Leap of Faith: Moonlit, Book 1
M/M Paranormal Romance | Fated Mates | Guaranteed HEA
60K+ Words
60K+ Words
Available to Read with Kindle Unlimited
Braxton Carmichael might be unlucky in love, but he has plenty of other things going for him. He has a roof over his head, a career he loves, and a best friend who makes his life colorful. Six months out from a messy breakup, he has no interest in relationships, dating, or even one-night stands. In fact, the only man he has the time or patience for is the hero of his new graphic novel.
That is, until he meets sexy firefighter and cursed shifter, Xander Brighton.
Between his job and his pack, Xander already has his hands full. As such, he’s never given much thought to the idea of having a mate, but when fate quite literally throws Braxton into his path, he doesn’t hesitate. One look, and he knows he’ll do whatever it takes to make the human his.
There’s just one little problem.
Braxton’s ex isn’t about to give him up without a fight—and a bloody one at that. But why? And more importantly, how do they stop him before someone ends up hurt…or worse?
That is, until he meets sexy firefighter and cursed shifter, Xander Brighton.
Between his job and his pack, Xander already has his hands full. As such, he’s never given much thought to the idea of having a mate, but when fate quite literally throws Braxton into his path, he doesn’t hesitate. One look, and he knows he’ll do whatever it takes to make the human his.
There’s just one little problem.
Braxton’s ex isn’t about to give him up without a fight—and a bloody one at that. But why? And more importantly, how do they stop him before someone ends up hurt…or worse?
**NOTE** Leap of Faith was originally released in 2011 by a different publisher as the first book of The Moonlight Breed series. This new version has been significantly edited to add details, smooth out any rough spots, and include updates from this decade.
While it has been expanded by approximately 20,000 words (including a new Epilogue), it does not contain any meaningful changes to the characters or the storyline.
Excerpt
In the beginning, Braxton had set down the rule of no sex in order to get to know Xander better without the physical attraction clouding his judgment. It definitely seemed to be working, but he was having a hard time sticking to his self-imposed celibacy.
He didn’t know if it was the mating bond or just his natural attraction to the man, but he’d been in a semi-constant state of arousal all week. Hell, he couldn’t even look at the guy without imagining all sorts of wicked and depraved things.
And in a house full of shifters, his interest didn’t exactly go unnoticed.
“Here we are,” Xander said a couple of minutes later as the trees began to thin.
Braxton squinted as they stepped into a sun-washed clearing with a sizeable pond, its banks surrounded by tall, vibrant green grass. Adirondack chairs surrounded a large, circular firepit, and a couple of storage benches were set up near the tree line.
It was gorgeous, picturesque even, but he didn’t understand what they were doing there until Xander stripped off his shirt.
“Wait. You want me to get in there?” He pointed to the muddy water and shook his head. “No way. Do you even know what’s in there?”
“There is nothing to be afraid of.”
Except snapping turtles, snakes, and fishing spiders the size of his freaking fist. “Yeah, still not happening.” He started inching toward the firepit. “I’ll just sit here and watch.”
He made it about three steps before Xander scooped him up and tossed him over his shoulder. “I thought you said it was hot out here?”
“Yes, but that doesn’t mean I want to cool off in the death pool.” He kicked his feet and beat his fists against Xander’s back. “Put me down!”
“You’ll be fine.” Xander laughed as he carried him toward the pond.
“Xander, no! No. Stop! Put me down!”
“As you wish.”
He realized too late what his mate meant, and he had just enough time to suck in a large breath before Xander dropped him, plunging him beneath the cool waters. His feet hit the muddy bottom almost immediately, and he kicked hard, surfacing with a gasp.
“Damn it, Xander!” Pushing his wet hair off his forehead, he folded his arms across his chest and glared at his mate.
Xander actually had the audacity to laugh at him. “You know, you’re kind of cute when you’re pissed off.”
Yeah, it was going to be real cute when he drowned the asshole. “I hate you.”
“No, you don’t.” Wading over to him, Xander pulled him close and lifted him into his arms.
“I do.” Braxton pouted as he lifted his arms to encircle Xander’s neck and wound his legs around the shifter’s narrow waist.
“Come on, chulo,” Xander coaxed, nuzzling against the side of Braxton’s throat. “Do you really think I would let anything hurt you?”
He didn’t know if it was the mating bond or just his natural attraction to the man, but he’d been in a semi-constant state of arousal all week. Hell, he couldn’t even look at the guy without imagining all sorts of wicked and depraved things.
And in a house full of shifters, his interest didn’t exactly go unnoticed.
“Here we are,” Xander said a couple of minutes later as the trees began to thin.
Braxton squinted as they stepped into a sun-washed clearing with a sizeable pond, its banks surrounded by tall, vibrant green grass. Adirondack chairs surrounded a large, circular firepit, and a couple of storage benches were set up near the tree line.
It was gorgeous, picturesque even, but he didn’t understand what they were doing there until Xander stripped off his shirt.
“Wait. You want me to get in there?” He pointed to the muddy water and shook his head. “No way. Do you even know what’s in there?”
“There is nothing to be afraid of.”
Except snapping turtles, snakes, and fishing spiders the size of his freaking fist. “Yeah, still not happening.” He started inching toward the firepit. “I’ll just sit here and watch.”
He made it about three steps before Xander scooped him up and tossed him over his shoulder. “I thought you said it was hot out here?”
“Yes, but that doesn’t mean I want to cool off in the death pool.” He kicked his feet and beat his fists against Xander’s back. “Put me down!”
“You’ll be fine.” Xander laughed as he carried him toward the pond.
“Xander, no! No. Stop! Put me down!”
“As you wish.”
He realized too late what his mate meant, and he had just enough time to suck in a large breath before Xander dropped him, plunging him beneath the cool waters. His feet hit the muddy bottom almost immediately, and he kicked hard, surfacing with a gasp.
“Damn it, Xander!” Pushing his wet hair off his forehead, he folded his arms across his chest and glared at his mate.
Xander actually had the audacity to laugh at him. “You know, you’re kind of cute when you’re pissed off.”
Yeah, it was going to be real cute when he drowned the asshole. “I hate you.”
“No, you don’t.” Wading over to him, Xander pulled him close and lifted him into his arms.
“I do.” Braxton pouted as he lifted his arms to encircle Xander’s neck and wound his legs around the shifter’s narrow waist.
“Come on, chulo,” Xander coaxed, nuzzling against the side of Braxton’s throat. “Do you really think I would let anything hurt you?”