Saving His Roar: Sanctuary, #9

By Megan Slayer

Ryan 'Blaze' Burden knew his life wasn't perfect. He's a stripper at Stiff and a shifter, but he can't tell anyone about his special ability. The popularity of shifters hasn't come to Stiff or the town of Sugar Ridge, for that matter. Being a shifter is still frowned upon. Ryan knows he doesn't fit in, but he does have one bright spot in his life—the mystery man who comes to the club and requests Ryan for private dances.
The electricity between them is palpable, but if Ryan makes a move, will the hottie reciprocate?

Delaney Sullivan doesn't come to Stiff for the ambiance. He's there for one dancer—Blaze. He senses the shifter within the handsome young man. But Delaney works for the enemy—he's the campaign manager for the mayor of Sugar Ridge. He doesn't share the mayor's desire to outlaw shifters because he's a panther shifter. Can he get Blaze out of the club? To trust him? Or maybe even to love him?

These opposites certainly attract, but can they find the mutual trust to have a future together?

 

This book has been re-edited for this re-issue.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Megan Slayer
• Release date: Jun 11, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393296164

Megan Slayer

Megan Slayer, aka Wendi Zwaduk, is a multi-published, award-winning author of more than one-hundred short stories and novels. She’s been writing since 2008 and published since 2009. Her stories range from the contemporary and paranormal to LGBTQ and BDSM themes. No matter what the length, her works are always hot, but with a lot of heart. She enjoys giving her characters a second chance at love, no matter what the form. She’s been the runner up in the Kink Category at Love Romances Café as well as nominated at the LRC for best author, best contemporary, best ménage and best anthology. Her books have made it to the bestseller lists on Amazon.com. When she’s not writing, Megan spends time with her husband and son as well as three dogs and three cats. She enjoys art, music and racing, but football is her sport of choice.

Book preview

Saving His Roar

A Sanctuary Story, book 9

by

Megan Slayer

Saving His Roar

Copyright © 2020, Megan Slayer

Edited by Michele Paulin and Venus Cahill

Cover Art by WZDesigns

Published by Megan Slayer Publications

Warning: All rights reserved. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

Electronic Release: June 2020

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and occurrences are a product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, places or occurrences, is purely coincidental.

Ryan ‘Blaze’ Burden knew his life wasn’t perfect. He’s a stripper at Stiff and a shifter, but he can’t tell anyone about his special ability. The popularity of shifters hasn’t come to Stiff or the town of Sugar Ridge, for that matter. Being a shifter is still frowned upon. Ryan knows he doesn’t fit in, but he does have one bright spot in his life—the mystery man who comes to the club and requests Ryan for private dances. The electricity between them is palpable, but if Ryan makes a move, will the hottie reciprocate?

Delaney Sullivan doesn’t come to Stiff for the ambiance. He’s there for one dancer—Blaze. He senses the shifter within the handsome young man. But Delaney works for the enemy—he’s the campaign manager for the mayor of Sugar Ridge. He doesn’t share the mayor’s desire to outlaw shifters because he’s a panther shifter. Can he get Blaze out of the club? To trust him? Or maybe even to love him?

These opposites certainly attract, but can they find the mutual trust to have a future together?

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Epilogue

About the Author

More of the Sanctuary

For Heather, Dawn, Renee, Ronda and everyone else who begged me for the next Sanctuary story. This one is for you.

Chapter One

ONE DAY, I’LL GET OUT of this hell hole and have a life.

Ryan Blaze Burden strutted out onto the stage. He hated stripping and showing off for the grabbing hands in the audience, but he had little choice. He’d become a favorite at the strip club. Got a bachelorette party? Come to Stiff. Bachelor party? Stiff was the place. Girls’ night out? Boys’ night out? And who did Marty, the club owner, call? His best dancer...Blaze.

Ryan rolled his shoulders and shook his hips to the beat. According to the dance choreography, he was supposed to pick a girl from the audience for a special moment. But this wasn’t any dance. The boss’ daughter was there for her bachelorette party. Ryan was supposed to grind on her. He straddled the chair and gyrated his crotch in her face. She squealed and slapped his ass.

Oh, my God. He’s gorgeous. She pointed to him then glanced over at her friend. If I wasn’t with Dean, I’d so do this one.

This one. Christ. He’d been reduced to the words this one. He bit back his disgust and slipped into what he called mindless mode. Just go with the beat and dance. Don’t look at anyone other than what’s required and keep the damn erection as long as possible.

He smiled at her. The boss’ daughter was a pretty girl. If he were into women, he might make a play for her, too. But she kept referring to him as this one. Good thing she was a paying customer like everyone else.

She slipped cash into his boot then tugged on his G-string. I added my phone number.

He fought the urge to roll his eyes. She was about to get married and had slipped him her digits. Jesus. He smiled again and rubbed his ass on her lap. She yanked his G-string again, pulling it down. Exposing his butt didn’t bother him, but knowing she was about to tie the knot did.

Yes, more. She swatted his bare rump. Do it.

He kept his smile in place and hoped no one saw his boredom. He wasn’t excited by her. Had she been anyone else, he might have preferred the dance. Truth be told, he’d rather she was a guy.

He tucked the new wad of bills she handed him into his boot then planted his hands on the armrests of her chair. He did a set of one-armed pushups, making sure to put his face right near her crotch. Disgust overwhelmed him, and his erection wilted. Fuck. He had to think about someone sexy in order to stay hard. Where was his favorite client when he needed him?

Ryan jumped up to his feet and bounced in front of her then waggled his ass again while he surveyed the crowd. His heart leapt. The man was there. Ryan didn’t know the guy’s name, but he knew his smile. His skin warmed, and blood rushed to his dick. He wanted to dance for that man.

Please look at me.

He threw himself into gyrating for the woman but focused on the guy.

That’s more like it, she said. Go, man, go. She tucked another bill into his boot. Momma likes.

He moved to the music, but secretly, he cheered when the song and the performance ended. He turned to her and bowed. Thank you.

She yanked him close and kissed him hard on the lips. Call me.

He smiled, said nothing then strode off the stage. Worry filled his mind. His tiger wasn’t active and hadn’t been for a couple days. He wanted the big cat to react to anything...even if to get angry with him for what he’d done with his life. But there was nothing.

Jake, another dancer, stood in the dressing room and smeared makeup onto his cheeks. Wow. I’ve never seen you dance like that. Are you going to call her?

No. Ryan yanked his G-string back into place and sank onto his chair. He grabbed the jersey he used for his All-American baseball player routine and put the garment on. She’s not my type.

You really gave her a show and a face full of dick.

I’m just trying to get paid. He wasn’t attracted to the boss’ daughter. She liked what I did and gave me more money.

Hustler. Jake adjusted his silver-sequined vest. You’re on tap for a private dance.

Ryan tensed. I am? God damn it. He wasn’t in the mood to gyrate for another grabby woman.

Yeah. That business suit guy. Your regular. Jake tapped his silver top hat. Maybe, he’s a rich guy and will drop a couple grand into your boot. He stretched then leaned in close. Mother fucker. I need a break. I feel like a fool and look ridiculous. My lion hates me.

I can see why. Ryan rested his feet on the closest chair. My tiger isn’t thrilled, either. It won’t talk to me. He’d rather maul most of these people, but he’s so bored he won’t even tell me so. The blonde lady grabbed my dick twice. Full on fucking yank. What’d she expect? I’d shit gumballs? She’s lucky I didn’t smack her.

Yet, you keep coming back and taking their money. Jake fiddled with his hat. I’m up, and you’re needed in room...three, I think. Pretty sure it’s room three.

Good luck. Ryan rubbed his thighs. One day, he’d be free of the club. He’d have plenty of money saved up, and he’d buy a chunk of land. His only problem was his lack of paperwork to prove his identity. Jake would vouch for him, but Jake was a stripper, too. He wouldn’t help Ryan’s case. Damn. Ryan hated having to rely on others for help. He was a tiger, a dangerous, man-eater if he so chose. Tigers in the wild took care of themselves. But they weren’t shifters. Stiff was his version of the wild. Not a great one, but the club was right on the edge of control.

Ryan stood then shimmied into tear-away shorts. Jake hadn’t mentioned what outfit the client wanted, but the baseball one was comfortable. He removed his boots and put on cleats instead. Looking like a professional athlete never ceased to excite the clients. He pulled the money from his boot and tucked it into his pouch. Before leaving the dressing room, he put the cash into his locker. Better to have the bills safe than lose his tips for the night.

He squared his shoulders and headed around the back of the stage to the private rooms. He peeked through the peephole at the client. His heart hammered. His hottie had arrived. A shock of desire went through him. His cock hardened, and his nipples beaded. The tiger, quiet up to this point, finally took notice. The cat wanted to impress the guy. Ryan balked. What did the tiger want? Money? Sex? Ryan didn’t intend to put out, but the hottie was on his shortlist of possible sex partners—if the guy was interested.

Ryan shook his head and changed his mindset to his Blaze persona. Blaze had the guts to dance and remove his clothes. Blaze did one hell of a lot more things than Ryan ever would. He opened the door and stepped into the room. Time