by Jools Louise
Spirit of Sage 2
Breaking New Ground
Alfie has known and loved Mason for ages, but was too young to do anything about it. The pair have been tiptoeing around each other for years. Now in his early twenties, Alfie finds a new complication has arisen—a snow leopard shifter named Jason who was captured by the cult, the Will and the Word.
After being released, Jason has kept a low profile. Sweeping in under the radar, he captures Alfie’s attention, and now Alfie has to make a decision. Who does he choose? Taking the plunge, Alfie allows himself to be swept off his feet by both sexy shifters. All three help to establish a brand new bed and breakfast in the town of Sage, Wyoming, a town broken by the cult, but now reborn.
Not everyone is happy, and an old family feud rears its head as four young wolverine shifters, victims of the cult themselves, drag Alfie, Mason, and Jason into their ongoing troubles. Will the cult’s influence ever really end?
Genre: Alternative (M/M, Gay), Ménage a Trois/Quatre, Paranormal, Shape-shifter
Length: 39,697 words
BREAKING NEW GROUND
Spirit of Sage 2
Jools Louise
MENAGE AMOUR
MANLOVE
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK
IMPRINT: Ménage Amour ManLove
BREAKING NEW GROUND
Copyright © 2016 by Jools Louise
E-book ISBN: 978-1-68295-403-4
First E-book Publication: July 2016
Cover design by Harris Channing
All art and logo copyright © 2016 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.
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Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
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DEDICATION
If the road you’re on makes you feel a little uncomfortable…it’s probably the right one. Face your fears, negotiate the bumps in the road, and persevere. You’ll reach that goal - and fly.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Epilogue
About the Author
BREAKING NEW GROUND
Spirit of Sage 2
JOOLS LOUISE
Copyright © 2016
Prologue
Alfie eyed the array of fruit spread out in an inviting display, trying to make a selection. He’d never seen so many different varieties of apples in his life. He’d been given a list of things to buy, but had no idea it required a college degree to decide on the best variety of fresh produce to put in a fruit salad or breakfast banquet. All he wanted was a few apples, but there was such a choice, his head was spinning.
The bed-and-breakfast inn was up and running, and his boss, a black jaguar shifter named Mason, had sent him out to do the grocery shopping for the breakfast buffet. He shivered, imagining the sexy man. Just thinking of the black-haired, green-eyed hunk of gorgeousness had Alfie’s libido going haywire. The guy was sex on a stick, and Alfie had been in lust with the big shifter for years but too young to do anything about it.
Alfie was twenty-two now and had lived at Two Spirit Ranch, a few miles from the town of Sage, for nearly six years. Having never worked before, he’d been eager to do something, loving the ranch but wanting something more. When Sage’s rebirth had been discussed, Mason had relayed that he wanted to open up the inn to honor the former owners Herb and Kim, who had died when the town was destroyed a couple of years ago. It had taken a while for the government to decide on funding, but now they had the beginnings of a great little community. They had a café, the inn, a restaurant and bar, a lawyer’s office, a dentist, and a doctor, plus many little stores that had sprung up or were under construction. The grocery store had only opened recently, providing a local amenity that everyone in town enjoyed. Before, they had to make the trip to Jackson to get stuff.
Alfie had once been an inmate of a now defunct vicious cult known as the Will and the Word, and he was only just now learning about the art of living as a free man—or shifter, in his case. He was a leopard shifter, smaller than the average cat but fully capable of holding his own if he had to.
He focused his thoughts back on the task at hand, and he stared at the apple selection again, shaking off memories of those dark times when he’d had no choice about anything. The cult had pretty much taken everything from him—even his innocence. That was years ago, though. He smiled as he thought of Mason again but then frowned as another man clicked into his head. Jason Hastings, the brother of his friend John. Both were snow leopard shifters and as badass as they came. Jason had been captured by the cult, but only for a short time. He’d been at the ranch as long as Alfie had, and recently Alfie had started noticing Jason’s long, seductive glances, and his heart and body had responded accordingly. His emotions were a little confused. Since he’d been attracted to Mason for so long, he
almost felt guilty for fancying Jason as well.
He reached for a Golden Delicious apple, ready to place it in a paper sack, and touched warm fingers instead, jumping back with a yelp. His eyes slid upward and to the side, meeting a warm, amused turquoise gaze. Jason Hastings. The man was big and beautiful and a total fox. Jason’s brother, John, ran the bakery-cum-coffee shop nearby and lived at Two Spirit Ranch. Jason and his sibling were total predators but seriously cool, too. This was the first time Alfie had seen Jason in town since the reconstruction had begun, as he lived at the ranch a few miles from town. .
“Hey, Alfie,” Jason said with a seductive grin, placing the apple in Alfie’s grasp and stroking one finger sensuously along the back of his hand before releasing the small leopard shifter. Alfie flushed to the roots of his hair, jerking away.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t see you,” Alfie stuttered, swallowing hard as he inhaled the man’s delicious scent. He smelled musky and spicy and hot enough to fuck. Alfie’s eyes widened. He’d wanted Mason for the longest time, and now he was having palpitations and hot sweats over this man, too, at the same time as he was lusting after Mason. He was in serious trouble. He knew Mason liked him, had heard him say as much. They were taking their time, not wanting to rush things, getting to know each other. Alfie was getting a little frustrated, though. He wanted to jump that jaguar’s boner in the worst way.
“Are you okay?” Jason asked, one hand coming up to cup Alfie’s soft cheek. Alfie leaned into the touch, his eyes half closing as the man’s scent surrounded him.
“Alfie, Jason,” a voice growled from behind. Mason.
Alfie looked at him, saw something flash between Mason and Jason, something that looked like pure lust. Then he watched as their eyes fell on him, green and turquoise zeroing in on him, and saw that flash again, aimed right at him.
Mason moved forward, his big body all taut muscle and sexual heat. The two big predators smiled in unison, and Alfie gave a whimper, feeling his cock harden to granite as they surrounded him with the scent of their arousal, his own flooding into the heady brew until he was light-headed.
“Jason and I have been talking,” Mason said huskily. “We’d both like to get to know you better, if you have no objections.” His nostrils flared, his eyes darkening with desire. “I think you have feelings for both of us, is that right?”
Mason’s hands caressed Alfie’s slender arms, his nose nuzzling the top of the smaller shifter’s tousled brown head with its shaggy mop that stuck up in all directions. Jason moved in behind, and when Alfie looked up, sandwiched between their big, sexy bodies, they smiled again, the twin looks promising him a world of pleasure.
Alfie’s senses went up in flames, and he knew he was in trouble. A deep, sexy mess of double trouble.
He closed his eyes and moaned, wanting to sink into their warmth, wanting them to sear him with their heat. He felt two sets of lips drift against his skin, one on his cheek and the other caressing his neck. He felt like he was perched atop a precipice, not knowing what lay at the bottom, but knowing whatever happened, it was sure to be the ride of his life. He felt two heavy cocks jutting proudly, letting him know he pleased the two big men, and stepped off the precipice.
He was tired of being afraid of everything, and wanted to break new ground, wanted to fly free.
He felt their arms go around him as he nodded, belatedly responding to Mason’s question, and knew this was his time to soar.
Chapter One:
Two Times Sexy
Sixteen guests were tucking into their breakfast, the mouthwatering aromas coming from the hot tureens on the bain-marie enough to tempt the most stringent dieter to leap off the starvation wagon.
Mason’s gaze wandered from the breakfast banquet frequently, on the pretense of ensuring his guests had everything they needed. He was standing beside the bain-marie, waiting for orders for eggs, which were cooked to order. Scrambled eggs were already in a tureen, but all others were freshly prepared. What he was really keeping an eye on was a perfectly rounded, exquisitely beautiful backside encased in skinny blue jeans, displaying the tempting globes flawlessly. The jeans flowed up a sleek, slender frame encased in a pale gold T-shirt that gave tantalizing glimpses of taut abs and tanned skin.
Alfie, the little leopard shifter he was focused on so intently, was well aware of Mason’s regard. The little fucker kept twitching his ass, sending sideways glances at Mason through dense black lashes that shielded his green-gold gaze. Mason knew the imp was teasing him. Had been since they had returned from the grocery store the day before. He’d followed Alfie, intending to help with the shopping, remembering how confusing it could be with all the choices on display to perplex the senses.
He’d seen Jason Hastings stalking the little leopard, seen the desire in the snow leopard’s eyes when he looked at Alfie, and then seen him make his move. Mason had at first been shocked, then angry—then ready to fuck both men right there in the fresh produce aisle. He and Jason had discussed their mutual interest and had arrived at the conclusion they were all mates, all three. He’d been surprised that Jason had made his move so quickly but realized he shouldn’t have been. The big shifter was decisive and went after what he wanted.
Alfie had looked innocently confused and refreshingly honest about his feelings for both his suitors. He allowed both Mason and Jason to taste his skin, just for a moment, staking their claim on him. Mason couldn’t wait until breakfast was over. Then he and Jason would take their little mate to bed and claim him properly.
“He’s beautiful,” a deep, husky voice said into Mason’s ear and he shivered in response, feeling strong fingers grip his hips, pulling him back through the kitchen door insistently. “So are you, baby,” the voice continued, and warm lips trailed tantalizingly along the curve of Mason’s ear, delving inside with a raspy tongue, making Mason’s cock even harder. He was ready to blow his load right there, just from that lightest of touches.
“Jason,” the jaguar shifter sighed, his head lolling back against Jason’s broad shoulder and turning his head for a kiss. Obligingly, Jason’s fingers gripped his chin and he covered Mason’s mouth with his, sliding his tongue inside and searching, exploring the moist depths as Mason opened wider for him.
“Call me Jay,” the snow leopard told him, smiling against Mason’s lips. “Jason and Mason sounds just a little too cutesy for my liking.” Mason let out a startled chuckle, having thought the same thing himself.
“Jay, I didn’t even know…” Mason moaned, before his thoughts clouded from a second deep kiss. Jay kissed like a god, erasing everything from Mason’s brain but the addiction of his lips and tongue.
“Neither did I,” Jay replied, turning Mason in his arms and holding him close. They studied each other, Mason having to look up since Jay was three inches taller than he was, at six-foot-three. Mason thought of Alfie, listening to the little leopard’s voice as the younger man spoke to the guests in the other room, friendly and cheerful, his manner inviting people to smile back often.
“I remember you from the ranch,” Mason said, stroking his thumb along the curve of Jay’s freshly shaved jaw, inhaling the spicy odor that was uniquely Jay’s. “I was so busy watching Alfie, I never realized I should be watching you as well.” He smiled when Jay grinned wickedly.
“I saw you watching Alfie,” Jay said, grinning wickedly “You always had a special kind of radar for him, knowing where he was and showing up accordingly. I’ve wanted you both for a long time, but never imagined I had a chance with you both. Alfie’s so untouched,” he said wistfully.
“I’m not a complete virgin. I know what I want,” Alfie admitted from the doorway, his face flushed as he observed the bigger men embracing, touching each other gently. The big shifters turned their gazes to him, their lust rising rapidly. He inhaled sharply but didn’t come any closer. “Before you set the kitchen on fire, boys, I need another two plates of fried eggs, one sunny side up and the other over easy, both with a side of toasted rye.” He
winked at them, then waved and left to finish serving.
Mason grinned at Jay’s bemused expression, turning the man’s face to his and kissing him hard on the lips before moving out of his grasp. “I have to cook those eggs, lover,” he drawled, breaking four into a big skillet containing warm oil and then slinging rye bread into the toaster.
Jay sat at the big, solid oak table in the center, grabbing a couple of fresh strawberries from a bowl, munching as he kept Mason company. “I don’t suppose you know who’s hiring around here, do you?” he asked Mason after a few moments of companionable silence, filled by the sizzle of eggs and the sound of toast popping up.
Mason sent him a curious look and shrugged. “I thought you worked at the ranch,” he said, one brow arched upward.
“I have two sexy mates in town,” Jay replied, his mouth curving into a pleased smile. “I want to be where you and Alfie are, not out in the sticks.” He plucked up another strawberry and popped it into his mouth while Mason took the plates to the hungry guests in the dining room.
Returning, Mason came to sit down opposite the big shifter, tilting his head as he thought about the businesses now open or interviewing for new staff.
“I guess it depends what you can do,” Mason said. “The grocery store needs a warehouse worker, for deliveries. It’s early mornings mostly, for when their fresh produce arrives. I heard from Mick he might need a bartender for lunch through the early evening crowd, so that might be an option. They already have someone for evening. Where have you worked before?”
