We are so stoked to be bringing you all new books from our TSU series. We have some major news and updates coming soon. Until then, please enjoy the first chapter of Let It Ride!
Until next time, keep reading!
TL and Michele
Chapter 1
The week of the Greek Shifter Games...
Fuck, he’s beautiful.
Tate stared at Victor Lorenz across the room from him at the gala for the Greek Shifter Games. He'd been invited by his cousins, and he couldn't say no if it meant being closer to Victor. He'd been lusting after the junior since the moment he'd caught him dressed up in a toga showing off all of that muscular sun-kissed flesh of his. He also didn't stand a chance with the man.
Tate didn't let it stop him though. He heard from a few people around campus Victor had a thing for athletes and Tate happened to fill the bill. His parents would have paid for his tuition if need be, but, like Bodhi, he'd received a full-ride scholarship because of his soccer skills. As a freshman, he was leading the pack for the first-team All-American and would be playing on a homegrown team in the off-season. He hadn't told his parents yet, because he'd only received the invitation earlier in the day.
Tomorrow I’ll tell them.
Tonight, he had plans.
Tate crossed the dance floor. His determined strides ate up the distance between him and the object of his lust. Of course, his attraction could be a futile one. Victor might be straight or had a partner, or worse yet a mate. In all his fishing for information, Tate hadn’t asked the important questions. Still, those questions should be asked in person, instead of dredged up in a conversation with someone other than said person.
He, on the other hand, didn't have much experience. No, he wasn't a virgin per se. He'd had sex a few times, who hadn't? Estrus. Full moon. Shifters' sex drives were always wound tight, so getting away with being a virgin in a pack/pride was hard to do. He wondered more than a few times how Hayden never had sex before Nico. Then again, after everything she’d been thorough, plus Nico hurting her, Hayden’s situation was a moot point.
Tate, on the other hand, had exactly two partners. A girl his age, who was okay. Her pussy was wet, his dick was hard, however, the experience was underwhelming. The guy was marginally better. He got off harder, but he still felt as though it'd been lacking an extra bit of oomph. So, he didn't try again, which left him in all kinds of knots. Being away from home, he hoped to gain a bit more experience. Quench the urge to fuck and rut through different cycles. Yet in the couple of months since he'd arrived for soccer camp, nothing. He hoped to find the one person who'd complete him as his cousin had.
He glanced over at his cousin, Hayden, and her mate, Nico, and grinned. Finally, they found their peace. For the last few years, he watched both of them struggle. He also saw the budding of his sister’s relationship with two Alphas, Christoph, and Jackson. Whether she knew it or not, she was in for a world of change. Speaking of which, Tate stopped the minute Christoph came up behind Bell, pausing her and Jackson’s dance. He snickered under his breath as the big lion turned her around and kissed her soundly.
Damn it, he wanted that kind of a moment too.
“They make an interesting trio, don’t they?” Victor’s smooth husky voice shot straight to Tate’s groin.
“Yeah, Bell deserves happiness,” Tate replied.
Victor arched one of his perfect black brows. “Oh? You know her?” The corner of his mouth twitched then lifted in a sensual way—or maybe Tate only imagined it did.
“I do,” he answered. “She’s my sister.”
“Oh, isn’t this delicious.” Victor reminded Tate instantly of Blake, Hayden’s second dad. Maybe that’s why he was immediately attracted to Victor. Tate did have a thing for older men and, well, only a stupid person couldn’t see how hot Blake truly was—not that he’d poach or anything. “You must be part of the contingency from Window Rock, I’ve heard so much about.”
Tate blinked, caught off guard by Victor’s knowledge of them. “How did you—”
“I know a lot of things, Tate Dryer,” Victor murmured. “Just like I know you’re number 9 on the soccer team. You’ve already been scouted for the new USL team along with a few others in the MLS. I also know you’re playing for a homegrown team during the Spring term.”
Shit. Word got around fast. But, if he knew who Tate was, how did he not know Bell was his sister? “You should have known Bell was my sister then.”
Victor took a sip of his champagne and shrugged. The graceful movement held Tate momentarily mesmerized. "I have heard of Zoe Dryer, and I assumed Bell would have had dark hair as well, like the both of you."
"We're not blood-related," Tate offered. "Zoe and Bell are fraternal twins. Zoe is like our father, she had dark hair and cauliflower blue eyes. While Bell resembles our mother, blonde hair and sky blue eyes. Me... I was discarded. Our father found me, and my brother Henry then adopted us.” He didn’t know why he was telling Victor about his family life. The guy hadn’t asked for it, yet he’d felt obliged to tell him.
“Interesting.” Victor’s gaze ate up Tate inch by inch. Already Tate’s dick was twitching behind the confines of his slacks, hardening to the point of pain. “I’d heard the pack and pride in Window Rock was filled with diversity. The Alpha and his Co-Alpha are quite formidable.”
Tate’s chest puffed up. “Yes, my father and Kalkin work well together. Both are fair and can be strict when need be.” Victor had pulled more information from him than he’d been able to gain from the man who’d filled his every waking thought. “Enough about me though, what about you?”
“Me, huh?” Victor pressed his hand to his chest. “Did you cross the dance floor to get to know me, Tate?”
“If I said yes?” He cocked a brow, eager to hear Victor’s answer. “Would you indulge me?”
“Oh, honey, you have to buy me dinner first and show me a good time. I’m like a vault and you need the combo.” Victor started away from Tate, depositing his empty glass flute onto a tray before grabbing a full one.
Buy him dinner? Done. Tate didn't care. He'd do whatever it took. The memory of the first time he'd seen Victor had been burned into his mind. They'd passed each other in the cafeteria. Victor had been with a group of guys, one of the frats—he couldn't remember the name off-hand—and Victor laughed. It was loud, full-bodied, and bombastic. His features lit up turning him from handsome to jaw-dropping gorgeous. In an instant Tate's dick went hard, leaving him lightheaded. It clicked then Tate might be into guys more than girls, or maybe it'd been the fact he hadn't met the right one until then.
He stood there next to the bar watching as Victor mingled among the different people who attended the gala. He had a way with people. His charm left all the girls sighing and the guys either jealous or wanting a piece of him for themselves. Tate was in the same boat as those guys, pissing him off even more. Jealousy ripped through his gut, but instead of making another move, he’d stayed rooted in his spot. It wasn’t like him to not go after what he wanted, then again, Victor was a junior, and he was a freshman.
The man was out of Tate’s league.
"Hi Tate," Daisy, fellow freshman and lioness said, pausing beside him. "Are you having a good time?" She was sweet, in the make-his-back-teeth-ache kind of way. If he'd been into girls more she'd be the one he'd enjoy estrus with or the full moon. Unfortunately, she didn't get his blood pounding as Victor had.
“I am,” he answered. “How about you?”
“It’s nice.” She grabbed a cup off the bar and took a sip. “The competition was a bit violent though.”
Ah yes. The shifter games. Because of his soccer schedule, he’d only been present for a couple of the events. From what he witnessed; Daisy had a point. He’d seen how messed up Nico’s face was after the fight. It’d been a good thing he could shift to help heal his broken nose and black eyes. “Very much so.”
“Too bad you couldn’t participate.” She glanced up at him with soft amber eyes. He inhaled and caught the scent of her arousal and hopefulness. “I’m sure you would have been a champion.”
“Thank you for the compliment,” he murmured. “Soccer is my passion though, and we did win our game this past week so there are tradeoffs.”
“Do you enjoy soccer then?”
He closed his eyes. Victor had been so straightforward. There’d be no beating around the bush with him, unless of course, they were jerking each other off, behind said bush. “Very much so.” He faced her then. “Daisy, I think you’re awesome and—”
“Be my first, Tate,” she whispered, her pleading gaze locked on his. “I’m tired of being a virgin.”
Well, shit. Tate rubbed the back of his neck. Not the turn he thought the conversation would go in, though he suspected as much. "Daisy, I can't. As much as I am honored by your request, I have someone already, and I won't betray them." It wasn't a lie, however, it also hadn't been the truth. He wanted Victor. Badly. He wouldn't screw up his chances if he could help it.
“Oh.” She looked down at her feet and nodded. “I’m sorry for being so forward.”
“Nothing to be sorry about. I understand how you feel, and I’ve been in your shoes before too. It’s not fun being on the outside looking in. Trust me though, you want to be with someone who wants you as much as you want them.” Shit, when did he get so fucking wise while also being a dick? The truth was, he hadn’t cared about feelings the couple of times he had sex. His dick had been hard, and his partners were willing. That was all that mattered.
“It really isn’t,” she murmured.
Fuck, he hated being this guy—the guy who turned down a pretty girl willing to have sex with him. He scanned the dance floor and found Victor with a girl on the dance floor. He laughed at something she said, his eyes sparkling in the soft light of the ballroom. Outside looking in, huh? Tate wasn’t giving up on him though.
He’d try again later.
“Have a good night, Daisy,” Tate said, before joining his sisters and cousins at their table. He let out a frustrated breath as he pulled at his tie, loosening the knot. Guilt ate at his gut. He’d never had a woman or girl ask him to take their virginity before. The pressure was a bit overpowering to say the least and stressful too.
“You look like you need alcohol,” Zoe muttered. “Something to knock the shadows out of your eyes.”
“I need to be flogged,” he grunted, pressing the heels of his palms to his eyes. “I can’t believe that just fucking happened.”
“You didn’t break her heart did you?” Hayden arched a brow while staring at him over the rim of her drink. Nico sat to her right, his body relaxed in his chair while his arm was draped across her shoulders.
“You guys saw that?” He groaned. “Fuck my life.”
“Could be groped like Bell was on the dancefloor,” Zoe teased.
If Victor was doing the groping he’d be all for it. “Bell looked like she was having fun.” He shrugged.
"So, what did the girl ask," Nico prodded, tilting his head. The light of the room hit the mark Hayden left on him, and Tate's gut clenched with venomous envy. He wanted to wear the mark of a mate and to be the one to leave the bite behind.
“To be her first.” He sighed scrubbing his face. “Talk about pressure.” He did the right thing. He’d probably told himself a million times since walking away it was for their own good, yet he couldn’t also help but feel a little guilty turning her down.
“Holy fuck,” Alex chuckled. “Talk about Déjà vu.”
Hayden flipped Alex off. “That’s a big ask.”
“Little wolf, I remember you requesting Alex for a little help in that department too last weekend.” Nico nuzzled her neck. “I also understand how frustrating it must be to see everyone around her enjoying themselves, and she hasn’t experienced the highs of sex.”
Nico was...prolific in Window Rock. Tate knew more about Nico’s sex life than anyone, however when Hayden entered the picture, things changed, or everyone thought they had until that fateful few weeks before Hayden’s graduation. “I guess it’s why I feel guilty. I wish I could help her out, but...” He shook his head.
“Not your problem,” Zoe said, staring at him. “You have to remember your status brings you pussy and dick.”
Oh, God. She sounded just like their dad. "Zoe, I swear, if you give me a dad lecture, I'm going to tell Rocky you don't wear underwear."
She chuckled. The dark intonation didn’t bode well for him. “He already knows, but that’s beside the point. She came to you to use you for status too. She’d get her cherry popped by you and she’d also get the status of being with a jock and the son of an Alpha.”
Okay, so maybe Zoe did have a point after all. “You’re right.”
"I know." She shrugged. "Anyway, she's also looking for a mate from what I've heard through gossip."
Well. Shit. "Damn. I'm not her mate though. It would have defeated her purpose unless she doesn't understand how matings work." The only thing he'd heard rumors about and wanted to know if it was true, had been shifting mid-intercourse and fucking like animals. Supposedly if done right, a shifter could perform like their animal counterpart, which meant he'd barb his mate, like wolves knotted theirs in human and wolf form.
“Again, not your problem,” Zoe said.
No, it wasn’t.
“You were talking to that guy at the bar, the MC from the games,” Hayden said. “He’s kind of cute.”
Nico growled. “Kind of cute, little wolf?”
“He’s a horse from what I’ve heard,” Zoe added then slammed her elbow onto the table, rattling the dishes. “Dick the size of your forearm.”
God. She was so much like their father. Vulgar. Loud. Didn’t give a fuck about boundaries. “Jesus, Zoe. Keep it down would you.”
She laughed. “You’re too easy, Tate. It’s what I love about you the most.”
“Well, love me less if you’re here to embarrass people,” he replied. “Besides, it’s not like I talked to him much. His time is precious, and he had other places to be.” Probably saw Daisy lurking behind Tate and that’s what sent him away.
“Well, good luck with that,” Zoe said. “If you don’t mind, I’m going to mingle. Hayden, want to mingle with me?”
She grinned and shook her head. “Nah, Nico and I have other plans. We don’t give a shit about this gala. We’re going to sneak out and go have some fun.”
Again, resentment tightened Tate’s chest, making it hard to breathe as one by one everyone left the table but him. What he wouldn’t give for a beer or something equally alcoholic to wash away how ridiculous he looked sitting there alone while his family was off doing whatever the fuck they pleased—not that it would work for him.
“This seat taken?” Victor joined him.
Tension filled him. He feared if he breathed the wrong way, Victor would disappear again. His heart pounded. His palms were sweaty. This close to the man who stole his ability to think let alone reason, he could see the golden flakes of his eyes hooded by his obsidian tipped lashes. The way his whiskey-hued eyes sparkled with a naughtiness Tate wished was only for him.
“Not at all.” He motioned to the chair next to him. “Have a seat.” Perhaps his night was looking up after all.
Tate Dryer...
Sitting this close to him now, Victor could see he wasn't anything like his siblings. Was it due to him being adopted or more because he hid his true self? Pot meet kettle. Victor chalked his need to keep his proclivities secret because of his status. His parents were disgustingly wealthy. He came from amazing breeding stock and if they found out he was gay, well, he'd probably be disowned. So, he acted as the consummate playboy to keep up appearances. He supposed though, he should call himself bisexual, there were plenty of women in the school who'd ridden his stallion dick to climax. However, there were an equal number of men who'd done the same.
That wasn't here nor there, because his attention was on Tate. The minute he smelled the scent of linen and cloves, his horse reared up, excited by the prospect of finding a mate, scary as it may be, delighted him. Though he would be having a little fun with Tate first, of course. Couldn't give in to the mating so easily.
Victor leaned into the panther, his lips inches from the shell of the feline’s ear. “Would you like to go somewhere a little more private?”
Tate jerked. His hazel eyes locked with Victor’s whiskey-colored gaze. He was guarded. Victor didn’t blame him. People had a way of talking around the school and if anyone knew about exploits it was Victor. Nonetheless, when he inhaled the heady scent of arousal wafting from the man beside him, it chased away any doubt he had Tate didn’t want him. “Where do you want to go? I have a roommate.”
Victor chuckled. That was the part about freshmen he loved the most, they were still naive. "Tell me, Tate, have you ever done anything remotely sexual with another person outside, in the dark, or during the day?"
Tate shook his head. His athletic body trembled as the smell of his nervousness chased the arousal. Excitement coursed through Victor’s body as he licked his lips. “No.”
“Want to with me, tonight?” The corner of his mouth twitched in anticipation. Before the night was over, if he wanted, he could have Tate wrapped around his little finger—among other places.
"I don't want a one-night stand, Victor," Tate murmured, not meeting his gaze. “I’ve already done stuff like that.”
"Then how about we call this fun and see what happens tomorrow?" If the feline knew who Victor was, he didn't give it away. He also appreciated Tate's candor. At least he was going in with his eyes wide open and his intentions laid out between the both of him. So what if Victor kept his objectives hidden for a little longer. Once Tate learned the truth about who he was and his wealthy status, things would become a little more complicated.
“Okay.” Tate stood then held his hand out to Victor.
He didn’t take it. All eyes were on them. “Not here.” Victor adjusted himself, the ache in his groin made it almost impossible to bear. “Meet me on the side of the building in five.”
Tate grunted. “I’ll be there.”
Victor buttoned his coat, covering some, not all, of the outline of his erection as he took his time heading for the exit. His heart pounded. Blood rushed through his veins spiking the adrenaline and excitement already coursing through him. Still, he had to play it cool. Going wild would get them caught and he couldn’t have them being seen. Not yet anyway. When the door opened up a few minutes later, Tate strolled through the door appearing unaffected by Victor’s proposition.
“Follow me,” Victor said, leading Tate toward one of the darkened areas away from prying eyes. “You should know, I like fucking outside. I get off on it.” He chuckled. “Could be because I’m a horse and we don’t give a shit when the need takes over.”
“Well, I could say the same for felines.” Tate removed his jacket and his tie, stuffing the strip into the pocket of his coat. “What did you want to do?”
A devious little grin tugged at Victor’s mouth. “I want to suck your cock, Tate. Show me.” He removed his pants and placed them on the sidewalk next to Tate’s belongings.
“Sure.” His fingers twitched as he pulled down his zipper. In a small shove, his long hard dick sprang from the confines of his pants, and he let out a small moan. “Show me yours too.”
“Are you sure you can handle a horse’s cock?” Victor challenged. “We can be quite intimidating for some.”
Tate shrugged. “I’m sure I could handle you.”
Arrogant, he liked that. "Okay then. Don't say I didn't warn you." The thing about horse shifters was, their dicks, when hard, almost appeared like their counterpart's erection. Flared tip. Thick shaft. Plus, he came a lot, not small spurts like most guys. It was a little embarrassing, to say the least, and finding condoms were a pain in the ass. Thankfully, there was one place he could get them without a hassle. Though, they made pulling out an adventure.
Victor tugged the zipper of his slacks down, careful not to catch himself in the teeth then reached in and pulled himself out. Already the head of his dick was covered in sticky precum. His shaft pulsed, spilling more of the clear substance. He was so close. Maybe he should have jerked off in the bathroom before making the trek outside. At least then he’d have a little more control.
“Show me what you look like when you come,” Tate said, pumping his fist over his length. “I’ve never been with a horse, so I’m curious and horny.”
“Are you going to let me fuck you after I cum, little kitty?” The deep intonation of his voice didn’t surprise Victor. Sure, they whinnied and neighed the same as their counterpart, however arousal changed their voice, giving it a deeper, darker sound like rocks knocking together.
“Never been fucked before,” Tate whispered. “Maybe it’ll be fun. Show me, Victor.”
“As you wish,” he grunted, stroking himself in long hard pulls. He was so close. His dick throbbed the tingle in his spine signaled he was going to blow any second. He chased the sensation, loving the way his whole body stiffened.
“I wonder where he went to,” Laney said.
“I can’t believe Christoph kissed her like that,” Reagan muttered. “What a slut. Then Jackson. Talk about being a whore.”
Victor stiffened. He was right on edge ready to blow. Above him, Tate went deadly silent before crouching down in front of him. He pressed his finger to his lips as Laney and Reagan's footsteps grow closer. Thankfully, Tate had the presence of mind to grab their belongings and tug them into the dark.
"I know he came out here. If anyone can chase the disgust away, it's Victor." Laney's high-pitched nasally voice rubbed Victor the wrong way. "I heard he's a marathoner. Can go all night."
Tate’s anger-filled hazel gaze snapped to Victor. Fuck, he needed to concentrate on not spilling his load and drawing those irritant girls’ attention in their direction. He mouthed, “Not true. I wouldn’t fuck them.” However, he did have a reputation, so whether or not Tate believed him, he didn’t know.
“They hurt Emma,” Tate whispered.
He heard. "She didn't deserve it. They're ugly inside and out." There was being a mean girl and just being an ugly person. Changing out a dress size, intimidating someone who wouldn't harm a fly were all strikes against a person in Victor's book. "They're not my friends and I'd never fuck them." Tate on the other hand, all bets were off. He'd get inside him.
Just the thought of fucking the guy crouching in front of him sent a renewed spark of arousal through his veins. He wrapped his free hand around the back of Tate's neck and pulled his close. His lips pressed to his and the hunger, it seemed Tate had been controlling, snapped. He devoured Victor feasting and swallowing his moans of pleasure as he edged closer to his release.
“Can I fuck you first,” Tate murmured against Victor’s lips. “Right here.”
Shit. What a question to ask while his dick was in his hand, and he was about to come hard. “Yes, quick though. So close it hurts.”
“Me too. Won’t last.” Tate positioned Victor as he wanted him then accepted the packet of lube from him. “Thanks.” In no time flat, he was pushing into Victor’s rear. It was a steady stroke, long and filled with intent. “Yep. Definitely not going to last. Your ass was made for me.”
Victor gasped. His body went tight. On Tate’s third stroke he was orgasming. “This is about to get messy.”
“Same. I’m coming.” Tate pressed his forehead between Victor’s shoulders and groaned. “We could be here for a while.”
Victor chuckled to himself as the steady stream of his release flowed from his tip. “You can say that again.”
“Holy fuck that’s hot.” Somehow Tate had maneuvered himself to be able to watch. “It’s like this all the time?”
Victor nodded. “Kind of makes it hard to climax inside one of my partners.” Heat filled his cheeks. “It’s also why I bottom too.”
"I'm so fucking hard right now, and I just came." Tate chuckled when he finally pulled out. "I could spend all night inside of you. Maybe even try to ride that stallion cock of yours. See how much you could get inside me before pulling out."
Victor groaned as his dick gave a final kick before softening marginally. “Temptation.” The idea was more than a temptation though. He wanted to bring Tate back to his room at the fraternity and fuck him all night. “Meet me for lunch tomorrow. We’ll discuss doing this again, and me topping you.”
Heat flared to life in Tate’s eyes. “Lunch tomorrow. Tonight, however, I have something I want to try.”
“Oh,” Tate sparked Victor’s curiosity, “what’s that?”
Tate’s gaze became lazy as he crawled over the top of Victor and kissed him again. This time, though the demand was still there, there was also a languid quality to the kiss. When Tate pulled back Victor’s dick was hard and ready, something not unheard of with horse-shifters. “I’m going to suck your dick then maybe fuck you again.”
Shit. He shouldn’t have any kind of power over Victor. Then he laughed to himself. Yeah, Tate did. They were potential mates after all. “Then get to sucking, little kitty. Show me what you’ve got.”
