“Ciro! Ciro, stop,” Carter pleaded. “You’ll destroy everything. Please.”
“I will say this once…and once only. Leave Carter and his family alone. Try harming any of them again and I will burn your world and your fates to the ground. Do I make myself clear?”
Gnóseis said nothing, and that only served to stir Ciro’s anger higher. Debris swirled in a vortex of everything that had been broken then engulfed the room. His hair lifted from his head and fluttered with his rage.
“Do you understand?” His voice echoed off the dense walls of the cave dwelling and returned to his ears as thunder. “Answer me.”
“I understand,” Gnóseis shouted. “Please, just stop! You are destroying everything!”
She fell to the ground before him, clutching at his legs, whimpering and sobbing, pleading with him to make the funnel go away. Though he really wanted to destroy her and everything she held dear, Ciro remembered Carter was with him. With that thought, Ciro took a step back, and the twister he’d created died. For a moment, everything hovered in midair then fell noisily to the ground in Gnóseis’ home. The protection field around Carter vanished as well and his lover rushed forward to take his hand.
“It is time to go, Carter,” Ciro whispered.
Epilogue
The sun went down over the mountains behind Carter’s house as they all sat around, having a barbecue. It was a lot livelier than any others Carter had had, but he wouldn’t compare. All he knew was he was happy beyond belief. His man was learning to use the grill, his brother was playing dominos with the God of War. The Goddess of the Storm Wind and Adrestia were busy learning hopscotch and the God of the Underworld had just taken off to deal with some unruly soul. It didn’t get any better than that.
For a second, Carter removed himself from the group and stared up at the sky. It was a reddish orange color, almost as if the sky was on fire. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d given himself a minute to take in the sky above him. But since he’d begun dating Ciro, Carter found himself having a new appreciation for things around him. Closing his eyes for a moment, he took that moment to pull himself together, wanting to cry with his happiness. When he looked up once more, the sky was no less beautiful. The sun had dipped lower but it took his breath away, leaving him feeling so thankful and alive.
Ciro snaked his arms around Carter from behind, pulling his body close. His lover’s muscles pressed into Carter along with a very hard cock he’d come to adore so much. He moaned, tilted his head sideways and was rewarded with Ciro’s lips skimming his flesh. “Baby, I can’t wait to get you alone tonight.”
“You must be reading my mind.” Ciro breathed against his neck. He nipped, licked and sucked at Carter. “Maybe we should sneak away.”
“Damn…” Carter’s knees wobbled but Ciro held him up. “No. As much as I’d love to agree with you, your mom is here. We’re having family time.”
“You are right.” But Ciro didn’t stop. Instead, he moved his mouth to the back of Carter’s neck but instead of licking, Ciro only brushed his lips back and forth. “I know this would have been better in a more romantic setting,” Ciro whispered. “Then I remember how close I came to losing you and waiting for the perfect time just doesn’t seem right.”
“What are you saying, Ciro?”
“I love you, Carter. I have loved you since the beginning of time.”
“How do you know?” Carter whispered. “Your destiny cannot be written, remember?”
“I remember.” Ciro nibbled against Carter’s ear from behind. “I know love is something no one can predict, but you were made for me, I just know it. I feel it every time you touch me—every time your body is against mine. I feel lost with you in the most beautiful, complete way there is.”
“That is not possible.”
“Look at me.”
Carter turned and allowed Ciro to trap him against the deck’s fencing. “I’m looking.”
“Now, now listen very carefully.” Ciro’s voice was soft but serious. “Have you ever heard it said that when you have to fight for something—work hard for something, it means more to you?”
Carter nodded.
“I had to fight for you, Carter. Every waking moment of my life has been spent battling my way to you. Now I am here and I do not intend to go anywhere or break your heart, for that would cause me pain I could never bear. Do you understand?”
For a little while, Carter stared into Ciro’s eyes then pressed his forehead into Ciro’s shoulder. “I love you too, Ciro. I think I’ve always known—since that night at Firewall.”
“But you just let me walk away that night,” Ciro teased.
Carter looked up into Ciro’s eyes, watching the calm, gray shine back at him with a hint of mystery and mischievousness. “I did not. I turned to look at my brother and you just—vanished. I wanted to talk more—dance with you…”
“Do you believe in love at first sight, my darling?” Ciro wanted to know.
“No. I believe in lust at first sight. I think we fall in lust first and it is so good, we swear it is love. It’s not a bad thing, just overwhelming. That feeling then becomes more intense and perfect. That’s when we fall in love.”
“Does not matter. Whether you believe or not, it was for me and you are here in my arms. Even after all the horrible things I have done, I still found you.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong, Ciro. I wish more men would do what had to be done rather than running away. No matter what happens, remember one thing…”
“What is that, Carter?”
“You never ran away.”
He eased in closer, causing Carter to tremble and when he took Carter’s lips, the world exploded in a barrage of beautiful fireworks. Their kisses were always amazing but this one, knowing Ciro loved him? This one was even better.
“Aw, come on you two,” Adrestia hollered. “Are you going to play a game with us or are you going to stand there kissing all night?”
“I am partial to the kissing all night,” Ciro replied after lifting his head.
“Well you two can continue your smooching afterward,” Thýella said, taking Carter’s hand. “As the mother of a Shiver, there is one thing I must do before my departure.”
“You’re leaving?” Carter asked. “I thought Ciro said you were staying the night?”
Thýella smiled. “I thought I was too, but I must see to my storms.”
Before Carter allowed Thýella to lead him away, he gripped the front of Ciro’s shirt and stole another kiss. “I don’t need any place romantic to hear of your love for me. What better place than around the people we love most in this world?”
Ciro caressed his face then stepped back, allowing his mother to stand before Carter.
Thýella touched the side of Carter’s cheek softly while speaking in Greek. At first, he felt a little strange about it, but when he turned to see Ciro smiling quite proudly, his fear turned to intrigue. When she stepped away, there was a slight burning sensation against Carter’s left hip but after he ran his hand over it, the feeling passed. She then kissed both his cheeks and smiled.
“I will grab us some drinks,” Ciro said.
There was a shout of happiness from the backyard and they all turned to see Kofi doing what could only be described as a touchdown dance while pointing at the dominoes on the table. Carter didn’t remind him if he’d won it was because his competitors had let him since they were Greek gods and demigods. Instead, he watched his brother do a strange pelvic thrust kick thing, and laughed.
Ciro shook his head and disappeared into the house.
“I am truly happy my son has found you,” Thýella said and sat on the deck chair again. She sat with such posture, Carter couldn’t help but think of royalty.
“That a fact?” Carter asked.
“Yes. He has been fighting for so long and hurting for so long that sometimes I thought he would never find true happiness.”
Carter picked up his glass and sat on one of
the vacated seats. He lifted his legs up to the deck’s fencing and took a breath. “Everyone deserves some happiness. But with Ciro, it’s hard not to make him happy because he does this wonderful thing to my life as well.”
“Turn it upside down?”
“That too.” Carter laughed. He sat up and turned to look at his lover’s mother. Her face was beautiful—her slender body very becoming. Her green eyes shone with a sort of twinkle that told of something more behind it. Atop her head sat the most beautiful set of black curls he’d ever seen. With a quick glance over his shoulder, Carter rested his elbows on the table and cleared his throat. “Your son is the most amazing man I’ve ever met. There’s something about him that takes my breath away.”
Thýella smiled quite proudly. “I’m glad. You two have been in love since the beginning of time, Carter. Sure, the fates could not write anything this good—but it was destined from somewhere. Thank you for a lovely—how do you say…barbecue. We should definitely do this again, maybe next time at my place at the North Shores?”
“Can I actually go there? You know? Without the pesky little side-effect of say…dying?”
Thýella laughed softly. “You have a sense of humor I adore, Carter Olabasu. And yes, you can go to the North Shores without dying. It is right here on Earth.”
“I would like that.” Carter smiled.
“Right now I have a storm to tend to,” she told him.
He rose and hugged her tightly for there was no better feeling than knowing someone genuinely loved him. Another cheer went up from where Kofi was busy playing football with Ares, Sisqo, Adrestia and Koi.
“Koi, I have to leave now,” Thýella called to her son.
The group broke up and made their way to the deck just as Ciro returned. Carter hugged Thýella again and allowed her to say a private goodbye with her sons. In the meantime, he sat with Kofi, looking at his brother.
“I have to be going too,” Kofi said softly. “I have to head into the office first thing tomorrow about another agency we’re trying to buy. I’m not sure we will, but if they can convince me it’s good business, I don’t see why not.”
Carter nodded. He kissed the side of Kofi’s head. “Thanks for coming. I love you, you know that, right?”
A sober look filled his brother’s eyes, and for a moment, he thought Kofi was going to cry. His eyes watered but he blinked it back and Carter nodded.
“I love you too, Carter. Don’t doubt that, okay?”
“I won’t. I swear.”
After Kofi said his goodbyes to everyone, even giving Ciro a hug, Carter walked his brother through the vast house and out to the front where Kofi was parked beside Carter’s new car. He stopped and met his brother’s eyes.
“Are we okay?” Carter questioned. “I mean, are we truly okay—I am talking basketball on Saturday mornings, club nights, evenings like this, alone with my new family?”
Kofi nodded. “Yes. These people love you. They adore you. That is all I wanted—I wanted people who had your back and would love you as much as I do. Well, sure no one is ever going to love you like I do, but still.” Kofi smirked.
Carter laughed softly. “True. Basketball on Saturday?”
Kofi opened his car door and climbed him.
Carter bent over to rest his elbow on the window after his brother wound it down.
“You’re going down.”
“Prepare to be schooled, big brother,” Carter grinned, stepping back when Kofi started the ignition. “Prepare to be schooled.”
Soon Kofi was gone and Carter was left standing in the driveway, staring off to where his brother disappeared. He was so happy it was almost as if he would burst. At that moment, he did jump and fist pump, before jogging up the front steps and making his way through the house back to the deck.
It took a while to say goodbye to everyone. Koi was the last to leave and finally, Carter could get his lover where he’d been aching to get him since Ciro’s confession of love—in bed.
“Strip for me, baby,” Ciro demanded in a husky voice. “I want to see your body.”
“All right, Big Daddy—anything you want.”
“I am your Big Daddy? I like that. I like it a lot.”
Carter smiled. Pride, love and desire all rolled inside him. It was like drinking the best cup of hot chocolate on a cold day and feeling the heat in the pit of his stomach. It was a marvelous sensation He stripped slowly for his Shiver until finally he wore nothing but air. Ciro stepped forward after enjoying the show and ran a hand over Carter’s hip—the same one that had stung a little earlier. He was stunned when Ciro slipped to his knees and kissed it gently.
“This means Mother has given you her blessing,” Ciro whispered. “That makes me very happy.”
“What does?”
“Look here,” Ciro said, dragging a finger over the hip. “Do you see it, Carter?”
Carter looked down, shocked to see a tattoo there. It resembled dark gusts of wind. “A tattoo? I don’t remember…”
“Yes, you do,” Ciro whispered, rising and cradling Carter’s face. “Think back.”
Carter did and remembered when Thýella was whispering to him. “What was she saying?”
Ciro removed his shirt then slipped from his pants. Naked as the day he was born, he pointed to the same tattoo now over Ciro’s heart, expanding across to his shoulder and a little ways up his neck. It hadn’t been there before. “This means you are mine and I am yours,” he explained. “Aphrodite was right—you are my true mate.”
“So in essence, I’ve been branded.”
Ciro laughed softly, backing toward the bed. “Something like that.”
“What does yours mean?”
Ciro ran a hand over his markings and smiled. “It means I have been claimed,” he explained, a beautifully naughty smile tugging at his lips. “I will enjoy being claimed by you.”
He knew he should be upset about getting inked without his knowledge, but for some reason, he just couldn’t find the anger. How could he possibly be upset with such a beautiful, caring being?
Carter shrugged, watching his lover sit on the edge of the bed with his legs apart, his glorious cock rigid and ready to be ridden.
“Are you up for something freaky, my Shiver, my love?”
“With you? I thought you’d never ask.”
Carter knelt on all fours and crawled slowly to before Ciro. He nibbled against the side of Ciro’s foot then up his leg to his knee before showing the other leg the same attention. Then slowly, he dragged his mouth across to what he truly wanted to suck on. A low rumble filled the room and he looked up to see Ciro pinching his own nipples. The view from that position was breathtaking. Ciro’s head was tossed back in a kind of ecstasy arch, his long hair flowing over his shoulders. Every glorious muscle in Ciro’s body seemed to twitch with the suction of his mouth and Carter wanted to see more. He sucked, licked and dragged his teeth across the head as Ciro used his fingers to flick his own nipples faster and faster.
“Oh, Carter,” Ciro sighed.
He knew then as he lashed his tongue against the hardened shaft, feeling it pulse and hearing Ciro whimper his name, life was finally as perfect as it was ever going to be for he loved a Shiver, who loved him in return.
OSAKI
Book two in the Shivers series
Once a samurai, always a Shiver...
Kofi Olabasu needs a vacation. He’s spent so much time looking out for his brother and working that he’s completely neglected himself. To make matters worse, feelings for a man are driving him crazy. The moment Kofi feels Osaki, he knows something is about to change. Confused about his attraction to Osaki, he agrees to take a vacation and accepts Osaki’s offer of being Kofi’s tour guide in Japan. However, nothing is as it seems. Soon every dark corner is filled with danger and those who wish to do him harm.
Osaki has a lot on his plate and love is the last thing he has time for. Not only does he have to get used to his new powers as a Shiver and all the traini
ng it involves, but he also finds himself being drawn to a human—though Kofi makes it clear he’s into women—and Osaki must respect the man’s wishes. All Osaki really has to do is focus on training and being the best tour guide possible for Kofi. But nothing ever goes as planned and soon rogue Shivers are popping out of the woodwork, hell-bent on destroying Osaki for his inheritance. It soon becomes quite clear that they want him dead, and they’re not afraid to use Kofi as leverage—or as collateral damage.
Dedication
To all those in the closet—do not reveal yourself until you are ready. And remember, you are not broken. You are positively fabulous.
Trademark Acknowledgements
The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:
Chicken Little: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Bluetooth: Bluetooth Sig, Inc.
Godzilla: Toho Company, Ltd.
The Maltese Falcon : Comair Rotron, Inc.
Scarface : Universal City Studios, LLC.
The Matrix : Warner Brothers
Commando : Twentieth Century Fox
Pinky and the Brain : Warner Brothers Entertainment, Inc.
Poltergeist : Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc.
Pyrex: Corning, Inc.
Coke: The Coca-Cola Company
Cheetos: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.
Prologue
“When the face in the mirror doesn’t please you, turn it into a canvas.” –Tablo
Earth, Nippon, 1470
The Ōnin War had been waging for three years with no end in sight. Thousands of men, women and children had fallen. The dirt of central Kyōto had long since gone red with the blood of those who had perished, including Hirosuke Osaki’s whole family. They were casualties of the never-ending civil war—collateral damage—and somehow that didn’t seem fair. His heart was heavy and still he fought. He was alone in the world, because a mother thought her son did not have to fight for what he gained in life. With a blood-covered hand, he held the wound against his left side, feeling the blood seeping hot through his fingers. He knew he was as good as dead but he couldn’t— wouldn’t— go without a fight.
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