Beauty and Bad Blood: Hunters Hollow, Book 2
M/M Paranormal Romance | Romantic Suspense | Fated Mates | HEA
87K + Words
87K + Words
Available to Read with Kindle Unlimited
When a young woman turns up dead on the banks of the river with half her blood missing, vampires are the obvious suspects. Rogue Masters, however, doesn’t think the case is all that open and shut. As a special agent for the MOA Intelligence Division, it’s his job to find the truth. To do that, the last thing he needs is distractions.
So, of course, the most tempting distraction he’s ever seen strolls through the door of the local bakery, not just flipping the script, but rewriting it completely.
Stuck in a rut and drowning in his own insignificance, Dylan Murray needs a change. For starters, he needs to make a clean break from his selfish and demanding mother. It’s also probably a good time to swear off men, at least until he can get his life back on track. Spending some time in Hunters Hollow with his best friend is exactly what he needs to turn things around. The small town is quiet, a little boring, and completely free of the drama that plagued him in the city.
Now, if he can just stop thinking about a certain sexy vampire with penetrating eyes and a devilish smile, everything would be perfect.
Navigating the ups and downs of any new relationship is challenging. Doing so while searching for a killer will test more than just their commitment. When the worst happens, and Dylan joins the list of humans to mysteriously vanish from the French Quarter, Rogue will do whatever it takes to get his new mate back safely.
Even if that means becoming the very monster he’s meant to be hunting.
So, of course, the most tempting distraction he’s ever seen strolls through the door of the local bakery, not just flipping the script, but rewriting it completely.
Stuck in a rut and drowning in his own insignificance, Dylan Murray needs a change. For starters, he needs to make a clean break from his selfish and demanding mother. It’s also probably a good time to swear off men, at least until he can get his life back on track. Spending some time in Hunters Hollow with his best friend is exactly what he needs to turn things around. The small town is quiet, a little boring, and completely free of the drama that plagued him in the city.
Now, if he can just stop thinking about a certain sexy vampire with penetrating eyes and a devilish smile, everything would be perfect.
Navigating the ups and downs of any new relationship is challenging. Doing so while searching for a killer will test more than just their commitment. When the worst happens, and Dylan joins the list of humans to mysteriously vanish from the French Quarter, Rogue will do whatever it takes to get his new mate back safely.
Even if that means becoming the very monster he’s meant to be hunting.
Excerpt
Dressed in a pair of painted-on jeans with artful rips across the thighs and a black, see-through shirt that shimmered in the light, he looked like a wet dream come to life. On the other hand, he could have come out of his room in a pair of faded pajamas with his hair tousled, and he still would have been worth the wait.
Dylan looked him up and down, his lips pulled down at the corners. “Is this okay? Should I change?” He took a step back and held his arms out to the sides. “This is what I’d normally wear to the club, but now, I feel underdressed.” Dropping his arms, he dipped his head toward Rogue. “You look amazing.”
“So do you.” Under different circumstances, he wouldn’t have chosen something so buttoned-up to wear to a nightclub. This night, however, he had a role to play, a certain image to project. “Don’t change. You’re gorgeous just like that.”
Gods, he was beautiful. Not cute like some of the twinks who had frequented the clubs in Miami. Not pretty like the boys who were always patrolling for a sugar daddy. Dylan exuded conventional masculinity, but with just enough softness to push every one of Rogue’s buttons.
Like the way he ducked his head to hide the sweet blush that stained his cheeks from the compliment. It was such a contradiction to the capable, confident male Rogue knew him to be, and he had to resist the urge to reach out and pull him into his arms.
“Well,” Dylan muttered, “if you’re sure…”
“I’m sure.”
Lifting his head, he sent Rogue a dazzling smile that had probably broken dozens of hearts. “Then, I guess we should probably get going.”
“Oh, let me get a picture!” Braeden whipped his head one way, then the other, searching both the kitchen and the living room.
“No,” Dylan answered sternly. “No pictures. This isn’t fucking senior prom.”
“Fine.” Braeden huffed, and he tried to scowl, but the twitch of his mouth gave him away. “Have fun. Make good choices. Be careful and call me if you need anything.”
Dylan’s expression relaxed as he pulled his friend into a one-armed hug. “Relax, B. Everything is going to be fine.” He jerked his head toward the side. “Have you seen the size of him? Who’s going to pick a fight with me while he’s there?”
Though Rogue knew he’d only said it to ease Braeden’s worry, Dylan had no idea how right he was. Rogue would rain blood over the entire French Quarter before he let anything happen to his date.
Even if he didn’t understand why he felt that way.
“I see your point,” Braeden agreed, but he didn’t sound mollified. “Still, just be careful, okay?”
“Cross my heart.” With a smacking kiss to his temple, Dylan released him and turned to Rogue. “Ready?”
Fuck…that smile. A deep ache throbbed between Rogue’s thighs, his cock swelling to push against his zipper. If he stood now, there would be no way to hide it, but then again, he wasn’t entirely sure that he wanted to.
Rising from the barstool, he enjoyed the way Dylan’s eyes tracked his every move. He knew the instant that devouring gaze landed on the bulge in his slacks because Dylan’s eyes widened, and that alluring blush returned to his cheeks.
He thanked every fucking deity he could remember that he’d called for a donor before leaving the hotel.
“Shall we?” He held his hand out, his fingers relaxed, and waited to see what the male would do.
Dylan’s hesitation lasted barely a heartbeat before he pressed his palm against Rogue’s and squeezed. The words that accompanied the confident move, however, were entirely unexpected.
“I’m nervous.”
Well aware of their audience and giving absolutely zero fucks, Rogue tugged Dylan closer and cradled the back of his neck. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
“I know.” His gaze dropped to Rogue’s mouth, and his tongue darted out to wet his bottom lip. “That’s not why I’m nervous.”
Dylan looked him up and down, his lips pulled down at the corners. “Is this okay? Should I change?” He took a step back and held his arms out to the sides. “This is what I’d normally wear to the club, but now, I feel underdressed.” Dropping his arms, he dipped his head toward Rogue. “You look amazing.”
“So do you.” Under different circumstances, he wouldn’t have chosen something so buttoned-up to wear to a nightclub. This night, however, he had a role to play, a certain image to project. “Don’t change. You’re gorgeous just like that.”
Gods, he was beautiful. Not cute like some of the twinks who had frequented the clubs in Miami. Not pretty like the boys who were always patrolling for a sugar daddy. Dylan exuded conventional masculinity, but with just enough softness to push every one of Rogue’s buttons.
Like the way he ducked his head to hide the sweet blush that stained his cheeks from the compliment. It was such a contradiction to the capable, confident male Rogue knew him to be, and he had to resist the urge to reach out and pull him into his arms.
“Well,” Dylan muttered, “if you’re sure…”
“I’m sure.”
Lifting his head, he sent Rogue a dazzling smile that had probably broken dozens of hearts. “Then, I guess we should probably get going.”
“Oh, let me get a picture!” Braeden whipped his head one way, then the other, searching both the kitchen and the living room.
“No,” Dylan answered sternly. “No pictures. This isn’t fucking senior prom.”
“Fine.” Braeden huffed, and he tried to scowl, but the twitch of his mouth gave him away. “Have fun. Make good choices. Be careful and call me if you need anything.”
Dylan’s expression relaxed as he pulled his friend into a one-armed hug. “Relax, B. Everything is going to be fine.” He jerked his head toward the side. “Have you seen the size of him? Who’s going to pick a fight with me while he’s there?”
Though Rogue knew he’d only said it to ease Braeden’s worry, Dylan had no idea how right he was. Rogue would rain blood over the entire French Quarter before he let anything happen to his date.
Even if he didn’t understand why he felt that way.
“I see your point,” Braeden agreed, but he didn’t sound mollified. “Still, just be careful, okay?”
“Cross my heart.” With a smacking kiss to his temple, Dylan released him and turned to Rogue. “Ready?”
Fuck…that smile. A deep ache throbbed between Rogue’s thighs, his cock swelling to push against his zipper. If he stood now, there would be no way to hide it, but then again, he wasn’t entirely sure that he wanted to.
Rising from the barstool, he enjoyed the way Dylan’s eyes tracked his every move. He knew the instant that devouring gaze landed on the bulge in his slacks because Dylan’s eyes widened, and that alluring blush returned to his cheeks.
He thanked every fucking deity he could remember that he’d called for a donor before leaving the hotel.
“Shall we?” He held his hand out, his fingers relaxed, and waited to see what the male would do.
Dylan’s hesitation lasted barely a heartbeat before he pressed his palm against Rogue’s and squeezed. The words that accompanied the confident move, however, were entirely unexpected.
“I’m nervous.”
Well aware of their audience and giving absolutely zero fucks, Rogue tugged Dylan closer and cradled the back of his neck. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
“I know.” His gaze dropped to Rogue’s mouth, and his tongue darted out to wet his bottom lip. “That’s not why I’m nervous.”