Abel had gotten into a lot of altercations at school when the jocks had found out he was gay. Aaron had kicked plenty of ass defending his brother back then.

  The fact that Abel was gay never bothered Aaron. He worked with gay men, and a lot lived in the community. Aaron welcomed the change in Maple Grove. It made life more interesting. But not everyone felt that way. Aaron was straight, and a lot of people felt comfortable talking trash within earshot.

  But he had a feeling the stalker wasn’t one of those people. He was obsessed with Abel. Unfortunately there were too many residents living an alternative lifestyle in Maple Grove to narrow the suspect pool down so quickly.

  Unless the guy slipped up, it would take time to dwindle down the list.

  Aaron parked at the curb and climbed the three flights of stairs to Abel’s apartment. When his brother had first moved in, Aaron had insisted on having a key. He was glad he’d done that. He opened the apartment door and looked around.

  Nothing seemed out of place. He went to the bedroom, but Abel wasn’t there. He tried his cell phone again, but it went straight to voice mail.

  “Where the hell are you, Abel?” Aaron looked for any type of clue that would tell him where his brother was, but he came up empty. He went to the kitchen and saw a full pot of coffee sitting there.

  Along with Abel’s keys, cell phone, and wallet. His brother would never leave those behind. Stones filled his gut as he took off, ready to search every inch of the town if he had to. Aaron didn’t care how long it took. He was getting his brother back.

  * * * *

  “Tie his hands behind his back before he can blow that smoke shit in our faces,” Tremblay ordered. “I don’t need my brains scrambled.”

  Caine had taken down two of the five men who’d invaded his apartment. He still couldn’t understand how they’d counteracted the spells. Caine was damn good at creating them, an expert. So how did they manage to get in here?

  Caine and Abel were dragged to the living room and forced to their knees, their hands tied behind their backs. Caine looked over at Abel and saw the stark fear in his green eyes.

  No matter what, Caine was getting the human to safety. He just wasn’t sure how.

  “First,” Tremblay said as he paced in front of Caine and Abel, “I’m gonna make you pay for stealing from me. Nobody gets away with that. Then I’m gonna cash in on your bounty. That only seems fair since you’ve caused me so much trouble.”

  “You got the wrong guy,” Abel argued as he struggled against his bindings. “There’s a copycat Caine out there. You should be looking for him!”

  Caine liked Abel’s feistiness. It was a turn-on in ways he’d never imagined. But right now he wished Abel would shut up. The guy was gonna get them both killed.

  “Shut your trap,” Caine whispered. “Let me handle this.”

  “Because so far your record of getting us out of trouble has been on point?” Abel stared incredulously at Caine. “Maybe I should handle things from here on out.”

  Caine ground his teeth. Abel had no idea just how lethal the demon was. Tremblay hunched down in front of Abel and tipped his head to the side. “Yes, let the human talk. I’m very interested in what he has to say.”

  The smirk on Tremblay’s face said otherwise. He was toying with Abel, making the human think they had a chance of surviving this. Caine knew better. If he didn’t get free and take the remaining men down, neither one of them would walk out of his apartment alive.

  Abel licked his lips. “Caine screwed up and touched a chameleon shifter. Some guy named Bowen. Now Bowen, looking like an exact replica of Caine, is going around stirring up shit. He’s doing it for respect. At least, that’s what Bowen claims. But if you ask me, Bowen has an ulterior motive. No one goes to this length just so people will revere him.”

  Caine begged to differ but kept his mouth shut.

  The guys standing at the door snickered. One said, “And I have a bridge in the desert I’d like to sell you.”

  “It’s true!” Abel wiggled his arms. “Let us track Bowen down, and we’ll prove it.”

  Tremblay slowly clapped his hands as he stood. “I have to say, that’s an incredible story. You have quite the imagination, human. Too bad I’m not buying it.”

  Caine tapped the front of his boot against the floor. A small blade popped from the heel. He rubbed the rope against the sharp blade as Tremblay concentrated on Abel.

  Caine didn’t like it, but he had to keep Tremblay’s focus on Abel or he’d see Caine’s arms moving up and down. The two shmucks at the door were talking to each other. No one was paying him any attention.

  That was their mistake.

  “You just don’t care about the truth,” Abel argued. “We could have Bowen standing in this room, and that wouldn’t matter. You’re another low-life piece of scum, aren’t you?”

  Tremblay struck Abel across the face, making Abel fall backward with a loud cry. The scent of Abel’s blood enraged Caine. He finally got the ropes free and dove for the bastard.

  Caine spun Tremblay around, slamming him against the wall. With one hand on the demon’s throat, he turned to the thugs. Caine lifted his right hand and blew across his palm. Wispy, dark smoke fanned out and encompassed their heads.

  “Kill Tremblay,” he snarled and took a step back, releasing the bastard who’d dared to lay a hand on Abel.

  The two men attacked, forcing Tremblay into action. Caine didn’t stick around. He grabbed Abel and tossed the human over his shoulder as he slung the door open then raced down the steps. Since he couldn’t use the shadows to get out of Remtin, he had no other choice but to head to the Black River. The dark water was the only other way out of the demon realm.

  The problem was they would have to cross over to Serenity City, where the demon warriors lived. As soon as they crossed the border, alarms would sound, alerting the warriors that the borders had been breached.

  Hopefully they could make it to the river before the warriors got their hands on him.

  So far no one was on the street as Caine ran, his arm slung over Abel to keep him in place. They were half a mile from Serenity City, but there were plenty of enemies that could stop them before they reached their destination.

  “Untie my hands!”

  “I should tie your mouth,” Caine snarled. “One of these days you’re gonna learn to keep quiet. I swear you’re out to get us killed.”

  “I was trying to reason with him,” Abel argued.

  The thought of Abel reasoning with Tremblay was downright laughable. The chances of Hell having an ice storm were bigger than Tremblay letting them go.

  Caine spotted the border in front of them. Tiny beacons lit up orange in the fog that surrounded the boundary between Serenity City and Remtin. The warriors would be all over them in a matter of minutes once the alarm sounded.

  With a burst of speed, Caine breached it, alarms blaring so loudly they pierced his ears. His fingers dug into Abel’s legs, keeping him tight against him as he headed straight for the grassy mound where the river was located.

  He heard shouting behind him, someone yelling for him to stop. But Caine kept going as the warriors closed in on him. At the last minute, Caine dove for the water.

  It didn’t splash. The water didn’t even ripple as Caine and Abel fell toward Maple Grove. It was the first place that came to mind. They hit the pavement outside Abel’s apartment.

  “Oh fuck! That hurt,” Abel cried out.

  Caine wasn’t doing any better. He’d landed on his chest, the air knocked clean out of him. He rolled to his back, staring up at the sunlight. His chest hurt like a bitch as he got to his feet and grabbed Abel, quickly carrying him to the human’s apartment.

  * * * *

  Abel stepped from the shower and wiped his hand across the steamy mirror. God, he looked like crap. There was a wild look in his eyes and dark circles underneath them. He touched the bruise on his cheek that had formed after being struck by Tremblay.

  He could very easily blame Caine for all of this. The running, the danger, and the guy’s surly attitude. Abel wasn’t going to. Caine hadn’t meant to touch Bowen. The shifter had tricked him.

  In truth, Abel felt his blood pumping after the terrifying adventure. His boring life had been shaken up, and he felt as though Caine was his partner in crime.

  “You really need to sort out your priorities,” he said to the mirror.

  Abel curled the towel around his waist and walked out of the bathroom, billows of steam trailing after him. He started toward his bedroom but stopped and looked down the hallway.

  He smiled and headed for the kitchen. Caine was seated on the couch, flipping through a magazine. The guy looked relaxed, but Abel knew better. Caine’s mind was working on a solution to their problem. How to capture Bowen without taking Abel with him.

  That wasn’t going to happen. Abel wasn’t going to let Caine leave him behind. They were in this together, no matter how much Caine argued otherwise.

  Abel bit his lip as he slowly moved toward the kitchen, hoping Caine looked up and noticed him. He should’ve gone to his bedroom and checked his phone, knowing how worried Aaron would be, but all Abel could do was think about Caine, and how he wanted to get laid.

  When Caine looked up, Abel blushed. “I was getting something to drink. Can I get you anything?”

  Caine’s dark eyes turned molten as he set the magazine aside. He stood and charged toward Abel, hemming him against the wall. The deep snarl turned Abel on. He grabbed for Caine, their mouths fusing in a heart-stopping, hungry kiss.

  Abel started pulling at Caine’s clothes, and the demon didn’t stop him. He unfastened Caine’s pants, gasping for breath as their tongues dueled, and fisted Caine’s cock.

  The guy hissed into Abel’s mouth, helping Abel remove his shirt and throw it aside. God, all those glorious muscles were exposed, and Abel trailed his hand over them, never letting Caine’s cock go.

  “I want you so badly,” Abel said into Caine’s mouth as he jerked the man’s dick.

  “You should be running from me, not begging for my cock.” But Caine didn’t back down. His hands were everywhere, ripping the towel from around Abel’s waist, and then he pulled Abel up until Abel had to curl his legs around Caine’s thick waist.

  “Not going anywhere.” Abel’s lips found the hollow of Caine’s neck and began to trace it with his tongue. “You’re gonna give my body what it needs.”

  “Even if I’m seven kinds of bad for you?”

  Abel gripped Caine’s biceps. “Now it’s your turn to shut your mouth.”

  He sucked up a bruise on Caine’s neck, loving that he’d just marked the guy. For a brief moment in time, Caine would be his. Abel wasn’t foolish enough to think he could tame such a wild beast. Caine belonged to no one, but for at least an hour, they would scratch the other’s itch.

  Caine walked to Abel’s bedroom, Abel still clinging to him. He felt Caine’s hard cock bobbing, tapping at his ass. Abel didn’t want to let go but pulled his legs back when Caine lowered him to the bed.

  Abel lay there watching Caine as he pulled his jeans off. Abel’s mouth watered when Caine’s cock slapped his stomach. Damn the man was hung. He’d felt the erection in his hand, but an up-close look had him panting.

  Even more wondrous was the fact that Caine’s horns appeared on top of his head and his eyes looked like they’d caught fire. More like Abel was looking through a window at a fireplace.

  God, Caine was breathtaking.

  Unable to resist, Abel got to his hands and knees and sucked Caine’s cock between his lips. He moved his head up and down, pulling up and suckling at the head, drinking in the clear liquid that was flowing freely.

  Caine didn’t say a word, but he didn’t have to. The muscles in his neck were taut, and his jaw was clenched. The fire in his eyes burned brighter as he fisted Abel’s hair, fucking Abel’s mouth in short bursts.

  Caine closed his eyes and breathed out slowly, removing his cock from between Abel’s lips. “Not like this. When I come, I want to be buried inside you.”

  Those words sent ripples of excitement through Abel’s body. He backed up then turned, presenting his ass to Caine. “Don’t forget the lube and condom in my drawer.”

  Caine shook his head. “Don’t need either. I can’t catch human diseases or spread any, and I already come with lube.”

  Abel had no idea what that meant. “What?”

  Caine winked. “You’ll see.”

  He blanketed Abel’s back, pressing the blunt head of his cock against Abel’s hole.

  “Please don’t tell me you plan on fucking me dry.” And without even stretching him. Abel was all for experimenting, but he wasn’t into pain.

  “Trust me,” Caine whispered against the shell of Abel’s ear. “You’re gonna enjoy every second of this.”

  Abel blew out a few breaths, unsure he should put his trust in Caine’s hands.

  Then he felt something wet squirt against his hole. His ring of muscles began to relax. “What the hell was that?”

  “My natural lube.”

  Holy fuck! Abel wasn’t sure what to think when the next squirt happened. He expected pain when Caine inched inside him, but all Abel felt was untapped pleasure. Caine filled him up, stretching him wide as he worked his way inside Abel’s ass.

  “Oh god…this is…I don’t…ung.” Abel lowered his head and closed his eyes, feeling as if his body had just caught fire. Caine had him pinned down, trapped, as he laid soft kisses along Abel’s spine.

  Who knew such a rough man could be so tender? Abel had expected to be tossed around and possibly mauled. That wouldn’t have been a bad thing, but this slow and sweet was just as nice.

  They turned onto their sides, Caine staying behind Abel. He curled his arms around him and punched his hips, kissing along his shoulder. Abel held on, throwing a leg over Caine’s to open himself up so Caine could go deeper.

  Abel trembled as pulses of pleasure overtook him. Each thrust nailed his gland. and he groaned, undulating as they moved together.

  Finally, one strong hand encircled him, slowly stroking Abel’s already sensitive flesh. He hissed and bucked, thrusting his cock into Caine’s fist.

  “I’m-I’m close,” Abel managed to get out between needy sounds.

  Caine’s hand moved faster, matching the rhythm of his hips. He turned Abel onto his stomach, and Abel pushed to his hands and knees. He rocked back, meeting Caine thrust for thrust.

  Sweat dripped onto his back as Abel curled his fingers into the sheets. He spread his legs wider, his limbs trembling, his orgasm cresting.

  “Caine!” Abel’s climax swelled and surged inside him. Something more powerful gripped him. He shuddered and jerked as the feeling washed through him.

  Caine clamped a hand down on Abel’s hips and came, his cock pulsing deep in Abel’s ass as he grunted. He stilled, his fingers digging deeper into Abel’s flesh.

  “No,” Caine whispered. “Not possible.”

  “What?” Abel eased forward, dislodging Caine’s softening cock. He collapsed to the bed, expecting Caine to join him. When Abel looked over his shoulder, Caine was staring wide-eyed at him.

  Caine cupped a hand over his mouth and then wiped that hand down his chin. “You’re my mate.”

  Abel wrinkled his nose. “What does that mean?”

  “That’s what I’d like to know.”

  Abel gasped and covered himself when he spotted Aaron standing in his doorway.

  Chapter Six

  “I’ve been worried sick about you, and you’ve been out chasing ass?” Abel’s brother’s words were thunderous. “You couldn’t even answer your phone to tell me you were fine?”

  Caine started toward the cop. Brother or not, he wasn’t going to let the guy talk to his mate that way. “Watch your fucking tongue or I’ll cut it out.”

  “You better stand down,” Aaron snarled. “And get some damn clothes on.”

  “And you can get out of my room,” Abel said. “Have you ever heard of knocking, Aaron?”

  Aaron glared at Caine but stepped from the room. Too bad he didn’t go far enough away. He was outside in the hallway, giving them just enough privacy. Caine was tempted to slam the door in the guy’s face.

  Abel hopped up and scrambled to get dressed. Caine didn’t care about his nudity. He was just pissed that Aaron had interrupted them.

  He was also still reeling from the fact that Abel was his mate. This threw a wrench into his plan to leave the human behind. Tremblay and Carisio already knew about Abel.

  If they found out that Abel was his mate…fuck.

  “Get dressed.” Abel waved a hand at him. “Although I love looking at your body, my brother…not so much.”

  Caine couldn’t seem to move. He was looking at Abel in a whole new light. This was the person he would spend the rest of eternity with. There wouldn’t be any “I had a good time, but now I have to move on.”

  This was it for him.

  Every preternatural creature was in search of his or her mate. It was a driving need that superseded almost everything else. Even those who considered themselves hardened dreamed of this moment.

  Caine was no different.

  He flashed his clothes to his body. They were on the floor one second, and the next they were covering him.

  Abel’s brows shot up, and a sweet little smile surfaced. “You’ve got to teach me how to do that.”

  It wasn’t a talent he could “teach,” but Caine would be more than happy to oblige Abel anytime he wanted to quickly dress. He said as much.

  “What other handy skills do you have?” Abel slid his shirt over his head. Caine hated to see his mate cover his compact body. He hadn’t been done ravaging him. In fact, he’d planned on spending the rest of the evening showing his mate his stamina.

  Caine nodded toward the door, reminding Abel that they weren’t alone. “We’ll talk later.”

  Abel curled his lips in and headed for the hallway. As soon as he stepped from the room, his expression changed from humorous conspiracy to downright anger.