A Promise Kept

by Lynn Hagen

Darren’s eyes widened. “I’d rather call Christian or Maverick.”

  Moose grinned. “Your decision.”

  Darren walked from the holding area as he pulled his phone free. Grayson looked at his mate. “Why did he look so afraid of Panahasi?”

  “You’d have to meet the demon leader to understand,” Moose said. “He’s one scary son of a bitch.”

  “And the other leaders aren’t?” Grayson asked. He wished David was a nonhuman so the leaders could deal with his cheating ass.

  Then again, if Alisha’s husband were nonhuman, he wouldn’t have cheated on her in the first place. He was grateful as hell he hadn’t told his daughter and son-in-law about the preternatural on their last visit. Grayson hadn’t gotten up the nerve to break the news to them, and Moose had been just as big a chicken then.

  They’d decided to wait a while before telling them, and Grayson was thankful as fuck they had, especially since David might not be in the picture for much longer.

  “We need to question the other bartender,” Moose said, pulling Grayson from his thoughts. “If Calvin was drunk, that means Tilted stocks Red Spanking.”

  “Red what?” Grayson asked.

  “And alcohol drink made specifically for nonhumans,” Moose explained. “We can’t get drunk off human booze, so Red Spanking was created.”

  The more Moose explained shit to him, the harder Grayson’s headache thumped. “I’ll talk to Jericho.”

  Moose shook his head. “I’ll talk to him. Because if he’s serving Red Spanking, he knew Calvin was a demon.”

  * * * *

  Jericho had just opened the bar when he saw a towering man storming toward him. With a squeak, Jericho ran inside and tried to slam the door closed, but the guy on the other side was a freaking giant.

  “I don’t have any money!” Jericho shouted when the door swung open. “You can have whatever booze you want. Just please don’t hurt me.”

  The guy lumbered in and closed the door behind him. “I don’t want your booze.”

  Jericho swallowed tightly. “Then what do you want?”

  “To question you.” The guy took a seat at the bar. “My mate is the sheriff.”

  Jericho was relieved as he walked behind the bar. “You scared the hell out of me.” He extended his hand. “I’m Jericho James, manager of this joint. What do you want to know?”

  The guy shook his hand but pulled Jericho across the bar. He sniffed him then cocked his head to the side. “You’re a bunny.”

  “Thanks for cluing me in. Can you let me go?” Jericho took a big whiff of the stranger and realized the guy was a bear shifter. He wasn’t sure if he should be scared. He was all fluffy, and the stranger had claws and large teeth when in his bear form.

  “I’m Moose.” The man released him. “Do you serve Red Spanking here?”

  Fuck, fuck, fuck. Jericho had told his boss that stocking that stuff was a bad idea. A nonhuman had too much power to walk around wasted. “Maybe?”

  Moose narrowed his eyes. “Talk straight with me, or things won’t end pretty.”

  “Fine!” Jericho threw his hands up. “I told Mike that stocking the crap was only asking for trouble. But he makes a mint off selling it.”

  “And you served it to Calvin last night?”

  “Who?” Jericho wasn’t sure what trouble the demon had gotten into while boozed up, but no way was he taking the fall for anything. Playing dumb was his best defense.

  “What did I just warn you about?” Moose said.

  Jericho was seconds away from pissing himself. “Okay, okay. I may or may not have served Calvin. He’s a creep, but harmless.”

  “So harmless that he waited until closing to attack Emilio?” Moose’s nostrils flared, and Jericho wanted to pass out. The fucker was seven kinds of scary.

  “Calvin did what?” Jericho whispered as he pressed a hand to his chest. “Please tell me you’re lying.”

  “Do you know where I can find Calvin?”

  Jericho shook his head. “He just comes in here every night hitting on Emilio. Oh my gosh! Is Emilio okay? Please tell me he’s okay.”

  He felt sick to his stomach at the thought of the little human being harmed. Except while dealing with customers, Emilio was a quiet guy who kept to himself. Jericho had tried countless times to get Emilio to loosen up, to have a bit of fun, but every attempt had failed. Even so, he liked the human.

  “He’s shaken, but his mate arrived in time to stop Calvin.”

  Jericho’s brows shot up. “Emilio has a mate?”

  That was news to him. A lot of guys hit on the human. After all, Emilio was gorgeous, even if he didn’t think he was. The guy had low self-esteem that Jericho would never understand. He wished he looked as good as Emilio did.

  “Yeah, and Malik is gonna be watching out for him while Emilio’s at work.” Moose got up. “I know you’re not the owner and you were only doing what you were told, but take my advice and get rid of Red Spanking.”

  Jericho nodded. “It was nice to meet you, Moose.”

  When the guy smiled, he seemed a hell of a lot friendlier. Jericho wished he had a mate who was big and scary like Moose was. Maybe then his uncle would stop knocking Jericho around.

  “Same here,” Moose said. “I really enjoyed the tacos last night.”

  Jericho didn’t recall seeing Moose last night. He would’ve remembered the giant. Then again, they’d been so slammed that he hadn’t noticed much of anything. “We also have Fish Night Fridays.”

  Moose’s grin widened as he patted his stomach. “See you Friday.”

  Jericho sighed as Moose walked out the door. The sheriff was one lucky man.

  Chapter Four

  Emilio stood at his door after hours of overthinking the huge fucking bomb Malik had dropped in his lap. He should be ready to kick Malik out—if the guy was still there—but all Emilio could think about was his insane attraction to him.

  It had been like two months since Emilio had gotten laid, and he had a willing hunky guy in the other room.

  It wasn’t the head on his shoulders that was doing the thinking right now. He pressed his forehead against the door and willed his cock to soften, but his erection wasn’t listening. It throbbed between his legs, giving Emilio every crazy reason why he should have sex with Malik.

  He cracked the door open then closed it. No way was Emilio going out there and asking Malik to fuck him. He walked away from the door and paced his room, weighing the pros and cons of having sex with…the sexiest fucking man he’d ever seen.

  Hardened muscles to grip. Tempting, full lips that could probably kiss like a dream…or suck cock like a pro. Ripped abs. Swollen biceps. Gorgeous green eyes that Emilio could get lost in.

  He shook his head and waved his hands in front of him. “No, I have more restraint than this.”

  Relationships weren’t something Emilio did. No damn way was he making himself vulnerable so he could get hurt, no matter how dreamy Malik had made mating sound.

  But sex with Malik didn’t mean feelings had to get involved. Emilio could keep the act and emotions separate. He’d done that plenty of times before. Not a problem. They could scratch a mutual itch, and Emilio could walk away afterward.

  Convinced he could keep himself detached, Emilio stripped naked and walked out of his room, marching down the hallway. The wind was knocked from his sails when he saw that Malik was asleep on the couch.

  Well damn.

  Now what?

  The guy was lying on his stomach, his ankles crossed, hugging a throw pillow under his head. Emilio’s lips parted as his breathing became choppy. Even in his sleep Malik seemed powerful, someone who should be spread out naked in front of a camera for the world to enjoy. The thought of others seeing Malik in such an intimate pose made Emilio grind his back teeth.

  Disappointed that his plan to get laid had failed, Emilio started to back out of the room when Malik cracked an eye open. Emilio shivered at the intense way the guy gazed at him. Malik opened his o
ther eye and simply stared at Emilio’s nakedness.

  Emilio licked his bottom lip, feeling like prey caught in headlights. He couldn’t seem to move or suck in a breath as Malik slowly pushed to a sitting position. Without breaking eye contact, Malik stretched, rocking his body from one side to the other while arching his arms over his head.

  Why wouldn’t he say anything? Why was he making Emilio feel so exposed?

  “Is it dinner time already?” Malik laid his hands over his stomach as he crossed his ankles. “Are you going to give me a dance as an appetizer?” He smirked, and Emilio’s confidence shattered.

  “Fuck you, you asshole.” Emilio turned to walk away, but before he made it to the hallway, an arm snaked around his waist.

  Malik pressed his hard chest against Emilio’s back. “You’re not prancing your naked, sexy ass in here, getting me hard as fuck, and then walking away,” he growled into Emilio’s ear. “Unless you get off on being a cock tease.”

  Emilio wanted to tell Malik to let him go. He wanted to be pissed that the guy would say something like that. But Malik’s closeness, his musky scent that filled Emilio’s lungs, and the possessive way he held him made Emilio’s thoughts scatter.

  “Well? What’s it gonna be?” Malik brushed his lips over the lobe of Emilio’s ear. “Are you giving yourself to me or just teasing me with that sexy body of yours?”

  Oh fuck. Emilio rested his head against Malik’s chest as Malik kissed his way down Emilio’s neck. Malik’s goatee tickled Emilio’s skin as he curled his hand around Emilio’s throat to keep his head still.

  Emilio’s heart and cock throbbed heavily as Malik used his other hand to fist Emilio’s dick.

  “Oh god,” Emilio whimpered.

  “You haven’t answered me,” Malik whispered into his ear. “Tell me I can bring you so much pleasure, mate.”

  Emilio’s heart thundered, and all his blood shot south when Malik turned him so they could face each other. Malik slid his hand to cup the back of Emilio’s head and inched forward slowly, as though giving Emilio enough time to pull away if he wanted to.

  The thought hadn’t even crossed his mind.

  Malik’s lips were soft and warm brushing over his as Emilio sucked in the man’s breath that skittered over his mouth. A moan escaped Emilio as need and desperation wrapped around him. His body sang with it as he clutched at Malik’s shirtfront, feasting at Malik’s lips.

  Malik walked them backward, taking the toe-curling kiss to the couch. They broke apart long enough for Malik to undress, and then he sat, pulling Emilio onto his lap. The feel of Malik’s powerful thighs underneath him as Emilio sucked on Malik’s neck, nipped his goatee, and chased after his lover’s lips was enough to make Emilio feel drunk on lust.

  Strong hands clamped down on Emilio’s hips, holding him in place. Malik’s hard cock sawed between Emilio’s ass cheeks. He hissed into his lover’s mouth.

  “Please…” Emilio panted.

  “Yes?” Malik smiled against Emilio’s lips.

  Emilio fought for the right words as Malik kissed down his throat, the hairs on his face scraping along Emilio’s skin as his hands glided up Emilio’s sides.

  The moment was intense, and all they’d done so far was kiss and pet. Emilio’s stomach clenched and rippled with anticipation and excitement. He wanted the thick cock, which was now trapped between his cheeks, to be trapped in his ass.

  But Malik seemed interested in Emilio’s collarbone as he swirled his tongue in the dip. Emilio tossed his head back, clinging to the man’s shoulders as a long, needful moan rumbled from his throat.

  His head shot up when Malik matched the sound, only it had been a purr that escaped him.

  A purr?

  Emilio blinked several times until his brain caught up and he remembered Malik was a lion shifter. His lover wouldn’t let him focus on that fact. He spun them and laid Emilio on his back.

  “Relax. You’re thinking too hard,” Malik murmured against Emilio’s skin as he licked and sucked his way down Emilio’s body.

  Emilio tensed and shivered, feeling as if his body would burst into flames. He’d never wanted someone this badly. Emilio felt as though he would cease to exist if Malik didn’t fuck him soon, if his lover didn’t release the mounting pressure in his balls.

  Malik teased his tongue around Emilio’s navel, torturing the shit out of him. “Now who’s the tease?”

  “I’m just making sure you’ll come back for more.” Malik winked as a devilish smile spread his lips. “I have to be thorough.”

  Emilio gritted his teeth. “Not with my belly button. Move. On.”

  The bastard rested his chin on Emilio’s stomach, smiling up at him as the head of Emilio’s cock tapped Malik’s jaw. “You can’t treat sex like skin slapping, a satisfying squirt, and a wet ass. There is so much more to the act.” He pressed a kiss against Emilio’s stomach. “Like watching your eyes glaze over as you anticipate what I’m going to do next.”

  Malik lifted his head and slid his tongue over the pre-cum leaking from Emilio’s cock. “Like wondering how long I can draw this out and if I can make you come without touching yourself.”

  Emilio glared down at him. “Or how long you can fuck with me before I get up, walk away, and finish this myself.”

  Malik rubbed his goatee across Emilio’s sensitive shin, causing him to shiver. “You wouldn’t do that, mate. You’re desperate for your pleasure to come from my body, my doing.”

  “You cocky bastard,” he ground out.

  But the son of a bitch was right, and Emilio hated that fact. He knew his orgasm would be pathetic if he simply jacked off. Malik’s body would make Emilio explode, and he was ready to beg his lover to prove it.

  But Emilio was being stubborn, and he didn’t know why. If he’d kept his mouth shut, Malik might’ve already been sucking his dick. Emilio curled his lips in.

  Humor sparkled in Malik’s green eyes. “You’re a fast learner, love.”

  “Shut up,” Emilio snarled.

  Malik growled playfully. “But not that bright. Resistance is futile, young grasshopper. I will teach you the art of sensual lovemaking.”

  Emilio stiffened. Fucking. That was all this was, no matter what Malik wanted to call it.

  And it was two people slapping skin, a squirt, and a wet ass. Emilio wouldn’t let it be anything else. His feelings would stay locked in his heart. He refused to fall for this charming man.

  “Fine, teach me,” he said, just to get Malik moving again.

  There was a glimmer of knowledge in Malik’s eyes, as though he knew what Emilio was thinking. His lover’s eyes became heavy-lidded. “Fight against it all you want, Emilio. You’re not gonna win.”

  Before he could spout off a protest, Malik sucked Emilio’s cock down his throat. Emilio gripped Malik’s dark hair in a stranglehold as he punched his hips upward and gave a guttural cry.

  “Oh fuck!” Emilio’s muscles quivered and bunched as Malik’s tongue ran up and down his cock. His firm hands cupped Emilio’s ass, kneading his flesh as he suckled the head.

  Emilio lost control of his body when Malik probed at his hole. He threw his head back and cried out Malik’s name as he exploded, his climax rocking him.

  When Emilio could breathe again, he looked down his body and saw Malik staring up at him with such intensity that Emilio felt owned by that one look.

  Malik crawled up Emilio’s body and fused their lips together, purring into Emilio’s mouth.

  In a moment of clarity, Emilio shoved at Malik’s chest. “Stop!”

  Malik backed off, gasping for breath and looking as though he was fighting for control. The tips of his canines were peeking out past his upper lip, and wildness filled his blazing green eyes as he knelt there panting.

  Emilio had felt himself falling into those magnificent eyes, and his vow of keeping this casual had been slipping. That terrified him. He didn’t want to fall for Malik. Emilio didn’t want to put that much trust in anyone.

/>   He swallowed a few times before he asked, “How would you bind me to you?”

  Malik looked as though the question hadn’t registered. He slowly blinked then finally said, “A bite.” He exhaled an unsteady breath. “I would bite your shoulder.”

  Emilio’s hand instinctively touched his shoulder. He shook his head. “No biting. Promise me.”

  Malik looked at him as though Emilio had sucker-punched him. He closed his eyes and rolled his shoulders, his thick cock still jutting between his legs. “I promise…this one time.”

  Satisfied that Malik was a man of his word, Emilio got up and went to his bedroom to retrieve the lube.

  When he turned, Malik was standing behind him. He grabbed the tube from Emilio’s hand and tossed it onto the bed. They fell backward, their limbs tangling as Malik kissed him with such hunger that it bordered on madness.

  Emilio spread his legs in invitation, fighting the deep connection he felt between them, fighting the overwhelming desperate need to belong to this powerful creature.

  Malik was beautiful in a masculine way. He exuded confidence and command. Who wouldn’t want to belong to him? But Emilio knew this would end like every relationship in his life had. He wasn’t going to be hurt again.

  He’d locked his heart behind a fortress and wouldn’t allow anyone to come near it.

  Malik distracted Emilio from his thoughts with a gentle hand that glided down Emilio’s chest. “What are you so afraid of, love? That I’m a shifter, that you think I’ll hurt you?”

  Emilio didn’t like the tender way Malik looked at him, as if he would offer Emilio the world if he had that power.

  “I…” Emilio squeezed his eyes shut. “Can we just have sex? No questions…please.”

  “No more questions,” Malik whispered as Emilio opened his eyes.

  He lubed his cock and drove deep into Emilio’s body. The pain/pleasure rocked Emilio to his core. He clung to Malik as his lover thrust hard and deep. Malik lifted one of Emilio’s legs and slung it over his arm while burying his face into Emilio’s neck.

  This couldn’t be happening. The harder Emilio fought to keep his emotions out of this, the more he felt something stirring inside him. That desperate need to belong to Malik was stronger and more powerful this time.