“I need harder,” Gil wailed.

  Cascading sensations tore through him as the demon spread Gil’s legs and pistoned into his ass. Gil had asked for harder, and that was exactly what Wayland gave him. The demon’s body was slick with sweat, his eyes dark and seductive as his hands slid down Gil’s legs to grip behind his knees.

  Gil felt like he was dying. The pleasure was almost too much, and he was so loud he was surprised the cops weren’t banging on the door. If cops existed in this realm.

  “I’m gettin’ close, baby.” The tendons in Wayland’s neck grew taut. “Come with me.”

  Gil grabbed his cock and stroked the hardened flesh, hissing and moaning as Wayland pegged his kill zone over and over again. He should’ve been drooling from the way Wayland was tearing him apart and putting him back together.

  “You close?”

  Gil nodded. “Real close.”

  Wayland dropped to his hands and powered into him. Gil’s body jerked with the hard thrusts. When Wayland kissed him, it was sloppy, wild, and desperate. Their teeth clashed, tongues dueled, and Gil’s lip once again started to bleed.

  With a hard thrust, Wayland threw back his head and cried out. Gil felt the man’s cock pulsing deep in his ass. Wayland buried it deep, stilled, and then started moving faster, as if he wanted Gil’s orgasm to be just as shattering.

  And it was. For the second time that night, Gil reached for the heavens and found them. His cum erupted in pearly ribbons, splashing against Wayland’s bare chest. The demon began to move slower as Gil collapsed against the carpet.

  They were both raggedly breathing as Wayland pulled from Gil’s body and then rolled over to lie next to him. The demon scooped him up and splayed Gil over his rising and falling chest.

  “Damn, Red.” Wayland swiped a hand down his face. “That was…just damn.”

  As much as Gil wanted to stay where he was, he moved away, turned onto his stomach, and sprawled out on the floor. “I’m sorry, but it’s just too hot to cuddle.”

  The rain had stopped, as well as the lightning. The wind had died down, too. Gil yawned, his ass the good kind of sore. He wanted a shower but was way too tired to get up. All he wanted to do was take a nap.

  “Hungry?”

  “Sleepy.” Gil yawned again.

  The demon turned onto his side and stroked his hand down Gil’s back. Gil’s eyes had started to close, but he popped one open to stare up at Wayland. There was a look of awe in his coppery eyes. Gil grinned. “Was I good?”

  “Better than good,” Wayland said with a soft chuckle. His hand brushed over Gil’s ass. “If you weren’t so sore, I’d take you again.”

  “Seriously?” Gil’s grin grew wider. “I didn’t know a man your age had such stamina.”

  Wayland frowned. “How old do you think I am?”

  Gil gave him the truth. “Late thirties?”

  A bark of laughter escaped the demon. “Not even close.”

  “Then how old are you?”

  “Try a couple hundred.”

  Gil’s eyes bugged as he pushed himself up to a kneeling position. “Tell me you’re joking.”

  His heart fluttered when the demon winked at him. “Too old for you?”

  “No,” Gil blurted. He didn’t want Wayland to lose interest in him because the guy thought he was too old. “I mean…it wouldn’t bother me if you were older. I would prefer an older man anyway because they’re more experienced. But you don’t look your age.”

  “I’ll take that as a compliment.” Wayland pushed to his feet and held his hand out. Gil took it and stood, as well. Wayland pulled him to the kitchen and poured them both an ice-cold glass of water. The freezing liquid felt fantastic going down Gil’s parched throat. He drank the entire glass and then set it in the sink.

  “We need to talk.”

  Gil didn’t like the sound of that. When a guy gave the “we need to talk” speech, it was usually to say that he’d had a great time, but his life was too busy to see you again. Gil should know. He’d given that speech a time or two after having sex with a female. He felt like a douche bag for doing it, but there hadn’t been any chemistry between them and the sex hadn’t been that great.

  He knew why. A gay man having sex with a woman was like trying to jack off to paint drying. Gil left the kitchen and gathered his clothes. If Wayland was about to give him the boot, he wanted to be dressed and ready to go. No sense lingering when he knew their time together was over, and Gil could’ve kicked himself for giving in so easily, but things had been rushed in the heat-of-the-moment lust, and now the demon had lost interest.

  “What are you doing?” Wayland had followed him into the living room and stood there gloriously naked. Gil wanted Wayland again, but he wasn’t going to beg.

  “Getting dressed so you can take me home.” Gil tried to keep the disappointment out of his voice but failed miserably.

  “Do you want to go home?”

  “Look, I know the deal. You can save your speech. It was fun while it lasted, but we both have a life to get back to.”

  “You thought I was about to give you that kind of speech?” The man grinned. Gil wanted to smack it off his handsome face.

  “Then what did you want to talk about?” He started to put his jeans on, but Wayland crossed the room and stopped him.

  “Not about kicking you out.”

  Gil strangled his jeans in his hands. “Will you spit it out? Enough with the suspense.”

  Wayland pulled him to the couch and sat him down. “Do you know what a mate is?”

  “No.”

  “Since you didn’t flip when you found out about my world, I’m really hoping you don’t now.” He took in a deep breath. “Fate paired us together. I felt the bond as soon as I entered you.”

  Gil snickered. “Just say when you fucked me. That sounds a lot better—and sexier.”

  Wayland grinned. “It does. You’re my mate, Gil. You’re mine and I’m yours. Fate made you just for me.”

  “That sounds a little farfetched.” Gil liked the idea of belonging to Wayland, but it seemed too good to be true. He loved the world the demon lived in, although he’d found out just how scary it could be. Still, Gil finally felt as if he belonged somewhere and was afraid it would all be taken from him.

  Like when your dad finds out about Wayland. Gil shoved that thought aside, shelving it for later. Much later.

  “You readily accept the fact there’s a world on the other side of some veil, but you won’t believe we’re mates?” Wayland stroked his hand over Gil’s jaw, and Gil leaned into the touch. “See, you feel it, don’t you?”

  “A connection?” Gil looked up at him. “I feel it.”

  “Then accept it.” Wayland pulled Gil next to him, and Gil curled into the man’s side, tucking his feet under him. “I like how it feels when you nestle next to me.”

  “I like it, too.” Gil sighed, ready to spend the night right there on the couch, but his phone started ringing with Ferguson’s ring tone, and Gil knew he’d better answer it.

  With regret, he pulled away from Wayland and dug the phone out of his pants. “Hello?”

  “We need you home right now, Gilmore. Mom had a heart attack.”

  Chapter Six

  “I have to get to my mom.” Gil spun in a circle as he grabbed his clothes from the floor. Wayland saw how upset his mate was and knew why. He’d heard the person on the other end of the phone.

  Without asking, he took charge. First, he stopped Gil from spinning like a slow-moving top. He took the clothes from Gil’s arms and helped his mate dress. Then he set Gil on the couch before dressing himself.

  “If she had a heart attack, she’d be in the hospital, right?”

  Gil blinked his teary eyes up at Wayland. “I…I don’t think…I don’t know.”

  Since Gil seemed out of sorts, Wayland would have to do all the thinking right now. He slipped Gil’s jacket on and then took his hand. “Wherever she is, I’ll get you there.”

  Gil simply nodded as he glanced around the living room. Wayland led his mate to his bedroom and used the remote to close the paneling over the windows, bathing the room in darkness. He moved forward, leaving the demon realm behind. They stepped into the human realm just as a blustery wind hurled down the alley. Shit. Wayland hadn’t thought to grab a coat, and he wasn’t going to turn back to get one.

  A wino stared up them through bleary eyes. “Where’d you come from? You just appeared out of thin air!”

  His clothes were tattered and dirty, and he had newspaper sticking out the collar of his thin coat. Wayland dug his wallet out and gave the guy a few bucks. “Get something warm to put on your stomach.”

  He had a feeling the guy would drink the ten bucks away. He already clutched a near-empty bottle.

  “God bless you!” The wino cackled as he hurried away.

  “Call your brother,” he said to Gil, who still looked out of it. He just stared ahead, seeming oblivious to the wind and his surroundings. Wayland dug into Gil’s pocket and retrieved the young man’s phone.

  Gil blinked several times and then clutched it when Wayland handed it to him. His hands shook as he dialed, and Wayland pulled Gil along. They needed to get out of the cold, but it was four in the morning and all the businesses were closed.

  “Is Mom at the hospital?” Gil asked as Wayland used his powers to calm the winds. He normally didn’t interfere with Mother Nature—except when he had sex, and that didn’t count because he wasn’t in control of his abilities then—but Gil was dealing with enough. He didn’t need to get sick on top of everything else.

  That thought drove home just how fragile humans were. If Wayland had his way, Gil would spend the remainder of winter in the demon realm where it didn’t snow or became this frigid.

  With a tap of his finger, Gil ended his call. “The ambulance took her to the clinic.”

  Wayland knew the way. Unfortunately, they were on the other end of town. He took Gil back down the alley, found a darkened corner, and emerged on the side of the clinic. Gil stood there for a moment holding his head. “I think I’m gonna be sick.”

  “Just breathe through it.” Wayland waited as Gil found his bearings. He glanced around at the deserted streets and then at the parking lot that held just a handful of cars. The streetlights gleamed against the fallen snow as the wind picked up again.

  “Let’s get inside.” Wayland was freezing, and Gil had to be, as well.

  The glass doors swooshed open and heat from a vent above them blasted Gil and Wayland with warm air. Wayland wanted to stand there until he thawed, but he kept moving forward, still clutching Gil’s hand.

  “Hey, Wayland,” the male nurse behind the desk said with a smile. “What brings you here?”

  Wayland turned to Gil. “What’s your mom’s name?”

  “F-Flanagan,” Gil stuttered. “Sandra Flanagan.”

  Hilton clicked away on his keyboard. Wayland had met the nurse, who was a bunny shifter, a few years back when a rogue wolf shifter had attacked Hilton. Wayland had killed the wolf and he and Hilton had become friends. They’d even hung out once or twice whenever Wayland had to patrol Brac Village. Which wasn’t often.

  “Yes.” Hilton tapped his finger on the computer screen. “She was admitted an hour ago.”

  “Gilmore.”

  Wayland turned and saw a man approaching. The family resemblance was uncanny. It was like looking at an older version of Gil.

  Gil pulled his hand free of Wayland’s and took a step back as the man approached.

  “Dad rode in with Mom and I followed, but the snow out there made it almost impossible to drive.” He eyed Wayland. “And you are?”

  Wayland didn’t like the way this human appraised him and quickly dismissed him.

  “He’s a friend,” Gil said a little too quickly. “Ferguson, this is Wayland.”

  The two nodded at each other but didn’t shake hands.

  Wayland knew Gil couldn’t tell his brother that they were mates, being shoved into the friend zone still stung. Gil could’ve at least introduced him as a lover. Did his family know he was gay?

  Ferguson crinkled his nose. “This is family business, Gilmore, not a party. Why on earth would you bring a plus one with you?”

  If the guy hadn’t been Gil’s brother, Wayland would’ve punched him in his damn mouth for talking to his mate in such a condescending tone.

  “Are you always this rude to your brother?” Wayland asked.

  The older redhead seemed taken aback by the question. He carded his hand through his hair as he gazed scathingly at Wayland. “I don’t think my relationship with my brother is any of your damn business.”

  Wayland had to keep telling himself that this was his mate’s brother, because he was five seconds away from backhanding the uppity bastard.

  “I’ll show you gentlemen to her room.” Hilton pushed from behind the counter and pointed down the hallway.

  “Do you need me with you?” Wayland asked. Regardless of what Ferguson thought, if Gil needed him, Wayland would follow.

  “Let me check on her first,” Gil said with a shaky smile.

  Ferguson gave Wayland one last, cutting glance before the two walked down the hallway. Wayland dropped into a seat and sighed.

  He wasn’t going to win any brownie points with Ferguson. He’d hoped to get along with Gil’s family, but it didn’t seem as though he would. And it was more than obvious that the Flanagans knew nothing about Gil being gay.

  Just great.

  The doors swished open, letting in a blast of cold air as Phoenyx strode in, glancing around. When his eyes landed on Wayland, the warrior headed right to him.

  “Is everything okay?”

  “Now how in the hell did you hear about his mother?” Wayland asked. “I just found out not twenty minutes ago and didn’t say a word about it.”

  Phoenyx held his hands up and wiggled his fingers. “I got mad skills, homey. I know everything.”

  “You’re full of shit.”

  “That I am. Panahasi told me to come check on you. He didn’t say why, though. Whose mother? That human’s? Why haven’t you cut him loose yet?” Phoenyx smiled, took a seat next to Wayland, and elbowed him. “Trying to get into those geeky pants?”

  “He’s my mate.” Wayland slouched back and spread his legs slightly, one bouncing as he waited to see if Gil needed him.

  “No shit.” Phoenyx chuckled. “Lucky bastard.” He frowned. “That is a good thing, right?”

  “It is. Now, what happened after I left?” Wayland watched Hilton resume his position behind the desk and start typing away.

  Phoenyx shifted around in his chair. “Panahasi finally joined us and used his freaky mojo to kill the soul-suckers. But there are more. Lots more from what I heard. This fight is far from over. We just need to find out who’s pulling the puppet strings.”

  “Should’ve left one of them alive so you could’ve tortured the information out of him.” Wayland’s eyes stayed glued on the hallway, and although he had superior hearing, he couldn’t hear anything past the desk. Either no one was saying anything, or they’d closed the door to their mother’s room.

  “I think Panahasi was in a foul mood. He just threw his arms out, spoke a few words in that primal language he and Jaden speak sometimes, and whammo, the soul-suckers dropped like flies. He got ghost after that, leaving us to take care of the bodies.”

  That caught Wayland’s attention. “What’s bugging him?”

  Phoenyx shrugged. “Dunno. He looked like he had something heavy on his mind.”

  Maybe later, if everything was all right with Gil’s mom, Wayland would go see their leader. He owed Panahasi not only his life, but his sanity. As with all demon warriors, Wayland had had a horrific past he tried damn hard never to think of. If Panahasi hadn’t taken him away for training, Wayland had no doubt he would be dead by now.

  Or a bloodthirsty murderer since his mother had sold him at a young age because her latest boyfriend hadn’t liked kids. Wayland slammed a lid on those thoughts as his leg continued to bounce.

  Phoenyx elbowed him again. “You want me to go in there and help your mate’s mom out?”

  The thought was tempting. Phoenyx’s tears had miraculous healing powers, but Wayland knew interfering with a human’s fate had consequences. Panahasi had warned Phoenyx not to use his gift in such a cavalier way.

  Then again, their leader had interfered with fate too many times to count. What harm could allowing Gil more years with his mother do? But first, he needed to find out her condition. “I’ll let you know.”

  “I heard that,” Hilton said from behind his workstation. The bunny shifter glanced toward the hallway and then looked at them. His green eyes were bright with conspiracy as his pale skin flushed. Wayland had a soft spot for docile shifters. They were practically defenseless against the more dangerous preternatural creatures, as well as evil humans.

  “Just let me know if you need my help,” Hilton said as the red in his pale cheeks deepened.

  Phoenyx patted Wayland’s leg before he stood. “I hear a hot bunny nurse calling my name.”

  Hilton pretended to be interested in the screen in front of him. Phoenyx leaned over the counter and spoke in a low voice, low enough Wayland couldn’t hear.

  Thank fuck.

  “Wayland!”

  Wayland was out of his seat and racing down the hallway at the sound of his mate’s distress, Phoenyx hot on his heels as they burst into the room.

  Ferguson was passed out on the floor—or dead. God, Wayland hoped the guy wasn’t dead. There was also another man knocked out, as well. He looked like Gil, and Wayland assumed he was Gil’s dad. He turned his head and saw the demon from Jake’s Java had Gil pinned against the wall.

  He raced forward, ripped the demon away from Gil, and shoved his fist into the guy’s face as Phoenyx checked on Ferguson. He gave a nod to say that Gil’s brother wasn’t dead and then moved to Gil’s father and nodded again. Wayland’s pent-up frustrations and fears coiled around his fist as he pummeled the demon as he saw Phoenyx tending to Gil from the corner of his eye.

 

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