RELEASE
BLITZ
Author:
L.C. Davis
Publisher:
Self-Published
Cover
Artist: Wolf Conan
Release
Date: October 11
Genre/s:
M/M Romance, hurt/comfort MPREG with a HEA
Length:
approx. 37k words
It
is a standalone story, but is the first in the Great Plains Shifters
series (the same universe as The Mountain Shifters).
Blurb
Falling
for his deceased twin brother’s mate was never part of Dustin’s
plan.
This
midwestern Alpha might be a little rough around the edges, but he
lives by a few simple principles and honor is chief among them.
Nonetheless,
when tragedy strikes the Meadowlands Pack, Dustin feels he has no
choice but to bring his twin’s mate home to take care of him. The
only problem is, Caleb isn’t anything like Dustin expected of the
city omega who stole his brother’s heart and divided their family.
What
starts out as trying to do the right thing soon becomes a blurry
series of complicated decisions that lead Dustin further away from
the path he’s always followed—and further into the arms of the
one omega he was never supposed to want.
Caleb
has been through the worst a mated omega could fear. He’s lost his
mate and their unborn child, and now he finds himself at the mercy of
an Alpha who has every reason to hate him.
Despite
being twins, Dustin and Caleb’s former mate, Alec, are nothing
alike. Caleb wants nothing more than to please his new Alpha and
secure his position in the pack, but Dustin seems to take everything
he says the wrong way.
As
forbidden tensions mount between Alpha and omega, Caleb begins to
fear that Dustin will start taking his developing interest the right
way.
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Excerpt
When
Dustin finally made it home, he got two steps through the door before
he caught the scent of something heavenly. He followed it to the
kitchen to find Caleb cooking dinner alone. Usually when Dustin came
home, Caleb and Ariel were talking while they folded laundry or in
the kitchen cooking together. The omegas his pack had taken in were
now inseparable friends, as he’d hoped.
On
the one hand, Dustin was relieved that Caleb finally had company. On
the other, he sorely missed being alone with the omega, as bad of an
idea as it was to indulge. When Caleb turned around and noticed him,
he realized he needed to do something besides gawk like a complete
weirdo.
“Hi,”
Caleb said softly.
“Hi.”
Dustin cleared his throat. “Making dinner? Whatever it is smells
great.”
“It’ll
be ready soon,” Caleb said sheepishly. Dustin noticed for the first
time that the table was set for two. “Your mom went out with
friends and Zander took Ariel to a doctor’s appointment, so it’s
just us. I hope that’s okay.”
Of
course it was okay. It was better than okay, but Dustin wasn’t
about to risk saying that out loud. “Sure,” he said, taking the
heavy serving dish out of Caleb’s hands to place it on the table.
“Can I help?”
“I’m
all set, but thanks. I just need to get the bread out of the oven,”
he said, pulling on his oven mitts.
Dustin
didn’t look away quite soon enough when the omega bent over to pull
the freshly baked bread out of the oven. He pulled out Caleb’s
chair before sitting down and taking a sip of his wine. He wasn’t
usually much of a drinker, aside from a beer or two when he was out
with friends, but this was a special occasion.
“So,”
he began, “how’s Ariel settling in?”
“As
well as she can, all things considered. She misses her mate and the
city, but she really likes the pack,” Caleb replied. “And it’s
nice to have company.”
“Sorry
I haven’t been around much,” said Dustin, feeling even guiltier.
It wasn’t Caleb’s fault the Alpha was a terrible person and
couldn’t keep his thoughts from drifting when he was around his own
deceased brother’s mate.
“You’re
an Alpha. I assume being busy is part of the job description,”
Caleb said with a smile that made Dustin’s heart beat like a
hummingbird’s wings.
“Yeah,”
he said with a stiff laugh. At this rate, if he couldn’t overcome
his obsession with Caleb, maybe his awkwardness would at least turn
the omega off of him forever. “That’s true.”
“So,
have you heard anything from Futurus?”
“A
rep called today, actually. I told them they can take it up with
Ariel’s lawyer,” he muttered, taking a bite of the steak dinner
Caleb had prepared. It was incredible, but that was no surprise.
Everything the omega did was perfect.
“She
has one?” Caleb asked, blinking.
“Well,
no. But I’m hoping by the time Elan comes back, I can convince him
to take her case before Futurus calls my bluff.”
Caleb
shook his head. “You’re really something, you know that?”
“You
disapprove of my methods?” Dustin teased.
“Not
at all. It’s just impressive, that’s all. How you’re willing to
go to bat for someone you barely even know. Then there’s everything
you’ve done for me.”
“I
haven’t really done anything. I’m the one who’s benefitted from
you being around here.”
“That’s
sweet of you to say,” Caleb murmured. His cheeks flushed, and the
sight made Dustin want things he had no business even thinking about.
Namely, he wanted to give the omega even more reason to blush.
“I’m
not just saying it. It’s true. Ever since you came here, the house
feels different. Lighter.” He took another bite and swallowed
without chewing, just to give himself an excuse to think before he
said too much. “I’m glad you’re here, is what I’m trying to
say.”
For
a moment, Caleb fell silent. Dustin looked up and found the omega
watching him. He told himself he was reading into things, that the
look he found in Caleb’s eyes just couldn’t be what his heart
wanted to believe it was. Wanting the same need, the same desire he
felt to be there in Caleb’s gaze was so incredibly wrong, and yet…
Before
either of them could say a word, Dustin realized what was happening.
It was the subtle chemical shift he’d only ever felt a few times in
his life, before he’d gained the control required to shut it off.
It was like a switch in his mind had flipped. The typical response of
an Alpha to an omega in heat.
Of
course, Dustin had known it was coming. Caleb was no longer mated, or
at least, not in any way nature felt compelled to recognize. When an
unmated Alpha and omega were sharing such close quarters, it was
inevitable. It was the main reason Dustin had been so careful about
keeping his distance, but the fact that it had happened so soon was
proof he didn’t want
to
want that Caleb at least somewhat returned his feelings.
“I…”
The omega’s breath caught in his throat. He stood from the table
suddenly, his hands trembling. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know this
would happen so soon —“
Dustin
only realized when the omega’s panicked apology cut off abruptly
that he’d taken Caleb’s hand in a poorly thought out attempt to
comfort him. “You don’t have anything to apologize for,” he
said, pulling his hand back to his side. “I’ll go.”
“No.
Don’t be silly, it’s your house.”
“Are
you sure?” he asked warily. The idea of staying in the same house,
knowing Caleb was in heat and having to constantly remind his wolf
that there wasn’t a damn thing he could do to ease it seemed
intolerable, but less so than the idea of leaving the omega alone. He
knew his pack was safe, and if he’d had an inkling that there was a
single Alpha within its borders who wasn’t
safe
to leave around an omega in heat, they would have been out on their
ass a long time ago, but his possessive instincts had already kicked
in full force.
“I’m
sure,” said Caleb, his gaze lowering slowly. Dustin followed it to
where the omega’s hand had come to rest on his chest, his touch so
hot it felt like a hole was about to burn through his shirt. Heat was
more than just figurative.
The
omega seemed to realize what he was doing at the same moment and
jerked his hand back. “I—I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t
be. Please.” Dustin’s voice came out husky as he tried to keep
his gaze in check. God, the omega was beautiful. He always was, but
it was impossible for Dustin to look away from him now. “Is there
anything I can do?”
The
way Caleb’s eyes widened made him realize how that must have
sounded. There was plenty he wanted
to
do, but he’d never disrespect Caleb by offering it.
“That’s
really not what I meant,” he said apologetically. “I just want
you to be comfortable, so if there’s anything I can get you…”
Caleb
shook his head slowly. His face was flushed, but it was hard to tell
if that was from the embarrassment or the heat. Maybe both. “That’s
sweet, but…” He trailed off and his Adam’s apple bobbed. “Would
you stay? I just don’t want to be alone.”
Dustin
had never wanted to accept an offer that badly, but his last shred of
decency held him back. “I want to. I just don’t know if that’s
the best idea.”
“No,”
Caleb agreed, biting his lip as he looked away. His neck was exposed
for the first time and Dustin felt the knife twist in deeper when he
realized Alec’s mark had faded completely. “No, it probably
isn’t.”
“Maybe
we could just…watch something,” Dustin offered, grasping
desperately for any idea that would allow him to stay and comfort
Caleb without screwing everything up.
“That
sounds good,” Caleb said eagerly.
Dustin
wound up sitting on the other side of the sofa while Caleb surfed the
channels. The Alpha found himself hoping that he wouldn’t pick
anything romantic, but on some level, he knew that it wouldn’t
matter. They could be watching a monster truck derby and he still
would have found the omega as irresistible as he always did.
For
a few minutes, the tactic of distraction seemed to be working. Then
Dustin noticed Caleb tugging at the sleeves of his sweater. The omega
finally pulled it over his head, even though the living room was far
from too warm. Dustin couldn’t take his eyes off Caleb’s neck.
His skin was so smooth, so deliciously flushed with need. No matter
how he tried, Dustin just couldn’t erase the image of his teeth
sinking into that bare flesh…
As
if to save Dustin from himself, Caleb’s hand came up to rub his own
shoulder. He shifted uncomfortably, like his back hurt, and in spite
of himself, Dustin offered, “You want me to give you a massage?”
Caleb
looked up under those dark lashes of his. Dustin was sure he’d
crossed the line. Hell, he wouldn’t have blamed Caleb for slapping
him. Instead, the omega nodded.
Dustin
hadn’t been prepared for Caleb to take him up on his offer, even
though he’d made it in all sincerity. He moved a bit closer, and
the moment his hands made contact with Caleb’s skin, he knew he’d
bitten off more than he could chew. He tried desperately to focus on
the nonsensical plot of the movie, but the more he touched Caleb and
the more he felt the omega’s tight muscles relax under his
attention, the harder it was to think at all.
After
all, some things didn’t require a whole lot of brain power.
Instinct was more than enough. It was reining in those instincts that
posed the real challenge.
The
soft moan that passed Caleb’s lips was the thing that caved Dustin
in all at once. The omega arched his back and leaned into Dustin’s
touch, their pheromones mingling together in perfect harmony, as if
their bodies had already decided how the night was going to go.
“That
feels so good,” Caleb breathed.
“Good,”
Dustin growled. He hoped Caleb would assume he was just hoarse and
not angry, but knowing the Alpha’s voice was just rough with desire
was probably even worse. “You’re tense.”
Caleb
froze and looked over his shoulder. His eyes were dark and heavy with
lust, and if there was any doubt in Dustin’s mind that the
attraction he felt was a two-way street, it was gone now. Caleb
turned slowly, and before Dustin could fully process what he was
doing, the omega had slipped his arms around Dustin’s neck. His
fingertips grazed Dustin's skin, raising goosebumps all over his
flesh.
“I
know this is wrong,” Caleb said, his voice soft and husky but full
of guilt. He wouldn’t meet Dustin’s eyes, which was just as well.
The Alpha knew once he did, all bets were off. He wouldn’t be able
to keep the truth inside any longer. “But I — I’m just so tired
of feeling alone,” he whispered, tears slipping down his cheeks.
“You’re
not alone,” Dustin assured him, stroking Caleb’s cheek. “I know
I haven’t been there for you the way I should have. I’m just so
afraid of making a mistake. Of giving in to the way I feel about you,
and leading us into something we’ll both regret.”
“How
do you feel?” Caleb asked, finally meeting his eyes. His gaze was
searching, needful.
Dustin
swallowed hard. “I think you know by this point. I’m pretty bad
at hiding it, but God knows I’ve tried.”
Caleb
gave him a small, rueful smile. “Maybe I’ve just been afraid to
see it. Afraid that you’ll realize I feel the same way.”
“You
don’t,” Dustin said, coming to himself for a split second. He
hoped it was enough. “You’re in heat.”
Caleb
laughed. It was a soft, regretful sound. “I wish I could blame it
on that. Maybe then I could sleep at night without feeling like such
a horrible person.”
“You’re
not a horrible person.” Dustin’s thumb swept across Caleb’s
lips. They were so soft. How had he gone this long without kissing
them? Without touching him…? “You’re the most beautiful person
I’ve ever met.”
The
omega’s lips found his. This was it. This was the point of no
return. If he crossed that line, if he returned the kiss, it was all
over. He could no longer lay even a technical claim to goodness if he
tasted the forbidden fruit and took more off the vine, but he had
never felt quite as weak—or as strong—as he did with the omega in
his arms.
In
the end, the satin sin of Caleb’s lips brushing against his own was
just too much. Dustin took the omega into his arms and his tongue
slipped in past Caleb’s parted lips, taking the reins of control
the way he’d always wanted. In all his wildest dreams—and Caleb
had been the subject of plenty—he
had never imagined giving in to temptation could taste so sweet.
About
the Author
L.C.
Davis is an M/M romance author with a passion for representation.
Series include The Mountain Shifters, Great Plains Shifters, Kingdom
of Night and Queer Magick.
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