid and a bully, but he’s not that stupid. Witnesses are always bad for a beating, and he needs me. He knows that. He just needs to understand he can’t have me in his bed.” “No, because you’ll be in mine,” I growled and stood with him in my arms. He gasped and held on to me as if expecting I’d drop him. Silly mate. He’d learn how strong we were. “Or in my play room, like right now.” “Okay,” he whimpered with lust. “I did make a cake that’s in the oven.” “They can pull out their own damn cake,” I grumbled as I carried my mate to the play room. “They’ll all stand and watch it in fascination anyways. There’s never been a cake cooking in our oven.” I thought back to when Why’s mom was here. “Pies, but no cakes.” “Good deal. I’m tired of working anyways.” He chuckled. His laughter turned into a gasp as we walked into the play room. “You weren’t kidding about this place.” “Nope, and I know what my poor overworked mate needs,” I purred and walked over to Flower’s saddle contraption. It was a favorite of the mates since it was all about sitting back and enjoying the ride. Literally. “I don’t know if that thing scares me or makes me want to beg,” Ali whispered as I set him on his feet. I laughed, because that was the same reaction Horse told me his mate had had when he saw it. “There are perks with being mated to an elf, you know,” I purred in his ear. “Like what?” He gave me an adorable smirk and raised a brow. I used my magic to remove our clothes, stretch and lube his hole. “Holy fuck!” “This way you’re stretched perfectly and there won’t be any pain, only pleasure.” I gave his ass a firm smack. “Climb up and let me take care of everything.” He bit his lower lip and glanced from the saddle to me.

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“What’s wrong, honey?” I asked gently, rubbing my hand over his lower back. “You can tell me if you don’t want to ride it.” “I do,” he whispered and glanced at the floor. “I just want to feel you inside of me again more.” “We’re going to do both tonight,” I growled seductively, reaching around his front and fondling his cock. “I want to watch you get off first before I pound into your sweet ass.” He swallowed loudly before leaning against me and moaning. “Sounds like a plan.” “Good, mate,” I cooed. Ali smiled and put his foot on the stirrup, pulling himself up onto the saddle. “Lean forward. I’ll start you off slow.” “Okay,” he panted, nodding his head furiously. I put one of the smaller dildos onto the saddle and guided him to sit back onto it. “Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck. I’m gonna come.” “Not yet,” I ordered as I pointed to the ceiling. “Raise your hands.” He did and I magically locked his wrists in the cuffs. “Hold on to them. I don’t want you to pull on the cuffs and hurt yourself.” Ali looked amazing. All firm muscles, gloriously naked, and completely helpless to stop whatever I wanted. I turned on the machine so the saddle gently rocked. He gasped as his wide eyes met mine. He cried out when I turned on the vibrations, and he thrust his hips in time with the moving toy. Oh yeah, my mate was going to love every minute of what I had planned for him.

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Chapter 5 “You like this, baby?” I asked, my voice going husky with the intense lust I was feeling. “Yes,” he gasped as I turned the rocking up higher. Ali started rambling nonsensical words quietly in between his screams of pleasure. Damn, the man was a sight to behold! Maybe if I constantly pleased him like this, he wouldn’t ever want to leave and would let me claim him? It was just a thought. Sex him up into compliance. I could do that. “You look so fucking hot, Ali,” I growled as I started stroking my leaking dick. “Does that feel better than me in your ass?” “No, different. Weird but good in a way I can’t describe.” His head fell back on his shoulders, framed by his arms stretched over his head. A light sheen of sweat glistened over his creamy skin, and his hard cock jerked, weeping clear drops from the slit as he rocked and moaned. “Right answer.” I turned up the vibrations to midlevel to reward him for being such a good mate. “Come for me.” Ali threw back his head farther and screamed, the tendons in his neck standing out and his abs flexing. His dick exploded, shooting strings of cum all over his stomach, chest, the saddle, and some flying all around since he was moving pretty fast now. I watched in awe. His mouth hanging open as his body shivered from the intensity of his orgasm had my cock leaking copious amounts pre-cum. When he was spent, I quickly turned the machine off and released his wrists. I caught my mate as he slid off, groaning when the dildo

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popped free of his ass. I carried him over to one of the swings hanging from the ceiling as he still rambled. “Loved that. Want to do it again,” he mumbled and licked my neck as he held on to me, his slippery tongue traveling up the column of my throat and ending just below my ear. “Want you. You’re so good to me. Already, I can tell how much you care for me. No one’s ever spoiled me or cared about me coming. I want to be your sex slave forever, and I’ll even cook for the whole house. Just please don’t ever get rid of me. You’ve given me a taste of desire and sex like I never thought was possible. I don’t want it to stop.” “I’m not going anywhere, honey,” I said gently. “Promise me.” I barely made out the words since he was mumbling them against my skin. “I promise, Ali.” He was shaking again, and I didn’t think it was aftershocks of his orgasm. “Talk to me, baby. What’s going on in that pretty head of yours?” “You have no idea how long it’s been since anyone’s been this nice to me or put me first. I’ve had two sexual encounters, and they practically laughed at me afterwards for wanting more than a quick fuck, like I wasn’t worth more than that. I lost my parents then the man who took me under his wing at the diner. Marcus’s dad was cool, but he just saw me as a charity case or an investment for his restaurant. He didn’t really care about me.” “I care about you, Ali. And I know you’re worth so much more than just a quick fuck. I want you for the rest of eternity, my mate.” “I know about the immortality thing, Champ. Your family explained it to me. I’m not scared of that. I’m scared you’ll change your mind about me and walk away.” “Not going to happen.” I chuckled, kissing the tip of his nose as I laid him down on the leather of the swing. “I’m addicted to all things Ali. And I’m not even talking about your cooking. I want to wake up with you in my arms every morning. Go shopping and hold hands at the mall like teenagers having their first crush. I want to end my days

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having randy sex with you. I want to show you my favorite cars and the engines I’ve rebuilt.” “I want that, too,” Ali whispered with a bright smile. I could see his fears starting to melt away. They didn’t fully leave, granted, because we were so new. But I could deal with a little scared instead of a whole lot of it. I winked at him as I raised one leg up and restrained it against the chains of the swing. Which was basically four chains holding up soft leather that had room for the head and ass cut out. It made having sex at certain angles possible that a bed couldn’t provide. Then I did the same to his other leg and arms. “Wow, I’m at your complete surrender,” Ali panted as he stared up at me. “What will you do with me?” “Everything,” I purred as I moved back in between his legs. I fingered his hole to make sure he was still slicked up enough for me. I would never risk hurting my mate. “Oh hell,” he moaned and started squirming. “Please fuck me, Champ. I want to feel you inside of me. Button said we don’t need condoms. I want to feel all of you. Fuck me hard so I can’t walk. Fuck me so fast I scream.” “I love it when you talk dirty,” I praised and slammed my cock deep inside of him. He cried out, arching his back as his flagging dick filled right back up. “Yes!” My mate screamed as I started a punishing pace. I grabbed his hips and took him with everything I had. After the show he’d given me on the saddle I was primed and knew I wouldn’t last long. “Harder, harder!” “Bossy bottom.” I snickered and gave him what he wanted. I couldn’t even speak I was fucking him with such ferocity. I slammed into him over and over again, watching where our bodies were connected. My dick looked good inside of him! He started rambling again, and I smiled at his adorable antics.

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“I need more,” I hissed as my fangs came out. Ali’s eyes went wide as he nodded before exposing his neck to me, dropping his head back and tilting it to the side submissively. It was such an amazing sight that I didn’t even think before I leaned over and struck fast. The moment his sweet, sweet blood coated my tongue, I grunted and came deep in his ass, filling his clutching channel with my scorching seed. Ali was moaning like a slut as he painted the space between us with his cum. The smell of it hit my nose, and I knew once wouldn’t be enough for me. I pumped the last of myself into him, waiting until the waves of his peak were over before pulling my fangs out of him and licking the bite closed. I was still inside of him when I released his limbs, his body twitching around mine. I pulled out and reached up to pinch his pink, pebbled nipples. Ali gasped and arched into my touch as his eyes flew open. “I like biting,” he said with a smirk. “Me, too,” I replied, licking my fangs. “Are you sore? Do you need to soak or something?” “Why? Do you want me again already?” he teased. My nostrils flared as my cock twitched against his body. I knew what I wanted, needed, but I’d never take it if it would hurt him. Ali seemed to realize I was serious and nodded. “Take what you need from me. My body is yours.” “Damn straight it is,” I snarled. I flipped him over onto his stomach in the swing with ease and jerked him toward me as I thrust right back into his willing hole. Ali cried out as I nailed his prostate in my penetration. “You will never be with another ever again, Ali.” “Mm-hm,” he mumbled as I slammed into him. “Say it!” I roared and tightened my hold on his hips until my knuckles turned white. “Say you belong to me!” “I’m yours, Champ. Yours always!” “No one else ever fucks this sweet ass,” I ordered, picking up the pace and driving into him with a savage intensity.

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“No, no one,” he gasped. “Only you. Only ever you have or will take me.” “And only I touch you,” I growled as I leaned over and scraped my fangs over his shoulder. “Only I can bring you the pleasure you want. Admit that.” “Yes, only you.” “You don’t love me yet but you will, and you will never leave me.” “No, Champ, I will always be with you.” “You’re mine,” I sobbed, my angry, violent, possessive fucking turning into desperate pleading. “I’ll do anything, Ali, but you have to let me have you, be with you.” “I am yours,” he whispered, realizing my mood change. “I was yours the moment we talked at the restaurant, and you were so sweet to me. I fell immediately for you.” “Thank the gods,” I cried. I kept thrusting my hips, making sure to hit his sweet spot every time. This wasn’t just about my needing to get off. Oh, no, this was about needing more with Ali. I needed more closeness that only sex could bring, more of his pleasure. “Do I really please you?” “How can you ask that?” Ali gasped and looked at me over his shoulder as I plowed into him. “I’ve come more tonight than I have in weeks of jacking off. And never like this. No one has ever set my body on fire as you do.” “Thank you.” I reached around him, pressing my palm flat to his chest and smoothing it downward over his flexing abs. Taking his dick in my hand, I stroked him from base to tip, running my thumb over the slit. “All I want is to make you happy and please you. I’ll do whatever you want always, Ali.” “Fuck me harder,” he begged. “I love feeling your big cock spear in and out of my ass.” I growled and took him harder as I stroked him faster, in time with my thrusts. It took only moments for me to feel the electricity race

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along my spine, the flames leap in my belly, and my balls draw tight to my body. Then we were climaxing together again, Ali’s ass convulsing around me as I went off like a bottle rocket, filling him with more of my seed until it leaked back out around my sated cock. When we were both spent, I lay over his sweat-slicked back gasping for air as I rolled my forehead against his shoulder. “Please love me one day,” I mumbled, not meaning to have said that aloud. “One day soon, Champ. I’m sure of it. I was half in love with you the moment you stood up to Marcus for me. And that was before I experienced hot and sweaty sex with you. Before you went all caveman on me.” “Sorry about that.” I blushed from my neck to the tips of my ears on that one. “I went a little overboard. I’m just so scared I won’t be enough for you.” “Are you kidding me?” Ali squirmed in the swing to roll over. I moved so he could, my spent dick sliding out of him. When he was lying on his back, he held his arms open to me. Instead of snuggling there, I teleported us up to my room. He gasped and shook his head when he saw the surroundings had changed. “Another thing to get used to.” “Sorry. I didn’t want you feeling uncomfortable on the swing.” I moved up onto him until I was straddling his lap. Ali pulled me down to him, hugging me tightly. “Of course you didn’t,” he whispered and kissed my shoulder. “Because you’re the sweetest man in the world, Champ. And for the record? I fucking loved you going all caveman on me. You can growl and order me around whenever you want to, honey. I’m learning I’m a talker during amazing sex. You might as well focus my ramblings and demand me to be yours.” “Okay then.” I couldn’t hold back the smile crossing my face if I wanted to. Ali was good with me being possessive and demanding.

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He was the perfect fucking mate for me, and I would do anything it took to keep him as mine. **** I woke the next morning alone, which I wasn’t a fan of now that I’d found my mate. Grumbling like a cranky man, I yanked on some pajama bottoms and went in search of my wayward man. We were going to have a long talk about sneaking out of our bed. One that involved spanking. I heard him talking to Bren, Justice, and Daran when I got to the kitchen. “So you actually have to drink their blood to be claimed?” I froze. Yes, it was rude to eavesdrop, but I really was frozen scared at the conversation topic. Would drinking my blood be too much for my mate? “Yeah, but it doesn’t taste like blood,” Justice countered gently. “Cave tasted like a thick wine or syrup, sweet really. It’s no big deal.” “And it’s just the one time?” “Yup.” Bren chuckled. “But you have to have witnesses to it, and this house is full of pervs who like to watch. Plus, I guess the bonding process makes some big magical release that energizes all of them. Hell, Horse creams in his pants and is even hornier for the next day or so. I could barely walk the next morning from all the sex we’d had the day before.” “But that’s fun, too,” Justice said and clapped his hands together. “They can heal you of small wounds, but Horse taught them all how to heal while licking you. If they ever go too wild and you’re sore, the reward is awesome. Cave spends like a half an hour eating out my ass and making me come. I try and egg him into being rough because I like it for one, and I like the outcome just as much.” “Yeah, Champ did that to me, and I’d never done that before,” Ali admitted, clearing his throat. “I could actually use some of that today. I’m sitting kinda funny.”

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And he would be getting some. “But he wasn’t mean rough, right? I mean Champ has been treating you like a prince?” Daran sounded nervous asking, but I had to give my brother-in-law props for making sure. “Well, yeah, he does now, but that has to wear off after the relationship isn’t so new, right?” There was a pause and the other three burst out laughing. It was Justice who calmed down first. “Hell no! Cave always puts me first, even when I try to do what I know he wants. After we built the kitchen table, I was exhausted, but I’d been putting in a lot of hours that week. I tried to lure him into bed for some sweaty sex since I knew I’d been neglecting him. He wouldn’t hear of it. Instead he ran me a hot bath and gave me two blow jobs because I needed some TLC according to him.” “Their culture is different than ours,” Bren explained. “They see mates as a gift from the gods, and I’m not sure I believe that, yet, but they do. So that’s how they treat mates, like a present. Whether they are your mate or not, mates always come first. Horse will even put your needs first unless they conflict with mine, or I need him. Like last night is a perfect example. You were wigging and needed the distraction of cooking. “They all dropped everything to come help you. They never whined about being busy or that using their magic was draining. Stuff like that will never cross their minds. There was a mate in the house that needed something, and they want to give it. Not that they’ll ever give you anything sexual, no matter if you’re climbing up the walls kinda horny. They take their honor seriously, too.” “That’s good,” Ali agreed. “That way there’s no brothers trying to steal someone’s partner kind of crap. I have to admit that while some of them were pleading for me to be theirs, I started to worry they didn’t mean as a Chef. I’d never hurt Champ like that.” “And you’re not attracted to any of the other elves,” Daran said with a chuckle. “Sure, they’re good-looking, but it’s like your elf is

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the best-looking one, perfect in your eyes. Why was like my walking fantasy from the moment I laid eyes on him.” “Exactly like that!” my mate exclaimed. “But the attraction is real, right?” “Oh, totally,” Justice answered immediately. “I bet you’ve always had a thing for twinks with dark hair and light green eyes, right?” “Actually, I do.” Ali chuckled. “I get it. Fate paired us up with our perfect fit. While I’m thrilled about that, I kinda feel bad for the rest of humans who don’t have that.” “I know, right?” Daran sighed. “But then again, wolves have mates and maybe other supernaturals do, too. So for all we know they just haven’t found their mates yet, or maybe couldn’t deal with their world.” “That’s just stupid to me,” Ali scoffed and set down something on the stove hard. “Who cares that they’re different? It’s not like a tiger started talking to me and said he was my mate and going to fuck me. They’re just like us but have cute ears and magic. I can’t understand why someone would be so scared of the unknown to throw away something so wonderful. I’m already half in love with Champ. Do you know how rare that is? Your perfect fit?” I couldn’t stand there anymore. I needed my mate. I entered the kitchen and pinned his hips to the counter from behind as I rubbed my groin on his firm ass. “What? Um, good morning?” Ali exclaimed when he glanced down over his shoulder and realized it was me. “I woke up alone and happened to overhear that you’re sore,” I answered with a snarl. I yanked down his pajama bottoms he’d borrowed from one of the guys and spread his cheeks apart as I knelt behind him. Sure enough, his puckered hole was swollen and tender looking. Fuck! I flattened my tongue and licked a long path up his crease, paying special attention to his clenching hole, using my magic the way Horse had taught us to heal it.

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“Sweet mother of Macy’s department store,” Ali moaned and braced his hands on the counter, spreading his legs wider and arching his hips to push back into my mouth. My man seemed to like that a lot, and I enjoyed making him happy. “Thank gods the counter is blocking the show you’re giving them.” “I don’t care if they see. You’re hurt and that’s all that matters.” I rubbed his ass, kneading the muscled globes and hoping to take the sting out of my words before spearing my tongue inside of him. I flickered it a bit, bobbing my head and tongue-fucking his ass as I reached between his legs and massaged his balls. Then I moved up farther to wrap my fingers around his pulsing cock. I squeezed it rhythmically as I started jacking him fast, continuing to eat at his ass as he moaned above me. He was already shivering and leaking so much from his slit that it coated his crown and allowed for a smooth slide of my hand, so I knew it wouldn’t take much. His hot length pulsed inside my grip, and he rocked his hips, pumping into my fist and pushing back on my tongue as needy moans and whimpers escaped his panting mouth. Sure enough, by the tenth stroke, Ali moaned, thrust into my hand, and stilled except for the trembling of his muscles. He shot his load all over the stove as his hole clamped down on my tongue. “Yeah, I see what you mean now, Justice,” Ali panted as he slumped over the counter. “Hot sex and eaten out later. I’m not really seeing a downside to having a sore ass if I get fucked too often.” “That’s the point, my mate.” I chuckled and cleaned up his mess magically. I stood up behind him and gave both cheeks a loud smack. “What was that for?” Ali squeaked and glanced at me over his shoulder. “I wasn’t sore when we went to bed. I was going to tell you when you got up this morning!” “Yes, but I woke up alone.” I crossed my arms over my chest and gave him my best evil eye. “I finally found my mate, and he sneaks out of bed? That doesn’t make me a happy elf.”

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“It wasn’t like that,” Ali said gently, realizing he’d hurt my feelings. “Well, it was but not how you think.” He gave me a wink and went over to the double bakers’ ovens we had, professional grade. Why did we have them when we didn’t cook? Because they were pretty and we liked cool toys. Part of me wondered if someone knew one of our mates would use them one day. “I wanted to surprise you and thank you for last night.” “He said flowers were so overrated and food would make you smile more,” Bren said with a chuckle. “Blueberry scones!” I yelled when Ali took two huge trays of them out. I did a little happy dance because they were like my favorite breakfast. “Okay, you’re forgiven. How did you know?” The three other mates raised their hands. Figures. “Snitches.” I chuckled and hugged my mate after he set down the mass quantities of yumminess. I glanced over at Bren. “You didn’t let him pay for any of this, right?” “Please, Horse would have my nuts if I didn’t use the debit card he got me to your account. I didn’t even know banks let you have eighty debit cards to one account.” “Baby, I already own your nuts.” Horse chuckled as he strolled into the kitchen. “And it’s an estate account so those are different. Any of us can use it as long as we are on the estate, like a business account.” “Whatever.” Bren shrugged and turned so his mate couldn’t plop down on his lap. “And my nuts are firmly attached to my body, thank you very much.” “Yes, but who do they belong to?” Horse raised an eyebrow. “Give the right answer and I’ll do that trick you like while you’re riding the saddle after your shift.” Bren bit his bottom lip and thought about it for a whole ten seconds before blurting out, “They belong to you.” “Such a good mate,” Horse cooed. He straddled Bren’s lap and threw his arms around his mate’s neck. “I see lots of rewards in your

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future. You know I love you being the cowboy in the saddle for my pleasure.” “Now I’m going to be walking around with a hard-on all day,” Bren grumbled. Horse glanced over at the clock. “We can’t have that, now can we?” He shimmied down under the table, and we heard a zipper being undone before Bren moaned. “Someone watch out for the twins,” Bren ordered and then went back to enjoying his blow job. “Jesus, you guys are very sexual.” Ali chuckled and looked away. “You have no idea.” I agreed. He’d find out though if he stuck around, and since he was asking about the claiming ritual, I had a good feeling he would be.

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Chapter 6 Later that night I was pacing around the kitchen in a full-blown tizzy. This was the night I had made reservations for us to eat at Ali’s restaurant, but since he was already cooking for us and I wanted him at home as much as possible, we decided to grub off his cooking another time. Ali had agreed to call me when he was done with work, and I’d come get him and ’port us both back here. He had admitted he really liked waking in my bed, and he’d never gotten a better night’s sleep. He should have been done around ten, ten thirty at the latest. So, now that it was after midnight and I’d not heard from him, I was panicking. “Maybe they just had a busy night,” Justice said gently, obviously trying to reassure me. Everyone, minus the twins, who were sleeping of course, was now gathered in the kitchen with me. That also didn’t help my anxiety level. It was as if they felt something was wrong, too. “No, he still would have called. Ali is a considerate person,” I replied firmly. “He was going to pay off that Marcus asshole. I knew I shouldn’t have left him alone. He was so sure Marcus wouldn’t be stupid enough to hurt him because there would be witnesses. I knew better. Crazy is as crazy does, and Marcus is all kinds of crazy.” “Where does he live? I’ll go with you, and we’ll make sure everything’s okay.” Bren had on his cop face now, ready to right all the wrongs in the world. He was Horse’s mate but everyone in this house loved him, too, for the big heart he had. “I don’t know,” I whimpered and plopped down onto the floor. “I don’t even have his number. I gave him mine when he was leaving for

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work. Things have been going so well that it never crossed my mind that he wouldn’t call.” “Then teleport over there,” Button said and rolled his eyes. “But what if there’s not a problem and he just needs time and space to think things through?” This was the argument I’d been going over in my mind for the past two hours. “Do you want to take that chance with your mate?” Why asked gently. Yep, that about summed it all up. “Okay, I’ll teleport to him and then come back for Bren,” I said and ’ported out of there. I landed in my mate’s bedroom, and he was there, tied down…and not by me. I almost went right back home, my heart breaking until I realized he was gagged and there was blood on his face. Oh, not that type of being tied down. I put my finger to my lips, and he nodded he understood, though his eyes were wide and terrified, begging me not to leave him. I really hated that I had to do it, but it was the only way to get him out of there. I ran to the window and ’ported down to the street. I had to find an exact location and address otherwise I would just go right back to Ali’s bedroom and that would be a bitch to explain how I got there. As much as I wanted to just grab my mate and take him with me, I couldn’t risk exposing me and my brothers if the bad guys were still in the house. Once I knew where I was and what apartment was Ali’s from his name on the buzzer, I popped back home. “He’s tied down, gagged, and he’s been bleeding. I got an address,” I rattled off as I grabbed Bren’s hand. “Wait, you might need more backup,” Horse said quickly and grabbed my other hand. Shadow and Maze did as well without even being asked. They were the best fighters in the family and if it came to that, I’d be relieved to have them there. “Apartment 4C,” I whispered after we arrived outside the building. I pointed up to the window I had been looking down from. “That’s his bedroom window.”

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“We’re on it,” Shadow and Maze said and raced over there. I wasn’t sure what they were going to do until they started climbing up the side of the building. Holy fuck. I didn’t know they could do that! Bren was busy at the front entrance, growling when he saw the security door was busted. Yeah, not the best deterrent. My mate was not coming back to this shithole. We raced up the stairs and he banged on the right door shouting, “Police, open up!” There was a bunch of scurrying on the other side of the door and I heard someone cock a gun. This wasn’t good. Horse and I dove to knock Bren to the ground before a barrage of bullets shot out at us. We covered him until it was over. I stood, pissed on a whole new level I’d never known existed. As they went to reload, Shadow and Maze came out from the bedroom. They relieved the three idiots of their guns in seconds. “You are stupid with a capital fucking S, Marcus,” I snarled, advancing on the man. “You just shot at a cop!” “Anyone could shout police. It doesn’t make them actually cops,” he replied with a smirk. Wow, he was dumb. He was obviously losing here since we had all the guns and Shadow had a blade to his throat. And he was still cracking jokes as if this was a speeding ticket. M-OR-O-N. “That defense actually ever work for you?” I asked, shaking my head. “We’re about to find out.” Marcus chuckled. “And these other two guys aren’t cops and neither are you. So point proven.” “No, that defense doesn’t work,” Bren snarled as he walked through the door. I checked him over quickly and sighed in relief when I realized there wasn’t a scratch on him. “Even though I’m the only cop here, I still am a cop and I identified myself. They’re in a whole world of trouble.” Always good to know. “Where’s my partner?” I asked, playing it off as I didn’t know he was tied down in the bedroom.

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“He’s not here,” Marcus answered as there was a commotion from the bedroom. “Really? You didn’t think we’d search?” I stormed past them to get my mate, mumbling fucktard as I went. The moment I saw my mate on the bed, I called out to the rest that I had him. I quickly undid his hands and took the gag out of his mouth before unbinding his feet. “You were right,” he whispered as his eyes filled with tears. “No one did anything. They were all witnesses to Marcus tearing up the check and then beating me before dragging me out of there in the middle of my shift. None of them did a damn thing out of fear.” “That’s not an excuse, Ali,” I said gently I as ran my fingers through his hair. “They could have called the cops after he took you and reported the whole thing.” I took a deep breath to calm down. “It doesn’t matter. You’re safe and never going back there again.” “Okay,” he whimpered as I helped him stand. Yeah, he was a mess, and I blamed myself. His lip was split, and his right eye was swollen shut with a cut over his brow. He was holding his ribs, which I could only imagine how bad they were. “I don’t want to stay here either anymore. I hate this apartment, and now I’ll never be able to look at it and not freak out.” He glanced at me with a pleading look. “Take me home?” My heart soared at the idea he thought of my house as home. But before I could say anything, Bren interrupted. “After the police take your statement,” he said gently, giving us a sympathetic look. “The neighbors heard the shots fired and came to make sure everything was okay when they stopped. I had to call it in.” Which meant that we couldn’t kill Marcus either. Fuck! “Then we need to get Ali medical attention, too,” I replied with a sigh. All I wanted was to take my mate home, have Horse or one of my older brothers who were learning how to use their magic to heal, take care of my mate. Now there were police coming, well, besides Bren, we couldn’t permanently take the threat of Marcus out, and now we had to go through the motions of getting Ali checked out.

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“I told dispatch that when I called this in.” He gave me a shake of his head and a shrug, reiterating that he had no choice. I didn’t blame him in the slightest. If he got caught not calling this in, he could lose his badge, and it was important to him. Plus, Marcus wasn’t a witch or something bad we’d dealt with in the past. It was hard to believe, but he was just human. An evil human, but it changed the rules for us a bit. I mean, technically we didn’t kill Kyle Murphy when he threatened Daran, but that man was killing people, too. So that in itself put him on a different playing…oh fuck it. It was all just really complicated. There was a threat to my mate, a seriously fucked-up, psycho one, and I wanted him dead. Could anyone really blame me? “Okay, just sit tight, baby,” I said gently as I helped him onto his piece-of-shit couch. Yeah, no mate of mine would be living like this for one more day. He was coming home with me to stay. Hell, I was nervous sitting on the sofa next to him, waiting for something to start crawling out of it. Gross. I ran to the kitchen after I got him settled for a clean towel and some ice for that eye. Marcus growled at me as I moved past him, and before I could do anything, Shadow punched him in the back of the skull. “Give me a reason to kill you. It would make my fucking day.” Mine, too, I wanted to say. I quickly got what I needed and went to tend to my mate. “You’re wasting your time.” Marcus laughed as he looked at Ali and licked his lips. “He wants it. He asked me to tie him down. He won’t tell the cops anything but that if he’s smart.” Ali started shaking and glanced from me to Bren. He barely started nodding when I knelt in front of it. “Don’t you dare listen to him,” I ordered, making sure there was no room in my tone for question. “He’s lying, and we know it. The cops will know it. No one ever asks to be beat like this. I can protect you. You know that, baby. Please trust me.”

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“You can’t protect shit.” Marcus snickered. “You let him try to pay me off and thought this wouldn’t be the result. If you really cared about him, you would never have let him out of your sight.” “Bullshit,” I snarled. “He knew you better than I did, and after explaining how your dad was an honorable man, we both hoped you weren’t this crazy. I love him enough to risk getting shot at to come make sure he was okay.” I glanced at Ali. “Besides, he won’t ever be leaving my sight again.” “How did you dodge all those bullets?” one of Marcus’s lackeys asked, speaking for the first time. “It was like magic.” “It wasn’t magic, you moron,” Maze answered and cuffed him upside the head. “You’re high and were louder than a herd of cattle. I heard you locking and loading outside the window from the fire escape.” Good to know he threw that tidbit in so we told the cops they went up the fire escape instead of explaining how they scaled the building. That would be an interesting conversation. “Yes, officer, my brother pulled a Spider-Man, but we’re really human, we swear.” Right. “He could hurt you,” Ali whispered so no one else could hear but me. Well, no other human. “Look into who you are. Your secret could come out.” I could have just told him what I wanted to say, but I thought pushing it into his mind would get my point across better. “No, baby. Our secret won’t be known no matter what this asshole tries to do. If it looks as if he figures something out, we can wipe his mind and everyone in this building. Don’t you dare go with his story to protect me. Trust in me on this, Ali. I’m begging you.” “I do trust you. We’ll do this your way,” he agreed. I gave him a quick kiss on his uninjured temple and sighed in relief. Thank the gods. I couldn’t lose him. It would be one thing if he wanted to go with Marcus, but I would give my immortal life to keep him safe. And I knew in my heart he wanted to be with me.

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“He’ll be a good bitch and listen to me,” Marcus quipped. “Fuck you,” Ali cried out and snuggled in my arms. “You beat me, kidnapped me, and were going to rape me, make me some fucking dog on a leash. I’m done with you. I respected your father, and he would be tossing in his grave if he knew what you really were or were trying to do to me. I made that contract with an honorable man. I tried to pay you the money from cooking school and then some, though I owed you nothing. “I wanted you to stop acting like you owned me. Stop smacking me around. Instead you tore up the check and took this to a whole other fucked-up level. You’re not my partner, and even if you were, I’m not the type to stay in an abusive relationship. So fuck you. I’m telling the police everything, and you can rot in hell.” “Amen and praise Sunday football,” Maze joked. It definitely lightened the mood and took the focus off my mate, which I was grateful for. I knew he needed to get that out, and I was proud of him for that, but that didn’t mean I wanted everyone just staring at him and picking apart what he’d said. Not that my family would, but what does someone say after that? Maze came up with an answer at least. “Police!” someone called out as they raced up the stairs. “We’re in here and the kidnappers have been subdued,” Bren said loudly. Shadow and Maze quickly hid away the blades they were holding on the three guys. Smart. Didn’t want to be confused as the bad guys when the cops showed up. “They’ve taken us hostage!” Marcus screamed. Maze bitch slapped him, and we all groaned. That asshole was trying to use any Hail Mary he could at this point. “I’m Detective Griaule with the Chicago Police Department,” Bren said firmly, showing the officers his badge as they came to the door. “The three kneeling on the floor are the perps no matter what that bigmouth says. They shot at us after I identified myself as a cop.”

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He pointed to the door practically hanging off the hinges and the destroyed doorway. “Alright,” the older officer replied after a few moments of surveying the place. “Let’s get everyone down to the station and whoever needed the ambulance medical attention because they’re downstairs.” “Yes, sir,” we all said immediately. I helped Ali to his feet and out the door. “You okay?” the other policeman asked with a wince as he eyed my mate over. “No,” Ali whispered and cleared his throat when he started to get choked up with emotion. “No, I’m not okay. But they saved me so that’s the thing to focus on.” “I just didn’t think you’d stand me up for our date,” I said, kissing his shoulder. “You’re not the type.” I helped Ali down the stairs while everyone else dragged down Marcus and his goons. The EMTs were waiting downstairs and came right over to Ali. I let them lead him away, growling inside that someone else was going to touch my mate and probably see him in some state of undress. But I swallowed it down since it was to help Ali. They helped him up inside the back since it was friggin cold out and he didn’t have a jacket on. The one ran a flashlight in front of his eyes to make sure he wasn’t suffering from a concussion and was all there after the beating he took. When his shirt came off, I hissed, trying hard to keep my fangs inside my gums at my rage. Ali looked as if he’d been used as a test dummy punching bag. He couldn’t even lift his arms when the guy tried to check him out. Huge bruises were already forming and he was hit with more than fists. There were cuts as well, so someone was playing with either a blade or brass knuckles. I’d never wanted to kill anyone in my life, but now I finally understood how people could turn homicidal and go postal. I wanted

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to string all three guys up by their toes and cut them from sac to throat. That way they’d feel pain and watch their entrails and guts slide out of their body. Gross? Sick and twisted? Fucked up in the head? Hell yes. But anyone who can’t understand wanting to cause vast amounts of pain to someone like that has never had someone they love hurt. Wait? Love? I glanced over at Ali, who was trying not to laugh as they touched his ticklish ribs and then wincing because it hurt, and realized it was true. I loved him. In a little over one day he’d wiggled into my heart and was never leaving. I couldn’t wait to tell him! “No!” I heard someone shout. I turned just in time to see Marcus raising a gun he must have gotten away from one of the cops. I didn’t even hesitate or worry about exposing us. I ’ported the ten feet to the ambulance and closed the back doors faster than human eyes could follow. And two things happened at once. Shadow did the same but to Marcus and the other cop pulled out his firearm. My brother grabbed the gun and snapped Marcus’s arm like a twig. The cop, not having registered what had happened, shot at Marcus since his partner was on the ground knocked out. “Fuck, that hurts,” Shadow groaned after the shot rang out. He head butted Marcus, knocking him out as well before sinking to his knees. Marcus crumbled to the ground, but I could give a shit about that asshole. I glanced up to see Horse and Maze had dove onto Bren to keep him safe. “John!” Horse roared and scurried over to our brother. I did the same, catching Shadow before he hit the ground. “Oh my god!” the cop screamed and pulled out his radio. “We have a man down—” “We have an ambulance here,” Bren snarled and got to his feet.

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“Right, okay,” the cop replied, taking a deep breath and looking to Bren with tears in his eyes. “He wasn’t there when I aimed. He moved so fast. I was just trying to stop the guy who took my partner’s gun.” “We know, and it’s okay,” Maze said gently and got the cop to chill out enough to lower his gun and put it away. “He jumped in your line of fire. It wasn’t your fault. He was just trying to help. We all saw that.” “I’ll be fine,” Shadow moaned and clutched his shoulder as blood seeped through his shirt and stained his fingers. He stared intently at Horse and I knew they were communicating mentally. I left them to figure things out as I made a good show that I was worried about my brother. We were immortal. Shadow wasn’t in any real danger. It would hurt like a bitch and make him the crabbiest bastard in Chicago, but no real threat to him. “Okay, guys, new patient,” I said as I opened the back of the ambulance. Bren and Maze were throwing the three bad guys in the back of the squad car when another pulled up. Oh, fuck, this was just going all to hell…well, worse than it was before. Not that I had even thought that possible. I helped Ali out of the back of the emergency vehicle as the EMTs went to help Shadow. “It’s fine,” he snarled. “It’s just a shoulder wound.” “Right, but since the other guy isn’t dead, I’m assuming the bullet is in your shoulder,” the EMT countered as they practically dragged Shadow to the ambulance. “I’m riding with him,” Horse announced and jumped up in the cab. I held my mate and watched the surreal movie being played out around us. It was almost too much for me to keep up with. Shadow’s ambulance pulled away as Bren talked to the new arriving officers. The other policeman who’d shot Shadow was trying to get his partner to come around. And then that’s when I realized we were kind of stranded. I pulled out my phone and called Cave.

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“We’re on our way to you with a few extra vehicles to make it look like you drove down there,” he said in way of a greeting. “Glad someone thought about that one.” I chuckled and kissed Ali’s temple. “Because I sure as fuck didn’t.” “So what’s going on? Ali okay?” My brother’s tone was so gentle, full of concern, and I couldn’t help but smile. They all really liked my mate and for more than just his cooking. “Battered up, maybe a few broken ribs, but we’ll get him checked out. I’ll fill you in when you get here.” “Will do.” Cave hung up, and I felt guilty for not telling him about Shadow. For one thing we didn’t need any of them teleporting over, especially from moving cars if they were riding along. That can be dangerous. And we had enough shit to deal with for one night.

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Chapter 7 We were all in the waiting room of the hospital waiting for news on Shadow and Ali. Well, those of us who hadn’t stayed home at least. I was ready to chew someone up and use their bones for toothpicks, I was so angry. I couldn’t even be with Ali since I wasn’t family. So what? Ali said he wanted me there, for gods’ sakes! “I don’t like this,” I hissed to Horse. “That doc looked really shifty. And I get they can’t tell me anything about his condition because we’re not married or family, but why couldn’t I be in there when Ali wanted me to?” “Wait a second,” Horse growled, gesturing Bren over. “I thought you were just giving them privacy so Ali could get examined.” “No!” I exclaimed and threw my hands in the air. “The doctor kicked me out after Ali asked me to say, insisted I stay.” “Something’s not right,” Bren said firmly and took off in the direction of bed twelve that Ali was being looked at in. “They never kick people out in the ER unless someone’s dying. There’s no reason you should have gotten the boot.” “Fucking shifty doctor,” I growled and pulled back the curtain. The cubicle was empty. “Where is Ali?” I screeched. I frantically glanced around as Bren went to the charge nurse’s desk and tried to get any information. I saw a doctor pushing a gurney with a sheet over a body turn a corner down the hall and went to dismiss it. Until I saw the guy’s eyes. Fuck! It was shifty eyes. “Bren!” I hollered and took off, not waiting for him or Horse. I rounded the corner and tackled the doctor. “Where’s Ali?”

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“Help! Security!” he screamed, playing up his role as a victim. “Bastard,” I grumbled and read his thoughts. I had limited time before security or the cops showed up. “I have to get Drake to Marcus’s men. He’s the only witness to what happened. Don’t think about what they’re going to do to the guy. It’s not your problem. Just keep Marcus happy so you don’t get cut off.” “Disgusting,” I sneered. “Conspiracy to murder so you can keep being a druggie doctor. Fucker.” “I don’t know what you’re talking about!” he exclaimed, his eyes wide. “What’s going on?” Bren asked as he grabbed the doc. Horse helped me to my feet, and instead of answering, I pulled back the sheet and gasped. “He was trying to take my partner out of here and deliver him to Marcus’s guys since he’s the only witness. Oh, and the doc has a drug problem.” I turned to said scumbag. “What have you done to him?” “Nothing,” the doc whimpered. “I just gave him a sedative so he wouldn’t make a fuss when I snuck him out.” “Nothing my ass,” I growled and went to take a threatening step towards him. Security showed up right then, and Horse stopped me from smacking the doc. “How long until the sedative wears off?” “A–A couple o–of hours,” he stuttered, looking really close to pissing himself. “Right, that’s all we need to know,” Bren said and showed the security guys his badge. “The doc was trying to get rid of a witness, a patient he was supposed to be treating. We caught him trying to escape with him.” He gestured over to the gurney. “Knocked the guy out and everything.” “How do you know the guy didn’t just pass out, and the doc was taking him to get tests run?” the security guard asked suspiciously. “I’ve known the doc for years. He’s never been anything but an upstanding guy.”

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“This upstanding guy ever show signs of being a drug addict? Ever had any drugs go missing when the good doctor was working?” “How did you know that?” the second security guy asked, his eyes wide. “A shipment of morphine went missing a few weeks ago.” “Check his blood,” I said, pointing to the doc. “He was mumbling about needing a fix from the drug dealer who’s been obsessed with my partner and kidnapped him tonight.” “Well, hello, must-see TV drama,” the first security guard grumbled. “I’ll call the cops and hand the doctor over to them.” He grabbed the man from Bren, shaking his head. “Trading your own fucking patient for drugs. Sick fuck.” A few nurses and a doctor raced over to us to check on Ali. One of them saying, “Please, sir, we need you to step back.” “Are you kidding me?” I snarled, standing at the foot of my mate’s gurney. “After one of your doctors drugged him and tried to hand him over to a murderer, he’s not leaving my sight!” “Okay, fair enough,” she conceded and checked my mate’s blood pressure. They wheeled him back into his partitioned area. I sat in one of the uncomfortable plastic chairs in the corner, staring down anyone who looked like they might object. This night was insane, and who would have thought Marcus could have reach in a hospital? Ali was not leaving my sight. I didn’t give a flying fart if the pope came to Chicago and ordered me to. I wasn’t going anywhere. “You are always getting into trouble, Griaule,” someone snarled from behind the curtain. I knew that voice. Captain Mahan. He pulled back the curtain and his gaze found me. “Is it going to be a weekly thing that I have to come help in a different district because you’re involved in some shit?” I took a few deep breaths before answering. I liked the guy and he was Bren’s commanding officer. But this wasn’t our fault. Of course, neither were the other times either. “They kidnapped and beat my partner, tied him down to rape him. And they would have if I hadn’t come to check why he didn’t call me

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when he got off work. I thought it best to bring Bren in case something was wrong because the owner of the restaurant, the one who shot at us, was harassing Ali. He said he owned Ali because Marcus’s dad put him through cooking school. But it turns out, Marcus is also a drug dealer. “One of his lackeys tried to get one of their clients, Ali’s doctor, to drug him and wheel him out of the hospital. Just so Marcus’s men could silence the only witness. So we busted a drug dealer and two of his guys, a doc that was their user and had no problem being complicit to murder. Should we start asking for a paycheck?” Okay, so that last part was a tad bitter and sarcastic. Everyone stared at me as if I was growing another head. Horse groaned and moved in between us. “What Jim means to say is how about tickets to the Christmas Day game between the Bears and Packers? Fifty yard line for you and your wife as an apology for making you have to add to your workload. We don’t mean to keep dragging you in when you’re not working and have to deal with inter-police politics.” “You got tickets?” Mahan asked with a raised brow. “It’s up in Green Bay, and all the tickets are sold out.” “It’s us.” Horse snickered and gave the man a wink. “Our way of saying sorry and thank you for all your help.” Mahan glanced up and groaned. I followed his gaze and there was another higher-ranking cop walking our way looking pissed off with a capital P. “Yeah, next time though, you better think cruise. Jenny’s been bugging me to go.” He lowered his voice as the guy got closer. “And this guy’s a prick.” He walked over to said prick, and they started puffing out their chests and pounding them. I figured they were about twenty seconds from whipping their dicks out and comparing sizes. Okay, so they weren’t really acting like that, but it was friggin close. “Champ? I mean Jim?” Ali mumbled. I turned around towards him, smiling when I saw his eyes were open.

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“I’m here, baby,” I whimpered with relief. “You’re going to be just fine.” “Don’t let the doctor get me,” he said quietly, fear lacing his tone. “We already caught him trying to wheel you out of here. He’s been taken into custody. I’m really never letting you out of my sight. Twice now I knew I shouldn’t and something happened to you. Your ass is permanently glued to my side.” “I’m okay with that.” A grin slid across his lips. “I recognized him from the restaurant. He never came in to eat and was always looking for Marcus. He freaked out and gave me a shot of something. I thought I’d never see you again.” “I ain’t never leaving you, Ali. You’re stuck with me.” I pulled the chair over to him and took his hand. His eyes were glazed over, and I figured it was from whatever the doc had given him. I liked the look when we were getting it on or right after in the glow of sex. This wasn’t what I had in mind when I thought of my mate acting loopy. “Alright, Mr. Drake,” his new doctor said as he came back by the bed. “You don’t have any hemorrhaging anywhere. A couple of broken ribs and some nasty bruises from those brass knuckles but nothing that won’t heal fully. Now, are you sure you don’t want a rape kit?” I gasped in shock, my eyes going wide before glancing at Ali. “No.” “I don’t need one,” Ali said firmly, staring right at me. “You got there in time, I swear. They never even got my clothes off.” “Thank the gods,” I cried and buried my head into his chest. “I’d never forgive myself for waiting so long to come check on you if you had to endure that.” “I didn’t, Jim,” he whispered as he kissed my temple and ran his fingers through my hair. “You can check when we get home that I didn’t have sex today.” “So not funny,” I whimpered, knowing he was trying to lighten the mood. “Really not funny.”

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“I know, but you can’t worry so much about what could have been. I’m here, I’m safe, and we’re just fine. Take me home and pamper me and in a few days I’ll be back on my feet and feeding that army you call a family.” “Give it closer to a week.” The doctor chuckled. I lifted my head, and he handed me some prescription slips. “Get these filled for him and make sure he takes them. One’s for the pain, one’s an antibiotic just to make sure there’s no infection, and the other is a muscle relaxer just for tomorrow morning. It will help you heal if you’re not in pain and not tensing up every time you move.” “I’ll make sure he gets them.” I took them and put them in my pocket, knowing full well I wouldn’t be filling them. I’d take him home and have Horse or Shadow heal him. And I also got handed a clipboard full of discharge papers to fill out. Thaaat was fun. Someone got Ali a scrubs outfit and his shoes. I helped him get dressed and we went out into the waiting room where everyone else was waiting for us. “Woman!” Shadow growled as he hobbled over to us, still in the tacky gown with a nurse following after him. “I got the bullet out and I’m fine. Leave me be.” “Sir, you dug your own bullet out of your shoulder. How you didn’t pass out from the pain is amazing. We need to sew up the wound before it gets infected—” “Can they force me to stay here, Detective?” Shadow asked Bren. He and Mahan burst out laughing. “No, no they can’t,” Bren agreed, trying to get himself back under control. “Then, my dear lady, I bid you adieu,” Shadow said to the nurse, giving her a formal bow. He headed to the door. “Let’s go.” “Nice ass,” Cave called out. Sure enough, Shadow’s entire naked backside was exposed. He smacked his own butt with his hand and gave Cave the finger. “What a sweetheart.” I snickered, shaking my head.

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“Being around you guys is like joining the goddamn circus,” Mahan muttered as the other policeman stood there with his mouth agape. “Go home, but we need your statements in the morning.” “Now wait just a minute,” the other cop growled. “I need some answers tonight. Just because these are your boys doesn’t mean I buy their story.” “You have your answers. You just don’t buy them because you hate me. Let these people go home and rest. Your officer accidently shot my guy’s brother-in-law. You’d have a hell of a mess to clean up if he’d been killed or he was filing a complaint.” Mahan gave a chilling smirk. “Let’s count this a win and let them get some sleep. You have my word that they’ll be down at the station tomorrow to give a full statement.” The other cop thought about it a moment and let out a big sigh. “Fair enough.” He glanced between us and pulled out a business card from his pocket. “Be there by ten in the morning, please. I have people to answer to as well.” “On my honor,” Horse said formally, putting his hand over his heart and bowing. It was our way of giving our word, binding our oath to the gods. “Alrighty then,” the policeman drawled. I could imagine how strange it was for a human in this day and age to see something so formal. We didn’t push our luck. We got the hell out of there, and I didn’t know about everyone else, but I was tired in a way I’d never felt before. It wasn’t just physical. It was mental, emotional, and down to my very soul. Don’t get me wrong. I was elated that Ali was going to be okay. It just didn’t make me any less tired. None of us spoke until we were safely in our cars and on the road. “I’ll get the guys to lend me some power, and we’ll heal Ali right up. Shadow should be healed by the time he reaches home. So that’s the easy part,” Horse said with a yawn. “The hard part is all of us getting our asses up and being at the station by ten in the morning.”

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“On the bright side, we can all come right back home and go back to bed,” Cave countered. “Thank the gods for that.” I chuckled as I held Ali to me. “I know you’re all tired, but I appreciate that waiting to heal Ali was never even an option in your eyes.” “Of course not,” Horse replied immediately. “Who would make breakfast if he was hurt?” “Dickhead,” Ali mumbled before we all busted out laughing. It was nice to laugh like that. After all we’d been through, it spoke to the character of the people around me that we could still crack jokes and be there for each other. I wouldn’t trade them for anything in the world. **** The next morning we got up way too early with how late we went to bed. I rolled over onto my mate and kissed him deeply. Last night before he was healed I couldn’t have done that without hurting him severely. Now it was just fun. “How are you holding up after yesterday?” I asked gently as I stroked his cheek. “According to me it was nothing but a nightmare. I’m going to the police station to tell them a fictional story.” I froze, staring deep into his eyes. “Is that the healthiest way to deal with it?” “Sounds good to me,” he answered with a chuckle. “I’m going to try it this way because it seems right. But if it doesn’t work out, then I’ll tell you, and we’ll come up with a plan B. Deal?” “A very reasonable, mature deal.” I agreed with a nod and a smile. “Not that I would expect any less, but I’m just not sure I would react the same.” “It’s why you keep me around,” he purred and rubbed his erection against me. “To be the calm, levelheaded one.”

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“And as such you know we need to get going.” I giggled and hopped out of bed. He groaned and followed me into the bathroom. We took a quick shower, mostly behaving ourselves, got dressed, and headed downstairs. “We’re picking up donuts and coffee on the way,” Horse announced as he grabbed his keys at the same time Shadow did. “And you’re supposed to still be injured, you two. Don’t forget that.” “Yup, yup,” Shadow replied as he feigned pain in his shoulder and leaned against the wall. We all shook our heads at his antics and left through the garage. We split up into two of the SUVs and pulled out of the garage. Almost an hour later we were getting out after parking at the station, with the addition of coffee and donuts. We let the front desk know we had an appointment with Captain Kurowski, which ended up being the name of Captain Mahan’s archnemesis. Then we sat down to wait. We chatted about the twins, moving Ali into our house, and getting better at actually buying groceries if we were planning on making my mate cook. He outlined some more tools and items he’d need to have a fully functioning kitchen. I exchanged a look with Horse and knew we were on the same page. Ali wasn’t telling us what he wanted, just what he needed. If he was going to be sweet enough to take over cooking for our small army, he at least deserved the best of everything. I’d take him window-shopping and pick his mind as to what he really dreamed of. “Alright, policeman or not, he gets fifteen more minutes and then we bail,” Shadow said with a huff. I glanced at the clock and realized we’d been sitting there for over an hour and a half. “I don’t know if that’s smart,” Maze said hesitantly, glancing at Bren. “Can’t they come arrest us or something for not giving our statement?” “No, but Horse gave his word, and I know how important that is to you guys.”

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Horse rolled his eyes at his mate. “I swore we’d be here at ten to give our statements. We’ve done that. This is some bullshit power trip to let us know Kurowski thinks he’s in charge. I’m with Shadow. If he can’t honor his commitments and word, then I didn’t agree to us being his doormat. We’re not to be played or pushed and as long as it won’t affect your job, baby, then we’re out of here.” “Nope, not unless I get transferred under him at some point in my career.” Bren chuckled and took Horse’s hand. “But since my partner is filthy rich, I don’t have to worry about that shit anymore. If the job stops being more fun than the bad shit, then I’ll quit. I help people and that’s the main point of it. Anything else shouldn’t matter, but I won’t stick around if it starts to.” “Then let’s bounce.” Shadow sighed with relief as he stood. “Let this guy work around our schedule if he wants our help and statements.” “I wouldn’t do that,” Captain Kurowski said as he walked into the waiting room. “Then you shouldn’t have kept us waiting this long,” Shadow replied, his voice cold. “We’re not your pawns in a chess game. You told us to be here at ten and we were, but you lacked the honor or common courtesy to be ready for us. Or even have someone tell us you were running late.” “Oh, so you’re one of those guys,” Kurowski sneered. “If you’re implying a concerned citizen who was willing to jump a man with a gun, one of your officers’ guns to be exact, to make sure no one got shot, then yes. Yet you made it sound like an insult,” Shadow replied with a judging air. “No, I mean one of those rich guys who thinks their time is worth more than everyone else’s.” “Kinda like a self-important cop who should be thanking us instead of pulling some macho ego trip trying to put us in what you think our places are,” Shadow tossed back with a smirk.

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“Watch your mouth, boy,” Kurowski snarled. “I still don’t have a clear picture of what happened, and I’ve got two guys in lockup who swear you climbed up a side of a building.” “Boy?” Horse and I echoed and burst into peals of giggles. That was rich given Shadow was over a thousand years old. We couldn’t even stop when Kurowski gave us a look that could kill. “You’ve got two drug users and dealers in there that are probably going through withdrawal symptoms. I’m sure he’s spouting some other crazy ass stuff, too. They’ll say anything and everything to get out of their own shit.” Kurowski and Bren stared at Shadow as if they couldn’t believe that came out of his mouth. Bren was the first to recover. “Were you a cop?” “Another lifetime ago,” Shadow mumbled and shrugged his uninjured shoulder. Well, at least he was keeping his role up as the injured party. “Now, can we stop all this bickering like little bitches so we can get this done? We’re running way behind your set time already, and none of us got much sleep last night. Everyone’s time is valuable.” “Alright, let’s do this,” Kurowski grunted and led us into the back. It was four hours of hell. Plain and simple. It took every ounce of control all of us had not to just kick the shit out of Kurowski and leave. I hoped to never see that man again.

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Chapter 8 After that was finally over and we caught a nap, Ali and I got back up around dinnertime. And we were starving. So we got up and decided to head to the grocery store and start picking up as much food as possible to fill our massive fridge. I skidded to a halt when I got to the kitchen. Everyone was there, quietly waiting for something. “What’s the deal, guys?” “We’re hungry,” Horse whined, giving Ali his best pout face. “We were just about to go shopping.” My mate chuckled and shook his head. “It’ll be a really late dinner, but I can fix up something easy when we get back. I’m trying to plan out meals for a few days so that’s a lot to buy and—” “We’ll help!” Jade exclaimed with a smile, wearing more of her peanut butter and jelly sandwich than got in her mouth. “You’re going to bed, princess.” Alexi snickered, tickling her tummy. “It’s time for you monsters to get to bed after bath time.” “Yeah! Ducky!” Wade shouted and hopped out of his seat, racing towards his room. Wow! I didn’t know kids ever got so excited about taking a bath. Or maybe Wade was just special and would grow up to be an Olympic swimmer. Or I just like to dream high for the niece and nephew I loved as if they were my own. “Well, the rest of us will help though,” Maze said immediately, thinking with his stomach. “Let’s go, guys.” Everyone scrambled out of their seats, minus Alexi and Chiquita, and grabbed car keys, scampering into the garage as if we just announced to a classroom of first graders that they were going to

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Disney World. I shook my head and followed after checking I had my wallet. “Your family is just all kinds of special,” Ali commented as we got in one of the SUVs. “Yeah, yeah they are.” I knew he didn’t mean special like I’d just thought about Wade. It was the other kind of special that was less flattering. As we drove along, Ali rattled off a list of basics that Maze and I wrote down furiously on notebooks we made appear with our magic. By the time we reached the store I had at least six pages. I glanced at Maze and saw he had about the same. I let out a whistle and got out of the car. “This is a lot of food,” Maze whispered to me. “There are a lot of us,” I hissed right back. “And my mate loves to try new recipes and experiment. I’m sure some of these are for that and backups in case those don’t pan out.” “Makes sense,” he said with a shrug and walked towards the store. It did though. We rarely got groceries, and when Why’s mom cooked us a homemade North Pole meal, we’d filled up six shopping carts. It took a lot of food to feed twenty-three people three times a day, that’s for sure. We split up the lists and grabbed carts. I went off with Ali and our part of the list, which took us to the meat counter. I watched my mate talk cuts and preparation options while picking out what he wanted. I had no idea what they were talking about, but I just liked watching him get excited. When he was done, and after having the guy behind the counter pack up most everything that had been in the display case, we went to meet up with everyone else. Ali gasped and ducked in one of the aisles suddenly. “Baby, you okay?” I asked quietly as I moved to him. “Marcus, I saw Marcus,” he whispered, his eyes closed as he was shaking.

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I glanced back around the corner and didn’t see anyone. I turned back to my traumatized mate and held him tightly. “It’s normal to see someone’s attacker again after they get free, okay? It’s part of PTSD and stuff.” “How did you get so smart?” Ali asked quietly as he started to calm back down. “And how do you know about PTSD?” “I’m a big fan of the Science, History, and Discovery channels,” I answered honestly. “I saw a few documentaries about real-life survivors of crimes. They tend to see their attackers for weeks following what they went through. Let’s see how bad it is and, if we need to, maybe you can talk to the elf Flower found for Otis to counsel him. Maybe even talking to Otis would help?” “No,” he whispered, shaking his head. “Otis went through real hell. I can’t make him dredge that all up because I got beaten up.” “Is that how you look at what happened to you?” I asked with a gasp. I waited until my mate nodded confirmation to reply, trying to keep my anger in check. I wasn’t mad at him, not really. “Baby, you went through so much more than that. Marcus harassed you for months before starting to hit you and then he kidnapped you after working you over. People crack from the harassment part, okay? You went through something real and major.” “Okay,” he agreed after a moment and slumped against me. “I just want this to be over, you know? I want to move on with our lives, have you claim me, and live happily ever after.” “Claim you?” I whispered as I closed my eyes. “I–If you w–want to,” he stuttered. “I thought you wanted to?” “You have no idea how much I want to, baby.” I took his face in my hands and gave him a loud kiss. Pulling away with a huge smile on my face, I winked at him. “After dinner we’ll have the ceremony. I don’t want to wait another day to make you mine.” “Sounds like a plan.” He blushed when an older lady walked by us, pushing her cart chuckling.

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We met up with everyone else at the checkout and probably spent more than the store had ever seen in one group. Well, we broke it up into four different checkouts but each having two full carts…it was still really expensive. “We get to eat, we get to eat,” Horse sang as we made our way out to the vehicles. It was to the tune of “We’re in the Money.” I swear he knew that Ali was still a little upset from his sighting and was lightening the mood. That elf knew more than he ever let on to the rest of us. Maybe his power grew crazy fast after he mated? I didn’t know. Didn’t really care right then. I was just happy Ali was smiling. Just as we were finished loading everything up, Ali gasped and turned towards the SUV. I glanced over where he had been looking and didn’t see anything. Shit. He was shaking again, too. I hugged him from behind, whispering soft words of love until he calmed down. “Let’s get you home and cooking,” I said gently. “That helps you think and process.” “Yeah, good idea,” he whispered as he glanced at my family. “They’re going to think I’m a freak.” “We can teleport and pull shit out of thin air.” Shadow snickered. “You’re not even close to the freakiest one in our family.” Ali nodded and I could practically see the tension in his shoulders leave. We all piled in and headed home. The closer we got, the more my mate was vibrating with excitement. “You just like stocking up the kitchen and making everything the way you want,” I accused with a feigned pout. “You’re not bouncing in your seat because I’m going to claim you later.” “I am because of both things actually.” He chuckled. “We get a real meal and then energy orgasm from the claiming ceremony tonight?” Maze asked with a wicked smile as he glanced at us over his shoulder. I rolled my eyes, but Ali nodded his head. “Fuck yeah! This night is looking way up.”

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He and Shadow bumped fists as happy as if I said I was ordering them hookers or something. Dorks. “So about the money Horse gave me…” Ali trailed off when we got home and were unloading the food. “I mean, Marcus ripped up the check, but I have a feeling Horse won’t let me give it back to him.” “Not on your life,” Horse called out from across the garage. “Use it to buy your dream tools or something if you want. But we’re not taking it back.” Ali’s eyes were wide as he stood there with his mouth open. “We have really good hearing,” I explained with a shrug. “And it might be a large house, but there are a lot of us. We don’t have many secrets.” “So I see.” He chuckled, shaking his head as we headed back to the kitchen. He stopped and glanced at the half-torn-apart car I’d been working on as we passed it. “One of the guys said you were a gearhead.” “I am. This is my latest baby,” I said with a smile. “A classic Shelby GT. I like doing the rebuilding and fixing the bodywork. I drive them around a few times before selling them and starting on the next one. Been doing it for a long time.” “Why do it though just to sell them? Why not keep them all for your collection?” “What am I going to do with a shitload of classic cars?” I snickered and lugged the bags with me as I turned back to the kitchen. “To me they are a thing of beauty, a work of art. I like putting the pieces back together and seeing them how they were meant to be. Then I sell them at a reasonable price because it’s not like I need the money or anything. That way people can enjoy them as well. They can feel the thrill of driving a real muscle car.” “You’re such a sweetie,” he cooed as we set our bags down on the counter. He pulled me into his arms and kissed me slowly. “You’re making the world a brighter place one classic car at a time. People get

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to see them driving around while others get to own them. It’s exactly how I feel with cooking.” “I know, that’s why we’re perfect for each other,” I whispered against his lips. “You like putting together ingredients the same way I do cars. All you want is to make people smile and have full tummies. We’re a great pair for each other.” “I agree.” His lips came down on mine, just a soft brush that had me shivering from the sensuality of it. “Food first, fucking later,” Shadow demanded. “Douche,” I grumbled as Ali chuckled. We pulled apart and worked on putting everything away while Ali prepared dinner. He said something simple. His idea of simple turned out to be chicken parmesan, everything but the pasta from scratch. I think the best part was watching my friends jump at his orders. Sure, they couldn’t cook or sauté worth a shit, but we could help with boiling water, cutting up what he needed, and washing produce. “I’ll make some of my famous cookies later,” Ali announced as he put a tray of breadsticks in the oven. I jumped away from the counter, hissing at the idea. “Cookies no good?” he asked hesitantly as he approached me slowly. “I don’t like cookies,” I mumbled as I stared down at my suddenly interesting feet. “Wanna tell me why?” “He’s afraid of the cookie monster.” Box laughed, but immediately quit when I shot him a dirty look. “Says the guy who hates candy canes,” I countered with a raised brow. “We all have our issues and things we hate about Christmas.” “I don’t anymore,” Horse said proudly. “My mate made me see the error in my ways.” “Mine, too,” Cave, Idiot, Surprise, Why, Flower, and Chiquita replied at the same time. Well, that was weird.

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“So tell me about the cookies,” Ali ordered gently after a moment passed for what my brothers said to sink in. “In our world you tend to be what your parents were,” I explained as I slumped into a chair at the table. “Mine were cookie makers. You know, Christmas cookies, roll dough and cut out shapes. The whole thing.” “Why not just use your magic to make the cookies? Why go through the motions if you guys are so powerful?” my mate asked me, not in a judgmental tone, just a curious one. “Just because you can do a cartwheel doesn’t mean that’s how you get around, right? The amount of energy used would be incredibly draining. Same with us and our magic.” “Makes sense.” He nodded and waved his hand as if to say go ahead with the story. “So I trained to be a cookie maker, and I just sucked ass at it. No matter how much flour I used to keep the dough from sticking, it still did. No matter how thick I made the dough, it always ripped when I used the cutter. I could never get the damn things up right and get them onto the cookie sheet. And the ones that did make it right came out so malformed it wasn’t pretty. “Everyone would laugh and the older ones would give me that pitied look as if I was mentally slow because I couldn’t figure it out. It wasn’t remedial math, for fuck’s sake! It wasn’t two plus two equals four. Some people are just not good with crafts. I’m a mechanical man. I bet all those jokers couldn’t take apart an engine and put it all back together without using magic in a matter of hours. “There was never any reason to be so mean to me. And if that wasn’t bad enough, I was just always pissed. Constantly mad and bitching at everyone. Those fucking cookies pretty much gave me the finger day after day and it made me a different person, an angry person. One I didn’t like. Added to that I was gay, which isn’t very common with elves. I hated my life. I had no real friends.

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“My parents looked at me as if I was an embarrassment and all because I couldn’t make fucking cookie cutouts!” By the end of my rant I was breathing heavy, my chest heaving as I shouted. If I had a mirror, I’m pretty sure my face would have been a brilliant shade of mottled red at that point. I took several deep breaths, letting them out slowly as I calmed myself and glanced up at my mate to see what he thought of my little meltdown. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t yelling at you.” “Just in my direction,” he said gently and cupped my cheek. “I get it. I do.” He gave me an impish smile. “Maybe we’ll start small one day. No cookie cutters, just normal round cookies.” He had so much hope in his gaze, I found myself nodding in agreement. How could I disappoint such an eager look? I knew I couldn’t, no matter how much I wanted to. Ali was everything that was good and right in my world, and I’d do anything to make him happy and see him smile. Damn.

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Chapter 9 After dinner, we all met in the play room once the kids were put to bed. I undressed Ali slowly, leaving a trail of kisses on his flesh as I exposed it. I started with his shirt, slowly sliding it up his stomach and chest and finally over his head, taking my time as I teased him with my lips, tongue, and teeth. His nipples pebbled, standing at attention and just begging for my mouth. I swirled my tongue around one before sucking it into my mouth and biting it lightly. I took encouragement from his moan of pleasure and moved on to torture his other nipple. Pulling back, I admired my handiwork, smiling when I found them red, swollen, and throbbing. His nipples weren’t all that was throbbing though. Trailing my fingertips down his abs, I grinned mischievously when he bit his lip and shivered from my touch. As much as I wanted to get the show on the road, I also wanted to take my time with him, tease him, and draw out his pleasure until he couldn’t remember anything but my name. Not even his own—just my name. His hands began roaming my chest and back as I worked on the button of his pants, popping it open easily and sliding them down his hips. His hard cock sprang free, rock hard and leaking from the tip as it bounced upward as though straining toward my hand. I ignored it though, knowing we’d get to that part soon enough. Instead, I pushed up on my toes and dragged him into a tender kiss, breaking away only long enough for him to pull my shirt over my head. We kissed a little more, just slow and sweet while he worked to finish undressing me. It wasn’t part of the ritual, but I think

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both of us needed that closeness that comes from worshiping a partner’s body. “I love you,” I whispered, tears filling in my eyes as I stared up at my mate and the man I intended to spend the rest of eternity with. How had I ever gotten so lucky? “I love you, too,” he cried out and hugged me to him. I was a little surprised by his intensity, but pleased nonetheless. “I was worried I was feeling too much too fast, and you didn’t feel the same. I was too scared to tell you how I really felt.” “Never be afraid to tell me anything, Ali. I’ll always be here for you.” I would, too. No matter how hard things got, there was nothing more important to me than the man in my arms. While I had my brothers who cared about me and would always have my back, Ali was special. He was just for me. I’d be able to share everything with him, knowing he’d understand and never make me feel like less because of my feelings. “I know that.” He kissed the side of my neck and released me. I gestured to one of the tables, the one that was basically two boards forming an X with restraints attached to it. He climbed up and lay down. I gave him a soft smile while whispering encouraging words to him as I moved around the table to fasten the restraints. He shook with what I thought was nerves at having an audience, his entire sixfive frame trembling from head to toe. Hoping to calm some of his anxiety, I started to babble more soothing words to him until I read his thoughts. “Why do I like that everyone’s watching? Is that normal? Maybe I’m some sort of deviant or twisted person for thinking this?” “No, baby.” I snickered as I finished tying him down. “It’s just some people’s kink to like to be watched. I’m the same way. It gets me hot knowing they’ll all see how beautiful you are with my cock in you but knowing they can’t have you because you’re all mine. I’m already leaking that they’ll get jealous when they see how you respond to me, how amazing you are when you reach your peak.”

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“So you’re just as sick as I am,” he teased. I stuck out my tongue at him and stretched him magically, imagining his sweet little hole loosening and stretching for me. He’d need it. “You laugh now, but you’re going to be walking funny soon,” I said with a wide grin. “How’s that?” I adjusted my size since I’d need to be taller if I was going to reach his neck comfortably while we were having sex in this position. I was almost the same size as my mate now, and my dick had grown in proportion to my new size, making it go from my normal nine and a half inches to almost eleven, hard as a rock and jutting proudly from my groin. Ali’s eyes went wide, and I swear I could feel his stare on me like a physical caress, touching me everywhere, and stoking the fire in my belly until I felt like I was engulfed in the flames of my desire for him. His breathing kicked up, his heart hammering so hard, I could see the vein pulsing in his neck with every beat. His nostrils flared, and he licked his lips as his cock twitched and a clear drop of pre-cum beaded from his slit and slid down the side of his shaft. “Yummy,” he purred. “Size queen,” I countered. He laughed, his eyes sparkling with mirth, but even our playful banter couldn’t erase the lust I saw shining back at me. I reached over to another table and grabbed the lube, pouring some on my fingers. I rubbed it onto my cock slowly, teasing my mate and myself a little. I was primed and it felt damn good as I stroked the entire length from crown to root, making it glisten in the light. “I need you, Champ,” he whimpered, and his arms flexed as he tried to reach for me. As always, I couldn’t deny him anything. Not that it was much he was asking for since I wanted the same thing. I moved between his legs and pushed three fingers into his fluttering hole to make sure he was nice and stretched for me, smiling when his eyes closed and a deep moan rumbled in his chest.

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Easing my fingers out, I gripped the base of my cock, lined up with my mate’s entrance, and pushed the head of my dick into his tight ass. My own body began to shudder at the first feel of his inner walls squeezing me and sucking me deeper inside him. I rocked my hips until I was fully seated balls deep in his velvety channel, both of us moaning at the bursting sensations running through our bodies. “You ready, baby?” I swallowed loudly, nervous he might back out. My fears might seem ridiculous to some considering that I already had my cock buried in his ass, and he was moaning and panting like a high-paid whore, but I couldn’t stop myself from asking. “Make me yours,” he answered firmly, staring right into my eyes, hiding nothing from me. Fisting one hand in his hair, I jerked him to me and mashed my mouth down to his, plundering all that he offered. The kiss was feral, possessive, and I pillaged the moist depths of his mouth, leaving no part unexplored. “I need you to repeat what I say, exactly how I say it for this to work,” Horse said gently as we parted. “I won’t mess this up.” Ali glanced at Horse and nodded that he was ready. I licked the big vein in his neck and sucked the salty skin into my mouth. My fingers dug into his hips hard enough to leave bruises as I took his tight ass, and then struck, sinking my canines through the yielding flesh at the side of his throat. Alastar moaned and his hips bucked, his inner walls clamping down around my cock. “I, Alastar Drake, give you my very life essence and blood freely,” Horse said as I drank down my mate’s sweet, sweet blood. He paused and Ali repeated it with several groans of pleasure. Thank the gods he liked it when I drank from him. “My life, my heart, and my soul now belong to you and have never been claimed before. I swear on my life that there will never be any other for me and you will always come first. I accept you as my mate and pray to the gods that our binding be blessed so that I may live to love you forever.”

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As soon as he was done repeating the words, I lifted my fangs from his neck and roared out my release. I was still coming, pumping erratically through my orgasm, when I magically gave myself a small cut on my neck for Ali. He leaned up hesitantly as far as he could, and I cupped the back of his head and brought his mouth to the wound. I moaned and my cock never went soft as he started to drink from me. “I, Champ, give you my very life essence and blood freely,” I started and repeated the same ceremonial words as Ali kept sucking on my neck. Every draw from the little wound was like he was sucking on my dick, and I didn’t think I’d ever go limp again. As soon as I was done, his body started to shake hard enough to pull against his bonds and he screamed, his back bowing up off the table. I had a second to worry about him being hurt before his ass clamped down on my cock, and I climaxed right along with him with enough force to steal the breath from my lungs as stars exploded before my eyes. I cried out and he echoed me as I felt his soul crash into my body as mine must have his. And while it wasn’t painful, it wasn’t a gentle tap either. It was like they were trading places, switching hosts, and my heart sputtered and then aligned with his beat. I moved my mouth down to his and connected us in every way as our mating was blessed. If it hadn’t been, we wouldn’t have had the soul-swap thing going on. When it was over, we were both gasping for air, and I collapsed onto him. I felt more than saw Horse releasing Ali from the restraints since I wasn’t able to see just then. My mate’s body kept shaking with forceful aftershocks under me. Mine was about in the same condition, and I could barely hold myself up, so I just quit and slumped limply against Ali’s chest. “Blink twice if you can hear me and aren’t hurt, Ali,” Horse said. “Good, good.” I guess that meant Ali responded. “Champ? You cool, man?” my brother asked. “Oh, fuck, yeah,” I moaned and everyone started laughing. I wrapped myself around my mate, holding him to me tightly as I rolled

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us onto our sides and peppered little kisses all over his face and neck. “I love you.” “I love you, too,” he said hoarsely and cleared his throat. “That was one fucking ride, Champ.” “I’m always up for an orgasm like that.” Shadow giggled. We lifted our heads, and sure enough, all my friends either had wet spots on their pants or cum on their bodies if they were naked. But they all looked pleasantly sated. “I never remember it being that good during the claiming rites, but it’s always better than anything I can do with my right hand.” “That was more than I ever needed to know. Leave me to snuggle with my mate or no food for you guys tomorrow,” I threatened them, knowing it would get the response I was looking for. “Later!” several called out and ’ported out of there. The rest ran out like the hounds of hell were on their tails. Yup, I knew it. “They’ll do anything for real food,” I said with a snort. I glanced down at my smiling mate and asked the only question on my mind. “Are there any leftovers for your mate?” Ali didn’t even pause to think about it. “Sure, if you promise I get more of that huge cock tonight, I’ll even whip you up something fresh for your second dinner.” I stared down at him with such love it was almost spiritual. He got me. He didn’t laugh or pick on the silly elf who ate like enough for three people. No, he just loved me and accepted me as I was, doing whatever he could to make me happy. “My body is yours to do with what you wish now that we’re officially mated.” “Shrink back to normal size,” he whispered as I moved off of him. I nodded, not sure what the point he was going to make was about but did as he wanted. He sat up and cupped my cheek, our height difference apparent since he was on the table. Ali’s eyes roamed over my body and he licked his lips. “All mine, huh?”

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“All yours forever.” I shivered with lust at the look he was giving me. It was like I was on the menu and he’d been craving me all week. I liked that look very much. “Good thing I already accepted then,” Ali said with a wink as he slid off the table. I moaned as our naked bodies slid across each other. Nice! “Dressed. We need to get dressed,” I stuttered and practically dove for my clothes before I ended up bending him over somewhere and taking him like a caveman. Granted, my mate liked that, but after we just basically had our version of a wedding, I wanted to spend time and celebrate in other ways than carnal. Just for a little while though. After we yanked on pants, we padded to the kitchen barefoot. There didn’t seem to be much of a point when we both knew we’d be getting naked again. “Let me ask you something,” Ali said hesitantly as he pulled eggs and cheese out of the fridge. “Baby, you don’t have to cook for me again.” I chuckled. “I’ll grab leftovers.” “Actually, it will help me figure out what I want to ask,” he whispered, not looking at me in the eyes. “I know you said I can tell you anything, but I’m still not sure about all your customs or rules yet. So I don’t want to upset you.” I thought about that a moment as I sat down at one of the stools we had at the counter of the large island. “We don’t have many rules really. Mainly don’t fuck with our mates or betray them. In general, elves are really laid-back. I promise I won’t get mad as long as you’re not asking if we can have a threesome or open mating.” “No!” he exclaimed as his head snapped up. “I don’t want anyone but you!” “Then we’ll have no problem.” I chuckled, glad I downplayed whatever he was about to ask me.

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“Why did your parents name you Champ? You guys all have random names and—” “You mean strange-as-fuck names,” I teased. He blushed a gorgeous shade of red and ducked his head. “We name ourselves actually. It’s elven tradition that when we turn five years old, we’re baptized in our magic. It becomes who we are, ingrained in us so deeply that if it’s ever taken away, it kills us. That’s the only way we can die. Our elders can sentence us to death, or if we betray our mates, then the gods strip us of it. “But I’m the one who picked Champ.” I got quiet for a moment, remembering how it used to be with my family before I became the black sheep of the family. “I was the youngest of four, all boys. It was a nickname my dad and brothers used to call me. It made me feel special, like I meant everything to them. So when it came time to pick a name, the choice was clear to me.” “They really hurt you, didn’t they?” he asked gently. I glanced up at him quickly and saw the sympathetic look on his face. I also noticed then that he was almost done making me food. I hadn’t even been paying attention. “Can’t change a tiger’s stripes,” I answered with a shrug. “My parents are really old, even for elves. They follow traditions and everything has its place in their world. Mine was with a woman and making cookies for all eternity. I didn’t fit into their plan, and when you’re over three millennia old, you’re not the best at adapting. I never blamed them. I just wished I could be the son they wanted.” “I don’t mean to talk badly about people I’ve never met, but I’m sure as hell glad you’re not.” I saw the tears brimming in his eyes before he blinked quickly. He slid the omelet on a plate with a fork and pushed it across the table to me. “If you weren’t the Champ I love, then where would I be? You weren’t happy there and all parents should want for their kids is to be happy.” “I never thought of it like that.” I bit into the masterpiece he made me and moaned. “Cheese, bacon, mushrooms, and…”

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“Chives and green pepper,” he finished for me. “Amazing, just like its maker.” I blushed when I realized how cheesy that sounded, but Ali was beaming so that’s all that mattered. “We better have lots of sex, baby.” “Oh?” He turned to glance at me over his shoulder as he put his dirty utensils and pan in the sink. He’d made it clear right off the bat that he was the Chef and not the dishwasher. For food like this, none of us were stupid enough to argue. “Yeah, if you keep feeding me this well, I’ll have to work off the calories. We wouldn’t want me to get fat.” “I’d still love you if you did, but I am a fan of the way you look.” He gave an exasperated sigh. “I guess I’ll just have to make sure you get your exercise.” “So selfless of you.” I chuckled and kept eating. I had most of it gone in moments. “And I decided to talk with Otis. You’re so supportive and I trust you when you say you think it might be a good idea. It can’t hurt and it might be good for us if we had our own little support group. Maybe even all the mates in case we need to adapt to everything we now know in the world.” I chewed the last of my food and tossed the idea around my head. “I think it’s brilliant. If you want to, I’m all for it, baby. If it’s not enough, then we’ll talk options. But I think it’s a great start and will help you deal.” “That’s the plan.” He gave me a winning smile as I finished up and stared at the plate, wondering if licking it would get me anything other than embarrassment. “We better go work off those calories.” “Oh fuck yeah!” He gave a very unmanly yelp as I ’ported across the counter to stand next to him. He took off towards the play room and of course I gave chase. Who passes up an invite like that? I sure as hell didn’t. Not when it was from the man I love and when I knew he needed some loving. I’d be there for him always and

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not only just if he kept feeding me. He was more than a Chef…Ali was my Chef.

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Epilogue: Box “Take it,” my mate, Egan, ordered me as he held out a large candy cane stick. “I don’t want to,” I growled. My hatred of those damn things was enough for me to want to throw all of them away all over the world. “Trust me,” he said gently. “You’re going to like this.” “Fine,” I grumbled and took it from him. I forgot all about it when my mate started slowly peeling off his clothes. His hips swayed, rocking from side to side as he put on a little show for me. Every inch of smooth skin revealed left me hard and panting, desperate to get my hands on him. Now this was more what I had planned when Egan had said he had a treat for me. I reached for the hem of my shirt and started to take off my clothes as well, but he held up a finger and shook it to stop me. “No, I want to be totally naked while you’re still fully dressed. It’s so fucking erotic when you touch me when I’m acting like your slut.” He moaned seductively, I guess to prove his point, or maybe because just the idea was getting him hot. “Okay.” I swallowed loudly, moaning when he gave his cock a few good pulls, stroking slowly, every movement meant to drive me out of my mind. “Lick the candy cane,” he ordered, the authoritative tone in his voice making me shiver. I opened it up and did what he asked without thought. I got the idea when he bent over the bed, pressed his chest into the mattress, and reached behind him to spread his cheeks apart

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so I could see his tight, puckered star. It clenched and relaxed, hungry and eager for me. “Oh, fuck me,” I moaned and moved closer, licking my lips as I watched it flutter. “No, fuck me,” he begged, “with that.” “You kinky, kinky tempter.” I chuckled and then sucked on the candy again, getting it nice and wet. I teased his hole with it, just tickling it over the guarding ring of muscles before pushing the tip of it in and pumping a little. “Don’t tease me.” “Oh, I’m going to tease you all night, my love,” I purred. I reached into the nightstand and pulled out mint-flavored, edible lube that was Egan’s favorite. Flipping the cap open, I poured some on his crack, watching it dribble over his hole because my saliva wasn’t going to be enough. When he was slicked up enough, I started fucking him with the most interesting toy I’d ever used. He made the prettiest noises, arching his back and rocking back and forth, pushing his hips onto it. “Still hate candy canes?” He gasped, his body tensing as I nailed his sweet spot. “I’m starting to change my mind.” “Good, hate is an ugly emotion that I don’t want to have any room in your heart. Love for me and your family should be the only thing in there.” “You’re right,” I whispered and closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. And he was. It was stupid to waste energy on hating something like candy. Yeah, it was more the memories attached to them, but either way, my life was different now. I had a great family I loved and a mate perfect for me in every way given to me by the gods. It was time to put petty things aside. I pumped a few more times and pulled the candy cane out of his hole, needing him more than I needed my next breath. He wanted me fully clothed so I didn’t take anything off, simply unzipping my jeans,

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and pulling out my cock—which was happy to be free from his confinement, throbbing and straining toward my mate. Egan was going to be too tight at first but he liked the burn sometimes so I wasn’t worried. “I love you,” I moaned as I lined up with his twitching hole and rubbed the tip of my cock up and down his crease, teasing him for only a minute before I pushed inside of him. “Life without you isn’t worth living. You are everything to me, Egan.” “I feel the same way,” he sniffled. It made me want to see his face, so I pulled out of him and rolled him onto his back. He spread his legs wide and crooked a finger at me. I covered his body from head to hips and slowly entered him, pulling him against me as I leaned over him, hitching up his legs around my waist. “I don’t know why it gets me so hot to be completely naked when you’re dressed, but it does.” “Who knew you liked candy up your ass either?” I teased. He rolled his eyes and pulled my head down to his. We nibbled at each other’s lips as I started thrusting into him hard, driving into his welcoming body with enough force to move us up the mattress. It didn’t take long for us to get to the brink. With the buildup and fierce emotions playing around, it was a miracle we lasted as long as we did. My balls ached, my spine tingled, and every nerve ending in my body sizzled. “Come for me now,” I demanded with a growl before sinking my fangs into his neck and growling as his sweet blood bathed my tongue and slid down my throat. Egan cried out my name, holding my head to his body as he found his peak, bucking up to meet my demanding thrusts as he filled the space between us with his warm, wet seed. Seconds later I was grunting and filling him with my release as my entire body went still and tensed. We didn’t let go of each other when we were done but clung to one another, panting and shivering from the aftershocks.

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“Glad you got over it because I have a sweet tooth for that kinda loving again.” I lifted my head enough to glance down at my mate and burst out laughing at the impish grin on his face. We held each other and enjoyed the moment. It was perfect and so was he. I’d never, ever forget that.

THE END WWW.JOYEEFLYNN.COM

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Joyee Flynn grew up in Chicago living in the same house all her life until she went left for college. Though she has a great life, she loves to get lost in fantasy that only books could bring. Her wide interest in reading was reflected in her writings. Currently Joyee lives with her dog, Marius, named after a vampire from Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire series. She dreams of one day living out in Montana, enough land to have a few horses, and find a couple of cowboys of her own. A lover of men, Joyee’s all about them in any form in her books. Vampire, werewolf, military, doesn’t matter at all as long as they are hot, hard, and sex fiends!

Also by Joyee Flynn Siren Classic ManLove: Who Needs Christmas? 1: Screw Santa Siren Classic ManLove: Who Needs Christmas? 2: Hell’s Bells Siren Classic ManLove: Who Needs Christmas? 3: Stupid Mistletoe Siren Classic ManLove: Who Needs Christmas? 4: Holy Stockings Siren Classic ManLove: Who Needs Christmas? 5: Down with the Tunes Siren Classic ManLove: Who Needs Christmas? 6: Frosty Melt Siren Classic ManLove: Who Needs Christmas? 7: Shove Your Tree Siren Classic ManLove: Who Needs Christmas? 8: Stripe My Pole

For all other titles, please visit www.bookstrand.com/joyee-flynn

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