A cannibalistic serial killer targeting gay men is on the loose. Devin, who has become increasingly erratic in the last two months, just split up with Gary, his lover of three years. Vanni, a habitué of the gay clubs, makes extra spending money on his knees in the club johns. Is one of these men the killer? Or will one of them instead become the killer’s next target? Detective Hollis Robbins is in charge of the case. He intends to stop the killer, if he can. When the killer strikes again the four men’s lives intertwine as the search for the murderer intensifies. Will the attraction that two of them begin to feel for each other survive the hunt? Do they have the strength to continue on after tragedy strikes and teaches them that love can be bittersweet?

The Beast Within

“Not supposed to do that,” Hollis chastised with a shake of his head.


“Not planning on finishing it when I get back,” Vanni countered as he put his arms around Hollis’s waist. He smiled when Hollis didn’t resist but instead did the same. “You’re getting the hang of this dancing thing,” Vanni said softly.


“Only with you. Anyone else and I’d be an arms-length away just holding hands, like those two.” Hollis nodded toward a couple on the far side of the floor.


Hollis pulled back quickly enough that he broke Vanni’s grasp on him. “Sorry,” he muttered. “I thought…”


“Whoa, hold up there. I meant I liked the idea of only with me.”


“Stop saying sorry and get back here. Please?” Vanni held out a hand and when Hollis took it he tugged him gently back against his chest. With Hollis’s arms around his waist again Vanni smiled. “See, much better.”


“Much,” Hollis admitted. “Maybe too much. If we keep this up I’m going to forget I’m on duty.”


Chapter 25