by Kim Dare
Liam swayed closer to the half open door.
“He might never have fallen in love with him in other circumstances,” Mr. Jenson added.
Liam forgot how to breathe. Words continued to flow on the other side of the door, but he could only give them half his attention.
“That’s all very well, but if you’ll excuse me saying so, talk is cheap,” Liam’s father cut in. “If he’s so besotted with our son, it seems to me that he’d be the one who turned up on our doorstep, not his butler.”
Mr. Jenson smiled slightly. “At this point, Mr. Corrigan’s main concern is that you and Liam have the best possible chance to rekindle your relationship. And, since he’s well aware that he may well not make the best first impression it seemed best to us that you met those who have had the benefit of seeing how he treats Liam before you are actually introduced to him.”
“Oh?” Liam had almost forgotten how skeptical his father was capable of sounding. If every muscle in his body wasn’t frozen into place, he might have smiled at the memories the reminder raised inside him.
“Vampires don’t share well,” Mrs. Jenson said. “Young Master Marcus would be quite content to keep them both locked up in this house and for Liam to never lay eyes on another human. He didn’t agree to Liam working at the shelter or meeting with you, for his own benefit. And after the way Ralph treated him, it might have been years before Liam felt healed enough to suggest contacting you himself.”
Mr. Jenson nodded as he took up the story again. “I think we can perhaps all agree that Mr. Corrigan is doing the right thing by trying to heal the rift that Mr. Bates’ prior boyfriend created between you. However, he is still a vampire. I can’t guarantee he’ll succeed in pretending he’s enjoying it…”
“Liam?”
Liam took a step back. Tearing his eyes away from the view through the doorway, he turned toward Marcus. The taller man had been standing right behind him.
Liam tilted his head back. Their eyes met, and Liam knew he wasn’t the only one who had heard every word.
Liam swallowed several times in quick succession. Marcus held out a hand to him, his expression as guarded as it usually was when he encountered one of the animals at the shelter. He didn’t look scared as such, just very aware that he was facing a creature that could react in very unexpected ways to his actions. Liam took one step forward and suddenly he was in the vampire’s embrace.
“I…Thank you.” Liam wrapped his arms around Marcus’ neck, hiding his face in his shoulder.
Marcus said nothing; he merely patted Liam’s back in that slightly awkward way he had.
“You don’t mind?” Liam asked after a few moments, his words suddenly tumbled out faster than he could control them. “You said vampires aren’t family people and—”
“That doesn’t mean I don’t want you to be,” Marcus cut in, his tone allowing no room for argument. “A master takes good care of his pet. He doesn’t let him lose touch with his family just because he had bad taste in men before they met.”
Liam smiled against the other man’s shirt. “I meant what I said last night. I really do love you,” he whispered, unable to keep the words back.
“Yes,” Marcus said, very simply.
Liam glanced up at him.
“And Jenson was right,” Marcus said, the words soft and obviously intended for his ears only. “I fell in love with you long before I ever managed to open my eyes.” His tone was still very calm, as if there wasn’t anything at all wondrous or magical about that fact, as if he wasn’t giving Liam something more precious than he’d ever expected to receive.
Liam closed his eyes for a moment, just letting the fact sink in. Love. Not the poor mockery of the word that he’d shared with Ralph. The real thing. His head spun with the knowledge. How the hell was he ever going to live up to being the kind of man Marcus deserved?
Opening his eyes, Liam tilted his head back farther, offering his lips to be kissed as a tiny moment of uncertainty took hold inside him. Marcus didn’t hesitate to offer him that kiss, he didn’t even pretend it was about anything other than reassurance either.
Liam’s smile was rueful when Marcus pulled away. “How come you were the one who was asleep for three years, and all you’ve done since waking up is sort out my life?” he asked. “I mean, I kiss you, you wake up, and you just get on with everything as if it’s the easiest thing in the world, and I…” Liam shook his head at himself.
“My problem was comparatively simple,” Marcus said. “One kiss was enough to solve it. But that doesn’t mean one kiss is enough to wake everyone up and end every nightmare.”
Liam blinked up at him.
“What else would you call the time you spent with Ralph?” Marcus asked. “I might have been the only one who was asleep, but you had your own nightmare to deal with.”
Liam looked down for a moment.
“That’s okay,” Marcus whispered to him. “One kiss doesn’t need to be enough to let you know that the nightmare is really over.”
Liam swallowed rapidly, the world around him becoming embarrassingly misty.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Marcus promised. “There’ll be as many kisses as you need.”
Tilting Liam’s head back, Marcus dipped his head and brought their lips together one more time. Liam sighed softly into the kiss and, very slowly, woke up just a little bit more.
About the Author
Kim Dare is a twenty-eight year old full time writer from Wales (UK).
First published in December 2008, Kim has since released over fifty BDSM erotic romances. That means that well over one hundred characters have chattered away inside her head during that time—and that’s not even taking into account the fact that there are over three times that number of people clamoring in the wings for a chance to tell their stories. It’s no wonder she loses track of what’s happening in the “real” world at times…
While Kim’s stories range over male/male, male/female and all kinds of ménage relationships and have included vampires, time travelers, shape-shifters and fairytale re-tellings, they all have three things in common—kink, love and a happy ending.
Kim loves to talk to her readers and can be found at www.kimdare.com.
Also Available from
Resplendence Publishing
Duck! by Kim Dare
Raised among humans, Ori Jones only discovered he was an avian shifter six months ago. Unable to complete a full shift until he reaches his avian maturity, he still can’t be sure of his exact species.
But with species comes rank, and rank is everything to the avians. When a partial shift allows the elders to announce that they believe Ori to be a rather ugly little duckling, he drops straight to the bottom rung of their hierarchy.
Life isn’t easy for Ori until he comes to the attention of a high ranking hawk shifter. Then the only question is, is Ori really a duck—and what will his new master think when the truth eventually comes out?
Mitch by Dakota Rebel
Baine Family Series, Book One
When mortal Bounty Hunter, Mitch Baine, decides to spend one night breaking all the rules with a sexy masked vampire, he has no idea that the stranger is Jarrod Axlerod, lead singer of the famous band Heartstrings, or that he will be contracted to kill Jarrod the very next day. Mitch has been trained to believe that the only good vampire is a dead on—a lesson cemented into his brain after years of killing them on contract for the US Army.
But his feelings toward the creatures begin to change after spending an incredible night at the masked ball. When he receives his newest contract, he is horrified to see that the vampire he has been hired to kill is none other than Jarrod Axlerod, the sexy vampire he has just broken every one of his personal rules with.
Ash Swan by Amber Kell and Stephani Hecht
Cob Brothers Series, Book One
When Prince Landon Cob sees Brian Dawson, he's not sure what to make of the bicycle courier with a pierced nose and green streaks in his hair, b
ut the man's gentleness in feeding the water fowl strikes a chord with him. In this story of Swan Prince meets Cinderfella, two men from different backgrounds have to find a way to counter magic and divergent lifestyles to find their happy ending.
In the Shadow of a Hero by Anna Mayle
A cop dies in the city, life goes on. For one little boy, though, it changed everything. Haunted by his past, Maxwell Thomas has grown up homeless and friendless, trapped by his guilt. Prowling the city, the small man guards the Church District like a vigilante, trying to make up for his crime. When he rescues the wrong rent boy, he is pulled back into the madness that destroyed him as a child. And now, another cop's life is on the line...
Nick Kenna is a beat cop with dreams of being a detective. When he stumbles across a murder and the very unusual suspect, he finds himself caught, not only by the mystery of the vagrant he's apprehended, but something deeper that sparks between them.
Will Nick be able to save Maxwell, from his past and himself? Or will love be lost as the broken man fades into the shadow of his hero?
The Mark of Cain by Cash Cole
After a night of hot sex with an elusive Native American, Gage is left with a bullet wound and a scarred shoulder from where a panther slashed him. The New Orleans police tell Gage that his lover morphing from man to beast is highly improbable and that whoever broke into his hotel room left no trace evidence, but Gage knows he hasn’t imagined any of this. He starts with the only clue he has, the name of a town in Oklahoma where his lover said he was born. But can he track down sexy Cain, who is in witness protection, before the assassins find and kill them both?
Possession by SW Vaughn
Devlin Island Series: Book One
Sully Shaw is one of three – a coven of gay male witches on Devlin Island, charged with protecting the place from the ancient gate between worlds, deep in the woods, that sometimes lets evil things escape. Sully’s job is to banish demons and spirits – which works for him, because after his last disastrous relationship, he’d rather not deal with people. Until a gorgeous stranger crashes on his private beach and needs his help.
Troy Landry was just out for a vacation, and maybe a fling, on Devlin Island. What he didn’t bargain for was crashing his boat on the beach, finding a hot naked man who claims to be a witch, and getting possessed by a demon who takes over his body when he falls asleep. The demon can’t be driven out until dawn – so Troy and Sully have to stay awake all night long. Lots of sex helps. But when they start falling for each other, incredible sex might not be enough to overcome Troy’s insecurities, Sully’s past trauma, and a demon bent on releasing its brethren and killing any mortal who stands in its way.
Moon Princess by Suzanne Graham
As Celina Maddock left the office on a Friday evening, her coworker jumped into her car and demanded she get on the highway and drive fast after their sizzling kiss in the parking lot. She never imagined she’d get the gorgeous Barrett Osborn ordering her around; however, when he starts talking about Shadows, werewolves, and werebears, she becomes a little worried about his mental health.
When Barrett’s lover, Stan Varka, offers his assistance in escaping the Shadows, Celina goes along with their strange story about shapeshifters, because finding herself the center of their attention becomes extremely erotic.
Once they’ve finished their night of playacting, Celina doesn’t think she could possibly have a future with these two amazing lovers¼until they convince her that she really is the Moon Princess and the only hope for establishing peace between the wolves and the bears.
Ryland’s Sacrifice by Kim Dare
Principles don’t pay tuition fees. When Ryland’s math scholarship disappears overnight, he has two choices. He can borrow money from fellow student Jason Burrows, who has very interesting ways of collecting debts. Or, he can volunteer to be thrown to the werelions.
One night spent playing the part of a willing human sacrifice will give him enough money to finish his PhD. It seems like a good deal-right up until the moment he finds himself naked, blindfolded, bound and surrounded by lions.
Mind F*cked by Mia Watts
Sage has the ability to read minds, but only in high passion moments when thoughts transmit at a higher frequency. But the gift is double-edged. Sage is inordinately handsome. Some might even say he’s a walking orgasm. So what’s a half-breed to do when every person he meets seems intent on seducing him, and how will he know if the man he chooses will love him for more than his looks?
Joe has never been the object of anyone’s lust before. Now Sage, the hottest guy he’s ever laid eyes on, has Joe starring in his sexual fantasies. It would be perfect if only Sage could shut up for one minute, and quit talking about his own hotness—or about how he can read minds.
Meanwhile, Joe and Sage must secure the last three Zodiac Stones and prevent their theft while they wait for exhibition. Can they put their sexual tension aside long enough to stop a clever thief? And even if they do, will Joe’s heart be a casualty of their inevitable fling, or could Sage really be looking for more than a one-night stand?
www.resplendencepublishing.com