Xenuria stopped, tensing. He couldn’t see much, but he knew for sure he was not alone in the hall.

He wheeled around and pulled the figure out of a doorway, grabbing it by the throat, forcing the body into the wall. Too late, he realized it was a male and the high-pitched gasp shamed him. He immediately eased up on his grip, but he didn’t let him go.

Good lord, he was a gorgeous.

“Who are you?” he demanded. “What are you doing here?”

There was no answer, just quick breathing. he was utterly terrified of him, the smell of his fear like woodsmoke in his nose.

He softened his voice. “I’m not going to hurt you. But you don’t belong here and I want to know your name.”

The skin under his palm was warm, soft. The throat was slender, the blood racing through the veins running up from his heart. his hair was a dark, rich brown, falling over his shoulders.

“My name is Kyle . I’m here with a friend.”

Xenuria stopped breathing. His heart skipped a beat and then slowed.

“Say that again,” he whispered.

“Ah, my name is Kyle Aparthos . I’m a friend of Bella’s...”

Xenuria shivered, a balmy rush breaking out all over his skin. The musical lilt of his voice, the rhythm in his speech, the sound of his words spread through him, calmed him, comforted him.

Chained him sweetly.

He closed his eyes. “Say something else.”

“What?” he asked, obviously confused.

“Talk. Talk to me. I want to hear your voice again.”

he was silent, and he was about to beg his to speak, when he said, “You don’t look well.

Do you need a doctor?”

He found himself swaying. The words didn’t matter so much, it was his tone. Low, soft, a quiet brushing in his ears. He felt as if he were being stroked on the inside of his skin.

“More,” he said, twisting his palm around to the front of his neck so he could feel the vibrations in his throat better.

“Could you... could you please let go of me?’

“No.” He put his other hand up on his collar bone so he couldn’t get away from him. “Talk.”

he started to struggle. “You’re crowding me.”

“I know. Talk.”

“Oh, for God’s sake, what do you want me to say?”

Even exasperated, his voice was beautiful.

“Anything.”

“Fine. Get your hand off my throat and let me go or I’m going to knee you where it counts.”

He laughed.

Then put his lower body against his, trapping his with his thighs and hips. he stiffened against him, but he got an ample feel of his. he was built lean, but he had no doubt he was a tantalizing male.

Kyle's pecs hit his chest, his hips cushioned his, his stomach was soft.

“Keep talking,” he said in his ear. God, he smelled good. Clean. Fresh. Like lemon.

he pushed against him and he leaned his full weight into him. his breath came out in a rush.

“Please,” he murmured.

“Since you won’t let me go, I have nothing to say.”

He smiled, careful to keep his mouth closed. There was no sense showing off his tongue yet. “So say that.”

“What?”

“Nothing. Say nothing. Over and over and over again. Do it.”

he bristled, the scent of fear replaced by a sharp spice, like fresh, pungent mint from a garden. he was annoyed now.

“Fine. Nothing. Nothing.” Suddenly, he laughed and the sound shot right through to his spine, burning him. “Nothing, nothing. No-thing. No-thing. Noooooothing. There, is that good enough for you? Will you let me go now?”

“No.”

he fought against him so more, creating a delicious friction between their bodies.

And he knew the moment when his anxiety and irritation turned to something hot. He smelled his arousal, a lovely sweetening in the air. His body answered his call, his hips moving in a circle, rubbing against him.

He was hard as a diamond.

his hands flattened on his waist and slowly slid around to his back, as if he were unsure why he was responding to him the way he was. He arched against him and felt his palms move up his spine.

Xenuria growled low in his throat and dropped his head down so his ear was next to his mouth. He wanted to give him another word to say, something like luscious or whisper or strawberry.

Hell, antidisestablishmentarianism would do it.

The effect he had on him was drug-like, a tantalizing combination of sexual need and profound ease. Like he was having an orgasm and falling into a peaceful sleep at the same time. It was like nothing he’d ever felt before.

A chill shot through him, sucking out the warmth in his body.

He snapped his head back as he thought about the warning Vicious had given him.

“Are you a virgin?” Xenuria demanded.

“I beg your pardon. What kind of question is that?” he shoved hard against his body.

Anxiety tightened his hand on his collar bone. “Have you ever been taken by a male? Answer the question.”

his lovely voice turned high, frightened. “Yes. Yes, I’ve had... a lover.”

Disappointment loosened his grip. But relief was right on its heels.

All things considered, he wasn’t sure he needed to meet his destiny this ten minutes.

Besides, even if he wasn’t his fate, this male was extraordinary... something special.