Here is an excerpt from my latest book ‘To Claim a Mate’
The scent hit Cole
the moment he walked into the club. It
wasn’t the usual smells of sweat, lust, and sex common in these venues. No,
something tantalizing and provocative, instead.
And it appealed to
the wolf inside him.
He shook his head
as his instinct started telling him the scent was something special. No, it couldn’t be… Narrowing his eyes
in the dark haze of the entrance, Cole let his vision focus into hunting mode,
trying to weed out human from wolf, for it was the smell of his own kind he
sensed. He found it hard as the Wolfsbane pill he’d swallowed worked quickly.
Contrary to popular myth, Wolfsbane did not kill a shifter. Although intensely
toxic to humans, it did keep the animal in him at bay.
It was extremely
unusual for him to find another wolf in the city, let alone at the club. And,
yet, it was more than that. Some primal instinct called to him.
This was the scent
of a mate. Somehow it didn’t matter it wasn’t female. It was his soulmate.
Cole’s heart
started beating quicker in anticipation,
and he strode forward, drawn deeper into the club.
Andy was still
there, though. Notwithstanding his augmented animal senses, Cole had almost
forgotten about him. The club’s owner got right to the point—diplomacy the
least of his attributes. “I think it’s time you contracted a new sub, man. It’s
been, what, six months since your last full-time guy?”
The club owner was
right. Cole had only ‘played’ with unattached subs lately having little desire
for the effort a contracted sub meant—the last one had got too close to finding
out Cole’s inner animal. Now his brain—or his wolf—yelled there was only one
contract for him. His mate’s.
But where was he?
Cole needed to get
away from Andy and track down the alluring aroma. “Sounds good. I’ll take a
turn around the rooms and see if I can track down any likely partner.” In more ways than one.
Annoyingly, Andy
followed him into the next room. The club was split into several sections for
those wanting to experience different activities—one just had chains hanging
from the ceiling and a wall of whips. Only one couple at a time took turns
there as this gave the Master space to wield a long-tailed
implement like a bullwhip without hitting anyone else. To protect any viewers,
transparent screens closed it off.
The couple in
residence were a long-time Master and slave.
“Ahh. Those two,”
said Andy with a sigh. “Great to watch. Jordan will never part with Keiron, though.”
Cole had a
fondness for a whip, although Dominance was his forte. He could use the whips,
or, indeed, other tools, in any number of ways including drawing erections from
the subs and getting them to wait for their climax. It was similar to making a
beta wolf await his attention.
They walked
through another room with padded benches and a wall of paddles. Cole glanced
around the room, but he knew the person he wanted wasn’t there.
Andy grabbed his
arm as he started to walk on. Cole nearly snarled. The scent was preventing the
Wolfsbane working and he had to work hard to hold his animal in check.
“Not so quick. Now
Christian over there, is looking for a new Master.”
Irritated by the
break in his quest, Cole looked in the direction Andy indicated. He had seen
this tall blond before. Not his type at all. Human or otherwise, he preferred
them small and dark haired.
“Nope. Not
interested.”
Moving on, Cole
was drawn into a room which had a cross in each corner of the room with plenty
of space to wield the equipment. The walls were covered with floggers of
varying types, although nothing stopped a Dominant using an implement from
another section.
Cole halted. He’s here.
The scent was at
its strongest, practically dragging him toward a slender man in his late
twenties, with brown hair the color of hazelnuts. The sub was in the process of
being tied face up against a cross on the far side. His chest was bare and
sleek, and he wore skin-tight jeans.
The Dom wanted to
rip the man’s clothes off and devour him on the spot. So intent was he on
reaching his prey, he nearly missed the Master who had finished tying the
submissive and came around to inspect the restraints, standing directly between
Cole and the object of his hunt.
Stopping in his
tracks, Cole’s hackles began to rise. A possessive instinct rose in him to
fight off his rival. Except there were rules in BDSM and it didn’t include
tearing out the throat of another Master.
Andy caught up with him and saw him staring. “Who have you
found? Oh, this is Master Dirk. Jared is the sub he is playing with.”
Cole took a moment
to calm his inner wolf, unclenching his fists before he triggered his claws.
His voice was raspy as he asked, “Are they new? I don’t recall seeing either of
them here before.” Actually, he couldn’t care less about this new Master. He
only had eyes for Jared.
He didn’t hear
Andy’s answer, because, at that moment, he caught the gaze of the bound man.
Tangible electricity crossed the room and hit Cole like a silver bullet,
slamming into his heart, nearly causing him to change into his wolf in front of
everyone. It took everything he knew about Dominance to keep hold of his human
side and push down his animal half.
Meanwhile, the
submissive’s eyes opened wide in shock,
and he bit his lip. Cole’s keen wolf eyesight could detect Jared’s fierce
trembling, as he tightly gripped the ropes that held him. Cole willed him to
hold on and not transform in front of everyone as the two shared a look of
instant attraction, desperate need, and the desire to have sex.
And yet it was
more than that. So much more—an inner knowledge, assurance one has finally
found one’s other half, and didn’t even
know one was looking.
Taking a deep
breath, Cole narrowed his eyes as he gazed on Jared, drinking in the beautiful
sight before him.
He gave a slight
smile of acknowledgment.
Oh yes, this is my mate. And woe betide
anyone who comes between us.
Every year Chelsea Flower Show comes on the TV and I say, "Damn. I meant to go this year."
