STORY EXCERPT

“Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah…”

Casey ignored the woman lying beside him and zoned out. Small talk bored him. Anything other than dirty talking their way to great sex was a waste of time. He’d gotten so used to Dana’s endless chatter. If he could adjust the volume, he’d be able to fall asleep to it like white noise. If asked to describe Dana, he’d say bubbly, slightly ditzy, and talkative. At first her flirty playfulness was quirky and cute, but it got old real fast. It was almost as if she had a built-in motion detector. As soon as anyone got near her, she’d start talking. It was usually pointless high-speed drivel, and if Casey tried to speak, she’d interrupt him before he could finish a sentence.

“We took the van to the mall at Lake Placid, blah, blah, blah…”

Casey concentrated on how he planned to upgrade security at the Lodge, and Dana’s voice faded away to a muffled and distant drone like buzzing honeybees. 

“Keene Jewelers, it’s absolutely the largest jewelry store in Upstate New York, and the owner is so friendly. I swear he showed me every engagement ring in the store, and he didn’t rush me at all.”

Engagement. That one word broke through the blockade Casey had set up against Dana’s nonstop chatter. A light sheen of sweat broke out over his skin, shining like a clear coat of varnish in the early-morning sunlight that filtered through the blinds.

“Take your time. That’s what Mr. Keene told me. It’s a symbol of your love that you’ll wear for a lifetime. Those were his exact words. Wait until you see it, Casey. It’s a platinum band with a solitaire style setting. I know it’s old-fashioned, but Mr. Keene says it will show off the diamond without any distractions. And he has the perfect stone, a five-carat emerald-cut diamond.”

Fuck! What is it about pack bitches that makes them all so damn anxious to marry and mate? Forcing himself to lie still in the tangle of damp sheets, he pretended to be asleep.

“You’re awful quiet, baby.” Dana snuggled up to Casey and reached down to stroke his flaccid penis.

His cock twitched in a spiritless attempt to wake up, but the response lacked any ardor or energy. Dana’s shapely body and silky skin begged to be touched, but Casey felt only indifference. All this engagement talk drained him and interfered with his performance.

“But I wouldn’t care if the ring came off a cigar.” Dana shook him, obviously not about to give up. “You know that, don’t you, baby?”

Casey sighed and opened one eye. “Yeah, yeah, course I do.”

ADULT EXCERPT

“What do you want, Casey?” Alex muttered.

Words stuck in his throat. Casey wavered between turning tail and running or going for broke.

“Looking for another hand job?” Alex muttered harshly.

“No.” Whatever he did now was bound to change things between them. Make up your mind. “Looking to give one.” The Alpha’s scent made the hairs on the back of Casey’s neck stand up, and heat coiled in his belly. He couldn’t help it. The man’s heady musk made him crazy, and he buried his face in Alex’s neck, breathing it in.

Alex sucked in a long breath. “You sure about this?”

“I’m not a taker. I like to give as good as I get.”

“Well, don’t feel obligated,” Alex said hoarsely.

“You want this or not?”

“Yeah, but I need to know you want it, too.”

What had he gotten himself into? “I’m not good with words.”

“Neither am I. Just make it simple. You into this or not?”

“Okay, okay. I don’t mind touching you.”

“Guess I’ll have to settle for that.” Alex turned around, and for a minute Casey thought the Alpha was going to kiss him, but instead Alex grinned. “Take my cock out.”

Casey froze and flushed red.

“You asked for this.”

He hesitated for a few seconds. Sure, he wanted to hold Alex’s length in his hands, but hearing it out loud unnerved him.

Finally Alex unzipped his jeans, reached a hand inside, and freed his dick.

Keeping his gaze firmly locked on Casey’s face, Alex pushed his jeans over his slim hips. He gripped his already-stiff penis in both hands. “This…is…a…cock.” Alex enunciated each word in a very slow, deliberate manner. “Watch me.”

Casey didn’t need to be told. His eyes were glued to the bulbous, leaking cockhead. Alex’s hand moved up and down his shaft briskly until pre-cum ran from the slit in a stream. “Think you can do that?” Alex asked sarcastically as he released his prick and gripped the sink behind him.

Casey could. He wanted to, but a wave of anxiety hit him. Alex turned him on like nobody’s business, but suddenly the old fears of being gay resurfaced.

“Look at my penis, Casey,” Alex demanded. “Don’t you want to touch it?”