“Thank you, Saura, that was beautiful,” Aleksander told her.
“And it chaps his ass coming from me because he doesn’t respect women any more than that asshat down the hall,” Saura shot out, glaring at Boian.
“What the fuck do you want from me?” Boian demanded. “Am I supposed to apologize?”
“No, because you’d have to mean it,” Worth retorted.
“You’re only interested in speaking with us because you thought there was some way we might be able to impact your sentence, right?” Rafe asked. “It finally dawned on you that by aligning yourself with a name as powerful as D’Vaire, it might work in your favor.”
“The D’Vaire name has always been honorable, though you tried to strip that from me,” Aleksander told Boian. “You spent centuries robbing me of peace and telling anyone who would listen that I was a freak. You were right. I am a freak. What you never understood—and still don’t—is that being a freak is a beautiful thing. Something to be celebrated, not tossed aside, insulted, abused, or harmed in any way. I won’t help you. When I needed it most, you were the one who tried to break me. I’ve learned a lot about courage in the last few months. My other half is overflowing with it and you are, in fact, the opposite. You lack it, and I know you’re afraid of me, but what I failed to understand when I was young was that it’s not my fault. It’s yours, and not one person in this room is going to forget what pain you’ve inflicted on us.”
“Enjoy your ten years of rotting behind these bars, fucker,” Worth taunted, flipping him the bird. “Are we done with this piece of shit yet?”
“I guess. I wanted to tell him off, but you guys did it better,” Dra’Kaedan groused. They marched out while Boian watched them silently.
Noirin wrapped her arm around the Grand Warlock. “When we get home, I’ll make a cake.”
“Yum! What kind?”
“White cake with coconut frosting. Rafe’s favorite.”
As soon as the door was shut, Aleksander grabbed Rafe into his arms and sealed their mouths together. It was time for Aleksander to put his past where it belonged and help his mate do the same. When Rafe melted against him, Aleksander lifted his head but kept him securely to his chest. “Ready to go home and get some cake?”
Rafe blinked slowly, but there was still a haze of lust in his eyes. “Okay…sure.”
“Mortis mad. Mortis want to bite people.”
“Your wolf’s angry,” Aleksander told Rafe.
“Let me guess…he still wants to bite somebody?”
Gavrael kneeled next to Mortis and rubbed his head. “More than once in my life, I wished to stab someone when I could not. I know you to be too noble to give in to your urges as well.”
“Guess who we’re going to hire to wolfsit?” Aleksander teased.
“We never leave the house,” Rafe replied. “Speaking of which, can we go back now?”
“Close your eyes, people. I’m feeling criminal and want to break the rules,” Dra’Kaedan instructed. “Sorry, Killian, I’m not walking to no Dérive station, let’s get the fuck out of here.”
Aleksander simply kept Rafe in his arms as the Grand Warlock wove his spell. His plan was to spend his afternoon stripping his mate out of his well-tailored suit and enjoying the gorgeous body it covered.
Chapter 71
Rafe was learning to simply enjoy life in the house that he’d finally accepted was home. Aleksander loved him and Rafe adored him as well, which was making him greedy. Smoothing a hand over Aleksander’s bare chest, he let out a sigh.
“Babe, what’s wrong?”
“If my dragon left because he thought he’d never get his mate, why doesn’t he just come back now? I’m happy, and he’d have access to his other half constantly. You bite me all the fucking time and shift every couple of days.”
Aleksander kissed his head, and his bent knee swayed under the sheet that half covered them. “You know when Marcus was heartbroken and nearly died, the only thing it took was Damian biting him for his dragon to return. Part of me expected you to faint like he did at our mating ceremony since it didn’t happen when I sank my fangs in at the hospital.”
“I feel bad that Sorcery D’Vaire’s trying to work on this. There’s got to be other important shit to focus on.”
“Hey, nothing is more important to me than you.”
Sitting up enough that he could kiss Aleksander, he caressed his cheek. “I know. Everyone knows. You’ve been dragging me in here constantly.”
“I can’t help it. You’re delicious.”
Rafe’s lips were curled in a smile when they met Aleksander’s. “I might stop getting dressed in the mornings. I’ll just work on my computer in here naked with a bottle of slick next to me.”
“That could work. I’ll buy you a butt plug so I can just come in here and fuck you whenever the mood hits.”
“Shit, buy me chocolates once in a while or something.”
In a quick motion, Aleksander reared up and rolled them so Rafe’s back hit the mattress. The breath whooshed out of his lungs, but he still managed to laugh.
“Are you accusing me of lacking romance?”
“Yeah, maybe.”
Aleksander settled over him, and all his lovely bits were touching Rafe’s. It had his dick perking up with unmistakable interest in the long, naked form of his mate. The other dragon’s mouth landed on Rafe’s neck, which was one of his favorite spots to be kissed.
“You taste good,” Aleksander murmured against his throat.
“I need a shower. We’ve already fucked,” Rafe remarked, spreading his legs and undulating under Aleksander, reveling in the thick cock bumping into his. “Dinner’s soon, too.”
“We won’t miss it.”
“That’s what you said yesterday,” Rafe complained, his eyes crossing while he dug his fingers into Aleksander’s muscles.
Aleksander’s chuckle was dark as he lifted his head. “Good thing you bought all that microwave stuff, or we would’ve starved, but damn, it was worth it.”
“I’m not saying it wasn’t. We just need to do family meals and shit.”
“I know but I really need to suck your cock.”
“You’ve had plenty of practice,” Rafe pointed out. They both had since it was obvious they couldn’t keep their mouths, hands, or any other body part off each other.
“I’ll be quick.”
“Again, that’s exactly what you said yesterday.”
Ignoring his complaint, Aleksander nipped his chin and dropped little kisses across his chest and belly as he scooted to get to his cock. One big hand found his balls, and Rafe bit his lip as Aleksander wrapped his mouth around his length. When he started to use his tongue in ways that should be illegal, Rafe had a battle inside him. Although he wanted to come fast, so they wouldn’t miss dinner two nights in a row, he also hoped the pleasure would last for the eternity Aleksander had promised him.
Slapping his hands on his own thighs, his toes curled as Aleksander rubbed the slightly furred skin of his sac while he suckled him with increasing intensity, proving that he meant business. His breathless swear words filled his ears as Rafe’s head dug into the pillow. “Sander…Sander, are you…I mean, can you?” Rafe dragged in oxygen. “Fucking play with yourself.”
Aleksander’s laughter was felt rather than heard; then his other half hollowed his cheeks, increasing the pressure on Rafe’s cock. When Aleksander started to hum, Rafe’s spine arched and his breath caught as he spilled his seed down Aleksander’s throat. Forcing his eyes open, he shoved at Aleksander’s shoulders until he released Rafe’s cock with a sexy little pop.
“What’s wrong?”
Rafe pushed and pulled until Aleksander raised up high enough that he could taste his mouth. As his mate leaned forward, Rafe pushed his hand away and wrapped his own hand around Aleksander’s dick. His other half let out a moan of approval as Rafe stroked him fast and hard—Aleksander’s favorite way to be touched. As he drifted to the mattress again, he continue
d to ravenously kiss Aleksander as he pumped his fist over his length. Aleksander tore his lips free and stiffened when he came. Rafe loved the raw ecstasy on his face and the flush on his cheeks and chest.
“Damn, you’re gorgeous.”
Aleksander’s lashes slid upward slowly, and Rafe let go of his cock to pull him into his arms. “You look better, especially when you’re covered in my come.”
“Give me a kiss, and get the fuck off me, so we can take a shower.”
After Aleksander did what he was told, he rolled off the bed and hauled Rafe up. They made their way to the bathroom. “I bet nobody’s as good at dirty talk as you are.”
“The words sound like a compliment, but your tone is pure insult. Make sure the water’s hot enough.”
“Do we have to boil off our skin before dinner?”
Rafe pushed the spigot farther to the left and stepped onto the tiles. “I hate cold showers. I can’t understand why you can be perfect in so many ways but completely fucked up in others.”
“In this, my love, it’s you that’s fucked up.”
Handing Aleksander the soap, Rafe glanced over his shoulder. “I’m almost not embarrassed showering with you, so wash my back, will ya?”
As Rafe would’ve predicted, a big hand squeezed his ass and a sneaky finger slid around his hole, making him want to purr.
“I’m happy to, babe.”
When the tip of that crafty digit slid in, Rafe rose up on his toes a little to better enjoy it, then lowered his feet to the tiles to entice him to push farther inside. “That’s not my back,” he managed.
“So sorry. My hands apparently have a mind of their own when it comes to you.”
“No time for games, Sander.”
“You’re bossy, but I love you anyway.”
“I’ll always love you, Sander,” Rafe said, the beauty of what they’d built swamping him. Aleksander turned him around, and he was crushed against a massive chest. For a moment, he simply enjoyed the closeness and held his man tight. Refusing to ask why he’d suffered the way he had, it no longer mattered. What did was the unshakable bond that existed between Rafe and the man holding him. Fate had chosen this for them, but they’d yearned for it and found a way to create something they could both trust. It fueled them, and from that Rafe could build onto the strength he’d hunted for and discovered inside himself. When their lips met, Rafe lost himself in their kiss and hoped to hell they didn’t miss dinner again.
∞∞∞
While Rafe had been actively trying to get Aleksander not to skip meals, the one place he avoided when he was alone was the kitchen. But the wolves needed to go out, and Rafe was heading inside when he saw Kendrick staring at him with disapproval. Every other D’Vaire, including Kendrick’s mate, went out of their way to be friendly but not his only living brother, with Sullivan being executed a few days ago.
“It wasn’t enough that Aleksander had to spend six weeks napping, now you need to monopolize his time, keeping him from the rest of the family?” Kendrick demanded.
Since his arrival as a resident of the Dra’Kaedan’s Coven, Rafe’s mission had been to keep a low profile, which wasn’t possible now that he carried Aleksander’s title. Rafe had continued to try and keep the peace, even if it meant letting his brother take every opportunity to be a jerk, but they needed to get things into the open. There should be no discord in D’Vaire, and Rafe was going to put an end to it.
“Look, you don’t have to like me. That’s not required. Our mates are related, so neither of us is going anywhere, so this shit needs to stop. What the fuck did I ever do to you? What gives you the right to be so fucking nasty to me when we’re alone?”
Kendrick’s gaze had skittered away, and Rafe twisted to find Noirin standing behind him. She must’ve walked in from the wing of the house, which included the workshops and the bedroom suite she shared with Kendrick. Her violet eyes were molten as she crossed her arms. “Yes, Kendrick, why don’t you explain it to everyone?” she bit out.
“Nox get Aleksander.”
“Dammit,” Rafe muttered when he gave his attention to his wolf and found that Nox had already run out of the kitchen to get the man tied to his soul.
When Aleksander arrived, his gaze was curious. “Everything okay?”
“No, it most certainly is not,” Noirin snapped. “Kendrick, why don’t you explain to Aleksander why I’m fucking pissed off right now.”
Kendrick’s face was bright red, but instead of answering her, he turned to Rafe. “How do you think it was for me? All my life I was told to never go near you. My mother never explained it. I wasn’t to get close to the house, so I couldn’t visit my father or get to know my other brothers and it was because of you. I had no idea what kind of person he was and I’m sorry I said that shit to you about everything that you’ve gone through. I was wrong. They’re fucking sadists and Sullivan sat in this fucking kitchen lying to my face about you. How could I have known he was making up stories when I was warned against you so many times? But if I complained about it, she’d crawl right up my ass and defend you. I was both jealous of you and hated you. I assumed you’d hurt her. Maybe you two were lovers at some point. She would never answer any of my fucking questions. I even wondered if you were the one that killed her,” Kendrick yelled, tears streaming down his face. “I had to box up her shit and move in with you guys. Why do you think I escaped to D’Vaire? I wanted away from you. I never even got the chance to say good-bye to her.”
His voice cracked on the words, and Rafe’s eyes filled. “I’m sorry for what they did to her. I hate that you lost her.”
“Tell me what happened between you two.”
Rafe shook his head with a shrug. “I don’t know. She just left. I loved her, Kendrick. I wished so often that she was my mom. The only person who never made fun of me or hurt my feelings at Court Kestle was Molly, and she moved out without any explanation. When I got anywhere near her, she’d run off without speaking to me. I had to assume that everything wasn’t as it appeared to be and that she didn’t care for me after all.”
“I wanted to make you hurt for every time she sang your praises, then forbade me near you. She was a great mom, but it was lonely as fuck. It would’ve been nice to have a big brother, you know.”
“I figured you couldn’t be a complete dick if Noir likes you,” Rafe said. Going with instincts as Dra’Kaedan had instructed, he pulled his brother into his arms. “I really am sorry, Kendrick. I wish I had the answers for you, and I’d give almost anything to bring her back.”
“And this is the problem. You’re so fucking nice,” Kendrick complained. “It only made me feel more like shit when you wouldn’t even tell me to fuck off.”
Rafe pulled away with a loud sniff. “Am I supposed to apologize for that?”
“No, I’m the only one who needs to be apologizing. I’m sorry, Rafe. I guess it pissed me off that you insist on using the name she called you. No one else ever did but not once in my life did she ever call you Rafferty. I hope you can forgive me someday for being a complete asshole and hurting you.”
“We’ll start over, okay? I decided to switch to Rafe because of her. I want to believe that at some point she liked me, and that’s why she gave me that nickname. I don’t know what I did to hurt her, but I would’ve found a way to fix it. She was too damn important to me to lose her.”
Kendrick offered him a watery but grateful smile, but it disappeared, and he gulped as he put distance between him and Rafe. His gaze was on Aleksander, whose face was granite.
“I apologize, Aleksander. I was cruel to your mate, and I said really awful shit. I won’t fight it if you and Rafe decide I need to be punished somehow,” Kendrick offered quietly.
“We have expectations under this roof because we invite people in who are often hurting as Rafe was, and in some ways still is, as he heals from everything he’s gone through,” Aleksander stated. “I doubt Rafe is going to allow me to level any kind of punishment on you, but I won’t
hesitate to do so if another word comes out of your mouth that is detrimental to him or anyone else in the house. It will be worth the fight with my mate to ensure that D’Vaire is a healthy environment for everyone.”
“I understand. I feel as if I deserve to pay a price for the way I’ve treated Rafe.”
Noirin had a mixture of compassion and righteous fury on her face.
“Pretty sure the fight you’re going to have with your mate is a harsh enough penalty,” Rafe said.
“It’s certainly going to take more than a simple apology since you’ve been lying to me for months, and that’s not how matebonds work. But I’m not going to have this discussion with an audience.”
Content that there was no longer anyone who would judge him for the affection he wanted to lavish on Aleksander, Rafe walked into his arms and was held snug against his chest. Rafe was happy to know Kendrick wasn’t as big of an asshat as he thought. Perhaps they could build a relationship that benefited both, but neither of them was going to get the answers they wanted when it came to Molly.
Chapter 72
Heart of the High King (D'Vaire, Book 19) Page 52