by T. L. Reeve
Blackmailed
A Leaving the Past Behind Novella
TL Reeve and Michele Ryan
Jefferson Winters doesn’t broadcast his relationships. In fact, after his wife’s tragic death, he hadn’t shared his bed with another woman. However, that all changed the night of the auction raid when Jochi Zhao claimed him.
As the trial for Holly Geithner begins, Jefferson is approached with a proposal to help save the senators who facilitated the auction—vote down the censure and expulsion motions or have his life exposed.
Jochi Zhao knew this moment was coming. For the last year he’d been methodically planning Jefferson’s departure from congress. However, neither of them were expecting to be blackmailed.
Now, Jefferson must choose between doing what is right—voting yes on the censure and expulsion along with testifying against Holly Geithner—or voting no, allowing PBH and those responsible to go free and begin anew.
Decisions will be made, and traps will be set. Will Jefferson keep his promises whispered in secret or will he turn his back on the community and his family to keep from exposing the man he loves?
Blackmailed
Leaving the Past Behind, Book Four
Copyright © 2019 by TL Reeve & Michele Ryan
First E-book Publication: November 2019
Cover design by Cover by K Designs
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of R2R Publishing.
This book is a work of fiction. Any similarity to actual persons, living or dead, locales, or events is wholly coincidental. The names, characters, dialogue, and events in this book are from the author’s imagination and should not to be construed as real.
Manufactured in the USA.
Author Note
Dear Readers,
Fuck Cancer, amirite?
Too many times this ugly disease has taken loved ones from us. For Michele and me, lung cancer took her father and my uncle in the same year. For me, it’s taken my grandfather, my great-aunt, my maternal grandfather, before I was born. And, I too, have had a few scary moments with cancer.
When we wrote Jefferson and Jochi’s short, Secrets, we already knew what happened to Jefferson’s wife, Susanne. Charisma explained it some in Caden, but again, cancer steals everything from a person and their family. So, when Jochi makes Jefferson an offer, he isn’t in a good place. He still hasn’t gotten over his wife’s death. He hasn’t dated. He works himself to death and, above all, he’s lonely.
One night changed everything for Jochi and Jefferson.
We hope you enjoy Blackmail and know we took a light hand when it came to Susanne’s cancer and her death. We wanted this to be a celebration of life and a rebirth of sorts for Jefferson. The one thing, I know to the bottom of my soul is that Jefferson loved his wife. Every scene I wrote, it was at the forefront of my mind. So, I have no doubt she will always be a big part of their lives forever.
If you would like to keep up with mine and Michele’s new releases and have fun in our group, you can do so here: www.facebook.com/groups/RandRravingreaders/ or you can also join our newsletter here: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/x5h9k3
Until next time,
TL and Michele
Prologue
Fall 2032
One year ago...
Jochi turned the handle and stepped inside. As usual, the office was dark with the exception of a small table lamp illuminating Jefferson’s desk. No matter, Jochi could see just fine. His superior vision helped. He took a moment to remove the shoes he wore, then placed them beside the long couch against the wall to his left. He then silently turned the latch, locking them inside. Jefferson continued to work, waiting for the phone call that wouldn’t come. He’d tell Winters himself.
The man ran his fingers through his hair, causing it to stick up in odd angles. The salt and pepper strands were getting long. Jochi liked it, it gave him a boyish appeal. The blue tie around his neck lay at an angle, loosened from its stringent knot. The open top button of his shirt revealed a hint of Jefferson’s toned, tan skin. They were a study of contrasts. Where Jochi was willowy thin, the senator had been thick, muscular for his age. Jochi had emerald green eyes while Jefferson’s were grey. Both men exuded power, yet Jochi knew his had more to do with sex and sexuality. He could bring any man or woman to their knees; however, the only one who mattered sat at his desk, waiting for word.
This mission had kept both of them on edge. The Rafertys had sent a team to Boston to ferret the remaining Geithner out of hiding and finally shut down PBH once and for all. One of the members of the unit was Charisma Winters, eldest daughter of the senator.
Jefferson glanced up at him. His grey eyes squinted through the light. “Janice, are you still here? I thought you would have gone home hours ago.”
He didn’t say anything. Jochi took his time crossing to the desk.
“Oh...” Jefferson cleared his throat. “Pardon me. Is there something I can do for you? Are you lost?”
Jochi gave a soft chuckle. He stuck to the shadows as he came around the desk to the senator’s side. The clean scent of his arousal filled Jochi’s senses. It was crisp, like autumn, and spicy. His mouth watered and his dick twitched underneath the tight confines of his dress.
“Silly old man.” Jochi turned Jefferson’s chair then sat on his lap. The length of the senator’s erection pressed to his hip. Long and thick, just as he imagined it would be. He bit back a moan of pleasure.
“S-Sloan? What is the meaning of this?” Jefferson stared at him, a little too wide-eyed for his liking. His cock didn’t soften.
Jochi hissed. “Say my name. My real name.”
“This is wholly inappropriate. We shouldn’t...you shouldn’t.”
“Inappropriate?” Jochi giggled, pulling at the sash holding the dress he wore together. “I smelled you across the room, Jefferson. You’re aroused. You saw me and instantly wanted to fuck me.” The garment fell over the senator’s lap before he removed the binding covering his groin. He groaned. It felt good to take that contraption off. “Well, here I am. Naked and ready for you.”
Jochi reached between his spread thighs and palmed his dick. He was wet, the crest of his cock covered in pre-cum, a byproduct of finding his mate. Unlike the wolves, who found relief when fucking through the full moon cycle by knotting their mates, felines followed the cycle of their female or, in his case, male mates.
Heat began and ended either when their female became pregnant or if it didn’t take, when menstruation began. For the males who enjoyed the flesh of another man, heat was permanent. There was no end. The incessant, clawing need that drove him to the brink would be a constant companion.
Which made what they were about to do very dangerous.
“We can’t do this. Do you know how inappropriate it is?” Jefferson sputtered. “We could get caught.”
“I locked the door, bèndàn.”
“Jochi,” Jefferson groaned. “I can’t.”
He placed his finger under the senator’s chin. “Why? You want me and, as you see, I want you. It’s simple.”
Jefferson removed him from his lap. When Jochi stood the dress fell to the floor, giving the senator a good look at his flawless body. He didn’t have any excess muscles, or hard lines. He liked the idea he was soft yet powerful, a genetic enhancement from his snow leopard.
“I’m straight.” Jefferson scrubbed his face. “I’m always hard. Have been since...” He shook his head and sighed.
“You wanted me when you thought I was a woman. I can give you the best of both wor
lds, if you allow me.”
Winters stood and crossed to the window overlooking Washington D.C. “It’s a reaction. Nothing more.”
“Did you know I’m a snow leopard?” Jochi came up behind him, wrapping his arms around the senator’s waist.
Jefferson snorted. “No. You’re good. I’ll give you that much.”
“Then you know a shifter’s ability to scent lies, truths, and their mate is absolute.” He knew convincing the senator would be hard. A man who’d spent the majority of his adult life with a wife and daughters wouldn’t easily acquiesce to a male who claimed to be his mate.
“I’ve seen it with my daughters.”
Jochi smirked. So stubborn. “Then I’ll make you a deal. Right here, right now. I will go to my knees and take you into my mouth. If you go soft we’ll stop, and I’ll know it’s my feline hormones out of whack due to the auction takedown. I’ll transfer out of your office so as not to make this an uncomfortable working environment as well.”
Jefferson’s body tensed. “Jochi... I’m fifty-five years old. I’m not some horny teenager anymore.”
He laughed. “When I’m finished with you, bèndàn, you’ll stop aging. Your life will match mine.”
“Now I know you’re lying.” Jefferson grunted.
“Am I? Have you seen your daughters? Do they appear older?” Jochi slipped under Jefferson’s arm to stand in front of him. “I’ll never lie to you.”
****
Jefferson couldn’t believe he was contemplating, let alone doing, this. Jochi went to his knees before him. His emerald gaze was glued to his grey eyes. The man had been right. When Jochi first walked into the room, he had thought about fucking her, but it was all a reaction. A need to find some relief after years of being celibate.
He hadn’t realized he’d gone so long without someone warming his bed until Jochi sat on his lap. If he’d been a woman Jefferson would have pounced, taking what was clearly offered. What did it say about him? What did it say about his morals? His code of ethics? He prided himself on not creating scandals and being the “clean” senator from Arizona. Now, as Jochi pulled his zipper down, Jefferson shot his whole image to hell.
Nevertheless, Jochi gave him a way out. If he went soft, the snow leopard would leave. No one would ever know a man tried to suck his dick. Yes, Jefferson could do this. He’d wait for his erection to flag then he’d pull out. Jefferson threaded his fingers through Jochi’s hair as he nuzzled Jefferson’s hard cock. A strangled moan passed his lips. He’d never made a sound like that before.
Jochi licked the crest and Jefferson’s ass clenched. He couldn’t believe how close he already was to coming. He watched in fascination as clear fluid dribbled from his slit, and his shaft twitched. Jochi ran his tongue across it, gathering up the pre-cum. He moaned, digging his fingers into the snow leopard’s hair to urge him forward. He’d come up with excuses for why this was happening later.
Why it felt good.
Why he got harder instead of softer.
Why he wanted to ram his cock down Jochi’s throat and unload on him.
“Jochi...we shouldn’t.”
“Shh,” he murmured. “I’ve got you.”
He took the tip of Jefferson’s cock into his mouth and hummed. The vibrations skittered along his length and settled in his balls. Stars burst in front Jefferson’s eyes. Pure electricity flowed through his veins. His heart hammered, and his knees were weak. He let go of Jochi’s hair and instead pressed his palm to the back of the man’s head, needing him to take more.
Jochi stared up at him as he swallowed Jefferson’s cock an inch at a time. His gut clenched. The tingle of his impending climax settled in his balls. He tried to hold back. Control this before it got out of control.
Clearly, he was out of his element.
A muffled curse spilled from his lips as his release pumped from his shaft. All it had taken was one stroke of the man’s mouth and he came. He held the man to him while he continued to pulse and twitch. He’d never cum this hard, and yet he was still hard. Even when he gave a soft whimper of pleasure as the last of orgasm passed, he felt just as excited and horny.
Like he’d never had Jochi’s mouth on him.
Like he never came.
He glanced down. Jochi had his dick in hand, stroking himself. The pearly white fluid spilling from his tip had a thrill racing down his spine and, if it were possible, the treacherous flesh between his legs grew harder.
Jochi pulled off of him. “It’s okay, Jefferson.” His tone was soothing. “Cum as much as you want as often as you want. I can take it.”
But, could Jefferson?
One time had stolen his ability to think and reason. One time, and he questioned everything he knew about himself. He needed to sit down. He needed a minute to think this through. He could continue to tell himself it’d been a biological reaction to not having sex or receiving oral; however, a small part of him enjoyed it.
He sat down in his chair, his hard dick hanging out of his pants. The visual of Jochi naked on his knees in front of him made his cock jerk and another bead of pre-cum form.
He groaned in frustration.
“Would you like me to suck you off again?” Jochi crawled to him. His round ass high, his erection bobbed between his legs.
“No... Yes.” He cursed again.
Jochi smiled at him. He wasn’t mocking Jefferson. The indulging grin eased some of the anxiety creeping in at the edges. “Would you like to fuck me, Senator?”
Jefferson sputtered. His cheeks grew heated. His shaft gave a hardy jerk of approval. “Jochi...”
“Watch.” Jochi used his mouth to wet two of his fingers, then he bent forward. He rubbed and teased his rear before shoving both digits inside him.
Jefferson’s breath hitched. The man fucked himself, scissoring open his hole, he realized, to accommodate Jefferson’s cock. The sounds Jochi made turned him on and he took his length into his hand and stroked. When Jochi had three fingers in his rear, he gave a low yowl. The pulse of his release caught Jefferson by surprise, but not as much as the cum erupting from his tip.
Still, he didn’t soften.
Jochi climbed onto his lap while he continued to throb, and fit the head of Jefferson’s cock to his hole. Inch by inch he filled the snow leopard, while pumping the remnants of his release into him at the same time. A renewed sense of urgency filled his gut. As though he couldn’t get enough of Jochi. Or couldn’t put enough of his seed inside him.
It was weird, to say the least.
The man kissed Jefferson, the taste of his cum still on Jochi’s tongue. He groaned, deepening the kiss while guiding the man over him. His ass was hot and tight. The way he clenched on Jefferson made his head spin. Nothing could compare to this. The guilt of even thinking such would come later.
Jochi removed his tie, then opened Jefferson’s shirt. He splayed his hands across his chest and the senator could have sworn the man purred. He leaned forward, kissing and nipping Jefferson’s flesh, sending sparks of bliss straight to his groin. After two mind-bending orgasms, he gained some control over his body. He allowed himself to sink into the sensations streaking through him.
“I’m going to cum on your chest and belly then rub it in with my tip. You’ll wear my mark all night. You’ll smell me and know your dick will never go down.” Jochi groaned. “You’ll seek me out, Jefferson. You’ll beg to fuck me anywhere and everywhere. And I’ll bend over for you. I’ll give you my mouth and my ass to ease the burn. To ease the uncontrollable need to fuck.”
Shit. Jochi needed to stop talking. He could already feel his climax building. The churn of something pleasurable and painful was building within him. His hands tingled. So did his chest and face. He’d swear he was having a heart attack if it didn’t feel so fucking good. He chased it, flexing his hips so he could get deeper inside Jochi. His spine tingled. His eyes shut.
Jochi’s fingernails dug into his shoulders for purchase. His lips were inches from Jefferson’s ear
as he whispered, “Later tonight, when you’re in bed alone, your dick so hard it hurts—your balls tight heavy knots, I want you to stroke yourself and say my name when you cum on your sheets.”
“Fuck, gonna cum.”
“Give it to me. Give it to your mate.” Jochi latched onto Jefferson’s neck and bit down. Hard.
Jefferson came with a roar. He strained under Jochi, trying to shove deep and hold himself there as jet after jet of his cum filled the snow leopard. Warm, wetness seared his skin moments later. Jochi gave a strangled cry and his ass cinched up on Jefferson, causing him to spill more of his seed.
He didn’t know how long they sat there, caught in this repetitive cycle of Jochi clenching around him and him pulsing within. But, when they finished, Jefferson’s cock finally began to soften. Yet, he didn’t pull out. He let out a shuddered breath and moaned. “Can’t move. Can’t feel my face.”
Jochi grinned up at him. “Same.”
“I’m a mess.”
“Mentally or physically?”
Jefferson chuckled, and a stream of his release rolled down his cock. He jerked inside of Jochi. Son of a bitch, I shouldn’t enjoy that as much as I am. “Both.”
“I understand.” Jochi kissed his cheek. “It won’t be easy, bèndàn. It will be worth it, in the end.”
“I already am in the end.” He flexed his hips and muttered, “Now I’m making crude jokes. What the fuck is wrong with me?”
Jochi tucked his bottom lip between his teeth. Amusement glittered in his bright green eyes. “You’re a mate. You’re my mate.”
“Yes, I suppose I am. You marked me anyway.”
Jochi growled. “It looks good on you. Makes me horny.” To prove his point, he began to rock on Jefferson’s lap.
He should have stayed soft. Shouldn’t have been able to go another round; however, with each roll of Jochi’s hips, he grew harder. Lust clawed at his groin, making him thickened to the point of pain. He held onto the snow leopard this time, allowing him to do all the work.