Shifters and Spice: A Shifter Romance Box Set

by Desiree Holt

  “What?”

  “I don’t have a life in Seattle. I didn’t want to throw a cloud over the festivities, but I was laid off last week. I talk to either Cole or Mindy at least once a day and have ever since I moved there two years ago because I haven’t made any new friends. My ‘home’ is an almost empty apartment where I play video games and eat pizza when I’m not at work.” Evan let out a sarcastic chuckle. “And you’re surprised that I have a hard time seeing why you would want me outside of being forced by some kind of blind powerful mojo?”

  Dare started to protest, but Evan stopped him.

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean that to sound self-pitying. But what you’re telling me is that you won’t ask me to leave the job I don’t have, the friends I don’t have, my empty apartment, give all that up to come back to one of the few places I’ve felt at home for a chance with a ridiculously hot guy who will be in love with me for the rest of my life?”

  Dare stared at him as if he weren’t real.

  Evan’s heart raced as he said, “I kind of think you should.”

  “What?” Dare was as breathless as he was.

  “Ask me,” Evan whispered.

  Dare had stopped breathing. “Are you…do you want to give us a try?”

  A slow grin crossed Evan’s face. “I’m not saying we should move in together right away, but ye—”

  Dare crossed the couch in less time than it took Evan to blink. He claimed Evan’s lips, and Evan pulled him over so that Dare was straddling him. After a moment, Evan pulled back and said, “I guess last night was technically a wedding night, but how about a second one tonight with both of us aware of what’s happening? We can have a third when you actually put a ring on it.” Evan waggled his fingers in front of Dare’s face, singing, “If you liked it then you should’ve put a ring on it.”

  Dare growled and Evan pulled him back into a kiss. They took their time. As Dare swept his tongue between Evan's parted lips, Evan felt like a teenager again. While their bodies knew the basic beats, this thing between them was uncharted territory. They were flirting with forever here. There was no urge to hurry.

  Not at the moment, anyway. Evan was changing his mind about that as Dare ground against him.

  Dare sat back and his eyes drifted over Evan's body, lingering at last on his eyes.

  Evan squeezed Dare’s waist. “What?”

  “I just…” Dare cleared his throat. “I'm normally good with words. Very good. You have to be quick on your feet and express yourself easily as a diplomat. But this…” He grabbed Evan’s hand and held it against his chest. “I have no words for this.”

  Evan pulled him closer, resting their foreheads together. “I'm not good with words even though I talk a lot. I say the wrong thing, the awkward thing, the downright embarrassing thing all the time. It's okay with me if we just let our bodies talk right now.”

  Dare pressed his lips forward in a soft kiss, and Evan dropped his hand back around Dare's ass to grasp him with both hands, pulling him closer. He was firm and muscular beneath his jeans and Evan couldn’t wait to see him from behind.

  He slid his hands inside the back of Dare’s pants. And only his pants. How often did Dare go commando? If Evan had any say in the future, it would be always.

  Evan tried to turn and lay Dare down on the couch, but knees and elbows knocked together, reminding him that as much as he felt like it at the moment, he was not, in fact, a teenager, and there was a perfectly reasonable bed just seconds away. Their eyes met and they both burst out laughing before Dare peeled himself from Evan and held out his hand. Dare led the way, Evan not making it easy on him with his grabby hands.

  They reached the hallway and Dare spun around, pinning Evan to the wall. “Remember this?”

  Evan cocked an eyebrow. “It was only a few days ago.”

  Dare rubbed himself against Evan, drawing a groan from the taller man. “I wanted you even then.”

  “I wanted you too,” Evan gasped.

  “I know.”

  “Is that a wolf thing? Smelling emotions or something?”

  “A little. But mostly it was that my boxers didn't hide anything on you.”

  Evan groaned in embarrassment and desire. “How could you even tell? It was so freaking dark in here.”

  “Wolf eyes.” Dare grinned and waited until he was sure Evan was looking before he let them switch, flashing a warm gold in the low light.

  “Am I ever going to be able to hide anything from you?”

  Dare pressed his hands to Evan’s straining pants as he nuzzled his nose against his mate’s neck. “I certainly hope not.”

  They slid and bounced along the wall the short distance to Dare’s room, shedding their clothes with each step closer until they were both naked. Just outside the door, Dare shoved Evan against the wall again, but grabbed his ass and pulled him up. Evan automatically locked his legs around Dare’s hips and the shorter man swung them into the bedroom, walking to the bed with ease, his fingers kneading into Evan’s muscles.

  “How the fuck are you doing this?”

  “Magic,” Dare mumbled into Evan’s chest. “And sheer muscular physique.”

  “I’ll say!”

  Dare turned to sit on the bed, pulling Evan's knees forward to rest, giving him control and balance. Evan took both their cocks in his large hand and squeezed, making Dare fall completely to the bed. Evan followed, watching Dare's face intently as he slowly worked his hand between them.

  “So, I have a confession,” Evan said.

  “Hmm?

  Evan leaned even closer and whispered, “I really like to get fucked.” Dare's cock jumped in Evan's hand, promoting a wicked smile. “I'm not against giving, but I seriously love taking. And tonight, I definitely want you to fuck me.”

  Dare grasped Evan’s hair, trying to pull him up into a kiss, but Evan resisted.

  “So when I ask you to turn onto your knees right now, know that my end game is your cock in my ass.”

  Dare blinked blearily at him.

  “Do you trust me?”

  Dare nodded.

  “Turn over.”

  Dare did so slowly and Evan let him take his time, even as impatient as he was. He took a few seconds to admire the view. Dare’s weight was spread evenly on his elbows and knees. Evan almost cackled. He was going to change that.

  He'd never before felt this free with a lover so soon in their relationship. But Dare trusted him, he knew that, and that gave Evan a confidence he'd rarely felt before.

  He caressed one muscular globe of Dare’s ass and the man leaned into the pressure. Dare's knees were spread wide and Evan knelt behind him, reaching out with his other hand to grasp firmly with both hands, spreading Dare’s cheeks wide before Evan pressed his face in and licked Dare’s entrance from bottom to top.

  Dare collapsed onto his shoulders, just as Evan had wanted. It lifted his ass further in the air and Evan dove deep, stiffening his tongue and pressing as deeply as he could. Dare's breathing was broken and his hips twitched backward, urging Evan on.

  Evan reached one hand forward between Dare's legs and gently grasped his balls, tugging them, pulling them back to lick at with his tongue. Dare's knees began to give out and Evan slowly breached his entrance with his thumb, working his tongue along the edges.

  “Stop,” Dare growled. “The only place I'm coming tonight is in your ass.”

  With a smile, Evan pulled back, rubbing his hands over Dare’s muscles, appreciating the beauty of the man.

  After a moment, Dare rolled off the side of the bed and pulled Evan to stand with him. “I'm going to take you so hard right now. Hard and fast, and then later tonight I'm going to do it again. And then in the morning, you're going to blow me.”

  “What if I blow you right now?” Evan asked.

  Dare closed his eyes and his hands tightened around Evan's wrists. “Tease.”

  “It's not a tease if you deliver,” Evan said, starting to drop to his knees, but Dare turned him around an
d pushed his shoulders to the bed.

  “It is a tease if you know that it's not in the plans for the night. Getting me even more worked up than I am.”

  Dare's hand on his back, the man’s voice rough from being so close to losing control, it made Evan excited, of course, but also so powerful. He'd never driven anyone so wild with lust before, especially just with words.

  “Stay,” Dare commanded, his hand leaving Evan’s skin. There was the sound of a drawer, and then a bottle being opened, and then Dare’s finger was in him, prompting a scream of pleasure and surprise. Dare worked him quickly, adding one finger and then another. Evan was still a little sore from the previous night, but he didn’t care. And then Dare, all of Dare, was in him.

  Evan felt an endless moan erupt from his mouth, and his ears were ringing. His knees were bent, pressing against the bed, Dare standing between them, his thrusts building rapidly to a punishing pace, his balls slapping against the back of Evan’s thighs, driving Evan's knees and face into the bed, his cock rubbing against the bedspread. Evan felt his orgasm building, boiling, burning within him like a volcano. Dare’s fingers dug into his skin and as Evan felt the first hot spurts of cum erupt within his ass, the throbbing of Dare’s cock intensifying the feeling within him, Evan exploded, his muscles clenching around Dare as their rhythm slowed, pulling Dare’s breath from him in a gasp.

  They collapsed, Dare reaching forward to ruffle Evan's hair. “Try to crawl in bed.”

  “I don’t think I can move. Ever.”

  Dare chuckled, forcing himself up. “Your knees will appreciate it. Up, up.”

  Evan crawled on top of the comforter, wincing as his knee trailed through his cum. “I’m sorry, I just came all over your blankets.”

  Dare leaned down and pressed a kiss to Evan’s ankle. “Don’t worry. It’ll wash. I’ll go find us another.

  After Evan crawled under the sheets, Dare quickly changed the top blanket and then grabbed the wet wipes to clean them up quickly before crawling into bed with his mate. Evan curled against him, already half asleep.

  “Just remember,” Dare said. “I have plans for you still tonight.

  Evan groaned in protest, but it was a sham. He had a feeling that he’d already lost himself to Dare. He should be freaking out about that.

  Destiny might be a bitch, but could you really fight her?

  Chapter 22

  For the second time in as many days, Dare woke with a sense of utter contentment. Once again, Evan lay wrapped in Dare’s arms, his blond hair falling over his eyes. This time he lay on his right side, Dare’s mark on his skin clearly visible.

  Dare reached out to stroke the mark, amazed at how much had changed in his life the last few days. He wasn’t sure how the details would play out, and it wasn’t how Dare had ever imagined finding and claiming his mate, but from the moment Evan had told Dare to ask him to give them a chance, Dare knew Evan would be in his life, and hopefully his bed, for good.

  Evan stirred and curled more tightly around Dare. “Mornin’,” he mumbled.

  Dare answered him with a kiss, tilting the other man’s face up, his eyes still closed. Evan responded, still sleep-clumsy, but enthusiastic, his hands roaming Dare’s chest. Dare shifted to his side to gain more control of this kiss. Dare was content to linger in their kisses, just like a teenage boy with his first love. This was his only love. He was going to enjoy every minute of it.

  Evan suddenly pulled away, his eyes flying open. “Oh my—fuck. Your family!”

  “My family?” Dare’s mind struggled to emerge from his contentment to follow Evan’s line of thought. “What about them? They’re fine.”

  “They’re probably freaking out. I totally forgot about them because we…and then I fell asleep. Understandably, but still.”

  Dare stole a quick kiss. “I sent them a text last night and said we’d be over for lunch. And not to come near this house on pain of death. Or at least dismemberment.”

  Evan groaned.

  “What?”

  “Your family totally knows we had sex. Again.”

  Dare snickered. “That’s kind of a given with the whole mate thing.”

  “You’re not helping. I’ve known all of your family longer than I’ve known you. Your parents are like my parents. Mindy and Cole are like my sister and brother. And I’m totally doing their son and brother.”

  “Saves me from having to do the whole awkward meet the parents thing.”

  “Still not helping.” Evan buried his face into the crook of Dare’s neck.

  Dare couldn’t bring himself to feel sorry. Not even a little bit. “Think of it this way: now, they’ll actually be your parents and siblings.”

  Evan pulled back far enough to glare at Dare. “That is disgustingly cute. Although it is true.”

  “Does it help?”

  Evan sniffed. “Maybe.” He bolted straight upright. “I have to introduce you to my mom!”

  Dare pulled himself forward to curl around Evan and rubbed the man’s back. “I’m sure it will be fine.”

  Evan turned to pierce Dare with a calculating stare before breaking out into an evil grin. “You’re over confident. Good. You deserve what’s coming.”

  A frisson of uncertainty tickled Dare’s spine. “What?”

  “Oh no. This is good. This is payback for all the angst you’ve put me through in the last twenty-four hours with that mating bite.”

  “That’s not fair. It was instinct! And maybe a little alcohol. What is wrong with your mom?”

  Pressing his lips tightly together, Evan said, “Nope. Not telling.”

  A short staring contest ensued before Dare attacked Evan with his fingers, tickling mercilessly. Evan retaliated in kind until the tickling dissolved into kisses that were on the verge of developing into more when both their phones began buzzing crazily.

  Evan retrieved them against Dare’s complaints. “Mindy,” he said.

  “Same,” Dare responded. “Mine says: If I don’t see you here, alive and relatively unharmed, by ten am, I will kill one or both of you.”

  Evan snuggled back against Dare. “Mine says: Bring me a change of clothes. It’s your fault if I look like a homeless person.” Evan mumbled as he typed. “Re-wearing a set of clothes once does not make you look like a homeless person. A crazy cat lady, maybe. And why do I get all the blame? Blame your brother.”

  A moment later, she responded and Evan let out a bark of laughter.

  “What?” Dare asked.

  “He can beat me up. You can’t.”

  Evan started to respond, but Dare stole his phone and pulled him back to finish what they had started.

  Chapter 23

  Two months to the day after Cole and Jessica’s wedding (Dare knew because Jessica had blasted them all with two-month anniversary photos that morning), Evan directed Dare to his mother’s house. No matter how hard Dare had tried, he hadn’t been able to pull any information from Evan other than that his mom had raised him on her own after Evan’s father died from cancer when he was seven. Mindy and Cole had been even less help, having never met Evan’s mother and only having good things to say about her based on Evan’s descriptions, none of which gave any basis to Evan’s unholy glee about this visit.

  Dare wiped his sweaty palms on his pants for the fifth time in the last twenty minutes.

  “Nervous?”

  “Why would I be nervous?” Dare asked, his voice cracking the tiniest bit in the middle of the sentence. He darted a glance at Evan to see if he’d caught it, and his overly satisfied look said he had. “You’re a bastard.”

  “Yeah,” Evan drawled. “But I’m your bastard.” He grabbed Dare’s hand and held to it. And damn him, but Dare felt infinitely more calm with that simple touch.

  “So seriously, no hints about this?”

  “Nope.”

  “I really feel like I should have brought a present or something. I do want to make a good impression.”

  “And I promised you it’s not necess
ary. I’ve told my mom all about you.”

  “That’s just not fair. You won’t tell me anything about her.”

  “You’ll see,” Evan said.

  Even though he felt more nervous the closer they got to their destination, Dare couldn’t help but think about how nice it was to know he was going to have this whole week with Evan. Though Evan had moved into Cole’s room, Dare had moved back to his parents’ house. They spent at least part of every evening together, but not every night, and between Dare’s mom’s contacts and Evan’s skills, Evan had quickly found a full time job with better hours, benefits, and more personal satisfaction than his previous job in Seattle.

  Dare hated being away from Evan so much, but he wanted to take it slow, giving the man room to grow into their relationship. His mother kept him plenty busy with pack business while Evan was at work, and this was their first time taking a week together with no responsibilities other than visiting Evan’s mother.

  “Turn here,” Evan said. “Just after the mailbox with the technicolor rooster.”

  “Is this it?” Dare asked.

  “This is it.”

  The house was hidden from the road by a large hedgerow until they were in the driveway. The house itself was a one-story home with attached garage, but the yard was a miniature fairy wonderland. Evan jumped from the car as soon as Dare parked, bounding up the three short steps to the front door. Dare followed more slowly, eyeing a gnome that looked a little too happy to see him. Creepy.

  Evan didn’t bother to knock, instead opening the door and stepping in. “Mom?” He waved at Dare to hurry up, but Dare took his time. What was with all the fairies and gnomes? Was Evan’s mom some kind of witch? Is that what he had been cackling about? These could be the souls of those she’d trapped with favors…

  That didn’t make any sense. Evan hadn’t known anything about the supernatural world before Dare. But…that didn’t mean his mother didn’t. That wouldn’t be what had Evan cackling though.

  He started as Evan’s hand wrapped around his own. “Come on.”