Bad Company (24 page)

Much as he loved caring for his eight younger brothers, Matt Mahihkan knows it’s time to grab the opportunity to attend college in Atlanta. Realizing Aubrey is his mate should have been a delightful experience…except Aubrey treats him more like a dirty little secret than a lover. Yet Matt is a patient man. Aubrey can’t stay in the closet forever. Can he?

In time, they settle into a comfortable, if complicated, routine. Until a rogue werewolf with an axe to grind forces Aubrey to add to the wedge of secrets driving him and Matt apart, leaving Matt exposed to danger…and Aubrey forced to choose between love and duty.

Warning: Contains color abuse with a really bad sense of fashion, a southern accent from hell, sex on antique furniture, a pouncing playful werewolf, obnoxious siblings, liberal use of a color identifier and impatient sex. No lightning bugs were harmed in the making of this book.

Enjoy the following excerpt for
With Abandon:

“There.” Aubrey gave Matt’s bow one more twisting motion and let go. He grabbed Matt’s shoulder and turned him, forcing Matt to end his ogling of Aubrey in the mirror.

“I’m nervous.”

Aubrey grinned and kissed his chin. “Nooo…”

Matt smacked him on the arm. “It’s not funny.”

“It’s adorable, and you are absolutely gorgeous.” Aubrey stepped back, studying Matt. “It’s going to be pure hell trying to keep my hands off you all night.”

Heat raced up Matt’s neck and face at the thought. That shouldn’t embarrass him now after all they’d done, but it did. He wasn’t used to being admired like that.

Aubrey stared at him. “What’s that look for?”

“I like that you like the way I look. No one’s ever complimented me like you do.”

“The people in New Mexico must be blind.” A smirk oozed over Aubrey’s face. “I’m going to have to beat the women and probably a few men off of you with a stick.” He caught the back of Matt’s head and pulled him down for a kiss. He nibbled softly and sucked at Matt’s bottom lip for several seconds before nudging Matt’s lips open with his tongue.

Matt sighed into the caress and allowed Aubrey to do what he wanted. He didn’t even try to kiss back. The wet slide over his lips, teeth and tongue was soothing. The only person he wanted on him was right here, and no way would Matt want to beat him off—well yeah, he would, but not like Aubrey meant. He smiled and suppressed the giggle wanting to escape.
Time and place, Matthew. Sheesh.

The whole kiss was gentle and coaxing, meant to reassure. God, he loved this man. Sighing in pleasure, Matt wrapped his arms around Aubrey’s waist and kissed back. He could get through anything with his mate by his side. Suddenly this party was more of an annoyance than an anticipation. He’d rather skip the party and snuggle in bed.

The scent of arousal surrounded them. He hadn’t realized he’d gotten hard. He’d been too caught up in the kiss, in letting Aubrey love him. But now…now his cock was becoming insistent, and Aubrey’s arousal was invading his senses as well.

Aubrey’s arms came around his shoulders, and his hands cupped Matt’s neck. He loved how Aubrey always held his head and touched his face. It made Matt feel irresistible. He wasn’t, but he loved that his mate thought so.

Matt pulled Aubrey closer, needing the press of body against his. He circled his tongue around lazily, exploring and caressing, wanting to savor the magical moment. Even the feel of Aubrey’s erection against his thigh and racing heart against his chest didn’t make him want to hurry.

Breaking the kiss, Aubrey smiled at him. “I’d love to continue this, but Tee’s here.”

What?
Matt blinked, trying to focus. Aubrey’s kiss had robbed him of conscious thought, apparently.

There was a knock at the door. Followed by Tara grumbling, “Come on, guys. I forgot my damned key. Let me in.” She sounded annoyed, like it wasn’t the first time she’d knocked.

Tara was going with them? Had he missed something?

“Hold your horses.” With a wink, Aubrey headed out of the bathroom.

Matt didn’t want to feel disappointed but he did. Guilt followed closely after. Tara was his friend. He liked hanging out with her, nearly as much as he did Aubrey. But he couldn’t deny the powerful urge to have Aubrey all to himself and for everyone to know Aubrey was his. Which was just dumb. That was a ways in the future. He should’ve realized Tara was coming. And really he was glad…he was. If anyone could make him feel less edgy, it was Tara. As far as he knew, she went to every social function with Aubrey.

Another feminine voice came from the living room. Telling Aubrey hello and…kissing him? Yeah, that was definitely a smack. Who the heck was kissing his man? Matt practically ran into the living room. About halfway there he caught himself and slowed. Possessive much? That was a new feeling for him. He tried to decide whether he liked it or not. Not that it mattered, because he’d had it regardless. It had been immediate and from the gut.

Tara drew his gaze as soon as he stepped into the living room. The tomboy who drove like a NASCAR driver and shot Nerf darts true enough to make a sniper envious was gone, and in her place stood a goddess.
This
was the Miss Georgia persona. She wore a long strapless formfitting dress with a slit all the way up to the top of her right thigh. The curves of her breasts appeared ready to spill out of the bodice any second, and if she moved too quickly, that slit would let everyone see what she wore beneath. The dress was gold, but it was that weird gold that told Matt it was probably a color his eyes couldn’t see rather than a true gold. Her dark hair was piled on her head with that sexy almost-coming-down look that women did.

“Wow.” His brothers would probably drop to their knees and offer her the world, but Matt had the urge to tease her about being a girl. Maybe they should stop by the sporting-goods store and buy a bat, so he and Aubrey could beat people off her. If she had any idea he’d even considered it, she’d probably kick his butt.

“What? What’s wrong?” She did the exact same thing Matt had done earlier when Aubrey had looked at him. She lifted her arms a bit, studied herself and frowned up at him. “Do I have something on my—?” Her mouth dropped open. “Oh. My. God. You look incredible.” She strode forward. “Matt, you’re always gorgeous, but day-um…” She grabbed his hands, holding them out from his body to check him out, and smiled. “Honey, you’re beautiful.”

“Me? Look at you. Holy smokes. Maybe I’m not as gay as I thought.”

Tara laughed and Matt joined her.

“Matthew.” Aubrey was so quiet and steady it was eerie.

Together Matt and Tara turned toward him.

He wore an expression so blank it could have been made of stone. He stalked toward them, his gaze locked with Matt’s. “Can I see you for a moment.” It wasn’t a question, and he didn’t give Matt time to respond before continuing past him into their room.

Okay, that was weird.
Aubrey was never that emotionless. Something told Matt he was seeing the corporate tycoon the business world saw. The hairs on the backs of his arms stood on end. Matt glanced back at Tara, and for the first time noticed the other woman coming to stand beside her. She was pretty, with long dark hair around her shoulders and a blue dress slightly more sedate than Tara’s but still quite elegant. She resembled Tara. “Hi.” She waved at him before glancing in Aubrey’s direction and swallowing hard.

Matt looked back at Tara.

She shrugged and furrowed her brow at the open bedroom door.

No sooner had Matt cleared the door, than Aubrey softly closed it. He gripped Matt’s shoulder and whirled Matt around to face him so fast Matt stumbled.

Matt would’ve bumped right into his mate, but the look on Aubrey’s face made him fling his forward progress to the side to keep from colliding. He shifted his weight and clasped his hands together. His stomach plummeted to his feet. What had he done? Surely Aubrey knew he’d been playing with Tara. He couldn’t possibly be jealous, could he?

Matt composed himself and gave Aubrey a weak smile.

Aubrey didn’t smile back. If anything, his scowl deepened. “What da fuck? Ya cain’t go around tellin’ people you’re gay,” he gritted out between clenched teeth so low Matt doubted that Tara and the other woman heard, even if they were standing with their ears to the door, and Matt wouldn’t put that past Tara.

Bad Company

K.A. Mitchell

Some things are sweeter than revenge.
 

“I need a boyfriend.”

Hearing those words from the mouth of his very straight
ex
-friend is enough to make columnist and editor Nate Gray choke on his Corona. It’s been thirteen years since Kellan Brooks’s father crushed Nate’s family on his climb to wealth and power. Even longer since he entrusted Kellan with the confession that he might be gay—only to have his best friend out and humiliate him to their entire high school. The last thing Nate expects is Kellan begging for his help.

Breaking off his engagement to a senator’s daughter was the last straw for Kellan’s CEO father. Frustrated at being cut off, his father’s stinging words—that he wishes Kellan had never been born—still ringing in his ears, Kellan turns to Nate. In a move worthy of a corporate raider, Kellan plans the ultimate revenge. Come out as the boyfriend of the man his homophobic father betrayed.

Convincing Nate to play along isn’t easy. It’s even harder to figure out why the lie feels so close to the truth.

Warning:
Contains old friends, old enemies, a dramatic cat rescue, soft drink references and a lot of teasing before the steamy sex. Readers are cautioned against drinking any beverage while reading to avoid accidental snorting or spraying of said beverages.

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This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental.

Samhain Publishing, Ltd.

577 Mulberry Street, Suite 1520

Macon GA 31201

Bad Company

Copyright © 2011 by K.A. Mitchell

ISBN: 978-1-60928-474-9

Edited by Sasha Knight

Cover by Angela Waters

All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

First
Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
electronic publication: June 2011

www.samhainpublishing.com