 My teaser this week is from Chained Hearts, book 3 of Sentries. Finally, Nick’s form filled the main door. He stopped a few feet inside, probably to let his eyes adjust to the lower lighting and looked around. Todd wiped his hands on a rag and dodged around the workbench, heading out to greet his mate. “Hey, did everything go okay?” Nick’s face split into a brilliant smile, and he brushed his bangs away from his face and nodded. “It did. I got these.” He held a few books in his hand, pulling that arm away from his body. Taking the books, Todd put an arm around Nick’s shoulders and guided him farther into the building, toward the workroom. Pushing Nick onto a stool, he set the books on a table. He made sure Nick was positioned so his mate couldn’t see around the workbench to Todd’s project. “No peeking.” He backed up and went to the other side of the workbench, taking a few minutes to pick out the tools he needed. Then he grabbed a piece of paper and a pencil. “Take your coat and shirt off.” Nick blinked at him for a few seconds, twisted on the stool, and looked back the way he’d come. “Shouldn’t we at least close the door?” “Huh? What? No, not that! Not now anyway. Later,” Todd said and made a hurry up motion with his hand. “I need to see your brand.” Nick shrugged out of his coat and tossed it over the books. “Why?” He crisscrossed his arms, grabbed the hem of his shirt, and peeled it off. “Because I can’t see my tattoo.” Grinning, Todd held up the paper. “Don’t worry, no one comes here this time of day, and this will only take a few minutes.” “Okay.” Nick sat quietly, hands dangling between his thighs while Todd sketched the pattern of Nick’s chest brand. “You can put your clothes back on now.” Todd took a piece of carbon paper and pressed it to the headboard, then holding the piece of paper with the sketch over it, he retraced the pattern, transferring it to the wood. When Nick straightened and stretched, trying to look at what Todd was doing, Todd stopped and shook a finger at his mate. “Nick, no peeking.” Huffing, Nick slouched on the stool. “Is this the surprise?” “Part of it.” Using a small hammer and chisel, Todd carved the protection symbol out of the wood, brushing the small curled flakes to the side. “Now, hush for a few minutes. Or better yet, the change of clothes I packed is out in the sleigh. Why don’t you take your books out there and grab the clothes?” He stopped long enough to motion to a door down the hall from the workroom. “There’s the bathroom. You can change in there.” Nick nodded and stood, rocking up on his toes. “Nick!” Nick settled back on his feet, collected the books, and headed outside. He returned a few minutes later carrying the satchel Todd had packed with a change of clothes for both of them. When he reappeared, Todd smiled, letting himself have the luxury of a long, slow look up and down Nick’s body. Looking down at himself, Nick smoothed his hands over the material of the black pants then the moss-green, silk shirt. When he looked up at Todd, grinning, eyes soft, Todd’s heart skipped a few beats. “Do you like it?” Todd asked. “You look amazing.” “I love it. Thank you.” Todd shrugged and set his tools down. “We lost a lot of our things. I thought it was time to start replacing at least some.” Stepping up to Nick, Todd reached out and brushed his fingers through Nick’s hair, gently taking hold and tugging his mate in closer. “C’mere,” he breathed softly, licking over Nick’s lower lip, then pressing their mouths together, tongue slipping inside Nick’s. At once, Nick leaned against him, hands skimming up and down Todd’s back, low moans exhaled into Todd’s mouth. Nick leaned his weight to one side, and Todd knew he was still trying to see what Todd had been working on. The return of Nick’s curiosity thrilled Todd more than he thought it ever would. It was something he’d loved so much about his mate from the start, and seeing it dampened while they were in the Governor’s Estate made Todd physically ill.  Chained Hearts is available in eBook and paperback.
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