Kelan’s Pursuit
Lavinia Lewis
Copyright Lavinia Lewis 2019
All Rights Reserved
This book is a work of fiction. All characters, places, and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.
License notes
This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. The book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of Lavinia Lewis.
Warning: This book contains material that some readers might find disturbing or objectionable and is intended for mature readers only.
Back Cover Information
During a trip to New York to visit his brother, werewolf Kelan Morgan is both surprised and delighted to find his destined mate in a bar.
Jake Bradfield is everything Kelan ever wanted in a mate.
But Jake is not a werewolf—he’s a human who was hurt in the past and has sworn off relationships.
Kelan works hard to convince Jake they have a future together, but just when his persistence is paying off, Jake is almost killed by a shifter with a grudge.
If Kelan wants the happy ending he always dreamed of, he must find the elusive culprit before he attacks again.
Reader Advisory: The events in this series follow chronologically so each book is best read in sequence as part of the series.
Chapter One
Jake looked down at his eager bed partner and desperately tried to remember his name.
Corey, was it?
The young man grinned up at Jake bashfully.
“Good one?” he asked in a small voice that was barely audible to Jake over his own breathing.
Jake tried to get himself under control. “Fuck yeah, that was incredible.”
Conway, maybe?
“You’re a fucking God.”
The smile on the man’s face grew and a deep crimson blush spread from his neck upwards until he looked like he was on fire with it.
“Thanks,” he said, his blush deepening.
His face was so red Jake thought the kid was about to combust.
Jake closed his eyes and felt the waves of sleep begin to wash over him. He reached a hand down and patted the guy’s shoulder.
“Just give me a minute to get my breath back and I’ll help you out, okay?”
“Uh, that’s okay. There’s no need.” His voice was still barely louder than a whisper.
Jake cocked one eye open and looked down to see the guy’s limp dick and the spatter of cum on his hip. Evidently, he’d shot when he’d been sucking Jake off. Oh well. Jake was ready for sleep to claim him anyway.
“Damn, you came!” Jake exclaimed, feigning disappointment.
The young man’s eyes widened, and his cock made an involuntary jerk as if starting to show renewed interest.
Jake sprang off the bed.
“Right, well I’d better clean up. I’ve got an early start tomorrow. You want me to call you a cab?”
The young man looked disappointed for a moment, but he covered it quickly. “No, that’s okay. There’ll be plenty outside.”
“Okay, cool.”
Jake got under the spray and soaped himself up, letting the lather carry away the smell of sex and sweat. The guy couldn’t be more than nineteen or twenty. He was cute as a button—not very good at giving head, but it was still better than having to use his own hand.
When Jake had finished in the bathroom, he went back into the bedroom to find his visitor fully dressed and hovering near the door.
“Oh, are you leaving already?” Jake climbed into bed. “Well, thanks, Casey, I’ll call you.”
“For the third time tonight, it’s Cary,” the man—Cary—said with a huff. “And don’t bother.”
He turned on his heel and stormed out, slamming the door loudly behind him.
A few minutes later, Jake heard the front door slam, too.
“Jeez,” he muttered.
Some men could be so sensitive.
What had he honestly been expecting?
They’d met in club and Jake figured it was a given that what was between them was only a casual encounter. He sighed then covered himself with the sheet. It wasn’t long before he fell into a deep, contented sleep.
Chapter Two
“I don’t need excuses, Andrew, I need results. I want those forms signed and on my desk first thing Monday morning, capiche?”
Jake ended the call then sat back in his expensive, black leather swivel chair. He felt a familiar tingling sensation deep in his gut. He loved the adrenaline rush he got when a deal was going his way.
He turned to gaze out at the twinkling lights of the Manhattan skyline. God, he loved this city. He’d moved to New York from Boston a few years ago after graduating with honors, and he was never going to leave. Where else could he live where the money was so good and the sex was essentially on tap?
He loved his life.
There was nowhere else in the world he’d rather be.
A smile crossed Jake’s lips as he dialed another number.
His friend picked up on the third ring.
“Tony, my man!” Jake made himself comfortable in his chair.
“Oh, hey Jake—listen, I can’t talk right now. I’ve got a ton of work on. Can I call you back?”
“Sure thing,” Jake said. “Before you go. Are you coming to Liberties tonight?”
“Liberties?” Tony said, sounding flustered. “Uh sure, all right, count me in.”
“Good man. Meet you there at eight.”
Jake hung up the call and smiled to himself.
Tony was the best wingman Jake could have asked for.
He knew Tony wouldn’t have let him down—he never had and likely never would. The nagging part of his brain reminded him that was because Tony was in love with him and had been for some time, but he quickly pushed the thought away.
Tony was a grown man, not some wet behind the ears kid.
He knew what he was doing.
If he didn’t want his friendship with Jake to continue, then he’d tell him so.
Jake frowned, hoping that would never happen.
He didn’t reciprocate Tony’s feelings, but the man was the best friend Jake had in the city—essentially the only friend he trusted enough to be in his life on a regular basis.
He didn’t like to let people in, and never let them get close enough to form friendships so most people never made it past a casual acquaintance.
It would suck to lose Tony.
Jake shook his head as he spun around in his chair to face his laptop and the pile of work that awaited him.
It wouldn’t come to that.
He was sure of it.
Tony was in his life to stay.
Chapter Three
Kelan knocked on the door to the top floor apartment and waited patiently for an answer.
He knew his brother and Stefan were inside—he could smell them—but they were sure taking their sweet time answering. A moment later a shirtless, flushed-faced Stefan opened the door and grinned broadly at him.
“Cody! Your brother’s here!” Stefan shouted over his shoulder.
Cody squeaked. “Just a minute!”
Heavy footsteps sounded on the parquet floor and a door slammed shut.
Stefan chuckled. “Come on in.”
Kelan nodded, took off his Stetson then strode past Stefan into the wide, open space of his brother’s loft-style apartment. He threw his bag down and took a seat on the large, L-shaped sofa.
“Hope I didn’t interrupt anything.”
Stefan shrugged. “Sorry, I guess the time got away with us. How was your flight?”
“Cramped. Next time I’m paying for the extra legroom. Damn seats weren’t built for anyone over six feet tall.”
Cody’s bedroom door opened, and his brother appeared, tucking a shirt into his jeans as he walked.
“Hey Kelan, you’re early.”
Kelan shook his head. “Actually, I’m thirty minutes late.”
“Oh.” Cody’s eyes widened and flickered to Stefan’s, then he shrugged and flopped down on the sofa next to Kelan. “How is everything at home?”
“Good. Slowly getting back to normal, anyway.”
“How’s Luke?”
“He and Mark are all over each other like a rash.”
When Kelan shuddered, Cody and Stefan barked out a laugh.
Cody shot a sideward glance at his mate. “That sounds about right.”
“Any luck in tracking down Rick’s brother, Nate?” Stefan asked.
Kelan heaved a sigh. “Yeah, I got hold of him finally. The man was working on a ranch in Montana. He didn’t even know about Rick’s death or the problems with the ranch.
“By the time he got home to Texas, he was too late to do anything. The bank had already foreclosed.”
Cody sighed. “Wow, that must have hit him hard.”
“It did. The man is broken. He blames himself for what happened.”
“Why? He’s not responsible for his brother’s actions.”
“I know. I tried telling him that, but he won’t listen to reason. Seems he and Rick had fallen a while ago out over money. They hadn’t spoken in nearly two years.
“I gave him a job on the ranch.”
Cody’s mouth curved up into a knowing smirk. “Kelan to the rescue, eh?”
Kelan shrugged. “You know I’m a sucker for a hard-luck story. Besides, he’s pack. Don’t matter that he’s been gone awhile. Speaking of… Are you all ready for the big move?”
Cody turned to look at his mate and smiled. “Yeah, actually, I’m looking forward to it. I love New York, but it isn’t going anywhere. And now that I have Stefan, I’m ready to come home and start my new life.
“Besides, I missed the wide-open spaces. It’s near on impossible to find anywhere big enough here to hunt.”
Kelan grinned. “I bet. Can’t be many rabbits roaming the streets of New York. All joking aside though, it’ll be good to have you home. Luke’s beside himself.
“He’s been trying to get the place cleaned up and shipshape ready for when you get home so he’s been bossing Mark around for days.”
Cody let out a throaty chuckle. “I can imagine. Poor Mark.”
Kelan glanced around the apartment that he’d been roped into helping his brother pack up ready for the big move home.
“What do you want me to do first?”
“Why don’t you take it easy tonight?” Cody suggested. “Stefan and I have to go out later to meet with my agent, Tom, and his new boyfriend—unless you want to come with us.”
“No, it’s okay. I might go out for a drink myself while I’m here—make the most of it. Anywhere you’d recommend?”
Cody pursed his lips and his eyes twinkled with mischief. “Sure. Now that I know of your, um, preference for members of the same sex, I know of the perfect place. It’s called Liberties. Wall to wall men. You’ll love it.”
Stefan let out a growl of disapproval, but both Cody and Kelan ignored it.
Kelan nodded, his mind made up. “Sold.”
He had been so busy dealing with all the discord in the pack that it had been a few months since he’d gone to a gay bar—or a bar of any description for that matter. Where he was from, the only action he seemed to get was with rough and ready cowboys. Not that he was complaining. Any action was better than none, but it would make a nice change to get his rocks off with a suited and booted New York business type.
He could hardly wait.
Chapter Four
Jake glanced around the busy room, subtly eyeing the talent.
Liberties was his favorite gay bar in New York—although tonight, he had to admit, the pickings were slim. The only men in there that he found even remotely attractive, he’d either already slept with or weren’t to his liking.
Crap.
He caught the eye of a tall, muscular man stood nursing a beer at the bar. The guy smiled at Jake in an almost predatory manner, a wicked glint lighting up his dark blue eyes, which were just visible under the wide brim of his cowboy hat.
You didn’t see many of those in New York.
Jake allowed himself a brief moment of perusal then quickly turned away.
The guy was hot, without a doubt. He was around thirty—Jake’s own age—and he was built. Jake had no doubt a man like that would want to top and Jake never gave up control—ever. But something about the man intrigued him, and he found his gaze drifting to those dark eyes once again.
“Hey, Jake. Sorry I’m late. My boss cornered me on my way out of the office and kept me talking for an age, so I was late getting back to my apartment.”
Jake acknowledged his friend’s greeting with a barely-there shrug. “It’s okay, don’t worry about it.”
For the second time, he stole his eyes away from the gorgeous man at the bar and continued to eye the room. Damn, the last thing he felt like doing was going home alone.
He turned to Tony and leaned in to whisper in his friend’s ear.
“Do you want to go back to my place to have some fun tonight?”
Tony appeared to consider the question, but Jake was fairly sure his friend wouldn’t turn him down. He and Tony had been friends for a long time, since they’d interned at the same office, and they used to have something of an arrangement. However, Jake had put a stop to their fooling around several months ago when Tony had appeared to be developing feelings for him outside of their ‘friends with benefits’ relationship.
Jake was not the settling down type.
Still, needs must.
Tony raised an eyebrow, then his face broke into a wide, impish grin.
“Sure, why not? It has been a while.”
Jake knocked back the rest of his scotch then grabbed Tony’s arm, heading for the door. Tony groaned good-naturedly but followed in his wake.
“Don’t I even get to have one drink? I’ve been working like a dog all day.”
“There’s booze at my place,” Jake informed him. “You can drink all you want there.”
They had almost made it to the door when someone got a firm hold of Jake’s arm and yanked him away to the side. He turned to face the man who had grabbed him and was about to tell the loser to get lost when his gaze locked on the most beautiful dark blue eyes he had ever seen.
It was the mountain of a man from the bar.
Up close, the guy was stunning. He had to be at least six foot four. At five-ten, Jake was not a small man, but he had to crane his neck to look up at this god. He was mesmerized.
The guy’s broad shoulders led down to strong, powerful arms and a chest and stomach to die for.
Jake’s eyes traveled lower.
The man’s button-down shirt was tucked into a pair of tight, black denim jeans which accentuated his very large package. Jake’s mouth watered at the sight.
He could do nothing but stare.
The man kept hold of Jake’s arm and looked down at him as if he wanted to devour him. He raised an eyebrow and one side of his mouth lifted into a sexy grin.
“Howdy. Are you leaving already?”
“I…”
The man’s grin grew wider, teasing.
“
Good to know I leave you speechless. Come, let me buy you a drink.”
Was that a Texan drawl?
Wherever the guy was from, he had Jake practically panting. As the man started to pull him toward the bar, all thought of Tony fled from his mind.
He started to follow the man until Tony’s words cut into his trance.
“Jake. What the hell? I thought we were leaving.”
The man turned around and literally growled at Tony.
The sound sent a shiver of excitement through Jake’s body but at the same time alarm bells went off in his head.
That noise reminded him of something—or someone.
“He ain’t leaving here with anyone but me. Go and find someone else to play with tonight.”
Okay, Jake should have been pissed by the man’s words but there was something about his possessive tone that Jake found entrancing. He’d never been good at taking orders, but he suspected that for this man, he might make an exception.
Tony’s mouth fell open and he stared at the man in shock.
“I…”
Jake was pleased he wasn’t the only one left without the ability to form a coherent sentence in the man’s presence. Tony scrunched his eyebrows together and turned to Jake once more.
Tony’s gaze sought clarification. “Jake?”
The feel of the man’s hand on his arm, warm and insistent was what made up Jake’s mind.
“Look, Tony, I’m sorry. I’m gonna stay. I’ll catch you later, okay?”
Tony stared at Jake for a beat, uncomprehending at first, and then a look of sad understanding covered his face like a mask.
He shook his head, turned on his heel then stormed out of the bar.
Great, Jake would have some serious crawling to do tomorrow to make it up to Tony. He couldn’t blame the man for being upset.
That had been harsh, even by Jake’s standards.
Actually…
He turned, glaring at the man who still had a hold of his arm.
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