Tuesday Teaser 9/4/2023

9/5/2023

My teaser this week is from Shifting Chaos, book 4 of The Sleepless City (series cowritten with Anne Barwell).

“We can do that,” Blair said. “Can I ask you a question?” Jasper nodded and Blair continued. “Why do you, werewolves, hate vampires so much? We’re not trying to wipe out werewolves.” He turned to Forge. “And for that matter, what do we have against them? It’s not as if they’re a threat to humans and trying to take over the world.”

“I was raised in that culture. A thin excuse, but it’s the only explanation I have,” Jasper said. “I suppose at one time in the distant past there was a reason. Predators competing or something.”
Forge chuckled. “According to Lucas everything has an evolutionary basis.”
“That sounds like Lucas. He’s probably correct.” Jasper stood up and shoved his hands into his pockets, looking up at the sky. “It’s a lovely evening. Enjoy your walk, gentlemen.”
Forge watched him stroll toward the ball field. “He’s odd.” He stood and dipped his head toward the lake. “I don’t hear any engines, do you?”
Blair shook his head and swung his long legs around to the other side of the bench, stood, and stretched. “It’s nice out here. Other than driving by, I haven’t been here much except for when I first arrived.”

“I’ve been cooped up inside too much lately. Let’s take that walk for real. You’ll like the view down on the beach.”

Once again, he took Blair’s hand as they walked, this time heading to a path that would lead closer to the lakeshore. The air was still cool enough, and it was close to dinnertime, so there weren’t many people in the park. Being here with Blair was nice, and for the first time in a while, Forge didn’t feel as if he had to be chasing after something. Or that something was pursuing him. Sometimes he had to remind himself he was allowed to relax and enjoy the moment.

“It must be horrible to be so afraid of your own brother. Or father for that matter,” Blair said.

“I don’t think either Jasper or Lucas are so much afraid of Jacob, at least not because of their safety. I think it’s more a case of afraid of the trouble he’ll cause in general.”

“I should have known what was going on,” Blair said after a few minutes. “That something was wrong with you.”

“How could you possibly know?”

“Something was up. I thought you were upset, depressed even, because of what happened at city hall. We’re really only starting to get to know each other well and I didn’t know what to do. I missed you so much.”

Forge stopped walking. They’d come to a small pavilion near the beach. He turned Blair to face him and cocked his head.

“I never left the castle.”

Blair laid his palm over Forge’s heart. “I could barely feel you, and when you did that full shift thing, I couldn’t feel you at all. It hurt. Physically. Worse than that, it was horrifying. Declan said my connection would come back, and it did, but….”

Forge ran his hands up and down Blair’s arms a few times. “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m kinda hard to get rid of. You had no way of knowing what was happening. None of us did.”

“I should’ve said something, at least to Lucas, but I figured everyone’s bond seems to be a bit different. I attributed it to that.” He applied the gentlest pressure to Forge’s chest, making him back up a few steps until they were in the pavilion. “I missed you so much,” Blair repeated.

In one fast, fluid motion Blair hooked an arm around Forge’s neck and jumped so he straddled him. He held Forge’s face in both hands, and his eyes were solid hazel as he took Forge’s mouth, slipping his tongue inside. Forge moaned into the kiss, tightening his grip on Blair and boosting him a bit higher. Their kiss broken, Forge pressed his lips to Blair’s neck, nipping with the very points of his fangs and licking over the same spot in the next instant. He stepped back a few paces until his back was firmly against one of the cement supports.

Blair ground his pelvis against Forge, bent his head, and claimed another hungry, desperate kiss. “I want you. Need you.” Blair exhaled. “Suck me.”

The pavilion was a roof held up by cement supports, but it was open-air. Not a wall in sight to hide behind. Still, Forge gave serious consideration to stripping Blair down and giving him anything he wanted.

Sounds of a dog barking and children shouting in the park above conjured up images in Forge’s mind of the police blotter reporting “Head Detective Arrested on City Beach for Giving Head.”

“Not here.” Forge garbled the words out and gradually eased Blair to his feet.

“It’s not like they’ll get any pictures.” Blair smirked. He stood close to Forge, hand cupping Forge’s crotch and fingertips pushing up with steady, maddening pressure.