Hondo

Demon Warriors 1 

Hondo Chris has hung around the Demon Warriors, trying to emulate them, for one hundred years. He's in awe of these magnificent warriors but has eyes for only one of them. Hondo is as thickheaded as they come. Everyone around him can see how Chris feels about the big, bad warrior—everyone except Hondo. When bizarre occurrences keep taking place in the demon realm, Chris is ready for action, rushing in where wise men fear to tread. Can Hondo keep Chris from running into a battle he may not survive, and can Hondo set aside their friendship and become a lover to the little demon who worships the very ground he walks on?

Note: Each book in Lynn Hagen's Demon Warriors collection features a different romantic couple. Each title stands alone and can be read in any order. However, we recommend reading the series in sequential order. Genre: Alternative (M/M or F/F), Fantasy Length: 35,355 words 

HONDO Demon Warriors 1

Lynn Hagen

EVERLASTING CLASSIC MANLOVE

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK IMPRINT: Everlasting Classic ManLove

HONDO Copyright © 2011 by Lynn Hagen E-book ISBN: 1-61034-633-5 First E-book Publication: July 2011 Cover design by Jinger Heaston All art and logo copyright © 2011 by Siren Publishing, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

PUBLISHER Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

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HONDO Demon Warriors 1 LYNN HAGEN Copyright © 2011

Chapter One Hondo watched as Panahasi emerged from the shadows near the corner of the bar after taking the mates of the Brac pack back home. His leader looked weary and not his usual self. Seeing other breeds interacting with their mates had driven home the fact that none of the Demon Warriors had found theirs yet. It was difficult watching the wolf shifter, Dagon Santiago, with his mate while feeling a longing to find one’s own. It seemed to be affecting Panahasi more so than the rest of them. His leader strolled over to the bar, talking to the bartender for a moment and then accepting a glass of amber liquid. Hondo knew it was whiskey, the man’s choice of drink. Hondo tipped the beer bottle back, taking a long swig as he watched his leader make his way over to his table. Hondo pulled his feet from the cushioned seat across from him as Panahasi slid into the booth. “How’d it go?” Hondo asked as he sat his bottle down. His leader waved his hand at him in a dismissive gesture. “They’re humans and shifters, boring.”

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Hondo could tell by his tone there was more to it than he was letting on, but he didn’t push. No one pushed the guy if he didn’t volunteer the information. “Taylor gonna be okay?” “He’ll be fine. He’s accepted his demon and will live a happy ever after, yadda, yadda.” Hondo looked over at Rainerio, giving a slight shrug, and then finished his beer. Another drag queen took the stage, peacocking and prancing to the music flooding the club. Hondo would never understand how a man could dress up in drag. He didn’t judge them. He just didn’t understand them. The warriors hung at Diablo’s because there were plenty of guys to fuck, good food, and even better eye candy strutting around. “I’m gonna head out.” Rainerio tapped knuckles with Hondo and glanced at Panahasi before walking through the crowd. Everyone parted, allowing the warrior his space. “You might as well go, not much happening around here tonight.” His leader spoke in a deadpan voice. Hondo hated to see him like this. He was usually fun to be around, always livened the place up, but after the last assignment, things seemed to be spiraling downward. He knew the mood would pass and Panahasi would be back to his usual self. It just sucked to see him so morose. “I’ll catch up with you later.” Panahasi nodded that he’d heard Hondo but still had that faraway look on his face. Hondo made his way to the front door, taking in the fresh air as he walked to his apartment. “Hey,” Chris called out as he ran up beside Hondo, zipping around him excitedly. Hondo was six nine, and the squirt was five seven. It took three of Chris’s steps to match one of Hondo’s. It was a good thing Chris had super speed, or else Hondo would have to carry the little demon in order for him to keep up. “What have you been into tonight?” he asked the small demon. Chris hung around the warriors, running errands and trying his best to

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be like them. Unfortunately, he never would be. They were an elite group, born into warrior status. Chris was too short, and slim as hell. “Nothing.” Chris shot to Hondo’s side. “I saw Gammy tonight.” This got Hondo’s attention. They’d been after the demon for some time. “What was he doing?” “He was trying to suck out another soul in the back alley. I tried to call you, but you guys never answer your cell phones.” Hondo cursed. The seedy little demon bastard somehow always knew when the warriors were in another realm and caused as much havoc as he could while they were away. Trying to catch Gammy was like trying to grab hold of a fish right out of the water, slippery little bastard. “Did he succeed?” Hondo asked as he walked down King Kennedy Ave. He was tired but knew he had to check in with the other warriors and track down Gammy. “No, I threw rocks at him and yelled Panahasi’s name as if the leader were heading my way. It scared Gammy away.” Hondo smiled at the small guy. “Good job.” “Thanks.” He beamed. Chris was so easy to please. Give him encouragement and he blossomed. Too bad everyone else wasn’t like that. “You want to hang tonight?” It was going to be slow anyway and company would help take his mind off the fact that he was mateless. Chris was good company, a little chatty, but the conversation was never boring. If he let Chris go with him, Gammy wouldn’t pose a threat to his buddy as long as the demon stayed out of the way. What harm could it be to let his enthusiastic buddy hang out for a night? The smaller demon’s eyes widened. “Really?” “Sure, just let me go home and shower, and then we can head out.” Chris gave him a hearty salute, and then put on a burst of speed to catch back up with him. They climbed the steps to his building, and

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walked up the three flights to his apartment. Hondo inserted the key and went in first, checking the place for any danger before waving Chris in. Being a Demon Warrior gained him and his unit a lot of enemies, and he didn’t want the shorter man to get hurt. Chris flopped down on his couch as Hondo went to his bedroom, digging out fresh clothes from his dresser and then heading into the bathroom. After his shower, Hondo stood in front of the mirror, running his hands through his wet hair. He analyzed his mug, wondering if, no, when he found his mate, if he would appeal to him. Problem was, demons didn’t know who their mates were until they slept with them, and then the bond formed. The process of finding a mate made demons slutty as hell, but they were desperate to find their mates. Giving up the thought because it only tortured him, he pulled his T-shirt over his head. “Hey, gonna be much longer? I gotta whiz.” Hondo rolled his eyes at the elegant way Chris worded things. “Be out in a minute.” He shouted through door. Can’t a guy have some peace even in the bathroom? He pulled his hair from the back of his shirt and let it fall to his shoulder, running his fingers through it one more time and then ran into a snag. Hondo reluctantly grabbed the brush from the medicine cabinet and worked the knot out. He tossed it back in and shut the mirror. “All yours,” he announced when he entered the living room. “Thanks.” Chris shot from the sofa, running straight in and slamming the door closed. Hondo shook his head. The guy must have a small bladder. “All done.” Chris beamed as he came from the bathroom and headed for the door. “Ready?” “Let’s roll.” Hondo followed Chris back down the stairs, heading out into the night.

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It was always night here. Demons couldn’t live in the sun. Their corporeal form would fade away when the sun’s rays hit them. He’d visited the human realm thousands of times, but only at night. “We’ll start on Broadview Avenue and ask around.” Chris nodded in quick bursts. “Okay, Torky hangs out there. He hears everything.” Chris ran alongside Hondo. “I wanna grab a bite to eat once we dust Gammy off.” Chris jogged in front of Hondo, jumping around like an excited puppy. “I get to help? Please tell me I can help. You guys always make me go home when the real fun starts.” Hondo had to slow his pace or else bowl Chris over. “You can help. But if I say get back, then get back. Understood?” “Yes, sir.” Chris gave him another hearty salute. Fondness washed over Hondo for the short demon yapping at his heels. Chris really did try hard to fit in with them and help out as much as he could. Hondo spotted Torky standing by a stoop in front of his apartment building, holding court with a bunch of losers. “Hey, come here.” Torky gave him a cocky grin as he sauntered over. “You bellowed?” “Seen Gammy?” Torky’s smile turned into a snarl as he looked over his shoulder at the losers watching him and then back at Hondo. “Someone needs to take that fucking slimeball out. One of these days he’s gonna go after the wrong one and get his ass kicked. Seen him an hour ago over on Granger. Good luck catching his ass.” Torky walked back over to his crowd, never looking back. “Granger it is.” Hondo and Chris walked up Broadview, made a left on King Kennedy, and then another left onto Granger. They crept quietly, hoping to catch the soul-sucking demon off guard. Hondo thought it ironic that Gammy was hanging across the street from Diablo’s the whole time he was hanging in the club.

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“I’m so excited.” Chris bit at his nails, giggling as he ran next to Hondo. “My first capture.” “Remember to do as I say,” Hondo warned him. Chris used his index finger to cross his heart. “I promise.” Hondo could see the anticipation bubbling all around the demon. He would subdue Gammy and then let Chris cuff him with neutralizing cuffs. The cuffs voided any paranormal being’s powers. That should make his night. He came up short when he rounded the corner onto Granger. Gammy wasn’t alone. The slimeball had another seedy demon with him. “Go home, Chris.” “No, no, no.” Chris stomped his foot. “You said I could help with this one.” “But that was before I knew Gammy had a sidekick.” Chris shook his head adamantly. “I can defend myself.” He took a karate stance, wobbling on one leg, and then performed a judo chop, his hands slicing through the air in front of him and nearly making him tumble over. Hondo bit the inside of his mouth to stop the chuckle. “Go home.” “No.” The little demon crossed his arms over his chest. “Can’t make me.” Hondo could, but he didn’t have time for this. “Stay behind me, damn it.” Chris’s eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. He jumped up and down, squealing into his hand that covered his mouth and nodded. “I promise,” he whispered after uncovering his mouth. Hondo’s stomach clenched at the thought of his buddy getting hurt. He had been hanging around them for over one hundred years now, and they all were very fond of him. He motioned for Chris to stay behind him. The guy’s exuberance was bouncing off the damn brick buildings that surrounded them. Chris nodded in short bursts, giving Hondo the thumbs-up.

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Plastering his back to the wall, Hondo inched his way forward, sliding along until he was mere feet away. He reached behind him, grabbing the neutralizing cuffs and silently handing them to Chris, who snatched them quickly from his hand. Hondo prayed he was making the right call by allowing Chris to be a part of this. Hondo reached out with the quickness of a striking snake and grabbed Gammy by his neck. The slimeball that had been with Gammy took off running, Hondo ignored the fleeing man. He slammed the soul sucker to the pavement, wrestling his hands behind his back. “Now, Chris,” he yelled over his shoulder. Chris dashed forward, leaping onto Gammy’s back and slapping the cuffs around the demon’s wrists. Chris jumped up, pumping his arms in the air and singing as he danced in a circle around Hondo. “I caught a slimeball. I caught a slimeball.” Hondo chuckled at the little demon, pulling his cell phone from his leather and hitting speed dial for Rainerio. “Caught Gammy, I’m on Granger.” He hit the end button and shoved the phone back in his leather. “Come on, Gammy. Let’s get you into the detention cells.” Hondo pulled the cuffed demon to his feet. The detention cells were located in the underworld. The worst of the paranormal world was locked up down there. “I didn’t do anything. You’re harassing me for standing on the corner talking to a dear friend of mine.” “Sure,” Hondo said sarcastically. “Liar,” Chris shouted at Gammy, pointing his finger up into the demon’s face. “I saw you trying to suck someone’s soul out.” Chris’s lips pursed in anger as his eyes narrowed at Gammy. “Tell the truth, Gammy.” Hondo had to pull Chris back. Even though they finally caught the soul sucker, Gammy was still lethal.

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“Fuck.” Hondo swung Gammy into the brick wall. The temperature dropped around them. Gammy’s power was to dry-freeze and kill. The demon growled as his skin started freezing. Being a Demon Warrior, Hondo could withstand it. Chris couldn’t. “Stay back, Chris,” Hondo shouted as he continually slammed Gammy into the brick wall of the mini-mart, hoping to knock him unconscious and stop him from wreaking havoc. Chris jumped up and down frantically. “Is he freezing you?” he asked in a panic filled voice. “No, but you will be if you come too close.” Hondo was relieved when Rainerio and Takeo showed up. Taking a prisoner to the detention cells required three Demon Warriors. They would deliver him to the underworld and let the Keeper pass judgment. Capturing was their job, and capturing was what had been accomplished. “You did a good job, Chris. Now I need you to go home so we can drop this piece of scum off,” Hondo complimented his buddy as Gammy slumped against the wall, succumbing to unconsciousness. “He helped?” Rainerio asked as he looked between Hondo and Chris. “I’m impressed.” Chris grinned, his smile stretching from ear to ear. “Yep, I did,” he stated proudly. His slim chest puffed out in pride as he smiled at all three of the warriors. “Way to go.” Takeo bumped the side of his fist against Chris’s shoulder. The shorter demon blushed and waved his hand at Takeo. “It’s no big deal.” Hondo knew better. Chris would be riding that high for months to come. He should. He did cuff him with expertise. Hondo chuckled to himself. “I’ll call you,” Chris sang as he skipped away. “He really helped?” Rainerio asked once Chris was out of earshot. “Yep, cuffed him like a pro.” Hondo chuckled outwardly this time. “I couldn’t get the little bugger to go home, so I had to give him something to do.”

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“I think he’s sweet on you,” Takeo teased. Hondo tilted his head, staring at the warrior in confusion. “Nah, he just wants in on the action.” There was no way Chris liked him. He acted that way around all of them. “I think so.” Takeo grabbed Gammy as the other two did the same, all three walking into the shadow on the side of the building. **** Hondo stirred the pasta in the boiling water, checking on the sauce at the same time. “I’m coming,” Chris shouted from the living room. “What?” Hondo turned and Chris was right at his side with his apron on. The little demon was fast. “Sorry, the commercial took really long to come on.” When he asked Chris over for dinner, he had no clue he’d be stuck cooking. He had planned to stick his friend with the chore. Guess it backfired on him. “It’s cool. The pasta is almost ready, and the sauce is simmering.” “I’ll get the garlic bread and put it in the oven.” Chris shot over to the freezer and grabbed the foiled package, ripping it open, and placing two long halves on a cookie sheet. “Watch out.” Chris bumped Hondo over as he opened the oven, placing the tray on the rack. “Shouldn’t take too long.” Hondo looked down at Chris, remembering Takeo’s words from last night. Chris didn’t act like he had a crush on him, more like a buddy in his opinion. He waved the thought away. Takeo read too much into things. “Let me drain this and then I can sit back and watch the movie with you.” Chris shot over to the cupboard, jumping onto a chair and pulling the colander down, setting it in the sink. He ran back over to the stove and shut the sauce off, all before Hondo even pulled the pot from the burner. “Slow down, I’m getting motion sickness.” He chuckled.

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“Sorry, I’m just really hungry, and the movie is about to start again.” Chris shot out of the kitchen as Hondo dumped the pasta in the sink. He set the timer for the bread and then joined Chris in the living room, taking a seat on the other side of the couch. “What are we watching?” Hondo asked, seeing how Chris was curled up into a ball and peeking out between his fingers. “A scary movie,” Chris whispered. “If it’s so scary, why are you watching it?” Chris looked over at Hondo between his fingers. “’Cause it’s good.” Hondo smiled. The guy made no sense. He grabbed a throw pillow and held it to his chest, slouching down to watch the movie. The acting was terrible and the slasher scenes were comical, but Chris stayed balled up with his knees to his chest and his hands half covering his eyes as he watched it. The timer buzzed, and Hondo got up to take the garlic bread out. “Don’t let the killer find you while I’m gone,” he teased. Chris shot off the couch and ran behind him as Hondo entered the kitchen. The little shit ran into his back when Hondo stopped at the oven. “Sorry,” he squeaked and looked over his shoulder. The guy was making this too easy. “I’ll be right back.” Hondo set the sheet on the stove, walking out of the kitchen. He hid in the closet, keeping it cracked open until he saw Chris wandering in slowly, looking around for him. He bit his bottom lip to stop the laughter trying to force its way out and ruin his prank. “H–Hondo?” Hondo jumped from the closet, watching Chris shriek and jump ten feet in the air. “You asshole.” Chris punched him in the stomach. Hondo barely feeling it. “That wasn’t nice!” Hondo held his side as he laughed. “I thought it was funny as hell.” He dodged another of Chris’s fists, running into the kitchen,

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letting the little demon think he was getting even. Chris’s lips were pursed, his eyes narrowed, as he chased Hondo around the four seat table. “Okay, I give.” Hondo laughed and grabbed the pasta from the sink, Chris pulling a chair to the cupboard and getting two plates and two glasses down. He balanced them precariously while trying to step down. Hondo leased one of the apartments made especially for warriors. All the Demon Warriors were occupants here. The counters and cupboards were at his height, which was perfect for him, but not so much for beings under six feet, like Chris. His buddy scraped a chair around the kitchen every time he came over. “How much?” Hondo asked as he scooped the spaghetti from the pot and began to pile it on Chris’s plate. “Stop.” Chris waved his hands in front of him. “That’s too much.” Hondo took some away, dumping the rest onto his plate and then pouring the sauce over both. He was just turning to set the pot back on the stove when the building vibrated. Shit, not again. “Get in the closet, Chris.” The little demon shot from the table as Hondo stormed to the hallway, the other warriors rushing out of their apartments. “Where’s Chris?” the warrior Kane asked. “I told him to get into the closet,” Hondo shouted over his shoulder as the warriors ran from the hallway and down to the street. Shit, it was the demon that had been with Gammy. He was projecting energy blasts into the building, making the bricks crumble slightly, fine dust hit the ground, and a few windows shattered. They weren’t strong enough to do structural damage. The demon must be a young adult, and his powers weren’t fully developed. Lucky for them. “Damn, that was my bedroom window.” Kane growled. Hondo held his arms out, palms up, as he called forth the demon inside. His skin began to heat up, a glow became visible, and then he caught fire. Hondo’s entire body was engulfed in the inferno. He

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pulled his right arm back, aiming and throwing the fireball at the attacking demon, but the jackass jumped away in time to avoid the heated missile. Kane focused and then everything stilled. Time no longer mattered. He walked over to the demon, Hondo following. They only had a twenty second window before everything morphed back to real time. “Who’s got a pair of neutralizing cuffs?” Hondo shouted, reached his hand up, and then caught the flying set. “Thanks, Einarr.” Hondo gave them to Kane, not wanting to set the scumbag on fire. Kane pulled the demon’s hands behind his back, ready to cuff him when time started again, Chris came running out of the building toward them, and the slimeball pulled away at the last second. Kane couldn’t stop time because the five minute mark hadn’t been reached yet for him to recharge. “No!” Hondo shouted, running toward Chris, but pulled up at the last second, seeing the flames burn higher on his arms from his anxiety. The demon saw what was going on, looking quickly from the Demon Warriors to Chris. The smile that crept across his face had a chill running up Hondo’s spine. The demon tipped his head and shot away in the other direction. Hondo closed his eyes, willing the flames to bank. Once they ebbed away, he spun around. “Didn’t I tell you to stay in the closet?” he shouted. Chris shrank back, and his hand trembled as he pushed his hair from his face, glancing around at the other warriors, and then back at Hondo. “I–I was afraid something bad might happened to you.” Chris backed away, turning on his heel and taking off down the street. Hondo felt like shit. “He’ll be back.” Kane patted him on his shoulder, Hondo still staring after his buddy. “He has been hanging around us too long to let an outburst drive him away.”

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“I’m going to go find him. I didn’t like the way that demon was looking at him. It just doesn’t set right with me.” Hondo took off down the street after Chris, hoping his buddy would forgive him.

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Chapter Two Chris used his supersonic speed to race the three blocks down Broadview, and then turned onto Mapledale until he reached his house. He had never been more embarrassed than just now. All the warriors had been standing there, witnessing him being chastised like a child. How could Hondo have done that to him? Didn’t he see how much Chris adored him? He fumbled in his pocket, extracting his key, and unlocked the door. He slammed it shut hard, angry at the way Hondo had handled the situation. Why, why, why was he so in love with someone who only looked at him like a friend? Chris wanted to throttle the big lug until he realized how Chris felt about him or passed out from lack of oxygen. Chris ran into his bedroom when a big, booming knock sounded on his door. He had a feeling he knew who it was, and he didn’t want to talk right now. The brute probably came to yell at him some more. Well, let him yell at the door. He was a grown demon and expected to be treated like one. Just because he was short and skinny, it didn’t mean he deserved any less respect. Chris squeaked when Hondo walked into his bedroom from a shadowed corner. He really hated when the guy did that. “I could have been naked or, or, having wild sex. You need to learn how to knock!” Chris flopped down onto his bed and crossed his arms over his chest, still angry from earlier. “And who would you being having sex with?” The demon took a step closer. Chris thrilled to hear just the slightest hint of jealousy in

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his voice. Had Hondo finally gotten the thousand and one clues he dropped all of the time and figured out how Chris felt about him? Probably not, Hondo was too damn thickheaded. “Why is that any of your business?” Chris rested his elbows on his thighs, his hands dangling between his knees, wondering why he bothered to spend so much time with Hondo. At first he began to hang around all of them out of sheer awe of who they were, but then feelings started developing for one big lug-head named Hondo. Too bad the man never looked twice at him, at least not in a sexual way. Chris was too chicken to come right out and say that he wanted the demon. So instead, he tortured himself by shadowing him everywhere. “You’re right, it isn’t.” Hondo sighed, and Chris wanted to yank his hair out. He pushed from the bed and plodded across the room, pulling the door open. “I think you should go.” He was tired of chasing someone who didn’t want him. A hundred years was a long time to run behind someone, and enough was enough. “I’m sorry for not listening earlier.” Chris really didn’t want him to go, but he was hurt and wanted to be alone with all the other emotions swirling around inside of him. “Chris, I’m sorry for yelling at you.” Hondo walked across the room and stood in front of him, his hand reaching out, but stopped midway and fell. Oh, how Chris wished the guy would really reach out, but as usual, Hondo didn’t. He kept his head down, unable to look up at the demon. It would only crumble his resolve and then he would give in. “I accept your apology. Now could you go?” Chris didn’t think the guy would leave. He stood there for a moment, Chris staring at the man’s boots, and then he watched them turn and head out of his bedroom. Chris closed the door, holding onto the handle as his heart broke. Hondo would never want someone as scrawny as him. Why was he chasing a pipe dream?

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He flopped down on his bed and reached for his phone, calling his mom. “Just calling to see what you’re up to.” “No, you’re not. I know that tone. What’s wrong, Chrissy?” God, he hated when she called him that. It made him feel like he was five hundred years old again. “Can’t a son call his mom and ask how she’s doing?” She snorted. “Normally yes, but with you, no. What’s wrong?” My heart’s been torn in two, and I want to cry my eyes out. “Nothing.” He blinked up at the ceiling, refusing to let the tears roll. He knew he should move on, forget about Hondo, but the demon was unforgettable. How do you forget someone who makes your skin scream for attention every time he’s near? “Fine, don’t tell me. Anyway, your sister came by…” Chris tuned her out. All he wanted was to hear her voice for comfort, not listen to the latest gossip. Normally he loved hearing about the whos and whats of his family and friends, but not today. Today he just wanted to crawl under his blanket and forget about the most stunning Egyptian warrior he’d ever known. The Demon Warriors were a melting pot of nationalities, making up a group of stunning men, but he only had eyes for Hondo. “Are you listening to me?” “I’m sorry, could you repeat that?” “I said, where’s Hondo? You’re always with him.” His mother was using that mommy tone, and Chris hated it. “Out doing his job, I guess.” He rolled over to his stomach, kicking his legs up into the air and crossing his ankles. “Is he the reason you are so upset, dear?” “He yelled at me in front of the guys. I’m supposed to be upset.” He told her only half of it, too ashamed to admit how much he wanted the guy. Even though he and his mom talked about everything, that was one subject he never touched with her. “You know they care about you. Don’t take it to heart.”

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Too late. “I know. I’m going to go. Tell sissy I said hi.” Chris hung up, not waiting for a reply. He tossed the phone aside, feeling like a hole was in his chest where his heart used to be. **** Chris panted as he ran as fast as he could. The demon that had attacked the warriors’ building the other night just hit him with an energy blast, and now Chris’s sonic speed was out of whack. His legs were starting to cramp, and his lungs were on fire. Using normal speed to run sucked. He skidded around the corner and jumped over a trash can that was lying on its side. The demon was hot on his heels. He had learned his name was Leam and Gammy was not his buddy, but his brother. He hit the ground when he heard the charge coming at him, pushed back to his feet, and took off again when it missed by mere inches. Chris ran into King Wings and shot out of the back door, hoping to lose the scum bucket. “Excuse me, excuse me, excuse me.” He bumped into numerous people trying to make it to the warriors’ building. He was mad as hell at Hondo, but one of them would help him. He cursed when he stumbled, hitting his chin on the sidewalk. Chris looked over his shoulder and saw Leam gaining fast. He got up and took off, feeling his black blood trickling down his chin. Wiping at it, he ducked around a corner and pushed at the first door he saw, rushing in and slamming it shut. He held his hands to the door, panting and gulping to catch his breath. “What do we have here?” Chris spun around and slammed his back into the door, his eyes scanning all around him. It was an ordinary backroom with stock piled high and a small desk with papers strewn about on top of it. What didn’t seem ordinary were the five large demons—not as big as

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the Demon Warriors—sitting at a round table in the middle of crates and boxes. Oh, crap, what had he gotten into now? “Come, have a seat.” The largest of the five stood. His smile was lecherous as he nodded to a sixth and empty chair. Chris felt for the doorknob and cursed when he didn’t feel one. His night was getting more fucked up by the hour, minute actually. “I can’t, I have a hair appointment.” The five laughed, but the one standing was the guy who advanced toward Chris. Oh boy, this was gonna hurt. **** Hondo was going out of his mind with worry. Chris had never ignored his phone calls before. Sure, he had yelled at the little guy, but that shouldn’t have been enough to make him unreachable. It had hurt like hell when Chris demanded he leave. The guy had never been this upset with him before, and Hondo was at a loss on how to fix it. He didn’t want to wait a few days. He wanted it fixed now. He once again thought of Takeo’s words, but dismissed them. If Chris was sweet on him, he wouldn’t be acting this way. Hondo couldn’t think of this right now. They had to find Chris first. Then he would try to figure the rest out. He had looked everywhere he could think of, but Chris had just vanished. “We’ll find him,” Rainerio tried to reassure Hondo. Why was everyone trying to comfort him? They were all his friends. Why single him out? They all sat around in Panahasi’s apartment trying to think of where he could be. They were all worried about Chris. They sat silently for a long time.

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Hondo pounded his fist onto the table, wanting his little buddy back. “There’s no way he just vanished into thin air.” “I agree.” Panahasi sat very still, his eyes narrowed. “Something’s not right.” Hondo leaned forward in his chair, and in a controlled voice, he said, “If that scumbag that was here the other night hurt him, I’ll kill him with my bare hands.” “What about Torky? Has anyone asked him if he’s seen Chris?” Takeo rose in one fluid motion, staring down at Hondo. Hondo rose from his seat as if propelled by an explosion. “I never thought of him.” He raced to the door and tore the door open, running from the apartment building and down the street. How could he forget about loudmouth Torky? The demon that had the lowdown on everything and everyone…for the right price. Hondo raced down King Kennedy, cutting a left onto Broadview. Torky always hung out in front of his apartment building. Hondo prayed he would be there now. Torky was lounging casually against the brick wall of his building, arguing with one of his loser subjects. Hondo took in the scene as he approached. Perfect. “Torky,” Hondo shouted. The neighborhood know-it-all looked over his shoulder to see Hondo gaining fast. He shrugged indifferently and then looked back at the guy he was arguing with. Hondo had an urge to set the fucker on fire. He couldn’t stand Torky and his sheisty ways. The guy would sell his mother out for a buck. He grabbed Torky’s arm and pulled him away from the building. “Chris is missing. Have you seen him?” Torky pulled his arm away, sneering at Hondo. “It’ll cost you.” “You didn’t charge me earlier for the information about Gammy.” Hondo growled at him, pissed that Torky was being difficult.

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“That’s because I wanted his ass off the streets as well. He’s bad for business.” Torky turned his back on Hondo, taking a step away from him. Hondo grabbed Torky and yanked him back, grabbing the punk by his collar. “This is Chris we’re talking about. Fucking tell me, or I’m gonna take you to Panahasi and let him get the information out of you.” Torky glared up at Hondo, his eyes cold. “Word on the street is, the guy from the other night is Gammy’s brother Leam. He found out where Chris lives. I don’t know anything else.” Hondo released the fucker and took off running. If Leam did something to Chris…he couldn’t think like that. Chris was smart. He’d find a way to escape. Hondo didn’t bother knocking. He walked around to the back of the house and entered the shadows, walking straight into Chris’s bedroom. The house was silent. Chris was nowhere to be found. **** “Come, have a seat.” The large man nodded to the empty chair. What else could he do? Chris took a tentative step toward the table. He wasn’t sure which scenario was worse, having Leam chasing him through the city, blasting at him, or having a seat with these five menacing looking men, not knowing what their intentions were. Chris noticed the playing cards on the table and relaxed a fraction. As he made his way across the room, the door he’d just entered through came crashing open. Leam stood there glaring at him, his chest heaving in anger. “What the fuck is going on here?” The large man’s lips thinned in irritation.

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Chris’s eyes darted around for an escape. He spotted a door on the other side of the room. Chris shot across the room and into a restaurant. Shit, he was in Malcor’s Melting Pot, the fancy restaurant everyone took their dates when trying to impress them. He didn’t care what business those men had in the back room or why they were at Malcor’s. He just wanted out. Chris shot out of the front door, slamming hard into a passerby. “Umf.” He fell on his ass. Chris shook his head, thinking the passerby must have been made of brick from the impact he felt. “Hey, are you okay?” A man with a concerned look on his face reached down, pulling Chris to his feet. “I gotta go,” Chris squeaked, seeing Leam running through the restaurant after him. Where the hell was a warrior when you needed one? Or better yet, where the hell was Hondo? Geez, just because he told the guy to go away didn’t mean he had to listen to him. “Come on.” The man grabbed Chris’s arm and took off running. They headed down King Kennedy, in the opposite direction of the warriors’ apartment building. Chris noticed this but was too busy worrying about Leam to turn around. Why is this man running with me? “This way,” the guy shouted over his shoulder. Chris followed him down Granger, realizing too late that it was a dead end. He ran in circles, panicking as Leam came around the corner. “He’s gonna kill us,” Chris cried out as he jumped up and down frantically. He’d never had his speed taken from him and wasn’t too sure how long it would be before it came back to him. Even if it did, he couldn’t leave the other guy here. “No he’s not. By the way, I’m Snooke,” the man introduced himself. He gave Chris a slight nod and then headed toward Leam. Was Snooke crazy? Leam could project energy blasts. “Wait!” Chris ran to stop the man from committing suicide. “Stay back,” he warned.

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“He can—” Chris hit the ground when saw Leam clapped his hands together, discharging a blast toward Snooke. Snooke raised his arms, deflecting the blast. Chris lay there stunned, watching as the glowing green energy blast circled around Snooke’s hands and then crackled like lightning toward the ground. Why wasn’t the man harmed? Leam stared wide-eyed at Snooke, his mouth hanging open. Chris felt the same way. “Get the hell out of here,” Snooke shouted angrily at Leam. Leam spun around and then took off. “Who the hell are you?” Chris walked cautiously toward Snooke. “Someone who can’t stand bullies.” Snooke turned toward Chris, a wide grin on his face. “And you are?” With everything going on, he had forgotten his manners. “Chris.” He wanted to shake Snooke’s hand, but after witnessing what happened, Chris didn’t think that was a smart idea. “Let’s get out of here, Chris. I don’t trust that guy.” “Well, duh. He did just try and kill you.” He waved his hand for Snooke to follow behind, scanning the streets as they made their way to Chris’s house. “How did you do that?” Chris asked as they turned the corner onto Mapledale. “That was cool. I’d like to learn that neat trick.” Chris’s hands shot out in front of him as if he were the one deflecting the energy blast. “That would come in handy when I hang around the warriors. I won’t have to worry about Hondo burning me.” Chris lost his exuberance thinking of the Egyptian warrior. He hated that his mind always went back to Hondo. “I don’t know, it’s just something I’ve been able to do my whole life,” Snooke said as they entered Chris’s house. “I loved how you did that.” Chris laughed. God, he would love to be able to have that ability. “And what did he do that you loved so much?” Hondo stood in Chris’s living room with a scowl on his face.

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“What are you doing here?” Chris asked as he closed the door and turned toward Hondo. “Loved what, Chris?” he asked again. “And who is this?” He nodded toward Snooke, a disapproving frown marring his handsome face. “That would be none of your business.” Who did Hondo think he was? Chris was still pretty mad at the guy. Now he wanted to add insult to injury by demanding to know who Chris brought home. That would have thrilled him before. Now it just irritated him. “You’re right. It isn’t.” Hondo’s voice was dripping with sarcasm. “But your safety is,” he pointed out. “Leam chased me. I got away. End of story,” Chris said flippantly. “So it doesn’t matter that your friends,” Hondo said, shooting a glare at Snooke, “were worried about you?” Wow, Hondo’s green-eyed monster was rearing its ugly head, big time. Chris wanted to believe Hondo cared for him in that way, but after so long of living on that hope, he wasn’t going to go down that lonely road again. “Of course I care. I’m fine, Hondo. You can go now.” “I said I was sorry,” Hondo said in exasperation. “What more do you want?” “I want—” Chris curled his lips in. Snooke was staring between them. He wasn’t going to air his dirty laundry in front of the guy. He’d just met him for crying out loud. Chris exhaled loudly. “I want you to go. Snooke is just a friend who saved me,” Chris explained in a dull voice, tired of going through this with Hondo. “Fine. Let me know when you feel like forgiving me.” Hondo spun around, shooting daggers at Snooke before disappearing into the shadow of the room. “I didn’t cause that, did I?” Snooke asked. “No, it’s something else between me and Hondo.” Or not between as the case may be.

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“So why was that guy after you, Chris?” Snooke asked as he took a seat on Chris’s couch. “He’s mad because I helped the warriors capture his brother,” Chris said as he walked to the kitchen. “Do you want something to drink?” Why did Hondo look so sad? It was eating away at Chris, but he wasn’t going to go running back. Hondo needed to realize that he cared about Chris, too. He had to. By the way he was acting toward Chris that was the only explanation. How thickheaded could one demon be? “No thanks,” Snooke answered as he followed Chris into the kitchen. “You really helped the Demon Warriors?” “Yep, I got to cuff Gammy. It was a big sting operation, and I was the one who captured and cuffed him.” Chris boasted proudly. So he was embellishing a bit. Who cared? “Wow. I didn’t think the warriors needed help. What did Gammy do wrong?” Snooke leaned against the counter, seeming absorbed in Chris’s words. “He sucked a soul out and got busted. He went down like a cheap whore on a Saturday night.” Chris giggled as he poured himself a glass of water. “That’s funny.” Snooke laughed. “Where did they take him?” he asked offhandedly. “Wherever the holding cells are.” Chris shrugged. “Do you know where they are?” Snooke leaned in a little closer, his eyes fixed on Chris. “That would be none of your business,” Hondo said as he emerged from the shadows, his skin glowing red.

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Chapter Three “I didn’t mean anything by it. I was just making small talk,” Snooke defended himself. Hondo wasn’t buying the innocent act. Snooke was a little too curious for it to be just casual conversation. What was the demon’s angle? He wasn’t going anywhere until he found out. If Chris was being used, he wasn’t about to sit back and let it happen. His buddy was too trusting, and it was Hondo’s job to protect him. “What’s your problem, Hondo?” Chris asked in annoyance as he sat the glass on the counter. “What do you mean what’s my problem? You disappear.” Hondo growled, his eyes locking onto Snooke. “This man happens to show up and rescue you? Sounds pretty fishy to me. And now he’s questioning you about the detention cells. Come on, Chris, tell me you’re not that blind.” “Blind? Blind? I’m not blind. You’re just thickheaded.” “How am I thickheaded?” “Gee, let me count the ways. I’ve been hanging around you for how long, and you still can’t see how I feel about you?” Chris slapped his hand over his mouth, his eyes growing wide. “I think I should go.” Snooke straightened, looking uneasy as he passed Hondo and headed for the front door. Hondo would get to the bottom of Snooke’s motives later. He wanted to find out what Chris was talking about. “Great, you just ran off the only friend I’ve made in hundreds of years.” Chris crossed his arms over his chest and stomped his foot.

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“Wait, go back to the feel about you part. What do you mean?” Hondo asked as he walked further into the kitchen, staring down at Chris. “Nothing. I didn’t mean anything by it. I need to bake some cookies. You should go.” Chris ran around the kitchen, pulling mixing bowls out of the cupboard and flour from the pantry. “No, no, no. I heard you specifically say that you felt something about me. Tell me what you were talking about.” “I meant that we are good friends, and you shouldn’t have yelled at me like that.” Hondo didn’t know what to think anymore. Was Chris sweet on him or was he referring to their friendship? His eyes took in Chris’s features in a whole new light now. His fair skin magnified the onyxblackness of his eyes, which were staring up at him trustingly. He wanted to reach out and run his hands through the silky strands of the demon’s rosewood-brown hair. “Chris, I—” “What, you what?” Chris begged breathlessly. How do you cross that line from friendship to lovers? What if it didn’t work out between them? Their friendship would be destroyed. Hondo couldn’t chance that. Chris meant too much to him to take such a huge risk. “Nothing.” He stepped back, staring past Chris to the counter. “Do you want help making cookies?” Chris’s eyes saddened. “Sure.” “So what happened to you?” Hondo asked as he pulled the cookie sheet from under the cabinet. “Leam found out where I lived and chased me halfway across town,” Chris said as he started mixing ingredients together. “He hit me with one of his energy blasts and took my speed away. I ran into the back room of the Melting Pot.” “No shit. That place is notorious for shady characters hanging out there.”

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Chris nodded. “I know, but I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going.” “What happened?” “I ran to the front of the restaurant and then outside. I collided with Snooke. He helped me up, and then we took off.” Hondo wanted to kick Leam’s ass for scaring the shit out of Chris. “Go on.” “It was the strangest thing. Leam shot one of his energy blasts at Snooke, but it didn’t hurt him. Snooke kinda absorbed it and then released it into the ground. I don’t know how to explain it. Leam’s eyes grew big as a bug’s.” Chris laughed. “He ran off like a scared little girl.” “How did Leam find out where you lived?” Hondo asked as he stole a finger full of cookie dough. “I don’t know. I was coming to see you.” Chris blushed. “And the next thing I knew, he’s chasing me.” Hondo was glad to see Chris so at ease with him once again. “You should get your speed back pretty soon. It wears off within an hour of being hit. I wouldn’t worry too much about that. It sounds like Snooke is a neutralizer.” But there was one thing he had to clear up. Hondo rested his hand on Chris’s busy one. “I’m really sorry about yelling at you.” “Okay.” Chris smiled, and Hondo felt a sense of relief settle in him. There was something else there, too, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on the emotion. “Let’s get these cookies in the oven before I eat all the dough.” “You better not.” Chris swatted at his hand as he bumped Hondo out of the way, placing the sheet in the oven. “You want to watch a scary movie?” Hondo grinned devilishly. “Only if you promise not to scare the heebie-jeebies out of me.” Hondo laughed loudly. “I promise.”

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“Good, there’s a zombie marathon on.” Hondo followed Chris out of the kitchen, settling on the couch as Chris grabbed the remote and turned the television on. Chris took a seat on the opposite end of the couch, balling up into his scary movie position. Hondo chuckled and pulled Chris to his side, settling the demon in the crook of his arm. His buddy sighed and tucked his legs under him as Hondo ran his hand over Chris’s hair and kissed the top of his head. The movie began, and Hondo relaxed, acknowledging to himself how good Chris felt at his side. “Here it comes.” Chris covered his eyes as the zombies attacked a bunch of humans. “Is it over?” Hondo’s chest vibrated with laughter. “I’ll never understand how you can watch these sorts of movies if they scare you.” “Duh, that’s why they’re called scary movies.” Chris swatted Hondo’s chest. “Now be quiet. You’re not allowed to talk while the movie is playing.” “Is that so?” Hondo grabbed Chris’s hand from his chest and held it. His thumb caressed against the soft skin. “I’ll be quiet then.” Chris yelped and pulled his hand away, covering his eyes when the zombie began to chew the side of the human’s neck. “Ew, that’s just so gross.” Chris squirmed around. Hondo pulled Chris onto his lap and wrapped his arms around him. “I won’t let any zombies chew on you.” Chris looked up at Hondo from under his lashes, his onyx-black eyes smoldering. “Promise?” Hondo ran his hand over Chris’s face. “Promise.” He brushed a gentle kiss across Chris’s forehead. Unsure of where this was heading, Hondo’s eyes searched Chris’s. “Don’t stop.” Chris pulled at Hondo’s shoulders, his lips seeking Hondo’s.

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“Wait.” Hondo had to take a deep and calming breath. His cock was arguing for him to shut up and kiss the demon. “What if this doesn’t work out? What about our friendship?” “I don’t know the answers to those questions, Hondo. But I think we would be denying something special between us if we didn’t at least try.” “Chris.” Hondo pressed his open lips to Chris’s. His worry about ruining the best friendship he’d ever had was overridden by Chris’s demanding kiss. Chris ground his ass into Hondo’s cock, his hands fisting Hondo’s shirt as he opened his mouth for Hondo’s exploring tongue. Hondo had to slow down. This was Chris. His Chris. He pulled Chris up so the demon was straddling his lap. “Promise things won’t get awkward between us.” “I promise.” Chris climbed up Hondo’s body, clinging to him as Chris took his lips once again. “I promise,” Chris repeated as he kissed his way down Hondo’s neck. “Oh, god.” Hondo’s head fell back as Chris’s lips found the hollow of Hondo’s neck and began to trace it with his hot and moist tongue. Taking Chris’s hand, Hondo guided it to his cock. “Touch me. I need you to touch me, Chris.” “I’d do anything for you, Hondo.” Chris slid down Hondo’s body, unsnapping his pants, exposing the head of Hondo’s cock. Chris leaned forward, running his tongue over the red and angry head, lapping at the pre-cum that was leaking out. Hondo was amazed at how warm and gentle Chris’s hands were as they stroked his hardened shaft. “Y–you do whatever you want, baby.” Hondo lifted his head, watching as Chris took his shaft into his mouth. He fisted his hands at his side, fighting the need to toss Chris over the coffee table and take him savagely.

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The realization that Chris had never done this before hit Hondo hard as Chris’s eyes watered and he choked on Hondo’s cock. “Fuck, baby.” Hondo pulled Chris up and laid him onto the couch, freeing his lover’s cock from his jeans. “Let me do this for you.” Hondo curled his fingers into Chris’s waistband and pulled his pants to his ankles. Hondo couldn’t believe he was about to be with Chris. It seemed like a dream. His chest tightened at the sight underneath him. Chris looked up at Hondo so trustingly. He would die a thousand deaths before he betrayed the trust and friendship Chris so openly gave to him. Chris’s brows furrowed. “What’s wrong? Am I doing something wrong?” Hondo smiled softly. “And what could you do wrong?” “I don’t know. You’re looking at me funny.” Hondo leaned forward and kissed the skin over Chris’s heart. “I’m just trying to figure out how we’ve been friends for so long and I never saw how truly beautiful you are.” “That’s because you’re so thickheaded.” Chris grinned, showing the straightest and whitest teeth, making his face shine as his eyes sparkled with merriment. “Are you sure?” Hondo grew serious. “About us, about this?” Chris nodded. Hondo slid back, pulling Chris’s shoes off, and then his jeans and boxers. Chris lay there looking so ethereal. Hondo committed the sight to memory, never wanting to forget just how exquisite Chris looked at this moment. Hondo ran his hands over Chris’s smooth skin, drinking in his enchanting beauty. He palmed Chris’s cock, stroking it a few times, watching Chris’s eyes close and his lips part. Hondo ran his tongue up Chris’s shaft as he cupped his balls. “Hondo,” Chris moaned, his hands running through Hondo’s hair as his legs parted.

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Hondo took Chris into his mouth, groaning at the salty taste of skin. Hondo’s hands snaked up Chris’s belly, to his chest. He squeezed Chris’s nipples, making Chris squirm under him. Chris’s legs came up, landing on Hondo’s back as his hips bucked and swiveled. Hondo took his cock deeper into his mouth, moving his head up and down. He pulled up and suckled at the head, drinking in the clear liquid that was flowing freely. Hondo released the hardened shaft, licking his way down to Chris’s wrinkly sac. He pushed Chris’s legs back, sucking each orb into his mouth. “I’m coming,” Chris shouted as his balls drew tight to his body. Hondo quickly resurfaced, taking Chris’s cock into his mouth, swallowing every last drop of seed. Chris jerked and then his body began thrashing under Hondo. Fuck, the demon was one sexy ass man when he came. Hondo lapped at Chris’s cock, enjoying the sexual play until he smelled something burning. “The cookies!” He jumped up and ran into the kitchen. He grabbed the oven handle and pulled it open, thick smoke rolling out. “Damn it,” Chris cursed as he ran in behind Hondo. “My mouth was watering for those.” Hondo placed the tray on the stove, waving his hand around as he walked over to the window and pulled it open, letting some fresh air in. “Looks like we have to make another batch.” Hondo turned, his eyes hooding when he saw Chris standing there with nothing but his shirt on. “What?” “Damn, you are one sexy motherfucker.” Chris blushed and twisted his hands in his shirt. “Go on.” Hondo placed his hands on Chris’s sides, lifting him up and setting him on the counter. He leaned in, kissing Chris with savage intensity. Now that he had a taste of the demon, Hondo wanted more. “I want to have sex with you.”

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“Didn’t we just do that?” “Oh, grasshopper, you have much to learn.” He chuckled when Chris beamed up at him. “You’re the one I want to show me.” Hondo froze at the statement, his head spinning at the revelation that Chris was a virgin. His libido came to a skidding halt. Did he have it in him to be Chris’s first? Thinking of someone else teaching his lover the ways of love making made Hondo’s body begin to ignite. “Hondo,” Chris shouted, trying to squirm out of his arms. “Shit. Sorry.” Hondo took a step back, concentrating on his demon. The heat slowly left his body. “What’d you do that for?” “Thinking about someone else in your bed,” he admitted. “But I don’t want anyone else, dummy. I haven’t been chasing you for so long only to toss that aside to be with someone else.” Hondo pulled Chris’s shirt over his head and then picked Chris up from the counter, walking him to his bedroom. He gently lay Chris down, pulling his shirt over his head as he kicked his shoes off. “Are you ready for this?” “Yes, Hondo. I’m nervous, but I want you,” Chris lay there watching Hondo as he pulled his jeans off. Chris’s eyes widened when Hondo’s cock slapped his stomach. Hondo crawled onto the bed, running his hands over Chris’s body, kissing his way around the soft skin, trying his best to relax his lover. Chris’s eyes told Hondo that his little lover came unglued. Chris’s legs instinctively wrapped around Hondo as Chris’s body called out to him. His lover pulled at Hondo’s hair, mewling as Hondo sucked up a bruise on Chris’s neck. He lined his cock up with Chris’s hole, the tip touching the tight star. Hondo went back to making love to Chris with his hands and mouth. His cock had a natural lubricant. The pre-cum would shoot out in bursts, lubing and relaxing Chris’s anus for penetration.

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His lover began to bite and nip at Hondo’s neck, his hands wandering all over Hondo’s back. Hondo pushed in an inch as Chris dug his nails into Hondo’s back. “Relax, baby, let my natural lube do its job.” Chris nodded, attacking Hondo’s mouth with his own. Hondo pushed in a little further. His jaw clenched in such a tight grip. He pulled Chris into his arms, cupping the back of his head as he fully seated himself. “Hondo, show me how good sex can be.” Chris began to snap his hips, driving Hondo crazy. Hondo slid his hand across Chris’s silken belly, feeling the demon’s muscles clench and unclench. Waves of ecstasy throbbed through him as together they found the tempo that bound their bodies together. Hondo gasped when he felt them bind together. Oh, god, Chris was his mate. All these fucking years and his mate was right there under his nose. “Hondo.” Chris’s eyes widened, feeling the binding as well. “I know, baby. I have you.” Hondo buried his face in Chris’s neck as he swiveled his hips, making sweet and slow love to his Chris. His mate. Hondo’s heart burst when tears slid down the side of Chris’s face. He knew they were tears of joy because he felt the same way. He pulled back and then thrust forward, taking Chris to heights never felt before. Hondo rolled to his back, taking Chris with him. “Ride me.” Chris looked down at Hondo with so much love in his eyes. Chris began to move in uncoordinated moves. Hondo didn’t correct his mate, letting Chris find his own rhythm. When Chris’s eyes closed and his head fell back, Hondo grabbed Chris’s hips and drove up into his tight ass. Chris fell forward, the palms of his hands landing on Hondo’s chest. Chris smiled down at him and then planted his feet on the bed. He began to bounce up and down, impaling himself over and over again on Hondo’s cock.

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“You got it, babe.” Hondo writhed under Chris, lunging into Chris as his lover’s inexperience sent Hondo to even higher levels of ecstasy. Chris fell back, and Hondo quickly lifted his legs, giving Chris something to buffer the fall as Chris shouted and came. Hondo powered into Chris’s ass, feeling his release wash over him, exploding into an exquisite fiery sensation as he shattered. Chris slumped onto Hondo’s chest, panting heavily. Hondo ran his hands over Chris’s sweat soaked hair. His earlier fear of their friendship falling apart took a backseat. Hondo now worried about keeping his lover safe from those out to hurt his demon mate. **** Panahasi sat at the bar in his open living room, reading the Daily Demon, while sipping on his whiskey. The headline story stated that Serenity Savings Bank was the target of an attempted robbery. It perplexed Panahasi that the owner, Falcon, didn’t call them. As Demon Warriors, they knew when a soul was being taken. They could feel it. But when it came to everyday crime and occurrences, they had to be called, just like the humans phoned their police. Panahasi grabbed his cell phone from the bar phoning Falcon to find out what was going on. “Falcon Harrington.” “It’s Panahasi.” “Hello, what can I do for you?” Panahasi pulled the phone back and stared at it. Was the shifter serious? “I was calling about the attempted break-in. Why wasn’t one of my Demon Warriors informed about this as soon as it happened?” Panahasi leaned back on the barstool, scanning the newspaper for details.

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“Because nothing was taken. I didn’t feel the need to make a fuss about it,” Falcon stated matter-of-factly. Something wasn’t right. Falcon was meticulous when it came to his bank. For him to sound so calm about it was out of character for him. “You still should have called. That’s part of our job. To keep Serenity City free of crime. How can we do our job effectively if the citizens don’t cooperate? “I am cooperating. If a crime is committed, I’ll call you.” Falcon disconnected the call. Panahasi tossed his cell phone onto the bar, furious at Falcon’s lack of concern for his own business. He was just about to call Takeo when someone knocked on his door. Panahasi stood, setting the paper down as he crossed the room and answered his door. “Hey, boss man.” Hondo smiled at him. “Can we come in?” Panahasi nodded, walking back over to the bar. “Have you heard anything about Serenity Savings out on the street?” “Nope.” Hondo took a seat on his sofa, kicking his feet up on the coffee table. Panahasi quirked a brow, waiting for Hondo to take the hint. The demon sat there with a big, stupid ass grin on his face. Hondo was as thickheaded as they came. “Would you mind taking your feet down?” Panahasi pointed at his table. “Oh, sorry.” Hondo lowered his legs. “I see you found Chris.” Panahasi smiled fondly at the shorter demon. Chris was like a son to him. He had worried like everyone else when he couldn’t be found. But, being who he was, Panahasi knew Hondo would find him. “Yeah, long story,” Hondo said. “We’re mates,” Chris admitted excitedly as he jumped up and down in place. “Go figure, huh?” He giggled. Chris ran over to the bar in a burst of speed, grabbing the newspaper from the bar. “Do you mind?” “Not at all.” He chuckled.

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“There is supposed to be a sale at Devil Mart on pet food.” Chris thumbed through the paper, licking his finger as he turned the pages. “But you don’t even have a pet,” Hondo pointed out. “And I’m glad to see you got your speed back. I told you it wouldn’t be long.” Panahasi looked over at Hondo, but the warrior shook his head. Chris shrugged. “You never know. I might get one. It’s a sale. I can’t pass it up.” Panahasi grinned at Chris’s way of reasoning. The demon bought things on sale all the time, whether he needed them or not. “When do you go back to work?” Chris was studying the newspaper, deeply saturated in his own little world. “Chris?” “Huh?” He looked up at Panahasi as if not hearing the question. “When do you go back to work?” “Whenever Jake calls me with the schedule. He’s remodeling the coffee shop with updated equipment. He says it shouldn’t be too much longer,” Chris said absently as he flipped to another page. “Do you need cash?” Panahasi asked as he lifted the tumbler to his lips, taking a sip of his whiskey. “I can take care of my mate,” Hondo said defensively as he stood. “I wasn’t insulting you. Chris is a friend to all the warriors. I just want to make sure he isn’t in need of anything at the moment.” Panahasi sat his glass down and turned to Hondo. “Just because you’re mates now doesn’t mean we will stop looking out for him.” “Sorry,” Hondo grumbled. “I just don’t want anyone thinking I can’t take care of him.” “No one will think that, Hondo,” Panahasi reassured him. Chris’s eyes continued to scan the paper as he spoke. “I’m standing right here and can hear both of you.” He finally looked up, glancing from Panahasi to Hondo. “I can take care of myself. I’ve been on my own for a hundred years now, so don’t start getting all wickey-wacky on me now just because Hondo is my mate.”

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“Wouldn’t dream of it.” Panahasi ruffled Chris’s hair as he stood. “I need one of you to go over to the bank and find out about the attempted break in. Something doesn’t seem right about the whole situation.” Chris pulled his head away, running his hands over his head to smooth his hair down. “I can go.” “He helps with one capture, and now he thinks he’s a warrior.” Hondo rolled his eyes. “You’re not going.” “Are we starting on what I can and can’t do now that we’re mates?” Hondo shook his head. “Not at all. But you were in on the action once. That doesn’t make you one of us.” Chris tossed the paper on the bar, placing his hands on his hips as he glowered at Hondo. “Take that back.” “No.” “Hondo,” Chris said warningly. “No. I won’t have my mate in any danger.” Chris threw his hands up in the air as he turned to Panahasi. “Do you see what I have to put up with?” “I agree with Hondo. Stick to working at Jake’s Java. You make the best lattes.” Chris growled at both of them. “Fine, why don’t I put on an apron while I’m at it?” “I think you would look hot in one.” Hondo chuckled as he ran from Chris, the shorter demon chasing him around the living room. Panahasi watched their playfulness, longing to find a mate of his own. He spun around as Hondo grabbed Chris and ignited when the front door came crashing open.

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Chapter Four Chris struggled to get out of Hondo’s tight hold when he saw Takeo and Rainerio running into Panahasi’s apartment. “Hold still.” Hondo held firm to Chris. “You may not be able to burn me because we’re mates, but it’s still hot as hell.” Chris managed to free himself. “What the hell is going on?” Panahasi demanded. “Gammy’s buddy is at it again. This time he’s attacking Diablo’s. If we don’t get down there, Diablo is going to kill him.” “That’s not his buddy. Leam is Gammy’s brother,” Chris corrected Rainerio as he headed for the door. “Where the hell do you think you’re going?” Hondo shouted as Chris put on a burst of speed and shot out of the apartment building. He could hear Hondo roaring loudly, but Chris was on a mission. He was tired of Leam messing with other people. Diablo was a nice guy who owned the club. If Leam wanted Chris, he would go to the demon. There was no way he was going to stand by and see others hurt when it was Chris he wanted. He made it down King Kennedy in mere seconds, coming to a halt when Leam spotted him. This was it. He got the guy’s attention. Now what? “Glad to see you got the message.” Leam sneered at him. “Now you pay for taking my brother from me.” “Wait!” Chris held his hands up. “Can’t we talk about this like two adults?” He dropped to the ground when Leam snarled and clapped his hands together. Guess not.

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Where was Kane when he needed him? It sure would be nice to freeze time right about now. Chris rolled out of the way when another blast came at him. Maybe he was a bit hasty in his decision to get here first and handle this himself. He was out of his league on this one. What could super speed do against energy blasts? “Chris!” Hondo shouted from behind him. Before Chris could get up, a ball of fire shot past him, hitting Leam square on his chest. “Chris!” Hondo shouted again. He could hear the panic in his mate’s voice. “I’m okay,” Chris shouted as another fireball shot past him. Within seconds of the blazing inferno passing by him, Hondo was at his side. The warrior was engulfed in the bright red and blue blaze. “Are you hurt?” “No.” He rolled onto his belly and then got to his feet, seeing Leam fleeing from the scene. “He got away.” “What the hell were you thinking running out like that? He could have killed you.” Hondo glared at him with burning, reproachful eyes. “Have you lost your fucking mind?” Chris knew it was fear making Hondo act like this, but this was the second time Hondo had humiliated him in public. Although he might have a reason for his anger, the demon could have handled it better. Chris put on a burst of speed, racing home as he cried. He wasn’t going to keep dealing with the mortification Hondo kept putting him through. Chris shot through his front door and slammed it closed. He leaned against the door, wiping away the free falling tears. If that was Hondo’s idea of a relationship, then Chris didn’t want any part of it. He wrapped his arms around his midsection, sliding his back down the door and sitting on his bottom as he cried. Finding a mate was supposed to be a wondrous thing, an event to celebrate. Hondo was making Chris regret sleeping with him. His quick-to-temper ways were going to tear Chris apart if he continued to allow it.

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“Open the door, Chris,” Hondo said softly from the other side. “I know you’re in there.” Chris grabbed the hem of his shirt and wiped the tears away. He stood, opening the front door to allow Hondo in. “Oh, baby.” Hondo stepped through the door, reaching out for Chris. “I didn’t mean to make you cry.” “No.” Chris backed away. “I have feelings, just like you. What you did to me out there was humiliating, and not once, but twice you subjected me to it. I won’t have you speaking to me that way.” Hondo’s hands burst into flames as they fisted. “Then stop putting yourself in harm’s way.” “If you set my house on fire, I’ll kick your ass,” Chris threatened as he spun around and walked away. He could hear the crackling of the flames coming from behind him and knew Hondo was still pissed as hell. Chris walked over to the sink and turned the water on. “Will you talk to me?” Hondo begged. “Stop walking away and talk to me, baby.” Chris spun around, shooting a stream of water from the sprayer at Hondo’s hands. “Not until you calm the hell down.” He watched as the flames grew higher instead of banking. “Damn it, Chris, be reasonable.” Hondo growled as the flames started licking up his arms. “There is no middle ground here. I refuse to have you putting yourself in danger.” Chris tossed the sprayer in the sink when he saw it was having no effect. “If we were just friends, would you be acting this way?” “Hell yeah. I lost it when you came out of that closet, didn’t I?” This was true. Maybe Chris was being a bit pigheaded. He had become instantly defensive when he thought Hondo was being overbearing. It was true that he didn’t think before he acted. “I only do those things when I think you are in danger,” he admitted.

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The flames slowly turned into an orange glow, and then extinguished. “If that’s true, then why did you take off the second time and put yourself in danger? I wasn’t anywhere near Leam.” Chris began to fidget around, looking down at his feet instead of Hondo. “He was trying to destroy Diablo’s as a way of getting my attention. I couldn’t let that happen. I figured that if I took care of him, you wouldn’t have to be in danger.” Hondo crossed the room, grabbing Chris into an embrace. “Do you know how crazy that sounds, baby? I’ve been doing this job for thousands of years. I can handle myself.” “But—” Hondo placed a warm finger over Chris’s lips, silencing his protest. “No,” he said softly. “It’s my turn to talk, so just listen.” Chris nodded his head, curling his lips in as Hondo continued. “I know you worry about me. I like that. But I won’t have you running out to fight battles that the warriors are responsible for just so I won’t get hurt. Let me do my job. I promise to always come back to you, okay?” Chris fought the tears to no avail. “But what happens to me if you don’t?” he cried. “You can’t allow yourself to worry about that so much that you keep making me insane. You have to promise me, Chris, that you’ll let me handle this.” Hondo brushed aside the hair from Chris’s forehead, laying a gentle kiss against his warm skin. “I’ll try.” It was the only promise Chris was capable of giving Hondo. “Come on, babe. We have a kitchen to clean up and some cookies to bake.” He chuckled. “I don’t know. The last batch is still edible.” Hondo screwed his face up. “If you were giving them as treats to a pet maybe.” He set Chris down, grabbing the cookie sheet and dumping the burnt discs into the trash. “I can make dinner if you’re hungry.”

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“I’m famished.” Chris grabbed some towels and wiped up the water from the floor. “Can we just grab a bowl of cereal?” “That’s not sustenance,” Hondo said disapprovingly. “That’s a snack. I’ll cook. You go take a hot bath or something. Let me take care of feeding you.” Chris was thrilled Hondo wanted to cook for him. Too many times Hondo had invited him over, thinking he was slick when he asked Chris to cook. He knew what Hondo was up to then. Chris was faster on the draw, outwitting his friend and making Hondo cook. It was funny to him. But now Hondo was volunteering to do it. He smiled and kissed his mate after tossing the towels in the washer. Hondo patted his ass before he left the kitchen, humming to himself as he walked into the living room. There was a knock at the door, so Chris strolled over to answer it as he heard Hondo being noisy in the kitchen. “Snooke, what brings you here?” Chris asked as he opened the door for his friend. “I just wanted to check to see if everything is okay with you and your boyfriend.” “Come on in.” Chris stepped aside. “Thanks.” Chris closed the door as Snooke took a seat on the couch. “Is he still mad?” “Everything is fine. Turns out he’s my mate,” Chris boasted proudly. “Get out,” Snooke said teasingly. “How about you and I celebrate? We can go to the movies or something, my treat.” “That sounds wonderful. How about tomorrow? I don’t have anything to do then.” Snooke leaned back, a wide grin on his face. “It’s a date.” “Hey, babe, do you—” Hondo stopped in his tracks, glaring at Snooke. “What the fuck are you doing here?” “Hondo!” Chris chastised him. “Show our guest some manners.”

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“Like hell I will.” Hondo advanced forward, yanking Chris into his arms. “Behave, Hondo.” Chris smacked his chest. “It’s cool, I’ll leave.” Snooke got up from the couch, shoving his hands in his front pockets as he made for the door. “No you won’t.” Chris kicked Hondo in the shin, being released immediately as Hondo cursed. “You’ll stay for dinner.” “What?” Hondo growled. “I’m not slaving over a stove for a spy.” “Do you know how crazy that sounds?” Chris shook his head. “Stop acting this way.” He pointed his finger up at Hondo. “Or no nooky.” He whispered the last part. Hondo’s jaw clenched, but he became quiet, still glaring at Snooke though. “I’ll be in the kitchen setting his dinner on fire.” Hondo stomped off. “Look. I didn’t come here to start any trouble.” Chris waved Hondo off. “It’s no trouble. Make yourself comfortable while I have a talk with hothead.” Chris found Hondo in the kitchen slamming the knife down on the cutting board like a guillotine beheading its prisoner. Pieces of carrots shot across the room from the force, pinging off of any and all surfaces. “If you keep that up, we’ll be eating from the floor.” He squeaked when a round orange disc smacked him in the chest. “You got me.” He fell to the floor, feigning injury. “Stop it. I don’t feel like laughing,” Hondo said despite the smile tugging at his lips. Chris got up and ran over to the counter, jumping up. Hondo dropped the knife and caught him as Chris wrapped his legs around Hondo’s waist. “Why don’t you like my friend?” Hondo turned his back to the cupboards and leaned against them. “I don’t trust him. He was a little too curious about what we do and where we take the prisoners.”

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“Well, duh. Who isn’t curious about the Demon Warriors? No one knows how to get to the detention cells. It’s a big mystery. And that’s all he was, Hondo, curious. Stop treating him like a criminal. Snooke has been nothing but nice to me, and I expect my mate to show the same courtesy.” **** Courteous my ass. Hondo knew that fucker was up to something. He just needed proof. Until then, he would stick to Chris like glue. There was no way in hell any harm was coming to his mate. “Sure.” Chris bounced in his arms excitedly. “Really, you’ll be nice to him?” “Sure I will.” Hondo drew out the first word. He lifted Chris’s chin and kissed his soft lips. Chris began to press his cock into Hondo’s stomach. “If Snooke wasn’t here, I’d take care of that for you.” “I see what you’re trying to do,” Chris said into his mouth. “But it won’t work.” Hondo growled, pissed that Chris was being so adamant about letting Snooke stay. He wasn’t going to argue about it. They’d just made up. “Help me get dinner ready.” “We have company. I’ll go entertain him while you finish up.” Chris walked back to the living room. Thoughts of how Snooke was going to be entertained made Hondo’s blood boil. The thought struck him from out of nowhere. What if that bastard was after Chris for another reason? What if he was out to take Chris from Hondo? Hondo grabbed the knife and headed for the living room. He stopped short when he heard laughter. “Hondo may be protective of me, but I wouldn’t want anyone but him.”

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Hondo took a step back. He looked down at the knife clutched in his hand. What the hell am I doing? “Is dinner ready?” Chris asked as he walked up to Hondo, snaking his arms around Hondo’s waist. “Five more minutes.” Hondo backed away and turned around, heading back into the kitchen. He grabbed the wooden spoon, mixing the stir-fry up as he tried to calm down. Jealousy was never his thing, and he could see why. He didn’t like who he was right about now. “Chris,” Hondo called out. His mate zipped into the kitchen, an expectant look on his face. “Yes, Hondo?” “Dinner is ready if you want to set the table.” He smiled down at his demon lover. “Okay.” Chris beamed as he shot over to the cupboard, grabbed some dinnerware out, and then turned to Hondo. “It smells really good.” Chris dashed out, leaving Hondo to feel stupid for the way he was acting. He searched Chris’s cabinets until he found a large bowl, and then transferred the food from the wok to the bowl. Hondo carried it in, setting the bowl on the middle of the table. “Dinner is served.” “Smells good,” Snooke complimented. Hondo gave the invader of privacy a tight smile, nodding his head in thanks. “Chris tells me that the warriors are after Leam,” Snooke commented as he scooped some vegetable stir-fry onto his plate. “He shouldn’t have told you that.” Hondo scooped some food onto Chris’s plate before serving himself. “What we do is no one’s business.” “But he’s my friend, Hondo. Snooke won’t betray my trust.” How had he never noticed how naive Chris was before now? Hondo wanted to throttle Snooke just on GP. “I understand that, Chris, but you can’t tell anyone what goes on. How effective can we be if everyone knows?” Hondo pointed out.

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Chris stabbed at his food, a mixture of pouting and scowling marring his handsome face. “You wouldn’t be.” “I wouldn’t tell,” Snooke interjected. Yeah, and Satan won humanitarian of the year. “It’s always been that way. Don’t take it personally.” “Snooke invited me out to the movies tomorrow,” Chris said offhandedly. “Really?” Hondo looked over at Snooke, rage filling him completely. “Excuse me.” Hondo stood, walking into the kitchen as his entire body went up in flames. Now he knew Snooke was after his mate. Hondo was going to kill the little bastard and toss him into the fucking Black River. The flames rose higher the longer he thought about the two snuggled together watching some horror flick. “Dude, what the hell is wrong with you?” Kane asked as he walked into the kitchen, using his foot to hook the kitchen chair and taking a seat. “Where the hell did you come from?” Hondo grumbled as he concentrated on banking the flames. “My mamma.” He chuckled as he leaned back, taking the chair back to two legs. “Very funny.” Hondo shook his hands out, trying to ease the tension in his body. “I knocked several times, but no one answered.” Kane stood up and walked over to the stove, wiping his finger over the wok. “Vegetable stir-fry and you didn’t invite me.” “I seem to have uninvited guests crawling all over the place.” “Is that right?” Kane licked at his fingers as he walked toward the dining room, Hondo right behind him. “Who is that?” Hondo felt his skin heating up again. “Snooke, and I think he’s out to woo Chris.” Kane wiped his hand on his jeans as he turned to Hondo, his eyes showing confusion. “But Panahasi said Chris was your mate. I came by to congratulate the two of you.”

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Hondo crossed his arms over his chest, glaring at the invading man. “He is. But Chris made me promise to behave.” How fucking ridiculous did that sound when verbalized? Hondo felt like a pussy now. Kane ran his tongue over his bottom lip, a grin fighting to break free. “But he didn’t make me promise.” Hondo scratched his jaw, looking from Kane to the dining room. “I like the way you think.” He bumped his elbow into Kane’s arm. “Shall we dine?” Kane didn’t wait for an answer. He strolled right in and took a seat. Hondo sat next to Chris again, waiting to see what his fellow warrior was up to. Kane picked up a fork, tapping it on the edge of the table before locking eyes on Snooke. “So, you’re Snooke?” Snooke looked at Kane in utter reverence. “Yep.” He squirmed around a little, lowering his eyes. Interesting. Kane sat the fork down and leaned forward, narrowing his eyes on his prey. “Who are you, and what do you want?” Chris spat the stir-fry out, grabbing a napkin to wipe his mouth. “Kane!” Kane held his hands up and sat back, looking over at Hondo and then back at Snooke. He grinned and then rocked his chair back. “Okay, who are you, and what are your motives?” “Kane!” Chris pounded his fist against the table. Kane shrugged as he leaned forward, bringing the chair back down on all four legs. “What? I said it nicely.” He smiled innocently at Chris. “That’s enough.” Chris wiggled his index finger at Kane. Hondo wanted to tell Kane to stop. He hated that Chris was becoming so upset. But he wanted answers, too. “Okay, who are you, and why do you want Chris?” “Behave, or I’m calling Panahasi.” Chris growled. “You know him?” Snooke looked wide-eyed at Chris.

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There he goes again. Hondo was going to prove one way or another that Snooke had less than friendly motives coming here. “That’s what I’m talking about.” Hondo slammed the palms of his hands on the table, glaring menacingly at the wide-eyed fucker. “What?” Chris asked. “That shit right there. Why are you all up in our business?” Kane slammed his hands down, parroting Hondo’s moves. “Yeah, talk, demon.” Snooke once again began to squirm around in his seat, glancing up once or twice at Kane. “I’m just in awe being around you guys.” If Hondo didn’t know Snooke was full of shit, he would have believed the act. It pissed him off that he was complimenting them as a means to gain Chris’s trust. “That line worked with Chris, but I don’t trust you.” Kane sat back laughing. “I’m just teasing you, Snooke.” Hondo growled at Kane. He should have known Kane would think with his dick and not with his brain. The warrior was using those smoldering eyes on Snooke. Traitor. “I’m not.” “Chill, bro, he’s harmless.” Kane pointed at Snooke as he smiled at Hondo. Hondo sat there pissed once again. How could Snooke fool not only Chris, but Kane as well? Oh, he was good, but not good enough to fool everyone in the room. He grabbed his plate and stood. “I’m not hungry anymore.” “Then can you bring the dessert in?” Chris called as Hondo stalked out of the room. Dessert? Fine, he’d bring dessert. Hondo scraped his plate into the garbage disposal and then rinsed it, setting his dinnerware in the dishwasher. He grabbed the cookie sheet from the counter and walked across the room.

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If Chris wanted him to serve dessert, then that was what he was going to do. Hondo walked casually back into the dining room, setting the cookie sheet in front of Snooke. “Hondo.” Chris tilted his head and looked at the space in front of Snooke. “Aren’t those the cookies you threw out earlier?” “Oh hell, man,” Snooke jumped up, his seat hitting the floor. “That’s some funky ass shit to pull on me. Giving me burnt cookies from the trash. I’m outta here.” He tossed his napkin on the table and left. “Way to go, Hondo. You just couldn’t behave for one evening of dinner, could you?” “But I don’t trust him.” Hondo defended his actions. “Don’t you get it? It wasn’t about if you trusted Snooke or not. It was about doing something for me. I asked you to show some courtesy, and you couldn’t even give me that!” Chris zipped out of the room, his face pulled back in anger. “Damn, sucks to be you,” Kane said as he grabbed Chris’s plate and began to eat. “Yeah, it does.” Hondo sat down in the chair Snooke vacated and stared at the door Chris had just run out of. “And I have a feeling that if I don’t make up with Snooke, Chris won’t forgive me.” “If your mating is anything to go by, I think I’ll become celibate,” Kane said as he shoved a forkful of stir-fry into his mouth. How had waking up this morning turned from wonderful to a day from hell? He couldn’t figure out how he managed to find his mate and lose him all in a twelve-hour period. Guess it was time to pucker his lips up and start kissing some serious ass, staring with Chris’s.

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Chapter Five Chris paced back and forth in his bedroom. He’d never seen Hondo act this way before, and he didn’t like it one bit. Chris sat on his bed, wondering what he was going to do. “Chris?” Hondo tapped his knuckles on the door as he entered. Standing, Chris straightened his shoulders and cleared his throat. “I’m very angry with you right now.” Dipping his head slightly, Hondo spoke. “Everything in me is screaming not to trust him. I wasn’t out to embarrass you. I swear.” Chris flopped down on the bed once again with an irritated sigh. “You never acted this way before. In the past two days, you’ve managed to make me feel two feet tall. If you continue to behave this way, this mating isn’t going to last between us.” It broke Chris’s heart to say those words, but Hondo needed to realize how serious Chris felt about this. Hondo dropped down beside Chris, facing him. “Give me one more chance. I promise not to fuck it up.” Chris glanced up at him. He could see the sincerity in Hondo’s oxblood red eyes. He growled to himself when he felt his defenses crumbling. Why couldn’t he stay mad at the lug-head? “One more chance, Hondo, I mean it.” The smile in Hondo’s eyes contained a sensual flame. Chris knew what was about to happen, and his mood became suddenly buoyant, his heart singing in delight. Hondo’s hand loosely wrapped around Chris’s neck, angling his head up for a kiss that made Chris’s pulse beat in his ears. Hondo’s mouth covered Chris’s hungrily, ravaging it with his tongue.

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Chris whimpered, pulling Hondo roughly, almost violently, to him. He crawled over Hondo’s lap as he sucked Hondo’s tongue deeply into his mouth. Hondo slowly lowered down to the bed, Chris lay across his chest. He ground his painfully full erection into Hondo’s stomach as he bit Hondo’s bottom lip. At last, reluctantly, they parted. Chris buried his hands in Hondo’s raven-black hair, staring down at his mate. “I think I’ve created a lust monster.” The side of Hondo’s mouth pulled back in a grin. “Get naked.” Chris tore at Hondo’s clothes with super speed, desperate to get at skin. He could feel Hondo’s skin heating up, and this excited Chris. He never knew sex would be this way, but was glad he’d saved himself. It was just ironic that he lost his virginity to his mate. “Careful, Chris, my cock is attached.” Hondo grabbed Chris’s wrists and pulled them away. “Slow down, speedster.” Hondo chuckled as he lifted his hips, shoving his jeans down and off. “I can’t help it, Hondo. I want you to fuck me, hard, fast, and now.” Chris shoved off of Hondo and kicked his pants off, tearing his shirt over his head and jumping back onto that muscular and tempting body. “My horny little bugger.” Hondo rolled Chris over to his back. “Get on your hands and knees.” Hondo leaned back as Chris turned to his stomach, and then got onto all fours. Chris moaned and stuck his ass out, Hondo’s hands running up and down his crease. He could feel Hondo tapping his cock at Chris’s hole, and then his tight muscles began to relax. Hondo’s hand grazed his hanging sac, rolling Chris’s orbs around in his large hand. Chris’s head dropped down. Hondo’s touch was light and painfully teasing. Chris could feel the head of Hondo’s cock playfully pressing at his anus and then pulling back. “Stop teasing me,” he whined.

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“I can’t just take you. Patience. Let the natural lube penetrate you.” Good god. That was the sexiest thing ever. Chris had a feeling Hondo could be talking about the proper way to clean an oven and it would still sound sexy as hell. “But I need,” Chris breathlessly begged. When the tip of Hondo’s cock stabbed at his ass this time, it popped past the ring of muscle. Oh glorious morning, just what he’d been waiting for. “Fuck me with that fat cock of yours.” Chris yelped when Hondo’s hand landed on his ass. “Potty mouth.” “And you like it.” “Damn straight I do.” Hondo gave one good thrust and was buried balls deep inside of Chris. “Motherfucker, fucker mother. Fuck me now, now fuck me,” Chris shouted at the top of his lungs. Hondo growled and drove deep into Chris’s ass. Chris’s legs began to shake from the sheer power Hondo was using. His mate wasn’t a small demon like him. Hondo was ripped with muscles that popped and flexed with even the most miniscule of moves. Chris loved how Hondo looked. “Is that what you want, baby?” Hondo growled as he plowed into Chris. “Yes, yes, yes,” Chris chanted, feeling Hondo’s cock all the way to his toes. His feet began to kick in hyper speed, panting and whining as Hondo fucked him. Chris couldn’t take it. He just couldn’t take the slow pace anymore. With a burst of speed, he fucked Hondo’s cock, feeling a buildup of static electricity zapping and buzzing through his body. Hondo reached forward and pulled at Chris’s hair. “Slow the hell down before I get friction burn.” He swatted Chris’s ass. Chris dropped to his shoulders and whimpered, feeling the buildup take over and consume him. “Hondo, do something, please.”

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Hondo pulled out of Chris and then flipped him over, driving his shaft right back in. “Give me your hands.” Chris reached up, wrapping his fingers around Hondo’s hands. “A little trick I picked up.” Hondo rammed into Chris as his eyes blazed. Chris felt like the top of his pressure cooker was removed, making him explode as he sang out, his voice echoing throughout his bedroom. “That’s right, baby. Come for Hondo.” Hondo thrust a few more times before squeezing Chris’s hands and roaring his release. Chris could feel Hondo’s seed, hot as hell, as it bathed his sheath. Hondo’s sweat-soaked face lowered to look at Chris, a look of amazement in his eyes. “Why didn’t you tell me?” “Tell you what?” Chris panted as his chest expanded and contracted at a fast pace. “How good it would feel to make love to you.” Hondo grinned and then fell to his arms, laying small kisses all over Chris’s face and neck. He sucked at Chris’s Adam’s apple, pulling his softening cock free. Chris started to laugh when Hondo’s lips began to tickle his skin. “Okay, I give.” He giggled. Hondo rolled to his side, pulling Chris until he was draped over his mate’s chest. Chris rubbed his face over the sweat glistening on Hondo, wanting to bathe in Hondo’s scent. Chris closed his eyes in contentment when Hondo began to rub his hand over Chris’s back in small, lazy circles. With sex like that, he’d forgive Hondo anything. **** Hondo growled when Snooke showed up the next day to take Chris to the movies. Kane had made a point that Hondo couldn’t alienate Chris and that his mate would resent him if he began to dictate who he could hang around.

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But Snooke? Come on now, have better taste in friends than that. The demon hadn’t technically done anything wrong. He just rubbed Hondo the wrong way. And he still didn’t trust the fucker. Snooke took a seat on the couch, glancing at Hondo and giving him a tight smile as they waited for Chris to get ready. “What movie are you going to see?” Hondo growled. Snooke jumped at Hondo’s voice and then cleared his throat. “My Zombie Boyfriend.” “So you’re taking my mate to go see a romantic movie?” Hondo’s voice was venomous. “No. It’s a horror,” Snooke corrected him. “You’re awfully flippant.” Hondo tapped his thumb on his thigh as he glared at Snooke from the red cushioned chair he was seated in. “I am not,” Snooke squeaked. “I just said it was a horror movie.” Hondo’s finger pointed at Snooke as it twirled around. “It’s the tone you used when you said it.” “Leave him alone, Hondo,” Chris warned as he came down the steps. Hondo got up from the chair, making a V with his fingers and pointing from his eyes to Snooke, warning the fucker that he would be watching him as he walked to the kitchen. “I’ll be back as soon as the movie is over.” Chris pulled at Hondo on his tiptoes for a kiss. There was no way he was going to let Chris give him a peck on the lips if his mate was going to the movies with a friend. Hondo pulled Chris up into his arms and kissed with so much passion, he was sure he’d left Chris’s lips burning with fire. “Wow,” Chris said breathlessly when the kiss was broken. “Maybe I should stay home.” Hondo couldn’t allow him to do that. If Chris canceled his plans, he may think Hondo tricked him into doing so. “Go on, babe. Have fun.” There, he could do it.

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“What do you have?” Hondo stared at the door Chris just walked out of. “Panahasi thinks he knows what they were after,” Kane said as he and Takeo came through the back door. “Then let’s go check out Serenity Savings.” Hondo locked Chris’s back door as he followed the other two warriors to the backyard. “Are you really going to let your mate go out on a date?” Takeo asked. “It’s not a date. Not the way you’re thinking,” Hondo groused. “Stick to the subject, and leave my personal life out of this.” “Yeah.” Kane chuckled. “’Cause Hondo is screwing it up enough without anyone’s help.” Hondo moved ahead, his jaw clenched. “What does Panahasi think?” Hondo waited for the other two to catch up. “He thinks they were after something from the valuable vault,” Kane said as they walked into the dark shadow of Chris’s backyard, emerging into the backroom of Serenity Savings. “I told Panahasi that I would call if I needed help,” Falcon snapped as the three warriors walked into his office. Falcon Harrington sat behind his desk, his indigo-blue eyes locked on Takeo’s. Hondo knew that out of all the warriors, Takeo was feared the most. His stealth moves and lethal aura made most tremble in fear. But creatures like Falcon, a griffin shifter, they just watched him cautiously. “We have a message.” Takeo stood rigid, his face stoic. “If you do not let us look around, Panahasi himself will come to you, and we all know you do not want that.” Falcon never lowered his eyes, never showed a sign of weakness. “By all means, look around.” He gave a slight nod toward his office door. “Thanks, Falcon.” Kane grinned and walked out. Hondo chuckled as he followed. Was Kane ever in a bad mood?

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The three combed the bank until they came to the valuable vault, a room that held the sacred articles of Serenity City. “What the fuck?” Kane looked around the room. “How the hell will Falcon know if something is missing? This room is trashed.” Hondo toed the debris on the floor, shifting it around. “We need a list of inventory and a maid service to figure this one out.” “Until I know if anything is missing, I’ll call it an attempted robbery,” Falcon said from the doorway. “Why didn’t you just tell us someone trashed the place and you don’t know if something is missing until you go through it all?” Hondo asked. Falcon waved his hand in a gesture of dismissal. “I’m quite sure nothing has been stolen. None of the alarms sounded to indicate anything was being taken from this room.” “If your alarms are so foolproof, how did the perpetrator get in?” Kane asked smugly. “My alarms aren’t set up to detect break-ins, only to detect if something is removed.” “Sounds ass-backward to me.” Hondo placed his hands on his hips, blowing a breath out at the mess they had to sift through. “Guess we should get started.” “Unnecessary. I’ll have my people clean it up and let you know if anything is missing.” Falcon took a step into the room, his stance challenging. “No can do. Panahasi wants us to get this done, and when boss man issues an order, we listen.” Hondo bent down, pushing aside papers to see a familiar case lying open on the floor. “I’ll see about that.” Falcon turned on his wingtip heels and stormed from the room. “Does this look familiar to anyone?” Hondo held up the empty case. “Fuck.” Kane exhaled. “Better call the boss.”

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**** “So what’s Kane like?” Snooke asked as they walked back to Chris’s house. “Why?” Chris’s steps slowed as he waited for Snooke to answer him. “Are you going to start, too? I don’t have a motive, Chris. I’m just like everyone else, curious about the warriors. If you don’t trust me— ” “No, I trust you. I guess Hondo is starting to rub off on me.” Chris began to walk again, sipping loudly on his Slurpee. “You want to go get something to eat at King Wings?” “Now that sounds like a plan.” Snooke chuckled. “Best wings in the demon realm.” They both recited the commercial and laughed. “So what do you want to know about Kane?” Snooke popped a handful of candy into his mouth as he shrugged. “Don’t know.” He chewed and then swallowed. “Is he always so playful?” Chris nodded as he took another sip. “Yep, never knew him to be serious.” Chris bounced in front of Snooke, placing his hand on Snooke’s chest. “Hold on. You like him, don’t you?” Chris giggled. “Snooke likes Kane,” he sang. “Do not.” Snooke laughed as he pushed Chris’s hand away. “Maybe.” His cheeks flushed as he looked away from Chris. “I can hook you up. I’m cool with him, you know,” Chris boasted. He waved his Slurpee around as he talked with his hands. “Oh, we can double date. Me and Hondo, you and Kane.” Chris jumped up and down excitedly. “I don’t think Hondo would like that. For some reason he thinks I’m a spy.” Chris stopped jumping and growled. “You let me worry about my mate. He promised to behave, so I don’t see a problem with it.”

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“I don’t know. How much fun can double-dating be with tension between two people? Maybe I can go to the warriors’ apartment building and talk to Hondo, make him see that I’m not a spy.” “I can take you. I know how to get in.” Chris giggled into his hand. “This is so cool. I never had a friend to hang with besides the warriors. I like it.” “Me, too.” Snooke smiled at Chris. “Me, too.” He clapped Chris on the back as they walked to get some food. **** “Are you sure?” Panahasi asked as he paced his living room. “We searched the whole room. The crystal is gone.” Hondo sat back on the couch, wondering what Chris was doing right now. He was amazed how quickly he adjusted to the idea of Chris being his. It no longer felt odd to cross the line from friendship to lovers, but not having the exuberant man bouncing around him bothered Hondo. He missed him. “Then we need to find out who took it and get it back.” Panahasi stopped at the large window in his living room, looking down over the city in concentration. “If whoever took it knows how to use it, we’re fucked.” Kane ran his hands through his hair, looking, for the first time ever, worried. Hondo’s eyes wandered over to Takeo, the warrior watching their leader intently. His face pulled back into a mask of rage, and then he blinked and looked around as if just realizing where he was. Panahasi nodded at the window. “Go, Takeo.” Takeo bowed and swiftly left the apartment. “Where is he going?” Kane asked. Panahasi rubbed the short stubble on his jaw. “Helping out a friend.”

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Hondo looked behind him when the apartment door opened. Two warriors, Phoenyx and Rainerio, strolled in. Phoenyx closed the door quietly as they joined the group. Panahasi turned from the window and snapped his fingers, pointing them at the two warriors who had just joined them. “I want you to find the reporter who wrote the story about the break-in.” He walked over to the bar and picked the paper up, his eyes scanning over it. “Sexton Fenton. And find out how he found out about the break-in.” “No problem.” Rainerio nodded, leaving with Phoenyx. “Someone needs to guard the Black River. If whoever took the crystal truly knows how to use it, then we need to catch them in the act,” Hondo pointed out. “I’ll send over Ace Boogey and Torky. That should keep the two out of trouble for a while.” Hondo shook his head as he snorted. “Sending two hoodlum brothers to watch for something as valuable as the crystal, are you sure that’s wise?” A knowing smile broke across Panahasi’s face, his eyes sparkling in the dimly lit room. “They know that if they cross me, I’ll blink them out of existence.” The leader winked at Hondo. Hondo would rather have Panahasi raving mad than see him so calm and playful. The boss man was lethal in this mood. He had no doubt Torky and Ace Boogey would think twice before crossing the Demon Warrior leader, but whether they still do it was the million dollar question. “Where’s Chris?” Panahasi asked as he took a seat at the bar. “Hondo let him go out on a date,” Kane offered as he flipped through a magazine from the coffee table. Hondo shot daggers at the instigator. “I didn’t know you were so freethinking.” Panahasi raised a brow in surprise.

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“I’m not. They’re just friends.” They better be, or Snooke was gonna wish he was never hatched under a rock.

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Chapter Six “I’ll have the three-piece special.” Chris leaned against the counter and fit his fingers together, waiting for Snooke to place his order. His eyes moved over the dining area, watching the mystical beings of the demon realm enjoying their meals. Although this was technically called the demon realm—because of the Demon Warriors—it was inhabited by a variety of paranormal creatures who visited here, most deciding to call it home. But only the demons were born with supernatural powers. “Here you go.” The vampire behind the counter slid Chris’s paper boat of chicken across the counter. Once Snooke had his, they decided to walk back to Chris’s house instead of eating in the dining area. “God, I love these wings,” Chris said as he bit into his tender chicken. It wasn’t often he came here, preferring home-cooked meals, but it was a treat when he did. “I practically live out of that place.” Snooke chuckled as he licked his fingers. “What do you want to do now?” “We could head over to Bernard’s Buybacks and see what used video games or movies they have.” They both turned on their heels and headed toward the used video store. “So is Kane seeing anyone?” Snooke asked as he dropped the ravaged chicken bone and picked up a fresh one. “That you know of?” he added on as he took a bite. Chris grinned at the way Snooke was trying to sound casual. He’d never played matchmaker before. This could be fun. “I haven’t seen him with anyone. As far as I know, he’s single.” Chris caught the look of sheer joy on Snooke’s face before he hid it.

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“That’s cool.” Chris had to swallow his mouthful before he choked on his food from the giggles. “You are a terrible actor. Admit it, you want him.” Chris bumped his shoulder against Snooke’s, teasing him to no end. “He likes long walks across the street from his apartment in the basketball court, sunsets that never happen, and meaningless relationships.” Chris stopped walking as peals of laughter erupted from his belly. “You are such a shithead.” Snooke wiped his mouth, laughing along with Chris. He liked having a friend, someone who he could relate to. Although Chris loved his band of warriors, somehow Snooke seemed more on his level. He didn’t feel like the runt of the group, but an equal. “Let me guess. Hondo likes long walks down to the detention cells, setting things on fire, and driving everyone around him insane.” Snooke’s laugh was deep, warm, and rich. He’d be perfect for Kane, Chris thought. Snooke and Kane both liked to laugh. That was one thing they had in common so far. “Ah, hell.” Snooke’s laughter died as he dropped his paper boat, his eyes filled with fear. “Run, Chris, now.” Chris didn’t ask any questions. In the blink of an eye his food was on the ground and he was running next to Snooke. He could use his super speed, but didn’t want to leave Snooke behind. Chris hadn’t learned how to use his supernatural powers while carrying someone. “Why are we running?” Chris cried out as they rounded the corner and took off down Broadview Avenue. This was no way to end a nice evening. “Just keep going. Whatever you do, don’t stop.” Snooke grabbed Chris’s shirt and pulled him around the corner, passing Trenton’s Dry Cleaning. “This way.” They were almost to Chris’s street when Snooke went flying through the air, tackling Chris, both hitting the concrete. “Snooke!” Chris screamed when the slim man’s body didn’t move.

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He pushed him off of him and rolled to his feet, grabbing Snooke’s arm, when he heard a loud crackle behind him. Chris would know that sound anywhere. It was the sound of someone using supernatural powers. Taking a chance, Chris looked over his shoulder to see an unfamiliar face contorted with rage and heading their way. “We have to get out of here.” Chris pulled Snooke’s halfconscious body up and draped the limp arm over his shoulder. “Come on, Snooke, you have to help me,” Chris cried as he struggled to get his friend moving. “Please be okay. You’re not supposed to get hit, remember? You can neutralize it.” Chris sobbed as he pulled Snooke along. Chris heard the crackling again, looking over his shoulder in time to see a charge coming right at him. **** “I can’t believe Panahasi wants those two imbeciles to guard the river. It’s like sending a dog to babysit a cat. No good can come of that situation,” Hondo griped as he and Kane made their way down Broadview Avenue. Once again Hondo started thinking of Chris. He was trying his best not to run to the movie house and yank his mate out of there. If he couldn’t trust Chris, then neither of them had a leg to stand on. And if Snooke tried anything, he wouldn’t have any legs to stand on. “I think I’ll hang out in the shadows and watch the two imbeciles. It should be good for a laugh.” Kane chuckled beside him. “That’s if you can understand them. Have you noticed that when those two get together, they have a language of their own?” Kane held his side as he laughed. “You mean you can’t understand them?” “Don’t even try that with me. You can’t either.” The side of Hondo’s mouth pulled up into a smile. “You’re right, I can’t.”

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Hondo slowed to a stop when he heard the crackling in the distance. “Someone’s at it again.” “Do you want to go check it out or go find Torky and Ace Boogey?” Kane asked. “I think finding the brothers is more important right now. We’ll take care of that quickly and then go see who is fighting,” Hondo said just as his cell phone began to ring. “Hondo, here.” “People are calling in to complain about a fight.” “I know, we can hear it.” Hondo picked up his pace. “Kane and I are near the area. As soon as we talk with the brothers we’re going to head over there.” “I sent someone else to handle those two. You need to go stop the fight.” Panahasi’s voice sounded strained, making Hondo’s hairs stand on end. “I don’t know how accurate the information is, but the callers are saying Chris is invol—” Hondo hung up, racing down the street toward the commotion. If Leam came after him again, he was going to dedicate every waking hour to finding that fucker. “What’s wrong?” Kane asked as he ran next to Hondo. “Chris is in that fight.” “Shit,” Kane cursed, both running as fast as they could. He would use a shadow to walk through, but he wasn’t sure where the fight was taking place and every minute counted. “There.” Kane pointed to a pair running down the street. No, one was running, the other was being pulled. “Chris!” Hondo shouted as he began to ignite. When his mate looked back and Hondo could see his tear-swollen face, anger consumed him. Raising both arms, he hurled fireballs at the man chasing them as he put on a burst of speed. The demon ducked out of the way of the fiery missiles, managing to fire a ball of electricity toward his mate. Hondo was so filled with rage, he hadn’t noticed everything stop. The electricity ball hung in midair mere inches from Chris’s beautiful brown hair.

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“Chris,” Kane shouted as he ran over. “Stop running, you’re safe.” Kane ran to the demon that was frozen in time, pulling out his neutralizing cuffs and slapping them on the man. He laid the guy down onto the concrete on his stomach and then ran toward Chris and Snooke. Chris crumbled to the ground, Snooke falling weightlessly beside him. “Help him,” he cried. Hondo finally managed to make it to his mate’s side, assessing the damage quickly with his eyes. Chris seemed unharmed, but he wanted to be sure. “Were you hit, baby?” He banked the flames and grabbed Chris from the ground and lifted him up, checking his body for injury. “No,” Chris sobbed as he squirmed around. “It’s not me. Snooke needs help. He jumped in the way and took the blast. He saved me.” Hondo was stunned. He held on to Chris as he pulled his cell phone out. “Phoenyx, I need you over on Broadview by the dry cleaners. Chris’s friend is badly hurt.” “I don’t understand. He’s a neutralizer. How could he be hurt?” Chris cried. “Even the strong can’t take too many hits before they take their toll, baby.” Hondo tried his best to comfort his mate. Phoenyx appeared from the side of the building, walking over to Snooke and kneeling down. “Help him, please,” Chris whimpered. “He’s my friend.” “I’ll help him, buddy.” Phoenyx leaned forward and let one single teardrop fall onto the open and ugly wound smoldering on Snooke’s back. Hondo was always in awe of the demon’s healing powers. He watched as Snooke’s back began to close, the charred skin turning pink with pucker and then smoothing over to look as though he had never been harmed. “Thanks.” Hondo tilted his head toward the warrior. His feelings were conflicting inside of him. Did he misjudge the man? Had he been too hasty in declaring Snooke a spy simply because he had been

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a jealous man? The demon saved his mate’s life. Would someone of ill character do something like that? “Let’s get him home.” Kane bent down and pulled Snooke up into his arms. “Where does he live?” he turned and asked Chris. Chris wiped at his eyes, shaking his head. “I don’t know. You can take him to my house.” “I’ll take care of the guy on the ground.” Phoenyx nodded behind Hondo. “You two take care of Chris and Snooke.” Phoenyx smiled. “I like his name.” Hondo clapped the warrior on the back as he and Kane walked over to Chris’s house, carrying the two tired and battle-ridden men. “Do you know who he was?” he asked his mate as he opened the front door with the key Chris handed him. “No. Snooke and I were coming from King Wings when he yelled for us to run. I don’t know who he is or why he was after us.” Hondo watched as Kane lay Snooke down gently onto the sofa, checking the rest of his body for any more injuries. Hondo left Kane to his task as he carried Chris upstairs. “Do you think he could be working with Leam? Did he say anything to you?” Chris shook his head as he rolled over once Hondo set him down on the bed. “Nothing, he didn’t say a word, just kept blasting at us.” Hondo kicked his shoes off and crawled in next to Chris, pulling his mate close and molding him to his body. “How are you holding up, baby?” Hondo could feel his slim mate’s body shaking. He wanted to go find the jerk and make him pay for scaring the living daylights out of his lover. Chris began to softly cry in Hondo’s arms. “I thought he was going to die.” He clutched Hondo’s shirt. “I thought I wouldn’t get a chance to thank him for being my friend and for saving me.” “He’s fine now, baby. Kane is looking after him.” Hondo gently rocked Chris in his arms, kissing his head, as he wished he could take his mate’s pain away.

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He lay there holding Chris for a long time, even after the demon fell asleep. Hondo thought of all the decades they had been friends, of all the fun they had together. He could have lost his best friend this evening, and that scared the hell out of him. Chris was his mate, but to Hondo, that took a backseat to their friendship. His love for his buddy was strong, and tonight, he realized that he was falling in love with the speedster as well. **** Chris sat on Hondo’s couch as he listened to the warriors talk. He found out absolutely nothing. “Even after I threatened him with the detention cell…no dice. The guy was tight-lipped. Wouldn’t give me a name or tell me why he was after Chris,” Phoenyx said as he threw his arm over the back of the couch and slouched down. “Who went with you?” Kane asked. “Rainerio and Wayland. I couldn’t get in touch with Takeo. I think he’s seeing someone in the human realm.” Kane pushed back onto the two back legs of the kitchen chair he had brought into the living room. Chris was amazed at how the warrior could keep his balance, considering Kane was just as large as Hondo. “Takeo’s slapping skin somewhere. He has to be. The guy’s hardly around here and never answers his cell phone.” Kane rocked the chair back and forth, as if it were made for such an action. “What about Snooke? You say he just took off?” Chris asked. He was baffled by that news. Considering what had happened, he thought Snooke would stick around for a while. “Yeah. I went to the can, and when I came out, no Snooke,” Kane said with a slightly resentful tone. Chris looked up at the warrior’s face, wondering if Kane was starting to like his friend the same way Snooke liked Kane.

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“The adrenaline probably hadn’t worn off,” Hondo said as he sat on the couch and pulled Chris onto his lap. “He’ll be back.” “You two look good together.” Phoenyx smiled over at them. “Who would have thought our Chris was a mate to one of us.” Chris laid his head on Hondo’s chest, inhaling his mate’s scent. He felt off-kilter since the fight and needed grounding. “Did you find Torky and Ace Boogey?” Hondo asked as his thumb played over Chris’s arm. “Those two.” Phoenyx rolled his eyes. “I had to chase them down. Ace thought I was there to take him down for gambling behind the apartment building. Like I give a shit about that.” “What happened?” Chris sat slightly forward. “Used the shadows and cut him off. He wasn’t a happy camper. Got even ornerier when I told him what Panahasi wanted.” He smiled. Chris jumped when Kane fell backwards, hitting the floor hard. Hondo and Phoenyx began to laugh, his mate’s chest vibrating with laughter. Chris leaned forward to see if Kane was okay. Kane jumped up and quickly brushed himself off. “I’m good.” Chris started to laugh when he saw the warrior was unharmed. “You’re too big to use that chair that way,” Chris teased. “Nah, just lost concentration.” Kane knelt and began to pick up the broken pieces of wood. “I’ll replace this for you.” “You can break them all if you do that again,” Hondo continued to rib Kane about his clumsiness. Chris had a suspicion he knew where the warrior’s brain was. Mr. Snooke had some explaining to do…when they found him. **** Chris zipped around Hondo, excitement bursting from every pore. “Where are you taking me? Is it to Devil Mart for their weekly sale?” He tried his best to make his mate spill the beans. “No.”

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“Is it Bernard’s Buybacks? I need more DVDs.” “No.” “I know, I know. You’re taking me to Eryk’s Electronics, right? I really could use another universal remote.” He spun around and started speed walking backwards, staring up into Hondo’s ox-blood eyes, begging with his for a hint. “No.” Chris racked his brain trying to figure out where Hondo could be taking him. The warrior’s hand shot out and grabbed Chris right before he ran into a passerby. The vampire sneered at Chris and kept walking his two-headed poodle. “I want a pet.” “I hear they’re a big responsibility. Weigh the pros and cons before making a hasty decision, babe.” Hondo spun Chris around, making him walk forward again as they turned from Broadview Avenue onto West 39th. “The Pancake House.” Chris jumped around thrilled. “Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy, all you can eat pancake Thursday. Yippy!” Chris had to slow down so he wouldn’t leave Hondo behind. They made a left on Creston Road and then another left on Huff. Chris grabbed Hondo’s hand, pulling his mate to walk faster as they neared the restaurant. “I’m coming, Chris. Slow down, the place isn’t going anywhere.” Hondo laughed. “It’s been ages since I’ve been here.” “We were just here two weeks ago.” Hondo pulled Chris into the crook of his arms and squeezed him to his body before releasing him. “That’s ages to a pancake-aholic.” Chris ran and opened the door, tapping his foot impatiently as Hondo took his time. He must have seen how Chris was acting because Hondo slowed down, as if using Chris’s powers backward. He rolled his eyes, ready to pull the lughead in if he didn’t stop goofing around. “Hondo,” Chris whined from the door.

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“I’ll stop torturing you.” He grinned as he walked through the door. The aroma hit Chris as soon as he walked into the place. His mouth watered for blueberry syrup with buckwheat pancakes. “You can sit anywhere,” the waiter said as he hurried by them. “Your choice, babe.” Hondo followed behind Chris as they made their way to the back. All eyes tracked their every movement. It was always that way when the warriors went somewhere. None of the citizens of Serenity City knew a lot about the Demon Warriors, and all were curious. Chris understood why Hondo became upset when Snooke was asking, but Snooke was his friend. Chris just had one of those gut feelings that he could trust him. They also sat in the back because Hondo liked to have his back to the wall, keeping an eye on everyone. Chris guessed he would be paranoid too if demons gone bad were always trying to kill him. “Can I start you off with something to drink?” the waiter asked as he approached their table. Good god, could they get seated first? Talk about a fan base. “I’ll have an orange juice,” Hondo said as he sat down. The waiter smiled and turned to leave. “Uh, hello, I haven’t ordered anything yet,” Chris pointed out tersely. “Yes?” the waiter turned back around, a slight attitude in his voice. Chris wanted to take the glass of water from the table and toss it in the guy’s face. He’d seen that on television once and was dying to try it. If this snob kept it up, he just might get the chance. “I’ll have the same,” Chris growled under his breath when the waiter rolled his eyes and walked away. “He must be new. I haven’t seen him here before.” “Hmm,” Hondo said as he sipped at the water. “Did you not see how he just treated me?” Chris put his elbows on the table and rested his chin on his hands. He wasn’t a fussy person, but bad service was bad service. Let’s see if I leave a tip. That’ll teach him.

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“Relax, babe. We’re here to have a good time.” Hondo ran his knuckle down the side of Chris’s face, smiling adoringly at him. Chris let out a sigh. “I will.” He leaned into Hondo’s touch, relishing the feel of his mate’s warm fingers against his skin. Chris scooted closer, looking up at Hondo and trying to give his best comehither look that he could muster. “Your face looks pinched. Are you in pain?” Hondo stopped caressing his face, a look of concern in his eyes. Guess that didn’t work out so well. “No, I’m fine.” Damn, Hondo had him so wound tight that he was making come-on moves in a Pancake House. Chris leaned back and took a deep breath, trying to deflate his throbbing cock. He had an itch, and as soon as they were done here, Hondo was going to scratch it. The waiter came over with their drinks, handing Hondo a menu with a hooded glance, tossing Chris’s on the table without looking at him. Chris picked it up, ignoring the rude man. The only thing that saved Hondo’s hide was the fact his mate seemed oblivious to the flirting. He sat there looking at his menu as the jackass took the hint and stomped off in a snit. Chris wasn’t sure if he should get pissed or laugh at the situation. “I’m ready to order.” Hondo sat the menu down, looking around the restaurant as Chris made up his mind. He didn’t know why he bothered to look at a menu. He knew it by heart. “Me, too.” Hondo held his hand up for the waiter who seemed to be waiting eagerly behind the counter. The man rushed over to the table, pad and pen in hand. This was going to be a long breakfast.

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Chapter Seven Hondo let out a belch as he and Chris leisurely walked hand in hand back to his apartment. Those pancakes hit the spot. A nap was in order now. As they walked through the neighborhoods, Hondo inhaled deeply, listening to the sounds of people out on their porches having a good time. Kids played football in the streets, while others strolled along walking their pets. It was a peaceful time of day. “I want to stop and get a new movie.” Chris tugged on Hondo’s hand. “To Bernard’s it is then.” Hondo was just about to open the door for Chris when he spotted Falcon coming out of his bank. The reason this caught his attention was because Leam came out behind him. Hondo quickly ushered Chris into the store, watching the pair from behind a rack of videos. What in the hell were those two doing together? “What’s wrong, Hondo?” Chris asked from beside him. Thankfully his mate hadn’t spotted Leam. The demon would be in a tizzy right now. “Nothing, babe. Why don’t you go pick out a movie for us to watch?” He turned back around once Chris nodded and walked off. Hondo tilted his head when he noticed the pair in a heated debate. He pulled his cell phone out and snapped a couple of pictures, and then stuffed it back into his pocket. “Found one,” Chris shoved the case in his face, wanting Hondo to see the damn case when it was sitting on his nose. He glanced outside and saw the pair had disappeared.

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“Looks good.” Grabbing the case, Hondo quickly paid for the movie and got Chris out of there before Leam spotted them. He was not in the mood to fight right now. Hondo’s cock did a happy dance at the thought of being inside of Chris again. Man how things changed in such a short period of time. “I want to pop some popcorn and maybe even have some hot chocolate.” This made Hondo take notice. “Let me see that movie.” He wiggled his fingers until Chris extracted it from the bag and handed it over. “Lovers in the Night?” Fuck, Chris had gotten him. Hondo was so busy paying attention to Falcon and Leam that he hadn’t really looked at the movie Chris has shoved in his face. This was going to be grueling. “But you said that it looked good.” Chris grabbed the movie and stuffed it back in the bag. “Don’t you want to watch it with me?” The disappointment in Chris’s voice tore at Hondo. They’d never in a hundred years watched a chick flick before. It must be a mate thing. “Of course I want to watch it with you.” Hondo hoped Chris couldn’t see the truth on his face. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt his feelings. Hondo was relieved when Chris smiled brightly at him. “Good, I got the extended version.” He held the small white bag up proudly. He inwardly groaned. Where was a good fight when he needed one? “Then let’s get back to my place and watch it.” That reminded Hondo of the talk he needed to have with Chris. As much as he loved the home Chris had created for himself, he wanted his mate with him. It was forbidden to live outside of their apartment building. No one, not even Chris, knew that the warriors’ strength came from them dwelling together in that building. The keeper had spells and wards placed on the brick and mortar, and that was where they drew their strength from. Chris would have to give up his home if they were to live together.

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They climbed the three flights of stair to Hondo’s unit. “I’ll get the popcorn ready,” Hondo said as he set his keys down by the door and kicked his shoes off. “I’ll set the movie up.” Chris zipped past him to the television, humming a happy tune. What could he do when his mate was so happy? Hondo will sit through the movie, that’s what. He walked into the kitchen and grabbed the bag of un-popped kernels, dialing his phone while he made the popcorn. “I saw Falcon with Leam about ten minutes ago, standing outside the bank together.” “Did you hear anything they were saying?” Panahasi asked. “No, but they seemed to be in a heated debate. Leam didn’t look too happy about it either.” Hondo took down a bowl to dump the popcorn in, grabbing some salt and butter. “I’ll send someone to keep an eye on Falcon. I’d like to know what he’s up to. Keep me posted.” “Will do.” Hondo hung up the phone and grabbed the bowl, heading into his living room. Chris was sprawled out on the couch, leisurely stroking his exposed cock. Well, this was new. He was expecting to see him in his usual ball, sitting at the edge of the couch and covering his face. Hondo liked this change. He set the bowl down on the coffee table and knelt by the couch. Chris blushed when he looked up at him, but kept lazily moving his hand up and down that nicely exposed cock. “Do you need help?” Chris licked his lips and nodded. “Do you want me to suck you or fuck you?” Hondo unsnapped his own jeans, running his fingertips over the head of his cock. “Can you do both?” Chris ran his free hand over his slim chest, pinching his own nipples as his eyes closed and his lips parted. Hondo felt his skin heating up. His little demon was putting on an erotic show that threatened to take Hondo over the edge before they got started. His hand joined Chris’s as he teased and plucked at the

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brown disc. Chris’s body moved around, writhing as he moaned. Hondo’s fingertips trailed down Chris’s chest to his abdomen. His hand rested on the tight planes, feeling the muscles below his fingers tighten. Chris lifted his hips when Hondo reached down and slid his jeans to his ankles. Hondo licked his index finger, getting it nice and wet before lowering it and pressing it between Chris’s legs. His mate’s knees fell to the side, opening himself up as Hondo inserted his finger into Chris’s tight hole. Hondo moved Chris’s hand out of the way and parted his lips, taking the head of Chris’s cock into his mouth. The salty taste of his essence exploded on Hondo’s tongue. “Y–you do that good,” Chris panted. Hondo smiled around his cock and sucked it in until the head was tapping the back of his throat, using the muscles to work his mate’s cock. “Hondo, I love you,” Chris screamed as his seed pulsed down Hondo’s throat. That was one hell of a way to declare it. Hondo pulled Chris from the couch, pulling his jeans the rest of the way off. “Put your hands against the window.” “But, there’s no curtain there.” Chris protested. “Exactly.” Hondo rid himself of his clothes, grabbing his mate around the waist and turning him around. “What if someone sees me? My cock is hanging Free Willy style.” Hondo chuckled at Chris. “Then they will be extremely jealous of what I have.” Hondo grabbed the ottoman and shoved it in front of the floor to ceiling window and set Chris on it. He pressed the tip of his cock to Chris’s hole, letting the natural lube prepare his mate as Hondo kissed the back of Chris’s neck. Chris’s head fell forward, the protest forgotten. Chris stuck his ass out further, trying to impale his ass on Hondo’s cock. Hondo snaked his hand around Chris’s waist and played with his cock as the tip of his shaft breached the ring of muscles.

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Chris lifted his left leg up, trying to lay it against the window. Hondo helped him out, hooking his left arm under it as he rocked in and out of his mate. “It feels so damn good.” Chris’s arm landed on the window, his forehead resting on it. Hondo leaned back, trailing his tongue down Chris’s back, groaning at the feel of his mate’s body wrapped around his shaft. “I want to share my life with you, Chris. Come share my home, my life, and my heart. You’re all I need.” Hondo didn’t know where the words were coming from, but a raw deep-seated need to express them had taken over. “Hondo,” Chris called out in a tear-smothered cry. Hondo exploded in a downpour of fiery sensation as he came. Chris’s orgasm triggered his, bringing Hondo onto the tips of his toes. He pulled Chris away from the window, laying them both on the couch as he petted and kissed his mate. **** Chris put his apron on as the first customer came in. It felt good to get back to work. Jake’s Java looked really nice now. Chris especially loved the double espresso machine. Jake had taken all morning showing him how to use the updated equipment. “Do you think you have it now?” Jake did a sweep of his hand toward the new equipment. Chris nodded his head. “I think so. I guess we’ll see.” He went over the instructions in his head as the first customer approached the counter. “Welcome to Jake’s Java, what can I get for you?” “I’ll have a tall, nonfat, no-whip latte.” Oh, this was an easy one. Chris made the coffee drink and slid it across the counter, ringing the customer out. He wondered what Hondo was doing. They’d been having a lot of fun lately. Who knew his mate could be such a romantic?

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“Give me all your money.” Chris’s head snapped up. Snooke began laughing. “Had you for a split second, admit it.” His friend picked up one of Jake’s Java gift cards, turning it over between his fingers. “People really buy these things?” Chris stood there staring at Snooke like he had two heads. “How can you just walk in here like nothing ever happened?” Chris looked around when his voice began rising. “I was worried about you. One minute you’re on my couch, and then two days later you show up joking. What gives?” “I had things I had to take care of. No big deal.” Snooke tossed the card back into its display bracket. “I’ll take a small coffee.” Chris grabbed a cup, ticked that Snooke just walked in here like nothing ever happened. “It was a big deal. You’re my friend, and friends worry about each other when they just up and disappear.” “Chill out, dude. It’s cool. What time do you get off?” “Five, but Hondo said he’s going to pick me up.” Chris would love to hang with Snooke, but Hondo had promised to take him to the human realm for a night of drive-in fun. They were to rent a car and make out like two horny teenagers, fogging up the windows. Chris was not about to pass that up. “Guess I’ll catch up with you later then.” Snooke downed the rest of his coffee and tossed the paper cup into the trash can. “Wait, I want to know who that was chasing us the other night. I have a right to know,” Chris added on when he saw Snooke heading toward the door. He ran around the counter to catch up to his friend when two more customers came in. Not wanting to lose his job, Chris had no choice but to let Snooke walk out as he went back behind the counter to serve the customers. “I’ll tell you about it when we hang out again,” Snooke called over his shoulder as he left the coffee shop. Chris wanted to wring the guy’s neck. There was no way Snooke could say he didn’t know who it was because he had recognition on

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his face when he saw the one that chased them. He was going to get to the bottom of this. Chris didn’t have to be a warrior to solve a mystery, just outsmart the one trying to hide something from him. He pushed Snooke to the back of his mind by five o’clock. Excitement took over as he thought about Hondo and their date. Sure, he’d been to the human realm plenty of times. Who hadn’t? But he was going with his mate. The minute hand seemed to slow down on the clock the closer it got to quitting time. Chris silently begged it to move faster, wanting to see his mate after a long day at work. He beamed when Hondo walked through the door. Chris hurried and cleaned down the counters at his assigned work area. He didn’t want to keep his mate waiting. Giddiness filled him at the sight of Hondo’s hard muscles, beautiful black hair, and ox-blood red eyes. Eyes that zeroed in on him as soon as Hondo spotted him. “Hey, babe.” Hondo leaned over the counter and gave him a quick peck on the lips. Chris’s lips followed his when Hondo began to lean back, wanting more of that scrumptious taste. The other employee, Trenton, chucked as Chris blushed and pulled back. “I’m almost done. Do you want something before we leave?” He busied the rag over the counter, making sure everything was straightened and in place. Jake was very fickle when it came to how his shop looked. “You,” Hondo teased him, his eyes twinkling with devilishness. “I’ll go take a seat until you’re done.” Chris nodded and watched one fine-looking butt walk away and grab a seat at the nearest table. He sighed, loving the fact that they had crossed from friends to lovers. How perfect it was that Hondo turned out to be his mate. “If you don’t stop drooling, you’ll never get out of here,” Trenton said as he pushed Chris toward the time clock. “Go have fun. I’ll take care of the clean up.” “Thanks.” Chris knew Trenton didn’t have a mate. Most people didn’t in the demon realm, so they settled on dating someone in hopes

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to finding happiness anyway. The demons were the only breed that didn’t know who their mate was when meeting them. They had to sleep together to find out. Chris would rather settle for a meaningful relationship than sleep around. Thank goodness he didn’t have to. “I’m ready,” he said to Hondo as he untied his apron. “Can we stop at my house so I can do a quick change?” “You do stink,” Hondo teased, dodging out of the way when Chris swatted a hand at him. Hondo reached down and swung Chris up and onto his back. A move Chris had wished Hondo had performed before. He clung to his mate’s back as they made their way to his house. “Are you all right back there?” “I don’t know, I think I’m suffering from lack of oxygen up here.” Hondo’s body shook with laughter as he waved to a couple of shifters walking by. They stared at the two strangely and began to whisper to one another. “What’s that all about?” Chris asked as he watched the shifters point at them as they huddled together talking. “I think our performance the other night didn’t go unnoticed.” Chris felt embarrassed when he realized what Hondo was talking about. These people had seen their sexual adventure. At the time, he hadn’t cared who saw them, but now that people were staring, it was slightly embarrassing. “Hondo.” Chris gripped his hands tighter around Hondo’s neck. “How can I look anyone in the face now?” “Do you care what they think?” Hondo hiked Chris higher on his back, giving a look of disapproval at the shifters who were gossiping about them. “I sure as shit don’t.” “My mom is going to kill me if word reaches her ears.” Chris pouted, dreading that phone call. His mom was very open-minded. She didn’t care that Chris was gay, but to be told her son was up in a window being wanton in full view of the neighborhood would have

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her going on and on for hours about keeping their mating business behind closed doors. “If she calls me, I’m handing the phone to you.” “I love talking to your mom.” Hondo didn’t seem the least bit put out by the threat. Chris had to admit, the two got along fabulously. His mom adored Hondo and would probably take his side over Chris’s. That fact didn’t bother Chris. He loved that his mom got along so well with his best friend. “Here we are,” Hondo said as he climbed the front porch and fished out the spare key Chris had given him eons ago. Most of the time Hondo didn’t use it anyway, preferring to enter Chris’s house through a shadow. “Give me ten minutes, and I’ll be ready to go,” Chris said as Hondo lowered him to his feet. He zipped up the stairs, wondering what he should wear on their date. He rushed to the bathroom, taking a quick shower and grabbing a pair of slacks and a nice button-down black shirt. Chris slapped some body lotion on once he came from the shower and then ran a comb through his hair, looking in the mirror and declaring himself ready. He spun around when a Wood Elf shimmered into his bedroom directly behind him. Chris recognized the man. He hung out a lot at Diablo’s. “Be careful, little demon. All is not what it appears to be. Guard yourself.” The man gave the warning and then shimmered away. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Chris asked as he stared at the spot the elf had just stood in. Chris ran the warning in his mind over and over again as he descended the steps to the living room. Hondo was kicked back watching television, quietly laughing at something. Chris stood there for a moment, mesmerized by the sight of his best friend and mate. He felt so fortunate. Most people settled for a relationship with another that wasn’t their mate. Some found their mates but didn’t have a friendship. Chris had both.

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He grinned when Hondo looked over at him and his eyes lowered to slits. “You look good enough to eat,” he growled softly. Chris’s cock began to fill at those words. He would never get enough of Hondo’s approving looks and sexual talk. “You can eat me when we get back, or in the car. Your choice.” He giggled. “Or both.” Hondo turned the television off and grabbed Chris around the waist, pulling him in for a searing kiss. Chris opened wide at the probing tongue as Hondo walked them through a shadow and into the human realm. **** Hondo returned the rental car as he and Chris walked to the side of the brick building. It had been a perfect night. He was still grinning like a fool at the way they had that rental car rocking. His little demon was a spitfire. He grabbed Chris’s hand and walked into the shadow, coming out into his bedroom. Hondo stopped when he heard a noise coming from the kitchen. If someone had found a way into the warriors’ building and was at this very moment planning Hondo’s demise, the fucker had another thing coming. Hondo wasn’t going down that easily. “Stay put,” he whispered to Chris as he crept along the wall from his bedroom to the living room. Hondo could feel his hands heating up and then igniting. He stopped just outside the kitchen door, listening for the intruder, trying to pinpoint where he was. His head snapped around, and a low growl left his throat when Chris bumped into him. He pointed to the bedroom, but Chris shook his head. Hondo pointed again, but Chris only shook his head again. He was just about to haul his mate back to the bedroom when he heard the floorboards creaking.

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Whoever was in his kitchen was heading out of it now. Hondo looked back at Chris and then at the door, split in two at what he should do. Raising his hands, Hondo decided he would deal with his defiant mate later. The intruder needed to be taken care of. The kitchen door swung open as Hondo released the first fireball.

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Chapter Eight “Holy shit,” Kane yelped as he dodged the fireball. “Are you trying to turn me into crispy fried Kane?” Hondo banked the fires on his hands as he glared at the demon. “You wouldn’t have to be worried about that if you weren’t sneaking around.” He looked behind him to see Chris staring at them with wide eyes. “What are you doing creeping around my crib?” “Ran out of seasonings.” Kane held up the garlic powder. “Didn’t think you two would be back for a while.” Hondo pushed his way past Kane and walked into the kitchen, trying his best to calm down before addressing his mate. When was the little demon going to realize that he wasn’t a warrior and needed to let Hondo handle these situations? He had promised not to yell at him in front of anyone. Chris was making it very hard when he didn’t do as he was told. What if it had been someone who wanted to do some harm? How could he fight the person and keep his mate out of harm’s way? Hondo placed his hands on his hips and hung his head as Chris padded into the kitchen. Neither said anything as Chris pulled a chair to the counter and grabbed two glasses. “Where’s Kane?” “He left,” Chris said in a small voice, his eyes averting Hondo. Why was it he couldn’t listen but Hondo felt like shit for getting mad about it? Hondo rubbed his hands down his face and walked out of the kitchen. He had explained already until he was blue in the face about the dangers involved in trying to apprehend someone without warrior strength for backup. But was Chris heeding his words, no.

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He let Chris in on the action once, just once, and now he was paying for it. “I’m going to head home now,” Chris said as he walked to the door, his head hung and his shoulders slumped. Hondo let him walk out. He was too angry right now for words. If he spoke, he would probably regret the words later. The door quietly closed behind the little demon, making Hondo feel as though his world just walked out with Chris. He punched the exterior wall of the kitchen, plaster crumbling to the floor. There was no way he was going to chase behind his mate. No way. Chris needed to learn where his place was, and it wasn’t running out to fight battles he couldn’t win. Hondo’s head dropped back as he stared up at the ceiling, knowing damn well he was going to chase Chris down and apologize for…what? Making his mate sad? “This is stupid,” he told the ceiling. Hondo walked to his bedroom instead, deciding he would see Chris tomorrow and try to make things right between them. He sat on the edge of his bed, wondering if waiting was the right decision. Why was mating so damned hard? They had a comfortable friendship together, never arguing or having hurt feelings until they had sex. Hondo was beginning to wonder if that had been the smartest move he’d made. Even though he found his mate, he was losing his best friend. **** Chris walked slowly back to his house, not in the mood to zip there. Taking his time walking helped him to clear his head. Once again he had fucked things up. He wondered if Hondo was regretting sleeping with him. He would if roles were reversed.

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It just seemed that every time Hondo had to face danger, Chris began to panic that Hondo would get hurt. He couldn’t help it. “What’s with the long face?” Snooke asked as he crossed the street to join Chris. He wasn’t in the mood for Snooke and his evasion tactics tonight. “Go away.” Snooke grabbed Chris’s arm and stopped him from walking. “Don’t you want to be friends anymore?” Chris took his anger at Hondo out on Snooke. “Why? So you can just disappear again? You still haven’t even told me who was chasing us that night. If you want to keep secrets, fine. But don’t get me killed in the process.” He felt like a true ass once the last word left his lips. Snooke had done nothing to warrant Chris’s anger, yet he gave it to Snooke with no allowance. “Feel better?” Snooke asked as a finely trimmed eyebrow raised high. “Aren’t you going to get mad at me for yelling at you?” Chris asked in astonishment. “I had it coming.” Snooke waved his hand in dismissal. “So what’s got you down?” “I have a habit of not listening to Hondo when I should.” Chris cut around the corner to his street and walked to his house. It felt like a foreign creature now. His once welcoming home felt cold and sterile without Hondo. God, he hated arguing. “It’ll blow over.” Snooke hopped up the steps, waiting at the door for Chris to unlock it. “I hope so. I don’t like it very much when Hondo is mad at me.” And Hondo had to be really pissed right now to allow him to walk out of the door without a word. Chris wanted to run back and fall into his mate’s arms, begging profusely for forgiveness. He’d give his big warrior time to cool off and then go grovel for his forgiveness. Hondo had kept to his word and didn’t yell at Chris.

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He could see that his mate had wanted to. So Chris could be man enough to admit when he was wrong. “He’s crazy for you. It’ll pass.” Snooke sounded so calm about it that Chris hoped he was right. “Who was the person that chased us the other day?” Chris could see by the look on Snooke’s face that the guy had hoped Chris forgot about it. “Someone I owed money to. Sorry you got involved.” “I have a small savings. If you need—” “No. I can handle my own shit. Thanks anyway.” “Where do you live?” Chris asked. He knew he sounded nosey as hell. But friends should know these things about each other. “Have you seen Kane?” Chris noticed the smooth subject change. Snooke was hiding something. Should he pry? Was it something small or something that was going to get Chris involved again? “You know you can come to me for anything,” Chris put out there. Snooke didn’t take. “I think he’s hot. Has he said anything about me?” Deciding one person mad at him filled his quota for the night, Chris dropped it. “I really haven’t talked to him. He came by Hondo’s tonight for spices. That’s about the extent of it.” Snooke flopped down in the chair in Chris’s living room. “Hint around, bring me up, and see what Kane says.” Yeah, that would work. Chris rolled his eyes. Kane was elusive when it came to pinning him down for a serious answer. Chris thought it was Kane’s way of defense. The warrior never spoke of anything serious. “I’ll try,” Chris said as he sat on the edge of the couch, his fingers drawing circles on the arm. “So what do you do for a living?” Chris was surprised when Snooke looked ill at ease. It had been a simple enough question. Just what was his friend hiding?

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**** Hondo came out of the shadow into Chris’s bedroom. His mate was fast asleep. He groaned when he saw one butt cheek sticking out from under the sheet. As hard as he had tried, Hondo couldn’t stay away. He walked over to his mate’s bed and studied his peaceful face. It was so relaxed now. Chris looked like the poster boy for innocence in his state of rest. That angelic face made it hard for him to stay mad at the little demon. “Chris.” Hondo knelt beside the bed, resting his arms on the mattress. “Babe, wake up.” Chris scratched his balls as he turned over. Hondo grinned at the act. He’d gladly help if his mate would just wake up. “Chris.” He called his name once again. Chris’s eyes fluttered and then locked onto Hondo’s. They stared at each other for a few minutes before Hondo reached forward and tapped the end of Chris’s nose. “Hey, beautiful.” He didn’t like the fact that Chris’s eyes looked so uncertain. The need to erase what happened earlier rode him hard. “Can we start over?” Chris’s head nodded in short bursts, still not saying a word. Hondo crawled into bed beside him. “You’re naked,” Chris stated the obvious. “I don’t need clothes coming from my bedroom to yours.” That was a big plus being a demon, being able to walk from one doorway to the next. “I guess not.” Chris scooted over to allow room for Hondo. He pulled Chris tight to his chest, loving the way the warm body felt against his skin. “Snooke came by tonight.” “Did he.” Hondo ran his hands down Chris’s back, cupping his mate’s ass as he smashed their cocks together. “I don’t trust him.”

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Hondo squeezed Chris’s ass, running his finger down the crease. Chris threw a leg over Hondo’s hip, moaning as Hondo slid a finger in his ass. “I thought we decided he could be trusted.” Hondo fucked his ass with that large finger, making Chris pant with excitement. Chris arched his back, reaching between them to rub both their cocks together. “I can’t seem to get a straight answer from him.” “He’s a private man. No big deal.” Hondo turned, placing Chris gently under him. He could feel Chris’s thrill of arousal as his mate stared up at him, his eyes blazing with desire. Hondo’s body began to heat up at the pure lust burning in Chris’s eyes. “Take me.” Chris pulled at Hondo’s shoulders, begging with his mouth as Hondo eased his body down, taking what Chris was offering. The kiss was sensual and heated as Hondo lined his cock up, allowing the natural lube to relax his mate’s tight ass. “Anyway you want.” Hondo nipped Chris’s bottom lip and then kissed down his neck as his hands spanned over his mate’s silky smooth skin. “Anyway you want.” Chris rolled to his hands and knees, jutting his ass out as he stared at Hondo from over his shoulder. “Is this good?” Hondo’s hand slapped the soft skin as he growled. “Spanking me now?” Chris rolled his hips, his hole smiling up at Hondo. “If you want me to,” Hondo growled as he slid his finger into Chris’s tight hole. His free hand came down again, leaving a big pink handprint on his mate’s ass. He couldn’t believe how beautiful the decoration looked. Hondo smoothed his hand over it, glancing up at his mate apprehensively. He was afraid he had been too rough. Chris’s legs spread further apart, impaling his ass onto Hondo’s fingers. Hondo took that as a good sign. His mate didn’t object to a little spanking during sex. He couldn’t believe how much it was turning him on. “Spank that ass,” Chris moaned.

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Hondo let his hand fly as he lined his cock up. He could feel the pressure burning inside of him to be relieved. With a heavy thrust, he was buried deep as he grabbed Chris’s hair and pulled. His mate went wild, thrusting back onto Hondo’s cock like a demon possessed. Who knew his mate had a wild side? “Ride that dick, baby, ride that dick,” Hondo shouted as he grabbed Chris’s hips so hard, he knew his mate would have bruises. Chris slammed back, his fingers digging into the bed as he matched Hondo thrust for thrust. “That’s it, baby. Work my cock.” Hondo took Chris roughly, and his mate seemed to love it. He abandoned himself to the whirlwind of sensation as electricity shot up his spine. “I’m about to come in your ass, baby.” Chris shouted out his release as his ass began to milk Hondo’s cock. Hondo held on for a few more strokes before he felt his body explode. He fell to the side, taking Chris with him as he snuggled with his mate. Makeup sex was off the hook. Hondo would gladly settle their difference this way each and every time. **** Chris’s eyes came open. He yawned and stretched, realizing he was draped across Hondo’s chest. “Hey, sexy.” Hondo ran a hand down his back as he stretched, his joints popping and snapping with the act. “Are you hungry?” He was famished after last night. There was one thing he needed first though. “Can I soak in the tub first?” His hole was screaming for a nice hot bath. “Let me run it for you. Lay back and relax.” Hondo slid from under Chris and walked to the bathroom. Chris watched his tightly muscled ass until his mate disappeared. He rolled around the bed, feeling happy that he and Hondo weren’t fighting anymore. Chris got out of bed and followed Hondo.

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“I would have come and gotten you when it was ready.” Chris hissed when hole met water. Things had gotten out of hand last night, but it was well worth it. “Can I get you anything?” Hondo asked as he dipped the washcloth in the water and then lifted it up to let the water run down Chris’s body. He could see the guilt on Hondo’s face. That wouldn’t do. His mate had nothing to feel guilty about. “I asked you to be rough, so don’t look so guilty,” Chris said as he laid back, enjoying the hot and soothing water. He thought of the way Hondo had become unglued and smiled to himself. He was no expert when it came to sex, but he knew when someone was turned on, and Hondo was turned the hell on. “Not guilty, more like sorry you’re paying for both our fun.” Hondo swirled his hand around in the water as he spoke. “You’d tell me if I did something you didn’t like, right?” Chris was starting to get the picture now. Hondo knew how much Chris adored him. “I don’t follow blindly. If I don’t like it, I’ll tell you.” Hondo’s face seemed to relax. A smile crept across his lips as he leaned back and grabbed a towel from the counter. “Good. I’d feel like shit if I ever thought I was doing something and you weren’t fully on board.” “I was on board all right. If I remember correctly, I was the one begging.” Chris snickered. Chris could see the want in his demon lover’s eyes but knew Hondo wouldn’t take him again. For once, Chris was thankful. He was going to be walking funny for the rest of the day, and he had to go to work. “I’m going to go make some breakfast.” Hondo lifted his hand from the water and flicked his fingers at Chris’s face, tiny droplets splashing his face. “Hondo,” Chris complained teasingly.

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His mate smiled down at him and left the bathroom. Chris settled back, enjoying the warm water. “Did you listen to me?” Chris sat forward, water sloshing all around as the same elf who warned him the other night was once again intruding in on him. “I would have if I knew what the hell you were talking about.” Chris grabbed his washcloth and tossed it over his flaccid cock. Didn’t the elf have any respect for other people’s nudity? “I can’t tell you.” The elf wrung his hands together as he looked worriedly at the door. “If I do, they’ll kill me.” Well, that sounded ominous enough. “Will you tell me your name at least?” Chris grabbed the cloth as it tried to float away, placing it back over his groin. “No. I can’t tell you that either,” he sniveled as he looked once again at the bathroom door. “Just be careful. Things aren’t always as they appear.” “You told me that already,” Chris said, and then a horrific thought occurred to him. “You’re not talking about Hondo are you?” If he had to watch his back with his mate, things were about to get ugly. “No, he has nothing to do with this. Well he does, but...” The elf looked fretful as he rung his hands. “I can’t tell you. But you are the safest when with your mate. Don’t leave his side.” The elf shimmered away right in front of Chris’s eyes. “Well damn. Talk about encrypted.” “What’s that, babe?” Hondo asked as he walked into the bathroom with a breakfast tray. “Just saying how cold this water is getting.” Why wasn’t he telling his mate about the elf? Something deep inside was screaming for Chris to keep it to himself for the time being. “I’ll take this in the bedroom.” Hondo lifted the tray. “Come on and eat before it gets cold.”

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Chris climbed out and grabbed the big blue towel to dry off with. He tried his hardest to remember the words from earlier. The only thing that stuck in his mind was everything wasn’t as it seemed. God, Chris sucked at puzzles. If left up to him, it would take the rest of his life to figure it out. His riddle solving skills were horrible. Maybe he should tell Hondo. Chris padded out of the bathroom to tell his mate about the elf when he came to a stop. Hondo was growling at the cringing creature that was backed into the wall.

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Chapter Nine “No.” Chris ran into the room and jumped on Hondo’s back. “Don’t hurt him.” He held on as Hondo began to ignite. “Get off, Chris,” Hondo growled. “I caught him trying to go into the bathroom. I won’t have anyone threatening you.” “He was in there already.” Chris held on even though it was getting extremely hot to do so. Hondo roared and tried to grab the elf, but he managed to shimmer away. “Bank your fire, Hondo,” Chris warned. “Why was he in the bathroom with you, Chris?” Hondo hissed as he calmed and the fires ebbed. He crossed the room and slammed the bathroom door open, his head snapping around as if the elf were in there. Chris hopped down and grabbed the towel from the floor, wrapping it once again around his waist. “I don’t know. He keeps warning me about everything not being what it seems.” Hondo’s upper body twisted around to look down at Chris. “What’s that supposed to mean?” Chris shrugged as he made his way to the breakfast tray. “I asked him that very question, but he said he couldn’t tell me.” Chris grabbed the fork and stabbed at the eggs, shoving a forkful in his mouth. He swallowed and then continued. “Just like that first time.” “You mean he’s popped in here before?” Hondo didn’t sound too pleased about that bit of news. “Once before, saying the same thing. I couldn’t understand what he was talking about, so I didn’t bother to try and figure it out.” Chris zipped toward the bathroom when Hondo began to ignite.

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“And why didn’t you tell me about the first time?” he asked between clenched teeth. He was awfully close to the curtains. If Hondo didn’t calm down, Chris’s house was going to go up in flames. “Because we were having such a perfect night, and I didn’t want to ruin it.” Hondo ran his hands down his face, looking as though he wanted to break something. Chris watched as he disappeared through the shadowed corner of his bedroom and then reappeared. He did this a few times before Hondo stopped pacing between wherever he was going and Chris’s bedroom. “You can’t hide things like this from me.” “I wasn’t really hiding it from you. I just couldn’t figure it out, so I didn’t think anymore about it.” Chris zipped over to the dresser and pulled out a pair of jeans, boxers, and T-shirt. He needed to get ready for work. The disruption this morning was putting him behind schedule. He turned to set his things on the bed, grabbing a pair of socks, and then closing the drawers. Chris dressed quickly as Hondo paced back and forth. His eyes followed his friend’s movements. Chris wondered if Hondo was mad at him. Hondo sat down on the edge of Chris’s bed, running his hands up and down his thighs. “He’s only been here twice?” Once he was done dressing, Chris went to Hondo, crawling onto his mate’s lap. “Twice. Now help me figure out what the nutty elf was talking about.” “He said, ‘Not everything is as it seems.’ What do you think he meant?” Hondo absently began to run his hands up and down Chris’s back, and his eyes took on a faraway look. “If I could have figured that out, I wouldn’t be sitting here asking for help.” Chris’s cock was responding to his mate’s touch. It began to fill his jeans. I don’t have time for this.

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He reluctantly slid off of Hondo’s lap, searching around for his shoes. What did the elf mean? Who did he have to watch, and what wasn’t what it seemed? Riddles, riddles, riddles, Chris hated them. “I’ll try and solve the mystery. You get going to work before you’re late,” Hondo said. Chris looked over his shoulder at Hondo with an as if look. He finished tying his sneakers and grabbed his keys and wallet, shoving his cell phone in his front pocket. “You can’t be late, you know.” Chris was trying his best to listen to Hondo. Trying. The man sat there gloriously naked with all that golden skin exposed, and Chris was losing his concentration on the words coming out of his mate’s mouth. Chris licked his lips and backed to the door. “If I don’t leave now, I will be really late.” He zipped down the stairs, yelling for Hondo to lock up as he shot out of the door and off to work. **** Hondo walked into his bedroom and headed straight for the shower. He needed to get ready for his day. Once showered, he stepped out and dried off, walking into his room naked as he toweldried his hair. “Nice towel.” Kane chuckled from the bedroom doorway. “Stop gawking, perv.” Hondo reached into his drawer and pulled out a pair of boxer briefs, sliding them on as he turned to Kane. “An elf popped into Chris’s bedroom warning him about things not being what they seemed. Any ideas?” Hondo slid a pair of jeans on and then pulled a shirt over his head as Kane shook his head. “None, but Panahasi wants us to hunt down that reporter. No one has seen him, yet he ran a story on the front page about Chris and Snooke’s ‘harrowing escape from death.’”

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“That means he’s hiding out somewhere.” Hondo shoved his feet into his boots and laced them up. “Where do you want to start?” He straightened and went to the bathroom to find a comb. “Diablo’s. I would say Torky, but he and his brother are still down at the river.” Kane stepped aside as Hondo grabbed his keys. “Then let’s pay a visit to the club.” Hondo jogged down the steps of the apartment building, coming out on the street to see a bunch of guys across the street at the basketball court in a huddle. It drew his attention when he saw Snooke hit the ground, and not from a jump shot. “Shit.” He took off across the street, Kane fast on his heels. “What the fuck is going on?” Kane snarled as they ran across the grass and hit the court. The men scattered, leaving Snooke laying on the ground, a bloody mess. “I’m taking him back upstairs.” Kane knelt down and pulled the unconscious body into his arms, walking back across the street. Hondo followed, holding the door open as Kane walked to his apartment. “What the hell is going on around here?” “I don’t know, but five against one pisses me off.” Kane laid Snooke on his sofa and went to the bathroom. Hondo stared at the demon, wondering what could have happened to make five men jump him. Kane came back into the room with a wet washcloth in his hand, sitting on the edge of the couch as he began to wipe the blood away from Snooke’s face. Hondo could see the rage clearly on Kane’s face. “If I find out who those men were, I’ll teach them a fucking lesson about bullying a defenseless man.” Hondo studied his fellow warrior and friend. He’d never seen Kane act this way about anyone. It dawned on him that Kane was taking an interest in Snooke. Hmm. “I’m going to go down to Diablo’s. You go ahead and take care of him. I’ll call you if I find out anything.”

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Kane nodded but didn’t look up at Hondo. He wiped down Snooke’s neck, lifting the demon’s shirt up looking for further damage. “Thanks,” he said absently. Hondo let himself out, once again heading for the club. He decided to stop in at the coffee shop first to check on Chris. With what just took place, he wanted to assure himself that Chris was okay and at work. He smiled when he opened the door of the shop, seeing his mate behind the counter zipping around and laughing. Chris was so damn handsome. Hondo wondered how he never noticed that before. “Hey, beautiful.” “Hondo!” Chris grinned from ear to ear as he held a silver cup under the spout for frothing milk. “I thought you had things to do?” “Just wanted to stop by and say hi.” And make sure no one had gotten to you. Hondo glanced around the shop, but everyone seemed to be minding their own business. No one looked suspicious. “Do you want something to drink? I’ve gotten pretty darn good at making them.” Chris giggled as he handed the customer the drink he had been making. Hondo’s chest tightened at the gorgeous smile on his mate’s face. “Sure.” “I’ll surprise you.” Chris grabbed a cup and began to mix and whip, producing a drink that smelled like cinnamon. He watched with expectant eyes as Hondo took a sip. “This is very good.” It really was. Chris’s smile widened at Hondo’s approval. Give the guy a little encouragement and he shined. “I need to head over to Diablo’s. Thanks for the coffee, babe.” “You’re quite welcome.” Chris zipped around the counter and hugged Hondo around his waist, tilting his head back for a kiss. Hondo placed his hand on Chris’s jaw as he forgot where they were and kissed him with deep passion. “Break it up.” Jake chuckled. “Get back to work, Chris.”

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Chris broke the kiss and stared up at Hondo with dreamy eyes. “We’ll pick back up where we left off later,” Chris chuckled as he ran back behind the counter, taking the next order. Hondo left the shop with a free coffee and a boner. At least he had two blocks to walk it off. Chris was affecting him in ways he never thought the little demon would. He stayed in a perpetual state of readiness around his mate. Hondo tossed the cup in the trash can as he walked into Diablo’s club. Even though it was early, the place was packed as usual. Hondo didn’t have to push through. As he walked, the crowd parted around him. He took a seat at the bar, waiting for Diablo to make his way down to Hondo. The place was lively twenty-fourseven. Hondo turned around, resting his back against the bar as he watched the drag queens strut their stuff, every man in there vying for their attention. He thanked the bartender when he set his drink down. The employees knew the warriors and knew what each one preferred to drink. He tilted the beer to his lips as he watched the crowd. Where the hell could a reporter disappear to? “I hear you have a mate now.” Diablo’s voice was deep and rich as he spoke. “Didn’t think I would see you back in here.” “I don’t have a need for any eye candy, but I do have questions.” He tilted the bottle back as he turned around to face the owner. “I’ll see what I can do.” Diablo leaned one elbow onto the bar, leaning toward Hondo. “Ask.” “I hear there’s a reporter who has gone missing but is still printing the news. Know anything about that?” Hondo spotted a cute little shifter down at the end of the bar winking at him. Although the guy was a hot piece to look at, he wasn’t Chris. He could appreciate the view though. “I heard the same thing. Must be true then.” Diablo scratched his jaw as he looked around his club. “I also hear he may be hiding out at Cheveyo’s.”

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“I didn’t hear that one.” Hondo finished the rest of his beer and sat the bottle on the counter. “I haven’t been to the dollar store in a while. Maybe I’ll go see what bargains they have.” “You do that.” Diablo straightened and walked away. Hondo hated the fact he had to play this game. But the dragon shifter never came right out and told anyone anything. It was stupid to him, but getting the information he needed was imperative. Hondo pulled his cell phone out as he left the club, inhaling the fresh air. “Kane, Diablo thinks he’s hiding out at Cheveyo’s Dollar Deals.” “Do you need me to join you?” Hondo could hear the reluctance in Kane’s tone. “How is Snooke?” “He’ll live. I got him cleaned up, and he’s still out cold. I don’t want to leave the guy right now.” Hondo grinned at the protective way Kane was handling Snooke. “I have this. It should be a piece of cake.” “Call me if you need me.” Kane hung up. Hondo cut through the city streets until he reached the dollar store. He glanced around the street before entering the store. Hondo hoped to find Cheveyo behind the counter, but it was just one of his employees flipping through a magazine, looking bored as hell. Walking toward the back, Hondo pretended to stop and look at the imitation colognes. His eyes checked the aisle to make sure no one was looking before he slipped into the back. He found himself in a small hallway. One door was marked RESTROOM. That wouldn’t be it. Hondo quietly opened another door, peeking in to see an office. He slipped in and searched around, coming up empty. Hondo did a quick head check out the door before reentering the hallway. There was one more room at the end of the hall. Hondo tried to open it, but the door was locked. Looking over his shoulder, Hondo walked into the restroom and closed the door.

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“Just great.” He couldn’t turn off the light to use the shadows because the damn bathroom had one of those sensor lights. He didn’t see a switch, so Hondo slipped out and went across the hall to the office. Once he doused the lights, he used the dark interior to walk into the back room. He stayed in the shadows, keeping himself concealed as his eyes scanned the back room. There was a small table with takeout sitting on it. It had obviously been eaten. The lids were popped open, and a pair of chopsticks was sticking out of one of the white containers. A few crates sat to one side, and a small cot was against the farthest wall. A lump moved around on the cot, turning over to reveal it was a vampire fast asleep. His fangs covered the bottom lip. Hondo had never seen a vampire with an overbite before. It was kind of comical. The reporter was fairly new to the realm, and this was Hondo’s first glance at him. Hondo’s muscles froze when the vampire’s eyes popped open and stared directly at him. No use hiding now. “Are you Sexton?” Hondo asked as he stepped forward into the dimly lit room. “Who wants to know?” the vamp asked gruffly as he sat up. “I’m not telling Marino Malone a damn thing.” Now they were getting somewhere. Hondo decided to play along. “You know what will happen if you don’t.” Just asking the guy who this Marino character was wouldn’t get him any answers. But if the vamp thought otherwise, who was he to correct him? “I don’t care if you kill me. I won’t betray the citizens of Serenity City’s trust.” “Why don’t you tell me what you know, and I may say that I didn’t find you.” Hondo spun one of the seats around and straddled it, putting on his best menacing face. He had no problem looking evil and terrifying, but he didn’t want to overplay the part.

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“You tell that no good son of a bitch to figure it out on his own.” Sexton wrapped the blanket around his shoulders, giving Hondo a defiant glare. Figure out what? Hondo was becoming agitated. There were too many puzzles to solve lately, and he was getting tired of the riddles. “Why can’t you tell me? I could bargain with Marino if I knew what I was bargaining.” The vampire’s eyes narrowed as he tossed the blanket aside and stood. “Who the fuck are you?” Hondo stood and matched his angry growl. “Someone who is trying to get to the bottom of this shit.” With a slow and menacing smile, the vampire crossed his arms over his chest and looked Hondo right in his eyes. “You’re a Demon Warrior.” Well, the jig was up. No use pretending now. “Who is Marino Malone, and what does he want from you?” Hondo let his hands ignite, tired of playing these games with everyone today. “I can’t tell you. It’s bad enough he’s looking for me now. But if I tell you, he’ll make sure I die painfully.” The vampire sat back down and grabbed his blanket, once again wrapping it around his shoulders. Hondo banked the flames, seeing that it wasn’t an effective threat against Sexton. “Panahasi is trying to figure everything out. Why don’t you tell me, and I’ll make sure you’re protected.” “No way, I don’t think even Panahasi himself can help me.” The vampire rolled over and gave Hondo his back. What kind of shit was the vamp into that he didn’t even think the leader of the warriors could help? It was true that no one knew the extent of the Egyptian warrior’s powers, but it was widely known that no one wanted to piss the demon off. Hondo faded from the back room. ****

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Chris waved goodbye to Trenton as he clocked out and headed for the back door. He lifted the lid and tossed some boxes in the dumpster. He and Hondo were hosting a backyard barbeque tonight. All the warriors were bringing something with them as a side dish. It was something they did once a month. He thoroughly enjoyed the time they spent together as friends. Chris was feeling excited. This time he wanted to find Snooke to invite him. This would be the perfect opportunity for him and Kane to talk and see if they could hit it off. They would make such a nice couple. Kane with his ruggedly handsome good looks and Snooke with his small bones and medium height, they complemented each other. It surprised Chris that Snooke had felt like a brick wall when he collided with him on their first meeting. The man didn’t look that solid. One thing he could say about his friend, Snooke always looked pristine and nicely groomed whenever Chris saw him. “So you’re his little boy toy?” Chris swung around to see the waiter from the Pancake House. What was he doing back here? “What are you talking about?” He could tell the man was a shifter from the canines emerging from his gums. “I’m talking about Hondo. I’m not going to beat around the bush, I want him.” The waiter moved closer, his eyes shifting to his wolf as the shifter circled around Chris. “He’s my mate,” Chris informed the man. He knew this jerk was trouble from the start. And now he tracked Chris down to confront him? That was ballsy. “Liar. There is no way fate mated the two of you. You’re not good enough to lick his balls.” Chris squared his shoulders. He could take on this man. After all, he helped take Gammy down. If he could beat Gammy and apprehend him, then this shifter was a joke. There was no way this shifter could beat him if he caught and arrested Gammy all on his own. “Bring it on, dog.”

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The shifter growled and swiped his hand at Chris’s face, his large claws extended. Chris used his speed to dodge the sharp claws. This was too easy. He jumped around, boxing the air in front of him. “You little shit.” The waiter caught Chris off guard, punching the side of his head and making Chris see stars. He tried to shake it off, but the were-creature was an excellent fighter. Chris realized too late that he was in over his head.

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Chapter Ten Hondo fired up the grill, sipping a cold beer as he watched the charcoals burn. He loved that he could use his hand to ignite the flame. “I love these get-togethers.” Rainerio slapped Hondo on his shoulder. “The smell of mesquite always makes me hungry.” Kane set up the stereo and tossed a CD in, adding to the ambiance. Wayland brought the plate of meat out and sat it on the table. “Where’s Chris?” Snooke asked as he brought a big bowl of potato salad out and sat it on the checkered cloth. Hondo saw that Snooke’s bruises were healing nicely. He told them that the punks at the courts were trying to rob him. Thank goodness he and Kane had come out in time. “He should be on his way home.” Hondo checked his watch and wondered where his mate was. It wasn’t like Chris to be late, especially for their monthly barbeque. Maybe Jake was teaching him something about a new machine again? Hondo pulled his phone out and tried to dial Chris’s cell phone. When it went to voice mail, he hung up and tried the coffeehouse. “Jake’s Java.” “Hey, Jake, it’s Hondo. Is Chris still there?” Hondo bit his bottom lip as he stared around the backyard at all his friends laughing and having a good time. He was really beginning to worry. “He left a while ago. Going on and on about the barbeque.” Hondo’s heart began to race out of control. He frowned at Jake’s news. Where could his mate have gone? Chris would have called if he were stopping off anywhere between

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work and home. Hondo walked away from the grill as he hung up the phone. His steps quickened as he reached the house. “Kane, I need your help.” “Sure. What’s up?” Kane asked as he dipped a large spoon into the bowl of pudding and opened his mouth wide. Usually Hondo would have had something to say about that, but right now he had more pressing matters. “Chris left work a while ago, and he isn’t home yet.” When Kane dropped the spoon into the sink and started following Hondo, he knew his friend picked up on the significance of the situation. “I’ll gather everyone.” Kane jogged to the back door and was out of the house in seconds. Hondo paced the kitchen, trying his best to think of where his mate could be. Maybe he stopped at the grocery store to pick up some last minute items he thought they would need. But he still would have called. Chris rarely had his phone off. “Where do you want to start looking?” Takeo asked as he entered the kitchen. Hondo shook his head as he looked up at the warrior. “I haven’t a clue.” He thought of the elf’s advice and wondered if someone Chris knew had harmed him. Hondo began to ignite at the thought of his mate out there somewhere hurt…or worse. “I want him found.” “Let’s go.” The warriors along with Snooke went back into the backyard. All but Hondo and Kane disappeared into the shadows. He knew Kane didn’t want to leave Snooke behind at a time like this. “Why don’t you and Snooke stay here just in case Chris comes back?” Hondo suggested when he saw the torn look on Kane’s face. He knew the warrior wanted to be out there helping, for Chris was his friend as well, but Kane wanted to protect Snooke. He could see it in his eyes. Giving him a way out helped to ease his friend’s strained face. “Thanks.”

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Hondo shut the front door behind him and stood on Chris’s porch, wondering where to begin looking. From the beginning. Hondo walked to the back of the house and into a shadow, emerging on the side of Jake’s Java. He walked into the coffee shop and looked around. “Hey, Hondo. What are you doing here?” Trenton asked as he handed a customer a cup of coffee and a snack. “Have you seen Chris?” “I thought he went home for the barbeque he couldn’t stop talking all day about.” Trenton looked at Hondo with concern. “He never made it. Did he say anything to you? Think carefully. Anything about stopping somewhere on his way home?” Trenton shook his head. “No. He clocked out and grabbed some boxes to take them out to the dumpster. That’s the last time I saw him.” Hondo shot out of the back door, scanning the area for his mate. An animalistic cry left his lips when he saw his mate crumpled on the ground, barely recognizable. Hondo ran to him, dropping to his knees as he turned Chris to his back. He had four long gash marks across his face along with a large bruise on the side of his head. His shirt was torn with the same markings as well as his thigh. A fucking shifter. With unsteady hands, Hondo pulled his cell phone out and called Phoenyx. “Chris has been hurt. I need you behind Jake’s Java.” Hondo laid his phone down as he picked Chris up and cradled him. Hondo had to concentrate not to ignite with the rage that filled him. He wanted to know who had done this to Chris. The shifter was going to pay for this. “Lay him down,” Phoenyx softly commanded. He laid Chris down gently, his eyes going to the large gash on Chris’s beautiful face. “Make him better.” Hondo’s voice broke as he

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moved aside. Phoenyx knelt over Chris and let a tear slid down his face. Hondo watched as the tear dangled from the warrior’s chin for a moment and then dropped onto Chris’s open wound gashed across his face. Hondo waited impatiently as the healing began. The wound slowly began to close, the sides mending together and then puckering up into an angry scar. Hondo wanted to turn his mate over to check his back and upper thigh, but was too frightened to move Chris. “He’s healing all over, right?” Phoenyx glanced over at Hondo and nodded. “You’ve seen me do this a hundred times. I guess, with it being Chris, you’re worried.” Of course he was. He knew Phoenyx could heal someone even if they were on their death bed. As long as the person had one last breath in them, Phoenyx could bring them back. But the warrior was correct. This was Chris they were dealing with. Hondo watched as Chris’s eyes began to flutter and then open. They were unfocused as a slow buildup from a whimper to an all-out hysterical scream exploded from his slim chest. Chris began to flail around, fighting Hondo’s hold as he screamed. “Chris, it’s me, Hondo. I have you, baby.” Hondo pulled Chris from the ground and pulled him into his arms. He rocked his mate back and forth as Chris’s screams began to die down. “Do you remember who did this?” Phoenyx asked from beside Hondo. “He tried to kill me,” Chris wailed. “He tried to kill me,” he repeated, his hands fisting at his chest. “Who, baby?” Hondo asked as he tucked a piece of hair behind Chris’s ear. “The waiter from the Pancake House.” Chris closed his eyes and turned into Hondo’s chest, burying his face as his body shook. “The one you said was flirting with me?” Hondo asked incredulously.

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Chris nodded his head. Hondo let his head fall back, allowing the fire to escape his mouth as a way of releasing the pure hate flowing through his veins. Hondo stood, carrying Chris around the side of the building and into the shadow, coming out in Chris’s backyard. “Is he okay?” Snooke asked as he raced across the grass to Hondo’s side. “He will be.” Hondo carried Chris into the house and took the stairs two at a time until he reached Chris’s bedroom. “I’ll call off the barbeque. You need rest, and I need to find a waiter.” “No.” Chris grabbed Hondo’s shirt. “I don’t want to call it off. I’m okay.” “No you’re not. You almost died behind the coffee house. How can you say you’re fine?” “I’m healed.” Chris rolled to his side as he covered his face. “Besides, I egged him on.” Hondo’s brows pulled together as he stared down at his mate. What the hell was the guy talking about? “How?” “I thought that since I helped take down Gammy, that I could—” “Take down the shifter,” Hondo finished for Chris. It seemed like that one harmless decision kept coming back over and over again to bite him in the ass. How was he going to get Chris to see that he hadn’t really taken Gammy down and that he was putting his life at risk every time he ran out there half-cocked? Hadn’t he already explained this to his mate? “I was wrong.” Chris wiped the back of his hand over his eyes. “I tried really hard, but he kicked my ass.” Hondo wanted to tell Chris I told you so, but this was not the appropriate time. “I thought we discussed the matter of you thinking you have warrior powers.” “I know. I guess I let it go to my head.” Chris twisted the comforter in his hands, looking dejected at Hondo’s words. “I need you to promise me that you won’t try something like that again. Promise me you’ll call for help. It doesn’t make you weak to

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lean on someone else for your safety. It’s not only my job as your mate, but as your friend, as well,” Hondo whispered. “But you make it look so easy.” Chris pouted. “It’s not. Sometimes it takes the combined strength of a few warriors to defeat the bad guy. And you’re forgetting that I’ve been doing this for thousands of years. I’ve got skills.” He chuckled. A small smile tugged at Chris’s lips as he stared at the comforter. “That you do.” A sexy blush crept across his mate’s face. Hondo’s nostrils flared as Chris’s meaning sunk in. “I’m glad you think so.” Hondo grabbed Chris’s hands to still them, bringing them to his hardening cock. “You have skills as well. You can turn me on and inside out with just the touch of your hands.” Chris scooted across the bed until his body was molded to Hondo’s leg. “I can?” “Oh yeah. Do you see what you do to me?” Hondo pressed the palm of Chris’s hand into his eager erection. Chris’s fingers curled, giving Hondo’s cock a squeeze. “I can see.” Hondo released his cock, taking Chris’s hand and wrapping the fingers around the base. “Show me what other skills you have, Chris.” Chris pulled up onto Hondo’s lap as his mate licked his lips and looked up at Hondo. “I have very special skills.” He grinned before swiping his tongue over the head of Hondo’s cock. “That you do.” Hondo wound a hand in Chris’s hair. He touched Chris’s jaw, urging him to take more. Chris placed his hands on Hondo’s thighs, pressing his head further into Hondo’s lap, swirling his tongue around the head of Hondo’s cock. “Baby,” Hondo groaned. He raked his fingers through Chris’s hair, pulling at it and brushing it aside. His fingers couldn’t stop caressing his mate as Chris sucked his cock to the back of his throat, sucking and using his tongue to run up and down Hondo’s shaft.

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Hondo reached forward, snaking his hand down the back of Chris’s pants, running his finger down the crease of Chris’s ass. He pressed the tip into Chris’s tight puckered hole. Chris pushed his ass against Hondo’s touch while he moaned around Hondo’s cock. “Fuck, you definitely have skills.” Hondo squeezed Chris’s butt, running his hand up and down the flared mound under his hand. Chris pulled back, licking Hondo’s cockhead like an ice cream cone. Hondo’s eyes locked onto Chris’s mouth, watching the pink tongue move over and around in such delicate maneuvers. “If I don’t fuck you, I’m gonna come in your mouth.” Reluctantly, Hondo pulled back and stood. He looked at his mate as Chris hung over the side of the bed, his mouth swollen from being wrapped around Hondo’s cock. Damn if that wasn’t a sensual sight. Hondo quickly undressed, and his shaft jerked in anticipation of sinking deep inside his mate. Chris rolled over, pulling his clothes off with frenzy as Hondo walked across the mattress on his knees. Chris tossed his shirt aside as he got onto his hands and knees. “It’s about to get downright nasty and sweaty in here.” Hondo growled. “I have skills for that as well.” Chris smiled seductively over his shoulder. Hondo placed his hands on Chris’s warm skin, running them over his mate’s body, taking his time to appreciate such divine beauty under him. “You are more than I deserve.” Hondo leaned down and laid kisses down Chris’s spine. “You can’t know what you mean to me.” He lined his cock up to Chris’s hole and let the natural lube take care of the rest. Hondo ran his hands over Chris’s shoulders, down his arms, and then held Chris’s wrists as he pushed inside his mate. His large body blanketed Chris’s smaller one as he worked his cock in until he felt Chris’s ass against his pelvis. “I can protect you.” Hondo kissed Chris’s neck. “I can love you with my heart, mind, and soul.”

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Hondo trailed his tongue over the nape of Chris’s neck. He inhaled his mate’s scent as his body buzzed with electricity. “I can make your life so complete that you won’t ever want to leave my side.” Hondo rocked in and out of Chris’s ass as he rubbed his face over Chris’s back. “I can be your forever.” Hondo thrust hard and deep, driving home to his mate his words of love. Chris’s fingers slid into Hondo’s, entwining together as he whimpered. “You can protect me, love me, and be my forever. And I’ll be the same for you.” Chris rocked back, meeting Hondo’s rhythm with his own. “I love you, Hondo.” Hondo wrapped his arms around Chris’s body, celebrating Chris’s declaration with his body. He pulled back and then let his cock rocket in and out of Chris’s ass. “I love you, too.” Hondo grabbed the sheets under Chris and spread his knees further apart as he listened to skin on skin echoing throughout the bedroom. His hips jackhammered into Chris as he growled at the feeling of his cock being buried in Chris’s tight hole. Hondo’s hips locked into place as ropes of cum were pulled from his body, shooting right into his mate’s ass. Hondo thrust a few more times before he pulled out, flipped Chris over, and devoured his cock. Chris planted his feet on Hondo’s shoulders as Hondo rapidly moved his head up and down, bringing Chris to an ear-splitting release. His mate shouted as his back arched, fucking Hondo’s mouth in uncoordinated movements. Chris collapsed onto the mattress, his chest heaving as Hondo fell beside him. “Skills.” He chuckled as he laid his arm over his eyes. “Damn, I don’t feel like grilling now. Can’t we send them home?” When Chris didn’t answer him, Hondo looked over to see his mate fast asleep. He thought crossing that line from friendship to lovers would ruin what he had with the speedster. Hondo was realizing it only made their friendship that much better.

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Hondo smiled and pulled Chris to his body, curving his around his mate’s, holding Chris as he took a nap. **** Chris laughed as Kane wrestled the rib bone from Einarr’s hand. “I grabbed it first.” “But who has it?” Einarr growled and yanked it away, licking the bone to deter Kane from taking a grab at it again. “There are more over here,” Chris shouted to the two growling men. Some of the neighborhood kids came by, asking if they could join them. Panahasi seemed to have a hard time saying no to such adorable faces. All the parents knew the kids were very safe when with the warriors and allowed their children to attend. They threw Frisbees and ran around having a good time. Rainerio was at one of the tables arm wrestling a young shifter. Chris could see the warrior was letting the young man win. “Is it always like this?” Snooke asked as he piled his plate for the second time. He turned around and stared out into the backyard at all the laughing faces and shouts from the kids when the warriors chased them around. “Always.” Chris turned to face Snooke. “You’re welcome here anytime. You know that, right?” Snooke looked down at his plate, shrugging his shoulders. Why did he look so guilty? “I do now.” “Hey, babe.” Hondo ran up beside Chris and pulled him up into a tight hug. Chris laughed at the way Hondo was acting. Like he had to come over and touch Chris every ten minutes and then run off and play with the kids. It was adorable. “Do you know why the waiter attacked you?” Snooke asked as he took a bite of his burger.

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“He wants Hondo.” It amazed Chris that the shifter took to such aggressive measures. He had the demon realm and the human realm to find someone, so why was he poaching? “I’ll be back.” Snooke set his plate down and walked into the house. Chris smiled after his friend. “Where’s he going?” Kane asked as he grabbed a handful of chips. “Don’t know.” Chris picked up his plastic cup as he sipped at his soda. “Hmm.” Kane dusted his hands off and headed toward the house. A few minutes later Kane walked out looking pissed as hell. “He fucking took off again.” “Who?” Chris asked. “Snooke,” Kane growled. “What did he say to you?” Chris ran his tongue across the inside of his lower lip as he thought about their conversation. “He asked if it was always like this.” Chris nodded at the backyard. “And then he asked if I knew why the waiter attacked me.” “He went after the waiter.” Kane rounded the table, heading straight for Hondo and Takeo. Chris watched as Kane spoke to them quickly and then the three disappeared. **** Hondo, Kane, and Takeo walked into the Pancake House, looking around for Snooke or the waiter. They didn’t see either. “Where could they be?” Kane asked in frustration. Hondo walked over to the counter. “Excuse me. I’m looking for one of the waiters who works here. He’s about six one, heavily built, brown curly hair.” “You’re talking about John. He clocked out already.” “Thanks. Do you know where I can find him?” Hondo was getting frustrated. They needed to find Snooke before he suffered the same

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fate Chris had. Snooke was too small-boned to handle the waiter on his own. “I may be the owner here, but when they clock out, they have their own lives.” Hondo glanced over at his fellow warriors and then motioned his head for them to follow him. They walked around to the back of the building to see two bodies lying on the concrete, unmoving. Kane cursed as he ran forward, dropping down next to Snooke. “He’s dead,” Takeo announced. Hondo’s heart beat faster until he realized Takeo was talking about the shifter. “How’s Snooke?” he asked Kane. “He’s breathing.” Kane picked Snooke up and carried him into the shadow. Hondo placed his hands on his hips and looked around at the scene. “Takeo.” The Japanese warrior walked over to Hondo, scanning around before looking back at Hondo with a creased forehead. “What’s wrong?” “Besides a dead shifter? Do you remember how Snooke was laying when we found him?” “Yes.” “Imagine him still there, and look really hard again.” Takeo turned to stand by Hondo’s side as he studied the area. “I see it,” he said as he walked back over to the shifter. Hondo nodded. “This was a setup. It was staged.” Takeo growled. “I’m glad I’m not the only one to see it. The question is, who killed the shifter and knocked Snooke out?” Hondo wanted to get back to Chris but needed to figure out what was going on here. He circled around the dead body, and then knelt down. “The shifter was placed here. There is a significant amount of blood loss, so where is the blood?”

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“Exactly.” Hondo called their leader, informing him about the situation. “Take his body to his family. I have a few phone calls to make. I want Takeo back here at the barbeque, and I want you to go see if Kane and Snooke are okay. But first, go see Torky and Ace boogey.” Panahasi hung up. Why did he have to be the one going to see the two brothers? Didn’t Kane say he wanted to hang in the shadows and watch the two jerks? Well, Kane had his hands full. “Panahasi wants you to take the shifter’s body to his family and then get back to the barbeque. I have a feeling he wants you to guard Chris and those kids.” Takeo nodded, pulling the shifter’s body into his arms as he disappeared. “Now for the fun part.” Hondo walked into the shadow and out at the other end of the river. He walked the bank until he came upon two sleeping demons. “What the hell are you two doing sleeping?” Torky was the first to open his eyes. He jumped up and looked down at his brother before facing Hondo. “We’re tired. What the fuck does it look like? If Panahasi wants us to guard this fucking place twenty-four-seven, then he needs to expect us to fall asleep a few hours here and there.” Hondo rolled his eyes as the tip of his boot nudged Ace Boogey’s leg. “Get up.” “Let him sleep.” “You were supposed to take shifts sleeping. You know, one awake and one asleep,” Hondo explained to them like they were children. “That’s dumb. We’d be bored out of our minds if we did that.” Torky snorted and crossed his arms over his chest. “Maybe the glorious leader should think about replacing us.” “Yeah.” Ace Boogey chuckled as he got to his feet.

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“I don’t think you want that option.” The three turned to see Panahasi himself walking down the bank. “If I replace the two of you, it will be permanently.” Hondo knew Panahasi wasn’t referring to just watching the river, and by the brothers’ facial expressions, neither were they. Hondo wanted to laugh at the terrified expressions the two had, but kept the chuckles to himself. “You can go to Kane. I’ll have a talk with these two on the importance of doing as I requested.” Panahasi turned his head so only Hondo could see the twinkle in his eyes and the smile tugging at his lips. There he went again with that lethal playfulness. Hondo didn’t want any part of this. “Later.” “You just gonna leave us?” the brothers called out to Hondo as he disappeared. “Hell yes,” he murmured as he walked into Kane’s apartment. Hondo knew he wasn’t going to get anything else out of the shifter considering he was dead now. Hondo walked out of the bedroom closet and walked into the living room. Kane was still sitting on the edge of the couch, watching over Snooke. Man, did the demon have it bad. His eyes were intent as he stared at the sleeping man. “It was all a set up,” he said quietly as he took a seat in one of the chairs. “How? Why would anyone set Snooke up?” Hondo shook his head and then realized Kane wasn’t looking at him. “I don’t know. But the shifter had a large amount of blood loss. It wasn’t a vampire. We checked. Did you notice blood on the ground?” Kane shook his head. “I wasn’t paying attention.” Hondo knew Kane’s only focus was the slim man on his couch covered in bruises. Phoenyx couldn’t help with this. Snooke would have to heal on his own from the bruises. “I also forgot to tell you that

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I found that reporter. He was hiding at Cheveyo’s. He’s running from someone called Marino Malone. The name ring a bell to you?” Kane shook his head, finally looking up from Snooke. “That name isn’t familiar. Didn’t the reporter, Sexton, tell you what was going on?” Hondo slouched down. Things were getting extremely strange around here. “No. He got tight-lipped when I asked him.” “So what do we know so far?” Hondo thought about it for a moment. “One.” He ticked off on his fingers. “The crystal is missing. We need to make that our top priority of finding out who stole it. Two, why were Falcon and Leam arguing outside of the bank? Three.” Hondo nodded toward the sleeping man. “Who was the guy chasing Chris and Snooke, and why? Four, why is the reporter in hiding? Five, who killed the shifter and set up the scene? And lastly, who the hell is that elf, and why does he keep popping up to warn Chris about something he says he can’t tell us about?” “And don’t forget about Leam chasing Chris. Why has he targeted him and not us?” Kane added. Hondo shook his head. “I’m not sure, maybe because Chris would be easier to take his vengeance out on than us.” “But that doesn’t explain what he’s doing with Falcon.” Kane slid to the floor and pulled his legs up, both demons lost in thought. “Whatever is going on, I have a feeling we’ve only uncovered the surface. My gut is telling me it goes a lot deeper than any one of us realizes.” Hondo pointed to Snooke. “And I think he is the key to it all.” Kane looked over his shoulder at Snooke. “But he’s not talking.” His voice was filled with a tenderness Hondo had never heard Kane use before. Whatever Snooke was hiding, Hondo had a feeling Kane would protect the demon with his life.

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“We need answers.” Hondo stated the obvious. “I need you to get them from him.” Kane looked from Snooke to Hondo, his brows pulled together as his head tilted to the side. “You want me to fuck him to get him to talk?” “Whatever it takes.” **** Snooke stood in the back of Malcor’s Melting Pot running his fingers over the bruises on his face. “I see you got your ass kicked.” Snooke shrugged. “It won’t be the last time.” “What happened?” Marino asked. Snooke let out a heavy sigh, looking from Marino to the men that surrounded him at the table. “It doesn’t matter what happened. The only thing you need to know is that I’m in now. I have their trust.” Marino sat back and studied Snooke and then let out a menacing laugh. “Now for phase two.” He sat back and laughed as he waved a waiter over for another cocktail.

THE END WWW.LYNNHAGEN.COM HTTP://FACEBOOK.COM/LYNNHAGEN.MANLOVE HTTP://LYNNHAGEN.BLOGSPOT.COM HTTP://GROUPS.YAHOO.COM/GROUP/LYNNHAGEN

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Lynn Hagen loves writing about the somewhat flawed, but lovable. She also loves a hero who can see past all the rough edges to find the shining diamond of a beautiful heart. You can find her on any given day curled up with her laptop and a cup of hot java, letting the next set of characters tell their story.

Also by Lynn Hagen Everlasting Classic ManLove: Brac Pack 1: Maverick’s Mate Everlasting Classic ManLove: Brac Pack 2: Hawk’s Pretty Baby Everlasting Classic ManLove: Brac Pack 3: Sunshine’s Savior Everlasting Classic ManLove: Brac Pack 4: Remi’s Pup Everlasting Classic ManLove: Brac Pack 5: Stormy Eyes Everlasting Classic ManLove: Brac Pack 6: Oliver’s Heart Everlasting Classic ManLove: Brac Pack 7: Keata’s Promise Everlasting Classic ManLove: Brac Pack 8: George’s Turn Everlasting Classic ManLove: Brac Pack 9: Loco’s Love Everlasting Classic ManLove: Brac Pack 10: Lewis’s Dream Everlasting Classic ManLove: Brac Pack 11: Mark’s Not Gay Everlasting Classic ManLove: Brac Pack 12: Nutter Nero Everlasting Classic ManLove: Brac Pack 13: Heaven’s Hell Everlasting Classic ManLove: Brac Pack 14: Nicholas’s Wolf Everlasting Classic ManLove: Brac Pack 15: Murphy’s Madness Everlasting Classic ManLove: Brac Pack 16: Montana’s Vamp Everlasting Classic ManLove: Brac Pack 17: Carter’s Tryck Everlasting Classic ManLove: Brac Pack 18: Joshua’s Law Everlasting Classic ManLove: Brac Pack 19: Dagon’s Ride Ménage Everlasting ManLove: Zeus’s Pack 1: Jasper

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