by J P Sayle
He rolled on to Stuart squishing the cooling cum into his skin as he lifted his mouth, not caring about the mess he was creating between them. Inches from Stuart’s mouth he grinned like a loon. “It was always going to be my home the minute you opened the door to me all those weeks ago, because a man several years ago in London had already captured my soul.”
Stuart seemed to have lost his eyebrows as they shot up his forehead. Giggling Joe squirmed before going on. “You saw me when you stopped. I mean you really saw me, I felt it.” Joe shrugged at Stuart’s startled expression. “We just needed to find each other again. You will always be my home. I just needed to find you again. Joel may have been the absolute bane of my life, but look what he gave me, you. ”
Stuart’s stunned face had emotions swell inside Joe choking him into releasing a wet giggle as he bit his lip. Should he have mentioned it before? He’d been convinced Stuart had forgotten when he’d never mentioned it, but now something told him that Stuart hadn’t forgotten him either.
Stuart yanked him down peppering him with kisses punctuating them with words of love. Only stopping when Joe became breathless, the world spinning around him he took a minute to remember this feeling.
“I love you and you are my home, now and always, Joe. Come on, let’s go celebrate.” Stuart’s excitement sparkled between them like a rainbow just after a heavy shower, it glowed the power making him believe everything would be fine.
Joe righted himself as Stuart yanked out of the bed, his body fully on board with the thought of round two in the bathroom shower. He followed behind Stuart’s swaying hips he took pleasure in the moment, if this moment was all anyone ever had then he was going to live it fully, now and always.
His last thought as he moved quickly, his eyes gleaming when he heard the shower turn on, oh yes he could definitely live in this moment forever and ever when it meant his destiny had collided with his past in the best possible way.
Princess
Her side still bothered her much to her disgust. It, for some reason hadn’t completely healed yet, but nobody was going to tell her she couldn’t go and spy, well not exactly spy but check up on Stuart and Joe. She had sensed their discord the minute Stuart had entered her home. The feeling of unhappiness when Stuart had looked at Joe saddened her, making her worry about what had happened.
She couldn’t understand what had gone wrong when they had been all but sorted before she got shot. Max the brute wouldn’t talk about what had happened. In fact, his silence had driven her to distraction, well that and his insistence on not leaving her side.
Shrugging him off was harder said than done. The feeling something had happened while she had been out of it made her wary of asking too many questions where Max was concerned. Something had changed between them, though as yet, she hadn’t figured out what. Her mother’s silence was telling so she chose to ignore it.
Princess perched on the window ledge, nudging her wet nose against the glass trying to get a closer look inside the bedroom. Pleased they had forgotten to close the curtains so she could see everything. Okay, maybe not everything but they definitely looked smoking hot together. Even if she had struggled to climb the tree and follow them upstairs, it had been worth the pain.
Movement distracted her from the pain, her whiskers twitched as she watched Joe and Stuart finally make their bond snap into place. The connection visible as she felt the slight pull in her chest as their auras hummed and pulsed a second before turning blinding white. Preening at her success, she missed the sound behind her.
A loud growl had her hackles rising fast, knowing exactly who was behind her did not stop her tiny heart from racing. Balanced on the small ledge Princess clung on, ignoring Max. She pretended to be focused on what was happening on the other side of the window. Praying Max didn’t come any closer. She lost sight of Joe and Stuart a few seconds later.
The second growl sounded louder and closer. Peering over her shoulder she could see Max stalking closer across the balcony. Crap, the angry expression doing nothing to calm her. Sidling back the way she came, avoiding getting any closer to Max. Princess dived off the building too quickly the chuff loud as she landed heavily, hurting her side.
The throbbing slowed her down as she tried to make a quick getaway. Princess knew she was out of luck the instant she turned the corner to head to the street. Feeling the heat at her back a second before teeth sunk into her scruff of her neck. Max took her to the ground, his weight making it impossible to move.
Growling a warning as he moved more his bulk on to her tiny body, what the hell? Panic had her yowling, trying to claw at him. The loud purr in her ear made her still, it appeared Max was enjoying her spirited play. Not wanting to give in she settled down, hoping to lull him into a false sense of security. Two could play this came.
Max
Max purred as he settled his weight more firmly onto Princess, her smell intoxicating him. The urge to lick had him grinding his teeth into her neck. The connection he had formed was easy to see, but the little minx was fighting it all the way. Sighing, he knew he was in trouble if he gave in, she would walk right over the top of him.
He felt her go compliant under him, his whiskers twitched as he dropped his guard and released his grip. The sudden movement had him lying on his back stunned she had been able to move him off her so fast. Looking at her retreating ass, he groaned in distress when his body got ready to mate. Oh hell.
His bi-coloured eyes gleamed as he watched her tiny hips sway as she climbed up the steps to her home. The last quick flick of her nose in the air had pleasure coursing through his large bulk. Game on.
The End.
Why did one touch from a man he didn’t know leave him reeling with a sense of knowing? A man—or was he a warrior?—who carries a heavy responsibility. Could Aaden share the burden with Greg so they could finally right a wrong?
Greg Kelly was stuck in a rut: in a relationship with a man who treated him like a booty call. A realisation with profound consequences left him floundering.
Until fate steps in with Aaden.
Aaden’s need to right the wrongs of the past release him to find a new beginning he never knew he wanted.
Aaden’s ability to see past the peculiar is what his soul has been searching for.
Aaden shows him that truth and honour are what make him a man to keep for eternity.
But Greg learns that even when things are meant to be, fate can interfere. A boyfriend, a kidnapping, a hidden soul and a sexual connection casts Greg into a world of make believe. Can he trust in what Aaden feels for him and allow two lost souls to reunite?
Searching for a Soul to Love is the fourth book in the Manx Cat Guardian Series, these books are not standalones, and this book links directly to Where it all Began. They should be read in order to gain the background. It is an MM romance, with soulmate connections, slow burn, steamy scenes, and ancient paranormal cats that like to interfere. This book has a HEA.
Trigger Warning: There are some scenes of violence.
For those of you that have found and lost love, life has a way of giving back what was lost, once you accept the fear and let go, trusting the universe.
To my family and friends who have supported me. The love I feel for you guys is unmeasurable in time and space. Your continued support makes my heart sing and dance with joy.
Bobster, my rock, my own soulmate, may the next twenty-five years bring all our dreams to reality.
Mandy, I love you.
Mum and Dad, you may be gone, but you’re never forgotten.
To those who have taken a chance and read my books, you have my unwavering thanks. I hope I give you a little of light relief from your everyday lives.
Jody Richey, as promised, my lovely, I hope this truly is a birthday gift you enjoy. Aaden & Greg have been waiting patiently for you ☺
Lastly to Tanja, yet again, you gave me a gift that is truly beyond measure. I can’t wait to meet you in 2019
Ellie Goulding
, Halycon Days
Song Lyrics – My Blood.
This song really captured the emotions and the reality for me of Magnus’s pain and endurance. I hope you take the time to listen to Ellie’s song and feel the emotions that she created that allowed my characters to come to life.
“The lost dreams are buried in my sleep for him
And this was the ecstasy of a love forgotten
And I’m thrown in the gunfire of empty bullets
And my blood is all I see
As you steal my soul from me”
Max
August 1998
Max felt Aaden sink into sleep as children do, dropping like a stone. Aaden barely stirred as Max contemplated how to handle things. He understood a child’s mind was broader, easier at accepting the strange and different things the world had to offer.
His original plans had been scuppered by rushing to imbue King Óláfr’s soul into Aaden’s. It had been a risk he’d taken when he’d recognised Aaden as the actual recipient of the soul he’d protected for centuries. The urge to offload his burden had been too much to resist.
Now Aaden was paying the price. Feeling King Óláfr’s pull stronger tonight, he’d been compelled to go to Aaden to alleviate his confusion. He wasn’t entirely sure Aaden was ready for what he needed to explain.
Worrying his whiskers, he prayed Aaden didn’t do or say anything stupid, like telling people he could talk to cats. Some of the previous owners had done just that, and none had understood his purpose when he’d tried to explain it. His chest rumbled with the hope Aaden would be different.
Max shifted his vast bulk, getting comfortable on the narrow single bed. Resting his head down, he yearned for this to be the end of his very, very long journey. He paid no attention to the voices in his head telling him not to count his chickens, just yet. Instead, he closed his eyes, resting his head on Aaden’s chest, listening to the solid drumming heartbeat.
His mind drifted.
Tomorrow was another day.
Max stirred, feeling Aaden’s mind start to waken. The memories of the night before still hung between them. Max took a hard look at Aaden, praying that this would be the final time that he could put an end to the hundreds of years of failure.
Am I trying to convince myself something is different this time? The time he’d spent stewing overnight on the past made him wonder if he’d really felt a difference this time. No, I did. By the God Njord and the Goddess Freyja, I did. It was different this time. He may not know why, but his senses alerted him to something that had him anticipating the coming years when Aaden would become a man.
Feeling warm hands stroke down his back, digging in just hard enough to make him purr in pleasure, he arched under Aaden’s large hands, forgetting his worries.
He recognised it was time for their conversation, for him to explain some of his purposes. Shifting under the warm hands, he looked directly into Aaden’s dark eyes, eyes that reminded him so much of Óláfr’s. The urge to tell him everything, as he’d never done with Óláfr or the others, hit him right in the solar plexus and made him mewl in distress.
Aaden’s large body started. Sitting up far too quickly, he dislodged the warm duvet under Max, propelling him towards the floor. He landed in an unexpected heap, and the loud disgruntled meow had laughing dark eyes peering over the side of the bed, just as giggles erupted from across the room.
Disgruntled, Max got up, shaking off the stinky T-shirt covered in semen now stuck to his behind, shuddering in disgust when the scent clung to his fur. He glowered up at Aaden’s broad-grinning face, purposely ignoring Nick in the opposite bed.
“You need to be mindful, young man, if you don’t want me dragging that dirty T-shirt over to your brother.” Max stuck his nose in the air with a happy smirk when Aaden gave him an alarmed look a second before he cast a wary look at Nick. Max felt like patting himself on his back when he noticed that Aaden’s thoughts were calm and he had no urge to go running from the room screaming for his parents.
He took all this as a positive sign. He jumped back up on the bed next to Aaden, gracefully curling into a comfortable position so he could clean his fur. Hoping he was acting nonchalant. So as not freak out Aaden, Max spoke softly.
“When Nick goes to school, we can talk privately. I’m sure you have the urge to speak out loud. That happens a lot to begin with. But don’t worry, it wears off pretty quickly. I’ll answer all your questions, and remember you are not going mad. I promise.” Keeping his gaze on Aaden, he watched for any signs of a freak-out, not entirely convinced it wouldn’t happen at any moment.
“Okay.” Aaden’s broad shoulders shrugged. “I’ll try not to talk out loud. But you gotta promise to answer all my questions.”
He gave a nod in acquiescence, though he wasn’t sure Aaden would be quite ready for everything, even when he could sense the excitement leaking through their link. Max couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across his face, making his whiskers twitch with his own delight.
Yes, yes, he felt it again as he watched Aaden busy himself getting dressed and play-fight with his brother. It was different, and by the Goddess Freyja, he hoped this would be the last time he would have to endure failure.
Max
2017
The Isle of Mann
Max strained to contain his yowl at being kept caged inside the van, but it would appear these cretins on the boat did not allow cats to roam, only foolish dogs. Meowing loudly, he opened his link and was tempted to teleport, but still feeling the after-effects from the other week, he changed his mind.
A picture popped past the barrier he thought he’d secured in place after seeing a specific little black cat. He shook off his thoughts when images of a little black swaying bottom pushed to the forefront of his mind.
He’d known instantly she was one of his kin. Though as far as he could tell, she was far removed from him and more connected to Morgana’s side of the family, thank the Goddess Freyja. He couldn’t be having unsavoury thoughts about close family members. His fur lifted, hackles rising at the very thought.
No, that wouldn’t do at all.
He searched through his link with Morgana, accessing her memories. Grinning like a fool when the name popped into his head, Princess. Yes, she totally was!
Grunting in disapproval at his growing excitement, he focused on what he could glean about her lineage. Pleased when he realised she really was a very, very distant relative and her mother, Morgan’s niece, was queen of her own domain.
He sensed this was why she was a right little madam and kept true to her name, Princess. He’d bet anything she was a naughty girl. He shuddered at how naughty he could be with her.
Stop that nonsense right now! He gave himself a stern talking to, knowing he wasn’t fooling anyone when he decided to make sure to keep a close eye on her. He assured himself it was to purely make sure she behaved herself. No, there was definitely no other reason. Nope, so not going there.
He pulled his mind out of the gutter, thinking about how things had left him with little knowledge of whom or where all the guardians were. He tried to shrug it off. He supposed he had no one to blame for the change to his role to soul bearer.
The other guardians had all been given additional responsibilities because of the FUBAR he’d created in the twelfth century. Manannán, it appeared, wanted to ensure they all behaved themselves. He’d set about creating new laws to govern them, and though Max was still the king of his kind, his primary role had changed, making it more of a title now after all these centuries.
Not that Max minded no longer having to endure so many voices inside his head. Those who watched over their domains were responsible for the actions of their guardians, and though ultimately Max retained overall responsibility for his kind, he no longer had to deal with the day-to-day squabbles, thank the God Njord.
His mind circled back, reminding him this was a good thing, even if it left him out of the loop and no longer aware of all the guardians, es
pecially the cute little one going to be living across the road from him.
Sighing when tutting filtered into his mind and catching his naughty wayward thoughts, he acknowledged Princess’s mother’s presence before shutting her out of his mind. Max tilted his head, considering.
His eyes narrowed as realisation dawned that his links with the others had grown stronger the closer they got to the island and the origins of his kind.
Distracted as the thrumming under him slowed, his ears pricked up at the sound of the engines shutting down. He breathed in deep. His senses enjoyed the slight scent of the sea seeping through the metal hull, and memories flooded past his defences.
They’d relived that fateful night over and over. All the while Óláfr had willed his death ever closer. The following thirty-six years had felt like an eternity, never-ending for both of them, scarring Max for life. The burdens sat inside him as a constant reminder of what happens when you mess with the fates.
In some way, he’d been relieved on the eve of Óláfr’s death when his soul had finally joined Magnus’s, inside him. Max found that he couldn’t stay a minute longer on the Isle, so had hidden on one of the longships, travelling towards an unknown future. Unsure where he needed to go, he’d wandered aimlessly. He strayed further and further from home, never feeling the urge to return, not once.
In all those years, he wondered why he’d never come back. He knew he’d struggle with the nightmares Óláfr and he had suffered and endured, but he wasn’t sure that was the only thing keeping him away.