Cufflinks and Claws

By Megan Slayer

FROM EXCITING AUTHOR OF LGBTQIA ROMANCE MEGAN SLAYER

Book one in the Billion Dollar Wolf series

He's got a billion dollars, but he wants priceless love to last a lifetime. It's not impossible to have love and money, right?

Dixon Meade made his fortune buying and selling property to create a haven for his pack. He doesn't let many in on his secret. He'd give his riches to have the one man who makes him whole, but that man has no idea Dixon isn't just another brilliant businessman—he's a wolf shifter. He's also got less than forty-eight hours to claim his mate and accept his role as the alpha of his pack. The question is, will Sidney accept the various sides of Dixon?

Sidney Ayers has worked alongside Dixon Meade for the last ten years. He's been secretly in love with him since he hired on at the brokerage firm. All he wants is to be with Dixon. When Dixon proposes marriage, Sidney can't turn him down. There's just the tiny matter of Dixon being a wolf.

What's a guy to do when the man of his dreams sprouts fur and has fangs? Run the other way...or accept a forever love?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pride Publishing
• Release date: Apr 4, 2023
• ISBN: 9781839432637

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

Pride Publishing books by Megan Slayer

Single Books

Constant

Permanent

Vaulting

Drive my Car

We Belong Together

Finding Michael

Rogue Royal

Heart of Egypt

Must Love Dogs

The One I Want

You and Me Again

The Real Me

My Other Half

Cedarwood Pride

Home to Cedarwood

Ripples in Cedarwood

Scoring in Cedarwood

Rainbows over Cedarwood

Rocking Cedarwood

Cedarwood Manny

Together in Cedarwood

Doc Cedarwood

Finding Forever in Cedarwood

Silver Fox in Cedarwood

Cedarwood Cowboy

Christmas in Cedarwood

Second Chances in Cedarwood

Starting Over in Cedarwood

Love Me Do

Loving Summer Rain

Complicating Roy

Winning Over Harmon

Falling for Vince

Embracing James

Sugar Daddy Seeking

His Perfect Twink

Anthologies

Out of Bounds: Crossing the Line

Out of Bounds: Making the Play

Aim High: Lifetime Hitch

Brothers in Arms: One Night with You

Rules of Summer: Summer Stock

Collections

What’s his Passion?: Wild Card

Love’s Bloom: Love Next Door

Sun, Sea and…: Sun, Sea and Summer Songs

Billion Dollar Wolf

CUFFLINKS AND CLAWS

MEGAN SLAYER

Cufflinks and Claws

ISBN # 978-1-83943-263-7

©Copyright Megan Slayer 2023

Cover Art by Kelly Martin ©Copyright April 2023

Interior text design by Claire Siemaszkiewicz

Pride Publishing

This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Pride Publishing.

Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Pride Publishing. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

Published in 2023 by Pride Publishing, United Kingdom.

No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the authors’ rights. Purchase only authorised copies.

Pride Publishing is an imprint of Totally Entwined Group Limited.

If you purchased this book without a cover you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as unsold and destroyed to the publisher and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this stripped book.

Book one in the

Billion Dollar Wolf series

It’s not impossible to have love and money, right?

Dixon Meade made his fortune buying and selling property to create a haven for his pack. He doesn’t let many in on his secret. He’d give his riches to have the one man who makes him whole, but that man has no idea Dixon isn’t just another brilliant businessman—he’s a wolf shifter. He’s also got less than forty-eight hours to claim his mate and accept his role as the alpha of his pack. The question is, will Sidney accept the various sides of Dixon?

Sidney Ayers has worked alongside Dixon Meade for the last ten years. He’s been secretly in love with him since he hired on at the brokerage firm. All he wants is to be with Dixon. When Dixon proposes marriage, Sidney can’t turn him down. There’s just the tiny matter of Dixon being a wolf.

What’s a guy to do when the man of his dreams sprouts fur and has fangs? Run the other way…or accept a forever love?

Dedication

For the Lucky Ducks

For JPZ & TPZ

For my editor, Rebecca

Chapter One

Why am I getting signatures on a Saturday? Mr. Meade never does business on the weekend, and he always does this at his office.

Muttering to himself, Sidney Ayers strode up to the porch of his boss Dixon Meade’s woodland retreat. He’d only been to the cabin a few times, but he loved the view of the trees. The peacefulness of the space and the woodland air cleared his lungs. He felt free here. The first time he’d stepped foot on the property, he understood why Mr. Meade would want to live here—it was idyllic. The gigantic fence was hidden by trees and incorporated into the landscape.

He knocked on the pink-ivory-wood door and waited for the butler to answer. While he waited, he admired the porch. He’d always had a thing for wraparound porches and this one was a beauty. It stretched around the entirety of the home, leaving plenty of room for a swing, chairs and making the outside another room for the house. If he had endless streams of money like his boss, he’d live in a place like this. He might never leave. Such was life as a billionaire, he supposed. The man could outfit a home in pink ivory wood—one of the most expensive types of wood on the planet.

William, the butler, opened the door. Mr. Meade is expecting you. He stepped aside and gestured to Sidney. Come in.

Thanks. He ventured into the house and drank in the view. So much pink ivory wood…even the overhead beams were exposed, giving the feeling of a woodland canopy. The dark green carpets cushioned his step and dulled the clunk of his shoes on the floor. He followed William to the living room and waited at the sofa. A gigantic painting of a wolf decorated the space above the fireplace. He could swear the sculptures of the wolves to match the one above the fireplace could’ve been real animals. And did he have a Monet on the wall? Christ. How much had all this luxury and rich decoration cost?

He’ll be right out. William nodded once. Can I get you anything?

No. He spied Mr. Meade’s dog stretched out in the sunshine. This one had to be real. He could see the fur moving as the animal breathed. I forgot he has a dog. He knelt to pet the dog, giving the animal a moment to sniff his fingers. What kind of dog is this? Husky? He’d never seen one with so much brown. Then again, the only huskies he’d ever seen were black and white. He loved the lushness of the dog’s fur and the soulfulness in his eyes. He stroked the dog’s fur. Hi, buddy.

That’s a wolf, William answered.

You’re kidding? he asked. Aren’t they protected?

They are, William said. And this one was procured legally. Mr. Meade will be here shortly. He left Sidney alone with the lupine.

At least you’re nice company. He continued to pet the animal. Of course he’d have a wolf. He wouldn’t have just any dog.

He settled on the floor and sighed. He placed his folder of papers on the table and paid the wolf his full attention. He’d never had a dog. His parents weren’t the type to have a mess in the house and pets of any kind were considered messy. Having two boys was a disaster enough. He shivered.

His parents weren’t the type of people who should’ve had kids, either. They didn’t know how to raise children and hated disorder. They didn’t understand why their boys hadn’t conformed to their desires and why Sidney had ‘turned out gay’. He hadn’t turned out. He’d been born that way—not that his parents accepted him. He could still hear his mother grumbling about not having the privilege of being a grandmother. His brother had married and had two children. Apparently that wasn’t enough.

The wolf stood, then shook before trotting over to the window and snorting. The animal then returned to Sidney and sat before him where it stared at him, unblinking.

He scratched the wolf behind the ears. I know you don’t talk, but you’ve got the most expressive eyes. I wonder what you’re thinking about.

The wolf stretched, then lowered its head. The fur melted away, revealing skin. The limbs shifted from lupine to human and his claws switched to fingers. The shoulders broadened into that of a man and the fur on his head shifted into human ears. A moment later, the wolf had completely shifted into a male human form. The man tipped his head and met Sidney’s gaze. Hello, Sidney.

No. Sidney shook his head. You didn’t…it’s not possible. No fucking way that wolf had just fucking shifted into his boss. Shifters weren’t a thing. They didn’t exist. He backed away from the man. I’m dreaming. He tried to find the exit. He’d come to a madhouse and was being shown parlor tricks. That had to be it. No, Mr. Meade wasn’t the type for parlor tricks or silliness. He’d seen the wolf shift into a man, but it wasn’t possible. Nope. Couldn’t be. Mr. Meade wouldn’t do that to him.

Christ. He was freaking out. His hands shook and he swore there wasn’t a door in the damn house. The wolf was now a man. His brain had to be messing with him.

Had to.

People didn’t turn into wolves or vice-versa.

He scrambled to the door, barely registering his surroundings. All he knew was he had to get out.

Stop, Dixon Meade thundered. Just stop.

Sidney froze. He’d heard his boss use that tone a few times, but never directed at him. I’m sorry, sir.

Mr. Meade grabbed a cashmere blanket from the sofa and covered his lower half with the dark blue accent piece. He tied the blanket around his midsection. Now you know my secret.

I do. He’d seen it, but still didn’t believe it. It didn’t happen. Couldn’t have.

Sidney, stop.

He hated disobeying Mr. Meade, but his brain refused to accept that a man had just shifted from a lupine form. His boss owned thousands of acres of woodlands and worked to preserve the forests. He had five homes, cars most people could only dream of owning and more money than God. He didn’t like jokes and wasn’t one for laughing. Magic wasn’t his style. That was how Sidney, who’d worked for Mr. Meade for ten years, knew his boss hadn’t truly shifted. It’s a trick, right?

No.

Illusion? Had to be.

No.

Irritation swept through him. What did you do?

Mr. Meade laughed. Only three people may question me like that. My father, my brother and you.

He’d never questioned his boss before, but the words had slipped right from his lips before he could take them back. I’m sorry.

I see so much potential in you. I see a young man who is in need of an escape, but also in need of something more. Mr. Meade’s gaze heated. You want freedom and to be respected.

He wasn’t sure what Mr. Meade meant. Yes, he’d worked Sidney hard, but he’d been told good work did a body good. He frowned. Maybe I do. He shouldn’t have such an attitude, but he couldn’t help himself. He didn’t like being lied to or having to deal with silliness.

You do. Mr. Meade gestured to the sofa. Sit. I need to speak with you.

I was told to bring paperwork for you to sign. Do you still need to do that? Sidney perched on the cushion. Or was that a joke?

You’re harsh. Mr. Meade sat across from him. "I let you in on my secret for a reason and it has nothing to do with signatures. I need you."

He stared at his boss. For a split second, he’d felt an undercurrent of sex in Mr. Meade’s request. But why? Mr. Meade wasn’t attracted to him. He couldn’t be.