Also available from Pride Publishing:
Keepers of the Gods: Son of Death
Nikki McCoy
Excerpt
Chapter One
As soon as Jamie heard the spray of water hitting tiles in the bathroom next to their room, he sprang into action. It was a short trip to the kitchen where he filled and started the coffee machine, then prepared two mugs with just the right amount of sugar and cream.
Theirs was a small house, but shabby by no means. The kitchen was almost as large as the living room, and while that wasn’t saying much, they managed to keep them both free of clutter. This gave their home a cosy atmosphere instead of inducing the claustrophobia one would expect to feel in such small spaces.
There were two bedrooms—one they shared, and one which had been deemed Jamie’s office, although that was more of a title than a fact. A jumbled collection of decorations and household items that Loland had accumulated over his years as an interior decorator reigned supreme.
Every week, Jamie was forced to clear a path to his work station, consisting of a worn pine desk, chair, computer and fax machine, but he didn’t mind. He loved to imagine the kinds of homes that would eventually house each piece as he was working.
Jamie returned to their bedroom and began to rifle through the clothes inhabiting Loland’s side of the closet. Most of them had either designer tags or were close knock-offs. The significance of the names on the material went right over his head but he knew it was important to his partner.
He’d also been keeping tabs on the outfits Loland wore on his dates with his boyfriend. He knew exactly which shirt to match with which pants to give Loland a fresh look every time he went out.
It had been odd at first, helping his lover prepare to meet another man. No other Dom Loland had met had ever had him this flustered. For that matter, no other man had piqued Loland’s interest enough for him to want to engage in more than just casual scenes at the club. Jamie knew this one was special. The energy Loland gave off following each date was sizzling with love and lust, and somehow it only enhanced their own relationship.
Loland had informed him that this was another actual date, not a club rendezvous, so Jamie decided on a pair of dark greyy slacks and a long-sleeved, white button-up shirt that shimmered even in dull light. After laying the clothes neatly on the bed so as not to wrinkle them, he went in search of Loland’s watch, cell phone, and wallet, lying in various places throughout the room, and lined them all up on the dresser.
He warily eyed his lover’s vast shoe collection and was tempted to pick out a pair to save Loland the hassle of having to choose, but he remembered the one time he’d made that mistake. Instead of the usual ten minutes it took for Loland to decide on his footwear, it had taken the man forty minutes to find the perfect outfit to match the shoes Jamie had chosen for him. That had been for the first date and since then Jamie had taken the liberty of dressing the man himself.
Not willing to go there again, Jamie instead walked to the living room and found a jacket for Loland that would go with his outfit and be appropriate for the weather outside. A peek out of the closed blinds covering the window showed that it was going to be a clear, if chilly, night. The perfect opportunity for Loland to try out the new lightweight leather long-coat he’d unearthed at Sears while shopping for a client.
With nothing left to do, Jamie retreated to the kitchen, poured coffee into both mugs, and sipped at his while waiting for the entertainment to start.
It didn’t take long. Two minutes later, he heard the shower turn off and watched with a bemused expression as Loland ran to the kitchen, dripping water everywhere, with only a hastily wrapped towel around his narrow hips.
“So I was thinking of wearing my blue sweater, but I don’t have any…”
“Bed.” Jamie pointed to their room and watched the taller man scramble in that direction. He heard a muffled, “Thanks,” and waited patiently for the rest of the ritual to play out.
Loland came hopping out on one foot, trying to walk and put on his trousers at the same time. “Have you seen my…”
“Dresser.”
The man hopped back into the room then reappeared five minutes later, asking, “Is that coffee I smell?”
Jamie handed him the second mug still sitting on the counter and tried to stifle his laugh as he watched his lover accept it with glee. Watching Loland enjoy a good cup of coffee was like watching a man in the throes of the best orgasm of his life. It never got old, and it was always as sexy as hell.
His prick swelled to life at the sound of Loland’s little added moans thrown in for extra effect. Jamie had to tighten his grip on his own cup to keep from grabbing Loland and swallowing those sounds in a thorough kiss. The quick peck on the mouth Loland gave him didn’t help matters at all. Loland raced back to the bedroom while Jamie took a seat on the couch.
“So he’s taking me to that new Benihana restaurant they opened up in Paradise Valley,” Loland yelled from down the hallway. “I can’t imagine how he got reservations there on such short notice. I heard there was a two-month waiting list to get in and that was weeks before they even opened their doors.”
“Well, you have been seeing him for three months.”
“Yeah, but that was just casual hook-ups at the club. This is our sixth date. It takes us to a whole new level on the relationship scale. Chukka or Memphis?”
“Memphis.” Jamie grimaced at the ease with which he had replied. He tried his best to avoid the fashion world like the plague. The fact that he could now make decisions on which style of shoe would fit an outfit best without even looking at them did not bode well for him. “So, you really like this guy, huh?”
It was a needless question. Loland constantly spoke of the man’s looks and actions with adoration. His past was still a bit of a mystery, but at this point, Jamie felt as though he knew him almost as well as did Loland. Truthfully, he sounded like the kind of guy Jamie could fall for as well.
But that would never happen.
“Yes,” Loland said as he came out and plopped himself down on the couch next to him. “And I know you’ll love him too. He has the cutest little dimple on his left cheek when he smiles and have I mentioned his ass? Oh man, I could go on for…”
“Wait, wait, wait. What do you mean ‘when I meet him’? He’s your boyfriend, not mine.” Jamie could feel the familiar sense of panic begin to rise and take root in his chest. He tried to hide the panic he knew was shining in his eyes, but Loland must have noticed before he could cover his face with his hair.
Loland reached out and placed a finger under his chin, then gently began to kiss him—the corners of his mouth, his nose, his eyebrows, the lines creasing his forehead. “I wouldn’t introduce you to anyone that would hurt you, baby. I’ve been a lot more careful since…well, since last time. You’re the most important person in the world to me. You know that right?”
Jamie finally looked up through his lashes and met Loland’s sincere gaze. There was not a hint of deception or anger to be seen in those soft brown eyes. There never was. He could feel the waves of bright, pure energy rolling into him from the other man that attested to his honesty. He didn’t want to rehash the reasons why it would be a disaster for him to meet any of Loland’s friends. There was no need to ruin his lover’s excitement for the evening.
“I know. And I know what happened before wasn’t your fault.” He decided to lighten the mood by kissing Loland’s mouth and grasping the bulge between his legs in a firm grip. He rarely let his aggressive side show, but every time he did, it was the perfect distraction. Loland gasped and swivelled his hips, silently begging Jamie to rub along his growing erection.
Jamie pushed forwards until his slighter frame was resting atop Loland’s across the couch. He ground his hard-on into the crevice between his lover’s cock and hipbone. The fabric of his jeans wasn’t kind to his sensitive flesh, but the friction felt amazing. He delved his tongue into Loland’s mouth and reached up to tweak his nipple with his other hand. Jamie was rewarded with another gasp and a fresh wave of sexual energy.
He nudged copper curls aside with his nose as he kissed his way down his lover’s jaw and found the erotic spot just beneath his ear. He bit into the soft flesh above Loland’s collarbone and gave the head of his cock a tight squeeze at the same time, drawing out loud pants and whimpers.
The power of taking control always hit him with a rush. It was what Loland needed, and what Jamie desired most in the world to give to him, but he could only keep up this act for so long. As much as he longed to be everything to his partner, he was no dominant.
With more than a little reluctance, he slowly eased back into his true submissive nature and whispered against Loland’s lips, “You’re going to be late.” The dazed look in Loland’s eyes almost made him change his mind about releasing him so he could go on his date. The temptation was there, clawing at him as it always did when Loland went out, but he knew that there were things the man needed that Jamie couldn’t give to him.
“I can stay home, baby. If you want to spend some time together, I’m all for that. Or I can take you with me. I know he wouldn’t mind. We could skip the fancy restaurant and go somewhere private. It would be just the…”
“No. I love you and I’m telling you to go on this date. I can see that this one makes you happy.” Jamie quickly kissed away the protest he could see building on the thinning lips of his lover. Loland would probably let him get away with murder in his bid to make him happy in any way that he could, and Jamie did his best not to take advantage of that through of his own selfishness. Loland needed to be dominated just as much as he did. He could tell by the satisfied haze his lover had been floating around in for the past several months that the man he was seeing met his needs.
“Go. Meet this guy, then come home to me so hot and horny you have to drill me through the mattress just to take the edge off.” Jamie knew he’d finally lessened his lover’s worries when Loland threw his head back and laughed. The sound reached into his soul and cleansed all of his worries about being left alone again in their small home for the night.
“Okay. Are you working a shift tonight?” Loland asked.
“Yea, but only a half one. I should be done by the time you get back.”
Loland stood up and straightened his clothes before donning his leather coat. “Do I look all right? Thank you for helping, by the way. Don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“You’re welcome, and you look great. My sexy top. Now go have fun. I have annoying people to piss off.”
Loland chuckled as he leant down to give Jamie a chaste kiss, then headed for the front door. “Lock this. Keep your cell phone on you, and call me if anything happens, or even if you just need me to come home for…whatever. I’ll be back soon. Promise me you’ll call if anything happens.”
Jamie tried his hardest not to roll his eyes as the second part of their ritual played out. Loland had always been protective of him. Ever since the episode with the last man Loland had taken an interest in, his lover had become obsessively fussy.
It had taken him over six months to convince the man that he would be fine on his own. He may still get panic attacks and work extra hours just to keep the paralysing fear at bay, but there was no way Jamie was going to let Loland know about that. The man had already sacrificed enough for him.
“Yes, Sir. I promise.”
Loland paused in the doorway and bit his lip. The indecision on his face was somehow endearing and exasperating all at once. Jamie wanted to scream at him that he was wiser now. He could take care of himself. But at the same time, he was afraid of losing that special concern that no one else had for him. Loland was his ray of sunshine in a life soured by the ruthless desires of other people. He was a gift that Jamie would never take for granted.
He stood up from the couch and swung his hips in a sultry sway as he approached Loland. In a soft, seductive voice, he said, “I swear to be a good boy until you get home. After that, I promise nothing.” Loland groaned into his mouth as Jamie stole another kiss. Their lips met in a bruising clash and Jamie clamped his fingers around the hard sides of his lover’s waist. He borrowed confidence from Loland’s solid frame and poured as much assurance into his voice as he could muster.
“I’ll be fine. Enjoy yourself.”
Loland gave him one last kiss before closing the door behind him. Jamie swiftly locked both deadbolts and secured the chain on top. With the added security they had installed into their new home, he felt some relief from the ever-present fear that continuously threatened to steal the fragile hold he had on his self-control. The succour was tenuous at best, and he mentally repeated his mantra of solitude all the way to his office. Loland is strong. Loland is smart. Loland will keep me safe. Of course, when Loland said it, it always came out as, “You are strong. You are smart. You will stay safe for me,” but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t instil the same amount of faith in himself that his partner apparently had in him.
And what the hell was up with his notion that Jamie should meet his new Dom?
Loland and Jamie had always shared an open relationship. Well, open on Loland’s end. But the inviolable rules in their partnership clearly stated that Jamie was, under no circumstances, required to meet the men his lover dated.
The factor of jealousy was not an issue. Even Jamie couldn’t deny that he desired the kind of domination Loland described in his relationships with men he called “Masters” at the clubs he frequented. However, never once before tonight had his lover alluded to an inclination for Jamie to meet whoever was Loland’s Dom at the time.
A wave of anguish swept through him as he imagined the humiliation his lover would endure if he brought over his boyfriend. Jamie was awkward at best, with skin so pale he could pass for a ghost due to his reluctance to go outside. His raven-coloured hair didn’t help matters, and he was far from muscular…or tall…or even toned.
Truthfully, he had no idea what Loland saw in him, or why the man bothered to keep a lover action-packed with issues. But he wasn’t about to tempt fate by embarrassing him in front of a guy Loland was obviously taken with. Then there was always the compounded concerns of his powers. If the guy was slotted to die soon, Jamie would know. And what if his precognition kicked in, giving him a glimpse into the man’s future that Loland might not be happy with?
He wouldn’t be able to hide his reaction, and the thought of lying to his lover made him queasy. Honesty was imperative in their relationship. Loland had been the first and only person to believe that his powers were real and not a figment of his imagination. He could never betray that trust.
No. When it came down to it, there was no other option. He could not meet this man. His power of precog had taken mercy on him a few weeks after Loland had started seeing his boyfriend, once given the assurance that this guy would make Loland happy. He’d never told Lo about it, but maybe he should. It would ease his lover’s mind. But for now, he had Internet complications to tackle.