Stormy Glenn Forever Mate Mikhail Jace.PDF

Forever Mate: Mikhail & Jace Mikhail Kyryap knew the sexy little blond was his forever mate the moment he stepped inside the roadside bar with his friends. Convincing the human of that might prove to be harder than leading an entire pride of tiger shifters. Jace is the most stubborn man Mikhail has ever dealt with. Jace Marrok was one step away from being labeled loose by his friends when he followed a handsome stranger into the utility closet for a little fun. He just can’t seem to resist Mikhail, not even when the man shifts in front of him and Jace learns that he has been mated against his will. Deciding whether to believe the sexy alpha when he says it was instinctual might be harder than staying alive when others in Mikhail’s pride take exception to him mating a human. When they are attacked, Jace has to choose between staying with a man he is quickly falling for or getting his friends and running for his life. Genre: Alternative (M/M or F/F), Contemporary, Paranormal, Shape-shifter Length: 28,344 words

FOREVER MATE: MIKHAIL & JACE Stormy Glenn EVERLASTING CLASSIC MANLOVE Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK IMPRINT: Everlasting Classic ManLove FOREVER MATE: MIKHAIL & JACE Copyright © 2014 by Stormy Glenn E-book ISBN: 978-1-63258-056-6 First E-book Publication: July 2014 Cover design by Ash Arceneaux All art and logo copyright © 2014 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. PUBLISHER Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

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FOREVER MATE: MIKHAIL & JACE STORMY GLENN Copyright © 2014 Chapter One “It’s just a bar, Liam. They can’t keep us out.” “You think not?” Liam laughed nervously. “We’re in redneck hell, Jace. Not only can they keep us out, they can tar and feather us.” Jace Marrok rolled his eyes when Liam glanced behind him at their friend, Bay. “That is what they do in these backwater towns, isn’t it? Tar and feather people?” Bay snorted. “Normal people, maybe. Queers like us?” Bay shook his head. “They string us up, and like, throw lawn darts at us or something.” “Oh please,” Jace replied. “This is a public place. We have as much right to be here as anyone else.” “Honey, I hate to break this to you but we’re not anyone else.” Bay chuckled. “We’re loud, flaming, flamboyant queens. Hell, the eyeliner on Rue’s face alone could get our asses kicked.” Jace frowned. Rue blushed. “Jace, honey, if someone looked up gay in the dictionary,” Bay said as he gestured to all of them, “they’d find a picture of us.” “We’re not that bad,” Jace insisted.

8 Stormy Glenn “Jace, what color is my shirt?” Bay asked as he plucked at the silky material with his fingers. “Azure blue, why?” “And Liam’s?” Bay continued. “Chartreuse.” “Uh-huh,” Bay said, “and what type of piercing does Rue have?” Jace glanced back at Rue, grinning. “Guiche.” “Honey, face it, we’re gay!” Jace laughed at the blush creeping up Rue’s face again. Bay was probably right. Rue did wear a lot of eyeliner. Still, they had as much right as anyone else to be in this bar, even if they were clearly gay. And, unless someone was blind and deaf, they were all clearly gay. They talked gay, they walked gay, and they looked gay. Hell, they probably even smelled gay. They were the stereotypical gay men. Loud, bright colors, makeup and piercings, even the effeminate body movements, they had it all, in spades. Christ, two of the four of them had little sequined purses under their arms. “Okay, so we’re gay. So what? That doesn’t mean we don’t have as much right to be here as anyone else,” Jace said as grabbed the door handle to the bar. “Besides, maybe we can teach those hicks a things or two about fashion and makeup.” Jace was laughing as he opened the bar door and took a step inside. He came to a screeching halt at the scene before him. Bay, Liam, and Rue plowed into him from behind. Jace’s laughter slowly died away. In this instance, he might be wrong about where they could be. He was looking at a sea of rough, muscle-bound, jean-clad, cowboy-boot-wearing, beer-drinking rednecks. They were everywhere, as far as the eye could see. And more than one of them were drool worthy. Most, if not all of them, had beers in their hands. A few men sat around booths on the back wall of the room. Several were playing pool. There were even a few men that seemed to be just hanging out

Forever Mate: Mikhail & Jace 9 at the bar. Loud country music could be heard…well, almost everywhere. It was really loud. The place basically looked like every backwoods bar that Jace had ever envisioned—pool tables, beer and peanuts, country music, and rednecks. And Jace couldn’t see a gay man in the bunch. Jace grinned mischievously. This could be fun. He didn’t much care that the four of them stood out like warts on a thumb. Jace wasn’t ashamed of the fact that he was gay or that he loved men. He didn’t care if his demeanor made some people uncomfortable. He was who he was and he wasn’t going to change that for anyone, not even a room full of rednecks. “Come on in, boys.” Jace giggled “There’s eye candy as far as the mascara-wearing eye can see.” Jace strolled across the room to the bar putting a little extra sway in his hips, not that he really needed any. He could feel the stares of several sets of eyes following his progress across the room, hear the soft nervous chuckle from Bay behind him. A wide smile plastered on his face, Jace just kept going. “Can I get four beers, please?” Jace asked when he reached the bar. The bartender gave Jace a long look as if he were measuring him. Jace figured he must have come to some sort of conclusion when the bartender nodded and pulled out four bottled beers, setting them on the wooden bar top. “That’ll be eight dollars.” Jace pulled the money out of his pocket and laid it on the bar before reaching for the beer bottles. He handed one to each of his friends, taking the last one for himself. His eyebrow lifted and he cast a look at Bay when he saw the beer cap. Bay just shrugged. It wasn’t a screw top, but it wasn’t a cork either. Somehow, though, Jace doubted that they had wine in this bar.

10 Stormy Glenn Trying to seem like he knew what he was doing, Jace grabbed the bottle opener off the bar and popped the top on his beer. He handed the small metal gadget over to Bay and took a long drink of his beer. Jace coughed a bit, the beer burning a little as it went down. It was cold, he’d give the bartender that. Tasted like crap, but it was cold. God, he hated beer. Maybe he should have asked for water. Jace let his eyes wander around the bar. He wasn’t sure if he was looking for potential threats or for potential invitations. There were several men in his immediate vicinity that Jace wouldn’t mind getting to know better, but the curious and guarded looks on their faces told him that they were not potential invitations. They were looking at Jace and his friends like they had just stepped out of a circus. Jace had seen it before. He knew that they were freaky-looking to people that weren’t used to them. He just didn’t much care, beyond not getting his ass kicked. So what if he liked to wear matching socks with his patent leather shoes? So what if he knew how to make Duck à l’Orange? So what if he liked sucking cock? That didn’t mean he wasn’t human. Just because he was in touch with his inner fem wasn’t a reason to beat him up or call him hateful names. “Let’s go find a place to sit,” Jace said as he spotted an empty booth across the room. He headed that way, knowing that Bay, Liam, and Rue would be fast on his heels. If nothing else, they stuck together through thick and thin. They were best friends, the four of them. Having met in high school, they had quickly formed a friendship that had lasted all through their formative years in high school and on through college, where they had roomed together, to today, where all four of them owned and operated a computer security firm. “Jace?” Liam whispered. “Maybe we should go before we get our asses handed to us.” “Don’t be ridiculous,” Jace replied, waving his hand in a dismissive gesture. “We’re not hurting anyone. If they can’t deal with

Forever Mate: Mikhail & Jace 11 us then they are obviously not the big bad rednecks I thought they were.” Jace chuckled. “Don’t tell me you think that these guys are afraid of us?” “No,” Liam said. Jace could hear the nervousness in Liam’s voice. “I don’t think they’re afraid of us at all. I can’t say the same about me, though. I’m shaking in boots here, Jace.” “Yes, but you’re shaking in Prada boots, honey. That has to mean something.” Jace waited for Liam to sit down and then slid into the booth beside him. Bay and Rue sat down across from them. They looked as nervous as hell. “Ah, hell, just ignore them and let’s have a good time.” Bay snorted. “You said that the last time we ended up in one of these backwater bars. Remember that? We barely got out of there with our virtues intact.” Jace burst out laughing. “What virtue?” He lifted his beer and took another long drink, his eyes moving about the room as he did. A sudden flash of dark emerald green caught Jace’s eye as he looked past the pool table. Glancing around, he found a set of green eyes staring right back at him. Jace was mesmerized in an instant, both by the deep-green color and the glint of interest shining in them. Jace swallowed hard past the lump in his throat. Hot damn! So, they did build drool-worthy rednecks in the backwoods. The man leaned low over the pool table, his gaze never wavering from Jace’s. The smoldering flame in those eyes was enough to make Jace reach under the table and adjust the suddenly throbbing cock in his pants. His eyes widened when the man smirked, winked at him, then looked down to take his shot, breaking their eye contact. Jace felt almost abandoned. He wanted to experience that intense connection again. He just had to figure out how to accomplish it.

12 Stormy Glenn Maybe there was something redeeming in this backwoods redneck bar after all.

Forever Mate: Mikhail & Jace 13 Chapter Two “I claim the blond,” Mikhail said casually as he straightened up and watched his ball shoot across the pool table before sinking right where he wanted it to go. “Redhead,” Yuri stated. “Brunette,” Zus added. “Guess that about solves it then,” Stefan said. “I claim the little black-haired one.” “Well, that was relatively simple.” Mikhail chuckled. He glanced back at the table where the four men sat, grinning when he saw the blond watching him intently. This could be a lot of fun and certainly more entertaining than a game of pool. “Any ideas?” Yuri asked. “We could throw them over our shoulders and just carry them out.” Zus shrugged. “It’s not like anyone is going to try to stop us.” “That’s probably not a wise idea, Zus.” Mikhail was greatly amused by the image that idea gave him. He’d love to go all caveman on the little ash-blond, throw him over his shoulder and carry him away to be ravished. “Although, we can always save that for a last resort.” “Buy them a drink?” Yuri asked. Mikhail shook his head, dismissing that idea. “Too predictable.” “Ask them to dance?” Yuri asked. “Too dangerous.” Mikhail gestured to the other patrons in the bar. “The locals would rebel.” “Well hell, Mikhail, what do you want us to do?” Zus griped. “Send up smoke signals?”

14 Stormy Glenn “Just let me think for a moment,” Mikhail responded. He folded his hands over the top of the pool cue, resting his chin on his knuckles. To any that looked at him, Mikhail seemed to be watching the pool game. Only his brothers knew his entire attention was on the blond across the room. Mikhail suddenly stood up straighter and handed his pool cue to Stefan. “I’m going to the men’s room,” he said simply. “Don’t make a move until I get back unless it’s life or death or the they start to leave.” Once his brothers nodded, Mikhail walked across the room to the small hallway that led to the men’s room, winking at the blond as he passed him. He stopped just as he got around the corner and waited. Not ten seconds after he walked into the hallway, the little blond came sprinting around the corner. Mikhail grabbed him. He covered the man’s mouth with his hand and pulled him into the small utility closet off to one side of the men’s room. Mikhail quickly closed the door behind him and leaned back against it to keep any outsiders, well, out. He removed his hand from the blond’s mouth, noting the trace of fear he could see in the man’s deep baby-blue eyes. “Are you going to beat me up? Because if you are I’d like a little warning first,” the man said as he plucked at the fabric of his soft white shirt. “This is silk, and I’d really prefer not to get blood stains on it. They’re a real bitch to get out.” Seriously? Mikhail raised his eyebrow as he crossed his arms over his chest. “If I’m going to hit you do you really think I’d be polite enough to give you notice first?” The man shrugged. He looked decidedly nervous. “It’s worth a shot.” Mikhail could almost feel the eyes assessing him for potential danger. “So, are you?” “Am I what?” Mikhail could barely control his laughter when the man rolled his eyes. He could almost see the words in the man’s head telling him to

Forever Mate: Mikhail & Jace 15 pay attention to the conversation. “Are you going to beat me up?” he asked. “No.” “So, what do you want?” “The same thing you wanted when you followed me in here, beautiful.” “Oh,” the man replied, and then a slow, sexy grin crossed his mouth, showing off his perfect white teeth. “Oohhh.” Mikhail knew the man got it. Or at least, he was going to the minute Mikhail got him out of his clothes. He grabbed the man by his arms and pulled him flush against his body. He cupped the side of the blond’s face, his other hand anchoring the man to him by his slim hip. “Do you have a name, little one, or should I just continue to call you ‘beautiful’?” The soft flush that filled the man’s face was fascinating but not half as much as the way he suddenly licked his full lips. “Jace Marrok,” he mumbled. “But I like ‘beautiful,’ too.” “I am Mikhail Sebastian Ivananova Andrei Kугуар,” Mikhail replied. “That’s a mouthful.” Mikhail smirked as he rubbed his thumb across the man’s plush lips. “It could be for most people, but somehow I think you can handle it.” Jace’s brow peaked, sending a shot of lust straight to Mikhail’s cock. He growled and wrapped his fingers around the back of Jace’s neck to hold the man’s head still as he lowered his lips to his. Jace’s lips were just as warm and lush as they had looked across the room. And the man responded to Mikhail’s possessive kiss like a dream. His entire body melted against Mikhail’s even as his mouth opened up and accepted Mikhail’s dominance. Mikhail trailed his hand from Jace’s neck down his back until both of his hands could grab the tight ass he had seen walk across the

16 Stormy Glenn bar when Jace first came in. He squeezed each rounded globe in his hands before lifting Jace up higher against his body. Jace wrapped his legs around Mikhail’s waist. Their hard cocks mashed together. The small whimper that fell from Jace’s mouth inflamed Mikhail. He wanted to hear that sound again and again and discover what other sounds Jace could make. Mikhail broke away from Jace’s lips so that they could both breathe. Instead, they traveled along Jace’s jawline. Mikhail groaned when Jace arched his head back, baring his neck to Mikhail’s questing lips. He turned around and pressed Jace’s slim body against the door. Every move the man made was fanning the flames of desires burning inside of Mikhail. He had desired a lot of men in his lifetime, but none had made him feel nearly mindless with lust. “Shirt off,” Mikhail ordered. He knew his voice sounded husky and rough by the way that Jace’s eyes widened before he reached for the buttons of his shirt. Mikhail held his breath as he waited for the glorious chest he just knew was waiting under the silky fabric. He wasn’t disappointed. Mikhail’s tongue nearly fell out of his mouth as Jace dropped his shirt on the floor. Jace was a slim man, but what muscles he did have were nicely defined. He sported sexy pecs with pale-brown nipples and a rippled abdomen. A small sun tattoo encircled his belly button, just asking to be licked, which is exactly what Mikhail did. Lifting Jace up in his arms, he leaned in and swirled his tongue around the small, colored tattoo. Jace squirmed in his arms and his hands clenched in Mikhail’s hair. Mikhail heard the soft moan that came from Jace. He felt the way Jace’s stomach muscles contracted. “Fuck, man, you…you…” Jace groaned. Mikhail swatted Jace on the butt and glared up at him. “Such a pretty little mouth shouldn’t have such ugly things coming out of it. I have much better things for you to do with those lips.”

Forever Mate: Mikhail & Jace 17 Jace looked confused as if he were in a fog and didn’t quite know what was going on. Mikhail decided to let Jace’s swearing pass for now. It was always something he could fix later. Right now, he wanted nothing more than to sink his cock into the fine little ass in his hands. “Do you like these pants, beautiful?” “Uh, yeah?” Mikhail lowered Jace’s feet to the floor but kept close contact between them. “Then I suggest that you get rid of them before I do. I doubt I’ll be nice about it.” Jace’s eyes widened but his hands quickly went to the buttons of his tight leather pants. Within seconds, Jace’s shoes and pants lay in a pile on the floor. Mikhail groaned. When he called Jace, beautiful he had no idea how right he was. The man was glorious. He quickly unbuttoned his faded jeans and parted the material until his cock bounced up, slapping against his abdomen. He raised an eyebrow at Jace’s quiet gasp, liking the way the man stared at him with hunger in his eyes. Mikhail knew he was well endowed. He just hoped Jace’s smaller body could take him. Mikhail wrapped his hands under the man’s hips and lifted him back up, pressing the man back against the wall. The pressure building in his body felt like it would explode any moment. He wanted to explode inside of the little man. “I’m going to take you now, beautiful,” Mikhail said as he used his hands to part man’s cheeks, sliding his aching cock between them until it caught on the small quivering cleft there. “Are you ready for me?” The hitch in Jace’s breathing made Mikhail growl with satisfaction. He wasn’t massive, but he wasn’t small either. He had no doubt that he could give the little man in his arms a good ride.

18 Stormy Glenn Mikhail rubbed the head of his cock over Jace’s entrance until the natural lubrication leaking from his cock eased his way and he slowly began to slide in. The shocked gasp from Jace made Mikhail grin. “Something wrong, pretty?” “Lu–lube,” Jace whispered, “we need lube…a–a–and a condom.” “No need, beautiful,” Mikhail replied as he pushed in a few more inches. “I can’t give you anything, and we have plenty of lube.” He grinned. His pre cum acted as a lubricant. Something in it would loosen his lover up and ease the way for him. “Can’t you feel it?” Jace’s eyes dominated his delicate face as he nodded. “Ho–how?” Mikhail slid in the last little bit until he was fully seated inside of Jace. He wanted to explain to the man about the natural lubrication his body produced that eased the way for mating, but the pleasure of being inside the man overwhelmed him. He leaned forward and licked the side of Jace’s neck in the exact spot he’d sink his teeth into the moment he came. Jace tasted wonderful, sweet and spicy. It was a taste he hoped to have explode across his tongue on a daily basis. At the moment though, there was a whole hell of a lot of naked flesh waiting for him to taste. Mikhail nibbled and licked at every inch of exposed skin he could reach. He could feel Jace’s heart race under his tongue and knew the man’s passion rivaled his own. That was a good thing in Mikhail’s estimation. Mikhail moved, pumping his hips as he thrust into Jace then slowly pulled out, drawing a long wail of pleasure out of Jace. It merely spurred him on, causing him to drive faster into the tight grasp of the man destined to be his for the rest of his days. Each sound that escaped Jace’s mouth increased Mikhail’s level or arousal until he couldn’t control himself anymore. A sense of urgency drove him. The anticipation of the coming bond with Jace consumed him.

Forever Mate: Mikhail & Jace 19 Flames of uncontrolled lust licked at Mikhail, burned him. Jace cried louder. Mikhail thrust harder. His balls drew up tight against his body heralding his imminent climax. Mikhail cast one last look into Jace’s deep-blue eyes. “Mine,” he growled. “Say it.” “Yes, yes, yours,” Jace wailed as he filled the space between them with his release. Jace’s inner muscles clamped down on Mikhail’s cock as he came, dragging Mikhail over the edge with him. Mikhail had just enough time to sink his teeth into the soft skin between Jace’s neck and shoulder before he erupted, filling his mate with his seed and binding them together forever.

20 Stormy Glenn Chapter Three Jace’s body sagged as Mikhail gently lowered his feet to the floor. He wasn’t sure he had enough strength left to stand. Mikhail took care of that by holding him up, a strong arm wrapped around Jace’s waist. Jace leaned his head back against the door and gazed up at the man that had just fucked him within an inch of his life. Jace hadn’t had that many sexual partners in his life, but no one had ever made him feel the level of ecstasy that Mikhail had. The man was simply amazing. “How are you feeling, baby?” Jace groaned happily and leaned into the hand cupped around his cheek, his eyes slipping closed. “I feel great.” Mikhail chuckled. “Good.” Jace opened his eyes a moment later when he felt Mikhail lips press against his. Good gods, this man was gorgeous. Jace couldn’t for the life of him figure out why a man that looked like Mikhail would be interested in someone like him. Mikhail looked like everything every man wanted to be and every woman dreamed of having. From the top of his tousled brown hair to the bottoms of his cowboy boots and every tight muscle in between, Mikhail screamed raw, masculine male. He was the dominant male species right down to his toenails. The sexual vibes the man gave off could make the pope drool. Jace certainly had a hard time keeping himself from drooling every time he looked at the man. Jace suddenly felt self-conscious standing there completely naked. Mikhail stood over him, his pants unbuttoned and his wet cock

Forever Mate: Mikhail & Jace 21 hanging out. Looking down at the drops of cum dripping of the gorgeous head of Mikhail’s cock, a sudden horrifying thought struck Jace’s. He lifted his head and stared at Mikhail in horror. “We—we didn’t use a condom.” “No need to, baby,” Mikhail replied as he wiped up, placed his cock back into his pants, and buttoned them up. Jace sputtered. “Wha–what do you mean we don’t need to? Everyone should always use a condom when having sex unless they’re in a monogamous relationship, and we’re not. We just fucking met.” Jace yelped when Mikhail grabbed him and slammed him back against the door, cupping his jaw. It hadn’t hurt, just surprised him. Jace’s heart pounded in his chest as he looked up at Mikhail, the possessive glint in the man’s dark-green eyes making him tremble. “We are in a monogamous relationship, Jace, from this moment on,” Mikhail snarled in a low and menacing tone that made Jace shiver. “You will never touch another man. You belong to me now.” Jace’s hand shook as he patted Mikhail’s shoulder, hoping to calm the big man. Truthfully, Jace was about ready to pee his pants. Mikhail scared the crap out of him. Jace vowed to run the first chance he got. There was no way he would stick around with some guy that thought he was a piece of property to be owned. Been there, done that, didn’t like it much. Jace knew he was cute, but he wasn’t a doll to be kept on a shelf, taken down to be played with when his latest fling decided to have some fun. “Okay, whatever you say.” Jace’s breath slowly returned to normal as Mikhail lowered him back to the ground and handed him his clothes. He quickly pulled them on, grateful to be covered once again. He didn’t want to do anything to set Mikhail off again.

22 Stormy Glenn True, the sex had been out of this world, but it hadn’t been so good that he would be willing to give up his freedom for a controlling boyfriend. Jace had no problem with monogamy. He preferred it in fact. He just didn’t like slavery that much, which is exactly where he knew things with Mikhail were headed. He’d seen it before. It started out as a need to be monogamous. Then the questions started. Where was he going? Who was he seeing? Those were followed by the requests to drop this friend or that, not go to this place or that place. And then came the demands. What came after the demands wasn’t even worth thinking about. It was too painful. For now, Jace knew he had to play along until he could get the other guys together and slip away. He wasn’t about to leave without his friends. Jace had seen the other men hanging with Mikhail. His friends could very well be in as much trouble as Jace. “So,” Jace said as he tucked his shirt into his slacks, “what now?” “Now I take you back out to the other room and introduce you to my brothers.” “Okay.” Jace felt no surprise when Mikhail grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the utility closet. He knew the big man wouldn’t want to let go of him. He’d just have to wait until Mikhail’s guard was down before he could leave. As they walked back into the main room of the bar, Jace’s heart plummeted. He couldn’t see a single one of his friends. Their booth was empty. “Uh, do you know where my friends went?” “The men you were sitting with?” Mikhail asked, glancing down at him. Jace nodded. “How do you know them?” Jace shrugged. He’d expected the question. It was the beginning. “We’ve known each other since high school,” he said as he repeated

Forever Mate: Mikhail & Jace 23 the words he had on numerous occasions. “Once we graduated from college, we opened a business together.” “You’re not in a relationship with any of them?” Jace smirked. He could practically choreograph this conversation. “Not like you mean. I don’t fuck other men when I’m in a relationship.” Jace was suddenly jerked into Mikhail’s arms. He felt a hand cup the side of his face. Brilliant green eyes blinked down at him. “Good to know,” Mikhail said softly. “I’d hate to have to tell you that you couldn’t be friends with them anymore.” “Oh, that tears it,” Jace said. He pulled away from Mikhail, absently noting the man’s stunned expression as he took enough steps back to be out of his reach. “I’m sure you’re a great guy. You certainly fuck like a dream, but that in no way that gives you the right to tell who I can be friends with.” Mikhail growled, baring his teeth. Jace rolled his eyes. “There’s nothing you can do to me that hasn’t been done already, big boy. I’ve been beat up by the best of them. And I absolutely refuse to have anything to do with anyone that thinks they can own me.” Jace took a few steps further away from Mikhail. He could see the rage brimming in the man’s eyes, but he just couldn’t seem to make his mouth stop moving. A personality defect he had been fighting most of his life. “You, gorgeous, can go fuck yourself because you certainly won’t be fucking me again,” Jace snapped. “No man is worth this shit.” Jace was quite proud of the exit he made as he spat out the last of his words, twirled around, and walked away, heading quickly toward the exit. He was already reaching for his cell phone to call the others by the time he reached the door. A large white blur jumped in front of Jace before he could grab the door handle. He fell back, landing hard on his ass. He started to sit

24 Stormy Glenn up, rubbing his sore butt, when the white blur suddenly took shape and Jace found himself nose to nose with a huge white tiger. Or was it a lion? A jaguar? Jace wasn’t sure and he didn’t much care. He just knew it was huge and it looked hungry. “Nice kitty,” Jace whispered, afraid to move, to even breathe. The nice big kitty licked Jace’s nose. “Oh hell, I’m going to die,” Jace squeaked. The nice big kitty licked his nose again. Jace tried scooting away from the cat, but it simply crawled across the floor after him. Jace slowly reached up and patted the cat’s head. “Nice kitty,” he said again. He scooted back a little more. “Stay, kitty.” The cat tilted his head to one side as if he could actually understand Jace’s words. Jace could feel the adrenaline running through his body brought on by the fear he felt. His palms sweated. His heart thundered in his chest. The lump of fear in his throat threatened to block his airway. The cat grinned. Jace swore he did, and its mouth was full of really big, sharp-looking teeth. Any sound Jace would have made died in his throat as the huge cat crawled up close to Jace and licked his nose again, then his cheek and his throat. Jace felt like the large feline was tasting his flesh for flavor. He was sure to be the cat’s next big meal. He squeezed his eyes shut and leaned his head back. “Please don’t eat me,” Jace whispered. He waited for the bite, knowing he would feel unimaginable pain shoot through his body, but it never came. Jace cracked one eye open then the other. His mouth dropped open then snapped shut. He couldn’t voice the thoughts racing through his head. He’d sound like a moron. He had to be hallucinating. Maybe someone had slipped him something. It seemed to be the only explanation.

Forever Mate: Mikhail & Jace 25 A large white cat no longer sat before him. Mikhail did, and he was gazing back at Jace with something that Jace normally would have thought of as sadness. But why Mikhail had anything to be sad about, Jace didn’t know. Thinking of the cat again, Jace looked quickly around the bar. He noticed that the bar was empty except for the bartender, but he saw no cat in sight. He glanced back at Mikhail, hoping he might have some answers. “What just happened?” Jace asked. He couldn’t keep his voice from trembling. “Where did the cat go?” The wind suddenly whipped wildly around Mikhail. A bright shining light blinded Jace. He raised his arm in front of his eyes to protect them. When the light lessened, Jace lowered his arm, only to find the large cat sitting where Mikhail sat moments before. “Oh hell, I am hallucinating.” The cat got up and stalked forward. Jace leaned back until he lay with his back on the floor, the large cat standing over the top of him. The cat leaned down and licked Jace’s face again. The light flashed again. Jace blinked away the sudden spots in front of his eyes. When his vision cleared, Mikhail leaned over the top of him right where the cat had been. Jace shook his head. The thoughts starting to roll through his head just didn’t make sense. But Mikhail nodded as if he knew what Jace thought. “Not possible.” “Not only possible, baby,” Mikhail replied, “but definite.” “You’re a shifter.” Jace had heard of them. Everyone had. Shifters came out to the world over fifty years ago. Jace had just never seen one in person, just on television. But he was fascinated nonetheless. Mikhail nodded. “I am.” “How?” That part always intrigued Jace. He wanted to know how a shifter was a shifter. “Are you willing stick around to find out?”