Namely Abel.

  Steam from vents blew gently through the alleyway, making the dark night seem more ominous, and cars passed by on the street. Caine flipped the collar of his jacket up and leaned against the wall, shoving his hands into his pockets.

  Already he missed his mate and was dying to get back to him. They hadn’t had a peaceful moment since meeting each other. What Caine wouldn’t give to spend a day in bed, just enjoying Abel’s company. It didn’t have to be all sex. They could watch a movie or share a meal together.

  Those were the simple things that Caine lacked in his life, things other people took for granted. A kiss on the nape, the sliding of a hand down the arm, a wink for no reason at all. Caine had watched humankind for thousands of years, and that kind of romance was slowly dying out. Those tender moments that took your breath away and made your heart do somersaults.

  “I was wondering when I was gonna hear from you. I was starting to feel neglected.”

  Caine heard the echoing tap of Benny’s polished shoes before he looked up and saw the sleek, tall man walking toward him. Expensive suit. Million-dollar haircut. Piercing, empty blue eyes that said he was a monster in luxurious clothing.

  Dealing with Benny was going to cost Caine a mint, but every last penny would be well worth it. He was pissed he hadn’t thought of the demon before now.

  Caine pushed away from the wall and gave a slow nod. “Never neglected. Only reserved for when your talents are needed.”

  Benny grinned. It was the grin of a shark. “And you know how to smooth ruffled feathers. Tell me what I can do for you.”

  Caine knew Benny’s men weren’t that far away. The demon never traveled alone. He employed some of the deadliest creatures known to the nonhuman world.

  “Need a small favor.”

  Benny gave a smoothly polished chuckle. “You didn’t invite me to this swanky alley for tea.”

  That laugh was a lie. Behind its merry sound was nothing but poisonous venom. Caine explained his situation with Bowen and how the demon was destroying his reputation. How he was already in hot water with Tremblay and Carisio.

  Benny gave a low whistle. “Bowen’s got you bent over a barrel with your pants around your ankles.”

  Caine didn’t like how much enjoyment Benny was getting out of this. “So, can you help me?”

  “Sixty thousand and all your troubles will go away.”

  Caine forced the snarl back down his throat. He knew Benny was cutthroat, but he didn’t know the bastard went straight for the main artery. His price was worse than what Bowen charged people.

  Then again, Benny was damn good at what he did. If he said all Caine’s problems would go away, there was no doubt about his statement.

  But still. Sixty grand was a lot of fucking money. Caine could pay it, but the problem was, once you dealt with Benny, somehow you got into his pocket and never climbed out. Soon Benny would be calling for his own “favors,” and then it would be never ending.

  Caine was starting to regret his decision.

  “Tick tock.” Benny looked at his bare wrist. “I have other engagements I need to attend.”

  “Can I think about it?”

  Benny’s smile slipped into a sneer. “You called me. You should’ve been certain what you wanted first. If I walk away, you’ll pay me double if you change your mind later.”

  Panahasi’s words whispered through his mind. You’re more powerful than you think, Caine.

  Could that be true?

  He shook his head. “I’m sorry for troubling you.”

  “You’re a fool, Caine. I could’ve solved your problems with a snap of my fingers.” Benny walked away, disappearing from the alley. Caine had sent away his one good hope of getting out of this situation, all because he believed Panahasi’s words.

  He was on his own now, but hadn’t he always been on his own? It was also clear that Caine’s ideas weren’t panning out. Ever since he’d touched Bowen, his luck had turned to shit, and he was no closer to tracking the shifter down than he’d been before.

  Unfortunately he’d let Benny walk away. In the end, that would’ve been the wise thing to do, but that still left Caine frustrated as hell.

  This had been a bust. It was time to get back to Abel. His sweet little mate who was a spitfire. The same mate who would probably try to cut Caine’s balls off when he walked back through the door.

  That put a smile on his face as he made his way back. He might have to protect his nuts, but he’d never had anyone that passionate about him before, and it felt damn good. Abel was the hottest little mate a man could ever know.

  But Bowen was still a problem. Caine had to eliminate him. He was done chasing the shifter down. It was time to lure the bastard to him.

  Chapter Nine

  Abel was awake and pacing. Aaron had dozed in the chair, lightly snoring, slouching, and looking ready to fall off at any second. He thought about waking his brother to go get in the bed, but Abel had tried that once before, waking Aaron while he was that deep into sleep, and his brother tried to slug him. He wasn’t sure what Aaron had been dreaming about that day, but Abel wasn’t taking any chances.

  He tossed a blanket and pillow by his brother’s feet and went back to the window, looking out for Caine. Unless his mate was invisible. Abel sighed. God he missed him.

  Abel jumped and spun when he heard the floorboards creak. How the hell had Caine gotten inside without Abel hearing him? Was this the real Caine?

  “Touch me.”

  A sly grin cut across Caine’s face. “Cautious.” He gave a short nod, approval in his dark eyes. “Good.”

  But his mate still didn’t move. Abel eased over to the chair and shook Aaron’s shoulder. His brother was wide-awake and on his feet in seconds.

  “What’s wrong?” Aaron looked around.

  “Why aren’t you moving toward me?” Abel glanced at Aaron’s side arm but decided against grabbing it. He’d never handled a gun in his life, and with his luck, he’d shoot Aaron instead of Bowen. If it was the shifter. If it wasn’t, Abel didn’t want to put a bullet in Caine.

  Caine crossed the room in a few strides and swept Abel into his arms. “Convinced?”

  “You can go back to sleep,” Abel said to Aaron.

  “I’m gonna use the bathroom and then head out.” Aaron stretched and nearly tripped over the blanket and pillow at his feet.

  “Sorry about that,” Abel said, unable to take his eyes off Caine. “Use your key to lock the door.”

  As if Caine could read his mind, he carried Abel down the hallway. His mate kicked the bedroom door closed as their mouths molded together. Caine tasted so damn sweet, like Abel had just popped a piece of candy into his mouth.

  “You’re welcome,” Aaron shouted from somewhere down the hall before Abel heard the front door close. He’d have to remember to thank his brother—Caine kissed the rest of that thought from Abel’s mind.

  For the moment, Abel’s worries diminished. There was just Caine, his masculine scent, those delicious kisses, and his mate yanking at his clothes. So sweet.

  “I think your brother is gonna give me an earful when I see him again.”

  “I’m not kissing you right if you’re thinking about Aaron.” Abel cupped his face and bit Caine’s lower lip. His mate hissed and pulled Abel closer. Their groins didn’t align. Caine’s denim-covered cock was against Abel’s stomach, and his was against Caine’s thigh.

  But the friction still felt good, and the head of Abel’s cock left a clear trail of pre-cum behind on Caine’s pants.

  “You’re the only man on my mind.” Caine smiled against Abel’s mouth.

  “Good answer. You get to keep your balls.” Abel yanked at Caine’s shirt. He needed it off, to touch the hard, warm skin under his palms, to trace every dip and valley Caine owned.

  Abel didn’t bother to ask Caine what he’d gone to do, if he’d found Bowen, or where he’d been. Abel couldn’t focus enough to get the words out. He was in sweet, sweet oblivion with a pair of soft, supple lips sucking at his neck as Caine finished undressing him. Caine’s shirt was gone, but his jeans and boots were still on.

  Abel started to tell him to get the rest of his clothes off, but Caine fisted his hair, and the tingles all over Abel’s scalp sent ripples of pleasure through his body.

  What was he about to say? Abel couldn’t remember. Caine’s lips were working their way down his neck, over his jaw, as he backed both of them to the bed. Lightning charged Abel’s blood. Caine’s hands were everywhere, touching him, gripping him, his mate’s hungry mouth eating Abel up.

  Yummy.

  But Abel also loved how passionate Caine was with him. One look at the demon and anyone would’ve gotten the impression that Caine was hardened, sour, jaded. Just from his eyes alone Abel saw that life hadn’t been kind to Caine. There wasn’t any happiness or sparkle to them. Always intense. Smoky. Mysterious.

  Abel wanted to smooth out those perpetual frown lines between Caine’s eyes, to replace them with lines around the eyes that said Caine was used to a lot of laughter.

  Once again his thoughts were cut off. Caine spun them and sat, removing his boots and socks, then stripping his jeans and underwear off. Fuck, his body was to die for. Sculpted perfection with gorgeous tattoos. Abel never had the nerve to get one. The thought of a needle piercing his skin frightened him.

  “What’re you thinking about?” Caine reached for him, and Abel willingly went. They rolled over on the bed, his mate placing Abel on his back.

  “Demons can’t read minds?” Abel was starting to get to know some things about Caine. Like how his horns appeared atop his head whenever he was aroused. Like how they appeared now. And his eyes. The dark irises turned to fire. It was both scary and exhilarating.

  Thankfully a tail and a pitchfork didn’t complete the ensemble.

  “Some might be able to.” Caine nipped Abel’s earlobe. “But that’s a talent I lack.”

  His low-trimmed beard scraped over Abel’s skin, eliciting a shiver from him. Being with Caine almost felt forbidden, in a way, like the forbidden fruit Abel had heard so much about in Sunday school. There was an air of danger about Caine, a strong, volcanic man who set Abel’s blood on fire.

  Just like his eyes. Burning flames.

  Abel guided Caine’s hand to his cock. “I was thinking about this.”

  Caine gripped his cock. “You’ll tell me later what you were really thinking.”

  “Bet.” Abel wiggled and groaned as Caine slowly stroked him, teasing him, but not enough to bring him off. A rush of heat raced down Abel’s spine. He punched his hips forward, fucking Caine’s fist, eager to get his rocks off.

  Caine teased Abel’s chin between his teeth. “You think I’m gonna let you come that easily?”

  “Yes?” Abel wanted sex. That was a given. But sex with Caine was so much more. Behind that badass exterior beat the heart of a man who longed to be loved, to be cherished, and Abel had already fallen for him. Hook, line, and sinker. The whole shebang.

  When emotions that deep were involved, it was more than mere sex. It was a kaleidoscope of rushing feelings that pooled in Abel’s heart and made him yearn for Caine in ways he’d never thought possible.

  A lifetime together. Laughter. Love. A closeness Abel had never had with anyone before. The intimacy between them that didn’t always involve sex. Just being close to his mate, touching, sharing the moment.

  “Truth?” Abel spread his legs wider as he slid his arms around Caine’s neck, bringing his mate even closer.

  “Always.” Caine nodded.

  “I’ve fallen in love with you.” Abel wasn’t sure confessing the truth had been a wise decision. Not only because Caine was so mysterious but because Abel had never said those words before. They made him vulnerable, exposed, and he feared Caine would never feel the same way he did.

  Caine kissed him with such fierceness that Abel was losing the ability to breathe. His lungs were stinging as he pulled away, gasping but also realizing Caine hadn’t said the words back.

  He shoved the hurt aside as Caine touched him, and every brush of his hands, no matter how subtle, was driving Abel insane. Caine’s eyes were liquid night when Abel looked at him.

  Their mouths met again in a hunger that bordered on madness as Caine settled between Abel’s legs and pressed the blunt head of his cock at Abel’s entrance.

  One squirt and his muscles relaxed. Abel held on to Caine, clung to him as his mate inched his cock inside Abel’s ass. The fullness made him gasp then moan as his mate rocked inside him.

  Maybe Caine wasn’t ready to confess his love, or he hadn’t gotten to that point yet. It was unfair of Abel to put that kind of pressure on a man who had done so much for him already.

  He let the hurt go and lost himself in the moment, in Caine’s dark scent, his kisses, and the scrape of his beard as his mate nibbled on him.

  When Caine started a steady thrust, Abel cried out, his hands moving to grip his mate’s slamming hips. His whole world was being rocked, shaken up as Caine punched his hips forward.

  The man was splitting Abel in two, and Abel didn’t care. He never wanted this moment to end, never wanted Caine to leave his body.

  The connection he felt with Caine seemed to deepen. Abel had never felt this close to another being. He scored Caine’s skin with his nails as he held on, matching his mate’s thrust, his orgasm cresting.

  Abel bucked and writhed as he came, his spunk jetting out of the head of his cock. He smashed his lips against Caine’s as Caine moved at lightning speed, the sound of skin slapping filling the room.

  Caine groaned into Abel’s mouth as his cock pulsed deep in Abel’s ass. They moved at a slower, sweeter rhythm, the kiss seeming to last forever.

  When they finally broke apart, they were both gasping for breath.

  Caine looked at him, as if he wanted to say something, but eased out of Abel and rolled to the side of the bed, where he sat and scrubbed a hand over his sweat-soaked hair.

  Abel got to his knees. He pressed a hand on Caine’s shoulder, ready to apologize for putting so much pressure on his mate, as a shadow filled their doorway.

  Tremblay stood there with a smile on his face. “Hello, boys.”

  * * * *

  Abel had seconds to grab his underwear and shirt before the light left the room. “Caine!”

  The bedroom was pitch-black. Abel couldn’t see anything, but he heard the snarls, skin connecting with skin, and furniture breaking. His arm was grabbed, and he was jerked backward before he had a chance to drop to his knees and crawl under the bed.

  “Let me go!” Abel slapped at the fingers digging into his flesh. The grip became tighter, and then the sensation of falling had him flailing his arms, trying to grab onto something.

  Abel screamed as pain shot through his body when he landed on something hard. He rolled to his side, clutching his stomach. The pain pulsed in waves as he opened his eyes, trying his best to catch his breath.

  “Put your clothes on.” Tremblay looked down at him with cold, menacing eyes—eyes that said Abel wasn’t making it out of this alive. He was nothing more than a disposable pawn in this game.

  Tremblay kicked him in his bare hip. “Put your damn clothes on, human.”

  Abel ground his teeth to stave off even more pain radiating through him. With shaky hands, and while lying on his side, he slid his underwear on and then sat up to pull his shirt over his head. The room spun, and Abel was lightheaded as he looked around.

  “You’ll be returned to Caine just as soon as he gives me back my money and learns his lesson about stealing from me.”

  “I already told you it was Bowen who did that to you.” Abel waited until the room stopped spinning before he attempted to get to his feet. The room was familiar.

  Why had Tremblay taken him to Caine’s apartment? What kind of sick game was he playing? Abel had no doubt the guy planned on killing him. Would he leave Abel’s corpse there for Caine to discover?

  “Have a seat on the couch. I still have some business to take care of.” He looked Abel over with mild interest. “Don’t even think about trying to leave. I have a few men in the hallway and staked outside, front and back. You step one foot outside this place and you’re dead.”

  Even if Abel could get free, he had no idea where to go. He recalled the first time he’d come here. The city outside was eerily frightening, and Abel wouldn’t stand a chance of survival on his own.

  Tremblay gripped Abel’s chin in a bruising hold. “Do you understand me?”

  “Crystal clear,” Abel bit out then jerked his chin free. He prayed Caine came for him and killed every last one of these monsters. Abel didn’t like the direction his thoughts turned to, the bloodthirsty way he imagined Caine slaughtering them. But he didn’t appreciate being kidnapped, kicked, and handed a death threat.

  He also couldn’t stay put, whether going out there was scary or not. If Abel stayed, he was as good as dead. Then he thought about them crossing that foggy border, the alarm, and the dark water they’d dove into.

  Could he remember the way? Would it work without Caine? Abel had to try. He had to.

  Tremblay walked out the front door and closed it behind him. Abel stood there for a good five minutes before he searched Caine’s apartment. There had to be something he could use as a weapon.

  He searched the kitchen and grabbed a sharp clever, but Abel wanted something better to use. He was afraid he’d slice himself to pieces trying to attack anyone who tried to stop him.

  The living room yielded nothing of use. Neither did the bathroom unless he wanted to wash the evil out of the goons’ hair with a bottle of shampoo.

  Abel snapped the cap open and sniffed. His chest constricted. The shampoo smelled just like Caine.

  “Stop being an idiot and focus.” He set the bottle on the counter and went to Caine’s bedroom, still thinking about how he’d confessed his love to Caine and his mate hadn’t said the words in return. That had almost felt like a rejection, and it had stung deeply.

  Abel pushed those thoughts aside as he looked around his mate’s bedroom. There weren’t any family photos on the wall anywhere in the apartment, no framed art, nothing that would give this place a homey touch. Not even a single plant to shake things up.