It’s almost Christmas 1806, and government agent Jared Templeton finds himself adopted by a beautiful stray dog as he walks his customary route each night to his Mayfair home. Having never owned a dog before, Jared is surprised to find himself talking to the beast. It’s wonderfully easy and lifts some of the heavy burdens he carries.<br><br>Eventually Jared confides in the dog, not only secrets about his work as an agent, but also the biggest secret about himself. About his innermost desires and needs, safe in the knowledge his companion will never betray him.<br><br>But at?the stroke of midnight on Christmas Eve, Jared discovers things are not quite what they seem ...

The Christmas Curse

The tension that Jared had been carrying for days burst forth. “Oh, for crying out loud. I’m a government spy. I work for the Alien Office. The Alien Office. I seek out people who would infiltrate the country…” He threw his hands in the air. “Here you are telling me that you are some kind of…of…Well, I don’t know what the hell you are, I only know I should be handing you over to the authorities not…not…” Jared was breathing heavily and gesticulating wildly. “I even told you aboutmy…personal…interests.”


Wesley rolled his eyes and sighed. “Do you people know nothing about loyalty?”


“The way you say it, you clearly don’t.” Wesley moved to stand closer. “You are my mate. I could no more betray you than I could cut off my arm.” His eyes were intense, his whole body taught as a bow. “Yet, here you are, threatening to ‘turn me over’ to someone.”


Chapter 8