STORY EXCERPT

Asher rose with the sun, having slept fitfully. He padded to the bathroom and brushed his teeth, letting the minty flavor ground him. He would focus on one task at a time today. He would not become overwhelmed. He sighed, examining his reflection in the ornate golden mirror above the sink.

Asher looked like he felt. His mane of hair was in disarray, with black smudges underneath his light eyes that screamed his lack of sleep to the world. Who was going to want to hire him looking like this? Asher showered, letting the citrus scent wash over him, invigorating his senses.

Once he was dry, and in a smart T-shirt and pants, he made himself a cup of coffee and dry toast. It was a struggle to get down, the crumbs scratching his dry throat. He took another sip of coffee for good measure. He vowed to himself that he would go to the shop today, to get some real food.

But before that… employment. He needed a job.

He steeled himself, getting ready to leave the house. As soon as he opened the door, the sunlight spilled through, like it was eager to shine on him. Only a few people trickled through the streets at this hour. He turned back to his door, locking it, and then let out a yelp.

A man, a startlingly perfect man, was standing at the foot of his steps. The man stood tall and was so pale he was almost translucent. His dark hair and eyes shone in the sunlight, catching his curls and imbuing them with a reddish tint.

The most perfect man he’d ever seen, and what had Asher done? Screamed in his face. Yeah, sounded about right. If only Anna could see him now.

Asher cleared his throat, and the man cleared the smirk from his face, clearly trying to gain control of his expression.

“Hello, I’m Maxwell. You must be my new neighbor.”

Asher’s mouth hung uselessly open for a second too long before he managed to pull himself together.

“Right, yes, I’ve just moved in. I’m Asher.” He took a few steps down and held his hand out to Maxwell.

Maxwell took it, his grip firm and strong. A fizzing sort of feeling prickled against Asher’s skin. Asher pulled his hand from the man’s grasp, his eyes widening. His face must have conveyed a what was that? look. Maxwell’s own dark eyes widened before a mask of civility slipped back over his features.

“I’m pleased to meet you. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you for a while,” he said somewhat breathily.

What could he mean? Asher had moved in quickly, out of necessity. Because he was running away from something, someone…

He opened his mouth to question Maxwell, but Maxwell quickly said, “What I mean is, the house has been vacant a long while now. It’s good to see someone has taken ownership of it.”

Asher nodded, swallowing thickly. “Well, I better be going.”

It was Maxwell’s turn to nod. “Of course, I wouldn’t want to keep you. You know where I am, if you ever need anything. Nice to meet you, Asher. I hope one day I can get to know you.”

He had such a charming way of speaking, and Asher would be lying if he said he didn’t like the sound of his name in Maxwell’s mouth…

“Yes, I’d like that,” he replied before making his way down the street. Asher had the feeling that a pair of eyes were boring into the back of his head as he walked, and it took everything in him not to answer that call and turn around.

Asher continued his five-minute walk into the town center. Old Town came first, with its cobblestone streets, shops with pretty shutters, and cafés. In the center, like the cherry on the top of the cake, was the clock tower. Farther on, New Town shone bright white, modern, littered with clothes shops, wine shops, and fancy restaurants. His feet took him to the Old Town. He’d had his fill of working at the fancy restaurants. Hell, that was the job he’d left at The Luxe restaurant. At the ripe old age of twenty-nine, he was ready for a slower pace of life. He was ready to make pastries, cakes, and cookies rather than something posh that people would send back for a decorative leaf they deemed to be out of place.

Asher took a deep breath. He stood outside the Steaming Cup, a charming little café with red bricks, not unlike his house, with a simple yellow sign depicting a steaming cup of coffee and an iced bun that looked good enough to eat.

Something in his blood sang that, yes, this was the place he needed to be. Now all he needed to do was work his magic and secure himself a job.

ADULT EXCERPT

They caught their breath. Asher was propped up against the wall with his mate looming over him. Maxwell’s eyes were so dark they were almost pitch-black. Asher suspected that the hunger in Maxwell’s eyes mirrored his own. Asher’s cock was straining against his pants to the point of pain, like it was telling him that if it wasn’t released soon, it would explode.

Maxwell’s sly grin said he knew what Asher was feeling.

“Please,” Asher whimpered. “Touch me.”

The grin vanished, and Maxwell took pity on him, dropping to his knees and ripping his pants down, freeing his hard dick. There was no hesitation before Maxwell took him into his mouth. Asher’s head flew back against the wall, a low moan escaping from his throat at the sheer pleasure of having his mate’s mouth wrapped around his cock. Where it was supposed to be. There was no warmup with Maxwell. He took what he wanted. Maxwell bobbed his head up and down in fast motions, and the flick of his tongue over the bud of pre-cum was all it took to have Asher moaning his mate’s name. Maxwell’s hand clasped his ass so that he could take him deeper, and then Asher was spilling his cum into his mate’s mouth.

A shudder racked Asher’s whole body, white spots invading his vision as he came back down to earth. He opened his eyes in time to see Maxwell swallow him down and wipe at the corners of his mouth. It was a beautiful sight, watching his cum spill out of Maxwell’s lips. Maxwell stood to his full height, and Asher leaned forward to help clean him up. Maxwell groaned as Asher’s tongue found its way into his mouth, and he broke the kiss so hard that their mouths made a sucking noise.

Their gazes locked and held, and Asher didn’t know how it was possible, but Maxwell’s eyes had gotten even darker.

“Upstairs, now,” Maxwell growled, pure predatory intent in his gaze.

Asher shivered at his tone and practically ran to the bedroom with Maxwell chasing him. Anticipation fizzed in the air, so palpable he could almost taste it. Maxwell ripped the rest of his clothes from his body and pushed Asher firmly down on the bed so that he was lying on his back, his blond hair spread around him like a mane. Asher’s heart was racing as the exquisite planes of sculpted muscle were revealed layer by layer as Maxwell removed and threw his own clothes on the floor. Asher was sure he heard some of them rip in the haste to get them off. The thought brought a small smile to his face. It faltered a little when he saw the size of Maxwell’s hard dick. It stood to attention, smooth and beautiful, a few veins protruding from it. And it was huge. Asher swallowed.

“You can take me. You were made for me.” The certainty in Maxwell’s voice calmed him.

Yes, they were made for each other.

“Turn over.”

Asher did as he was told. As Maxwell took him, Asher heard him sigh before he began to pepper kisses over his body, beginning at his ankles and moving up to his neck like he didn’t want to leave a single area of his skin unkissed, untouched. Asher’s body melted into the mattress and into Maxwell’s touch.

“You’re so beautiful,” Maxwell murmured.

Asher’s cheeks heated, and he was glad his mate couldn’t see him. He’d never been called that before. But Maxwell made him feel it.

Maxwell’s tongue found his ass, and he lapped at it. Asher could feel his tight hole relax in preparation.

Maxwell eased a finger then two inside Asher’s tight bundle of nerves. Asher clenched around Maxwell’s fingers, his breath catching.

“Now, Maxwell. I’m ready. I need you.”

Asher lifted his head as the bedside cabinet opened. He watched over his shoulder as Maxwell tugged protection onto his cock before beginning to push his dick into him.

Asher’s hands clenched the bed sheets tightly, and Maxwell’s hands covered both of his as he murmured sweet nothings into Asher’s ear, gently coaxing his cock all the way in.

They gasped in unison as the entirety of Maxwell’s cock entered him. Nothing had ever felt so right, so complete. Asher couldn’t help it. A tear came to his eye. It was blinked away when Maxwell began to move expertly, his hips rolling and thrusting slowly, working him, building him up. Sweat slicked both of their bodies, and for once, Asher didn’t mind getting sweaty, as long as it was Maxwell making him that way.

“Lift your hips,” Maxwell commanded as he reached around to grab Asher’s balls, massaging them as he continued to thrust.

“I’ve dreamed of this, dreamed of you. You, Asher, are my dream.”

His soft words were at odds with his actions, for Maxwell picked up his pace, slamming into him before grabbing Asher’s cock and pumping it. It was so sensitive it almost brought a hint of pain with the pleasure.