Attracting Anthony (6 page)

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Attracting Anthony/Amber Kell

kept in a collar or not.

"Because
he
is a grown man," Anthony said, sitting back down and flipping through paperwork. "Now about

your property. I still think the price is a little steep, what's

your final offer?"

"It's yours," Alesandro interrupted. "In exchange for better relations with the werekin."

"Is there bad relations between you?" Anthony

didn't really know anything about the relationship between

different paranormal communities, except for the fae where

he knew more than he wanted.

"There is always a bit of discord when paranormals

share territory."

"What he means is we share but don't like each

other," Darian said with a growl.

"If you could put in a good word with the alpha it

might help ease tensions," Alesandro agreed.

Anthony thought it over then shook his head. "No.

I'll give you a fair price. My relationship with Silver is new

enough I don't want to start out with him owing anyone."

Alesandro nodded. "Fair enough." His eyes lit with

curiosity when he asked, "How new is your relationship?"

"It started yesterday."

"That
is
new."

Anthony shrugged. "Now if you gentlemen will be

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Attracting Anthony/Amber Kell

seated we can finish our negotiations."

The rest of the meeting went smoothly; the vamps

were willing to go down to his price. After all, if they were

willing to give it to him for free why not let him have it for

whatever price he mentioned. He wasn't fooled. He knew

they hoped he would put in a good word for Silver despite

what he'd said. Anthony didn't take it personally; it was

good business. Because on the other end, if they screwed

him over the wolves would report back to Silver and they'd

get in trouble anyway.

He shook the vampire's hand as they sealed the

deal. Satisfied with their transaction, Anthony decided to

mention an idea he had. Alessandro seemed likeable for a

vampire; polite, calm, and didn't let a little thing like

growling pack mates bother him. You had to admire a man

who could negotiate under pressure.

"I was wondering if you'd be interested in a

proposition," he said leaning back in his chair.

"What kind of proposition," the vampire asked,

mirroring Anthony's casual stance.

"I'm looking for a vampire consultant."

"What would I be consulting on?" Alesandro leaned

forward, his expression cool but interested.

"My new hotel, the one I'm building on your old

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Attracting Anthony/Amber Kell

property, is going to be a paranormals only hotel. I'd like to

have specialized rooms for different types of paras. I

obviously have werekin I can ask about their

accommodation preferences, but no vamps. Would you be

interested in being on my board?"

"What would I have to do?"

Anthony shrugged. "Answer my questions when I

call, draft a preliminary list of vampire needs so I can

design rooms accordingly, and be available to give me

feedback. Almost all of which can be done remotely."

"I'll do it," Alesandro announced. "With the caveat that I can always stay at the hotel free of charge."

Anthony smiled, "You have yourself a deal."

The men shook on it, ignoring the werewolves growling at

the contact.

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Attracting Anthony/Amber Kell

Chapter Five

The ringing of the telephone woke Anthony from a

deep sleep. The past few weeks he'd been staying late at the

office trying to finalize plans for his hotel. Stumbling to

bed in the early hours didn't make him happy to hear his

phone ringing before noon.

Steven's too cheerful voice yelled in his ear.

"Wakey, wakey, pretty man."

"Someone had best be dying," Anthony growled.

He hated, positively hated, waking up, especially when he

was dreaming of hot sex with a certain dark-haired wolf.

Steven laughed across the line. "Not yet, but Silver

threatened me if I don't have you there tonight."

It had been exactly one week since his run-in with

the gorgeous alpha wolf. A week of hot dreams where they

fucked like bunnies before sleeping entwined like long-

time lovers. He woke each morning with spunk on his

chest, panting like he'd finished a marathon of sex. He'd

only seen the werewolf two other times because of

scheduling and, frankly, he was scared. It was one thing to

enjoy some hot dominant loving, but with Silver he was

certain the man could become his whole world. After losing

Drew he didn't think he could go through that again.

What if he fell in love and the alpha wolf died?

Losing Drew almost killed him. He knew losing Silver

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Attracting Anthony/Amber Kell

would finish the job. Although they were harder to kill than

a regular human, werekin weren't bulletproof.

"I don't know, Steven," he stalled.

"I can't believe you have the hottest guy in town

panting after you and you have to think about it." There

was a bite to Steven's voice, reminding Anthony his friend

was still looking for his mate. For the first time he

wondered if the other wolf had his eye on the alpha.

"Did I interrupt your plans?" he asked cautiously.

"Did you have your sights on him?" Steven was his closest friend. He would never take someone his best friend had

designs on but he didn't think Silver would take a substitute

now. The alpha was fixated on him, and was even

interested before he saw beneath the disguise. That was the

one thing Anthony clung to. Silver wanted him before he

knew what Anthony really looked like. His looks had

always been a barrier in the past where men only wanted

something pretty on their arm, not someone who could

think for himself. Anthony might like to be overpowered in

the bedroom but he wasn't a brainless puppet waiting for

someone to tell him to wipe his butt.

Steven's voice pulled him back into the

conversation. "Honey, everyone has their sights on him.

You were just lucky enough to be the one he wants."

"I just can't, Steven." He couldn't explain to his best

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Attracting Anthony/Amber Kell

friend how much he wanted to be Silver's mate, but fear

held him back. Loss was not something he could go

through again.

"What did that fucker do to you Tony?" Steven's

voice hardened. "If he hurt you, alpha or not, I'll kick his

ass."

Anthony smiled at his friend's protective tone.

Despite knowing all of his secrets, Steven still thought to

look out for him. "I'm scared. I can't go through losing

another one."

The burst of laughter from the other end of the

phone was the final straw after a week of long work hours,

worrying over a new relationship, and reliving the loss of

his previous lover over and over in his mind.

"Fuck you," Anthony shouted, slamming down the

phone.

The phone rang a minute later.

He was an idiot for answering but he did it anyway;

Steven was too good a friend to ignore. Besides, the bastard

would just show up at his doorstep if he didn't answer the

phone.

"I wasn't laughing at you."

"It felt like it," he sulked, not so eager to forgive

and forget.

"Werekin are very difficult to kill. Fuck, I don't

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Attracting Anthony/Amber Kell

even think we can get sick. Have you ever known me to be

ill?"

"No." Anthony had to admit, Steven was never sick

a day in his life, of course he wasn't either, but that was for

different reasons. "But you could get shot or something."

It was a weak argument but it was all he could think

of. He couldn't make his lover bulletproof and it wasn't

unusual for hunters to try to take them out.

A long sigh came over the phone. "Stop making

excuses and go talk to Silver. He'll be able to help you with

your fears."

"Fine, but don't laugh at me again or I'll set your ass

on fire."

"Yes, sir." Steven's tone was amused, but they both

knew he could do it. Only half of his blood was forest

witch, the rest was far more dangerous.

* * * *

In the privacy of his office Silver paced back and

forth. He didn't want anyone else to see his nerves. He'd

never live it down if his pack saw he was a jumbled mess

over one little human, or not-so-human. Curiosity about his

lover's genetics bubbled up, causing Silver to start

wondering what his lover could do with his abilities.

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Attracting Anthony/Amber Kell

Anthony was surprisingly quiet about his powers. Silver

wasn't worried; his mate would tell him everything when he

was ready.

If Steven did his job his mate would return tonight.

Silver might be unwilling to pressure his mate, but he had

no ethical problems forcing Anthony's friend to do the

work for him. He gave Steven an ultimatum. Either

produce his mate or have his membership revoked. When it

came to getting his mate, Silver had no problems being a

bastard.

"He's here Silver," Farro said from the doorway.

"And he's loaded for bear. You'd best get down there before

someone poaches your boy."

Farro jumped to one side as Silver stormed out the

door. "Anyone who poaches my boy won't live to regret it,"

he growled. How dare they think to touch what was his. A

small voice in the back of his mind reminded him that he

had yet to place a collar around his lover. That was

something he was going to fix right now. No one was going

to think his man was available a moment longer. He

wondered if there was any way he could get Anthony to

always wear a disguise. Not that it would fool a werekin,

but it might help them look elsewhere if he didn't walk

around looking like every gay man's wet dream. Hell, he

could probably convert some straight guys.

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Attracting Anthony/Amber Kell

Determined to rescue his mate Silver marched

through the hall, bursting into the club. Scanning the

crowds, his heart skipped a beat when he saw his beautiful

man surrounded by the biggest predators in the club. Only

two of the group were human.

Anthony stood sleek and beautiful in a silver mesh

shirt and tight black leather pants. Silver bemoaned the

covering of that fine chest with its sweet nipples while

feeling a flash of possessive pleasure that the others didn't

get to view all that glorious golden skin. Without the

suppression spell, Anthony's skin took on a glittery hue,

making him wonder if all of his mate's magical abilities

came from his witch mother. He made a mental note to ask

the beauty for more information about his paternal line.

Silver leapt to the dance floor, blithely shoving

away a vampire who had an arm wrapped around his baby.

"Hey, man," the vampire said, but when turned and

saw it was Silver he slunk away.

Anthony looked up and Silver fell into the adoring

look in the other man's gaze. Damn he was stunning.

"I missed you, baby," he admitted before taking

Anthony's mouth in a possessive kiss, staking his claim to

any who cared to look. Everyone there would know this

man was taken, even if he had to have it tattooed on

Anthony's forehead. Hmmm, he wondered if he could get

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Attracting Anthony/Amber Kell

away with that.

When he finally lifted his mouth, he was pleased by

the dazed expression in his mate's caramel eyes. "Did you

miss me?" he asked in a low purr.

"Y-yeah." Anthony stammered. His eyes were

unfocused, his pupils blown with lust, and his lush mouth

swollen from Silver's kiss. He'd never seen the man look

better.

He couldn't stop the pleased smile on his face. He

had reduced his baby to a stutter. He felt like a god.

"So, Silver, you going to share your new find?" He

turned to face the speaker. Aslic, a vampire he'd shared

many a bottom boy with in the past, was watching Anthony

with a hungry expression in his icy blue eyes. If he was fair

he couldn't blame the vamp. It wasn't as if they didn't have

a history, but this was his man and Silver barely checked

his wolf from taking over and ripping out the man's throat.

Only centuries of being friends saved the vamp's life.

Leaning forward he whispered into the Aslic's ear. "If you

ever touch my boy I will rip out your heart and eat it for

breakfast."

The words were a solemn vow, and from the flash

of fear in Aslic's eyes he knew it. Satisfied the vampire

would spread the word Silver wrapped an arm around his

boy and led him from the room.

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Attracting Anthony/Amber Kell

"One of these days we should actually dance at your

dance club," Anthony teased, following Silver's lead with a

smooth, slinky step that inflamed his lust and made his