QSFer Cal Matthews has a new MM paranormal book out:
A wolf on the run
Cyrus Del Basque has been running his whole life. Born to a pack of fugitive werewolves, he travels the country with his family, trying to stay one step ahead of the hunters who pursue them. With only each other to rely on, his family roams from town to town, never stopping long enough for Cyrus to make friends, let alone have a relationship.
But living under constant threat has taken its toll, and when Cyrus’s grandfather falls ill, his desperate family takes refuge in the most unlikely of places—a drive-in movie theater outside of tiny Modesty Creek, Montana.
A man looking forward
Nathan Anderson is comfortable in his world. Proud owner of the Throwback Theater, Nate’s life revolves around movies, books, and World of Warcraft raids with his long-distance best friend. He’s spent the last few years healing from a car accident that left him in a wheelchair, and though he has lingering mental and physical scars, Nate is happy and content in the life he has built.
But Modesty Creek is small, and the dating options slim. So when the strange family blows into town, Nate is immediately drawn to the quiet, intense oldest son. And when sparks fly, Nate—ever the romantic—can’t help but start imagining the future they might have together.
Two worlds colliding
But Cyrus knows he can’t risk putting Nate and his family in danger. How could he even begin to explain? He knows that, at best, they can only have a few days together. But even as Nate and Cyrus are drawn closer together, Cyrus knows that at any moment, hunters could arrive to tear them all apart… and burn down the world that Nate has created.
Excerpt
“I like you,” Nate’s mouth decided to say. He would have rushed to take it back, to amend it with something less embarrassing and with less potential for soul-shattering rejection if not for the look on Cyrus’s face. The little smirk dropped away and something so vulnerable took its place, a surprised kind of hope. The look, beautiful in its fragility, swept away almost immediately, and doors slammed shut behind Cyrus’s eyes.
“You don’t know me,” he said, an edge to his voice.
“I know,” Nate said. “I like you anyway. But believe me, I know that I’m not high on anyone’s list an —”
“Stop,” Cyrus snapped. He straightened, his eyebrows drawing in as he scowled. “Don’t talk about yourself like that.”
Nate shrugged. “I thought we were speaking plainly.”
“We are. And that—” Cyrus jerked his chin at the wheelchair, at Nate. “That doesn’t matter to me. What matters to me is that… Nate, I’m not staying. We don’t do that. My family. We don’t stay in one place. And my family is… isn’t like yours.”
“I believe that,” Nate said. “I’ve met your uncle and your cousin.”
“Yeah,” Cyrus agreed darkly.
“But you’re here for a week, at least, right?” Nate asked. He pushed himself a little closer, close enough that only a few inches separated their knees.
Cyrus looked at him. “Yes. Probably. At least a week.”
“A lot can happen in a week.”
Cyrus’s face broke into a sudden grin. “I’m not sure what exactly you’re trying to talk me into?”
“I don’t know either,” Nate admitted with a rueful chuckle. He inched closer. He took a deep breath and laid a careful hand on Cyrus’s leg. Ooh, his mind went, because even touching gently he could feel the muscle beneath Cyrus’s jeans. Quads, his brain supplied helpfully. Nice quads. Tight quads. Just right quads.
“I get that you’re leaving in a week,” Nate said. “But maybe we could just hang out? I don’t get a lot of company out here and I’d like… your company.”
Cyrus huffed an incredulous laugh. “I don’t know why. I’m not that much fun to be around.”
“I’ll be the judge of that,” Nate said, mock-sternly, and Cyrus flashed him a quick smile. “Okay,” Cyrus said. “Yeah. We can hang out.”
Author Bio
Cal Matthews is the author of the Thaumaturge series, and writes primarily paranormal romance. Born and raised in the mountains of Montana, she is still feral at heart and prefers hiking deep, dark woods to most forms of socializing. Cal is an obsessive reader, an average Crossfitter, a constant daydreamer, and a collector of increasingly varied college degrees.
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Come chat on Twitter at https://twitter.com/malcatthews
Visit me at www.calmatthews.com