Page 46 of Spooks & Specters

Terry snickered when Axel took another big bite out of his steak burger. “I believe I can educate you on that as well.”

“Now you’re talking!”

“Great, we’ll plan on dinner and a movie then. I’ll come back at seven, and we can decide on what to watch,” Terry suggested. “Is that okay with you?”

“I think I can’t wait. Do I need to do anything?”

“No. I’ll take care of everything.”

Again, there was a time that a sentence like that would have ruffled Axel’s fur. But now? He was glad there was somebody who gave enough of a damntotake care of things for him.

Terry picked up one of the extra napkins, stared at Axel for a moment, then gently wiped a dollop of mayonnaise off Axel’s lip. Axel blinked as Terry slowly lowered the napkin and color once again washed across his face.

That warmth that had fluttered in Axel’s chest earlier? Well, that flutter had just sparked into a small flame. Maybe he and Terry would be just friends. Maybe they would be something more, but Axel was willing to take whatever Terry was willing to offer.

Pain and suffering had shaped Axel into a different wolf. He’d been pieced back together into a jumbled mess, but maybe that wasn’t the worst thing ever. Maybe,maybehe was a better person now. Or maybe he could be eventually.

Axel was torn and tattered, but he’d been given a second chance at life, and this time he was going into it with his eyes wide open.

A Bitter Kiss

~Warning: There is an argument, and one character puts his hands on another in anger.

Chapter One

KIT SERIOUSLY debated going back to his apartment, even as he took the exit that would lead him to his boyfriend’s home, his music blaring.

Navigating through the chaotic traffic of San DeLain was always a challenge, especially during rush hour on a Friday. Cars honked and swerved, their drivers no doubt eager to start their weekend festivities.

The sun beat down on him through the windshield, making him regret not bringing his sunglasses. He anxiously tapped his fingers on the steering wheel.

TGIF bitches, Kit thought bitterly as he tried to keep his focus on the road ahead. Except he wasnotin a TGIF mood. So, of course, some rich dick in a sports car that probably cost more than Kit made in an entire year flipped him off as he cut in front of Kit. As if Kit was the one in the wrong.

Well now, wasn’t that just perfect?

Actually, it kinda was. Kit laughed as he turned up “Short Dick Man” by Gillette that just happened to be playing on the radio. “Right back at you, you dick,” Kit yelled at the top of his lungs, returning the gesture.

The asshole in the cherry red sports car ignored him, which was probably just as well. Road rage was a real thing, and Kit wasn’t in the mood to get shot at today. He wasn’t in the mood for much of anything.

What was that old saying? Oh yeah. There was trouble in paradise. Which fit because there was definitely trouble inparadise. With a heavy sigh, he reached for the volume knob and turned down the radio.

He’d hoped that blasting some upbeat music would lift his spirits, but instead it just grated on his nerves. Everything seemed to be getting under his skin lately, not just the obnoxious assholes in flashy sports cars.

A quick glance at the dash showed it was only five thirty. All he wanted to do was go home, have a glass of wine, take a hot bath, and go to bed. Instead, he was on his way to Don’s. It’d been a long week, and he really wasn’t in the mood for drama. Here lately, that seemed to be all his personal life consisted of.

He and his boyfriend, Don, had been dating for several months now. Maybe dating was too kind of a word. That insinuated there was something more between them than just fucking, and Kit was pretty sure there wasn’t. Anything between them, that was.

The sex has started off smoking hot, but that was about all they had going for them. And now even that was becoming problematic. The first time they’d met had been in Kit’s store, The Book Spot. His bookstore catered to the LGBTQIA+ community and was very obvious about it.

Don had stopped in while Kit had been on the floor saying goodbye to the crowd who’d shown up for the Drag Queen Story Hour. It was a children’s event first started by author and activist Michelle Tea in San Francisco with the goal of promoting reading and diversity.

Kit had taken the idea and implemented it at his bookstore. There had been some trouble, of course, but nothing too bad, thank goodness. Needless to say, story time had been a hit. He’d never been sure if Don had just happened to show up as the event was winding down or if he’d been there for a reason. Nevertheless, they’d met, and there’d been a spark.

Unfortunately, that spark started to flicker the more they got to know each other. Kit had been dressed pretty conservatively—for him—the day they’d met. In other words, he’d been wearing his favorite red pantsuit.

The first bump in the road appeared when Don had showed up as a surprise to take Kit out for lunch one day, and Kit had been in a skirt and heels. The second problem was Don finding out Kit liked silky, lacy underwear—very feminine silky, lacy underwear.

Why was it every guy he met seemed to have a problem with that?

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