Free Last Chance by Viki Lyn

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    Aric turned around, face-to-face with his handsome ally. He could scarcely breathe looking into those compassionate eyes. Stu was creeping his way into his heart. But he would be crazy to trust this jock. Stu would only leave him. They always did. That was how it went with straight men, gay men—any man.

    He curled his upper lip into a snarl. “I'm going into the bathroom and changing into my clothes. Then I'm going to walk out this door. Once I do, stay out of my life.”

    Stu shook his head. “I can't do that.”

    Corbin's shadow caught Aric's attention. “Stu's telling the truth. He has no choice. A Kresnik is honor-bound once he gives his word. I'll help you because he's my brother. But I can't let anything happen to him. Do you understand what I'm saying?”

    A frosty arrow pierced Aric's heart. The Hamilton brothers were not about to let him go. And Corbin would hurt him without hesitation or remorse if he even hinted at harming his precious brother. Anxiously, he hurried past them.

    * * *

    Aric skipped taking a shower, threw on his clothes, and fled Stu's apartment. Only once he'd escaped could he breathe easier. His life had just gotten a hundred times more complicated. And as with added complications, stress knotted every muscle in his body. It was best to avoid Stu, at least as much as possible. When Devon had walked out of his life, Aric had made a solemn promise to never, ever date straight guys again. He'd vested himself in his and Devon's relationship and had believed in their love. Turned out he was a fool. And he had other, more serious issues to take care of, which were far more important than wasting time thinking of Stu Hamilton.

    Aric slowed his pace as he gnawed at his lower lip. Okay, so he was intrigued by Stu. This whole slayer business came as a complete surprise, as did a naked Stu walking in on his shower. All hot and willing. Christ, that had really thrown him. In just one night, this guy had tilted his world on its axis, and all his secrets had come tumbling out. He had to be more tight-lipped, but he feared it was already too late for that.

    Even if Stu and Corbin took their oath seriously, could they really protect him from a bloodthirsty vampire? And if he didn't discover an antibody, he would turn into one of the undead. Instead of protecting him, Stu would be forced to kill him.

Chapter Six

     

    Stu lay on his back, staring up at the ceiling. He kicked his bedcovers aside. Hot and bothered by his dreams, he'd awakened drenched in sweat. The images burned into his brain caused his heart to race. Too real, too vivid, too heartbreaking. He'd stood with blood dripping from his hands, the strix's head lolling at his feet. But too late. Aric stood in front of him, larger than life, with burnished amber eyes blinking owlishly in a pale, narrow face. Fangs—sharp, long, and lethal.

    He rubbed his throbbing temple, a headache spreading through the haze of his brain. He flexed his hands, trying to bring life back into his limbs. When did it get to be like this? When did the call of his heritage begin blaring louder than brass horns in his ears?

    Before his brother left, he'd thrown Stu one of his “we'll talk later” looks. Corbin was not pleased to find Aric in Stu's bed. Stu had known Aric only a day, and already he understood the selfish boy would break his heart. He already missed their bodies touching. And other things—things he tried to reconcile in his foggy brain. These newly discovered feelings startled him, forcing him to reevaluate his perception of himself. Not that dating girls was ever a priority in his life. First, there was football; second, poetry; and then, of course, his family, made ever more important when his father died.

    He shoved the pillow over his face and groaned. Thinking of his family brought forth the image of his mom—the disappointment on her face if she ever thought her youngest son walked the same path as Corbin, a gay vampire