Choosing His Christmas Miracle

By Charlie Richards

Raul Braga is finally ready to admit the reason he’s been so distracted of late is because of a man—but not just any man. Raul finds himself attracted to a wolf shifter named Sean Garcia who comes from a pack in Idaho. Even though his buddy has agreed to help him look into the shifter’s current whereabouts, Raul doesn’t have much faith that a member of the homophobic pack they’ve had problems with in the past would ever admit to being interested in him, too. Imagine Raul’s surprise when Sean shows up on his doorstep.

Sean claims that Raul is his mate, which explains the attraction. Still, Sean didn’t come alone. He has an infant girl with him. Sean is the legal guardian for his niece, Lily, who is his deceased sister’s cub. Now, Raul has to decide if he’s ready for not only a relationship with a male, but a male that comes with a ready-made family. Before he can start to figure things out though, Raul is sent away on an assignment. Although the kisses are mind-blowing, will they be enough to help him overcome his fear of settling down?

• Language: English
• Publisher: eXtasy Books Inc
• Release date: Jan 13, 2013
• ISBN: 9781771113854

Book preview

Out of the cage: One can never be patient enough if it means earning the peace caused by true love

Raul Braga is finally ready to admit the reason he’s been so distracted of late is because of a man—but not just any man. Raul finds himself attracted to a wolf shifter named Sean Garcia who comes from a pack in Idaho. Even though his buddy has agreed to help him look into the shifter’s current whereabouts, Raul doesn’t have much faith that a member of the homophobic pack they’ve had problems with in the past would ever admit to being interested in him, too. Imagine Raul’s surprise when Sean shows up on his doorstep.

Sean claims that Raul is his mate, which explains the attraction. Still, Sean didn’t come alone. He has an infant girl with him. Sean is the legal guardian for his niece, Lily, who is his deceased sister’s cub. Now, Raul has to decide if he’s ready for not only a relationship with a male, but a male that comes with a ready-made family. Before he can start to figure things out though, Raul is sent away on an assignment. Although the kisses are mind-blowing, will they be enough to help him overcome his fear of settling down?

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Choosing His Christmas Miracle

Copyright © 2012 Charlie Richards

ISBN: 978-1-77111-385-4

Cover art by Angela Waters

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

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Devine Destinies, an imprint of eXtasy Books Inc

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Smashwords Edition

Choosing His Christmas Miracle

Wolves of Stone Ridge: Book Fifteen

By

Charlie Richards

Dedication

To those who appreciate an animal’s love—Never forget that it’s a gift beyond measure.

Chapter One

Raul knew he should have riposted instead of retreating. If he’d pressed his advantage, he wouldn’t have ended up with the tip of Jared’s foil pressed against his chest.

Point, Jared stated.

Dropping his foil, Raul stepped back. He sighed and pulled off his helmet. Jared did the same, revealing his best friend’s narrow-eyed gaze as he stared at Raul. Under the other man’s intense hazel-eyed scrutiny, Raul ran a hand through his hair, shoving the too long reddish orange strands from his face.

That’s four bouts to one, Raul, Jared said softly. Since I know that normally we’re evenly matched, why don’t you tell me what’s been distracting you for the last couple months?

Heaving a sigh, Raul couldn’t meet his friend’s eyes. He really, really didn’t want to talk about this. It was embarrassing, and frustrating, and made his dick hard just thinking about… Raul turned and crossed to the workout bench and dropped onto the padded seat.

Shit, he murmured under his breath. I thought it would go away.

He really had. Raul had never been attracted to another man before. Never. Even when he went out dancing with his friends to a gay club and wound up dancing with other men, his cock had never taken an interest. But one short conversation with Sean Garcia, and Raul couldn’t get the sexy fucker out of his mind.

Well, now I know it’s something big, Jared teased, slowly peeling out of his fencing suit.

Standing, Raul followed Jared’s example and took off his own suit. You’re going to think this is sooo funny, he grumbled.

Probably. I think a lot of things are funny, Jared acknowledged. Especially if most people don’t.

God, wasn’t that the truth. His buddy had an odd sense of humor, which probably served him well since Jared had spent the better part of eleven years working as an assassin. Now, Jared had settled down with a man named Carson who happened to be able to turn into a wolf.

Rubbing his hands through his hair, Raul scratched his scalp, easing the itch caused by the helmet and sweat. I’m attracted to a man, he muttered, staring at the floor.

Jared snickered. You’ve been dancing with gay men for over a year and this is the first time you’re admitting that?

Raul looked up and glared at his grinning friend.

Jared lifted a brow. Is it that cute twink Bobby? Are you banging Bobby?

No, Raul snapped. I am not banging Bobby! The guy has a boyfriend. An asshole firefighter, but he’s still the man’s boyfriend. He’d met Bobby the first night he’d moved to Stone Ridge with Jared over a year ago. Bobby knew he was straight, and the pair had a good time dancing together whenever they met up at a club, but that was as far as it went for them. A couple months ago, Bobby had taken up with a firefighter, Seth Remington. Raul had met him once and didn’t like the guy, but he’d held his peace since Bobby had seemed happy.

Yeah, I don’t like Bobby’s boyfriend, either, Jared said off-handedly. He abuses Bobby. I think we should find a way to split them up.

He what? Raul roared, leaping to his feet. Thinking about a friend’s problem was so much easier than worrying about his own.

Jared frowned and shook his head. Don’t think I’ll let you off the hook that easily, old friend. Who are you attracted to and why does it have you bent out of shape?

Raul growled and spun away. He paced the room, his stride short and choppy, expressing his agitation clearly. Jared waited for an answer with the patience of Job. Knowing he couldn’t get out of an explanation now that he’d spilled the beans, so to speak, Raul sucked in a breath and started talking.

When we went to Idaho to get Vee, he said gruffly, referring to a human who was mated to one of the wolf shifters in their pack. "I