Undercover Lovers

Urban Affairs 1

Undercover Lovers Two undercover agents weave a web of deceit when they bed their target. Undercover Were-agent Slade Wolfe works for the Department of Shifter Affairs. He's on special assignment to take down Jaxon Castle, a resistance leader. Slade's contact in New York is a human cop, Mike Donovan, who's hiding his real relationship with their target—he and Jaxon are lovers. When Slade beds Jaxon so he can plant his surveillance equipment, a jealous Mike freaks out. Both agents suspect the charges have been trumped up by the Feds and they're reluctant to take Jaxon down, but the director of DSA is getting antsy and he orders Mike to kill his partner and frame Jaxon for the murder. Getting rid of his competition is tempting, but Mike can't kill an innocent man, even if it means he'll end up in DSA's crosshairs with his rival and his boyfriend. Genre: Alternative (M/M or F/F), Ménage a Trois/Quatre, Shapeshifter Length: 36,501 words

UNDERCOVER LOVERS Urban Affairs 1

Gale Stanley

MENAGE AMOUR MANLOVE

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK IMPRINT: Ménage Amour ManLove

UNDERCOVER LOVERS Copyright © 2012 by Gale Stanley E-book ISBN: 978-1-61926-785-5 First E-book Publication: June 2012 Cover design by Harris Channing All cover art and logo copyright © 2012 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 Undercover Lovers by Gale Stanley 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 Gale Stanley’s livelihood. It’s fair and simple. Please respect Ms. Stanley’s right to earn a living from her work. Amanda Hilton, Publisher www.SirenPublishing.com www.BookStrand.com

DEDICATION For my readers ~ I hope you have as much pleasure reading as I’ve had in the writing.

UNDERCOVER LOVERS Urban Affairs 1 GALE STANLEY Copyright © 2012

Chapter One A spotlight came on, illuminating one end of the plywood stage, and a disembodied voice came over the loudspeaker. “Get ready to drool, men, because tonight we have a new dancer and he’s gonna turn up the heat. Here he is, for the first time on our stage, or any stage for that matter. Let’s hear it for Slade.” The crowd went wild and men started moving toward the platform to catch a scent of the newcomer. Jaxon Castle took a seat at the bar, and Quinn slid a bottle of mineral water in front of him. Jax never drank anything stronger than water at his club. He knew what the other shifters called him behind his back—control freak. They didn’t mean it as a compliment. Jax preferred to think of himself as a detail-oriented manager. Things tended to go wrong if he didn’t attend to every detail himself, and he needed all his animal instincts functioning at their peak in case of trouble. That meant staying stone-cold sober. The bartender leaned over to make himself heard over the noise. “Fresh meat, huh?” “Yeah. All the way from Los Angeles.” “What’s he doing here?”

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“The same thing all the strays are doing,” Jaxon grunted. “Running from the law. Dogtown is turning into a fucking dog pound.” “You don’t give them all jobs in your club. What’s so special about this one?” Jaxon shrugged. “His timing was good. Korey didn’t show up today. The little prick left me high and dry, and on a Saturday night. Fucking unbelievable. Then this guy walks in, fresh off the bus, and looking for any kind of job, and a place to stay. I sent him over to Benjamin to see about renting an apartment and told him to come back tonight for an audition. I sure hope he’s good.” “You didn’t check his credentials?” Quinn feigned a surprised look but couldn’t hold back his laughter. “I didn’t want to scare him off.” “He doesn’t look like he scares easy.” It was true. With a six-foot-four, muscular frame and rugged features, the newcomer looked like he could hold his own. Jaxon took a big swallow from the bottle. “Well, I wouldn’t worry about it, boss. The men like a variety of inventory.” Quinn winked. “I know for a fact most of the guys would like to see you up on that stage.” Jaxon choked and spewed water across the bar. Quinn smirked and wiped his face with the back of an arm. “You all right, boss?” “Fuck you.” Jaxon scowled at him, swiveled on his stool, and leaned his elbows back on the bar. He heard Quinn laughing behind him, but he focused on the stage. The men were more than curious about his private life, but the subject was strictly off-limits. Not that he had much time for a life. The Kennel Club took up most of his waking hours. The club wasn’t fancy, but it was all his. The bar was here when he bought the place, dented and scarred like it had been through a war and almost as long as the room. Wood and leather stools lined the length, and there were also a number of tables

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scattered around the room. Between the bar and the stage there was a small dance floor and a side room with two pool tables and some dartboards. Jaxon’s office and apartment were upstairs. Downstairs there were private rooms where a wolf-shifter could take a fuck buddy if he got lucky. Jax had added a few modern touches over the years. He’d put in a small kitchen where he served up a simple menu including burgers, hot dogs, and fries. But when he’d put up a stage and added a dancer, business had really taken off. It had been Korey’s idea. The young wolf needed a job, and jobs were scarce in this economy, especially for shifters. Humans didn’t hire Weres, and most shifters in Dogtown couldn’t afford to pay employees. Korey was one hell of a dancer with a sexy little body that drew attention. He offered to work for tips, and his gig went so well that Jaxon hired him on the spot and paid him a small salary. It wasn’t like him to not show up, but Korey wouldn’t be the first kid to take off looking for greener pastures. Still, it would have been nice if he had given Jaxon some notice. Yeah, the bar had grown since he took it over, and he had big ideas to make it even better, so it benefited him to hang around to make sure there’d be no trouble. If he wanted trouble he’d have stayed in his apartment in Chelsea where he had to hide his identity as a Were or deal with discrimination and hostility. He couldn’t wait to get out and live among his own kind. Shifters had been buying up abandoned properties for years and finally took over a blighted section of the city and rebranded the area as Dogtown. Any humans still living in the area had moved out when the wolves moved in. His people had started co-ops and businesses that catered to their own kind. They kept to themselves, satisfied to live a parallel, peaceful existence with humanity, and for the most part humanity stayed away from Dogtown. So any trouble in Jaxon’s club was caused by the wolves themselves, and those kind of scuffles he could handle. The shifters

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were horndogs. Ingesting a little too much alcohol caused all those pent-up animal instincts to rise to the surface. It was the nature of the beast. Whoever said an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure hit it right on the nose. Hiring a big, beefy doorman helped a lot, but most dogfights broke out on the dance floor, so Jaxon had recruited a few enforcers and stationed them around the room, while he sat at the bar. The precautions had saved him from a mountain of trouble and a big loss of revenue. Maintaining a testosterone-friendly atmosphere was cheaper than paying for renovations every time somebody started a fight. Finally, his dancer stepped into the light, and the shifter’s appearance brought a fresh round of cheers and applause. The animals are restless. I hoped they’re not disappointed. The man was packing, but a stripper needed more than a pretty face and a big dick. It didn’t hurt to be a flamboyant showman. Personality and people skills were a must if a performer expected good tips. Jaxon decided he’d reserve his opinion until the end of the performance. Electronic music came over the loudspeaker. Whoops and wolf whistles accompanied Slade as he flipped his waves of black hair and strutted across the platform to the primal, erotic beat. His black leather pants encased his muscular thighs like a second skin. The spotlight followed him like an adoring puppy. So did every pair of eyes in the room. Slade stopped center stage and flashed the crowd a wicked grin. Jaxon knew even a wolf’s keen sight couldn’t see past the blinding spotlight, but he could swear that smile was meant for him and his heart lurched. That was a mouth meant for sin. Jaxon pictured those full lips wrapped around his cock, sucking him off until he popped. Where did that come from? Jaxon was not easily impressed, but this man was one sexy motherfucker. Slade’s intense amber eyes framed by long, black lashes peered out from a sculpted face with high cheekbones and an angular jaw. The wolf possessed a rugged masculinity that Jaxon found extremely appealing. The tight leathers

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hinted at a good-size package to go along with the shifter’s movie-star looks. Slade started unbuttoning the white silk shirt, one button at a time. When he reached the last button, he grinned and pulled the edges of the shirt apart, revealing a hard chest with a patch of dark hair between chiseled pecs. His cinnamon-colored nipples begged to be squeezed and sucked. Jaxon’s dick started pulsing to the beat of the music, and he started panting like a dog in heat. Damn wolf genes. Slade’s unique scent had captivated him the minute they met. It had been a long time since he’d felt like this, but he couldn’t deny the primal attraction between him and the other wolf. He never lost his cool, and he looked around, thankful the other shifters hadn’t noticed. They were as worked up as him, their eyes glued to the stage. The beat picked up, and Slade took his shirt partway off a shoulder and covered it back up. Then he lowered the other side and covered up again, teasing his appreciative audience. Jaxon’s gaze followed the dark treasure trail that disappeared under the man’s leather pants, and then he focused on the impressive bulge at Slade’s crotch. He glanced over at Quinn. The bartender was salivating, his hand rubbing his own bulge. A wave of unreasonable jealousy ripped into Jaxon, surprising the hell out of him. All wolves were territorial, but this was crazy. He’d never experienced anything like it, even with his mate. Of course, Mike had never been the focus of a room full of randy wolves. Jaxon kept his human lover well hidden from the pack. He tamped down his testosterone-fueled emotions. This man was nothing more than a stray dog who’d come to him for a job. Catcalls and screams of “take it off” filled the room, and finally Slade removed his shirt and let it slip to the floor. Then he turned his back and bent to pick it up. The crowd went wild at the sight of Slade’s tight, firm ass positioned so temptingly in front of them. Jaxon was as mesmerized

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as all the others. Slade finally straightened up and threw the shirt off to the side. His handsome face was flush with excitement, and his sweat-slick torso gleamed under the light. Jaxon’s tongue itched to lick the moisture from his chest. Hands clasped behind his head, Slade rolled his hips in circles. This man bumping and grinding in time to the electronic music was completely confident in front of the crowd. Slade had told Jax he had never stripped before, but from the looks of it, he liked parading around in front of a mob of drooling shifters. He sure knew how to please his audience. Jaxon drew in a breath when Slade’s fingers hooked in the waistband of his leather pants and inched them down. Then the shifter flashed another sinful grin and tugged the leather down a little lower, teasing the crowd with a glimpse of wiry pubic hair peeking over the waistband. The crowd screamed for more, and the scent of wolf pheromones and testosterone filled the room. Slade slowly worked a zipper on his right pant leg. It came down inch by agonizing inch. Jaxon couldn’t take his eyes off the man’s leg. He had never been so turned on before. Slade started on the other leg, and Jaxon wanted a closer look. He had to force himself to stay seated. Finally both zippers were down, and Slade spread his legs. The pants hung between them like a very long loincloth. Jaxon admired Slade’s muscular thighs, imagining what else hung between them. Slade turned his back to the audience and they went silent, anticipating what he’d do next. He didn’t disappoint, pulling on the snaps at his waistband so the pants fell to the floor. Slade bent over to retrieve them, shamelessly showing off his firm, round ass. The shifters howled, and hot blood coursed through Jaxon’s body, straight to his cock. His wolf clawed at his gut, wanting to rim this guy’s ass right here, right now. Suddenly, Slade turned face front, and Jaxon thought he might come in his pants just from looking at the man’s

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fully erect penis bobbing from a nest of dark curls. Jaxon heard growling from the shifters around him and suddenly felt protective of the man on the stage. Cool it, Jaxon. Slade is a big boy. He can take care of himself. In fact, from the look of things, he’d probably be pissed if Jaxon interfered. Slade was crouched down on the stage giving the men an eyeful of his assets and collecting a small fortune in tips. The guy was hot as hell, and obviously in great demand. He’d have his choice of bed partners tonight. The thought sent a stab of something else through Jaxon’s body. Jealousy? His wolf liked a challenge. Completion was hardwired into his genes. He took a deep breath to control it. Forget it, Jaxon. You have a boyfriend. He turned away to ask Quinn for a beer. The bartender’s eyes were glued to the stage, and he was licking his lips. “Quinn!” “Yeah. Sorry, boss,” Quinn said sheepishly as he took Jaxon’s empty water bottle. “Can’t blame a guy for looking.” No he couldn’t, but Quinn was on duty, and Jaxon frowned his displeasure. Shit, did every wolf in this room want to claim the new guy? Jaxon’s own inner wolf growled his displeasure and curled up in his gut to sulk. “Gimme a beer.” Quinn threw him a funny look, but he set a bottle down in front of him. Jaxon picked it up, took a big swallow, and choked on it when two muscular arms circled him and two big hands planted themselves on the bar, trapping him in place. Slade’s scent overwhelmed him as the other wolf leaned over Jaxon’s shoulder and whispered in his ear. “Is the hired help allowed to have a drink with the boss?” Jaxon’s cock leaked like a drippy faucet. There was no hiding his arousal from another wolf. “Quinn, get the man a drink,” he said gruffly. Jaxon looked at the man sitting next to him and tilted his head, indicating he wanted him to vacate the seat. The shifter got up reluctantly and Slade, bare-chested but wearing his leather pants, took the stool. “I’ll have whatever the boss man is

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drinking,” he said to Quinn. “Your shift is over, Slade. You don’t have to call me boss.” “That’s a relief because I want to dance with you, and I was pretty sure it would be a mistake to flirt with my employer.” “Potential employer. I haven’t hired you yet.” Jaxon snorted. “Flirting won’t get you the job. Find another partner.” Slade leaned in close. “You’d be doing me a favor. The natives are restless, and if they see me with you, they’ll back off.” Slade wasn’t kidding. Jaxon glanced around and saw a number of men eyeing the new dancer and edging closer to the bar. It was nearing the end of the night, and inhibitions were being left by the wayside. He almost laughed out loud. Slade isn’t as tough as I thought if he wants help fending off the wildlife. Hell no. Jaxon didn’t want to send the wrong message to the crowd. He played his personal life close to the vest. In all the time he’d owned the club, he made it a point not to dance with any of the men. If Slade wanted to live and work in Dogtown, he’d better learn how to handle himself. “Sorry, I don’t dance.” “Your loss.” Slade picked up his bottle, stood, and started to walk away. Arrogant prick. “Slade.” Jaxon yelled, stopping the man in his tracks. “We’re not open on Sunday. Come back the same time Monday night.” Slade saluted with his beer bottle and made his way toward the pool room. Fuck him. Who does he think he is God’s gift to a shifter? Jaxon downed the rest of his beer and slammed the bottle on the bar. It shattered, and Quinn was there immediately with a rag. He really needed to take his raging hormones to bed. Unfortunately, he wouldn’t mind taking the new guy as well. Damn, the control freak was off his game tonight. He might as well go upstairs to his apartment.

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Jax took a walk past the pool room—just to make sure everything was quiet. Slade was leaning over the table, lining up a shot. A wellbuilt man with a blond ponytail came up behind him and edged closer until his hips brushed Slade’s ass. Slade straightened up and growled over his shoulder. “Back off.” Jaxon had never seen Ponytail before, but the big shifter looked like trouble. He hung in the back watching the scene play out in front of him. Ponytail ran a hand down Slade’s arm. “You looked a hell of lot friendlier on the stage.” “Yeah, well that was then, this is now. You’re ruining my game.” “I can think of a better game.” His eyes traveled below Slade’s waist. “Looks like you’re up for it.” “Fuck off.” Slade snarled. “If you don’t want the attention, you shouldn’t shake your ass in front of a bunch of hungry wolves.” “It was a show, asshole.” “Maybe I’d like a private show.” He put a palm on Slade’s hip and started a slow slide to his crotch. “I’ll make it worth your while.” Slade gave him a hard elbow to the chest. “Fucking tease.” Ponytail’s face turned ugly. The hair stood on the back of Jaxon’s neck, and he tensed, ready to jump in if Slade needed a hand. Slade caught Jaxon’s eye and winked, and then he turned and blocked Ponytail’s sucker punch. A big, ginger wolf picked up a cue stick and moved in on Slade. Before the prick knew what hit him, Jaxon slammed him to the floor. He planted a booted foot on the man’s chest and looked from him to Ponytail. “I want you both out— now.” Two enforcers appeared, as if by magic, and pulled the redhead to his feet. Ponytail put his hands up in surrender. “We don’t want any trouble.” He nodded to the redhead, and they followed the enforcers to the door.

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“Okay, boys. This show is over.” Jaxon nodded to Slade. “How about that dance you promised me?” The other men looked at each other, surprised at this new development, but they shrugged and went back to their game. Jaxon not only owned the club, but he was the closest thing to an Alpha in Dogtown. Somebody had to step up because no one else wanted the job. Slade grinned, and Jaxon got the distinct impression the man had planned the whole thing. Too late to back out now. He’d committed to a dance. “One dance.” He held up a forefinger. “And then I’m packing it in.” “That’s all I want.” Slade led the way, and the next thing Jaxon knew, they were on the dance floor and the sexy wolf was moving to a slow beat. “In hindsight, I should have put my shirt on, but I was hot and sweaty.” “Still are from the looks of it.” Jaxon eyed Slade’s chest. “But I don’t think a shirt would have helped,” he added. “For a first-timer, you’re pretty damn good. How do you do it? You make it look easy.” “Nothing to it,” Slade said, smiling. “Put your arms around me and just feel the music. Take it slow and easy.” Jaxon was keenly aware of everyone’s eyes on them, and he hesitated but finally let Slade pull him closer. Only one beer, but it had been enough to loosen him up a little. Besides, Slade’s moves oozed sex and were hard to resist. Slade nuzzled his cheek. “You smell good.” He licked Jaxon’s neck. “Hmm, taste good too.” Slade’s sweat and animal musk filled Jaxon’s nose, and following the man’s sensual moves was all too easy. Slade’s lips were inches from his. Jaxon had a momentary lapse of sanity, and he let Slade kiss him. Their tongues danced, and Slade’s hard prick rubbed against his own. Visions of their hot, sweaty bodies doing a tango on his bed danced behind his closed eyelids.

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Slade came up for air, nipping Jaxon’s bottom lip as he pulled back. “Feel what you do to me.” Only too well. Good sense prevailed. He already had a lover. “Keep that shit up and you’ll attract a lot more unwanted attention,” Jaxon warned him. “I only want your attention.” Slade’s words made his blood burn a hot path to his dick. What the hell had he started? “Sorry, I never mix business with pleasure.” “Neither do I, but I’m ready to make an exception in this case.” Fuck! Slade wasn’t going to make this easy. “It’s a cardinal rule.” “Okay then. I quit.” Slade forced Jaxon closer still. “You don’t even have to pay me for tonight.” Jaxon’s head spun. Being this close to Slade took his breath away, not to mention his will to argue. “I thought you needed a job. And you’ll be leaving me without a dancer.” “I don’t want to leave you at all. Just think about it. We’d be good together. I know it.” That’s the problem. Jax knew it, too. But he already had a partner he loved, and he didn’t want to screw up their relationship, not any more than he already had. It wasn’t easy maintaining a relationship with a human boyfriend. As de facto leader in Dogtown, Jaxon would lose all cred with the pack if they knew he had a human mate. Humans were for fucking only, and preferably outside of Dogtown’s boundaries. Letting them get too close to Were business wasn’t tolerated. He and Mike maintained separate residences and always met at Mike’s apartment in the Village. Jaxon could pass as human, but a human could not pass a sniff test in Dogtown. So Jaxon’s time with Mike was limited, and lately Mike had been getting distant. Jaxon was afraid the frequent absences and deception were wearing his lover down. He didn’t like it either, but what could he do? He’d told Mike to find someone else. They could still maintain a relationship, just see other people. It was unnatural to abstain from

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sex for long periods of time when they couldn’t see each other. Mike said he wasn’t sure he could handle a relationship that wasn’t hermetically sealed. He didn’t want anyone else, so Jaxon remained monogamous, too. Only it was harder for a wolf… Jaxon possessed a shifter’s biological imperative, the need to perpetuate their existence, to survive. He might be gay but he still had the high sexual appetite that was inbred in every Were. Like attracts like. It was the law of the universe. Somewhere out there was a wolfshifter meant for him alone but with his people scattered all over the world, it was unlikely they would ever meet. But somehow he’d been lucky enough to find a kindred spirit in Mike, a human male. Right from the first, they had connected—both feeling as though they had known each other forever. Their feelings went way beyond the physical. Most humans believed Jax was nothing but an animal. Mike saw beneath the surface and made him feel worthy of the love he lavished on the shifter. They had forged a connection that went beyond genetics. “So what do you say?” Slade’s hands slipped under the waistband of Jaxon’s jeans and his fingers found their way to the crease between his bare cheeks. “Do I have a chance?” Jaxon couldn’t help the moan that escaped from his lips. Wolf claws raked his gut and he found himself losing control. His lupine spirit had never threatened to come out on its own. Who was this man who excited his wolf into such a state of heightened emotional and sexual receptivity? Is this the wolf-shifter I was meant to meet? Slade murmured in his ear, “I know you don’t want me to stop.” His fingers pressed deeper. “Promise me you’ll think about it…about me.” Fuck! He wouldn’t be able to think about anything else after tonight. Damn, he wanted this man. “Yes,” he hissed. “Promise.” “Good.” Slade’s voice was rough with hunger. “That’s all I’m asking.” Slade stepped aside, and the extent of Jaxon’s disappointment shocked him.

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“Sleep good, baby. I’ll see you Monday night.” Fuck. Jaxon knew he wouldn’t sleep at all. He needed to see Mike and try to get this wolf out of his head. It was 3:00 a.m., but he didn’t give a fuck. Needier than he’d been in a long time, he needed to see his lover.

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Chapter Two Jaxon let himself into Mike’s apartment. Although he had his own key, he rarely used it. Hopefully, his lover would be pleasantly surprised to see him. Jaxon undressed quietly in the living room, planning to slip into bed next to Mike and spend the night. Maybe he’d get lucky and Mike would wake up. If not, he could wait until morning. It was only a few hours off. He left his clothes on the floor and tiptoed into the bedroom, but he’d barely gotten past the threshold when the light went on. Mike sat up scowling. “Do you know what time it is?” Not exactly the greeting I was hoping for. “Sorry, baby.” Jaxon yawned and scrubbed a hand through his unruly chestnut waves. “I didn’t mean to wake you.” Jaxon sat on the edge of the mattress. “I really missed you, baby.” He slipped a hand under the blanket. Damn, Mike really was pissed. “Go back to sleep. I’ll just slide in next to you.” Mike looked at him reproachfully. “You smell like cinnamon.” “You know I was at the club—” “Yeah, and some cinnamon-smelling slut was all over you.” Mike lay down and threw an arm over his face. “Go home, Jax.” Jaxon pulled Mike’s arm away and studied his face, trying to see if he meant it. God, his lover really was more gorgeous than any man had a right to be. “I know you don’t mean it.” At least I hope not. He and Mike had been together for over a year, and he couldn’t imagine being without him. Even though he didn’t see Mike as much as he would have liked, it felt good knowing Mike was there when he needed him, like now.

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“I do mean it. Get out.” But Mike said it in a halfhearted manner and Jaxon stayed put. “Let me change your mind.” Jax yanked the covers off Mike’s prone form and stared at his broad chest and narrow hips, the sight of which never failed to turn him on. The dark blond hair on Mike’s toned body matched the hair on his head, cut short because he worked for the New York Police Department. An image of Mike in uniform flashed through Jaxon’s head. Damn, he loved a man in uniform. Mike was working plainclothes now, but his blues still hung in the closet for playtime. “Punish me, baby. Put your uniform on and you can handcuff me to the bed and spank me.” Mike scowled at him. “You’re crazy if you think I’m getting out of bed and getting dressed.” No problem. He’d settle for a naked Mike. In or out of uniform, he was hot. Even if Mike wasn’t thrilled to see him, Jax was glad he’d come. Seeing Mike always settled him, reminded him how good it felt to have somebody. He was lucky they met at all. Quinn had been buying bar supplies, and he’d gotten picked up outside Dogtown on suspicion of armed burglary. Mike and his partner had taken the shifter to the local precinct and allowed him to call a lawyer. Quinn had called Jaxon, and he went down to the station to bail him out. They were ready to throw the book at the bartender when another cop brought in the real perp, a human. It turned out to be a case of mistaken identity. Mike’s partner, a racist and a bigot, had put Quinn through the wringer when he found out he lived in Dogtown. But Mike had been apologetic and nothing but nice. Not all humans were assholes. He and Jaxon had an instant connection, and Mike gave him a card with his private cell number scribbled on the back. Jaxon had pulled it out of his pocket a hundred times, intending to tear it in two and toss it. Instead he’d ended up calling the cop. Mike had met him at an out-of-the-way spot for dinner, and the two men had been seeing each other ever since.

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For a shifter, a man like Mike was an exotic, blue-eyed treat, and right now he looked good enough to eat. His lover’s cut cock, long and thick, and his big, low-slung balls made Jaxon’s mouth water. His own cock came to life as he wrapped his fingers around Mike’s awakening erection. The gorgeous, heavily veined cock was already leaking fluid, and Jaxon used it to lubricate the shaft. Mike tensed, but he didn’t pull away. “I want to go to the club tonight,” he blurted out. No one has to know who I am. You don’t even have to acknowledge me. I’ll come in for a drink, have a look around.” “Not a good idea.” Jaxon started working on Mike’s prick, stroking from the top all the way to the bottom then releasing as his other hand stroked from top to bottom, creating an alternating motion that never failed to get a rise out of Mike. “Damn you. I want to sleep in your bed for a change.” “I want that, too, but The Kennel Club is off-limits to humans. You wouldn’t even get past the door unless I brought you in. The men get rowdy sometimes, and if they find out you’re a cop…” His voice trailed off. Mike’s cock was filling nicely, and Jaxon really didn’t want to talk about the club. “I’ve heard all this before.” “And you’ll hear it again. It’s for your own good. If anything happened to you, I’d never forgive myself.” Jaxon couldn’t wait another minute. He needed to have Mike inside his mouth. “Oh, God. Jax!” **** With no warning, Jaxon swallowed his prick until his nose was rubbing Mike’s pubes. Damn him. Mike had wanted to throw him out, he really did, and for more reasons than one, but he couldn’t do it. First off, with all that hand action going on, it made it impossible to

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think straight. Now Jaxon’s hot mouth had swallowed his anger along with his dick, and he was lost. Mike never meant it to happen, but somehow, he’d fallen under the shifter’s spell and become totally smitten with the wolf. He had not an ounce of self-control when Jaxon got near him, and that was part of the attraction. It was nice to give up control sometimes, especially to someone a man could trust, and he trusted Jaxon— completely. Oh, he might give him a hard time once and in a while, but he knew Jax would always be honest with him. They had something good between them, and it made doing his job so much harder. A job he now wished with all his heart that he could quit. But once the Feds had a man under their thumb, they would never let him go. Mike had started service with NYPD as a probie, a probationary police officer. After six months he was automatically promoted to the rank of police officer. Ultimately he wanted to be a detective, and he’d already worked a few investigative assignments, but the budgetconscious department had been dragging their feet on promotions. He became increasingly frustrated until his Captain called him in the office one day and offered him a proposition he’d almost refused. He’d been assigned to the Division of Shifter Affairs, better known as the DSA, a fairly new branch of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It had been set up as a watchdog for Were population across the country, and right now they were knee-deep in the middle of investigating the wolf-shifters in New York. The Feds believed that the growing community of wolves had formed a resistance movement and were preparing for an armed rebellion against what they considered unfair practices against all shifters. DSA had asked for help from the NYPD. In order to keep their investigation as quiet as possible, the Special Ops unit was only asking for one man to join them, but that man would have to infiltrate the Were community and bring back whatever information he could gather. Mike had been picked because his Captain knew he’d befriended Jaxon. He didn’t

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know they were lovers, but if it helped the investigation, he’d probably encourage it. If Mike completed his assignment successfully, he’d be assured of a promotion to detective, or a permanent post with the DSA, but that wasn’t the real reason he took the job. He accepted because he saw it as a way to help Jax. He intended to prove that Jax had done nothing wrong. His new boss warned him to keep his position a secret. He would have anyway because he knew Jax would go crazy if he found out. In hindsight, he felt he should have turned it down, but it was way too late for second thoughts. Mike had nobody to blame but himself for the permanent knot in his gut. It is what it is. Although his superiors wouldn’t believe him, Mike knew Jaxon was not a terrorist. Now he consoled himself with the thought that at least he was in a position to help Jaxon. And if the government decided to start pulling in members of the shifter community, he could warn them. Right now he just wanted to forget the job, forget everything but how great Jaxon’s mouth felt on his dick. Most people, men and women, didn’t know the first thing about sucking cock. They thought all they had to do was close their lips around a man’s penis and bob their heads up and down. But Jaxon was an expert cocksucker. His hot mouth slid up the length of Mike’s cock, tongue swirling around the head. Then his wet heat engulfed Mike’s length once again. Only Jax’s tight hold on his hips kept Mike from thrusting into his throat. “You’re fucking killing me,” he groaned. Jax hummed around his cock and slipped a hand under his ass to finger his hole, and his eyes rolled back in his head. There was no point trying to string a few words together because he’d lost the power of speech. All he could do was moan his pleasure and hang on for the ride. He gripped the sheets while Jax increased his suction and tried to suck Mike’s brains out through his cock. Sparks started exploding behind his eyelids as Jaxon’s long finger finally pushed past the tight ring of muscle and penetrated his ass. Jaxon’s mouth slid down his shaft once more, and he couldn’t hold back. Mike

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slammed his head back against the pillows and shouted Jaxon’s name as he filled his lover’s throat with thick spurts of cum. Jax swallowed his load, only releasing him when his muffled cries stopped. Crawling up his body, Jax lay next to him and gripped the back of his head, pulling him in for a deep kiss. He surrendered to the demanding mouth, loving the hungry assault and the taste of his own cum on his lover’s lips. Jaxon’s kisses turned rougher and more demanding. His tongue explored Mike’s mouth while his hands explored his body. It looked as if going back to sleep was not an option. Didn’t matter, Mike was wide awake now. “Love me?” Jax whispered in his ear. “Love you.” **** Lost in thought, Slade walked back to his apartment. The building, a converted brownstone owned by Benjamin Wolfe, was only five blocks from the club. Benjamin had Slade’s last name, but they were not related. Way too many shifters were named Wolfe. Through the years, many of his people had been wiped out, leaving orphaned babies who had been given the name Wolfe and raised in so-called adoption agencies. Of course very few were adopted. The humans didn’t want Were babies, and the shifters could barely care for themselves. Today, there were fewer babies in the human facilities because shifters were more inclined to help their own. There were laws protecting them as endangered species, and they were banding together, forming their own segregated neighborhoods. Unfortunately the politicians saw their actions as hostile moves. The government wanted to maintain the status quo and would do anything to stop the perceived threat of a rebellion by the shifters. Slade reached the brownstone and walked up the six steps to the entrance. The blue double doors with full-length frosted glass and

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arch transom, so different from his very modern condo in LA, brightened up the drab exterior of the building. The one-bedroom, third-floor walk-up was small and sparsely furnished but clean and comfortable. Ben had given him a month-to-month lease. Perfect. Slade didn’t plan on staying too long. This assignment disturbed him more than he wanted to admit. A few years ago he’d been working security for one of the few companies that didn’t discriminate against Weres. His boss was impressed with him because he didn’t hide his identity when he filled out the job application like so many others. One day his supervisor called him in the office and introduced him to an FBI agent. The Federal Bureau of Investigation was recruiting for a special covert operation and they wanted him. At first he was shocked. Why would they pick a shifter? He should have realized they wanted him to spy on his own. The DSA, Division of Shifter Affairs wasn’t wellknown, but then it was just in its infancy. It would grow and eventually become the US government’s official eavesdropping service for Were affairs. The act of undercover policing had proven tricky when it came to investigating Weres. A shifter could sniff out a snitch easily. Subterfuge was hard enough when spying on humans. With the wolves it was near impossible—unless the spy was also a wolf who knew how to blend in. Working security had taught Slade how to hide in plain sight. Were operatives were few and far between. The Feds were picky, and Slade actually felt flattered to be chosen. Still he almost turned it down. He should have. More and more he thought he’d made a mistake joining up, but they had promised him the world—big salary plus unlimited expense account and most important, the security of knowing he’d never be prosecuted by the human government. But the biggie was a benefit the Feds weren’t even aware of. Slade wanted to believe he’d be helping his own people. That he could do more for the Weres working inside the Federal government than outside.

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He put everything into his work. No hobbies. No family. No men. Just his career. But so far he hadn’t done shit to help anyone but himself. At first he’d been given short-term cases involving shifters, vamps, and cats as well as wolves like himself. But his investigations had been minor white collar stuff on the West Coast. Then he was handed something totally different. The New York Police Department, in collaboration with allied agencies, and the Feds had been investigating Dogtown and alleged terrorist, Jaxon Castle, for over two years. The Feds wanted Castle badly, but they couldn’t get anything concrete. It was then Slade realized they’d been grooming him for this assignment. He didn’t like it. This one didn’t pass the smell test. And he liked it even less when he had to relocate. New York was like a foreign country to him. He needed to get the lay of the land, so for two weeks prior to moving into Dogtown he’d passed as human and moved from hotel to hotel, sightseeing and getting a feel for the surroundings. What he discovered, he didn’t like. The different neighborhoods all had one thing in common. The residents didn’t like shifters. Weres and humans had never gotten along, but on the West Coast they were treated better. Here, bigotry and discrimination were tolerated, even encouraged. He’d seen enough to last a lifetime. When he arrived in Dogtown yesterday, posing as a shifter with legal problems who had to leave the West Coast in a hurry, he still felt out of his comfort zone. He’d gone straight to The Kennel Club and asked for a job. Expecting Jaxon to be suspicious and hesitant, Slade had been pleasantly surprised at how quickly he’d been hired. By a lucky coincidence Jaxon’s dancer had not shown up, and Jaxon gave him a chance to show his stuff. He’d expected to be bartending but instead he ended up stripping. It wasn’t the job Slade would have chosen, but beggars couldn’t be choosers. And it would make it a whole lot easier to get close to Jaxon. The shifter was practically creaming his pants when Slade shed his. Of course Slade was pretty

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aroused himself, not a good idea when the target of his desire was the target of a federal probe. He really needed to keep his mind on the prize. The carrot dangling in front of his nose was a promotion. He’d be a big shot in the DSA and have the opportunity to select his own operatives. The Feds wanted him to recruit other wolf-shifters, and he was on board with that. The more of his people on the inside, the better it would be for all shifters. He had the full cooperation of the city, and it was his job to find proof for the Feds or…and that or weighed heavy on his mind. His immediate superior had insinuated that if he didn’t find anything concrete he was to manufacture it. It’s for the good of the country. That’s what they told him. Only he wasn’t so sure. In his line of business, it wasn’t smart to trust anyone, even your own bosses. Supposedly, Castle was organizing a terrorist group to overthrow the local government. One human operative had spent the better part of a year getting close to Castle, but not close enough to get inside Dogtown. Now that Slade had infiltrated the neighborhood, his next step was to make contact with the human undercover agent, posing as a cop in the NYPD. Between them they were to get enough on Jaxon Castle to bring him in and make an example of him. Human or wolf, a criminal was still a criminal, but something told him this case was not clear cut. One way or another he’d get at the truth, and then he’d decide what to do with it. Slade climbed the narrow staircase to his flat, threw off his clothes and sprawled on the bed, but sleep eluded him. His raging lupine pheromones went into overdrive every time he got near his target. His wolfen sex drive was going to get him into trouble if he didn’t develop a little more self-control. Ever since he laid eyes on Jaxon Castle, he’d been hot, horny, and confused. He’d only just met the man, but as soon as he laid eyes on the owner of the club, he turned into a giddy cub with his first crush. His nipples had gone tight and a throbbing had started between his

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thighs that threatened to make him pop right then and there. He was so hot that he couldn’t wait to get on the stage and take his clothes off. Thinking about Jaxon while he danced made him feel sexy, and the heat in Jaxon’s gaze told him the other wolf appreciated his moves. He had never felt such incredible lust for a man. If he didn’t know better, he might think the old legends were true—that a Were knew his mate as soon as he caught his scent. But he did know better. The stories were just that—fairy tales created by people searching for origins obscured by the passing centuries. Refusing to believe the scientific explanation of mutated genes, many wolf-shifters attributed their abilities to King Lycaon, who had been turned into a wolf by the god Zeus. According to folklore, Lycaon and a human lover had spawned the first wolf-shifters. Inbred with a need to survive, their biological imperative inevitably pushed them toward reproducing with their own kind. But the desire for sex was more than Mother Nature’s wake-up call to spawn offspring. Fucking was an entirely pleasurable experience with or without the chance of reproduction. It was said that eventually even gay shifters became hard-wired with an evolutionary need to mate with other male-shifters. Bullshit! What about wolf-shifters who fucked other Weres or humans? What am I? Some throwback? No one could tell Slade that he existed at the mercy of his hormones. Greek mythology had no place in the modern world. Still, there was no denying that Slade’s dormant wolf spirit came out of hibernation when he got near Jaxon. The randy beast wanted to hunt, capture, fuck, in a primal way Slade had never experienced before. Slade reminded himself, he was in New York to bring Jaxon Castle down, not to fall for him. Unfortunately, he’d always been tempted by the forbidden, and Jaxon tempted him. Even if seducing

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the man hadn’t been part of his job, he might have gone after the dark shifter. It was going to be hell trying to bring down a man he was attracted to, a man who had already gotten under his wolfskin. Even though Slade was working for the other side, he didn’t want to see one of his own get hurt. Sometimes he hated his job. This was one of those times.

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Chapter Three Slade woke groggy and disoriented after a few hours of restless sleep. He propped himself up on an elbow and glanced at the alarm clock. Fuck! Only 5:00 a.m. Flopping back on the pillow, he tried for a few more hours of shut-eye, but he was way too wired to go back to sleep. Memories of the night before flooded his mind and started his cock twitching. Jaxon. The man haunted his dreams, starred in his erotic fantasies, and instigated the uncomfortable, sticky, wet spot under his ass. Fuck. He hadn’t experienced a wet dream since he was a cub. Slade had experienced lust at first sight more than a few times. There had been many men in his past, not lately, because now his job came first. But in his younger days, he’d felt his fair share of chemistry and the desire to fuck someone the first time he laid eyes on him. Love ’em and leave ’em. He’d been that kind of guy, and it served him well, especially now in his line of work. Allowing someone to get close was a recipe for disaster, but this time the intensity of his want shocked him. He couldn’t remember a time when his desire for a man kept him awake and on edge like this. What was it about Jaxon that tied him up in knots? As soon as he’d walked into Jaxon’s office, goose bumps had risen on his body, his legs had gone weak, and a pleasurable throbbing had started between his thighs that made him forget this was an assignment. Jaxon had felt something, too. He’d smelled arousal all over the other wolf, and knowing he’d caused it had sent a flood tide of anticipation through his body, quickly followed by a

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sinking feeling of doom. This could be a good thing or a major snafu. Situation Normal All Fucked Up. He’d seen a few of those in his day—usually when an agent let his own feelings get in the way of his objective. Slade wanted to use Castle’s attraction to his advantage, but the attraction went both ways, and that could fubar the operation. The wolf tempted him, and temptation had no place in special ops. Letting distractions get in the way of the objective put him in as much danger as his prey—more. Slade always relied on his mental and emotional detachment to get him through situations. It was one of the reasons the bureau had hired him. He’d just have to use more control to deal with this insane infatuation. He had no choice because he needed to get inside Castle’s living quarters to plant his bugs. The man lived, worked, ate, and slept in that damn club. Slade would never get inside his apartment without an invitation. Seduction looked like his only option. Fuck! He hadn’t planned on this complication. He wanted…no, he needed, to see Jaxon ASAP. The sooner he got this over with, the better. If he had to wait until Monday night he’d go stark raving mad. His crazy wolf hormones wouldn’t let him have a moment’s peace. Usually one fuck was all it took to convince him the object of his desire was not as desirable as he first thought. The sooner he could get into Castle’s pants, the sooner he could start surveillance and get the wolf out of his system. Then he could concentrate on collecting his evidence and getting out of Dogtown. **** Slade waited until eleven before calling Castle. The club owner seemed surprised to hear his voice but agreed to see him. Dogtown occupied a relatively small area, as far as acreage went, but it was one of the most populated neighborhoods in New York. Young punks were already hanging in front of crumbling Brownstones and boarded-up storefronts. Wolfen eyes scrutinized him as he passed, but

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nobody bothered him. He wondered if a human would get the same treatment. He doubted it. A low economy bred boredom and alienation, a ripe atmosphere for wolf gangs to spring up, men bonding to find identities and excitement. Slade found the front entrance to the club securely locked, but Castle had installed an intercom system. Slade pressed the bell, and almost immediately Jaxon’s voice came through the speaker. He identified himself, and Castle buzzed him in. The other wolf was waiting for Slade in the small entry area where the bouncer normally stood. Immediately, Slade’s pulse increased and butterflies migrated in his stomach. “What’s on your mind, Slade?” Nothing like getting right to the point. “It’s about last night.” “Let’s talk upstairs in my office.” Slade nodded and followed Jaxon past the kitchen to a narrow flight of stairs in the back. Castle’s dimly lit office needed a paint job badly. “Have a seat.” Jaxon motioned toward a chair and seated himself behind a wood desk that took up most of the room. He threw a bunch of files over a half-eaten breakfast congealing on a plate and leaned back in his chair. His chiseled face looked like it could be on Mount Rushmore—if he were human. Castle’s face was inscrutable, but maybe Slade hadn’t known him long enough to be able to read him. Jaxon, on the other hand, didn’t seem to be having the same problem. His eyes bored into Slade as if he were taking him apart piece by piece, discovering what made him tick, and then putting him back together again. It was a weird sensation, but short of knocking Castle unconscious or walking out, there was nothing he could do about it. So he stared back, waiting him out. Finally, Castle sat up straighter and broke the silence. “What’s on your mind, Slade?” “I was out of order last night. I want to apologize.”

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“Apology accepted.” “Thanks. If I’m going to be working for you, I don’t want any bad blood between us.” “There won’t be.” “And I appreciate the help with that ponytailed—” “What’s really on your mind, Slade?” “The same thing that’s on yours,” Slade responded quickly. Jaxon let the words hang in the air so long that Slade was afraid the other wolf didn’t catch his drift. Finally he found his tongue. “Not here.” “Where?” “My apartment.” “Lead the way.” **** They walked back into the hall, and Jaxon led him to a door on the left. He stood in front of it for a moment as if undecided. Finally he unlocked the door and stepped aside so Slade could enter. Ah…The inner Sanctum, at last. The apartment décor looked pretty much like the office—dark, old, and messy. Slade felt like Suzy Homemaker next to Jaxon. But the overstuffed chairs looked comfortable, and there were bookshelves lining an entire wall. Slade studied the titles, an eclectic mix of mysteries, thrillers, science fiction, and science fact. Jaxon came up behind Slade, just close enough that he could feel the steel rod at his ass. “Did you come here to read or to fuck?” Slade turned, his heart just about pounding out of his chest. “You don’t waste any time, do you?” “I’m a man of few words. I think you are, too. We both know what we want. Why beat around the bush?”

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“Well said.” Slade was eager for a taste of the wolf. He moved in close and parted his lips in mute invitation. They met halfway, and Jaxon’s prick rubbing against his burned like a stick of dynamite waiting to explode. “Let’s take this to the bedroom,” Jaxon said harshly. He was already unbuttoning his shirt. They left a trail of clothes behind them, arriving at the king-size bed butt naked. Jaxon shoved Slade down on his back and crawled between his legs. Before Slade could say a word, his dick was in Jaxon’s mouth. He let out a surprised gasp and dug his fingers into Jaxon’s scalp. A very talented tongue explored the head of Slade’s penis and then licked the underside of the shaft before attacking his balls. The man was good. He kept his lips over his teeth for a smooth ride and then uncovered them and grazed Slade’s sensitive flesh in all the right places. “Fuck…Jaxon…” Slade moaned and tugged at his hair. His hips bucked up off the bed, his entire groin on fire. Jaxon wrapped his hand around the base of Slade’s cock and jacked him off while he sucked. One hand stroked in tandem with his mouth and the other hand caressed Slade’s scrotum. Jaxon kept him on the edge, and his frustration built. Finally he bent Slade’s legs back and licked the sensitive area between his anus and his balls. He nibbled around the opening and then licked Slade’s puckered entrance. When Jaxon’s tongue probed the hole, Slade grabbed his own cock. One tug and he was gone, crying out Jaxon’s name and quivering as he shot his load. Jaxon laid his head on Slade’s thigh and caught his breath. Then he got to his knees and licked the cum from Slade’s belly. “Holy hell, that was good, Castle.” Jaxon lifted his head. “I just sucked you off. Do you think you could call me Jax, or at least Jaxon?” Slade busted out laughing. “What’s so damn funny?”

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Slade combed his fingers through Jaxon’s hair and held up his forefinger. It was covered with his cum. “It’s a good look on you.” He grinned widely. “Makes a good conditioner, too.” “Oh, yeah. Well I’d return the favor, but I’d rather fuck you.” Slade’s heart skittered. “I’d rather you fuck me, too.” “Good because I was afraid you might want to top.” Slade pulled Jax down and wrapped his long legs around him. “I do—next time.” “What makes you think there’ll be a next time?” “I know there will. You’re enjoying this way too much.” “That’s what I’m afraid of.” Jax lifted up and looked down at Slade. “How long has it been?” “Too long.” Jax struggled out of Slade’s embrace and got off the bed. “Where are you going?” “To get the lube. I’m going to fuck you hard, and I don’t want to hurt you.” Jesus Christ. He was hard already. Everything the man said or did turned him on. He’d never had such a quick comeback. Jax climbed up on the bed and squirted lube in his hands. He warmed it between his palms and stroked it over his dick. Slade watched, hypnotized by Jaxon’s hands on his own shaft. “How do you keep from popping?” “It hasn’t been that long for me.” A spark of jealousy pierced Slade, surprising him. What did he care who Jaxon fucked? “Okay, roll over and get on all fours.” Slade obeyed immediately, spreading his ass cheeks for Jax. A big slippery palm caressed one cheek. “Damn, you have a beautiful ass. I wanted it as soon as I met you.” Slade liked the way Jax spoke and acted in the bedroom. He might be a man of few words, but every word counted for something. He wished he could be as honest and open as Castle. “It’s all yours. I

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want this bad.” Admitting he wanted Jax to fuck him was as far as he could go. If not for the job, he probably wouldn’t have gone that far. Slade had never been any good at expressing his feelings. Hell, he’d always had trouble admitting his feelings to himself. Still couldn’t get past it. He’d always had trust issues but in his business it wasn’t a bad thing. Judgments about who to trust had kept him alive so far. Slade felt a nozzle penetrate his ass, and cool lube lined his passage. Jax leaned over and kissed his back as a long finger pressed past the muscles of his anus. He groaned while the finger probed deeper and then retreated. “Did I hurt you?” “No, keep going.” This time two fingers entered him and struck a nerve. Jax tickled a spot that started pleasure waves spreading out over his body. The waves amplified and sensitized every part of him, his nipples, his inner thighs… An explosive current skimmed over his nerve endings and each individual hair shaft on his body danced as if he’d been electrified. Sweat beaded on his upper lip as he struggled to hold back another orgasm. “Oh, God…Jax…fuck me, please.” “Okay, stud. I think you’re ready.” Jaxon removed his fingers and gave his ass a hard spank. Slade twisted his head to complain and was surprised when Jax captured his mouth for a kiss. Jax nipped his lower lip as he pulled away. Then Jaxon’s hard length was filling him. The initial burn turned to pleasure, and Slade shoved back until his lover’s cock was buried completely. Strong hands gripped Slade’s hips, and he was fucked with long, slow strokes. The sensation of being filled was almost too much, and Slade bit his lips to keep from screaming. The other shifter seemed to know he was holding back, because he urged Slade on. “Scream for me, Slade. Show me how much you love to have my cock buried in your ass.” His hand reached around to Slade’s cock and fisted the shaft. “I won’t last long,” he growled.

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It wouldn’t matter because Slade knew he wouldn’t either. Jaxon ground his hips in a circle and his dick rubbed the sweet spot inside Slade that set his nerves on fire. An orgasm built at the base of his spine and spread. One more tug on his cock and he was over the edge, spurting ropes of sticky cum on the sheets. “Oh…fuck.” Jax thrust forward one more time and exploded inside Slade. He waited a few minutes then pulled away and collapsed on the bed next to him. “That was great.” He pulled Slade in for a soft, lingering kiss. What the hell? Another kiss? Slade had never been much for kissing. He thought he’d have to fake it, but he responded eagerly to Jaxon’s kisses. He didn’t want to stop, but unwelcome thoughts intruded on his pleasure. If he didn’t plant his bugs now he might lose this opportunity. “Hmm…I thought so, too.” Think, Slade. Use your other head. “I’m dry as sandpaper. You have anything to drink?” Jax made a move to get up, and Slade stopped him. “I’ll go. I need to check my cell anyway.” Jax lay back on the pillow. “There’s bottled water in the fridge. Juice, too. If you want something stronger—” I don’t. Water is fine. I’ll bring some back for you.” Slade had what could be the world’s smallest wireless transmitter. It was programmed to his cell phone. He only had to call in to listen to the recording. No rings, beeps, or clicks would sound to alert the target. And best of all, no distance limitation. He’d already picked his spot the minute he entered the living room. The bottom of Jaxon’s bookshelves was maybe an inch off the floor. Slade quickly slid the device under it and went in the kitchen for water. He was trying to decide between bottled water and apple juice when he felt Jaxon’s arms circle him. “Tough decision?” “Just wondering which one you’d want.”

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Jax reached past him and grabbed a bottle of water. Slade took one, too, and followed him into the living room. Jax sat on the couch and looked around. “Not much to look at, huh?” Slade shrugged. “At least it’s home. I move around so much… I don’t have a permanent place.” “That’s too bad.” Jax took a big swallow from the bottle. “So tell me, Slade, why are you on the run?” “The usual shit. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. A buddy put me up for a few nights, and his place got busted for drugs. We got out on bail, and I booked. I didn’t see any point in sticking around to defend myself against something I didn’t even do.” “I hear ya.” “I appreciate the job and the heads-up on the apartment. Benjamin seems solid.” “He is. You can trust him.” Jax got quiet for a few minutes. “You’re great, Slade.” “But…” “But we can’t do this again.” Confused, Slade kept his mouth shut. He didn’t need to do it again. His bug was planted, and he’d already hid one in Jaxon’s office. And this was supposed to be a once-is-enough thing, guaranteed to get Jaxon Castle out of his head once and for all. Slade should be thrilled that Jax was the one saying we can’t do this again. So why wasn’t he? Slade had heard all the arguments against casual sex, but it had never bothered him before. When he was a young man, most of his partners were one-night stands he picked up in bars. Sometimes they didn’t even exchange names. He always rationalized it by telling himself, “Why not, who does it hurt?” This time it might hurt him. Deep down, he had a feeling there’d be no such thing as “casual sex” with Jaxon Castle. It appeared that having sex with this particular man had caused Slade’s spark of arousal to flame into some serious affection—a feeling that went

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beyond the physical. He hadn’t even left the apartment yet, and already he felt guilty and lonely. Up till now, sex had been nothing more than a physical release for him. This time it had felt like a close encounter of the nth degree, maybe the most intimate one he’d ever had. Two bodies becoming one, that’s what it felt like. Whether he liked it or not there would be emotional consequences from this coupling. Maybe that’s why some people referred to sex as “making love.” Well, he wasn’t ready to go there, not by a long shot, but Slade was beginning to see how sex could cause strong feelings for both partners. Except in this case Jaxon didn’t seem to feel that same connection. “A penny for your thoughts?” Jax asked. “I liked the sex. I think you did, too. What’s the problem?” “I told you before that I don’t mix business with pleasure. I don’t sleep with the men who work for me, or the men who come to the bar to play.” Who the fuck is he sleeping with? “I keep my personal life personal. It makes things easier.” “So why me, why today?” Jaxon looked away, frowning. “I wanted you, my wolf wanted you… I thought if I got you out of my system I wouldn’t go into heat every time we got near each other.” He shrugged and smiled apologetically. “I just want to move on to a working relationship. I hope I didn’t make things worse.” I’ll be damned! He believes the old folktales. “No. It’s all good. I know exactly how you feel. I don’t do relationships. I don’t do sex with a man more than once. And I definitely don’t want to complicate my life any more than it already is.” Slade started dressing. “You’ll come to work tomorrow night?” “Of course. I have to pay my rent.” Jax walked him downstairs and told him he’d see him Monday. There was no kiss goodbye.

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Chapter Four God, I hate Mondays. Slade had been awake for hours. He’d spent another rough night tossing and turning on sweat-soaked sheets. He couldn’t get Jaxon out of his head. Every time he closed his eyes the sex played over and over behind his eyelids, like a hardcore porn video on repeat. Jaxon’s grunts and moans as he drove into Slade’s ass. Jaxon sucking him off. Jaxon kissing him. It was all good. But he hadn’t expected to be thinking about it all night and into the morning. They had fucked like sex-crazed teenagers. He’d come twice. One roll in the hay with the wolf was supposed to cure his itch. Now he wanted to scratch it again. What’s that all about? Could there be something to this mating drama crap? No, it was just plain old lust. He tried to push the erotic thoughts out of his head, but they wouldn’t go. Throwing back the blanket, he sat up and swung his feet over the side of the bed. He grasped his morning wood in his hand, gave it a few halfhearted tugs, and gave up. It was Jaxon’s mouth he wanted on his dick. He had work to do, and it didn’t include mooning over another man all day. The bugs had been planted, and he needed to monitor them. And fuck it all if he didn’t feel guilty as hell about it. He didn’t want to spy on Jaxon—and for more than the obvious reasons. He might find out who was sleeping in the wolf’s bed, and that would only piss him off more. But spying on his new fuck buddy was all part of his job, and if Jaxon wasn’t on the up and up, he’d have no choice but to bring him down. He bit back an urge to call the bureau chief and resign. Telling himself he was doing important work here, he decided on a course of action. First a shower, then he’d listen to the

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tapes and decide if there was anything he needed to report. He expected a call from his contact with the NYPD and probably a meeting later. Slade headed for the bathroom. He frowned at the purple floral design on the shower curtain. The previous occupant of this apartment had shitty taste, but he hadn’t changed the décor because he didn’t plan on staying in New York too long. His boss had promised him the next assignment would be back in Los Angeles, and that was a big incentive to get things wrapped up in Dogtown as quickly as possible. But this morning the ugly design bothered him more than ever, and he made a note to buy a new curtain. He stepped into the combo tub and shower and yanked the curtain closed behind him. Slade stood under a cold stream until his erection went down, and then he adjusted the water temperature until it was just the way he liked it—hot. The room might be small, but there was no shortage of hot water. Steam fogged the room, and Slade tried to relax under the pounding spray. It felt good and relieved some of his tension. He lathered soap over his chest, down his stomach, and lower. The soap had a subtle fragrance that reminded him of Jaxon. Must be a popular brand. Unfortunately the minty scent brought back all kinds of memories that aroused and excited him until his cock rose to halfmast. It wouldn’t be the first time he had to take care of his own needs. Taking his stiffening erection in hand, he gave it the attention it craved. The soap allowed his thickly veined shaft to slide smoothly in his fist, and he soon had it slapping against his stomach and weeping for more of the same. Fuck, he wanted more than his own hand getting him off. He’d never felt so hungry for another man. When he’d reached sexual maturity and realized he was gay, he bedded a series of men, onenight flings filled with wild emotionless sex. Just as well he never found anyone he really cared for, because when he entered law enforcement his number-one priority became work. Still was. So why

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did he want to see Jaxon again…and again…and again…It was only sex. Right? Maybe there was something to this heat business. Slade groaned as a flash of memory brought back an image of Jaxon between his knees, cheeks drawn as his talented mouth sucked Slade to completion. His testicles drew up, and he cupped them, moaning as he rolled the furred sac. “Fuck. That feels good. Harder, Jaxon. Suck me harder.” Now that was a first. He leaned back against the tiles. Muttering to an imaginary lover? What the hell? So what, he told himself, no one could hear him. His pretend Jaxon sucked him good, just the way he had last night. Slade could almost feel his cock hit the back of Jaxon’s throat as the man took him deeper. “That’s it, Jaxon. Swallow me.” His buttocks clenched as one hand found the crease of his ass and fingered the entrance. He ached to have Jaxon’s thick length buried inside him again, but for now he’d have to settle for pleasuring himself. His breath caught in his throat as he teased the puckered hole. Finally a slick finger pushed past the tight muscle. His ass clenched around it, begging for more, and a visual of a tall, dark wolf with amber eyes almost sent him over the edge. Flames raced up his spine, and he searched for that sweet spot deep inside himself that Jaxon had found so easily. His hand moved faster, and his knees went weak. Fuck! No longer able to hold off, Slade let go. A howl came up from the depths of his chest, and he came hard and fast. His cock exploded with the force of an erupting volcano, spurting hot blasts of cum against the tiles, and he shook under the warm water. The intense pleasure had rocked his body and his mind. He leaned back against the shower wall until breathing didn’t require every ounce of strength he had left. The evidence of his climax disappeared down the drain with the water. He’d come three times in the last two days, a record for him in the recent past, and he still wanted more, needed more. The water turned cold again, but he couldn’t bring himself to shut it off and get

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out. He continued to stroke his cock, unwilling to give up the ecstasy of his orgasm. He couldn’t stay in here forever. Finally, Slade shut off the water and stepped out of the shower. He snatched a towel hanging from a hook on the wall and dried off. Slinging the towel around his hips, he walked into the bedroom. How could he still be hard? He sprawled across the bed and wrapped his fingers around— The buzz of the cell phone jarred him back to reality, and Slade made a grab for it before the second ring sounded. “Slade Wolfe?” “Yeah.” He sat up straight and waited to hear what came next. “My name is Mike Donovan. Can we meet today?” **** Being new to the city, Slade left it to the cop to pick their meeting place. He would know about places where it was okay for humans and shifters to meet without raising eyebrows. Slade arrived at the Safe Zone a little early so he could get a first look at Mike when the man walked in. True to its name, it was a bar on the boundary of Dogtown, a place where humans and Weres could hang out without being harassed. A place where they could be sure they wouldn’t get knifed in the men’s room. Inside the air was heavy with the smell of smoke and sweat. The dingy interior was furnished with leather booths and tables that looked like they’d been rescued from the city dump. The place was empty and Slade had his pick of tables. He chose a corner booth under a black-and-white print of old New York and ordered a drink. When the door opened, he knew his contact immediately. Six feet, short dark blond hair, square jaw, blue eyes, bodybuilder physique—the man’s whole persona screamed cop.

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Mike spotted him, nodded, and made his way to Slade’s booth, navigating the maze of tables. He slid in opposite Slade, and the two men sized each other up. “I’m Mike Donovan.” “Of course you are.” Slade took the proffered hand and nodded. “Slade Wolfe.” **** Mike felt a momentary spark when his eyes met Slade’s, but it turned to a flame of anger when he smelled cinnamon on the man. This is the motherfucker who’s been all over Jaxon. When his superior told him an undercover agent was infiltrating Dogtown, he didn’t think the Captain meant under Jaxon’s covers. He reminded himself that this agent didn’t give two shits about Jaxon. He was just doing a job. Like you’re supposed to be doing, Michael. If anything he should be pissed at Jaxon for letting this stranger seduce him. “What can I get you?” A barmaid stood by the table, waiting to take their order. Mike listened to Slade make small talk for a few minutes until she came back with their drinks. Slade waited until she walked away before speaking again. “This was a good choice, but we probably shouldn’t meet here again.” “You’re right. There are other places…” Mike took a swallow from his mug of dark amber ale and studied Slade over the rim. Cinnamon with a faint hint of wet dog. It blew his mind and his blood pressure. Jaxon had come to Mike’s bed with Slade’s scent all over him. He spoke through gritted teeth. “You make any progress?” Slade shrugged. “I got a job in the club.” “Doing what?” “Stripping.” The wolf grinned at him. “And doing a pretty damn good job of it, if I do say so myself. Which I don’t have to, if you judge my performance by the size of my tips.”

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Motherfucker. Another surge of anger ripped through Mike. He couldn’t keep the sneer off his face. Slade gave him a funny look. “You have a problem working with a wolf?” Yeah, if the big, bad wolf is after my boyfriend. “Only if he’s a cocky bastard.” Slade’s face creased into an irresistibly devastating grin. “I prefer to think of myself as confident. It might be the boredom of being stuck in a squad car for eight hours a day with the same partner, but most cops spoke to each other candidly about their personal lives, about everything. That wouldn’t be happening here—and not just because Mike couldn’t reveal his relationship with Jaxon. Mike had mixed emotions about Slade Wolfe. The wolf might be the second sexiest man he’d ever met, Jax being number one, but his cocky persona gave off bad vibes. “Whatever you want to call it, it comes across as arrogance in my book.” “Whatever you want to call it, it’s purely a fundamental belief in my own abilities.” “Okay, I’ll give you that one, but you still have to make me a believer.” Mike still wasn’t sure how he felt about his new partner. He had to admit he liked a man who was comfortable in his own skin, and Slade appeared to be a man who would know how to handle himself if the fur started to fly. “Believe me, I’m doing my job,” Slade said with a smile of male satisfaction. “I got inside Castle’s apartment yesterday.” That hurt. Mike had never been past the boundaries of Dogtown, let alone inside Jaxon’s apartment. “I don’t like it.” Understatement of the year. “Why?” Slade frowned at him. “I’m just doing my job. I already planted a bug in the living room.” “And he’s not suspicious?”

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“No. The man was obviously attracted to me. Getting inside was a piece of cake.” Mike’s heart sank. He couldn’t blame Jax for being infatuated with Slade. The man sitting across from him was intelligent and easy on the eyes. More than that, he was a wolf. Hell, even he was physically attracted to the guy. He was beginning to wonder if he wasn’t the tiniest bit jealous that Jaxon had bedded Slade first. “So now what?” Mike said through gritted teeth. “Weren’t you briefed?” “I want to hear it from you.” Mike said impatiently. “All right.” Slade snorted, clearly annoyed. “Here it is in a nutshell. The FBI has been watching the Weres for years and—” “Does that include you?” Mike sneered. How could he trust a man who spied on his own people? Slade shrugged. “Probably. We’re all being watched. Even you, Mike, and we have to choose sides. I chose the right one.” “You mean the one that’s paying you big bucks.” Slade regarded him carefully. “I thought we were on the same side. What’s your point?” Inwardly, Mike cursed himself for letting emotion color his words. He agreed to this so he could help Jaxon, not make things worse. “No hard feelings. I just want to know that I can trust you.” “None taken. You can never be too careful in our line of work. The Were population has been increasing steadily, and like birds of a feather each group tends to stick with its own species—the felineshifters in one area, the wolves in another, and so on and so forth. Relations between them and the human population have been relatively quiet.” Mike raised his brows. Obviously this guy hadn’t been in New York all that long. Race relations had never been peaceful here. “In the last year, disturbing intelligence reports have come back indicating that communication channels have opened up between these diverse Were neighborhoods. These groups have always

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functioned independently from each other. A storm is brewing. The Weres are talking about banding together in a hostile takeover. Rebellion and riot is not the answer. If they want equality and integration, they’re going about it the wrong way. There are politicians in Washington lobbying for their cause. They need to let those supporters do their work.” “Maybe they’re tired of waiting,” Mike broke in. “Maybe the Feds are feeding you a bill of goods.” Slade frowned at Mike. “The wheels turn slow, but they are turning, and at least nobody is getting hurt. And that’s why I’m in this. It’s not all about money. I don’t want my people hurt any more than you want yours put in jeopardy. Castle’s name keeps coming up as an insurgent, a radical supporter of revolution.” “I think the term is patriot.” Slade’s brows rose. “The government doesn’t agree. If he’s allowed to keep stirring up the shifters, the Feds will send in the military, and the Weres will be rounded up like cattle. We can’t let that happen.” Bullshit! If Jaxon was involved in subversive activities, Mike would know about it. Would you? Maybe this is why Jaxon doesn’t want you in Dogtown. He’s says he’s keeping you safe, but maybe he’s got secrets he’s keeping safe. What about your secrets? He shut off the voice of conscience in his head. “Earth to Mike.” “Sorry.” Mike focused on the conversation. “I’m listening.” “So I planted the bug in his living room, and now I sit back and listen. When I get something we’ll pick him up.” Mike’s chest went tight. He expected this, but hearing it out loud made it real. “Fortunately, there are no problems over electronic surveillance. In a terrorist situation, we don’t need prior permission to plant surveillance in private homes.” “So did you bug the bedroom too?”

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Slade shook his head. “What’s the matter? Couldn’t get inside the bedroom?” “Oh, I got inside all right. So did he. In this case, fucking the man was not a hardship.” Fucking wolves. They were all hound dogs. And what are you? Judging by the boner trying to fight its way out of his jeans, Mike’s testosterone levels must be off the charts. He bit his tongue to stop the hormone rollercoaster. If he couldn’t control his libido he’d fuck up the assignment and his relationship. “So for now things are status quo until the bug brings in something concrete. If not we’ll go to plan B.” “Which is?” “We’ll talk about it when we need to. How can I contact you if I need you?” Mike had a prepaid disposable phone ready for Slade. He really hoped this would be over quickly. The sooner Slade Wolfe got out of New York, the better.

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Chapter Five Slade did a lot of walking when he left the Safe Zone. Walking always calmed him down and helped him think. Mostly he thought about Mike Donovan. Something about the cop was off. Slade didn’t trust him. Apparently the feeling was mutual. All through their meeting Donovan acted sullen and angry. Slade kept expecting him to snap any minute. This was bullshit. Slade usually worked alone, and that’s the way he liked it. He didn’t need a sullen cop on his ass. Donovan had been forced on him. According to his superiors, he needed a contact that was familiar with the area, and who better than a member of the NYPD, a man who could call in the calvary if needed. More likely they didn’t trust a wolf to bring in another wolf, and they wanted a human to keep an eye on Slade. Whatever the reason, Donovan wasn’t going away. They were stuck like glue. If he had to have a partner, he wanted a man who’d be willing to risk his life for him. He didn’t see Donovan sticking his neck out for a wolf. Danger usually created a bond between men and helped them to overcome differences. When an agent put on the cloak of law enforcement he wasn’t human or Were. All agents were created equal, but it appeared Donovan didn’t agree. In that respect, he was like most humans. They all had preconceived notions about Weres. All shifters were dishonest, lazy, drunked-out animals who liked to fight and fuck. The men in Dogtown were a rowdy bunch, but they didn’t fit the stereotypes that were being thrown around by the media and his own employer, the United States government.

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Donovan lived here in New York where there was a big shifter population. He must deal with wolves all the time. Couldn’t he see that, just like in the human world, no shifters were the same? He should know better than to believe the hype. Maybe it was something else. Maybe he just doesn’t like me. If that’s the case he’ll just have to deal with it until we’re finished here, which hopefully won’t be too long because working with someone you don’t trust is hell. His superiors had told Slade that Donovan was a stand-up cop, recommended highly by his captain who thought he’d be good in undercover work. Donovan would disarm a target with his all American good looks, and then take him out when he least expected it. That might be true, but he’s not a good fit for me. Slade would put his life on the line for Donovan, but he didn’t trust Donovan to do the same, and that would color his actions in future situations. Slade stopped in his tracks. Am I the target? It wouldn’t be the first time the FBI took out one of their own. He’d seen it happen. The unlucky shifter had been a double agent—or so they said when Slade replaced him. The Were agent had been spying on a group of wolfshifters who were operating a drug cartel in California, but in fact, he was a member of the target organization himself. A human friend on the LAPD told Slade the agent had been framed, that drugs had been planted in his home, and not by the cartel. A SWAT team had been called in to pick the agent up, and he’d been shot trying to get away. Murder? He’d never know for sure, but he didn’t plan on suffering the same fate. Now, he had Donovan in his crosshairs as well as Castle. Until Slade knew Donovan’s real motives, he’d be walking on eggshells around the man. Slade navigated beer cans, hypodermics, and fast-food containers as he walked around the neighborhood. He looked for trouble, but he didn’t find it. Dogtown had a reputation for being a high-crime district, but the more Slade saw of the neighborhood, the less evidence he saw of violence. The area was depressed with a lot of abandoned and boarded-up buildings, but the wolves were slowly

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fixing them up. Sure, this ghetto didn’t compare to the upscale area of Los Angeles he lived in, but then few areas did. The human media always exaggerated reality to sell papers. He stopped at a diner for coffee, bought toiletries at a corner store, and watched a group of kids play ball in the street. He even talked to a few people on the pretense of asking for directions. When he brought up the subject of crime or drugs, he heard a common refrain. People here wanted the same things humans wanted—safe streets. For the most part they policed themselves. The cops were slow to respond to calls. Either they were afraid to enter the wolf ghetto, or they didn’t give a shit about protecting its people. Either one didn’t bode well. **** Days in Dogtown passed slowly. Wednesday felt like it should be Friday. Before Slade left for the Kennel Club he listened to the surveillance tapes again. Not a damn thing on them. This kind of operation took time, and he swore he’d go stir-crazy by the end of it. Even Jaxon was MIA, so he had no eye candy to inspire him when he danced. There wasn’t one other man in the club who appealed to him on the same level. For the past two nights Jaxon had been conspicuous in his absence. Maybe he was on vacation. Maybe he was trying to avoid Slade. Somehow he’d given him the slip. Slade couldn’t even tail him. Jaxon had taken his car, and driving didn’t leave a trackable scent. It annoyed the hell out of him. Slade threw on old jeans and a sweatshirt for the walk to the club and managed to arrive just before he was due to go on. He looked for Jaxon, but once again the man was nowhere to be seen. According to Quinn, the club’s owner had ducked out early in the day and told him to hold down the fort. Where the fuck was he going? Probably to meet the others in his terrorist organization. While Slade was shaking his ass, Jaxon was plotting to overthrow the government.

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Slade wished he could duck out as well. In spite of Jaxon’s alleged crimes, Slade still wanted him. He danced for Jaxon. Without him in the audience, Slade had no desire to strip. He heard the music start, and he made his way to the stage entrance, four steps leading up to a curtained doorway. Just in time too. The announcer’s tinny voice came over the mike. “All right, boys, here’s the man you’ve all been waiting for. Give Slade a hand.” This is it. Slade stepped out to wild applause and wolf whistles, his heart pounding in time to the music. The crowd appeared larger every night. Hope Castle appreciates all the money I’m bringing in. Slade ignored the cheering men, putting everyone out of his head except his boss, pretending he was dancing only for him. Moving slowly and sensuously, he walked to center stage and scanned the room, filled with disappointment when he didn’t spot Jaxon. The crowd showed their own disappointment at Slade’s slow start, and he picked up the pace, moving along the front of the stage and playing with the buttons on his shirt. Strutting his stuff, he tried to keep out of reach of the men who were pressing forward in an attempt to yank him off the platform. Slade removed his shirt, tossed it, and danced from one side of the stage to the other, still scanning the room. Finally he had to admit Jaxon wasn’t going to show, and he cut a few minutes from his performance. Dressing in record speed, he hightailed it out of the club before any of the men could speak to him. Slade went straight to his apartment, hoping to hear something on the tape that would tell him where Jaxon had gone. The recording device hadn’t caught a thing other than a game show on the TV. Next he checked the phone tap. Nada. Either Jaxon was super careful or he led a very dull life. Maybe Donovan had something. Slade pulled out the cell phone the cop had given him. He wasn’t answering his phone. Slade slammed it down on the dresser, and then picked up his own cell to check his messages.

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Only one. He listened to his superior officer’s voice with a rising sense of dread. Richard Graham, the FBI officer responsible for DSA, was also responsible for putting him and Donovan together. Graham wanted to know why Slade hadn’t called in since he met with Mike Donovan. He expected a call immediately, and he ended by saying if Slade thought he couldn’t make the case, it might be time to implement Plan B.

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Chapter Six Plan B, backup plan, meant one thing—if you have nothing on your suspect, frame him. And if a wolf was accused of terrorism, he’d get the death penalty. Forget civil rights. Forget the Constitution. The Feds would go to any lengths to protect their reputation. If they said someone was guilty, then they were guilty. End of story. Since Graham’s call last night, Slade’s stress level had reached epic proportions. He had extensive training in a number of areas such as surveillance, firearm training, explosives, hand-to-hand and knife combat, and military strategy and tactics. He could function as an FBI assassin easily. He’d killed men in combat situations without batting an eye, but they had posed a threat to national security. He did not want to take down an innocent man. Graham’s directive was completely off base. For one thing, it was too soon. He hadn’t been here long enough to get his evidence. Why were the Feds in such a big hurry to get Castle? Slade could not believe Jaxon presented that big a threat, and he had no intention of getting him arrested until he knew his intended target was really a threat to national security. Maybe if he’d been doing his job, he’d know already. Where was Jaxon going? He should have been tailing him around the clock. Graham had been right about one thing. Slade had been lax, letting his attraction for the other wolf override duty and good sense. If he had been able to report on Jaxon’s whereabouts, Graham wouldn’t be on his ass about Plan B. So, okay, he’d follow Castle today and report back to Graham with something solid, buying

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himself and Castle more time, maybe saving the man’s life in the bargain. Slade walked by the club at 8:00 a.m. and saw Jaxon’s Toyota parked behind the building. The one car rental agency near Dogtown opened at nine, and Slade was waiting at the door. He leased a nondescript Subaru and parked it in a spot where it wouldn’t be noticed but he’d be able to see the Toyota if and when it pulled away. Slade settled down in the driver’s seat, determined to wait all day if need be. At one in the afternoon, the Toyota pulled into the street and Slade followed a discreet distance behind. Castle headed toward Greenwich Village, and Slade dug out his cell phone to call Quinn. The bartender wasn’t thrilled to hear that the star performer felt sick and wouldn’t be dancing that night, but he wished him well and ended with, “I’ll see ya tomorrow.” Slade ended the call and concentrated on the Subaru. Slade pulled into the same parking garage as Jaxon. From there, tailing him would not present a problem. As long as the other wolf traveled on foot, Slade would be able to track his scent. The quirky neighborhood, known as an artistic center, captivated Slade. He’d missed this section on his earlier trips around the city. Walking along the crooked cobblestone streets, Slade checked out the brownstones, antique shops, and upscale boutiques as he followed Jaxon to a midsize apartment building. He ducked into a shop across the street and made note of an intercom by the entrance. Jaxon pulled a key from his pocket and unlocked the door. Slade’s heart sank. It was beginning to look like Castle might be meeting some bohemian types who were sympathetic to shifters. There were few high rises, which probably accounted for fewer pedestrians out and about, but Slade couldn’t take the chance of someone confronting him while he tried to break in. He took a shortcut through an alley to the rear of the building and looked for a window. There were none at street level, but the backdoor looked promising.

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Covert agents were a unique breed. Given a challenge, they would always do whatever it took to overcome an obstacle. Slade intended to gain entry while creating the least damage. He tried the door first. A man in his training class had once made a mess of forced entry only to discover the door had been unlocked the whole time. This door was locked. The old technique of jimmying a door, spreading the door away from the jamb without damaging the lock, didn’t work on the stronger doors and more formidable locks that were made today. With his good working knowledge of various locks and a basic understanding of how they operated, Slade wasn’t concerned. Using a few simple tools, small enough to fit in his pocket, he forced the mortise lock open. Slade slipped inside and found himself in a storage area with a door that led to a first floor foyer. No elevator. It actually made his job easier. Tracking Jaxon in a five-story walk-up would be a piece of cake. He scanned the mailboxes to see if any name rang a bell. Michael Donovan 404. Motherfucker! Slade took the steps two at a time. Sure enough, Jaxon’s scent led him straight to 404. Slade waited outside Mike’s apartment long enough to know this was a private party for two. No rebel insurgents, human or otherwise, showed up. He pressed his ear against the closed door and was certain he heard sounds of lovemaking. The scent of aroused wolf seeped around the jamb and excited his own need to mate. He wanted to howl. His wolf wanted to bust through the door. Down, boy. When had he gotten so proprietary about Jaxon Castle? He’d do better to concentrate on business and figure out what the hell his target was doing in his partner’s apartment. Cross that out. He knew what they were doing. But why? Were Jax and Mike partners? Or was Mike playing the same get close to the target game as Slade? If he is, he damn well should have told me. Much as he wanted to, Slade couldn’t go charging in there until he had all the facts. He didn’t like Mike’s methods, but he wouldn’t screw up whatever the

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hell his so-called partner was doing. At least he had Mike’s address now. Slade walked back to the parking garage. Images of a dark-haired wolf fucking a sexy blond flooded his mind and stiffened his dick. Fuck. He had the night off and nowhere to go. **** Jaxon had come flying into Mike’s apartment like a bat out of hell. Mike barely had time to say hello before his lover slammed him against the living room wall and captured his mouth with a punishing kiss. Mike submitted to the forceful domination of his lips and returned the passion eagerly. His thoughts fragmented as Jaxon’s tongue trailed a path along the side of his cheek and down his neck while his hands fumbled with the buttons of Mike’s shirt. Jax smoothed a hand over his chest, and Mike’s muscles quivered under the shifter’s touch. Jax spent long minutes teasing Mike’s nipples with fingers then tongue. Meanwhile his nimble fingers worked on Mike’s zipper, reaching inside his slacks to free his cock. Mike groaned, kicked off his shoes, and helped Jax yank his pants and boxers over his hips. Then suddenly, Jax was on his knees and licking a path up the side of his hardening erection. Mike’s head fell back against the wall, drops of precum beaded at the tip of his cock. Jaxon’s tongue searched the slit then swirled around the head. Jaxon’s tight grip on his hips kept Mike pinned to the wall and unable to thrust deeper into his lover’s mouth. Mike groaned out his frustration, but then Jax swallowed his length and he felt his prick hit the back of Jax’s throat. Hot lips slid back up his cock, teeth lightly scraping his sensitive flesh. Jax released Mike’s hips giving him free rein, and Mike started to fuck Jaxon’s mouth in earnest. When Jax pressed a finger to his ass and pushed inside, Mike slammed his head back against the wall and shouted through an embarrassingly quick

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orgasm, shuddering as Jax swallowed and licked away any traces of his climax. Mike slid down the wall to join his lover on the floor, who kissed him senseless. When Jax finally let him go, he took a moment to catch his breath. “Are you trying to kill me?” “What a way to go, huh?” Jax grinned at him. “Wanna shower, eat?” “Eat then shower.” Jax stood and reached out a hand to pull Mike to his feet. Hours later, they lay in bed, Jax sprawled on his stomach, Mike lost in thought. Jax seemed a little more relaxed now, not edgy and wired like he had been for the last week. Jax wouldn’t talk about it, but Mike had a few ideas about what was on his mind. Today had been all about the physical, and it seemed to relieve some of Jax’s tension, but it left Mike more anxious than ever. Every time he closed his eyes while Jax was sucking his cock, he imagined him doing the same thing to Slade. The thought of watching the two wolves only heightened his own arousal. The image of Slade’s naked body between him and Jax took root in his mind and made Mike harder than he’d ever been in his life. If only he and Jax could talk about it. But that would mean coming clean about everything. He would have to confess that he’d been spying on his lover. Jax would accept a threesome, but he’d never accept a human spy in his bed. Mike felt like they had lost something important between them— communication. Relationships ended all the time and for a variety of reasons— incompatibility, boredom, a new piece of ass that catches the eye, and most of the time the breakup wasn’t mutual. But in Mike’s experience he’d always been the one to initiate the split. Heartbreak was a way of life—for other guys. But being with Jaxon put a whole new spin on things. He was crazy about the man, and his biggest fear was that Jax would break it off.

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When Mike met Slade that fear had overwhelmed him. Not only was Slade extremely good looking, he was a wolf, one of Jaxon’s species. He’d been in Jaxon’s club, his home, and his bed. Places Mike could only dream about. It hurt. Mike had so little of Jaxon’s time that thinking about his lover seeing Slade every day fueled his inner demons. He tried to hide his anger from Jax, but couldn’t always do it. Then suddenly everything changed. Jaxon started spending more and more time at Mike’s apartment. Mike suspected he was enjoying more of Jaxon’s company because his lover felt guilty about deceiving him, but Mike refused to look a gift horse in the mouth. He didn’t care why Jaxon was here, only that they were together. Besides, he had his own secrets he kept from Jax. And Jax could hardly be blamed for being taken in by a deceiving undercover agent who just happened to be a sexy fuck and would use his body to get what he wanted. Mike could imagine him parading his bare ass in front of a bunch of salivating dogs. Hell, Mike knew who and what Slade really was, and yet he himself, felt physically attracted to the man. Yeah, he felt some lust for Slade. Much as he hated to admit it to himself, Slade had wormed his way into Mike’s head, and he wouldn’t leave. Unfortunately, a man couldn’t always choose who or what attracted him. Life would be much simpler if he could, but a guy never knew what was going to catch his fancy. Mostly, it just was what it was. The first time he saw Jax, he wanted to bed him. Real love came as he got to know the real person. On the outside, Slade just reminded him too much of Jax. Tall, dark, and walking a fine line between handsome and rough. There was just something about him…Maybe Mike was addicted to wolves. Whatever, he felt guilty as hell over it—and over his part in the investigation. He tried to brush it aside by telling himself that he’d taken the assignment for one reason—to help Jaxon. Mike looked over at Jax. His eyes were closed, dark lashes fanned out over his cheeks. All this time together and Mike had never noticed

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just how long Jaxon’s lashes were. He breathed in his lover’s familiar, musky scent, and thought about how devastated he would be if Jax walked out on him. And walk he would if he found out Mike had withheld information about the investigation. No question he would split. He wished he could tell him what was going on, but he feared an enraged Jaxon might do something that would get him into even bigger trouble. He was already drinking way too much, a recipe for disaster if he ever saw one. Mike felt guilty about the drinking as well. Their relationship was stressful for both of them. If he wasn’t on the force and a health nut besides, he’d be drinking right along with his lover. No, the best thing he could do for now was to play this close to the vest. Mike felt Jaxon’s hand on his genitals, and his cock stirred with interest. Up, up, and away! That’s all it took to get him excited, just a touch from his lover and bingo, instant hard-on. Jaxon continued to stroke him until he let out a soft moan and rolled closer. His erection throbbed in Jaxon’s hand as his lover’s fingers played over the sensitive skin, his thumb circling the tip and spreading pre-cum over the shaft. Mike was hot, and in Jaxon’s hands, well on his way to melting clear through the mattress. Suddenly Jax hauled him in for a deep, demanding kiss and ground his rising erection against Mike’s. “Feel what you do to me,” he whispered in Mike’s ear. Another fierce kiss rendered Mike speechless. Mike had never seen Jax so hungry for him, so needy, like he was trying to exorcise his demons through his cock. This new Jax scared Mike a little, but he also drove Mike to heights they hadn’t reached before. Sliding his hands around Jaxon’s body, he gripped his ass and rocked his hips against his lover’s. “Want to fuck you,” Jax groaned, and his fingers dug into Mike’s arms hard enough to leave prints. Yes! The words sent hot blood pulsing straight to Mike’s dick. “Fuck, yes,” he hissed and rolled to his back, pulling Jax with him.

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Jax leaned over and pressed two long fingers slick with pre-cum into his ass. At first the penetration burned and had Mike clenching his teeth. But the pain soon turned to pleasure, and Mike’s muscles contracted around the intrusion. Moaning, he pushed back against Jaxon’s hand, wanting more. Jaxon’s fingers left him as quickly as they’d entered him, and Mike groaned with frustration until Jaxon guided his cock to Mike’s hole. The naked lust in Jaxon’s eyes kicked Mike’s desire out of control. “Beg me, baby. I love to hear you panting and moaning for me.” Jaxon’s breath came in quick, shallow gasps. “Give it to me, Jax.” Mike’s heart pounded an erratic rhythm, sending hot blood pulsing through his veins. “For God’s sake. Fuck me.” Mike drew in breath as if he were drowning and gasped in sweet agony when Jax finally buried his length inside him in one hard thrust. Mike urged him on, and Jax started moving in hard, hot thrusts that drove Mike wild. “Yes, just like that…” Jax leaned over and planted a rough, passionate kiss on his mouth then worked him hard. His lover’s dick felt hot as a blowtorch, taking Mike higher and higher with each forceful thrust. Beads of sweat covered Jaxon’s brow and the drops fell to Mike’s stomach, practically sizzling on his heated flesh. Mike held on for the ride. Unintelligible sounds came from the back of Mike’s throat as his orgasm boiled up, and his body told him it couldn’t hold back his release much longer. His need to come so great, it consumed him. Jax wrapped his hand around Mike’s dick and tugged. Then cupped his balls and squeezed. That’s all it took. “Fuck!” Mike’s orgasm was explosive. One more hard thrust and Jax came, releasing his seed and collapsing on Mike’s body.

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All over. Except Jax was still embedded between Mike’s legs, and that’s exactly where Mike wanted him, for as long as possible, for always. Mike licked his lips, swollen from Jaxon’s kisses. Their bodies, slippery with sweat and semen, were tightly bonded. He felt as if Jax owned him, body and soul. Then suddenly his lover pulled away and sat up, leaving him with an empty feeling. “Come back here.” Mike made a move to grab Jaxon’s arm, but he was already leaving the bed. “Get some sleep, baby. I need a drink to relax me.” The empty spot next to Mike grew cold long before he finally drifted off to sleep. **** Jaxon Castle had one hell of a hangover. He forced his eyes open and the room started to spin. A headache pounded behind his eyes and his mouth was dry as toast. The smell of vomit hung in the air. He lay back on the bed and waited for it to stop moving. Too tired to think straight, he tried to piece together the previous night. Where did I go, what did I do, who did I do it with? As if he’d heard him, Mike appeared in the doorway of the bedroom. Well, that answered one question. At least he hadn’t landed in some stranger’s bed—or worse, Slade’s. “What time is it?” he managed to croak. “6:00 a.m.,” Mike responded. “What’s going on, Jax? I’ve never seen you drink this much before.” “You never spent so much time with me before.” Mike had a worried look on his face. “I’m not joking. You can’t function like this.” “Give me a break. I’m fine.” Jaxon sat up on his elbows and shook his head. Big mistake. The headache came back full force, and he flopped back on the pillows. “Coffee.” He croaked. “I need coffee.”

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Mike wrinkled his nose like he smelled something bad and dumped a handful of vitamins on the nightstand. “This is better for you.” He held out a tall glass of something that was most definitely not coffee. “What the fuck is it?” “Fruit, soy milk, water, salt, and cayenne. Take a few swallows, then the vitamins.” Jaxon shook his head. “Christ my head hurts. Just get me coffee and put a shot of something in it.” “You’ve had enough to drink. Your eyes are bloodshot, and your skin is looking mauve-gray.” Jaxon stretched his neck to get a glimpse of himself in the mirror over the dresser. Fuck, I look bad. “I admit it’s not my color, but I don’t think I look that bad.” Mike rolled his eyes, and the telltale vein in his temple throbbed. He opened his mouth to speak but shut it again immediately. “Okay, okay. I’m never drinking again.” “I’ve heard that before.” Mike snorted derisively. Why did he ever get mixed up with a health nut? Oh yeah. Maybe it was because Mike was six foot two, two hundred pounds of solid muscle, and loved to suck cock. Where did that come from? One night with the wolf and his thinking was all skewed. Yeah, Mike gave a great blow job, but they had a lot more than the sex going for them. Jaxon loved the intimacy and caring that came with a relationship. It was definitely worth putting up with Mike’s nagging and the fact that he was a human cop. What he couldn’t understand was why Mike put up with him. He was better off without him. He’d only fuck up Mike’s life. He was good at that. Look what he’d done to his own. “I’d love to stay and argue with you, but I have an early shift. You can stay and sleep it off.” “No, I’m getting up.” Jaxon tentatively swung his feet over the side of the bed and sat with his head in his hands. When the nausea stopped, he looked up at Mike. “Thanks for the hangover remedy, but

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I don’t think my stomach can handle it.” He stood up and looked down at his very early morning wood. His dick was standing at attention and telling him, “You’ve ignored me long enough and now I’m going to piss all over your feet.” “I’m gonna grab a shower and head out. I’ve been neglecting the club. I can’t keep dumping everything on Quinn.” “Okay, Jax.” Mike leaned over to kiss him. “Will I see you tonight?” “I’ll call you later.” “Lock up when you leave.” “Will do.” Jaxon combed his hair with his fingers. Binge drinking wasn’t his thing. He never drank at the club—well, not until Slade showed up. Ever since the dancer came into his life, he’d been off-balance and feeling guilty as shit. He should just fire the guy. Then maybe he could go back to his club with no worries. Right now he knew the minute he laid eyes on Slade again he’d want to drag him off to bed and fuck him senseless. For the life of him, he couldn’t figure out why. Well, yeah, he did know why. Slade was a sexy fucker and lupine genetics had brought his wolf out of hibernation and set off a magnetic attraction between them that could not be denied. He’d hoped doing time in the sack would have been enough to scratch his itch. Instead, it made him want the other wolf more. The first six months with Mike it was all butterflies and nonstop fucking as soon as they saw each other. Pretty much the way he felt now when he saw Slade. But he still loved Mike, and he was as territorial and monogamous as any other wolf. Human or not, he saw himself with Mike for the rest of his life and vice versa. So what was the problem? Too much predictability? Too little spontaneity? What? Something was missing. If only he could bring Mike to the club… They never saw each other enough. He thought spending this extra time together would fix things, and it did—sort of. But he still wanted

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Slade, wanted to be at the club watching the man’s sexy ass shake on the dance floor, knowing he would be inside it later that night. He’d gone over this again and again. Finally he had to admit this had nothing to do with Mike. Fate had worked its magic and brought him the mate he was meant to have. Suddenly the fog lifted and the light bulb went on. Why hadn’t he seen it before? Humans were a repressed society when it came to sex. Jax wasn’t human, but he had a human lover and he was putting constraints on his behavior that weren’t natural for him. His kind believed in monogamous relationships too, but nobody ever said the bond couldn’t include more than two people. Ruling out sex with a third man was unrealistic—for him. He wanted to bring Slade into their bed without fear of destroying what he had with Mike, but deep down he knew Mike would never go for it. He heard the front door slam shut as Mike left for work, and he got up to use the bathroom. He took care of business and stepped into the shower stall. The first shock of cold water sobered him up. Some people questioned the therapeutic value of a cold shower, but it worked for him. Alternating cold and then hot and then cold again was the key. A few minutes of shivering under the icy spray and he turned up the heat, adjusting the water until billowing clouds of steam filled the bathroom. The water pounding on his shoulders and back eased his tense muscles, but he felt incredibly depressed. At least now he knew why. He wanted something he could never have—a triad.

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Chapter Seven As a result of his new assignment, Mike now reported directly to 1 Police Plaza, the NYPD Police Headquarters. His new superior, Richard Graham, was an FBI officer who had been in place for the past year in an advisory capacity. Due to the rising unrest in the Were communities, Graham’s duties had steadily grown, and he’d been made director of the DSA, Division of Shifter Affairs. Now, Graham informed Mike that the FBI was planning to increase the scope of the DSA. He gave Mike the standard lecture. “You know why I’m here, Mike. My position was initially created to improve information sharing and cooperation between the various groups of the FBI, the CIA, and the NYPD. Federal affiliations with state and local law enforcement organizations were found to be extremely helpful in dealing with terrorism. Graham stopped to pour a glass of water from the pitcher on his desk. He offered a glass to Mike. “No, thank you, sir.” Graham took a swallow and continued. “The Department of Shifter Affairs was originally designed to prevent acts of Were terrorism before they occur. The DSA functioned in a watchdog capacity only. In these troubled times, in order to provide humans with the best protection against threats, it’s essential for us to be both reactive and proactive. Our objectives are identification, investigation, and now apprehension and prosecution. To that end we need a larger and more permanent team. I’m now in the process of selecting and training other NYPD officers to join us as undercover operatives, ready to infiltrate and integrate Were neighborhoods when the time is

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right. Rest assured, Weres will not be targeted in a discriminatory manner. Any actions taken will be strictly preventative at first, but the team will be trained to fight the sinister menace posed by animal shifters. The scope of cooperation…” Graham’s voice settled into a buzzing drone. Mike found his mind drifting. Graham liked to talk. He could go on and on and on about the valuable work of the FBI. Mike knew most of this already, and he’d expected that he wouldn’t be the only cop recruited for this special duty. Of course the Weres would not be happy about the increased security. Once this information got out, and it would get out eventually, relations between the Were community and the humans would only get worse. They already felt their rights were being violated. Mike tended to agree with them and he feared this would be seen as an aggressive move. Damn, there were no rules when it came to shifters— “…Wolfe is slated for termination. He’s been derelict in his duty and disobeying my orders to collect evidence on the target, Jaxon Castle, a known Were rebel. Slade hasn’t reported in, and I’m afraid he’s gone rogue.” Whoa. Hearing Jaxon’s name in the same little speech with the word termination made Mike sit up and pay attention. The blood drained from his face. He tried to speak and couldn’t, tried to breathe and couldn’t. “I…I, uh, don’t understand,” he stammered. “I’m still working this case.” “Not anymore. Your objectives have changed. As Wolfe’s superior I have it on good authority that he’s been collaborating with Castle and has taken himself off the radar. He may have been operating as a double agent all this time.” Good authority, my ass. The FBI had no problem spying on its own, especially when the agent was a Were. Of course they were watching their man. Wolfe himself knew it. So what could they have they discovered? That he’d bedded Jaxon. So what? Surely the Feds

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expected their agent would use any available method to get close to his target. How did that make Wolfe a double agent? Unless they heard something incriminating between the two wolves…No. Jax might have been swayed by a pretty face, but Mike knew in his heart he was no terrorist. Organizing anything that might kill others, even human others, was not in Jaxon’s character. Who would know better than me, his human boyfriend? But of course he couldn’t tell any of this to Richard Graham. First off, his superior would want to know why Mike hadn’t disclosed his relationship sooner. Before he knew what hit him, Graham would accuse him of being a double agent, and he’d be on trial for treason. “Your orders come straight from the executive office. Slade Wolfe is to be terminated. You’ll leave evidence linking Jaxon Castle to his death. When it’s done, you’ll call me and I’ll send in a SWAT team to pick up Castle. His motive will be revenge. Castle discovered Wolfe was a double agent and couldn’t be trusted. He became enraged. A fight ensued, and he killed Wolfe. End of story. We get two birds with one stone.” How did this operation spiral so out of control and turn into a cluster fuck of major proportions? And how was he going to handle it? Damn, he had no choice now. He had to go to Jaxon. Between the two of them they might be able to fix this and come out smelling like roses. If the Feds were calling Wolfe a double agent, killing him could work to their advantage. Mike had a reporter friend who could be convinced to help. The man could put him and Jaxon on the front page. Mike Donovan and Jaxon Castle take down Slade Wolfe, a dangerous double agent, a man working against the humans as well as the Weres. It could work… No. It couldn’t. Jax would never go for it. Slade is one of his kind. And in all probability, Slade has done nothing wrong—except fuck Jax and I can’t arrest him for that. “You were initially chosen for this assignment because we saw a friendship develop between you and Castle. I appreciate the lengths

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you’ve gone to in order to get closer to the man. It couldn’t have been easy for you. Unfortunately, it wasn’t close enough. If you had been able to get into Dogtown, we wouldn’t have needed Wolfe’s involvement. But that’s water under the bridge…After the successful completion of your mission, you’ll be promoted to team leader with a significant pay raise and the usual benefits. Understood?” “Yes, sir.” Oh, he understood all right, but the scenario wouldn’t play out the way Graham and his cronies expected it to. **** Slade paced his apartment. It wasn’t all that big, and his pent-up anger had him ready to punch the walls down. He needed to confront Mike—like now—but when he tried to call, he got voice mail. Was he still fucking with Jaxon? This is bad. Very bad. He still hadn’t called Graham back. The FBI waits for no man—or wolf. At this very minute Graham could be making plans to take Slade off the case in the quickest and easiest way possible. He had no delusions that he was indispensable to the Feds. There were any number of wolves, both good guys and bad, who would jump at the chance for money and immunity. The sudden buzzing of the cell phone Mike had given him made Slade jump and he grabbed it eagerly. “Wolfe here.” For a moment there was complete silence on the other end of the line, then Mike said, “We need to talk right now.” Damn right we do. “Where?” Mike mumbled something about the Andrew Green memorial bench in Central Park and broke the connection without waiting for a reply. Slade stared at the receiver for a moment in disbelief then slammed it down. What’s with all the cloak and dagger stuff? He thought Mike gave him an untraceable cell. And who the hell is this Green fellow? Slade picked up his New York Guide Book from the

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stack of papers on the coffee table. Andrew Hassell Green was a city planner who was responsible for the consolidation of the five New York City boroughs. A memorial bench was placed in Central Park to honor him. The guide book had a map of Central Park. Slade found the location of the monument and committed it to memory. Then he put both phones in his pocket, grabbed his car keys, and left the building. He felt the need to hurry, and he dived into the car and leaned forward to insert the key in the ignition. The bench was located at the site of Fort Fish, at East 106th Street, and Slade drove until he found a parking garage near that section of the park. Thank God for the guide book because the memorial would have been impossible to find. Considering the man’s contributions, Slade figured the memorial would have been given a better home than a lonely knoll. At last it came into view, and Slade saw Mike already sitting on the stone bench waiting for him. He tried to form his scattered thoughts into a coherent dialogue as he sat beside him. But Mike started talking before he could get his mouth open. “I think we’re being used.” Oh, fuck. “Being who I am, it was first thing I thought of, but I convinced myself our superiors were on the up and up. What’s going on?” Mike’s square jaw tensed visibly. “We’re supposed to be gathering evidence on alleged insurgents.” He stopped, seemed to be thinking over his next words. “I saw Graham this morning, and he ordered me to take a proactive stance in this operation. No more watching and waiting for evidence to turn up. He wants to bring things to a head.” Not surprising, but why didn’t I get the memo? “When I took this assignment Graham insinuated he’d look the other way if I had to manufacture evidence. Is that what you’re talking about?” Mike cleared his throat nervously. “Not exactly. He wants you terminated, Slade. Dereliction of duties. He says you’ve gone rogue.”

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Slade froze. He felt like Mike had dropped a bridge on him. Keenly aware of the peril surrounding him and Graham’s displeasure in his performance, he’d known he was in the doghouse, but to be accused of going rogue… “Slade?” Mike said softly. “You’re his target now.” Slade knew exactly what he was up against. He’d seen other agents in the director’s crosshairs. Then suddenly they’d be gone, supposedly retired to some south sea island. A cemetery more likely. “How is this supposed to go down?” “I’m supposed to get you and Jaxon out of Dogtown. Graham knows he’d been to my apartment—” “Yeah, so do I.” Slade swore under his breath. “What’s that?” “I followed Jaxon to your place. Just trying not to be derelict in my duties,” Slade said sarcastically. “You should have told me you were playing him.” Mike raised his chin, a defiant gleam in his eyes. “We’re not playing.” The words hit Slade like bullets. “You’re a couple?” “We met accidently and became friends then lovers. It’s why Graham recruited me in the first place. I didn’t want the assignment, but the more I thought about it, it seemed like a good idea. I figured I could help Jax more if I was working inside the DSA.” And the hits keep coming. “And Jax knows all this?” “No. He has a temper. I was afraid if he knew about the investigation he’d do something stupid and get in real trouble.” “There’s no way you can keep him out of it now.” “I know. In hindsight, I wish I had been honest with him. He’s not going to be happy.” “Neither am I. I wish you had told me sooner.” “I wasn’t sure I could trust you.” “And now you do?”

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Mike shrugged. “I have no choice. I want to keep Jax safe, and I need your help.” Slade laughed bitterly. “So if it wasn’t for Jax, you’d kill me without blinking an eye?” “You’re fucking my boyfriend. Give me one reason why I shouldn’t kill you.” “You got it all wrong. He’s fucking me.” Mike was on him in an instant. “You bastard!” He threw a fast roundhouse that connected with Slade’s jaw. The thrill of the fight and repressed sexual tension loosened the tight control he held over his beast. Slade’s muscles started ripping under his skin. His face twisted, and his gums ached as his teeth lengthened. Mike’s expression changed from anger to shock to fear in a matter of seconds. Frightened prey turned Slade’s killer instinct on like nothing else—except jealousy. This human was a rival for his mate. Slade’s wolf wanted his blood. Bones snapped. His body contorted. The wolf dropped to all fours and cornered Mike against the bench. Baring long, sharp fangs, he snarled. The blood drained from Mike’s face, and he put his arms up to protect his eyes. “Slade. For God’s sake don’t do this.” Whose God? Not mine. Slade’s wolf had been restrained for far too long. The predator was out, and the prey was crying like a baby. He would have preferred a chase, but he’d settle for a quick kill. “Please. This will make things worse for all Weres. We can work it out.” Mike sank to his knees until he was eye to eye with Slade. He crossed himself. “They’ll frame Jaxon for this. You know it. Together we can help him.” Jaxon. Slade’s wolf stilled. He forced his brain to work. His mate would be captured, caged, killed…He could stop all that. Fur retreated, and the animal body shrunk into itself. Dazed, Slade shook

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his head. He was on all fours, his clothes hanging from his body in shreds. He looked up at Mike as if just awakening from a deep sleep. Mike let out a deep breath and raked a hand through his sweat-soaked hair. Slade stood on two feet and did what he could to fix his tattered shirt. Finally he took it off. “Did anyone see us?” Mike shook his head. “No. Hardly anyone comes to this area. That’s why I picked it.” He grabbed his crotch. “I think I peed myself.” Slade’s gaze went below the belt. “You wouldn’t be the first.” His blood lust had disappeared and left him empty of spirit. “Didn’t you ever see Jaxon shift?” “No. I asked, but he didn’t want me to see him like that.” “He was right. I’m sorry. When you hit me I lost control. It should never have happened.” “I shouldn’t have hit you.” “I deserved it. You and Jax are a couple. I’m the interloper here,” Slade said gruffly. “I just want you to know I only moved in on him because of the assignment. It meant nothing.” Mike looked back at him with a mixture of relief and skepticism. “Still want to kill me?” “I never did. You just pissed me off.” “Well, that’s a relief. Just to assure you, I had no intention of killing Jaxon, not unless he was involved in terrorist activities, and I don’t believe he is.” “Just to assure you, he’s not. I know him too well to believe that kind of crap. He stays out of politics, but if he did get involved he’d be all about peaceful integration.” “So. What now? Any ideas?” “Maybe. I think we need to go public.” Slade’s jaw dropped. “Are you fucking kidding me?”

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“It’s the only way. The Feds are trying to swing public opinion against the Weres. We need to swing it back. Believe it or not, there are a lot of human sympathizers out there.” “And how do we get them to hear our side?” “I know a man on the Hoboken Bulletin. It’s a local newspaper from Hoboken, New Jersey—” “A local rag won’t help us.” “Just hear me out. It covers local, regional and national news, but bulletinreport.com can serve the world. Our story will be picked up all by the major news portals. We’ll be on the front page of Yahoo! News, Google News, as well as nytimes.com, USA.com, and a host of others.” Mike’s face grew animated as he got more excited. “Think about the bloggers. We’ll go viral.” “What about negative publicity?” “Sure, there will be some, but the point is we’ll be untouchable. The Feds won’t make a move on us while we’re the center of attention.” “And what happens when we’re not big news anymore?” “Believe me, this story isn’t going away any time soon. It will inflame your people and their supporters. Help your cause.” “And maybe start a war.” “Change always comes with collateral damage. We’ll try to keep it to a minimum.” “And you’re sure your friend will go along with this?” “Yes. He doesn’t know about me and Jax, but he hates the government and the way they treat the shifters. Besides, his career is assured with this. He could win a Pulitzer.” “Okay,” Slade said with some reluctance. “We’ll play it your way. But we need to get together with Jax. After all, two wolf heads are better than one.” He managed a grim smile. Mike’s face fell. “This is the part I dread most. He has no idea who I really am.” “Let me talk to him first.”

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“I don’t know…” “He can take his anger out on me.” “Okay, do it. I’ve seen enough wolf for a while.” “We’ll meet tonight. Do you know a good out-of-the-way place?” “The Sleep Inn. It’s a motel in Hoboken. I’ll be registered as Mr. Lycan.” Mike winced when Slade started laughing. “Private joke. I’ll check in at midnight and wait for you to bring Jaxon. Stay safe.”

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Chapter Eight When Jaxon finally got back to The Kennel Club, he went straight to his office and the desk drawer that held his bottle of scotch. He poured himself a tumbler full and took a big swallow. He felt like shit. Too much drinking led to hangovers and heartache. Alcohol just complicated everything else, and he couldn’t think straight. Worst of all, it did nothing to help him get Slade out of his head. If Slade remained a fixture at the club, they’d end up fucking again. He had no doubt about it. The man was just too damn tempting. In all the time he’d been with Mike, he’d had no one else and he’d forgotten how it felt to be with another wolf. When he made love to Mike he always held back, just a little, afraid he’d hurt him physically. With Slade he could let go and not be afraid of anything. A shifter’s body mended quickly. Too bad the mind couldn’t heal as fast. Stop being so maudlin. Are you a wolf or a wimp? It’s the damn booze. This drinking has to stop. And it will stop, just as soon as I fire Slade. A little voice of reason started a conversation in his head. Don’t look for someone else to blame, look for a solution. Isn’t that what I’m doing? No. Analyze the situation and then take the necessary action to put things right. But I am putting things right. Yeah, at the expense of someone’s livelihood. Isn’t there a better way to handle this? And I don’t mean drinking and staying away from the club. This is the only way I know how to get my life back to normal.

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Finding the right man was next to impossible, and yet he and Mike had found each other. Mike was honest and loyal to a fault. He’d been nothing but good to Jax and would do anything for him. But Jax knew damn well Mike would never accept another man in their bed, and he refused to jeopardize what they had for the sake of a threesome. He heard Slade’s footsteps outside his office, and he took another drink. How did the man know he was here? He must be spying on him. Fuck. If Slade wanted repeat sex, he was barking up the wrong tree. Jax wasn’t going down that road again. But this was as good a time as any to get the unpleasant business of terminating Slade’s employment over with. Slade’s presence in Dogtown had turned Jaxon’s life upside down, and it could not continue. He couldn’t run the man out of town, but he could get him out of his club. Once that happened he’d make sure they didn’t run into each other again. Slade rapped on the door and Jax yelled, “Come in.” Slade walked in, slamming the door behind him. “Sit—” Slade pulled something out of his pocket. A cell phone? He walked around the room with the object in his hand and a serious expression on his face. The man is fucking crazy. “What are you doing?” “Looking for bugs.” Slade sat on the chair in front of Jaxon’s desk. He place one foot flat on the floor, the ankle of his other leg resting on his knee. I don’t believe this. “Since when are you so paranoid? Nobody comes in here.” Jax shook his head. “What happened to your face? You look like shit.” “Thanks. You should see the other guy. By the way, you don’t look so good yourself.” Jax ignored the compliment. “You look like you need a drink.” He held out the bottle.

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Slade took it. Jax pulled out another glass and slid it toward Slade, who poured a stiff drink. The man really did look like hell. “Quinn tells me you were sick last night.” Jax tried not to seem too interested. “Feeling better?” Slade knocked half of his scotch back before he answered. “Yeah.” “Good. I’ve been meaning to talk to you.” Jax hesitated, his tongue felt swollen and dry in his mouth, and no more words came out. His own reluctance to finish their relationship and get Slade out of his life tormented him. “Yeah, so what’s on your mind?” “I’m firing you.” There, it’s out. Slade looked poleaxed, as if the words were the last thing he expected to hear. “Why? Is your boy back?” “No.” Jax made a mental note to check up on Korey. It had been days, and the young wolf had never called him. “I’m doing away with the dancing. It stirs the men up too much, and they get into trouble.” “Well, I was going to quit anyway.” Now it was Jaxon’s turn to be surprised. “Leaving town?” His heart actually twisted at the thought. “Maybe. Maybe you are.” Jax narrowed his eyes at that. “I’ll cut to the chase.” Slade banged his glass on the desk. Jax kept his mouth shut. Slade had something on his mind, and Jax wanted to hear what it was. He refilled Slade’s glass, slid it over to him, and waited to hear what the man had to say. “Where did you go yesterday?” Slade asked abruptly. “That’s none of your business.” “Make it my business, Jax. We need to cut out the shit. This is important.” “What’s so important, you arrogant prick? I’m waiting for you to say your piece, and you keep talking riddles. As for me, I have nothing to say to you except you’re fired.”

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“I don’t mean to beat around the bush, but I’m usually as closed mouth as they come. It’s not easy for me to come clean, especially about this, but things have spiraled out of my control.” “What things? What the fuck are you talking about?” Slade’s face went even more serious. “I have a story to tell you.” “I’m listening.” “I’m not who you think I am.” Slade paused, suddenly pale and at a loss for words. Why am I not surprised? “Who are you? I want the truth.” “I’m an undercover agent working with the Division of Shifter Affairs.” He looked up, saw Jaxon’s face, and looked down again. “Division of who?” “Shifters. DSA is an offshoot of the FBI. The various Were groups have always lived in their own segregated neighborhoods. The FBI kept an eye on things and all was relatively quiet—until recently. Reports of civil unrest and meetings between the various Were groups kept coming in, so the Feds started this new division.” Jaxon’s shock had dissipated. Now his head swam with the implications of what this could mean. “What kind of meetings?” “The different groups have always functioned independently. Now they’re banding together and talking riots. Your name came up as being a leader in the community and a supporter of organized rebellion. According to the FBI you’re a subversive who wants to overthrow the government.” Jax started laughing. “This isn’t funny, Jaxon. They’re going to make an example of you. They want your head on a plate, and they picked me to deliver it.” Jaxon’s eyes flashed. “Get out.” “Don’t shoot the messenger. I’m telling you all this because I want to help you.” “You can help me by leaving me the fuck alone. I’m as far from being radical as a palm tree in Antarctica.”

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“Did you hear what I said? This is the FBI. If they say there’s a palm tree growing in Antarctica, nobody is going to argue the fact.” “I can take care of myself.” “You can’t fight the whole damn government. It’s a battle you can’t win.” “And you care because why?” “You think I like spying on my own kind? I’m an outsider working on the inside. I put my own life on the line because I think I can help my people more this way.” Slade shook his head. “Cut me some slack. I’ve been agonizing over this assignment ever since I got here.” Slade stared at Jax intently. “Say something.” “I’m being set up.” “Yes. You are. And so am I. They’re claiming I went rogue. I’m a marked man.” “Why us?” “My guess would be because Dogtown is a high-profile Were ghetto in a town that’s terrified of terrorists. There’s a big shifter population living here. The Feds have no trouble manipulating reality, and humans are already off-balance, scared, and anxious. Making an example of a bunch of worthless shifters would be easy. It would be all over the internet in a matter of hours, sooner.” “Why are they so damn anxious to bring us down?” “We’re different. Humans automatically assume that anyone who is different is dangerous. It would be great if everyone felt comfortable in their own skin and accepting of each other’s differences, but it’s never going to happen. There will always be a minority group that the others can gang up on, and right now it’s us. They’re afraid their days are numbered, that before long they’ll be the minority race. Think about it. We’re stronger, we heal faster…” “I am thinking about it. If they keep ganging up on Weres they’ll drive some of the fringe element to acts that will be dangerous and lead to loss of life—on both sides.”

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“Yeah, well, I kept telling myself that as an agent of the law, I could help to keep the scales of good versus evil weighted on the good side. I thought I was in a position to keep things in balance, but it’s a losing battle. No matter what the government says in the media, they’re not friendly to our kind. I had to learn the hard way. You gotta believe me, I don’t want to hurt you, and I don’t want any trouble.” “Yeah? Well, I don’t either, and it seems to me you brought the trouble with you. If you get out of Dogtown, maybe it will disappear with you. So get out.” Jax got up from behind his desk, intending to throw Slade out if he had to, but Slade stood immovable in front of him, like the mysterious monolith that appeared with the chimps in 2001: A Space Odyssey. He reached out to shove Slade, but the other wolf grabbed his hands and pulled him in. “It’s too late, Jax. We’re in this together. I have it on good authority.” “Whose?” “Michael Donovan.” “You ignorant, self-serving, loathsome son of a bitch.” Jax growled. “Why bring him into this? You don’t know shit about Mike, but you’ll say anything to involve me in your scheming bullshit.” Slade gripped his jaw with one hand and held his face steady so Jaxon had to look in Slade’s eyes. “Listen to me. Mike Donovan is my contact here. He works for the director of DSA, just like I—” Jax drove a knee into Slade’s groin and slammed him against the wall. “Umph.” Slade grunted. His head made a satisfying thud when it impacted with the hard surface. He grabbed his crotch and gasped. “No fair taking a nut-shot.” White-hot anger blurred Jaxon’s vision. “Who the hell do you think you are? Where do you get off making up shit like that?” He pressed his muscular forearm across Slade’s throat and pushed. Jax cut off his airway, and Slade didn’t even try to fight back. He started choking, and his eyes went buggy.

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For good or bad, this man meant something to him. His wolf pulled back. Suddenly Jax came back to his senses and pulled back. Slade staggered and started sliding down the wall. Jax came up close and held him up. “Damn you, Slade. Why don’t you fight?” Breathing heavily, he shook his head no then leaned back and closed his eyes. The scent of his sweat mixed with arousal made Jaxon’s own groin ache, but in a good way. Jax couldn’t resist the urge to touch his cheek. Slade opened his eyes cautiously as Jaxon’s fingers traced his mouth. Slade’s lips parted and sucked at Jaxon’s finger. “Slade…” A slow and smoky ecstasy came over him, and he couldn’t resist pressing his lips to Slade’s. As much as Jax wanted to taste him, he wanted the closeness more. This is what he’d been missing so desperately. Slade moaned in encouragement, but his kiss was soft and chaste. Jax deepened the kiss, teasing Slade’s lips until he opened for him. The kiss went from sweet to something more, something wild and hunger-driven. Slade’s hands on the small of his back held him close, and they ground their bodies together as if dancing to their own seductive tempo. The scotch made Jaxon’s head spin, or maybe it was because Slade was pressing his rigid erection against Jaxon’s groin while his tongue explored Jaxon’s mouth. The man was an aphrodisiac. His musky scent make Jaxon’s cock leak. Slade slipped his hands inside the waistband of Jaxon’s jeans and squeezed his ass as he pulled Jax closer still. Jax moaned at the friction between them, all thoughts of the trouble they were in gone like so much drifting smoke. Slade’s hands kneaded and caressed his flesh. One long finger circled his hole. Slade’s lips moved over his cheek, his jaw, his neck, licking and sucking his sensitive skin. “Slade …” Jax seemed incapable of stringing two words together. All he could manage was Slade’s name.

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“What, baby?” Slade murmured. “Tell me what you want.” Slade’s finger teased Jaxon’s hole. His tongue teased Jaxon’s ear. Jax shuddered and ground his hips against Slade’s body. Slade’s finger penetrated his hole, and Jaxon’s legs went weak. A moan slipped past his lips. Slade held him up. He pulled his finger out then thrust back inside. “You’re gonna make me come,” Jax muttered harshly. “Do it.” Slade pushed his finger deep, searching for Jaxon’s prostate. He stroked the sweet spot at the same time he sank his teeth into the tender skin between Jaxon’s neck and shoulder. Jaxon’s knees gave way, and he held on to Slade as he went off like a rocket, howling out his release. “Oh, fuck.” That was new. He’d never in his life come without touching his dick or someone touching it for him. “I think I need another drink now.” “I think we’ve had more than enough to drink.” Slade kissed him. “And I don’t want to fight with you again.” “Sorry. I shouldn’t have taken my frustration out on you.” “Better me than Mike.” Damn, he’d almost forgotten about his mate. “So now what?” “Now we meet Mike and figure out how we’re going to get out of this shipwreck.” Jax pulled back. “Don’t know if I’m ready to see Mike.” “He’s pretty torn up over this.” “He’s been lying to me all along. Why should I believe him now?” “Whatever he did, it was because he loves you.” Jax sighed. “Where?” “Do you know how to get to Hoboken?” “Yeah, I can get us there.” “Good.” Slade kissed him again. “We have some time. Whatta ya say we rest a few hours. You can kiss my booboo and make it all better.”

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Chapter Nine It was 1:00 a.m. in Dogtown, and inside The Kennel Club the wolves still partied. Nobody danced on the stage, but electronic music played and men weaved and swayed with their partners in a mating dance. Foreplay, that’s all it was. Pressing up against a sexy partner, caressing and stroking his body, it all led to the bedroom. Sometimes a guy couldn’t wait. Sometimes he didn’t want to wait. If a couple liked to be watched, there was always somebody who would enjoy the show. Slade watched for a few minutes then slipped out the back door before anyone saw him. The streets were dark and empty. Perfect. There were day people, and there were night people. Slade was a night person—but then most predators were. The city was quiet. All his wolfish senses were sharper because there were fewer distractions. He was in his element. Slade started up Jaxon’s Toyota and pulled around the front of the building to wait. Despite the mess they were in, Jax insisted on doing his last-minute bullshit and giving Quinn orders on locking up. Slade happened to glance up at the abandoned warehouse across the street. His keen eyesight picked up a man’s shadow in a second-story window. A human wouldn’t notice it, but few could hide from a wolf. Hurry the fuck up, Jax. Finally, Jax walked out of the club and Slade leaned over to open the passenger door. “Get in the car,” he said through clenched teeth. Jax leaned down and looked at him. “What?” “Get in the fucking car,” Slade said louder. “Now.”

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Jax got in, and Slade pulled away with a squeal of tires. He looked at the building as he passed, but all the windows looked dark and empty. Still, the knot in his gut didn’t go away. “Keep your eyes open, Jax. Someone’s watching us.” Slade glanced over at Jax in the passenger seat of the Toyota. The man looked exhausted. He wished they could just go somewhere safe and sleep for a week or two, but that wasn’t happening. It looked to be a long night. The glare of headlights in the rearview mirror told Slade he was right. They were being followed. Shit. Spotting a tail wasn’t difficult when the streets were empty, and Slade knew all the tricks. He ran a red light, and the dark sedan behind him followed. When he drove the wrong way on a one-way street and the sedan did the same, he knew for sure. Speeding up, he cut across sidewalks and drove through alleys. As soon as he had a chance, he made a bootlegger’s turn and took off in the opposite direction. Jax clutched the seat and hung on for the ride. Slade slowed down and checked the rearview mirror. It looked clear. “I think I lost him.” He pulled his cell out to call Mike then circled around and drove toward the Holland Tunnel. **** The Sleep Inn, a bare-bones motel five miles from the Holland Tunnel, had a queen-size bed with a pink, orange, and green spread, a recliner, a dresser, two night stands, and a small desk with a straight back chair. Jordan Kendall turned the desk light on and shuffled aside the stationery and takeout menus to make room for his tape recorder. He nudged his glasses up the bridge of his nose and looked at Mike. Mike reflected for the hundredth time on how nerdy Jordan looked with his flattop haircut, horn-rim glasses and preppy clothes, khaki pants, and an Oxford shirt. He hoped his friend wouldn’t get

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freaked by the big bad wolves. “Sorry about the accommodations,” Mike apologized profusely. “I’ve seen worse. As long as we’re not bothered it’s okay with me.” Mike sat on the bed and checked his watch for the hundredth time. “It’s still twelve thirty,” Jordan told him. “Yeah, sorry.” “Stop apologizing. You’re doing me a big favor. This article will make me a household name. Just promise me I get all the exclusives coming up.” Yeah, if we live that long. “Sure. It’s a promise.” His head jerked around at the sound of footsteps, then a rap on the door. “It’s gotta be them.” Slade had called to say they were on the way, but for a few seconds he didn’t move. He didn’t know how Jax had reacted to Slade’s confession, and he was afraid to find out. Can’t put it off forever. Forcing himself to get off the bed, he looked through the peephole. Only Slade was visible, and his expression gave no clue to Jaxon’s mood. Mike opened the door and Jax slipped in behind Slade. He tried to catch Jaxon’s eye, but the man wouldn’t look at him, so he introduced them to Jordan and stepped back. Jordan approached Jaxon with a smile and an outstretched hand. The wolf ignored him. Slade stepped between them and shook the reporter’s hand. “I’m sure you can understand our reluctance. Weres don’t normally get a fair shake in the media.” “I do understand, but I’m only interested in the facts and my article will be an unbiased account of them. Have you ever been interviewed before?” Both Slade and Jax shook their heads. “Make yourselves comfortable. I have a lot of questions, and I assure you I’ll report exactly what you tell me without changing or embellishing a thing.” “Why?” Slade asked.

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Jordan gave him a blank look. “I don’t understand.” “You’re putting your life in danger. Why are you doing this?” “My grandfather was an old-school reporter. He taught me that a good story is powerful enough to overcome adversity. This is a good story, and I’m a good journalist. I’m not afraid to challenge authority. I can help you, and your story will help me. Newspapers are in a death spiral. Readers are migrating to the Internet, and there’s a lot of competition online. This story will have them buying my paper and logging in to our website.” “Okay. Let’s get started then.” Jordan gestured toward a spiral notebook and a pen on the desk. “I take good notes, but I don’t know shorthand. I’d like your permission to record this interview as well, so I can keep all the facts straight.” Slade and Jax looked at each other and nodded. “Turn on your recorder,” Slade told Jordan. “Good. Anybody want coffee?” Jordan pointed to a Box O’Joe from Dunkin’ Donuts sitting on the dresser. “Thanks.” Jax walked over to fix a cup while Slade chatted with Jordan. Mike approached Jax with a lot of apprehension. “Jax…” “I’m not angry.” He turned to face Mike. “I’ve done a lot of thinking on the way over here, and I understand why you didn’t tell me. But it still hurts. I need a little time.” “I’ll make it up to you.” He put a hand on Jaxon’s arm. Jax looked down at it, and Mike pulled back. “I’m going to get you out of this, get all of us out of it.” His voice broke. “That’s why I took the assignment in the first—” “Fuck.” Jax pulled Mike against him. Jaxon’s mouth covered Mike’s, swallowing a moan. When they broke for air, Jax shook his head. “This is crazy. The only reason you’re in trouble is because of me. You should run as far and as fast as you can.” “I’m not leaving you.”

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Behind them, Jordan was clearing his throat. “We really should get started.” Mike looked at Jax. “Are we okay?” “We’re good.” **** “If the public doesn’t know about the corruption behind closed doors, how can we fix it?” Jordan was sitting on the desk chair talking to Slade, who was pacing the small room like a caged tiger. “Tell me about your childhood.” “I just don’t understand why you need all the personal stuff.” They’d been at it for a brain-wrenching hour and a half. The others seemed to be holding up better than him. Slade felt as empty as an exhausted oil well. He needed to pack it in, but Jordan wouldn’t let up. “Putting a real face with the story will get readers sympathy. Isn’t that what you want? To win more supporters to your side?” Of course it’s what Slade wanted, but he never talked about his roots, not to anyone. He didn’t have much of a childhood. He’d grown up in a hostile environment. A kid grew up fast when he had to take care of himself. His education consisted of learning how to fuck people over when he had to protect himself, and he’d grown into a distrustful loner. Strange that he ended up in law enforcement, but he always had this need to make things better and take care of the underdog. Somehow it all made sense. “I don’t like talking about my feelings.” Jax got up off the lounge chair and came over to rub his cheek. “Why is that?” “I’ve always been a lone wolf. When I was a kid we were put into an internment camp, rounded up like cattle. I buried it all a long time ago.”

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“Dig it up,” Jordan said, his voice high with excitement. “This is exactly what we need to tell the world.” Jax had a sad look on his face. So did Mike, sitting on the bed, propped up on two flat pillows. He didn’t want them feeling sorry for him, but if his story got them out of this jam, so be it. “It was the seventies. Weres had been migrating from overseas for years but in small numbers, and they were scattered around the country.” “When did you come here, Slade?” The recorder was on, but Jordan still wrote furiously. “I was born here. My parents came in 1970 and settled in Wyoming—” He put his hands up. “Don’t ask me why, I have no idea.” Jordan nodded and he went on. “I was born in 1976. That’s when the trouble started. Persecution and economics abroad got worse, and shifters came here in greater numbers. Suddenly the Feds took notice. Quotas were imposed, but more and more illegals still managed to get over here. God knows why they came. They didn’t fare much better here than in their homelands. Hope springs eternal, I guess.” A sudden wave of sadness flowed through his body, and he had to stop. “Do you want to take a break?” Jordan asked him. “No. Let’s get this over with.” If he didn’t keep going, he wouldn’t get it out. “The humans were scared. The politicians were more scared. We were poor, but physically stronger and healed faster. Those of us who were legal could vote. That was first thing they took from us. The young people were incensed. They held protest demonstrations around the country. There were riots and arrests. State politicians lobbied for internment, and everyone jumped on the bandwagon. They were forced to move into camps.” “I wasn’t born then,” Jordan said, almost apologetically. “There’re all kinds of stories on the Internet, but the history books say the shifters were living in districts.” “Districts?” Slade laughed. “That’s what the Feds called them. Abandoned military bases that were turned into prisons. Civilian

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contractors made a fortune building camps based on designs for military barracks. They were essentially concentration camps.” “Christ. How did they get your people to move into these places?” “Shifters were rounded up by marines with stun guns, the same kind used to stun cattle in slaughterhouses before they’re processed. These marines had been taught to never question their orders and their commanding officers told them if anyone resisted, kill them. Sometimes they made examples out of innocent people. Sometimes they killed for the hell of it. Many shifters never reached the camps alive.” “This is good stuff.” Good stuff? This is my fucking life. Slade bit his tongue. Jax, sprawled on the lounge chair, watched him intently. The other wolf was nodding. No doubt Jax had some stories of his own. Slade took a swallow of cold coffee and went on. “We were placed in a relocation center in a remote area far from any human population. Our camp was surrounded by barbed wire. We lived in tar-paper-covered barracks with inadequate plumbing and cooking facilities. We slept on cots and ate food rations. Armed guards were posted all over to keep us in line. “Buildings were cramped and poorly equipped for family living, so families were split up. I was a baby. My parents tried to hide me, but eventually I was put in a building with other kids and a few human caretakers with assault rifles. My parents died shortly after. I found out later that my mother had been raped and sodomized by security guards. My father had been shot when he shifted and went after her attackers. Slade lapsed into silence. He might appear calm on the outside, but inside his guts were in turmoil. Talking about his family was akin to driving a knife into his heart. “I think you have enough.” Jax told the reporter harshly. “No. I’m okay.” Slade raised a hand in a gesture of reassurance. If telling his story helped someone else, it would make this worthwhile. “I was a kid, but there are documented instances of guards shooting Weres who reportedly violated the rules or tried to leave. Medical

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facilities were poor, and a lot of shifters died in the camps. We lost a lot of our people.” “But what about your constitutional rights?” Mike asked. Slade snorted. “The constitution is for the people. We’re not people, not according to your government. The fact is we were incarcerated for five years, for no good reason and without due process. The military created fear in the shifters so that they hesitated to rebel.” Jax sighed. “At least my family was able to stay together. When the new president came into office and closed down the camps we left Texas and headed east for Pennsylvania. My parents were killed in a house fire. It was arson. Somebody didn’t like shifters. They never caught the bastard. I was eighteen and out carousing somewhere. I moved to New York, never forgave myself for not being there.” “It wasn’t your fault,” Slade said. “Times were bad for all of us. I ended up in a state-run orphanage. As soon as I turned eighteen I headed west.” No one said a word, and the silence spoke volumes. They all stared into space, lost in their own private hells. Slade had seen urban warfare at its worst, and he knew it wasn’t over. Not by a long shot. More conflict was coming. He hoped it wouldn’t be soon. His tension, and a desire to leave this place, had been growing steadily as the minutes ticked by. He had a gut feeling that something was wrong and impending doom waited just around the corner, or on the other side of the door. Paranoia was a way of life in his business, but through the years he’d learned to trust his gut instincts. Right now, he tried to chalk his anxiety up to interview fatigue, and he glanced over towards the coffee. He’d already had four cups, black, the way he always drank it. No wonder I’m wired. The coffee had to be ice cold by now. He decided to give it a pass. He was about to ask Jordan if they were done when his gut feeling turned into reality. He smelled them an instant before all hell broke loose.

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Three men with assault rifles kicked in the door. “Freeze.”

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Chapter Ten The intruders were dressed in solid black jumpsuits with zippered pockets. They wore black caps and flak vests, and they carried big guns. They stood in a silent row, three against four, each man measuring the other. The predator was now the prey. But the prey would not make it easy for them. Slade shook with repressed rage and blood lust. His wolfish eyes saw red as if he were looking through a camera lens with a red filter. The beast clawed at his gut, wild to get out, ready to fight, to kill. What are you waiting for? Attack! Slade put all his energy into subduing his wolf. If he wanted to live he had to keep the animal under control. Maybe he could buy a little time by talking. “What’s this all about?” But there was no answer, no movement at all from the enemy. The men simply watched and waited with weapons raised. Richard Graham appeared between two of the men, smiling, a smug look on his aristocratic face. “This is very accommodating of you gentlemen. Getting everyone together like this makes my job so much easier.” He smoothed back his silver hair and looked at Mike. “Tsk tsk. But I am disappointed in you, Michael. I had high hopes for you once you got all this bad business out of the way. One should never allow their personal life to interfere with their duty.” He walked over to the desk, picked up Jordan’s notes, and glanced through them. “Lies, all of it. I can’t allow you to print this.” The reporter’s expression clouded in anger. “Ever hear of the First Amendment to the US Constitution? You know the one that says we

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can gather, publish, and distribute information and ideas without government restriction. I want a lawyer.” “You won’t be needing one. Unfortunately, you and these three domestic terrorists died while we were trying to resolve a hostage situation. But don’t worry. You’ll die a hero. You were following a lead and gave a heads-up on this location. We’re very grateful.” Graham walked away and spoke to one of the armed men. “I have a prior engagement, but I’m sure you men can take it from here.” He disappeared through the door. “He can’t do this,” Jordan spurted, his pale cheeks so suffused with blood his face appeared nearly purple. “I think he just did,” Mike responded impatiently, without turning to look at him. Slade said nothing, but merely looked at an equally silent Jaxon. Understanding passed between them. One of the men in black pointed his rifle first at Slade, then Mike, and then Jordan. “On your knees. Hands behind your heads.” He barked. “You.” He pointed his weapon at Jaxon. “Face down on the floor.” He motioned to one of the other men. “Tie him up.” So Slade, along with Mike and Jordan, was about to be executed. And Jaxon would be arrested for their murders. His pulse elevated. His wolf wanted out, ready to rip these guys apart. Slade saw himself crushing the man’s throat. Rage is a powerful emotion. It made him stronger. He vowed he wouldn’t die. Not tonight. Not this way, in a seedy motel room in New Jersey. Mike and Jordan looked terrified. Slade knew he couldn’t expect much help from them. It was really four against two. Slade smiled inwardly. An unfair fight. These SWAT guys should have brought more men. From the corner of his eye Slade caught Jaxon’s eye. He gave the tiniest of nods. Slade’s senses magnified. The slightest scent and the smallest sound took hold and kept him alert to everything happening around

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him. Adrenaline pumped through his body and his wolf sat waiting for the battle to begin. The big beefy human came up behind him and Slade felt a cold gun muzzle press against the back of his head. His focus centered on the click of the hammer. Jaxon growled. A man screamed. Slade made his move. Slade could shift in an instant when his wolf smelled blood. He crouched and went for the man by the door. Two huge black paws landed solidly on the human’s chest. Slade pinned him to the floor, enjoying the terrified look in his prey’s eyes. Slade bared his canines, dripping saliva on the human’s face. He wished he could make the kill last, but there was no time. Behind him gunshots sounded. Quickly, he sank his fangs into the man’s throat and crushed his windpipe between powerful jaws. Gurgling noises came from the man’s throat and then stopped in a few seconds. Slade watched the last breath leave his lungs. Satisfied, he sat back, licked the blood from his muzzle, and looked for his mates. Jax made a magnificent wolf, massive and gray. He stood over his prey, panting and staring back at Slade from intense amber eyes. Mike had an assault rifle in his hands. He’d taken it from Jaxon’s kill and managed to get off a few shots. The last bullet went through the man’s skull, killing him instantly. Slade’s wolf made a mental note to thank Mike. He had taken down the third man and saved Slade’s life. Jordan, shaking badly, muttered, “Dear God” and backed into a corner. He looked like he wanted to be anywhere but here. The reporter had bitten off more than he could chew for sure. A feeling of pins and needles prickled Slade’s skin. His body contorted and bones realigned. Animal and human merged. One last low growl escaped before his muzzle shrunk, and suddenly his human form was sitting on the floor, his clothes bloody and torn. Slade looked at the man next to him. Half of the human’s face was gone, and the throat torn out. His wolf had done this. Bile rose in his

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throat. For many years he’d been killing with human weapons. It had been a long time since he had used fangs and claws. There was no way this man could be alive, but he made himself check anyway. No breath sounds, and the pupils were blown. He was most definitely dead. Slade moved away, not wanting to be near him. Jax had shifted, and he was checking his victim. He looked up at Slade and shook his head. Slade leaned back against the wall and sighed heavily, tried to relax and allow the sensation of being alive wash over him. It was usually a good feeling. Not tonight. The inside of the motel room looked and smelled like a slaughterhouse. And they weren’t home free. Not by a long shot. He wanted to be back in LA. Hell, he wanted to be anywhere but in this seedy motel room with the coppery smell permeating everything. For years he had hoarded the money he made, stashed it away, striving for the day he would have resources to quit DSA. He should have done it sooner. Gotten out when he had the chance. He wasn’t sure they could escape this. There was no flying under the radar now. They hadn’t made waves, they’d made a tsunami. Lost in his own thoughts, Slade didn’t notice Jax approach until a hand came down on his shoulder. The other shifter crouched down next to him. Slade stared into eyes as amber as his own and just as confused. He didn’t know what to say. Thanks seemed inadequate, but it always worked. “You saved my life.” “Just returning the favor.” Jaxon’s eyes glittered with lust, and he ran his fingers through Slade’s thick, black hair with a low growl of appreciation. “We make a pretty good team.” Slade felt heat slowly creep up his cheekbones. Nothing like a kill to heighten a wolf’s sex drive. If they were alone, he’d throw Jax on the bed and fuck him senseless. A dark brow rose, and one corner of Jaxon’s lips lifted in a faint smile, as if he knew exactly what Slade was thinking. Of course he did. They were the same. Him and Jax. Enough time together and they’d be finishing each other’s sentences. He pulled away with an effort. “We need to get out of here.”

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Jax stood and gave him a hand to help him up. “You’re right. There could be others.” He walked over to Mike and hugged him. “You okay?” “Yeah, I’ve had SWAT training. Jordan’s a little freaked.” “I’m okay,” the reporter blurted out. I’ve been in war zones covering worse. But I have to admit I panicked when I saw you two shift. That was a first for me.” “Still want to do our story?” Slade asked him. Jordan nodded and tightened his mouth grimly. “More than ever.” He turned off the recorder and collected his notes. “Mike, you know where the Bulletin Building is. Meet me in the back.” He pulled a small digital camera from the briefcase he’d brought with him and started taking pictures. “What are you doing?” Slade asked. “Documentation.” The reporter grinned and jerked his head toward the recorder. “Your boss isn’t as smart as he thinks he is. The recorder was running the whole time he was here. This is going to be one hell of a story.” Slade felt almost detached. The whole scene was so surreal. “Let’s just speed it up and get out. The story won’t leave the room if another SWAT team shows up.” “Gotcha.” Jordan packed camera, recorder, and notes in his bag. “I’ll see you in a few.” “Be safe,” Mike said. He gave him a quick hug. “I’ll be okay. You guys be careful.” And then he was out the door. Jaxon looked around at the carnage. “Should we clean up?” “Are you crazy?” Slade frowned at him. “You can be sure a cleanup squad will be arriving, and believe me, we don’t want to be here to greet them.” Jax shrugged. “You guys know more about the cloak-and-dagger stuff than I do. I’ll follow your lead.” “Good, then let’s get the fuck out of here.” Slade ushered them out, hoping the death squad hadn’t destroyed the Toyota.

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They hadn’t. Mike knew the way, so he drove. Slade sat in the back and kept an eye out for trouble. He breathed a sigh of relief when they arrived at their destination without any. The twelve-story Bulletin Building included first- floor storefronts and housed commercial offices as well as the publishing facilities. Mike drove by the recessed main entrance and parked behind Jordan’s hybrid in the back. Jordan unlocked the door and punched in a security code. He led them over to an elevator and rode up to a staff lounge on the deserted fifth floor. The small carpeted room was furnished with a sturdy table and chairs, and a few fake plants. “Make yourself comfortable.” Jordan threw down his bag and walked over to a kitchenette area with coffee machine, microwave and a small fridge. “Going to make coffee.” Slade’s stomach growled in protest. “Not for me.” “There should be some juice or ice tea in the fridge. Help yourself.” Jax stood behind Slade as he rooted through the fridge. Nothing appealed. Slade shut the door. He had no appetite. Mike flopped on a chair. “When will the staff show up?” “There’s a few of us here already. We work long hours. I have the dogwatch tonight.” Mike gave him a funny look. “It’s just a name they gave to the lousiest shift. We practically work around the clock.” Jordan chewed on his nails while he waited for the coffee to brew. “Why don’t you sit down?” Mike asked him. “You’re making me nervous.” Jordan poured his coffee and started toward the door. “I’m going to see if the editor is in.” Mike stretched out his legs, leaned his head back and closed his eyes. Jax sat down next to him and put a hand over his. Slade watched them warily, wondering if he’d see either man again after tonight.

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Jordan returned forty-five minutes later accompanied by a very tall, very excited man sporting a handlebar mustache. “This is Bill Butcher—” “Pleased to meet you.” Bill shook everybody’s hand. “Mike briefed me and showed me a few photos. Jesus, I can’t believe this is happening here. I’m going to run a short version on the Internet so we get the story out immediately. Once it’s out there, the Feds won’t be able to touch you, not without putting themselves in the crosshairs. We’ll get the complete story out later.” Mike ran a nervous hand through his hair. “Is there a decent hotel around where we can hole up until we figure—” “No way.” Bill pulled a set of keys from his pocket. “I have a cabin in upstate New York. You’ll be safe there. Stay as long as you like.” He tossed the keys to Mike. “There’s an old Volvo out back. The GPS system will take you home.” Slade’s jaw dropped. “I don’t know what to say.” “No need.” Bill grinned at him. “I should be thanking you. You guys are gonna sell a lot of papers for me.”

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Chapter Eleven Slade was pleasantly surprised by the cabin. Small but peaceful and homey, it had natural wood walls and floors, a combination living room, dining room with a wood burning stove, and a full kitchen. Slade wasn’t interested in food. He only wanted to sleep, but the loft had only a king-size bed, and he didn’t want to hijack it when the other two men were a couple and he could just as well sleep on the couch. He flopped down on the overstuffed sofa and looked up at them. “If you guys don’t mind I’m gonna sack out here for a few hours. I’m beat.” Jax eyed the couch. “On that? It’s not big enough.” “I’ll manage. You guys take the loft.” Jax and Mike looked at each other and back at him. “What?” He stretched out, just to show them he was okay. His long legs hung over the arm. “I’m exhausted. I could fall asleep on the floor.” “Suit yourself.” Jax headed for the kitchen and Mike followed. Slade curled up in a fetal position. Two minutes later he sat up and stretched his legs. Another five minutes passed. Slade got up and pulled a chair next to the couch to rest his legs on. Finally he stood and walked over to the window. Too damn uncomfortable to fall asleep, he stared out at the moon. Or maybe it was the images in his head of Jax and Mike in the big bed upstairs. ****

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Jaxon sat at the small square table in the kitchen and watched Mike check out the cabinets and the fridge. Of all the fucking things to happen. He wanted to get Slade out of his life, and now they were all stuck here together. How could he possibly get through this? “It’s fully stocked. I can’t believe it.” Mike turned to face Jax. “Want me to warm up some…what’s wrong?” Mike sat down across from him and waited. “Nothing.” “I can read your face like a book, and I’m not buying it.” “I’m just tired. Okay?” “I know you slept with him.” Jax blew out a resigned breath between gritted teeth. I really don’t want to go there. “Look at me, Jax. I already apologized for not being honest with you. I was hoping we were done keeping secrets from each other.” “You’re way off base.” “Am I? Stop lying to me. I heard it straight from the wolf’s mouth—and before you get pissed at Slade, it was before he knew we were together. I already knew anyway. I smelled him on you. That damn cinnamon shit he wears.” “Okay, I admit it. Happy now? You and I weren’t seeing much of each other, and then he came along and one thing led to another. It just happened. It didn’t mean anything.” “Don’t bullshit me. It meant something. You’ve been acting strange for days. All of a sudden you were practically living at my place. Were you feeling guilty or trying to get him out of your head?” “I…uh…Look, we hooked up. It’s over, end of story.” Mike was looking over his shoulder, and he turned and caught Slade staring at them. “Sorry, I couldn’t help overhearing. He’s right, Mike.” Slade remarked matter-of-factly. “I seduced him because I had a job to do. He was needy and fell for the bait. It didn’t mean a thing.”

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“Needy!” Jax leapt to his feet knocking the chair over backwards. He didn’t know what bothered him more—being called needy or hearing that he meant nothing to the other shifter. “It is what it is.” Despite Slade’s closed expression, Jax sensed the man’s vulnerability. He wanted to dig deeper and find out what was really going on in Slade’s head. He’d lied when he told Mike that Slade meant nothing to him. Maybe Slade was lying too. But this wasn’t the kind of conversation he could have in front of Mike. “If you and Mike are uncomfortable with me here, I’ll leave. I can go feral and live in the woods. They won’t find me.” “No way!” Jax blurted out. “Some asshole hunter will take a shot at you and take you out quicker than the FBI. You’re not going anywhere.” He felt his face flame, and he turned to Mike. “He doesn’t deserve to go out like that.” “I agree,” Mike said softly. “It’s settled. We don’t want you to leave.” “Okay, I’ll stay the night—or what’s left of it. I won’t get in your way. If you don’t mind, I’d like to go upstairs and use the shower.” Jax nodded and watched Slade turn and walk out of the kitchen. “Go after him.” “Mike, cut the crap.” Jax snarled at his lover. He was way too tired to play these games. “I saw the way you look at him.” “Okay, there’s something there. And it doesn’t matter, because to Slade I was nothing more than a job.” Mike shook his head sadly. “It’s true. Love is blind.” This was beyond Jaxon’s exhausted comprehension. “But not deaf. You heard him. He wanted into my bed so he could spy on me.” “I don’t care what Slade says. Any fool can see he loves you. His eyes betray his lies.” “What do you want from me, Mike?” “I want you to be happy.”

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“I love you.” “I know. And I love you. But I’ve been selfish about a lot of things. You gave me the option to leave the door open for another partner and instead of considering your needs, I slammed it shut. I was wrong.” “You’re all I need—” “Wait. Let me finish.” Mike said firmly. “I measured our relationship by rigid human standards. I was conditioned to believe that you can only love one person at a time, but now I know that’s unrealistic. Slade gives you something I can’t, but it’s not an insurmountable issue.” Jax frowned at him. “What are you saying?” “Our bond is real and opening it up to another man won’t threaten it, not nearly as much as betrayal and loss of trust would. I say we make our own rules and decide how we want our relationship to work. Slade is hot as hell. When I met him, I was attracted to him myself.” He grinned at Jax. “Don’t snarl at me. I’m trying to have an honest conversation. I’ve never had a threesome before. It might be fun.” “You’re joking?” “Did you think I would let you fuck another man and not want in on the action?” Jax finally smiled. Mike never ceased to surprise him. This felt good, really good. He and Mike had never been able to talk like this before. “What makes you think he’d be interested?” “You can be very persuasive when you want to be. You go up first. I’ll give you a little time to convince him.” **** Slade appreciated the well-appointed bathroom. Good size shower, double vanity sink, and a Jacuzzi tub big enough for three. He pushed the thought out of his head. Jax would be enjoying the tub with his boyfriend. Boyfriend. Fortunately, Slade had never wanted

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one. They only complicated a man’s life. He’d had a number of sex partners through the years, men to blow off steam with, but there had been no one he trusted enough to share his feelings or confide in and after joining the FBI, no one at all. He tossed his bloody and tattered clothes on the floor. He hated the thought of putting them back on after his shower. Maybe he’d try to wash them later. Sliding the shower curtain aside, he turned on the water, hot, just the way he liked it. White mist filled the bathroom and he stepped under the spray, already relaxing under its comforting heat. He adjusted the shower head until the water came down in a pulsating heavy stream. Slade smiled wryly. In the space of a day, he had shared his deepest feelings with not one, but three men. They knew more about him than anyone else in the world. Well, after what they had been through together, they deserved his trust. He had to admit, he’d been glad for the company. He usually preferred working alone and thought he liked it that way. Today he’d discovered he’d been kidding himself. It felt good to have men covering his back, especially when they saved his life. A bottle of shampoo and a bar of soap were on a caddy. Thank you, Bill. He poured a large amount of shampoo on his head and lathered up. Bending his head and closing his eyes, he let the stream wash off the shampoo and pound out the kinks between his shoulder blades. His mind wandered in warm, steamy languor. A sound jarred him out of his dreamy state, and his head jerked up. He yanked the curtain back and poked his head out for a look. Jaxon’s clothes were lying on top of his on the floor and the man’s bare ass was temptingly displayed as he leaned over the tub. Slade swallowed hard and tried to find his voice. “You don’t need to use the tub, I’ll—” “Is that an invitation?” Jax straightened up and walked toward him. “Because that shower looks big enough for two wolves—and maybe even a human.”

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“Mike…” “Will be up in a little while. You gonna let me in or not?” “It would be a shame to waste all this hot water.” Slade stepped aside to make room for Jax. He didn’t know what to make of this, but he was willing to see how it played out. “You mind washing my back?” Jax leaned forward, put his palms on the tile, and spread his legs like he was about to get frisked. It was an invitation Slade couldn’t resist. He reached for the soap. Slade started at Jaxon’s shoulders and worked his way down. Washing the shifter’s strong muscular body was not a hardship. Jax seemed to enjoy it as much as Slade. His muscles quivered under Slade’s hands. When Slade reached Jaxon’s firm buttocks, he paused for a minute, trying to decide if he wanted to pull Jaxon’s hips toward his body or press him up against the shower wall and fuck him. Decision reached, he slid his hands around Jaxon’s chest and played with his nipples, pinching and twisting them. When they tightened into stiff little points, Slade’s hands traveled lower, over Jaxon’s belly and down, encircling his cock and cupping his balls. Jax groaned and leaned his forehead against the tiles. Seeing the effect he had on Jax combined with the heat of their bodies surrounded by the warm steam drove Slade’s excitement higher. He pulled Jax back against his body until his engorged cock rode the crease of Jaxon’s ass. Slade had wanted this so badly he couldn’t believe it was really happening. He was afraid to speak and spoil the moment. Instead he buried his face in Jaxon’s neck, kissing and sucking the sensitive flesh. The stubble on Jaxon’s face created a sweet friction that turned Slade on as much as the other shifter’s taste. Slade’s stomach and chest pressed against Jaxon’s back and still it wasn’t enough contact. He needed to touch as much of him as he could. His hands roamed over the man’s body and he felt Jax go tense with anticipation. Jaxon’s hips moved against his, and Slade’s cock nudged Jaxon’s hole, pressing for entrance. Slade was so engrossed in

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the intimacy of the moment everything around him disappeared. He was desperate to fuck the other shifter, and Jaxon seemed to want it just as badly. Slade reached down to guide— The door opened. Slade pulled the curtain aside, and there was Mike. All three men froze in a silent tableau. **** Mike knew it would be hard to see them together, but he didn’t figure it would be this hard. They were so into each other that it really hurt. Hurt bad. He felt like a third wheel. Jealousy washed over him like a cloudburst of despair. Did I make a terrible mistake suggesting this? But at the same time, the sight of their wet naked bodies pressed together made him hot and hard. “Sorry. Do you want to be alone?” Jaxon turned his head and looked at Slade. “It’s your party,” Slade told him. “Hurry up,” Jax said to Mike. “We’re running out of hot water.” Excitement overrode anxiety and Mike grinned at the two men. “I don’t mind a cold shower if you keep me warm.” “I think we can manage that,” Slade said huskily. He watched Mike undress with great interest and whistled appreciatively when he finished. “Well, what are you waiting for? I want to see if you taste as good as you look.” He glanced at Jax, as if for permission. “If your boyfriend doesn’t mind.” “He doesn’t.” Jax said in a low husky voice. He moved back against Slade to make room for Mike. Mike stepped under the water and shivered. Jaxon was sandwiched between him and Slade. As if by unspoken agreement, their mouths met over Jaxon’s shoulder. Slade’s kiss was gentle at first, but turned fierce. He attacked Mike’s tongue with his, and Slade’s obvious hunger sent hot spirals of want through Mike. Without warning, Jax reached down and squeezed Mike’s sac, making him moan into Slade’s mouth. It was his lover’s hands on his balls,

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but it was Slade Mike wanted more contact with. One taste of Slade was all it took to prove Mike’s attraction was not a momentary lapse. It shocked the hell out of him. Would Jax be upset or happy that his lover was so turned on by another man? Probably the latter. Jax wouldn’t want him to submit out of pressure to please. Making this threesome work was all about balancing everyone’s needs so all three men enjoyed every minute of this connection. The pressure on Mike’s lips lessened as Slade broke for air. Suddenly the pulsing water turned ice cold, and Mike squealed like a baby. The wolves held him steady and prevented him from jumping out. Jaxon’s eyes bored into his. “Do you want more?” “Fuck yes.” He’d never wanted anything more in his life. “But I’m freezing.” His teeth actually chattered. “Want to move this to the bedroom?” Jaxon asked. Two pairs of predatory eyes bored into him. Suddenly Mike hesitated. He felt like Red Riding Hood facing down the big, bad wolves. A wicked grin split Slade’s face. “I don’t bite. Not unless you want me to.” Heat coiled in Mike’s belly and he shuddered. “Bite me— please.”

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Chapter Twelve At first Slade thought this was just about the sex—just a shifter with a willing playmate inviting him to join in so they could relieve the stress of their situation by fucking their brains out. But as he reclined on the king-size bed with Jax, their heads propped on pillows, their eyes focused on the bathroom door, he knew this would not be a purely physical act. He would have preferred not to let emotion color their interaction, but Mike had saved his life after all. And offered a way out that would keep them alive—at least for a little while longer. Mike and Jaxon knew more about him than anyone else in the world. Things like that created a lasting bond between men. Mike finally appeared in the doorway, a towel slung around his hips. He was drying his hair with another towel. Slade could understand why Jax wanted him. The blue-eyed blond, with his flirtatious glances, was so fucking hot Slade could already feel those sexy lips wrapped around his cock as he thrust into Mike’s mouth. But it was obvious that Mike was much more than just a human playmate. Something in his eyes pulled at Slade. A look that said, I care about you and I’ll cherish you. It made his heart ache. Slade averted his gaze from those eyes and turned to Jaxon. The other shifter was focused on Mike, too. His long, thickly veined dick pointed at the ceiling. He wrapped his hand around it and tugged. “Hurry it up,” he urged Mike hoarsely. Mike dropped both towels and licked his lips. Like a starving man who couldn’t decide what to eat first, his eyes shifted from Jaxon’s

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leaking cock to Slade’s. He crawled up between the two men, licking a path up Jaxon’s hairy thigh to his stomach then circling his navel. Slade’s hand found its way to his shaft, and he stroked himself while he watched. He was as desperate to lick the beads of cum forming at Jaxon’s cockhead as he was to have the man’s dick in his ass later. It took a lot of willpower to stop himself from reaching over and grabbing a hold of him, but not being sure of his place here, he waited for an invitation. Jax gripped Mike’s hair and pulled him up. “I want to watch you and Slade.” Did I hear right? Slade’s erection dripped like a leaky faucet. Knowing Jax wanted to watch him and Mike was incredibly sexy. Knowing he’d finally get his hands on Mike was even sexier. Mike leaned in for a kiss then turned his attention to Slade. He lowered his head over Slade’s chest and tongued each nipple, licking and sucking until Slade let out a deep groan. Jax groaned as well. “Tell him what you want, Slade.” “Suck me, Mike,” Slade gritted out. “Good choice. He gives a mean blow job.” Without a word, Mike bent his head to the task and rubbed his face over Slade’s cock. He hadn’t shaved, and Slade relished the scrape of his stubble on sensitive flesh. Slade shifted into a better position, and he felt Jaxon’s lips skate over his jaw to claim his mouth in a heated kiss. Slade opened to him, and Jax traced Slade’s tongue with his. The kiss deepened, and when Jax finally pulled away, Slade gripped the back of his neck and stopped him. He wanted more. What the fuck? Slade had never been big on kissing. Too emotional, it wasn’t the connection he’d been after. That could have been because he’d never been kissed by anyone like these men. The wolf and his human knew how to lock lips, and they obviously enjoyed it. Slade was finding out that he did, too. Jaxon chuckled. “Just going to the bathroom. I won’t be long.”

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As Jax slid off the bed he bit Mike’s ass. Mike yelped and released Slade’s cock. “Couldn’t resist.” He grinned at Mike’s shocked expression. “I’ll kiss it and make it better when I come back.” Jax headed toward the bathroom. “Get him hot and ready, but don’t let him come,” he threw over his shoulder. “Hey?” But Mike’s wet, warm mouth sucked Slade in and he hissed in a deep breath. Mike’s nose pressed up against his bush, and Mike’s talented tongue swirled around the base of his cock. Damn! Not too many guys could take all of him. Not human guys anyway. Slade tried to twist his fingers in Mike’s short hair. He’s gotta let that hair grow. Slade reminded himself that he wouldn’t be around that long. Then a hand cupped his sac, fondling one ball then the other, and his thoughts fragmented. It was all good. Too good. Slade had a feeling he’d shoot before Jax made it back. “God, Mike. Yes, like that.” Every tug on his cock brought him closer to an orgasm. His hips lifted off the bed and rocked, sending his cock deeper still. Mike’s lips slid up his shaft, and he twirled his tongue around the head of Slade’s cock before opening his throat to swallow him deep. Slade moaned when he felt his dick hit the back of Mike’s throat. His balls tightened. “Ah, fuck. I’m not gonna last.” Mike’s finger played at his hole and sent him over the edge. A growl rumbled up from his chest, and he came long and hard. Mike swallowed his load like a champ. Jax stepped into the bedroom just as Mike was licking his halfhard prick clean. “It’s about time,” Slade muttered. “I thought you could last longer.” Jax shook his head at Slade. “Good thing, I know you have a quick recovery.” Jax glanced over at Mike. “What? He’s a wolf. We all have good staying power.” “Convenient. You two can amuse each other when I’m on empty.”

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“Look at it this way,” Jax told Mike. “You’ll be able to rest up, and when you’re ready, we’ll still be willing.” Slade figured it was time to jump in and give Mike a pat on the back. “You were right, Jax. He knows how to suck cock.” He pulled Mike in for a kiss. “I’ll return the favor, promise.” Jax flopped down next to them. “I know you enjoyed him. I was watching from the bathroom.” “Hey, no fair.” Mike pouted. Jaxon’s lips grazed Mike’s ear. “Loved watching you suck him. It was hot.” Their lips met in a real kiss. “He tastes good on you.” The words woke up Slade’s cock, and he fisted it. He leaned back against the pillows and savored the sight of Mike and Jax groping each other’s muscular flesh. They looked so good together, one dark, the other fair. They knew each other’s wants, knew all the sensitive spots that would heighten arousal. Jax pinned Mike under him and mapped his body with his tongue. Slade wanted those lips on his body. He stroked himself faster. Mike moaned and rocked his pelvis against Jaxon’s hips. They played as if they had all the time in the world and nothing to worry about. The green-eyed monster reared its ugly head, and Slade beat it down. He didn’t have the right to be jealous. He should be happy they invited him to play and just enjoy it while it lasted. Slade usually wanted to get down to business, to fuck and be fucked, but there was something to be said for watching. It was sexy as fuck. Hell, I’m going to come again just from watching them. Slade’s hand moved faster and his breath speeded up. What the fuck— Jaxon’s hand fell on his, stopped him. “I’m going to fuck him, Slade, while he sucks you off again.” Jax looked at Slade’s rampant erection and snickered. “If you can hold off, that is.” “I can hold off.” Slade grunted and looked down at Mike. “I’m in.” Mike said hoarsely. He pulled his legs back to his chest. “That’s my boy.” Jax leaned over to kiss him and then held up a tube of lubricant. “I found this in the bathroom.” He lubed his cock

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and Mike’s ass, inserted a finger to stretch him, then two. “You ready?” he asked Mike hoarsely. “God, yes. Fuck me, Jax.” Jax guided his cock to Mike’s entrance and pushed past the tight muscle. Mike groaned at the contact. Slade groaned, too, afraid he’d go off just watching them. Jax stared at him. “Take it easy, Slade. We won’t leave you hanging.” Slade nodded, but he couldn’t take his eyes off the spot where their bodies joined. Mike looked up at him with glazed eyes. “Want you, Slade.” He didn’t need to be asked twice. Slade straddled Mike’s body. His weeping dick nudged Mike’s lips and Mike sucked his cockhead greedily. Jax leaned forward to kiss Slade’s neck. “Fuck him good,” he whispered in his ear then pulled back. “Wrap your legs around me, lover.” Slade wished he could watch Jax thrusting into Mike, but soon the pleasure of having Mike’s mouth on his heated flesh again wiped out everything else. Mike’s groans around his cock heightened his excitement and he fucked the human’s mouth harder and faster. The sounds and scent of sex hung over them, and Slade couldn’t hold off much longer. When he heard Jax howl behind him, he exploded in Mike’s mouth with a growl of his own. He pulled out of Mike and twisted his head in time to see Mike shoot on Jaxon’s chest. Fucking hot! Slade settled down next to Mike and kissed him. Jax lay on Mike’s left, and they framed him like bookends. He reached over him to run a hand lazily over Slade’s chest. “We work well together.” Slade thought so, too, but he didn’t answer. His eyes were drifting shut… ****

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Something woke Slade from a great dream. He was having the best sex of his life with two hot men. He glanced over to his left and saw Jaxon and Mike in a tight embrace. Hell, it was no dream. “No fair,” he mumbled. “You should have waked me.” Jax looked over at Slade. “You’re awake now.” He got off the bed, grabbed Mike’s ankles, and pulled him until his hips rode the edge of the mattress. “Put your feet flat on the floor.” He glanced over at Slade. “Slade. Stand in front of him.” Unbelievable. Jax was like a fucking director positioning his actors for a porn flick. Maybe Slade should have been annoyed at being ordered around, but he discovered he liked it. Sometimes it felt good to give up control, especially when he knew where it was all leading. He stood between Mike’s thighs, his cock twitching with excitement, and grinned down at him. “I can’t wait to get inside you, baby.” All those nights Slade imagined Jax and Mike together, their bodies hot and sweaty, writhing and humping. Now it was reality. And he was an active participant. Too good to be true. “Take it slow,” Jaxon urged. “I stretched him for you, but much as I hate to admit it, you might be a little bigger than me. Don’t hurt him.” His hard cock slipped between Slade’s cheeks, and Slade rocked back against him as he pressed a tube into Slade’s hand. Slade took the lube and nodded, but he didn’t take his eyes off Mike’s. Jax began kissing and sucking on his neck. Then he reached around and tugged on Slade’s nipples. His cock grew harder than it had ever been. Mike raised his legs back, gripping his calves and pulling his knees close to his chest, shamelessly baring his buttocks for Slade. “That’s a pretty picture,” Slade murmured. He squeezed out some lube and warmed it between his palms before pushing a slippery finger up Mike’s asshole. Mike moaned and writhed.

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“You okay?” “God, yes. More.” Slade added another finger and warmed him up with some deep, slow thrusts. He removed his fingers and got on the bed, placing a knee on either side of Mike’s hips. He lined up his cock and slid home. Mike groaned and opened his legs wider. Slade lowered himself to rest his chest on Mike’s and as they kissed Slade felt Jax behind him, running his hands over Slade’s back and the cheeks of his ass. Slade couldn’t see Jax, and that in itself was a turn-on. Desperate to be filled, he shoved his ass back. “Want you, Jax.” Slade muttered hoarsely. “I know. I’m gonna get you ready.” Slade didn’t need the lube, but Jaxon’s cool fingers between his cheeks felt good. His cockhead felt better. Once he was buried, Jax ground his hips in slow circles. “Do it, Jax. Fuck me,” he groaned as he thrust into Mike. Mike clutched the sheets in his fists, moaning. “You want it hard or soft?” Jax asked him. “Hard. Fuck me hard.” Jax gripped Slade’s hips already in motion, and he moved in long strokes that raked Slade’s prostate on each forward thrust. Slade took his rhythm, and together they formed a heated sexual wave from the back to the front. Their three connected bodies felt right, and unfamiliar emotions swept over Slade. What were these men doing to him? Lust or love? He didn’t know what love felt like. He concentrated on the lust. Jax groaned over his shoulder. “Fuck him hard and fast, Slade, like you want me to fuck you.” Mike exhaled in heavy pants. Behind Slade, Jaxon’s breathing speeded up. “God, you feel good.” He grunted over Slade’s shoulder.

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The scent of sex, and the sound of slapping flesh drove him on. Slade sucked air between his teeth and fisted Mike’s cock. “How’s this feel?” “Fucking great.” Slade pumped and pulled, spreading pre-cum over Mike’s shaft. “Yeah. Like that.” Mike’s eyes met his, and Slade wished he could read that look. There was something needy there and something else…then Mike’s eyes rolled back in his head, and he gripped the sheets. As good as felt to have Jax inside him, it was ten times better to see the pleasure in Mike’s face and know he put it there. Jax went deeper with each thrust. Unintelligible animal sounds came up from his throat. It made no sense and perfect sense at the same time. Mike’s cries grew louder and louder. His hips jerked. Jax grunted with every thrust, slamming into him harder and harder. Pleasure burned a path up his spine. “Stroke him, Slade. Bring him with us.” Slade’s hand flew. He knew he couldn’t hold off much longer and wanted to get Mike off at the same time. Mike was too far gone to notice. A string of curses spewed out of his mouth ending with a bloodcurdling scream. His body rocked with his release until he shot all over Slade’s chest. His muscles contracted around Slade’s cock and squeezed the orgasm from his pulsing shaft. Slade shuddered and rode out his climax, only dimly aware of Jax exploding behind him. Slade closed his eyes and collapsed over Mike’s chest, pulling Jax with him. “Damn. That was great,” Mike muttered in Slade’s ear. “Hmm… You’re great.” Slade responded. Jaxon’s weight lifted from his back as he pulled out of Mike and they all collapsed in a tangle of sweaty limbs. Jax kissed Mike. “Thank you,” he whispered to him. What the hell was he thanking Mike for? Slade had fucked him. Oh yeah. Mike probably did the threesome thing as a favor to Jax.

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That hurt. So did the way Jax and Mike looked at each other. There was a lot of feeling in that look, a lot of history between them. It made Slade jealous. He’d never wanted that kind of relationship with a man, but right now he envied that connection between them. **** Sunlight poured through the window, but Slade was in no hurry to get up. It felt good lying here with Mike curled up against his chest and Jax pressed up against his back. It felt better than good, it felt right. He felt like he belonged here, surrounded by their hard, muscled bodies, as if they were made for him. He hadn’t grown up with family and friends. This wolfish sense of belonging was new to him, but he liked it, more than he wanted to admit. Mike snuggled closer, and he breathed in his unique male scent. It made his nostrils flare with appreciation. “You awake?” Jaxon’s voice was like a low rumble of thunder in his ear. His lips brushed the back of Slade’s neck, his breath warm and moist, his stubble tickling the skin. Jax slipped a warm rough palm between him and Mike and rubbed Slade’s nipples. The hand slid down over his belly to grasp his morning wood and rub it against Mike’s ass. “Hmm…” Mike twisted his head and searched for Slade’s lips. “I could get used to this. You can be my alarm clock every morning.” He must still be half-asleep. He doesn’t realize he’s kissing me and not Jax. Mike started to turn over, eager for more connection, but Slade stopped him. He adjusted his position, and Mike arched his back, giving him a better angle to enter him. Slade moved his hand down to Mike’s stomach to brace him and pushed inside. A low moan escaped Mike’s lips, and Slade paused. “You all right?” “Yeah, don’t stop.”

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Slade felt Jaxon’s hard shaft behind him pressing for entrance. He held himself motionless inside Mike, letting Jax take possession of his body. Jax filled him, saying his name on a moan, and something hitched in his chest. This felt different. Not hot and wild like last night, but almost unbearably intimate, a feeling of closeness and familiarity that made his heart ache. He savored it, lazily stroking his hand over Mike’s hip as he squirmed against him. He pulled out, moaning as Jax went deeper, then in a slow, controlled move, filled Mike again. He loved the way they both responded to his touch, not holding anything back. The sensations seared his senses and emptied his mind of everything but the men and their pleasure. The tight muscles of Mike’s ass clung to his throbbing cock, and he groaned with pleasure as Jaxon took possession of him. Somehow they matched their rhythm and moved together as if they’d been doing this for years. Slade’s strokes speeded up and Jaxon’s followed. Mike’s breath came in soft pants, and he reached back for Slade. Jaxon’s breath was warm and moist on his neck, his stubble rubbing the sensitive skin where his neck joined his shoulder. The moist heat of Jaxon’s mouth closed over the spot, and he bit down on Slade’s flesh. Hot arrows of excitement shot through him, igniting the blood in his veins. Slade felt his climax boiling up. He wanted to hold back. It was too soon. He needed to make this last and imprint every sensation on his mind for the lonely nights ahead. But Mike gripped his hand and wrapped it around his shaft. “God, Slade. I’m so close…” A few rough strokes, and Mike cried out his release. Behind him Jax tensed and growled, sending him over the edge. He held on to Mike, not wanting to give up the connection. Slade felt warm, alive, connected. Happy? Sex never made him feel those things. Sated? Yes. But that was fleeting. This felt like something more. Get over it. He reminded

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himself that this was just a pity fuck to Mike. He’d done it for his lover, because Jax liked fucking another wolf. It meant nothing. Jax tightened his hold, digging his fingers into Slade’s hips. “I need you,” Jax whispered in his ear. He ran his tongue along the rim and his teeth captured Slade’s earlobe, nipping it gently. “With me, with us.” “Don’t,” Slade gasped. Don’t make this harder for me. “Love you.” Slade reeled with shock. What did Jax want from him? He wasn’t sure he had anything to give. All the emotion had been beaten out of him long ago. He’d sensed that Jaxon and Mike’s emotions ran as deep as his own. He’d seen it in their eyes and felt it in their touches. But he hadn’t expected them to give voice to their feelings. The words terrified him. They made everything harder. And yet he hadn’t realized until now how much he wanted to hear them. But he held back. Finally Jax pulled out and Mike rolled over on his back. They lay in a tangle of legs, sweat, and cum drying on their skin, Mike on Slade’s right, Jax on his left. “Did you hear me?” Jax asked. “Yeah,” Mike answered him. “But you weren’t talking to me.” “Don’t get pissed. You know I love you.” “I still like to hear it once in a while.” Jax leaned over Slade to kiss Mike. “Love you, baby.” “Hmpf.” “I mean it.” “I know. Love you too.” Jax settled back and threw a leg over Slade’s. “I meant it, Slade. It wasn’t just something I said in the heat of the moment.” Slade let out a long audible breath. “I appreciate it, but you have a good thing going with Mike. You don’t need me coming between you.”

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Mike propped his head on an elbow and looked down at Slade. “I don’t know about that. I kind of like you between us.” Jax propped himself up on Slade’s left and looked over at Mike. “What are you trying to say?” “He picks up the slack when you run out of steam.” “Fuck you.” “Sorry, he beat you to it.” “I upheld my end over—” “Hey, guys. This was great, you’re great, but it can’t last. Your reporter friend will be calling us any day to say we can come out of hiding, but we’ll never be completely safe. I know Richard Graham, and he’s not a man who will forgive and forget. As we speak, he’s probably trying to figure out how he can get rid of us. I plan to go feral and hide out and you—” “Is that what you really want? To give up and hide? I thought you wanted to help our people.” “I thought I could do some good working with the Feds, but I made a mistake. It’s over.” “You’re wrong. We’re just getting started. I was never an activist before, but the Feds’ plan backfired. Instead of getting rid of an alleged rebel they created one. I’m not running. Mike’s coming to live with me in Dogtown.” Mike shot up like a cannon. “He is?” “It’s the safest place for you. Alone on the outside you’re a sitting duck.” “So all this time you’ve been telling me it’s too dangerous for me in Dogtown, you were lying?” “No. It’s still dangerous, but better than the alternative. If anyone gives you any trouble, they’ll answer to me—or Slade.” “So you’re gonna be my big, strong protector.” Mike batted his eyes at Slade then looked up at Jax. “Didn’t I just save his ass yesterday?”

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Hell, Slade didn’t think he could do this. He’d been alone for most of his life and gotten along just fine. Maybe not fine, but he’d survived. He’d been on his own too long. He had no idea how to live with someone, especially a human someone. “Are you done?” Slade popped up between them. “Because I don’t remember saying I was moving into Dogtown.” “I need you at my side, Slade. I can’t do it alone.” Mike went tense and made a move to get up, but Slade grabbed his arm. “He doesn’t mean it like that.” “No, I didn’t. I’m sorry, baby. I meant it in the sense of having another wolf working with me. Someone who’s been through the same shit I have.” “And this is exactly why I can’t do it,” Slade said. “I don’t want you fighting over me.” Mike pinned him with a look. “But think of the fun we’ll have making up. Seriously, everybody fights. We’re only human after all.” He smiled ironically. “Well, some of us are.” “I think what Mike is trying to say is that communication is key.” “Jax is right. That’s exactly what I’m saying. We don’t need to walk on eggshells around each other, not after what we’ve been through. Even an argument is preferable to secrets.” Mike spoke with almost a touch of pleading in his voice. “We both want you with us, Slade.” “Why me, Mike?” “Because I’m crazy for you. Besides, you’re a part of Jaxon, and that makes you my mate too.” “You believe that mumbo jumbo and you’re not even Were?” “I trust my gut. I think it’s pretty obvious we’re meant to be together.” “Mike’s pretty smart for a human. Sometimes I think he must be part wolf.” Jax said softly. “What do you really want, Slade?” Slade shook his head. “I wasn’t looking for anything permanent.”

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“I didn’t ask you what you were looking for. I asked you what you wanted.” What do I want? Slade’s chest tightened. To not be alone anymore, to make a home with these two men who I’ve come to care for more and more every day… “It’s okay to accept love, Slade.” Jax took his hand. “We both grew up being told we were worthless animals. When that kind of crap is pounded into your head every day, you end up believing it. Mike changed my life. He gave me the love and support I needed so I could believe in myself. Let us give you that. Don’t let your past ruin your future—with us.” Swept away by waves of protectiveness, possessiveness, and passion, Slade’s heart felt as if it would burst through his chest. For the first time in his life, he believed he might be capable of love. His men watched and waited with uneasy expressions. “I can’t do it.” Mike’s face fell. And Jax, well Jax looked like Slade had put a knife in him. “I can’t in good conscious leave you two alone to fend for yourselves. You need me—” “You son of a bitch!” Jaxon tackled him and Mike followed suit. “Hey.” Slade gasped under their combined weight. “I’m not good at pretty speeches… But, well, this thing started out with butterflies and sweaty palms but it goes deeper. A hell of a lot deeper. When I look at you both, I feel happy. When I’m not with you, I think about you and all the things I want to do to make you happy. You make me feel like a better person and I know I can trust you both in every way. I can’t imagine a future without you. If that cocktail of mixed emotions is love, then I guess I’m in love.” For a few seconds no one said anything and Slade was afraid he’d said too much. “That’s the prettiest damn speech I ever heard,” Jax murmured. “What do you think, Mike?” “I think I’m the luckiest guy in the world.”

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Slade lay back and enjoyed the embraces of the two men he loved above all others. When he’d arrived in New York he never thought he would end up staying, but Mike and Jaxon had changed him forever—and for the better. As long as they were together, they could overcome any obstacles fate threw in their path.

THE END HTTP://GALESTANLEY.NET/

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Born and raised in the City of Brotherly Love, Gale cut her teeth on True Story magazines swiped from her mother’s collection and read undercover by flashlight. Her choice of reading material inspired a lifelong love of romance and the desire to write her own stories. Now she has the best job in the world. She can be anything she wants, but she doesn’t mind living vicariously through the smokin’ hot alphas and strong heroines she loves to write about. Her books sizzle, but at the heart of each story is a romance and each one is written with love.

Also by Gale Stanley Ménage Amour: Southwest Shifters 1: Hellfire Ménage Amour: Southwest Shifters 2: Spitfire Siren Classic ManLove: Southwest Shifters 3: Backfire Siren Classic ManLove: Southwest Shifters 4: Crossfire Siren Classic: Black Wolf Gorge 1: Call of the Wilds Ménage Amour: Black Wolf Gorge 2: Mating Call Ménage Amour: Black Wolf Gorge 3: Mating Call

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