When the heart is involved, bravery can have more power than the strongest magic.
When James Sparks, the alpha of the local werewolf pack, declares Kevin Santhill as his mate, the free-wheeling wizard panics. He didn't plan on settling down—not now, not ever. It doesn’t matter that James is the sexiest thing he’d ever seen or that his heart flips whenever he sees the sexy wolf shifter, he plans to stick by his guns and stay independent.
However, when his best friend Jaynell goes missing, he has to partner with James to help find his friend. And if Kevin can't find the confidence to dredge up his magic and control his avatar, Jay could be lost forever.
Publisher's Note: This book was previously released at another publisher. It has been revised and re-edited for release by Totally Bound Publishing.
General Release Date: 6th December 2013
Kevin Santhil opened his eyes, looked around the room and panicked.
What the fuck?
Then it all came back to him. Jay’s battle, his friend’s victory and Kevin letting the wolf alpha, James, sweet-talk him into bed. Well, one of those things wasn’t as bad as the others.
Memories of the night before flashed through his head, a sexy recap as his morning erection bobbed for attention. He resisted the urge to rub off—he needed to get out before James woke. If he saw those gorgeous eyes open, he knew he’d be unable to resist a repeat of the previous night.
Kevin’s stomach churned over how much he enjoyed being in James’ bed. He’d never spent all night with anyone before. His deep-seated fear of commitment ensured he generally snuck out long before his bedmate woke. The fact he didn’t want to make a fast exit had his heart beating rapidly and his breath quickening. He’d never wished to linger in another man’s bed before. Usually he couldn’t find his clothes and the exit fast enough.
He turned to examine the large man lying beside him. James’ long, slow breaths soothed Kevin. Just being next to the alpha settled the worry chewing him from the inside out.
Most people appeared younger, gentler, while asleep. James looked like he could snap awake and spring into action, taking down anyone who threatened his pack.
It was kind of hot—dangerously so.
Kevin had worked too hard to get into wizarding college to throw it all away for a gorgeous alpha wolf, no matter how much he longed to spend the rest of the day licking the sexy man all over. He needed to concentrate on his studies, not on his desperate need to have James back inside him.
Glancing at the clock, Kevin cursed. If he didn’t get his butt moving, he was going to be late for class. Sliding away from the warm, sensual man took a huge amount of willpower. It didn’t help when James grabbed him around the middle and snuggled him back against his hard body as if Kevin belonged there.
I must resist. Somehow the mental pep talk failed to persuade him to move an inch away from its comfy spot spooning with the alpha. Damn his pheromones. James smelled divine, a hot, musky scent that drove Kevin’s hormones wild.
“Where ya goin’?” James’ deep, sleep-roughened voice murmured in his ear. A puff of hot air brushed across his sensitive skin. Kevin shuddered in response.
Sharp teeth nipped his lobe, making his cock go from slightly interested to desperately needy. A moan broke from his throat as he gave in to the inevitable and rubbed against the hard man behind him.
Damn! The big wolf shifter woke up stiff and ready for action. Kevin’s resolve melted faster than an ice cube on a summer sidewalk.
“Let go.” Kevin half-heartedly tried to move the muscular arm that pinned him so easily in place. A difficult protest when his body yearned to stay in the snuggly cocoon of the big wolf’s arms, even as his mind knew class started in an hour.
He couldn’t miss class. As his father always said, if you lack talent, make up for it with persistence. Of course, his father was an abusive asshole, but he did occasionally dispense good advice. What Kevin lacked in pure magical power, he made up for with tenacity. This morning he had Magical Theory, and if he were even a minute late, he’d probably miss the one essential fact in an hour of droning monologue. He suspected the professor saved the good bits for students who showed up on time. Since he could never get his act together this early in the morning, Kevin had never been able to substantiate his theory.
“No, I’m going to keep you in my bed where you belong.” James’ warm breath slid across Kevin’s skin, leaving hot desire in its wake. His cock dripped pre-cum in appreciation. Stupid hormones didn’t care about Kevin’s schedule. They thought there was more than enough time for a good tumble in the bed before school.
He reluctantly broke away from the gorgeous alpha, his goal the edge of the bed, far from temptation. “I’ve gotta go. I have class in half an hour.”
He still needed to take a shower unless he wanted to go to class smelling like cum. He’d lost track of how many times they’d had sex last night, but his entire body ached in places he didn’t even know could hurt. Spending all day on a hard wooden school chair wouldn’t be comfortable but definitely worth the price.
“You’ll come back.”
James definitely didn’t lack confidence but with those kinds of bedroom skills, the man had reason to expect Kevin’s compliance to a crook of his finger. Kevin didn’t even know if he liked the enormous shifter as a person, but the attraction was undeniable. He desperately needed to get away from James before the alpha could convince him to abandon his schedule for a large cock and a possessive attitude.
When James had coaxed him into his bed last night, Kevin hadn’t even thought to protest. Strange—he wasn’t the type who slept with just anyone. Especially not someone he’d just met. Truthfully, James hadn’t had to work too hard to lure Kevin into his bed.
“I’ll be back after school,” he lied.
Uh-huh. Not going to happen. If he had an ounce of self-preservation he’d flee from the pack house and never return. He continued wiggling toward the end of the mattress.
James clamped his big hands on Kevin’s hips, stopping his forward progress then sliding him back into James’ arms. Pressing his nose against Kevin’s neck, he inhaled deeply. “Why do humans bother to lie to werekin? We can always tell.”
James flipped Kevin over. A hand placed under his chin forced Kevin to meet the alpha’s eyes.
Amber Kell has made a career out of daydreaming. It has been a lifelong habit she practices diligently as shown by her complete lack of focus on anything not related to her fantasy world building.
When she told her husband what she wanted to do with her life he told her to go have fun.
During those seconds she isn't writing she remembers she has children who humor her with games of 'what if' and let her drag them to foreign lands to gather inspiration. Her youngest confided in her that he wants to write because he longs for a website and an author name—two things apparently necessary to be a proper writer.
Despite her husband's insistence she doesn't drink enough to be a true literary genius she continues to spin stories of people falling happily in love and staying that way.
She is thwarted during the day by a traffic jam of cats on the stairway and a puppy who insists on walks, but she bravely perseveres.