Jason was ready to go home.

  But they didn’t go to Jason’s apartment. Dante drove them to his house, which was just on the outside of town. It had plenty of acreage, but Jason was too tired to appreciate the view.

  They went inside, and Dante showed Jason where his bedroom was, and the bathroom, before he left Jason to take care of something in another part of the house.

  Jason sat on Dante’s bed. His head hurt, as did his muscles. He kicked his shoes off and undressed before taking a hot shower, happy for the great water pressure.

  After sliding his boxer briefs on, he exited the bathroom and went over to the bed, more relaxed but somehow still too wired. Dante entered the room and stood for a moment next to Jason.

  The next thing Jason knew, Dante had hooked a hand around his nape and pulled him in for a soul-stirring kiss.

  Jason felt himself being slowly lowered to the bed, his back pressing into the mattress. Dante wasn’t rushing him. His kiss was slow and drugging. It was the sweetest taste Jason had ever encountered. It always was when he kissed Dante.

  He was drowning, going under and losing himself in Dante and what he was doing to Jason’s mouth, to his mind. Jason’s skin became so sensitive that he could feel Dante’s body brushing over him like a heated fire, burning with every movement.

  “Dante.” Jason was trying his best to come out of the haze Dante had placed around his mind. It felt right being in Dante’s arms. It felt good. Safe.

  Jason gasped when Dante inserted a powerful thigh between his legs, pushing up into Jason’s balls, making him whimper into Dante’s mouth.

  “Need to ground us both.” Dante pulled away but didn’t go far. He licked a long path from Jason’s jaw to his collarbone. “Need to be inside of you.” Dante’s voice had gone to a growl. It vibrated, making Jason whimper as he tilted his head back.

  Dante laid kisses along Jason’s neck and then placed a gentle one on his shoulder.

  Jason shuddered. Feeling the powerful man’s soft lips on his skin made Jason’s heart quicken.

  Dante moved his arm lower, and Jason knew the man was undoing his pants. He reached for Jason’s hand. “Touch me, Jason. See how hard I am for you.”

  Dante’s cock felt like silk over muscle as Jason curled his fingers around the thick shaft. The skin was warm, like water left out in the sun being poured over his skin, as Jason gave the man what he wanted.

  No, what they both wanted, because Jason was just as hard, just as needy as Dante.

  The man’s eyes fluttered closed, his expression morphing into pleasure so strong, so raw, that Jason lay there fascinated that he could do that to someone who wasn’t even human.

  Being under Dante, having so much muscle and raw power hovering over him, was a heady sensation that Jason didn’t want to give up.

  He squeezed his fingers harder around Dante’s shaft.

  Dante groaned.

  Jason was aching, wanting to be touched, too. His skin was burning with want as his heart caught in his throat. Dante looked amazing and so damn gorgeous, so wild.

  Dante lowered his head, his lips pressing to Jason’s ear. “I’m so damn hungry for you.”

  “Show me,” Jason said in a breathless whisper, giving in to the desire ripping him apart. Dante was pulling him under, barely giving him room to breathe.

  Dante had Jason’s boxers shredded before he could even blink. He hovered over Jason, his honed muscles bulging. Jason could feel his heart struggling to keep up with the demands his arousal was placing on it.

  Pure sensuality spread across Dante’s features as he stared down at Jason’s naked body. “So perfect.” The hunger blazed in Dante’s eyes.

  Jason gripped Dante’s cock tighter, reminding the man that he still held his shaft in his hand. Dante smiled at him in a way that had Jason’s stomach feeling all tight and hot.

  “Suck it, Jason.” Dante began to crawl up Jason’s body, giving Jason a glimpse of tanned flesh and tight, flawless muscles.

  Jason moved his hand to the base of Dante’s cock to take Dante into his mouth. The feel of Dante in his hand was exquisite, but the feel of Dante in his mouth was explosive. The sensations roared through him, making Jason open wider as the tip of Dante’s cock slid into his mouth.

  “More, Jason, take me in.” There was a roughness to Dante’s demand, his voice raspy.

  Jason knew his mate was losing control. But so was he. Madness was taking over as he licked and sucked at Dante’s steel rod. The flesh was salty, and the feel of him was as smooth as silk on Jason’s tongue.

  “God, yes.” Dante curled his hips, pressing his cock a little farther into Jason’s mouth.

  Jason kept his grip on the base of Dante’s cock super tight. If Dante started thrusting, Jason wanted to make sure he didn’t gag.

  “Jason.” Dante moaned as his hips started thrusting in long, even strokes. “Oh hell, Jason.”

  He kept his mouth wide open, his tongue sliding over vein-riddled flesh.

  “Tighter, sweetheart.”

  Jason formed a seal around his mate’s cock, sucking in when Dante’s shaft came forward and clamping down when he pulled back.

  Encouraged by Dante’s moans, Jason sucked harder, moving his head back and forth. He swallowed greedily, savoring the taste of Dante in his mouth.

  “There, kitten, I’m there.” With one last thrust, Dante grunted loudly, his seed flooding Jason’s mouth.

  Jason drank it down, squeezing Dante’s cock harder, and pulling every last drop from his mate that he could.

  Dante shuddered. “That was just to knock the edge off.”

  Jason wasn’t sure what Dante meant until he noticed that the man hadn’t softened. His cock was still as hard as before. Jason released Dante, and his mate moved from the bed, pulling his jeans all the way off. His shirt was next, falling to the floor.

  Dante reached into his nightstand drawer and pulled out a bottle of lube. Jason’s heart began to speed up, seeing the hunger still swimming in Dante’s eyes as he crawled back onto the bed.

  Tossing the bottle aside, Dante began to lazily stroke Jason’s body. The man’s hands felt wonderful on his skin. They were strong, powerful, and were massaging Jason until he felt like warm butter. They’d fooled around before, but somehow tonight seemed more intense, more raw and needy.

  As his mate’s fingers played over Jason’s skin, he found himself being slowly turned over onto his belly. Dante was good. Jason hadn’t even paid attention to what he was doing, so lost was he in Dante’s touch.

  “God. I love this ass,” Dante said and then slid between Jason’s legs, licking a long path up the crease between Jason’s cheeks.

  Jason lay there, enjoying the feel of Dante touching him, licking him and nipping at his skin. He arched into Dante’s touch, his body drowning in desire as he melted under Dante. His breath stuttered when Dante ran his teeth over Jason’s sensitive flesh.

  “I want to eat you up.” Dante slid his hands into the crease, his fingers probing at Jason’s back entrance. “And then I want to fuck you until you beg me to stop.”

  Jason heard the snip of the cap and knew Dante was lubing his fingers. His body tensed with expectation.

  “Relax, kitten.” Dante’s voice was soothing, his fingers probing. Then he speared a single finger into Jason’s body and then blanketed Jason’s body with his. Dante’s finger felt too damn good as it probed his ass.

  Jason’s legs spread apart, his lower body trying to impale itself on Dante’s finger. As good as it felt, Jason wanted more. The ache in his groin wasn’t satisfied with just one finger. Jason wanted to feel his mate inside of him, splitting him apart and making him shatter into a thousand pieces.

  “So fucking beautiful, kitten,” Dante said as he slid his tongue over Jason’s nape. The gentle caress caused a surge of heat to rise within him. Jason gasped, his hands curling into the blanket he was lying on.

  Jason swallowed hard, trying to focus but finding it a hard task when Dante was bringing him so much pleasure. He could feel Dante’s erection sliding over his leg, and it made him shudder. He wanted that cock buried inside of him. He twisted, impatient, but Dante held him in place, his hand strong on Jason’s back.

  Another finger slipped in beside the first, Dante’s fingers curling, finding the one spot in Jason’s body that made him cry out when touched. Dante purred behind him, his hand moving faster, his fingers separating as they speared into him harder.

  Jason’s head swam as his balls tightened close to his body. Dante grabbed his hair, pulling hard as a third finger joined the others.

  “I thought I would lose you tonight.” His rough whisper sounded tortured.

  Driving his hips down, Jason matched Dante’s thrusts, feeling his body ready to explode as his orgasm drew closer. “Oh god, Dante. Fuck me,” Jason moaned, shaking, desperate to feel Dante take him.

  The hand was gone, replaced seconds later by the blunt head of Dante’s cock. He held his breath and then shouted when Dante buried the thick, steel-hard erection into Jason’s body to the hilt. His mate didn’t stop there. Dante grabbed Jason’s hips, pulled him onto his hands and knees, and then slammed into Jason’s body like a wild animal, purring as he took Jason.

  Jason felt Dante’s balls slap against his ass. He glanced over his shoulder and watched Dante’s face twist into a grimace of sublime pleasure, his eyes closed, his body arched, tight, tense.

  Dante pounded his cock harder and harder into Jason, rocking the bed with the force of his thrusts. He was fucking Jason with passion, ramming his cock hard and deep into Jason’s ass.

  His ass was jutted shamelessly in the air, taking what Dante was giving. Jason reached up and grabbed a pillow, curling his fingers into the fabric, needing desperately to hold on to something. His body was coming apart, feeling as if he were shattering into a thousand fragments as Dante placed one hand on Jason’s shoulder, using the leverage to pull Jason down onto his steel shaft.

  Dante grabbed Jason’s hips and pistoned up, meeting each downward shove by Jason. He yelled as Dante nailed his gland with each thrust.

  Jason began to squirm under Dante, fighting for breath, his body damp with perspiration. He was bucking against Dante, his head twisting against the sheets of the bed, aching desperately, begging now for release.

  “Dante—” Jason’s plea was a hard gasp, a breathless moan as his hands dug into the bed. His throbbing cock bobbed gracefully, the cool air sweeping around its heat teasing Jason further.

  Before Jason could even reach between his legs to grab his own cock and relieve the blinding buildup, his cock exploded, seed shooting out as he screamed Dante’s name. He could feel Dante still pounding inside of him as his release covered the bedding below him.

  The edges of his vision blurred.

  He wasn’t sure, but it felt like Dante had sped up, moving impossibly faster, and then he bit into Jason’s shoulder, purring loudly as Jason felt Dante’s seed pulsing into his ass.

  Jason collapsed, gasping for breath, sweaty, the shower a total waste. If this was the kind of sex they had when in danger, guiltily, Jason hoped they had to run through the woods at least once a week.

  But preferably without bad guys chasing them.

  Chapter Nine

  Jason was damn glad when the sheriff called Dante and told him that Brac Village had sent over some officers to help in the search for Kevin Brandt. Even Luke and Diablo gave a lending hand. Every resident in Willow Point was asked to stay on alert but not to approach Kevin. Even the non-humans were asked by the sheriff to use caution.

  Jason agreed. Although he liked that the residents wanted to help so they could keep their town safe, they hadn’t signed up to be police officers. It wasn’t their jobs.

  And Jason felt bad that he’d caused all of this. Okay, so he hadn’t really caused it, but he still felt bad that everyone was uneasy.

  Over the next few days, there was a lot of tension in the air in Willow Point. Jason noticed how people constantly looked over their shoulder, and he’d heard how they locked their doors at night, too. Dante taught Jason about situational awareness, how to be vigilant of his surroundings, though Jason’s mate hadn’t left his side.

  They were walking hand in hand as they approached Kent’s Café. It was about time Jason talked with Gem. Dante and Jason had had many talks since they’d become mates, and Jason had told Dante how shitty his family was, how his sister only talked to him when she wanted something, and that Gem was the only decent relative, other than Gem’s parents.

  As soon as they walked in, Jason took a deep breath, loving how homey it smelled inside the café. They not only served coffee but pastries, too. There were quite a few people in line, some sitting at tables and others waiting on their orders. There was piped-in coffeehouse music playing softly on the speakers as they got in line.

  Dante moved behind Jason, holding him close and resting his chin on Jason’s head. He liked that Dante had no qualms about showing public affection. It almost felt as if his mate was claiming him all over again. Jason also liked feeling those muscles wrapped around him like a sexy security blanket.

  Kent was behind the counter when they approached. “Hey, guys.” He smiled. “What can I get for you?”

  “Your mate quit already?” Dante asked from behind Jason.

  Kent snorted. “No. Jamie’s taking a break.” Kent looked Jason over. “Let me go get Gem for you, Jason.”

  “No, wait.” Jason curled in his lips as Kent walked away. It wasn’t that he was averse to seeing his cousin. He just hadn’t told Gem that he was mated, and Gem was going to be pissed that Jason had held out on him. At least now Jason knew why Grey had been all over Gem in that club. They were mates.

  And Jason was a bit ticked that Gem hadn’t told him. He’d had to hear about it through Dante. But Dante had softened the blow by telling him that nonhumans didn’t just go around announcing what they were to the general public. Gem had probably been warned not to say anything to Jason.

  Gem walked out of the back, an apron on, globs of flour and other things clinging to his clothing. He smiled at Jason. “About time you came to see me. I was starting to think you were avoiding me.”

  Jason had been, but there was no use telling Gem that. First, he’d been avoiding his cousin because Jason had felt like a loser being dumped by Stephen. Then everything had happened with Kevin and Dante claimed him and… Jason hadn’t really had a chance to call Gem.

  His cousin grabbed his arm and pulled him into the kitchen. As soon as they cleared the doorway, Jason spotted a tray of small raspberry tarts. He snatched one up and tossed it into his mouth. Gem had always been an excellent cook and an even better baker. Kent was lucky to have him.

  “Stop eating the inventory.” Gem smacked at his hand. “Why on earth haven’t you called me? I had to hear about Kevin through Grey.” Gem gave him a tight hug before releasing him. “He put you in the fucking hospital, Jason. You should have called me. Are you all right?”

  Jason eyed the tarts, wondering if he could get to another one before Gem stopped him. They tasted divine, and it was worth another hand slap. Jason grabbed one and popped it into his mouth before his cousin could stop him.

  “Will you stop eating all my hard work?” Gem growled. “Tell me what in the hell is going on, Jason.”

  “As soon as you bring me a coffee to wash down your tarts.” If Gem went to get the coffee, Jason was stealing more of those little heavenly treats. Gem’s skill in the kitchen was one of the reasons Jason had hung out at his cousin’s house when he was growing up. Stick around Gem long enough and a person could put on some weight.

  “Do I look like an idiot to you?” Gem glared at him. “I leave the kitchen and you’ll eat your way through my hard work. Tell me what’s going on, and I’ll give you another tart.”

  Kent walked into the kitchen, set two steaming mugs of coffee on the counter, winked at them, then walked out.

  Gem went right for one of the mugs.

  Jason helped himself, sighing at how good the coffee tasted so early in the morning. He’d had a cup already, but Kent’s Café was a lost gem in the world. The coffee was rich and smooth and almost better than sex.

  Almost.

  He told Gem everything. About what had happened in Loose Lips with Stephen and his friends and how Kevin had waited for him to get off work to jump him. About Dante’s ex showing up and shooting Dante and how Kevin and Stephen had run them off the road. He paused for a second before he looked at the floor. “Stephen is dead.”

  “Good riddance,” Gem huffed. “I know that sounds cold hearted, but he set you up to be raped then tried to kill you. I’m sorry if I don’t feel any sympathy toward him.”

  Jason appreciated Gem’s vehemence. “Dante is my mate.”

  “I heard.” Gem slapped him on the arm. “You should have called me. Here I was thinking you were down in the dumps because Stephen had broken up with you, but you were busy getting your freak on.”

  Jason laughed. “I wouldn’t exactly call it that.”

  Gem bounced his blond brows. “I would. It was killing me not to tell you about their world, but Grey would have had my ass if I had.”

  “Seems he already had your ass.” Jason went for another tart, and this time, Gem didn’t stop him. “Seriously, though. Things got crazy, and shit, I’m not going to lie to you. I forgot to call you with everything happening.”

  “We need to rectify that.” Gem placed two raspberry tarts on a small plate. “No more from the tray unless you’re going to pay for them.”

  Jason greedily took the plate and set it next to his coffee.

  Gem leaned a hip against the counter. “There always seems to be trouble when one of those guys finds a mate. I was jumped out back after I ran into Grey again. A vampire who wanted me as his snack.”

  Jason sputtered and nearly choked on the tart he was eating. “Are you for real?”