Taming Leo Available Now

May 16

It’s finally here, and I’m so excited!

Jason and Leo helped clear the clouds that had been lingering above my head for a long time, and now I can see and feel the words, as well as the characters I write. Here are the first three chapters. Enjoy!

Blurb

Leo Devereux, the powerful CEO of Devereux Real Estate, Architecture & Design, isn’t new to whirlwind flings that are hot, intense, and over before the sheets cool. However, one night left a mark. One gray-eyed stranger, one unforgettable connection... and then gone by morning. No name, no note. Just a memory Leo can’t shake.

Jason Dupree never expected a one-night stand to follow him across continents. His friends thought it was hilarious to hire an escort for his birthday and going-away gift, a wild send-off before grad school in Singapore. He imagined it would be fun and drunken, with no strings attached. It was definitely not the start of something that would linger for years.

Six years later, Jason is back in Valleywood with a degree, accolades, and two clever, chaotic kids in tow. He has just landed a job at DRA&D and hopes to advance in his career. What he doesn’t see coming? Running into the man who, unknowingly, fathered his children.

When Leo and Jason lock eyes again, the chemistry snaps back into place: instant, charged, and impossible to ignore. Both try to downplay it. However, when Leo makes a surprising request, Jason, a single father, agrees. What begins as a slow burn quickly turns into something neither of them can control: raw, real, and hard to walk away from.

But Leo is keeping a secret. One that could shake everything they are trying to build. If it comes out, it might tear them apart... or finally give them the family they never knew they were searching for.

Chapter One

Jason stumbled through the hotel lobby, one hand pressed against the wall to steady himself. He was so drunk that he could barely see straight, his vision swimming with blurred lights and shifting colors. To celebrate their graduation from Valleywood University, he and his friends had gone all out, renting a private karaoke party room at Luxe Horizon Hotel, overflowing with top-shelf liquor, pulsing music, gourmet food, and lively hostesses who kept the energy high. It was a triple celebration; not only was he graduating, but it was also his birthday, and soon, he’d be heading to Singapore to further his studies in architecture.

As a going-away present, his friends had pooled their money to hire him a high-priced escort. Jason had no idea how they’d even managed it, considering that kind of service was exclusive to hotel members. But in his current state, the details didn’t matter. If he were sober, he would have refused outright without a second thought. But right now? Right now, he wanted to be daring, to let go of his inhibitions, just this once.

Since being kicked out of his family at age eighteen, he had poured every waking moment into work and study, determined to graduate early. He had sacrificed sleep, relationships, and even the simplest joys just to reach this point.

So why the fuck not? I’m too young to live like an old man who has passed his partying and fucking prime.

He hadn’t had sex since the night of his prom when he lost his virginity to a guy just as inexperienced as he was in a disappointing three seconds. He had timed it, caught up in the excitement of finally joining the ranks of those who had done it. So maybe sleeping with a stranger, someone who actually knew what they were doing, would take the awkwardness out of the equation.

It’s just one night. What could it hurt?

Jason shuffled through the dimly lit corridor, squinting as he tried to make out the numbers on the room doors. Had Tracy said 609 or 906? He couldn’t remember. Although he was tempted, knocking on every door to ask if they were the escort his friends had paid for was out of the question. That would be utterly humiliating. Just as he turned the corner, he collided face-first into something solid and unyielding, like a wall.

“Fuck,” he groaned, his eyes stinging as tears blurred his already unsteady vision. Sharp pain radiated from his nose, the unfortunate casualty of the collision. Instinctively, he pressed his hands against the solid surface, trying to regain his balance, but his knees buckled the moment he stepped back. There was no stopping it; he was about to become very well acquainted with the floor.

But before he could crash down and form a painful bond with the ground, strong hands caught him by the waist, stopping his fall. In a dizzy blur, his world tilted, and before he could process what was happening, his back was pressed against an equally hard, unyielding surface.

When did walls get so warm...and grow arms? Jason wondered hazily, his drunken mind struggling to grasp reality. Before he could fully process what was happening, hot, wet lips collided with his, stealing his breath and eliciting a moan from deep within his chest.

Oh, fuck, whoever this is can kiss.

The rough scrape of a five o’clock shadow brushed against his skin, sending a shiver down his spine. He knew it was a man. He should have pushed him away, but his body refused to listen. It felt too good. Too right...and gods, he wanted this.

No, he needed this.

His muddled brain struggled to determine whether he was dreaming or still trapped in reality. But in the end, it didn’t matter. All he knew was that his friends had arranged an escort for him, and somehow, they had found each other.

Jason whimpered against the demanding lips, his breath ragged and his pulse pounding in his veins. He scarcely had a moment to catch his breath before an intoxicating aroma engulfed his senses: masculine, rich, and dark. Heat pooled beneath his skin, burning through him, forcing him to tug at his shirt in a desperate attempt to cool down. But before he could strip it off, strong fingers gripped his wrists, pinning his arms against the hard surface on either side of his head. Lips ghosted along his jaw, tracing a heated path down his neck, teasing the shell of his ear before sharp teeth sank into his skin, making Jason shudder.

A deep, raspy voice sliced through the haze of drunken desire. "Are you willing?"

Of course I’m willing. Why else would I kiss you as if it were my last breath?

To prove it, he hooked a leg around the escort’s waist, drawing him closer until their bodies aligned. A needy moan escaped as he ground his aching cock against the man’s solid frame, craving more.

The escort chuckled, tightening his grip on Jason’s wrists. "Don’t regret this in the morning."

The next thing he knew, he was being lifted off his feet, his body instinctively molding against the firm grip around him. They were moving, yet all Jason could focus on was the word regret echoing in his mind. He wouldn’t regret this. Not when his body burned with desire, every nerve ignited with need, pleading for release. His omega slick soaked through his underwear, undeniable proof of just how badly he craved this.

As soon as his back hit the mattress, the escort was on him again, capturing his lips in a deep, breath-stealing kiss. Their hands moved with urgency, quickly stripping away clothes and tossing them aside carelessly. A nagging thought lingered in the back of Jason’s mind: something important, something he should pay attention to. But then his legs were parted, and a thick finger slid inside his slick hole, obliterating all rational thought. He groaned, instinctively pressing down against the intrusion, his body yearning for more. The slow, deliberate drag of a single finger sent his brain spinning, his nerves tingling with anticipation for what lay ahead.

"More," he whimpered, his voice breathless with desire.

"Greedy little thing, aren’t you?" the deep voice rumbled in his ear, rich with amusement.

"Too much talking, fuck me," Jason growled, crashing their mouths together.

The escort did not hesitate. Instead, he added another finger alongside the first, stretching Jason, keeping him teetering on the knife’s edge between pain and pleasure. Jason rocked his hips, grinding his cock against the man's hard abs, his body silently begging for more.

A pleased shiver coursed through him, and it seemed that the escort had received the message. Then suddenly, the fingers disappeared. Before Jason could react, he was flipped onto his stomach. Strong hands gripped his waist, pulling him to his knees and spreading his legs open.

Jason buried his face in the pillow, a deep moan ripping from his throat as a thick, hot cock pressed against his waiting entrance. A rough hand slid up his body, fingers tightening around his neck, pulling him flush against a firm, sweat-slicked chest.

"Let me hear you," the escort growled, driving in with a smooth, relentless stroke.

Jason howled, his body shaking violently from the sudden invasion. Pain and pleasure melded together, raw and overwhelming, yet he didn’t pull away. He couldn’t because it felt too good. A deep moan tore from his lips as he clenched around the thick length buried inside him, as if his body refused to let go. The escort didn’t move right away. Instead, he rolled his hips slowly, grinding his pelvis against Jason’s ass, stretching him further and forcing him to feel every inch.

"Fuck, you fit me like a glove," the deep voice murmured in his ear, laced with undeniable possessiveness.

Jason smirked through the haze of desire, rolling his hips in invitation. "Then take me."

A low growl rumbled in response, thick with challenge. "You're so fucking cocky. Let’s see if you can keep up with me all night."

Jason didn’t get a chance to respond. The escort took control, slamming into him with deep, unrelenting strokes, stretching him, claiming him, unraveling him piece by piece. His mind, body, and soul melted into the man’s hands, shaped and molded however he pleased. The air thickened with sex, pheromones, and the lingering haze of alcohol, merging into a heady cocktail that made Jason feel drunk all over again. A dull discomfort flickered in his lower abdomen, yet he dismissed it. He was deeply lost. Too focused on the pleasure, consuming him whole.

"Oh, fuck yes," he moaned, spreading his legs wider, his back arching in complete surrender.

The fingers tightening around his throat didn't bring fear; instead, they unleashed raw, unfiltered ecstasy.

"Oh gods, please, oh gods, please," he whimpered, his fingers clawing at the sturdy headboard. He pushed back, meeting every thrust, chasing the pleasure that ignited inside him like wildfire. The burn. The stretch. It was an exquisite bliss. Too much...and yet not enough.

"No god can save you from me," his partner rasped, his voice thick with hunger, low and commanding. "Tonight, I am your only god."

Jason couldn’t speak even if he wanted to.

His world shattered as the next thrust sent him spiraling into blissful oblivion. Pleasure detonated through him, his slick hole clenching as his orgasm tore through his body. His cum spurted onto the sheets beneath him, but his partner didn’t stop. He fucked Jason through it, through the aftershocks, through the trembling weakness that overtook his limbs.

Jason barely noticed the sharp bite at the back of his neck, right where his omega knot lay hidden. A flicker of unease ignited deep within him, but it was overshadowed by his body’s reaction to the thick knot tightening inside of him. He should have been worried. He should have recognized that something wasn’t right.

But as wet heat flooded his insides, scorching him, igniting another wave of unbearable pleasure, his body betrayed him once more. His recently spent cock twitched, hardening again as his partner pulled him into another round.

And then another one followed until they both slipped into a blissful, exhausted sleep.

Jason nuzzled his face into the pillow, a soft and warm groan slipping from his lips at the discomfort. It was too firm, too unfamiliar. A dull, deep soreness settled into his muscles, the weight of exhaustion pressing down on him. Slowly, he pried open his heavy eyelids, waiting for the world to come into focus. A flicker of gold caught his gaze, the soft, golden hue of morning sunlight filtering through the curtains.

Where am I? This isn't my apartment.

Jason covered his face, his mind sluggish as he tried to piece together how he had ended up in someone else’s bed. Then, like shards of glass slicing through the fog, the memories crashed into him, jagged, fragmented, and all too vivid. He froze, his breath catching. Behind his fingers, his eyes widened. Drinking, singing, and sex—lots of it. With a hooker…no, an escort. Slowly, he sat up, uncovering his face. The golden glow he had mistaken for sunlight was a man who was fast asleep.

Jason couldn't tell what he looked like because his long, curly, jet-black hair covered most of his face. He was tempted to pull it back but didn't want to tempt fate and wake the guy up.

Fuck, Tracy really knows how to pick an escort who is my body type.

Biting his bottom lip, he reached out a hand to gently pull some of the man's hair back so he could get a look at the face, but he froze and held his breath when the sleeping figure shifted but did not wake up. Jason let out a relieved breath and took it as his cue to get the hell out before the guy truly woke up. Jason had heard enough horror stories from his friends about awkward morning-after conversations, and he wasn’t about to stick around for one of his own. Moving carefully, he slipped out of bed, biting back a wince as his body protested every movement.

He glared at the sleeping figure, silently cursing him to the high heavens. Fuck, I feel like I was tossed around like a rag doll.

Dragging on his clothes was an ordeal in itself, and every sore muscle was a throbbing reminder of what had happened last night. Only when he was fully dressed did his gaze flicker back to the man in bed.

Right. He’s an escort. It’s only fair that I leave a tip. Jason pulled out his wallet, thumbing through the bills before counting out a hundred dollars. He was about to set it down but hesitated. I still need cash for later. With a half-shrug, he took back half. Then hesitated again. Finally, with a quiet sigh, he placed the remaining bills on the nightstand and stepped back.

Then, as another wave of soreness rippled through his body, he reconsidered. "Learn to be gentler next time," he muttered under his breath, snatching back the fifty dollars. Peeling off a twenty, he let it flutter onto the guy’s face before stuffing the rest back into his wallet.

It’s not like I’ll ever see this guy again.

With a final glance around the room to make sure he wasn’t forgetting anything, Jason slipped out without a second look. He didn’t stop, didn’t hesitate, and just strode out of the hotel, leaving the past few very pleasurable hours behind. He couldn’t deny it had been one hell of a send-off. And if nothing else, it was a fantastic way to kick off his future.

Chapter Two

Leo pried his heavy eyes open, blinking against the morning light. A frown tugged at his lips as he felt something stuck to his face. Reaching up, he peeled it away, his brows knitting together when he saw what it was.

A twenty-dollar bill.

What the hell...?

Leo sat up, pinching the bridge of his nose as hazy fragments of last night crashed into him. A sharp exhale escaped his lips, his chest rising and falling beneath the weight of memories. A lightly muscled, writhing body pressed against his breathless, broken moans—a sweet voice, raw with need, calling for him as if he were a god.

Heat flowed across his skin, so intense it sent a shiver down his spine.

It all started so simply. Leo had spent the evening finalizing a lucrative business deal with foreign dignitaries at the Luxe Horizon Hotel. The negotiations had been exhausting, extending late into the night, but the reward had been worth it. On his way out, he’d run into his friends Julien Ellis, the sharp-minded owner of Onyx Sentinel Cybersecurity, and Avery Shaw, the mastermind behind the Luxe Horizon Hotel and several of Valleywood’s most elite restaurants. Both men were at the bar, celebrating their successes, with drinks flowing as freely as their laughter. They had coaxed him into staying, insisting one drink wouldn’t kill him.

One became two. Then three. Then more.

The celebration moved to a private room, secluded from the rest of the hotel, illuminated by dim lighting and saturated with indulgence. The drinks kept flowing. And when several beautiful, flirtatious hostesses joined them, eager to keep the night going, Leo figured, why the hell not? That had been his first mistake. He had drunk too much, but that was precisely why he held a membership at the Luxe Horizon. Nights like this were expected. If things spiraled out of control, he had a safe place to sleep it off.

When he stood, his world tilted violently beneath him, and a wave of dizziness struck him hard and fast, sharp and disorienting. Instantly, heat surged through his veins, unnatural and all-consuming. His body burned. This wasn’t the slow buzz of alcohol or the draw of exhaustion. This was something else—something wrong.

His pulse pounded in his ears. His limbs felt sluggish and heavy.

Then he realized someone had drugged him.

It must have happened when he wasn’t paying attention, engrossed in conversation and laughing with his friends, completely unaware of the moment when his drink was tainted. His vision blurred. His skin felt overly hot and sensitive, while his thoughts slipped through his grasp like sand through his fingers. A familiar ache coiled deep within him, sharp and unyielding. This was not merely a drug.

It was a potent and quick-acting aphrodisiac.

His body burned, every nerve ablaze with unbearable sensitivity. Each shift and every brush of fabric against his overheated skin sent electric shocks of sensation through him. His mind grew hazy, slipping further from his grasp as the need within him swelled, unrelenting and impossible to ignore.

"Are you alright, Leo?"

He recognized Julien’s voice, steady yet tinged with concern.

"Yeah," he lied, his voice rougher than he had expected. "I need to go."

Julien didn’t seem convinced, nor did Avery, who moved closer and pressed a hand to Leo’s cheek. His gaze was piercing and searching.

"Did someone give you drugs?" Julain asked.

Leo exhaled sharply. "Yeah, an aphrodisiac."

A flicker of anger crossed Julien’s face. "Let's get you out of here."

"No." He silenced them with a glance, his jaw clenched. "I'll have Talos handle it. You two find out who did this."

Avery nodded, his expression becoming more resolute. "You got it. Get some rest."

Leo left the investigation to his friends and stumbled out of the lounge, his legs unsteady, his body burning from the inside out. He pressed his back against the cool marble wall, desperate for relief, but it wasn’t enough. It wasn’t what his body needed. His fingers trembled as he struggled to find his phone. His vision blurred, and his pulse thundered in his ears. He typed a single message to his special assistant with effort.

Get me an escort. Send them to my room.

The next thing he remembered was stumbling into his hotel room, fumbling with the lock, and then someone was in his arms. A lightly muscled, eager body pressed against him, molding to him so perfectly that it felt inevitable, as if they had been waiting for him. Their lips collided with his, desperate, consuming him as if he were sin itself. Leo couldn’t recall if a single word passed between them. His booze-and-drug-clouded mind made sure of that. All he knew was that he couldn’t resist. He wanted all of it: their touch, their lips, their body.

Immortal or not, he was still a man. And in that moment, all he wanted to do was fuck.

A low groan rumbled from his chest as he rubbed his temples, his head pounding from the effects of alcohol and mind-numbing sex. The memories were fragmented and incomplete. He recalled gray eyes, piercing and haunting. And a beauty mark that stood out even in the night's blur. But the rest? Gone.

Had they been beautiful? He could only hope. Leo blinked away the lingering haze of sleep, his gaze scanning the room. Empty. His companion had vanished without a trace as if they were nothing more than a fevered dream.

But it was real.

The faint scent of sex still clung to the air, a ghostly reminder of the night before. He wasn’t sure if he was relieved or disappointed that the escort had left before he woke up. Frowning, he picked up the twenty dollars just as the door to his hotel room opened. From his vantage point, he watched Talos step inside, ever-efficient, with a steaming cup of coffee in one hand and a suit garment bag draped over the other.

"Sir, I brought a change of clothes," Talos said, hanging the garment bag over the back of the couch before stepping into the bedroom. "And coffee." He paused, his tone measured as always. "I also spoke with Mr. Shaw. He has identified the culprit, and they have been dealt with."

Leo nodded, refraining from asking further questions. He understood precisely what it meant when Avery took care of people. Setting the incident aside, he concentrated on the more urgent issue.

"Who was I with yesterday evening?"

Talos’s expression remained impassive. "I am not certain, sir. The young man who was sent to you reported that you never responded to the door."

Leo hummed, pondering that for a moment. "Find out who it was."

Talos nodded. "Yes, sir."

Leo reached for the crumpled bill beside him, holding it up between two fingers. "Oh, and when you do, return this."

Talos wore a frown. "What is that?"

A smirk played on Leo's lips. "My tip, I guess."

Talos approached, taking the bill from Leo’s hand. He studied it for a beat before raising an eyebrow. "Is he saying you’re only worth twenty dollars? Maybe you need to work on your technique."

Leo’s gaze darkened ominously. "Do you want a smack?"

Talos grinned but quickly composed himself, tucking the bill away. "No, sir. I’ll do as you instructed."

"Good."

With a lingering smirk, Talos turned and walked out of the room.

Leo exhaled and pushed the covers back, but when he moved to step out of bed, he suddenly froze. His gaze was fixated on a crimson stain against the pristine white sheets as his breath stilled and a torrent of unsettling thoughts flooded his mind, each one more disquieting than the last.

Was he a virgin? Was I too rough last night?

Leo ran a hand through his hair, trying to remember whether the man had shown any discomfort or hesitation. As far as he could recall, nothing had shouted danger. The man had moaned, begged, and clung to him, wanting more.

However, the red stain revealed a different story.

Leo prided himself on control, which was why he hated doing any kind of drugs. He knew he was well-endowed and was always careful with his partners. This involved using protection.

At that thought, his stomach sank.

He turned sharply, scanning the room, and his gaze fell on the trash can next to the bed.

Empty.

His pulse quickened. He got out of bed, his eyes scanning the floor for any signs of discarded wrappers. A condom. Anything.

Fuck. Nothing.

A slow, chilling realization crept over him, winding ice particles around his spine. His jaw clenched as urgency coiled tightly in his chest, twisting more and more with every passing second.

"I messed up." His voice emerged low and rough, laced with a hint of panic. Leo exhaled sharply, running his fingers through his hair once more, his mind racing.

"If he gets pregnant, I'll take responsibility."

And he meant it. However, he first needed to find him.

Leo set the thought aside for now. He couldn't do anything until Talos returned with the man’s information. He made his way to the bathroom, attended to his morning needs, and used the extra toiletries provided by the hotel. The ordinary act centered him, calming his mind as he switched on the shower and stepped beneath the steaming spray. Heat seeped into his skin, easing the tension in his sore muscles, yet his mind didn’t wander to last night. Instead, it drifted through the centuries that had shaped him.

Most regarded him as a man in his thirties. Few would suspect the truth that he was more than three thousand years old. Throughout the rise and fall of civilizations, Leo had lived under countless names, honing his skills as a master builder, painter, sculptor, inventor, and architect. However, one name resonated throughout history.

Daedalus.

A name he occasionally forgot. A name that belonged to a different lifetime.

But today, the world knew him as Leonides Devereux, the real estate tycoon, architect, and visionary he had chosen to be. When Leo first moved to Valleywood, years before Loki, the god of tricks, became mayor, he founded Devereux Real Estate, Architecture & Designs. He had always kept himself apart from divine gossip, especially after the trouble he had caused by defying the gods and aiding mortals in his past life.

However, those with true knowledge of the divine knew the truth.

Loki had lost his powers.

The once-mischievous god now lived as a human, though one possessing superhuman strength and intelligence. Leo had never put much stock in Loki. To him, the trickster was simply another chaotic force, more of a nuisance than a threat. Although Loki had angered the gods countless times with his schemes, the stunt that cost him his divinity was attempted murder when he already had blood on his hands. That irony was not lost on Leo. Loki had committed far worse offenses and survived divine wrath. For this to be his downfall was either a cosmic joke or Odin’s plan all along to weave Loki’s powers into the very fabric of Valleywood.

Time will tell.

Since becoming mayor, Loki had changed in ways that Leo hadn’t expected. The reckless god he’d once heard tales of on Mount Olympus was nowhere to be seen. Though still sharp-tongued and irreverent, he carried himself with a quiet steadiness, a side of him few ever witnessed. In their business dealings, he was always direct, more measured than chaotic. There was something different about him now, something more controlled, as if he had finally learned when to wield his unpredictability and when to rein it in.

Leo didn’t dwell on it; he had other things to focus on.

When he had just turned twenty, the goddess Athena took pity on him and adopted him in name, blood, and magic. She bestowed upon him the gift of immortality and extraordinary physical strength, as well as healing abilities, a bit of her knowledge and astuteness in battle, and the ability to manipulate runes. He had used that ability many times on objects, buildings, and even his blueprints, but never on people. Athena was convinced that his talents were too great to vanish with time. Leo was grateful for his mother’s gift and took full advantage of everything life offered, but he also didn’t flaunt his powers, choosing instead to live through his experiences.

Yet, even with all he had accomplished and built and gained, he couldn’t deny a simple truth.

Something was missing.

Leo knew exactly what it was, but he would never say the word out loud. If he did, Athena would appear out of nowhere and start setting him up on blind dates, and that was a nightmare he wasn’t ready to deal with.

Leo had never imagined the regal, battle-hardened Athena as a mother hen at heart, much less one who longed to be a grandmother. According to her, she had never married; neither god nor mortal had ever been worthy enough to be her lover. Thus, she had remained a virgin, choosing instead to adopt mortal children she considered exceptional, bestowing upon them immortality in acknowledgment of their talents and contributions to the world. Leo would never argue that his mother was selfish. However, in her defense, she never pretended to be anything else.

She had only one other child besides him: his younger sister, Ada Lovelace. A former duchess who was credited for being one of the first computer programmers.

Ada was an expert at getting under his skin. Despite being given not only a department but an entire company to lead the integration of artificial intelligence into the smart homes they were developing in Dragon City before expanding to the other districts, she still treated him like an old man stuck in the past.

Leo didn’t care what she thought. She was barely two hundred and ten years old. What the hell did she know?

Shaking his head, Leo pushed thoughts of his sister aside and finished his shower. He stepped out, wrapping a towel around his waist before reaching for another, rubbing it over his damp body and hair as he exited the bathroom, only to freeze mid-step. Sitting in the room and casually scanning through her phone was a stoic beauty with long, flowing platinum-blonde curls that reached her thighs. She looked no older than fifty, her sharp gaze locked on the screen before her.

Athena.

Leo had long since stopped trying to figure out how Athena always knew when he was thinking about her and how, without fail, she always appeared the moment he did.

"When will you stop indulging in these one-night flings and finally settle down?" Athena asked, her tone laced with the exhaustion of a battle she had fought too many times before.

Leo sighed, reaching for the coffee Talos had left for him. Thankfully, it was still hot—one of the small perks of living in a magical city where food and drinks were enchanted to maintain their ideal temperature.

"At least let me have a sip of my coffee before I answer." He took a deep, fortifying gulp, savoring the way the sweet bitterness grounded him.

"There. You’ve had your sip. Now, answer my question."

Leo barely had time to set the cup down before she pressed him again, her patience as thin as ever when it came to this subject.

"When I find the right one," he replied, his tone steady, unwilling to let her pull him into this conversation any further than necessary.

"I thought you had found the right one long ago, but..."

"Don't mention him," Leo snapped. He didn't want to think about the one man he had given his heart to, who had imprisoned him. This was also the catalyst that led Athena to adopt him as her son.

"Daedalus..." Athena began.

"Mother, please," Leo interrupted. "Minos and I are in the way past."

Memories of his love affair with King Minos flashed in his mind, and he quickly shook his head, banishing them to the underworld.

"I heard he is making waves in Greece," she tsked. "He goes by the name Elias."

"Good, and let's hope he stays there."

"You really are over him?" Athena asked.

The word "yes" was on the tip of his tongue but was never said. Leo couldn't believe that after so many centuries, he still had some affection for the man.

"Fucking, Ishtar, I‘m still trying to find out what she has on Minos and why he did what he did. But I know part of it is to spite me," Athena fumed. "It's not my fault she can't handle rejection."

The beef between Athena and Ishtar dated back thousands of years. However, it was primarily the mesopotamian goddess of love and sex who had the issue. She’s been infatuated with Athena and even tried to court her, but was rejected. As a matter of fact Athena wasn't interested in being with anyone even to this day.

Leo moisturized his skin as he listened to his mother's rant, then reached for the garment bag and pulled out the fresh pair of underwear Talos had packed. Keeping the towel loosely wrapped around his waist, he stepped into them, adjusting the waistband with a satisfied hum as the fabric conformed perfectly to his skin. Leo had recently developed a liking for the TS Fashion brand; the fit was seamless, the material breathable, and best of all, it didn’t ride up throughout the day—a small but appreciated magical miracle.

Without a second thought, he yanked off the towel and tossed it onto the bed, continuing his morning routine. Athena remained completely unfazed, watching him with the patience of a goddess who had witnessed far worse in her time.

"When will that be?" she asked, her voice quieter this time. "Don't be like me, Daedalus."

A shadow flickered across her flawless features, brief but unmistakable—something close to regret.

Leo’s expression softened. "It’s not too late for you to fall in love, Mother. Gods as old as Odin are falling in love again."

“We’re not talking about me," she deflected smoothly, stepping closer. Her fingers found his tie and adjusted it with the practiced ease of someone who had done it a thousand times before.

"Do you have a busy day planned?" she asked, her tone light, almost too casual.

Leo squinted. "The usual. Why?"

Leo knew better than to take his mother’s questions at face value. When Athena asked something seemingly innocent, it meant she had something up her sleeve. She was the goddess of knowledge, after all, an expert at weaving words, shifting conversations, and leading people precisely where she wanted them to go. Even after all these years, she still had a knack for making him agree to things before he even realized it.

"Let’s have breakfast together," she suggested smoothly. "We’ll call Ada..."

Leo interrupted her. "You’re hiding something from me."

Athena sighed, exasperated. "Why are you such a suspicious child?"

Leo raised an eyebrow. "I’m over three thousand years old. Hardly a child, Mother."

She smirked. "You’ll always be one to me. Why, I still remember the day we met. You were just a young architect, so full of dreams—"

"Mom, please, let’s not go down memory lane," Leo groaned. "And don’t try to change the subject. What do you want me to do? Better yet, who the hell do you want me to meet?"

Athena’s face brightened. "I met a wonderful young lady who would be perfect for you. She’s—"

"No." Leo cut her off before she could continue.

She blinked. "Why not?"

Leo sighed. He had never cared whether his bed partners were men or women. Pleasure was pleasure, and satisfaction was what truly mattered.

"Mother, I’m busy. I don’t need you finding me a date."

"But this young lady is perfect for you. And it would make me happy."

Leo rolled his eyes. Here comes the infamous Athena guilt trip.

"Mother, I—" he began, but Talos interrupted.

"Sir, I have bad news," Talos interjected as he stepped into the room, his eyes focused on his tablet. "The hotel cameras were down last night and have only just come back up. I contacted Mr. Shaw for assistance, and he said he’d get back to me when he could. However, I did find out that a group of college graduates were celebrating, and they ordered a..."

He trailed off when Athena cleared her throat.

Talos finally looked up, his eyes widening in shock before he straightened immediately. "Ah, madam. When did you arrive?"

Leo smirked, fully aware of what Talos truly wanted to ask: how the hell did she know he was here?

Talos was mortal. He knew shifters existed; his best friend was a cat shifter, something Leo had overheard him mention more than once. But gods? Talos believed they were nothing more than myths. He was human and remained blissfully unaware of the divine. To him, gods were simply ancient legends.

Athena smiled, completely at ease. "Young Talos, I’ve been trying to persuade my son to have breakfast with me. Tell me, what’s his schedule?"

To his credit, Talos barely hesitated. "Um… Sir has a nine o’clock meeting with a new investor."

Behind Athena’s back, Leo discreetly gave Talos a thumbs-up, making a mental note to add a thousand-dollar bonus to his paycheck; the man had earned it.

Athena hummed, clearly unconvinced. "Is that so?"

Before she could call Talos out, Leo jumped in. "Where’s the meeting?"

Talos, catching on quickly, replied promptly. "At the office. If we don’t leave now, we’ll be late."

Athena’s expression brightened. "Oh, that’s perfect. We’ll have lunch instead."

Leo felt as if his soul left his body when she leaned in and kissed his cheek.

"We will see you later, dear," she called over her shoulder, far too pleased with herself as she swept out of the room.

Leo turned, glaring at Talos. "Thanks a lot, Talos."

Talos frowned. "Sir?"

Leo crossed his arms. "You just lost your bonus for the month."

Talos blinked, truly perplexed. "But I just covered for you."

Leo sighed, rubbing his temples. "Forget it. Let’s get to the office. And don’t forget to keep searching for who I slept with last night."

His gaze flicked back to the bed. The red stain was now hidden, but that did little to ease the twisting in his gut. He still wasn’t sure what to feel. Becoming a father had never been something he feared. However, he had always envisioned it happening when he was in love...again.

Chapter Three

Six Years Later

Jason navigated the bustling airport, one hand gripping a suitcase with an adorable five-year-old perched on top, while the other held onto a little boy who matched her in age and striking features. Five years ago, when he left Valleywood for Singapore, he thought he was carrying only his hopes, dreams, and luggage.

He had been wrong. Jason had found that he was almost three months pregnant.

After the initial shock wore off, he pulled himself together and took responsibility. It wasn’t the kids’ fault that he hadn’t realized he’d gone through his heat cycle, or that he’d missed his suppressants by a single day. The first two years were brutal. Juggling school, pregnancy, and newborns nearly broke him, but Jason refused to give up.

Once the twins were born, he’d hired a nanny to help during the day while he studied through the night. His babies became his purpose, his driving force. And if not for his grandfather granting him the first half of his inheritance, along with scholarships and competition winnings, he wouldn’t have been able to afford the help he so desperately needed.

Having the twins only pushed him harder, making him more determined to succeed and ensuring they had a better upbringing than he ever had. His parents opposed everything he wanted, from his career choices to his move to Singapore. Being thrown out at eighteen had turned out to be a blessing in disguise. It forced him to understand his strengths and weaknesses on his own.

Jason had grown up in a home where competition wasn’t just encouraged, it was expected. His father, a lawyer, and his mother, a pharmacologist, constantly pitted him and his siblings against each other. At first, it was all well and good. Until the rivalry turned violent and hospital visits became routine.

He was the one the doctors and nurses looked at with pity while they bandaged or operated on him. But no one ever called the authorities. Why would they? His mother was a well-regarded researcher at Valleywood General, and they were told he was a clumsy child, so his broken bones were his fault.

The strange thing was that the doctors did an excellent job of mending him because, as he matured, the scars seemed to fade away, as if everything that had happened to him during childhood and his teenage years existed solely in his mind. He believed it was because he was an unbound omega, but he knew he had not been born with the healing abilities that most had. His older brother, Ian, had followed in their mother’s footsteps, becoming a scientist. A researcher, to be exact. His sister, Willa, had done the same with their father, and worked for the same law firm, pursuing law as if it had been embedded in her DNA. They were business lawyers and known as the toughest father and daughter litigators winning their clients millions of dollars even if they are in the wrong. Jason wouldn’t deny that out of his two siblings his sister was the most spoiled and annoying. From childhood, she would cause trouble and blame it on Jason, smirking whenever his parents scolded him or his brother beat him until he was bloody. She’d whine and bully her way to get what she wanted and no one would question things. Her ploys didn’t just work on his parents, it included everyone in his family. It was as if she had cast a spell on them.

Which was why they saw Jason as the black sheep of the family.

Everyone in his family, including his grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, was either a lawyer or a doctor.

Then, there was Jason.

Jason, the black sheep, the one who dared to dream of becoming an architect, despite how hard they tried to change his mind. Sometimes, he wondered if it was because he was an unbound omega born with a knot at the base of his neck. Maybe they saw it as a weakness. Perhaps that was why his father and brother had spent years beating him down under the guise of making him strong.

Not that he had ever asked.

Because, honestly? Jason didn’t want to know their twisted justifications. They had never cared about the things that mattered to him, so why should he care about their opinions? They had never recognized that being an architect was a respected career or congratulated him on the awards and achievements he’d won in college. Hell, he doubted they would even care that Ada, vice president of one of the most powerful real estate and architecture firms in Valleywood, had personally scouted him.

Jason would work for Arcadis Development, a division dedicated to preserving history while innovating for the future. The thought filled him with excitement; he was eager to learn, challenge himself, and create. The company had given him two weeks to settle in before his official start date, which was plenty of time to get his life in order. But before anything else, he needed to meet his best friend, who’d promised to pick him and the twins up from the airport.

Jason looked down at his children, a warm smile spreading across his lips.

They were his heart, his mischievous, brilliant little troublemakers who filled him with both pride and constant worry. Unlike the cutthroat competition of his childhood, Jason instilled one lesson in his twins above all else: stick together. Xander, or IcXander, had inherited a love for drawing and often stayed close when Jason worked at home. Even at five, the kid could already understand the basics of a blueprint.

Meanwhile, Sera was insatiably curious, never without her smartpad, and constantly absorbing information. But for all their brilliance, they were still five years old. They fussed when they were tired, cried when they needed their daddy, and, most importantly, had an imagination that kept him on his toes. Whether it was convincing Xander he couldn’t jump off the table because gravity existed or explaining to Sera why she absolutely could not have a spear every day, it was an adventure.

But honestly? Jason wouldn’t trade it for anything. They were his; he would protect them, give them everything their hearts desired, and ensure they never felt alone.

"Daddy, are we going to see Papa?" Xander’s small voice interrupted Jason’s thoughts.

Jason looked down and gave his tiny hand a gentle squeeze. "Not today, Boebié. Your papa is busy."

The twins had not stopped asking about their father since they learned they were moving back to Valleywood. Jason, however, had not thought about that man in years.

Initially, he had considered tracking him down. But what was the point? There were too many what-ifs. What if he didn’t want children? What if he was married? What if that night had merely been a mistake to him? Jason had no desire to add more complications to his life. Besides, he could barely remember what the man looked like. He couldn’t identify him in a police lineup, let alone track him down. His focus wasn’t on the past; it was on the future. On his career. Maybe one day, he’d look for love. But until then, he had everything he needed.

"Daddy, are you sure he’s busy?" Jason glanced at Sera, who was watching him far too closely. What's with the suspicious look? I swear this kid was a reborn ancestor, but I don't know which one. "Or do you just not want to look for him?" she asked, tilting her head suspiciously.

His stomach twisted. His baby girl was too smart for her own good. Jason sighed, shaking his head. Who told me that explaining everything to them when they were two was a good idea? He had assumed they wouldn’t remember, that their tiny toddler brains wouldn’t hold onto the fact that they were the result of a one-night stand.

He had been very, very wrong.

"Don’t worry, Daddy!" Xander declared. “I’ll find Papa!"

Jason felt a sinking sensation in his stomach, and before he could respond, Xander yanked his hand away and sprinted through the airport.

Jason’s mind froze.

No, no, he wouldn’t run into the street!

"Xander, come back here!" he shouted.

Jason took off after his son without hesitation, dragging his luggage behind him and weaving through startled travelers. The little menace, Sera, laughed and cheered, clapping her hands as if this were a grand adventure. Jason barely dodged a woman with a stroller, muttering apologies as he sprinted after his devil of a child.

Fuck, why the hell is this kid so damn fast? And more importantly, why the hell is he so mischievous?

* * *

Leo strode through the underground parking garage on the far side of the airport, his long legs easily matching Talos’s pace as the assistant read off the day’s list of meetings. Fresh off a business trip to Las Vegas, Leo had just finalized a deal to build a new casino. Normally, he took his private plane, but it was a short trip.

"Today, you’re meeting with Kyre Corporation’s vice president, Thalara Ashthrone," Talos said.

Kyre Corporation was a new player in Valleywood, and Leo had been closely monitoring their movements. So far, nothing they had done raised any obvious red flags, but they had quietly acquired a significant amount of land, especially following that unusual blizzard last holiday season. The vice president served as the company’s public face, but no one seemed to know who the CEO was.

Leo wasn’t sure if it was mere coincidence or something more magical. He hadn’t made up his mind.

"You also have dinner with Ms. Simpson tonight," Talos said, scrolling through the schedule on his tablet.

Leo’s jaw tightened. "Cancel it," he said sharply, cutting him off before he could say more.

Mya Simpson was yet another of his mother’s attempts to find him a “suitable companion.” They’d been introduced six years ago, and despite Leo’s complete lack of interest, Athena remained convinced Mya was perfect for him. Mya, of course, had taken that as encouragement.

Leo hadn’t been with anyone since that one unforgettable night with the gray-eyed beauty. He’d searched for years, but it was as if the man had never existed—like a fever dream he couldn’t wake from.

Much to his frustration, his workaholic habits had only worsened with time, giving Mya all the reason she needed to assume he was “waiting for the right woman.” And the more active she was, the more he would see her as the woman for him.

Leo sighed. "Have—"

He didn’t get the chance to finish. Something small suddenly latched onto his leg, gripping tightly. He stiffened, instinctively ready to shove whatever it was away, until a tiny voice shouted up at him.

"Papa!"

The single word hit him like a thunderclap. Leo’s entire body tensed before slowly turning to Talos, who looked just as stunned. His assistant only shrugged, clearly as lost as he was. Leo’s gaze dropped to the small arms wrapped tightly around his leg, the child clinging to him like he’d found something precious. Gently, Leo loosened the tiny fingers and guided the boy to stand in front of him. His breath caught. Those striking gray eyes were unmistakable. So was the messy mop of ink-black curls.

His stomach twisted. Was it possible? Could this little boy be mine?

Over the years, he’d occasionally wondered if the gray-eyed beauty had his child, but he’d never found him. Kneeling to meet the child’s gaze, Leo felt something tighten in his chest.

"What did you call me?" he asked, his voice softer than usual.

The kid grinned, his gray eyes bright with certainty. "Papa."

Leo stared, and worry clashed inside him. Is he mine?

"Hey, little guy, you can’t just go around calling strangers 'Papa,'" Talos said gently, folding his arms with a touch of exasperation.

The boy huffed, clearly offended, and pressed his forehead against Leo’s with stubborn determination.

"I call him Papa ’cause he is my Papa! We look alike—see?"

Talos’s gaze flicked between them, his expression shifting—first amused, then gradually settling into something more contemplative.

“Sir…” he said softly. “He does look a bit like you. Or... maybe it’s just the black hair. I'd say spitting image if his eyes were blue like yours.”

Leo exhaled slowly, catching the faint smirk tugging at Talos’s lips. His special assistant was definitely fucking with him, but despite the chaos in his mind, Leo felt strangely anchored in the moment.

“What’s your name, little guy?” Talos asked, crouching slightly to meet the boy’s eyes.

“It’s IcXander!” the boy announced proudly. “Daddy wanted to name me Icarus, but I kept crying every time he said it, so he picked IcXander instead.”

He turned his bright, eager gaze back to Leo. “Papa, do you like my name?”

Leo’s chest tightened, not with confusion or disbelief, but with something far deeper.

He had always said that he would name him Icarus if he ever had a son. It was something that stuck with him all his years.

But the longer he looked at the kid, the less certain he was about the resemblance, and he couldn’t decide if that brought him relief or something closer to disappointment.

"It’s a nice name," Leo heard himself say, the words escaping before he could second-guess them.

Talos shot him a pointed look equal to curiosity and disbelief, but Leo ignored it.

Gently guiding the boy aside, Leo turned to his assistant. "And you," he muttered, "cut the nonsense."

He cleared his throat, refocusing. "Where are your parents, kid? Your mother or father?"

Before the boy could respond, a frantic voice echoed through the parking garage.

"IcXander!"

The voice rang out sharp and desperate, bouncing off the concrete walls. The child froze, his little body tensing against Leo’s leg.

"Uh-oh," he whispered, eyes wide.

A moment later, a man came rushing toward them, his face drawn tight with worry.

"IcXander Mathew Dupree! How dare you run off and scare me like that? How did you get here so fast?"

He scooped the child into his arms, holding him close. His voice was firm, but the tremor beneath it gave him away.

"Are you hurt?"

Leo straightened, watching silently as the man clutched the boy with palpable relief. He didn’t need to ask. This was clearly the child’s father. The resemblance was undeniable.

Same warm complexion. Same striking gray eyes. Delicate features, though the man’s were more mature and refined. High cheekbones. A graceful jawline. A mouth that looked like it had forgotten how to smile.

The only difference was the hair: ink-black curls on the boy, straight golden blond on the man.

But it wasn’t just the physical resemblance.

Leo saw it in the way the man held him. Protective. Desperate. Overflowing with love.

A knot formed in Leo’s chest, heavy and unexpected. Not mine, he thought, as a quiet pang bloomed deep inside him.

He didn’t speak often about wanting a family, but the ache had always been there. Quiet, steady, buried beneath work and duty. For one fleeting moment, he’d thought fate had cracked that door open. Just enough for him to feel what it might be like to have someone who was his. Someone to love. Someone who would love him back and never betray him.

Not like before.

He had given his heart once, trusted someone enough to imagine a future. But that trust had been shattered, leaving behind scars he rarely let anyone see. Since then, he had learned to want in silence. To dream quietly, without hope.

And yet, this child, this moment, had pulled that dream into the light, if only for a second.

But now he was watching someone else live it.

"Daddy, I'm fine. And guess what? I found Papa!" IcXander said excitedly.

The man, still kneeling, let out a heavy sigh. "Xander, we talked about this. Your papa is busy."

"No, he's not. He's right here." IcXander stepped away from his father and gripped Leo's hand with his tiny fingers.

The man finally looked up, and something shifted in Leo as his gaze trailed upward, locking onto his face. He watched as recognition flickered across the man's features. His eyes widened for the briefest moment before his expression settled into a guarded frown.

Leo wanted to hold on to whatever conclusion the man had just reached, wanted to chase the unspoken words behind that look, but the moment dissolved as soon as the man opened his mouth.

"Xander, come to Daddy," the man said quickly.

The child let out a small whine but didn’t move. Instead, he looked up at Leo.

"Listen to your daddy," Leo said, his voice low but gentle.

Xander pouted but obeyed, slowly returning to his father's arms.

The man sighed again as he stood, adjusting his hold around his son. "I'm sorry about that."

Leo’s jaw tightened. "Why are you apologizing? He didn’t do anything."

Something churned in his chest, hot and irrational. Those beautiful gray eyes lingered in the back of his mind, refusing to leave, even as the sharpness in his own voice echoed between them.

"Word of advice. Don’t teach your kid to think every man he sees is Papa. He could get kidnapped that way. Or is this some kind of scheme? See a rich guy, tell the kid to call him Papa, and hope he opens his wallet?"

His voice came out sharp, each word landing like a blow. He wanted to hurt this man, this stranger, even if he couldn’t explain why.

For a split second, something flickered across the man’s face. Hurt, maybe.

Then it vanished.

His expression hardened, and he gently set his son down without a word.

"Boebié, cover your ears," the man murmured softly, stepping behind his son and gently pressing his hands over the boy’s small ears.

Then his gaze snapped to Leo.

"Hey, asshole. What the fuck is your problem?"

Leo’s body went taut. The man’s gray eyes narrowed, locking on to him with a heat that made Leo’s pulse jump. For a brief second, he felt the urge to lick his lips but forced himself to stay still.

"You don’t know me from a hole in the wall, yet you come at me like this? Who the fuck do you think you are, lecturing me about my kid?"

Something inside Leo twisted. The raw, intense fire in the man’s eyes sent a ripple through him. It was unexpected, sharp, and electric. His body reacted before his mind could process it.

No one had ever dared to speak to him like that. Ever.

And to his surprise, he wasn’t entirely angry.

He was intrigued. Maybe even excited.

That, at least, he could admit.

But the following words that came out were sharp and impossible to reel back.

"Then who’s the kid’s father?" Leo asked, his voice low and controlled, the challenge clear.

The man let out a bitter laugh, and as he tilted his head, Leo caught sight of a small beauty mark just below his jaw. It disappeared just as quickly. A trick of the light? Or had he really seen it?

"Why should I tell a stranger that?" the man snapped. His eyes flicked to his son, and something in his expression shifted. Hardened. "Oh, I get it. You're judging me because I'm a single father."

Leo didn’t respond right away, too distracted by the man’s mouth. Even now, while cursing him out, he found himself watching the movement of those lips, giving the man the space to vent without interruption.

"Listen up, fucker. My private life is none of your damn business. And for your information, I would never teach my kid to call just anyone Papa."

He scoffed, the silver in his eyes flashing dark with fury. "What? Are you jealous he’s not yours? You’re just like every other alpha who thinks an omega needs them to survive. Well, guess what? You can go fuck yourself."

Leo’s lips curled into a sharp smirk, his voice dripping with disdain. "As good-looking as you are, even if you were the last man on Earth, I wouldn’t fuck you if my life depended on it."

He leaned in slightly, eyes narrowed, tone like a blade. "And while we’re at it, get your judgmental head out of your ass. It’s the twenty-first century. Newsflash, asshole. People fuck for fun, shit happens, and life goes on."

Then he pulled his hands away from his son’s ears and lifted him into his arms.

"Now, I hope you have the day you deserve."

Without another word, he turned on his heel and walked away, his son waving at Leo over his father’s shoulder.

Leo didn’t move. Didn’t breathe. Hell, he wasn’t even sure he blinked as he stood there, rooted in place, watching the man disappear around the corner.

He had just been put in his place. No question about it.

And he couldn't figure out how to feel for the first time in a long time.

One thing was certain. His blood was on fire, and he didn’t know what it would take to cool it. Sex, a cold shower, or punching someone square in the face, anything to help him make sense of whatever the hell that just was.

Behind him, Talos let out a low whistle. "Wow."

Leo’s hands curled into fists. "Say another word, and you’re fired."

"Not a word, sir." Talos mimed zipping his lips and took a smart step back.

Leo turned on his heel and strode toward his car, his strides long and purposeful. "Let’s go."

Less than five minutes later, Leo slid into the backseat of his car, tension rippling through him. Talos started the engine, maneuvering them out of the parking garage. Leo’s fingers drummed against his thigh, his thoughts a raging storm. A random man had just chewed him out, a random single father who just happened to have a beauty mark on his neck. Leo exhaled sharply and leaned against the seat, willing himself to relax. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw the man again, IcXander at his side, and another man standing with them. Leo’s gaze narrowed as the newcomer embraced the father and son.

Warm. Familiar.

Just like the one IcXander had given him.

Just as I thought, a scammer. Poor kid.

A dull ache settled in Leo’s chest, but he ignored it, forcing himself to forget the entire incident.