GENRE: Gay Paranormal Mystery Spicy Romance
LENGTH: 36,096 words
RATING:

What is Wyn to do when he can't find his five-year-old daughter Celyn because she and her mother Marianne have disappeared with Marianne's new boyfriend? He hires a detective.

The detective is Christoph Andreu, owner of Andreu Detection Agency. What few people know is that Christoph is a vampire, thus his definitely strange working hours. Wyn knows, however, but his need to find Celyn overrides the few concerns he might have that Christoph is more than human.

Christoph was willing to take Wyn's case. More than willing when two men attack Wyn, believing he knows where to find Marianne's new lover. Despite the fact Christoph abhors physical violence; he deals with the men to save Wyn.

Christoph finds himself drawn to Wyn, especially when he learns the man is not as straight Christoph believes, given the circumstances. In fact, Wyn is bi, which he readily admits. Bi, and drawn to the power and raw sexuality Christoph emits. As their search for Celyn intensifies, so does their immediate attraction for each other.

Can Christoph find Wyn's missing daughter? And how will the two men handle their becoming lovers in spite of the fact Christoph is a vampire and Wyn isn't?

EXCERPT:
Note: may contain sexually explicit scenes of a homoerotic nature.

Wyn was halfway to the lot next door when he got the weirdest feeling that he was being watched. He started to turn in an attempt to find out if he was crazy or not then decided if he did, and if someone was watching him, they'd know he was on to them. He picked up his pace, though; glad to reach the entrance to the lot. Aside from the fact he was only a few steps from his car, it also gave him a reason to turn and glance around. The only people he saw, other than the normal pedestrians on their way to one of several local restaurants, were two men standing outside the club across the street. They were leaning against the wall, smoking and talking. From their postures he was quite certain one of them had picked the other up at the club and they were trying to decide whether to go back inside or on to where one of them lived. He'd been there and done that, on nights when he wasn't ready to go home and face Marianne.

I cared for her. I wouldn't have lived with her if I didn't. But there were times when I need something else. He was bi, unrepentantly so, and she knew it. He supposed it was at least part of the reason she'd decided to dump him and hook up with Paul who was as straight as they came and homophobic as well. Something he hadn't mentioned to Christoph.

He was about to continue on to his car when the two men started across the street in his direction. Did they make up their minds to go home together and their cars are here? He would have accepted that as the explanation if it wasn't for the fact they were looking directly at him and taller one slid his hand inside his jacket.

"We need to talk to you, Mr. Meyrick," the taller man said as they got closer.

Swallowing hard, Wyn retorted, "I don't need to talk to you," then spun around, dashing for his car, praying they wouldn't shoot with other people around.

He barely got the door open when they were on him, the taller man pushing him against the rear door while the other one slammed the open door shut.

"We're looking for someone and we think you know where to find them," the taller man said, pulling out a gun which he pressed against Wyn's side.

"Who?" Wyn managed to ask.

"The guy calls himself Paul Evans. The woman is supposedly his wife," the second man said, showing him a photo. "Recognize them?"

Wyn sucked in a shocked breath. The woman was definitely Marianne and the man was the one she called Paul. "Unless you're stupid you know ..." He didn't get to finish because someone grabbed the taller man's arm, twisting the gun from his hand before slamming his wrist against the top of the car so hard that Wyn could hear bones break seconds before the man screamed in pain. A knee to his groin lifted the man off his feet momentarily before he fell to the ground and passed out.

The other man tried to run but Wyn's savior stopped him with a well-placed kick to the back of his knee followed by a blow to his temple which knocked him down and out.

"I do hate violence," Christoph said, obviously appalled that it had been necessary. "Sometimes however there's no other recourse." He put his hands on Wyn's shoulders, looking at him with concern. "How are you doing?"

"Scared shitless if you want to know the truth."

"I'm not surprised. Guns will do that to a person when they're the target. What did they want?"

"You didn't ...? Okay, I guess you got here a second too late, but right on time, too. They were asking if I knew a guy called Paul Evans and his wife. They showed me a photo of him and Marianne." Wyn saw it on the ground and pointed.

Christoph picked it up by one corner and to Wyn's surprise, put it in a plastic evidence bag he took from his pocket. "Good thing I was passing by when they decided to confront you."

"By accident?" Wyn asked, feeling it might not have been.

With a shrug, Christoph replied, "I saw them from my office window when they spotted you. Decided they might not be up to any good unless they were looking for a third bed partner, which was definitely doubtful. So I figured I should come down and see what they did have in mind."

Wyn had stopped shaking by then, and managed to say, "I bet you didn't take the elevator."

"Nope, too slow. Took the window exit and made a short flight over here. Not to worry, if you were going to, no one would have seen it happen." He took Wyn's elbow, starting to steer him toward the street, saying, "I think you need a good stiff drink right now."

Wyn didn't disagree but he resisted long enough to ask, "What about them?" nodding toward his fallen attackers.

"Your car is hiding them from anyone walking by," Christoph pointed out. "Still, if you're worried about it ..." He went over to the men, grabbed the collars of their jackets, and unceremoniously dragged them into the alley.

Wyn followed and saw him heave them into an open Dumpster. If he hadn't known what Christoph was he'd have been amazed at his strength. As it was, he said with a trace of amusement, "Putting out the trash?"

"Indeed," Christoph replied. "Now, about that drink."