STORY EXCERPT

There was no turning back now. He stepped out from the tree line, doing his best to appear nonchalant while he scanned for any sign of Suero.

“Maybe try calling him,” he said to himself, rolling his eyes as he pulled his phone from his back pocket. He’d obsessed over their text exchanges so often, it should have been his first thought.

Naturally, the call went straight to voicemail. It was as if the universe was telling him he should’ve kept his butt home.

Kia would have turned around and started back, but his empty stomach was growling loudly, making him instinctively press a hand over it.

There had to be a place nearby where he could grab a bite to eat for the walk home. Somewhere other than a cafe that probably only served pastries.

Skipping breakfast had been a terrible idea, second only to this entire plan.

He strode toward the nearest shop, intent on getting directions to a place to eat, when the deafening roar of motorcycles caught his attention.

The noise reminded him of Suero, with his domineering presence on that massive bike, his arms chiseled like granite, and flashing that wicked grin that could melt hearts. His flirtatious glances and the sparkle in his eyes when he laughed came to mind, causing Kia’s heart to ache.

“Stop being so pathetic,” he muttered to himself. “Just get some food and head home.”

Six motorcycles rumbled past in the opposite direction, and Kia cursed under his breath as he made eye contact with the lead rider.

It was the same man who’d shot those hyenas point-blank in the factory, the very one who would have ended Kia too if the guy hadn’t caught a whiff of cheetah.

Matias. Alpha of the wolves.

In that fleeting moment when their eyes met, Kia felt his soul being sucked right out of his body. It was as if asteroids were hurtling toward Earth, or the moon was crashing into the sun in a fiery apocalypse.

He tensed as he tried to walk away quickly, but the lead motorcycle executed a sharp U-turn, the rest following in formation like predators closing in.

Matias hadn’t bothered to check for traffic or signal with his hand. The cars around him slammed on their brakes as death closed in.

All six bikes came to a stop in the vacant parking spaces, engines rumbling ominously just ten feet away before the sound faded. Kia hesitated, unsure whether to flee or hide in the nearest shop.

Too late.

Matias swung off his bike with practiced ease, his eyes locking on to Kia’s, unyielding and intense. “I don’t recall giving a cheetah permission to roam my territory.”

“I, uh...” Kia pressed his lips together, cursing his stupidity for not thinking of a plan in case he encountered anyone other than Suero.

Not that he had any idea what to say to Suero either. The whole way there, he hadn’t come up with a decent explanation that didn’t involve his uncle.

“Suero,” he blurted out. “I came to talk to Suero.”

“He’s not the one who grants passage for cheetahs,” Matias replied coolly. That calmness terrified Kia. It was the same composed manner Matias had when he’d shot those hyenas. Deadly. Precise.

So much for keeping Xavier in the dark about my little field trip.

Matias pulled out his phone, giving Kia a look that clearly indicated his displeasure. He wouldn’t have been surprised if the guy had drawn a weapon instead of a phone.

“Get your ass to Carver’s.” Matias’ words were a command, punctuated by the abrupt end of the call.

Don’t panic and spill your life story. Keep your lips sealed.

Kia glanced over his shoulder, noting they had stopped in front of Carver’s Hardware. He was willing to bet Matias had just called Suero.

The alpha perched on his motorcycle, waiting, while his men talked and chuckled. Among them, Kia recognized a familiar face. It was the guy who’d stood next to the lycanthrope that day at the derelict factory.

Their conversation flowed in Spanish, making it impossible for Kia to grasp what they were saying. He understood snippets, but not enough to decipher their words. When he caught their sidelong glances, Kia was positive he was their topic of discussion.

Shifting uneasily, he glanced at the storefronts, finding them suddenly interesting.

The distant growl of an engine drew closer, causing Kia’s heart to race. Turning, he spotted a motorcycle approaching. It was Suero. The sight of him, all lean muscle and fierce demeanor, sent a thrill through Kia.

Yet, he remembered the gentler side of the wolf, the sparkle in Suero’s eyes when he laughed, the tenderness in his voice when he spoke softly to Kia.

Suero maneuvered into a vacant parking spot and killed the engine before dismounting. His expression was casual, curiosity flickering in his dark eyes, until his gaze settled on Kia.

ADULT EXCERPT

Walking Kia backward, Suero unfastened each button of the guy’s shirt with a teasing slowness, a playful smirk on his lips. By the end of the night, Kia would know exactly who he belonged to. He carefully slid off his kitten’s shirt, letting it fall silently to the floor.

Kia’s gaze drifted to the prominent bulge pressing against Suero’s jeans. “Don’t worry, you’re gonna take care of that.”

“Is that so?” Kia teased back, his hand caressing the expanse of Suero’s chest. “You seem pretty sure of yourself.”

A low growl rumbled in his throat as he unzipped his jeans, freeing his thick shaft. “Clothes off, pretty kitty, and I’ll show you exactly what I can do with this.” He wrapped his fingers around his cock, a slow caress over his heated skin.

When he didn’t move, Suero gently pinched the guy’s hard nipple, drawing a soft moan and a tilt of his head. It seemed his kitten was too caught up in the moment to follow a simple command. Suero released his cock and hooked his thumbs in Kia’s jeans, sliding them down his thighs. He bent low, grazing his teeth lightly along the soft trail of hair on Kia’s legs, eliciting a delightful twitch.

Kia eased onto the bed as Suero slid the guy’s jeans the rest of the way off. Kneeling, he looked up at Kia, blown away by how lucky he truly felt. Suero fought to keep it together, to take his time—even though he wanted Kia with an unbearable ache.

He traced a path along each thigh, his kitten’s lips parting as Suero leaned in and began to nibble upward, alternating sides.

Even though his gums were throbbing and his canines were itching to lengthen, Suero fought to keep them from descending. He wanted to graze their tips over the heated skin beneath his lips, to sink them into tender flesh.

“Oh hell,” Kia moaned, his legs quivering as Suero nipped behind his knee. He massaged Kia’s foot, tracing lazy circles around the man’s toes.

“What are you doing?” Kia asked softly.

“Playing with my kitty,” Suero murmured against Kia’s calf.

A slow grin tugged at Kia’s lips. “I think I’m in love with your mouth.”

“Cariño, you haven’t even seen the half of what this mouth can do.” He traced his tongue from Kia’s ankle to behind his knee, giving a playful nip. Kia inhaled sharply, his cock twitching.

Suero licked the precum from Kia’s cock, then resumed his slow ascent up the leg.

“Such a tease,” Kia moaned.

Suero smirked. “Patience, gatito.”

The neediness in Kia’s tone made Suero’s breath catch. He stripped off his clothes, cool air brushing his skin, and guided Kia to lie back on the plush pillow.

Captivated by the man’s beauty, he whispered, “Eres tan hermoso.” Kia blushed, legs parting with a teasing smile.

Suero settled between them, savoring the moment. Despite Kia’s frustrated whimpers, Suero refused to rush, determined to cherish every inch of him.

With a flick of his tongue, Kia writhed beneath him, the musky scent fueling Suero’s growing desire. The man tilted his hips, spread his legs wider, surrendering to Suero’s touch. He explored Kia’s body, his tongue trailing up Kia’s erection before taking the head between his lips.

“Oh…I really love your mouth now,” Kia gasped. He rocked his hips, trying to drive his cock deeper.

You’re not the one in control, cariño. He held Kia’s hips firmly, but that didn’t stop his mate from trying. Relaxing his throat, Suero took him deep, right to the base, before easing off.

The room pulsed with the sound of Kia’s pleasure. He definitely wasn’t the silent type. His moans echoed off the walls as Suero took his cock in fully, over and over.

Kia was close, his body tense. Suero eased back, his lips brushing tenderly against both of Kia’s inner thighs.

The man lay beneath him, catching his breath. He stared up at the ceiling, his tongue darting out to moisten his lips. Finally, his eyelashes fluttered as he deeply exhaled.

Suero was struggling as well, his muscles tight, his wolf desperate to take Kia. Not yet. Control it. Kia deserves slow and tender.

He looked up, meeting the heat in Kia’s eyes, turning darker with an amber glow as a soft purr rumbled from his throat.

Holy. Fuck. The sound shot straight to Suero’s cock. “Does my beautiful gatito want me?” he growled, rising to his knees. “Tell me, cariño. Does your cheetah hunger for my wolf?”

A bark of laughter escaped Suero as Kia pounced, tackling him. He leaned in, sniffing along Suero’s jawline, a more powerful purr resonating from his chest. “Fuck me, lobo. Now.”

Clearly, Kia didn’t want slow and tender. He wanted primal. Suero’s canines extended, eyes glowing as he seized Kia’s wrists. “Hands and knees, now.”

“Say. Please.”

In one swift, decisive motion, Suero flipped Kia onto his back, staring down into defiant cheetah eyes. His feline wanted control, but Suero’s wolf didn’t submit. Their animals were circling, each daring the other to make the next move.

Kia wrapped his legs around Suero’s waist, yanking him closer.

Suero leaned in, his voice a rasp against Kia’s ear. “Voy a enseñarte quién manda, gatito.” I’m going to show you who's boss, kitty.

He smirked, pulling back just enough to meet those defiant feline eyes. “Do you need a translation, or have I made my point?”

“I have no clue what you said.” Kia smiled sweetly at him. “So either fuck me or I’m off to enjoy more tacos. At least they know how to leave me craving for more.”

No the fuck…