STORY EXCERPT

The following evening, Dakota was halfway through reorganizing his sock drawer when someone knocked. He dropped the balled-up pair he was holding and crossed to the door, knowing who it would be. As he pulled it open, his pulse kicked up three notches.

Kivani stood there in a dark green henley that somehow made his eyes look even warmer. He had his hands in his pockets, and his hair was slightly damp like he’d just showered.

“Hey,” Kivani said. “You have dinner plans?”

Dakota glanced back at his apartment, at the sad granola bar sitting on his counter. “Not really.”

“Want to grab something? There’s a diner a few blocks over. Hash It Out. Nothing fancy, but the food's good.”

Dakota should say no. He should make up an excuse about being tired or having work to do. Instead, he heard himself say, “Sure, that sounds good.”

“Great.” Kivani’s smile did that thing again where it made Dakota’s stomach feel like it was full of butterflies. “Ready now, or you need a few minutes?”

So much for keeping my head down and not complicating things with Kivani. One day Dakota might actually listen to himself.

“Now’s fine.” He grabbed his jacket from the hook by the door and slipped his phone into his pocket, then followed Kivani down the stairs and out onto the street.

The evening air was cool, carrying the smell of someone's wood-burning fireplace. Dakota wrapped his jacket tighter around himself and walked beside Kivani, hyperaware of the space between them. Their arms almost touched with each step.

“So you've been here two weeks and haven’t explored much?” Kivani asked.

“Not really. Mostly just staying in, getting settled.” And staying out of sight. Which he should be doing now. “I’m not great at the whole exploring-new-places thing.”

“That’s fair. It can be overwhelming.”

“Do you eat out a lot?” Dakota bit his lip, realizing how that sounded. “I mean, like, at restaurants. Do you go to restaurants a lot?”

Kivani laughed, and the sound made Dakota’s face burn. “I knew what you meant. And yeah, pretty often. I get tired of cooking after spending all day making candy.”

They turned a corner, and Dakota could see the diner up ahead. Its neon sign flickered red and blue, advertising breakfast served all day. The windows glowed warm yellow, and Dakota could see people inside sitting in booths.

Kivani held the door open, and Dakota slipped past him into the diner. The smell of fried food and coffee hit him immediately. A waiter with dark hair looked up from behind the counter.

“Kivani,” he called out. “Your usual booth's open.”

“Thanks, Jace.”

Dakota followed Kivani to a booth near the back, sliding into the cracked vinyl seat across from him. The table was small, their knees almost touching underneath. A laminated menu sat propped between the salt and pepper shakers.

“Jace has worked here for a few years,” Kivani said, handing Dakota one of the menus. “He knows everyone’s order by heart.”

Dakota opened the menu and scanned the options. Burgers, sandwiches, breakfast plates, a few salads that looked like afterthoughts. His stomach growled, reminding him he’d only eaten that granola bar and some taffy today.

Jace appeared at their table with two glasses of water. “What'll it be, guys?”

“Bacon cheeseburger, fries, extra pickles,” Kivani said without looking at the menu.

Jace turned to Dakota, his pen poised over his notepad. “And for you?”

“Um, the grilled chicken salad?” Dakota handed back the menu.

“Dressing?”

“Ranch is fine.”

Jace scribbled on his pad and walked away, leaving them alone in the booth. Dakota took a sip of water and watched Kivani over the rim of his glass. The lighting in here was softer than in the taffy shop, casting shadows across Kivani’s features.

“So,” Kivani said, leaning back against the booth, “tell me about yourself. What do you do for work?”

“Freelance stuff. Computer programming, mostly. Web design sometimes.” Dakota set his glass down and traced a finger through the condensation. “It’s boring.”

“I doubt that. Sounds complicated.”

“It’s just following patterns. Once you understand the logic, it’s pretty straightforward.” Dakota looked up and found Kivani watching him with that focused attention that made him feel seen in a way that was both thrilling and terrifying. “What about you? Is it just the taffy shop, or do you do other things?”

“Just the shop. It keeps me busy enough.” Kivani’s fingers drummed against the table. “I used to have other hobbies, but they fell away. The shop takes up most of my time.”

“Don’t you get lonely? Just working by yourself all day?”

Kivani’s expression softened, something thoughtful crossing his features. “Sometimes. But I also like the solitude. Gives me time to think.”

Jace returned with their food, setting the plates down with practiced efficiency. Dakota stared at his salad—crisp lettuce, juicy cherry tomatoes, and plenty of grilled chicken. Across from him, Kivani’s burger was massive, juice already running down the sides, fries piled high beside it.

“That looks really good,” Dakota said, eyeing the burger.

ADULT EXCERPT

“I’m not.” Dakota’s voice held conviction, his eyes meeting Kivani’s without wavering. “I’ve wanted this for weeks. Wanted you. Tonight just made me realize I shouldn't wait for the perfect moment, because apparently the world is full of vampires and nothing is guaranteed.”

The logic was flawed, driven by shock and fear and the human need to affirm life in the face of danger. But Kivani’s tiger didn’t care about logic. His mate wanted him, was offering himself, and every fiber of Kivani’s being demanded he accept.

“Okay.” Kivani released Dakota’s wrists and pulled him back in for another kiss. This one was harder, more demanding, and Dakota responded with equal hunger. His hands pushed under Kivani’s shirt, nails dragging across skin, and Kivani purred into his mouth.

Dakota broke the kiss to pull at Kivani’s shirt, trying to get it off. Kivani helped, yanking the fabric over his head and tossing it aside. Then his hands were on his mate’s sweater, pushing it up to reveal pale skin and the lean lines of his torso. Dakota raised his arms, and Kivani pulled the sweater off, his eyes tracking over newly exposed flesh.

Beautiful. His mate was so fucking beautiful it made Kivani’s throat tight. His body was slim and pale with barely any muscle definition, the kind of body that looked delicate but, Kivani knew, held surprising strength. He wanted to map every inch with his hands and mouth, wanted to learn what made Dakota gasp and what made him moan.

Dakota’s hands found Kivani’s shoulders, his fingers tracing over muscle. “You’re really built.”

“Tiger genetics.” Kivani’s hands settled on Dakota’s hips, thumbs stroking the jut of bone. “We run bigger than humans.”

“I like it.” His mate leaned in and pressed his mouth to Kivani’s collarbone, his tongue darting out to taste skin. “You make me feel small. Safe.”

Kivani’s hands tightened, his tiger rumbling approval at the words. Mine, it growled. Ours to protect. Ours to keep.

Dakota’s mouth moved lower, kissing and licking across Kivani’s torso. His tongue found a nipple and circled it, and Kivani’s hands flexed on his mate’s hips. Heat built in Kivani’s stomach, his cock hardening in his jeans, and when Dakota’s hand dropped to palm him through the denim, Kivani’s hips jerked forward involuntarily.

“Fuck.” The word came out strangled, and Dakota looked up with satisfaction in his expression.

“You like that?” Dakota’s hand moved again, rubbing along the hard length straining against fabric. “Like me touching you?”

“Fuck yes.” Kivani’s voice had dropped lower, edged with the growl that lived in his throat. “Don’t stop.”

Dakota didn’t. His hand worked Kivani through his jeans, applying pressure and friction that made Kivani’s breathing ragged. His mate learned quickly, paying attention to what made Kivani’s hips roll forward, what pulled sounds from his throat. Those clever fingers found the button of his jeans and flicked it open then dragged the zipper down slowly.

Kivani’s cock pushed against his boxer briefs, the fabric doing nothing to hide how hard he was. Dakota’s eyes fixed on the bulge, his tongue darting out to wet his lips, and Kivani had to lock every muscle to keep from just taking what he wanted.

“Can I?” Dakota’s fingers hooked in the waistband of Kivani’s underwear, his question barely audible.

“Baby, you can do whatever you want.” Kivani’s hands moved from Dakota’s hips to the couch, gripping the cushions hard enough that his claws wanted to extend. “I’m yours.”

Dakota pulled the fabric down, freeing Kivani’s cock. It stood hard and flushed, and Dakota’s hand wrapped around it without hesitation. His fingers were cool against overheated skin, and Kivani’s hips jerked at the contact.

“You’re so hot,” Dakota murmured, his hand stroking slowly from base to tip. “Like you’re burning up.”

“Tiger.” Kivani forced the word out, his head falling back against the couch. “We run hot.”

“I’m learning that.” Dakota’s grip tightened, his strokes becoming more confident. “What else should I know?”

“That I’m trying really hard not to lose control right now.” Kivani’s eyes opened, fixing on Dakota’s face. “That I want to flip you over and make you scream my name. That my tiger is demanding I claim you in every possible way.”

Dakota’s breathing stuttered, his hand pausing mid-stroke. “That’s really hot.”

“You think so?” Kivani’s hand moved from the couch to Dakota’s hair, fingers threading through the bleached strands. “You’re not scared?”

“Terrified,” Dakota admitted. “But also really turned on. Is that weird?”

“No.” Kivani’s fingers tightened in Dakota’s hair, not pulling but holding. “It’s perfect. You’re perfect.”

Dakota leaned down, his breath ghosting across Kivani’s cock. “Can I taste you?”

Kivani’s entire body went rigid, his tiger roaring approval. “Fuck, yes.”

Dakota’s tongue touched the tip, licking away the moisture gathered there. Kivani’s hips jerked, his hand tightening in Dakota’s hair, and Dakota made a pleased sound. Then his mouth opened, and he took Kivani in, his tongue working along the underside as he sank down.

Heat engulfed Kivani’s cock, wet and perfect, and he had to force himself not to thrust up into that willing mouth. Dakota’s inexperience showed in the tentative way he moved, but what he lacked in skill he made up for in enthusiasm. His head bobbed, taking Kivani deeper with each pass, and the sounds he made sent vibrations through sensitive flesh.