Page 1 of His Incubus Husband

1

VALENTINO’S FIRST TIME

When many people are trying to kill you, the constant fear transforms you. Maybe you become paranoid, losing sleep over small creaks in the floorboards. Or maybe you get careless, courting death at every corner.

Sir Oswald Sandoval liked to think that he transformed the fear, tamed it, and rode it through life like a racehorse. He was always winning.

Tonight, he even ordered drinks at the bar. His presence at the club was unannounced; it would have taken more preparation than just bribing the bartender to poison him. He sailed through the crowd, sipping his blood-orange margarita and eyeing the smorgasbord of attractive omegas.

The policy of the club was very convenient—either you were a member, invited and vetted, and you paid the yearly fee on top of what you spent at the bar, or you stood in line outside, hoping they would grant you access because you “fit the club image.” In other words, the alphas had to pay, while attractive young omegas got in for free.

Oswald would readily agree that the policy was sleazy, but he would reap the benefits tonight. It had been some time since he’d gotten properly laid. His regular escort had quit the business, and Oswald had been forced into celibacy. If going out was a challenge in his situation, finding a hookup was even more of a headache.

What was the point of staying alive if he couldn’t enjoy himself?

He’d already noticed a few men he’d gladly bring to a hotel room for the night, but it was still early. The club wasn’t even full yet.

He spotted a blond mop of wavy hair in the sea of tuxedos and craned his neck. The crowd moved and parted, and he got a glimpse of a face.

Large, doe-like blue eyes, pale lashes like feathers, plush, swollen lips, pink cheeks…

He stepped around a few mingling groups and made his way closer to the omega.

The boy was sipping a drink through a straw, his lips wrapped around it as if puckered up for a kiss. Three alphas surrounded him, and he batted his eyelashes at them like a lamb unaware of the dangers of a pack of wolves. One of the wolves leaned down and fingered the omega’s shirt. Oswald worried for the young man, but the omega simply laughed and walked off, leaving the men staring after him longingly. It seemed the boy could handle himself.

That laugh. All the demons in hell! The omega was breathtaking.

Oswald followed the mirage through the crowd, keeping a respectable distance. When the boy leaned on the tall bar counter, his pert little ass wrapped in white slacks sticking out, two men at once jumped to get his drink for him. He declined the offers, paid for his drink, and thanked the bartender before ambling away. Wherever he went, alphas drooled after him. Either he was oblivious to the attention he was getting or he was acting a part.

As Oswald trailed after the boy, he found himself closer to the exit. With his eyes on the omega, he paused to talk to the security guy at the host stand.

“I thought underage guests weren’t allowed.”

The guard stiffened, scanning the crowd. “Everybody here is legal, sir. We’ve ID’d everyone, even people on the VIP list.”

“You’re telling me that boy over there is legal?” Oswald discreetly pointed at the omega.

“Absolutely, sir. I remember checking his driver’s license myself.”

“What’s his name?”

The guard hesitated. “Um. Sir, with all due respect, I’m not allowed to tell you that.”

Oswald gave a nod of approval. “Good job. Your employer must be happy to have you.”

The alpha exhaled with relief. “Thank you, sir.”

Taking a deep gulp of his drink, Oswald followed the omega to the large outdoor terrace, where two bartenders put on a show, juggling cocktail mixers and setting drinks on fire. Watching the performance, the boy stayed in the shadows, nursing his own drink.

Oswald had to make his move before the siren was swamped by other men again. The omega sucked in a breath as he noticed Oswald approaching. Oswald knew he looked good and used his charm well. Was he confident enough to hit on the most beautiful man in the room and think he’d succeed after the boy had rejected a dozen others?

He weighed his options, and after assessing the clever glint in the omega’s eyes, he settled on “Did you use a fake ID to get in here?”

The omega arched one golden eyebrow. “Out of all the men who tried to flirt with me tonight, you have by far the lousiest intro.” His voice sounded like velvet, a little deeper than one might expect for how young and slight he looked.

“I’d like to stay out of jail,” Oswald replied.

“If you think I’m too young for you, why approach me at all?”