The Moonlight Breed 8: Leap in the Dark by Gabrielle Evans (chrysanthemum read aloud .txt) 📕

“You don’t look very happy about it. Are you sure that’s what you want?”

Spiro grimaced as he pushed his long, silvery hair back from his face. “My foul mood has nothing to do with joining your pack. I’m very sure.”

“Okay then.” Xander pushed away from the rail and extended his hand. “In that case, welcome to the pack. The second dorm is pretty crowded, but we have an extra room here if you’d like it.”

“I’ve been staying in the main house, but I admit that I’m not fond of vampire time.” Spiro took Xander’s hand and gave it a quick shake, a trace of his usual cockiness returning. “I’ll take you up on that offer.”

“Right on. You can move in whenever you’re ready.” Xander didn’t want to be rude, but it had been hours since he’d seen his mate, and he was anxious to get into the house and find Braxton. “Are you sure you don’t want to tell me what put that disgruntled look on your face?” Please say no.

“Who is the psychologist here?”

“Just being friendly.”

“I appreciate it, but no.” Descending the stairs, Spiro gave a little wave over his shoulder before heading off along the path that would take him to the main house. “I’ll meet you here tomorrow night.”

Xander watched him walk away until he’d disappeared into the shadows. Everyone who came to Haven had a story to tell, and he was sure Spiro’s would be an interesting one. As long as his actions didn’t put anyone in danger, it wasn’t any of Xander’s business, though. He’d be a friend, an alpha, and he’d provide help when asked, but he was smart enough to know when to keep his nose out of other people’s business.

Just like stories, everyone had a past, and things had a way of unfolding in Haven. He had little doubt that he’d eventually learn of the past that Spiro seemed to be running from, whether the man meant for him to know or not.

Once sure there were no witnesses to watch as he made a fool of himself, he turned and leapt toward the door, shoving it open and barreling inside. “Braxton!”

His partner sat on the sofa with a pen in hand, scribbling away at the notebook in his lap. He paused when Xander called his name, setting the pen between the pages and closing his book. “Why the hell are you shouting?” He sat the composition pad down on the coffee table and stretched his arms over his head with a moan. “What time is it?”

“A little after ten.” His heart finally settled into a normal rhythm, and he closed the door calmly, ensuring it was locked before swaggering over to his mate and sweeping Braxton up into his arms. “What are you working on, chulo?”

“Just stuff,” Braxton answered vaguely as he looped his arms around Xander’s neck and rubbed their noses together. He never revealed his work until he was satisfied with the final product, but Xander always asked anyway. “How was your meeting?”

“Unsatisfying.” His fingers kneaded the firm ass in his palms, and he skimmed his nose along the column of Braxton’s throat. “What about you? How was your evening with Keeton?”

“Productive.” There was a wispy, distracted quality to his voice, and his slender fingers tangled in Xander’s locks, urging him closer. “How are the new guys?”

He licked and nipped at Braxton’s smooth flesh, laving a trail of wet kisses up to his ear and sucking the lobe between his teeth. “Resting. Everything went fine.”

Sidestepping the couch, Xander kept a firm hold on his lover as he wound his way to their room. Braxton’s head fell back on his shoulders, and a quiet, lusty sigh spilled from his pink lips. “Did you talk to Spiro?”

“Yes.” Pushing through the slightly ajar door to their room, Xander carried Braxton straight to the en-suite bathroom—one of the perks of being the alpha. “No more talking.”

“Mmm,” Braxton purred with a wiggle of his hips. “Yes, sir.”

Setting Braxton on his feet, Xander undressed with one hand while he adjusted the knobs in the shower with the other. Gods, he loved having use of both of his arms again. It made multitasking much easier, and he could get twice as much done. Then he could move on to more pleasurable pursuits.

By the time he’d divested his clothing and set the temperature of the water, Braxton was slinking into the shower, exquisitely and succulently nude. The lean muscles in his thighs flexed with each movement, his pert ass protruded slightly from the slope of his spine, and his soft, creamy skin stretched taut, glistening as the water cascaded over him.

Others would probably consider him biased, and maybe it was true, but Braxton Carmichael was the most stunning man—both inside and out—he’d ever met. Never had Xander known another person who could pull off the mixture of grace and tenacity his mate possessed. Braxton was everything good and right in the world, and by some miracle, he was all Xander’s.

“What are you staring at?” That trademark grin tilted the corners of his lips as he dropped his head down to wet his hair. It wasn’t false modesty, either. The man had no idea how gorgeous he really was, and the humbleness only made him all the more alluring.

Utterly enchanted with the temptation just feet away, Xander sidled into the shower and molded himself to his lover, pressing his hard cock into the small of Braxton’s back. He mapped each curve and dip, sliding his palms over Braxton’s slick flesh as though it was his first time exploring the tightly packed body.

Walking his fingers down Braxton’s flanks, he cupped the swell of his hips and jerked him back, grinding against him as he swirled his tongue over the pulsing vein on the side of his neck. Using his right foot, he tapped at Braxton’s ankles, encouraging him to spread his legs wider as he reached between