STORY EXCERPT

Brett was stacking boxes of cute teddy bears—each wearing a tiny hospital gown—on the shelves in the gift shop. His shoulder ached whenever he reached too high, making him wince a bit. As he tried to loosen up his arm, a gray-haired lady walked in. He put on his customer-service smile. “Need help finding anything?” he asked, his voice cheerful out of routine more than anything else.

“Just looking,” she said, barely glancing at him.

Brett went back to dusting, working his way down the shelf. His phone buzzed in his pocket—another text from Diablo. His heart did a little flip despite the pain in his arm. They’d been texting a lot since Brett had been brave enough to call him. Chatting with the guy just felt easy. Something about him made Brett feel grounded, even just through a screen.

He sneaked his phone out when the lady moved to another aisle.

How's your day going, cariño?

Brett’s cheeks felt warm. Diablo’s Spanish pet names always caught him off-guard. He looked around before typing back.

Shelving teddy bears. Very manly work.

Diablo replied right away. I bet you make it look good.

Brett bit his lip to hold back his grin. It was silly how a text could make his heart race like he’d run up a bunch of stairs. Even sillier how he’d memorized Diablo’s face from the one time they’d met.

“Are you okay, young man? You’re quite flushed.”

Brett almost dropped the bear he was holding. The elderly customer was in front of him, looking concerned as she held her purse.

“Yes, ma’am. Just... warm in here.”

“Well, I need a birthday card for my grandson. Something funny but not too crude.” She wiggled a finger at him like Brett would show her to some back room where they kept their X-rated stash. It was a hospital gift shop. The crudest card they had featured a dog in a tutu with a cigar sticking out of its mouth.

Brett slipped his phone back into his pocket and led her to the card section. Focus on work, he reminded himself. Not on tattooed arms or that voice saying “cariño” in a way that makes your insides flutter.

After she left, he pulled out his phone again, glancing around to make sure no more elderly grandmas were looking over his shoulder.

Another text from Diablo.

Still on for coffee tomorrow?

Five simple words made Brett forget about the ache in his shoulder. He quickly typed back a “yes” before putting his phone away. Adjusting his name tag, he moved down the aisle with a feather duster in hand. The gentle background music of the gift shop couldn’t quite drown out the hospital noises—the distant intercom calls, the squeaky wheels of gurneys, and the quiet conversations about prognoses and visiting hours he heard just outside the door.

The music couldn’t distract him from thinking about Diablo either. That one in-person meet made him feel on top of the world, even if he’d blushed his way through it. Over the phone or through texts, Brett was so much braver, able to say things he couldn’t bring himself to in person.

And now they were meeting up tomorrow morning. After weeks of texting and chats over the phone, Brett would finally see him again. He wanted to do a little dance but didn’t want it recorded on the security camera.

His phone buzzed in his hand, making him nearly drop it. 

You free?

He quickly replied, For what?

Three dots appeared. Brett held his breath. For Diablo, Brett would make himself free. Wait, that didn’t sound right.

See you in two.

Two what? Seconds? Minutes? Hours? Lightyears? Had he just jumped from time to distance?

His heart did a little dance in his chest as he smoothed his hair and straightened his polo then winced as it rubbed against his bruised shoulder.

The automatic doors opened with a soft hiss. Brett’s jaw dropped.

Diablo seemed even bigger and hotter than he remembered, filling the doorway with those broad shoulders and a confidence Brett wished he had. Dark jeans and a fitted, sleeveless black T-shirt showed off his tattoos.

Why did he have to be so... everything?

“Hey, cariño,” Diablo said, his voice dropping to that low pitch that made Brett’s knees weak every time he heard it.

He leaned to rest his hand on the counter, almost knocking over a display of ceramic angels when he missed it. “Hi—hey—you’re…here.” Why don’t you just knock yourself out and save yourself the embarrassment? He tucked a strand of hair behind his ear, praying he didn’t make a complete fool of himself this time. “I thought we were meeting tomorrow?”

“Was in the neighborhood.” Diablo walked toward him, never taking his eyes off Brett. “Thought I’d surprise you.”

“Mission accomplished.” His voice unexpectedly squeaked. Freaking fantastic. I sound like I’m hitting puberty all over again, as if the first round wasn’t the most awkward phase ever.

Diablo leaned casually against the counter, close enough for Brett to catch a whiff of leather and aftershave. Of course, he hadn’t missed the counter like Brett had. “You always this nervous, or just when I’m around?”

It all depended on who he was dealing with. Feeling jittery around Diablo? Totally thrilling. His uncle? Not so much.

“Special talent.” Brett managed a cheeky grin. The gift shop was practically deserted, except for the same elderly woman examining birthday cards like she was defusing a bomb. “I’m a disaster around hot guys.”

Why on earth had he admitted that?

“You think I’m hot?” Diablo’s lips curled up at one corner, eyes twinkling.

ADULT EXCERPT

Brett’s blush intensified. He held up a finger and cleared his throat. “Quiero follar, papi! Quiero que me folles fuerte!” His eyes sparkled with eagerness as he looked at Diablo. “Did I get it right?”

Holy. Hell. Diablo was going to claim the shit out of him. “What were you trying to say?”

If Brett blushed any harder, Diablo would have to grab the fire extinguisher. “I want to make love. You don’t have to be gentle.”

“Close enough, elegido,” he growled with a wicked grin, slipping off the bed and quickly shedding the rest of his clothes. He was so aroused his goddamn hands were trembling. Maybe afterward, he’d let Brett know what he’d really said. Maybe.

His elegido stared wide-eyed at Diablo’s throbbing erection jutting from his groin. “Muy bueno, hermoso.”

Diablo laughed, climbing back onto the bed, slowly prowling toward his mate. “Todo mio.”

“Todo mio,” Brett whispered, leaning back slightly as Diablo moved over him.

“Goddamn right I’m all yours.” His elegido’s hands traveled up Diablo’s thick arms, tracing the firm ridges of muscle. The contrast between them was breathtaking—his mate’s pale, freckled skin against Diablo’s bronze tone, Brett’s slender frame beneath Diablo’s powerful bulk.

The heat between them built as he claimed Brett’s mouth, swallowing the soft moan that escaped. Their tongues played a little dance, Brett’s hands threading through his hair, pulling him closer. Diablo shifted his weight to one arm, sliding the other beneath Brett to cradle the back of his neck. Fuck me. He wanted to be balls-deep inside the male. He could taste the need in his gut like a live wire.

“Gonna make you mine,” he said against Brett’s mouth, kissing him slowly, deeply. Diablo pressed forward slightly, just enough for his cockhead to kiss Brett’s rim. He held there, feeling his body respond, his precum pulsing out in thick spurts. He kissed his mate’s cheeks, his forehead, his chin, his neck, his hands filled with Brett’s ass.

“What the—”

“Nature’s little gift,” Diablo explained, his voice strained with the effort of holding back. “Natural lube.”

The third spurt came stronger, and he felt Brett’s entrance relax further. He pressed forward slightly, the head of his cock breaching the tight ring. Motherfuck.

“Holy shit,” Brett hissed, fingers clutching the sheets, his face scrunching.

Diablo stilled, locking his muscles in place. “Breathe for me, mi elegido. You can’t tense up like that.”

Brett nodded, taking a deep breath. As he exhaled, Diablo pressed inside another inch. He was clenching his teeth so hard they were going to crack. His hips wanted to thrust, to claim, to mark, but he held back, waiting for Brett’s signal.

“Jesus,” his mate gasped. “You’re…inside me.”

“Me estoy muriendo, joder. Tienes que dejarme mover.” Diablo squeezed his eyes shut, jaw clenched. “Babe…”

“Fuck me already.” Brett dug his fingernails into Diablo’s back. “Quiero que me folles fuerte!”

The male had no idea what he was asking for. He wasn’t going to fuck Brett hard, but he wasn’t going to treat him like a delicate flower either.

Brett’s nails broke skin. Heat shot through Diablo at his mate marking him, claiming him in return. He drove the rest of the way inside, and the tight grip on his cock was like an iron fist, nearly making his eyes roll back. With each punch of his hips, slick heat built between them, hot, filthy, and real.

“There,” Brett gasped. “Right there.”

Diablo grinned, repeating the motion, hips swiveling in a way that made Brett cry out when he hit that spot deep inside.

“Fuck…Diablo,” Brett gasped, arching up like his spine couldn’t take it.

Diablo rocked back, slowing for a second. “Too much?” He caressed his mate’s sides, careful to avoid the bruised shoulder and wrist.

“Don’t you stop,” Brett warned with a feisty little growl that made Diablo want to brand every inch of this man. “Move back.”

“Bossy,” Diablo smirked. “What’re you up to, elegido?”

They locked gazes, and Diablo felt himself leaning toward him. Jesus Christ, those eyes. He was so beautiful.

“I want on my hands and knees.” When Brett shoved at his chest, Diablo obeyed, pulling his cock free of his mate’s body. He helped his mate turn over, sucking air between his teeth when Brett presented his ass.

“Qué belleza,” he breathed, brushing his palms over his mate’s perfect backside.

“Belleza me later.” Brett reached back, slapping Diablo’s thigh. “You gonna make me wait while you check out my ass?”

He shoved backward, thrusting himself toward Diablo’s hard-as-nails cock. His mate was challenging him, teasing Diablo in the sexy fucking way possible.

“Careful what you beg for.” The male was driving him insane. Diablo grabbed his cock, the head kissing Brett’s ring, then shoved forward with a thrust that nearly knocked Brett into the pillows. “This what you want, cariño? Wanna feel my dick so far inside of you that you’ll never want me out?”

“Diablo!” Brett was sucking in air so hard Diablo wondered if he should’ve dropped a bottle of water on the nightstand before they’d started. But he was pushing back, matching the rhythm, bouncing on Diablo’s cock as Diablo rolled his hips, aiming for that sweet spot.

“Voy a follarte hasta que solo recuerdes mi nombre.” He wrapped his fingers around his mate’s cock, stroking in time with his thrusts.

Brett’s back arched beautifully. “No idea what that means, but don’t stop.”