[Siren Classic ManLove: Erotic Alternative Paranormal Romance, M/M, shape-shifters]
When a young man is found murdered in an alley, Detective Anthony Santano follows his gut instincts right to the city morgue only to witness Kyle’s return three days later. When keeping Kyle safe in Portland is no longer an option, Tony enlists the help of some not-so-law-abiding men to get them out of the state.
Struggling to make it day to day, Kyle Talon feels all alone in the big city. When his young life is brutally snuffed out in a dark alley, Kyle is surprised to find himself alive. He's even more shocked to discover himself falling in love with the detective that witnessed his return to the land of the living and has sworn to protect him.
They embark on a journey that not only strengthens Kyle as a man but also teaches the detective that he has more to give than he ever thought possible. Together, they just might have a chance.
A Siren Erotic Romance
Lynn Hagen is a Siren-exclusive author.
4 CUPS: "Detective Anthony Santano knows first-hand there is more in this world than is known to the common man. When he sees a victim who looks familiar, he knows this one is special and three days will confirm it. Kyle lives a harsh life, so the way he comes to an end is no surprise, except what he thought was the end is only the beginning. Tony knows in order to keep Kyle alive he is going to need the help of a few friends who deal in legal shades of gray. He will risk anything to save Kyle, and Kyle learns to trust another for the first time. Phoenix Rising is an excellent series. Kyle’s Return lives up to the exceptional talent of Ms. Glenn and Ms. Hagen. A combination guaranteed to provide an entertaining read. The storyline is solid and the love between Tony and Kyle is beautiful to witness. If passion and promise are for you then Kyle’s Return is a perfect fit." -- Delane, Coffee Time Romance & More
4 NYMPHS Finding a dead man in an alley isn’t odd for Detective Anthony Santano and following his instincts, three days later, he’s in the morgue to witness Kyle’s return to life. With gun-toting goons on their trail, getting out of Portland is the only way to keep Kyle safe, which means calling in some favors from a few unsavory characters. Kyle Talon’s life hasn’t been easy. When he’s attacked, he’s surprised to wake up in the morgue and to find himself alive. Even more shocking is he’s falling in love with the detective who saw him return to life and who’s sworn to protect him. Together they flee the city, trying to find a safe haven while learning as much as they can about Kyle’s new powers and their growing love. If they can get far enough away, they might stand a chance at a forever together. Kyle’s Return is book two in the new paranormal series Phoenix Rising and it takes up shortly after the first release left off. Because of the interlocking concept and characters, the books should be read in order. The opening with Tony recognizing the similarities between dead Kyle and Collin from the first book gets the story off to a fast start. That puts Tony in the morgue when Kyle returns from the dead…and when he freaks out…very, very loudly. The authors have outdone themselves with Kyle’s personality. This little guy is a pistol…full of energy, foul language and anger. I enjoyed the changes he underwent as the story progressed, as he learned to trust for probably the first time in his life. Then there’s strong, protective and determined Tony who quickly knows the most important thing in the world is keeping Kyle alive. These two are perfect counterpoints and it was fun watching them go from strangers to devoted lovers. In this release, we get to learn a little more about the phoenixes and the person trying to kidnap them…Mr. Donahue. And there are also a few interesting twists and turns with some other people…some good guys helping to protect them. You’ll also find a scattering of returning characters, pulling the two stories together, including Tibo who is featured in the next release, Tibo’s Beginning. -- Dragon Minx, Literary Nymphs Reviews Only
"Book two in the 'Phoenix Rising' series was just as much fun and as interesting as the first book. More of the mystery of these phoenixes was revealed lending information and details in a way that was entertaining but kept the story flowing smoothly. I was very impressed that the excitement continued at the same pace as in the prior book which just made me want to read more. Kyle grew up in the bad part of town. One night he's attacked, stabbed repeatedly, and thrown in a Dumpster. He wakes up in the morgue with a stranger standing over him. The stranger rescues him from two thugs who come looking and takes him somewhere he'll be safe. Then the stranger tells him an outlandish story that Kyle isn't sure he's buying. So when the stranger leaves, promising to be back, Kyle hightails it out of there. For you see, Kyle is a firm believer in self-reliance since he's pretty much had to take care of himself his entire life. Detective Tony can't believe it when he's called to the scene of a murder to discover the dead man shares many physical similarities to the last "corpse" that left the morgue. Wanting to make sure about his hunch, Tony goes to the morgue on day three just in time to watch Kyle's eyes open and his wounds heal completely. Now he's on the run with the sexiest guy he's ever seen from a pretty bad guy who will stop at nothing to get his hands on Kyle. Disappearing from the area and making new lives for themselves seems to be the only solution. Here's where I really started to enjoy the story. After Kyle is kidnapped, Tony gets the help of some "friends", guys whose secrets he keeps and vice versa, to rescue Kyle. These other characters decide the whole situation is way more fun than what they've been up to lately so they're going to tag along to offer extra protection. Something tells me there's more to these guys and that they are going to be a lot of entertainment and possible story additions. The group also gets Sal, Riojos' brother, and his bartender, Tibo, along for the ride as they are now in the crosshairs, too. The ending is fantastic and still left plenty of unknowns out there to be discovered. The book left me wanting more stories so I can get to the bottom of the mystery of the Phoenix!" -- Christy Duke, Rainbow Book Reviews
"Life has never been easy for Kyle Talon, but the scrappy little red head doesn’t let anyone or anything get to him, if he can help it. Today is Kyle’s 21st birthday and he already knows that he’s the only one who will remember the date. Never mind, it’s just a date on the calendar. Sent to a murder scene in the rougher part of town, Detective Anthony ‘Tony’ Santano feels especially bad for the victim because today was his 21st birthday. What a crappy birthday present. Something clicks in Tony’s head, the similarities between the stabbing victim and a guy he recently met who came back from the dead. On a hunch Tony sneaks into the morgue three days later and creepy or not he watches as the kid opens his eyes and freaks out. Kyle doesn’t know what’s going on; the last thing he remembers is being attacked. Not trusting comes easily to Kyle and he quickly figures out that someone still has it out for him and it’s not Tony. This is definitely one birthday Kyle won’t forget. Take a non-stop wild, drama filled ride with a real live phoenix and a sexy detective in Kyle’s Return. The second book in the Phoenix Rising series offers a fast paced adventure as lively as the first story and easily understood as a standalone story. Kyle is a foul mouthed street kid who finds love for the first time with a smart, savvy detective. An imaginative plotline and fascinating characters make Kyle’s Return a very worthwhile read." -- Lisa, Joyfully Reviewed
STORY EXCERPT
Detective Anthony Santano listened as the first officer on scene ran the details down to him. There was a Caucasian male, about twenty-one years old, red hair, no distinguishing marks except for a strawberry birthmark on the side of his neck resembling a bird. The victim had been stabbed repeatedly in his chest and arms and bled out.
Tony walked over to the dumpster and crouched down, studying the victim. His eyes skimmed over the bloody shirt with multiple rips from the knife inflictions. He used a pen from inside his jacket pocket to press the fingers of one hand back, noticing defensive wounds on the victim’s palms. The kid had fought like hell to survive.
Tony shook his head at the senseless killing. This guy had so much life left to live. He stood, looking around the area for clues. There was a backpack close-by, a ratty-looking thing. Tony grabbed a pair of gloves from one of the officers on the scene and snapped them on.
He grabbed the backpack and opened it. There wasn’t much in there. Tony dug deeper and found a worn, well-used brown wallet. He set the bag on the ground and opened the billfold. There were some receipts, three one-dollar bills, and a state ID card. Tony pulled the ID card out, studying it.
Kyle Talon. The address didn’t put him far from here, but it was the birthday that made Tony curse. It was the guy's twenty-first birthday. It sucked to be murdered on your birthday. Kyle was too young to have his life snuffed out.
“Fuck.”
“Problem, detective?” one of the officers asked.
Tony shook his head, feeling a tightening in his chest as he studied the picture of a very gorgeous young man. “Today was his twenty-first birthday."
The officer tsked as he walked over to Tony. “That’s what happens when you live in this neighborhood. Life ain’t easy and some don’t make it. But it does suck to die on your birthday.”
Wasn’t that the truth? Tony had seen horrors in his time. But what was the worst horror of all was seeing the young die. Tony was about to hand the wallet and ID over when something clicked in his head.
He studied the face of the man on the card, noticing that he had died on his twenty-first birthday. He couldn’t help but think of the case he could never close. Collin Phoenix had died on his twenty-first birthday and then three days later, walked right out of the morgue.
Tony noticed the red hair, just like Collin’s, and the small, slim build, just like Collin’s. He wondered for a brief moment if he weren’t just reading too much into this. The guy lying there dead even had the same strawberry patch that was in the shape of a bird…just like Collin’s.
This made Tony glance around, studying the onlookers, and even the officers. He wasn’t too sure what to expect, but he didn’t see any malicious-looking thugs hanging around. He finally handed over the evidence and then studied the body once more before heading to his car.
There was one thing he did know for sure. Tony was going to be morgue sitting for the next three days. He had to know if what he was thinking was truth or a fucking fantasy.
* * * *
Three days later, Tony waited until he saw the two morgue workers leave after the phone call Tony had placed saying that the medical examiner's wife was at the hospital. It was a low move, but Tony needed to get into the morgue without witnesses.
He stole along the hallway, watching over his shoulder as he pushed the doors open. He never did like this place. It always gave him the creeps. Tony had seen his fair share of dead bodies in his line of work, but somehow it was different here in the morgue. They seemed creepier here.
He glanced around one last time before crossing the room to the cold-storage unit. Pulling the door open, he walked inside the freezing cold room. God, this was nerve-racking. He knew what was going to happen, but it was still weird as fuck.
Tony searched the labels on each silver-colored door until he found the one he was looking for. He opened the small door and pulled the drawer out that had Kyle Talon lain out on it then pulled the sheet back. His stomach rolled at all the knife wounds scattered about the young man’s body. He couldn’t understand how anyone could do that to another human—
“Shit!”
Tony jumped back when Kyle’s eyes suddenly popped open, blinking rapidly as he stared up at the ceiling. Damn, his heart was beating out of control. This was some strange ass voodoo shit right here.
“Oh, god!” Kyle shouted as began to thrash around. “Oh fucking hell.”
Tony hesitated for a moment and then closed the distance, grabbing onto Kyle. “Keep quiet before everyone knows you’re not dead!”
“You did this to me! Get off of me!” Kyle rolled off the slab and onto the floor with a thud. He winced and then pushed to his feet, swaying as he backed away from Tony. “What did you do to me? How? How can I be alive?”
ADULT EXCERPT
Kyle woke with sweat pouring off of him. He stiffened when he felt an arm pull him closer to a hard chest. It took him a moment to remember where he was and who was lying next to him. Kyle lay there quietly, letting his imagination take flight, pretending that they were a real couple and that Tony cuddled him all of the time.
He wasn’t sure why he was allowing the fantasy to play out in his mind, but with the way his life was turning out, Kyle needed someone. Not just anyone, but Tony. The man was strong, reassuring, and exuded masculinity. Something Kyle had always craved.
He swallowed hard when he felt a hard cock press against his back. Kyle was afraid to move a muscle. His heart was beating out of his chest as Tony grumbled, shifted round, and then pressed his hard shaft hard into Kyle’s denim-covered ass.
Kyle bit his lip to stop the moan threatening to spill. His hands curled into fists as he pressed them into his stomach, waiting, wanting.
His breath froze in his lungs when Tony’s hand skimmed up his body, his fingers made circular motions on his hips, and then continued its trek up his side. He wanted desperately to turn over, to let Tony have whatever it was he wanted, but fear kept him rooted to the spot. Fear of his inexperience, fear of rejection, but most of all, fear of having his heart broken.
Because whether Kyle liked to admit it or not, he was falling hard for Tony.
He did groan when Tony’s lips softly kissed behind his ear and then trailed down the back of his neck. The hot breath blowing across his flesh was spicy, masculine, and welcoming. Kyle was dying for a kiss, to feel Tony’s tongue exploring his mouth was just too much to hope for.
“I know you’re awake. Do you want me to stop?”
Kyle bit his bottom lip as he smashed his eyes together. Did he? Did he want Tony to stop the one thing Kyle had craved his whole adulthood? The closeness. A connection to someone? “N-No.”
Tony’s strong hand pulled at Kyle’s shoulder, turning him over to stare up into the detective’s rich, deep blue eyes. In that span of time, that single moment, Kyle would have given Tony his soul. He looked at Kyle as if he truly mattered. Tony’s fingers ghosted over Kyle’s face, his lips slowly capturing Kyle’s.
Kyle whimpered softly as he allowed Tony to kiss him. He had never opened himself this way and it scared him right down to his toes. One of Tony’s hands pushed under Kyle, pulling him closer as his tongue pushed between Kyle’s lips, wanting entrance. Kyle opened, finally tasting man and desire as Tony’s tongue swept through his mouth, making him want things he thought he would never or wasn’t allowed to have.
Kyle uncurled his hands, tentatively reaching out and grabbing Tony’s shirt, gripping it tightly as he opened his mouth wider, trying his best to drink Tony in. He gasped when one of Tony’s legs slid between his, giving his hardening cock friction as Tony’s hand encouraged Kyle’s hip to move.
He rode the strong, muscular leg as Tony slowly rolled until he was lying on top of Kyle, his weight pressing Kyle into the cot. His head spun as Tony ground his cock into Kyle. He took a chance and reached up, circling his arms around Tony’s neck, feeling how strong the man truly was by the broad shoulders he felt under his hands.
Kyle’s stomach flexed nervously when he felt Tony reach between them and unsnap Kyle’s jeans. Kyle wanted. He wanted with a desperation that bordered on madness as he squirmed around, allowing Tony to pull his jeans down his thighs.
“Kyle,” Tony moaned as he broke the kiss and then slowly pushed himself down Kyle’s body until his lips hovered over Kyle’s hard cock. Kyle hissed when Tony took his shaft into his mouth. Kyle began to pant as he received his very first blow job. He cried out, unable to stop his orgasm. Kyle had wanted it to last, but his body was too amped up, too excited to hold off.
Tony gave off a low growl as he drank Kyle’s seed down his throat, licking him clean as he massaged Kyle’s balls.
Kyle blinked up at the ceiling, unsure of what he should do now. He lay there stiffly as he wondered what Tony wanted. Tony gave one long lick to his still-hard cock and then climbed back up Kyle’s body.
“Fuck, Kyle. You taste delicious.” Tony took Kyle’s lips, sharing the taste of his own body with him. Kyle groaned. He wanted to do the same to the man showing so much more, but he was afraid to ask.
Tony leaned forward, grinding his cock into Kyle’s. He wished Tony didn’t still have his jeans on. He wanted to do something. He wasn’t sure what, but he wanted to make Tony cry out his name.
Kyle’s fingers fumbled between them, trying to unsnap the detective’s jeans. It wasn’t as easy as Tony had made it seem. His new lover smiled into his mouth, reaching between them, helping Kyle free his shaft.
For the first time in Kyle’s life, he held another man’s cock in his hand. He began a slow stroking motion, his fingers gliding over the silky shaft.
Tony bit Kyle’s lower lip, pushing his cock into Kyle’s hand with his hips. “Do you want to suck it?”
