The Knights of Darkness Chronicles 01 - Desires Unleashed

by D N Simmons

  “It is true, the Pride needs its protector, more than what I can provide. When Adam died, I became the sole caretaker of the Pride. I didn't want to share that power. In a way, I still don't. I know my limitations, they are few but I know them. I will name you my King, the Pride's protector. You will be honored as such,” she said as she rose to her feet, brushing the grass off of her legs. He looked up at her, she was forgetting something.

  “And what about us, Elise?” he asked.

  “There is no us. You are our protector, our King and nothing more,” she said harshly. She wanted to embrace the anger, she didn't want to share her power with anyone. She controlled the Pride but thought of the benefits. If she gave some of the power of the Pride to Sergio, it would allow her more time to be with Darian. There was always two sides to every coin. She looked at Sergio, knowing she didn't say what he wanted to hear. She felt he couldn't compete with Darian. She couldn't remember any man in her past who could.

  “Have you listened to anything I've just said?” Sergio asked, obviously holding in his anger and frustration. He slowly lifted his head to look at her.

  '“I've heard what you said. I've felt your seduction but you cannot compete with him, we are lovers and you have to accept that,” she said matter-of-factly. Sergio looked at her, his face twisted with rage and some other emotion. He laughed in a harsh sound. He shook his head in amazement.

  “Unbelievable, un-fucking-believable. How can you be so beautiful, yet so...” his voice trailed off, he didn't want to say anything he would regret. He stood up and looked at her. He could show her better than he could tell her, if need be. He wanted to pump the poison from her veins. The poison being her lust for Darian. He grabbed her by the back of her head with a speed no mortal could have seen and planted a kiss on her lips, forcefully, passionately. He radiated desire and heat. His other hand wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer to him, pressing her body against his, their hearts beating frantically in their chests. His tongue exploring the heat of her mouth, his lips working expertly over hers. He could feel her knees go weak, and he held her still.

  He pulled away, her eyes opened slowly, lips still slightly parted. His gaze never left hers. He peered into her eyes, unafraid, unashamed. He would show her what she was missing. He leaned down to her, his tongue darting out to lick along the inner shell of her ear, sending tingles down her spine. Her knees buckled and he held her still. His lips sought her lobe and sucked gently as his tongue licked along the rim. A small whimper escaped her lips.

  “I can make you tremble anytime I want. All I have to do is kiss you...” He leaned toward her lips, brushed his lips against hers in a soft kiss. “Lick you...” The tip of his tongue darted out and licked her bottom lip lightly. “Touch you,” he whispered seductively, his thick Italian accent sent the words rolling over the surface of her skin, bringing up goosebumps. His hands slid further down, past her buttocks, between her legs. His fingers explored the soft wetness there, causing her to gasp in pleasure. Hearing her gasp, he let go of her. She stumbled, but didn't fall. She watched him lustfully, yet very confused. He brought his fingers to his nose, inhaling her scent, his eyes closed savoring her natural perfume. His tongue snaked from between his lips to lick away the sticky wetness.

  He opened his eyes. “Delicious,” he whispered sensuously as he turned and walked back toward the house. He turned before reaching the back door. “I suppose we should tell them about my becoming King so we can plan the celebration.” He was watching her from across the courtyard. She gathered dazed emotions, she had to take in what had just happened. Her mind raced with random thoughts about Darian, her and Sergio. She walked back toward the house.

  Both entered and she told Marianne to gather everyone for a big announcement. Marianne did as she was told. In moments, everyone, all twelve leopards, sat in the parlor. She had fetched her bathrobe and put it on. Sergio stood before the others still naked. His nakedness distracted her. She wanted to tell him to put some clothes on but nakedness wasn't a taboo among shifters. They saw each other naked all the time. To ask someone to put on clothes would have been rude and demeaning.

  “I've gathered you all here to tell you great news,” she announced, pausing dramatically. Everyone watched and waited quietly for the news. “I have picked our King, our Protector, Sergio.” Everyone applauded. The Pride was made up of four males and eight adult females.

  “It's about time,” said Devin as he walked up to Sergio to congratulate him. “Does this mean you have picked Sergio as your mate Elise?!” he asked excitedly. Everyone was hoping for a positive answer. No one approved of her sleeping with a vampire, and on his terms! They wanted her to choose a mate within the Pride. After all, she was the Queen.

  “No, he is not my mate but he is our King. You will treat him as such. Prepare for tonight's celebration,” she said as she turned to leave, not wanting to see disappointment in their eyes. Sergio watched her walk away, he had lost the battle, but not the war. He turned to face those who were still congratulating him. He winked at Devin as he thought about turning up the heat on Elise. Round one goes to Elise, let's see where round two ends up.

  CHAPTER 13

  Xavier's eyes opened suddenly in the pitch-black darkness of the room. He blinked once, then twice as he gathered his senses. He focused on the crystal chandelier hanging over the king-sized bed. He turned his head to the right to see that Darian was still being lazy, lingering in the bed with his eyes closed. He rolled onto his side, facing Darian before poking him in the arm.

  “Get up, I know you're not asleep. It's way past sunset,” he said teasingly. Darian smiled, then chuckled. He turned his head to face Xavier, his hand coming up to lightly stroke the side of his cheek, caressing the soft skin with his fingertips.

  “Aren't I allowed to daydream?” he asked, eyebrows slightly raised.

  “What were you daydreaming about, if I may be so bold as to ask?” Xavier propped himself on his right elbow. Darian turned his gaze back to the ceiling.

  “I was thinking of repainting this room and maybe a little more. It's been this design for ten years, I need a change. You know how I am about redecorating. I was thinking of adding a forty-eight inch screen TV, there.” He pointed to a wall in front of the bed which held a painting of the Chicago Fire. “I want to have it constructed so that the TV will be built into the wall and the wall would slide back to reveal it when we wanted to watch it.” He glanced at Xavier for a response. Xavier lay there, dumbfounded. For a moment, he had expected when he asked the question, Darian would make some profound statement of enlightenment or something along those lines. But there he was, talking about redecorating their bedroom.

  “I think that would be nice. After we make love, I could turn on the sports channel for the climax,” he teased as he crawled out of the bed, flipping on the light switch for the chandelier. Darian gave him a sly look.

  “Very funny. After we make love, you won't be able to do anything but close your eyes and drift off to sleep, having sweet dreams about me, my little audacious inamorato'.' He turned to stare at the wall again. “So, I take it you like my ideas. I think I'll call a contractor, and have him come over right away,” Darian said. He folded his arms behind his head, showing off his strong biceps and triceps. He rested his head on his arms and turned to watch Xavier enter the bathroom. One minute later, he heard the shower running.

  “Are you going to the club tonight?” asked Darian.

  “Yes, but first, I'm going to the hospital,” replied Xavier as he climbed into the shower.

  “Why?” Darian asked, as he sat up in the bed.

  “Well, Annette, our new day manager was injured last night. Some of our humans saw her get into a cab with a friend of hers and they saw a car rear-end their cab. They said that ambulances took Annette and her friend away. The drivers of both cars didn't survive. Since the cab collided into a tree after being rear-ended, I'm surprised they're not dead as well,” he said as he lathered his body all ov
er, massaging the foaming suds into his skin for fragrance.

  “Mortals are so fragile,” Darian said lazily as he laid back on the bed, looking at his hands as he held them in front of him. “I could crush one in my hands as easily as one would squeeze a marshmallow.” He climbed out of the bed, then walked into the bathroom, gazing lustfully at Xavier's soapy body. He had intentions of caressing that body later on that night. He would have done it right then, but he didn't want him to miss the hospital visiting hours.

  “Well, if you're going to visit our dear Annette, give her my love and regards. It is quite a shame we could not make our rendezvous tonight. Give her my well wishes for a speedy recovery. Inform her we will have a temporary replacement for her position, until she can return, of course. Also, give her a bouquet of flowers to express my heartfelt sincerity at the thought of missing our date,” Darian instructed as he leaned against the door frame. His powerful pale arms crossed over his broad, equally pale chest.

  “I take it she was going to be a part of this threesome you wanted tonight, am I right?” Xavier asked as he rinsed off his body.

  Darian nodded. “Of course. I wanted to sample her last night before I was so untimely interrupted,” he said sarcastically. He turned and made his way back to the bedroom. “I need to feed. I think I'll go hunting tonight. Too bad you'll be too busy cheering up hospital patients to join me. Maybe next time,” he chuckled suavely. Xavier emerged from the bathroom, a light blue towel wrapped around his pale waist. He felt the pangs of hunger gnawing at his stomach. His entire body thirsted. He couldn't deny himself blood, not even for one night. He was still too young to play the starvation game. Old ones, like Darian, could go at least five nights in a row, until the need forced them to feed the hunger. He went to his closet, searching his bounty of clothes for a nice, sleek ensemble.

  He settled for a hunter green, buttoned shirt, black boot-cut jeans, which where his favorite style. He loved the way the boot cut denim made his already impressive leg length look even longer. He was pleased with the way the cut embraced his buttocks. He put on the outfit and pulled on a pair of black steel-toed boots, lacing them up as he sat in a straight backed, black, soft leather chair beside the bed. Darian watched him dress. He admired the way Xavier looked in that style of jeans. He delighted in watching him walk away, liking the way his buttocks moved from right to left with each step.

  Darian thought Xavier had the body of an Adonis. Smooth, strong, slim and muscular, his manhood was impressive enough but it was the total package which had caught Darian's eye. Xavier was beautiful and beauty should last forever. He had wasted little time turning Xavier the night he found him lying on the ground, dying. He had been shot and left for dead by one of Al Cantone's goons. Xavier had been trying to get into the close-knit gang for years. But all he had become was an errand boy, then target practice over some numbers which had gotten misplaced, or so that was the reason given at the time.

  Darian remembered vividly how he'd walked up to the prone, bleeding body of Xavier and knelt over him. He had looked into that beautiful face, gray eyes stared back at him, pleading for help. Full, sensuous lips parted to beg for him to save his life. Darian had been without a real companion for two hundred years and he liked the idea of having one as beautiful as Xavier by his side, under his wing. He had his coven, but he wanted more. He had lifted Xavier's head off of the cold, wet ground. Pulling back the high collar on Xavier's brown jacket to reveal the slow, pulsing vein, he buried his face into the crook of Xavier's neck, without hesitation. Fangs had pierced his skin, which caused the other man to gasp, hands out to grip Darian's forearms. He drank the blood slowly from Xavier, draining him enough to bring him to the point of death, so he could be reborn. Withdrawing his fangs, Darian looked into the face of the young man. Xavier's eyes had been half closed, only a hint of whiteness showed underneath the pale lids. Sinking his fangs into the blue artery in his own wrist, Darian had lowered his wrist to Xavier's open mouth, then he'd whispered this one phrase: “Drink from me and you shall live forever and ever, my beautiful one.”

  Xavier had no idea what he'd meant, but he had been willing to try anything at that point in time. Pressing his cold, bluish lips to the hot bleeding wound, he'd begun to suck gently. At first, he had been shocked to realize that he was drinking blood from a man's wrist. Then all that had seemed to fade away as his eyes closed. The delicious flavor and sensation filling his body, reinventing all that was dying away. His body had tingled with wondrous, orgasmic feelings he had received with each swallow. His limbs had regained strength, his hands reaching for Darian's wrist holding it closer to his mouth with all the strength he was gaining. Low moans had escaped them both, they'd seemed to swoon. Darian felt his own life draining through his veins the longer he fed Xavier, which had left him feeling cold, weak, lightheaded and sick.

  The point had come when Darian had to pull away, snatching his wrist from Xavier's hungry, bloody mouth, falling back against the cobblestone street, holding his wrist. Biting his own tongue, he'd run the tip of his tongue over the open wound, sealing it instantly, leaving no visible marks. Xavier had sat up, eyes glazed over, glassy. His tongue had run along his lips smoothly, licking away all the spilt blood. A tremor had shivered through his body, he closed his eyes, savoring the last drop. Then he opened them, looking at Darian. His sight had changed, it had become sharper, he could see his Master's features much more clearly. Instantly, he felt a connection to Darian, a mental and physical one. He knew then that he would never lust after the power of Al Cantone. He had found a higher power. A more promising one.

  Darian had held his hand out to Xavier, who took it and had secretly vowed to never let Darian go. That had been over seventy years ago. This wasn't the longest relationship Darian had ever had, however it was his most precious one. Xavier didn't try to control him or change him. Xavier understood him, better than any of his other offspring. He understood and accepted Darian's jaded personality. He knew that he had been alive a long time, had probably seen dynasties rise and fall, so that very little surprised him. He also knew that Darian would never be monogamous. Xavier understood that, he would never ask that of him. Darian was a free spirit, a lover of both men and women. He could not be contained. Xavier enjoyed the nights they spent together. He'd also learned to enjoy the nights they spent sharing their bed with others.

  “I'll see you later. I haven't forgotten what we 'discussed' yesterday, when you left me...hanging,” Xavier said as he pulled on his soft, dark-brown leather bomber jacket.

  His voice brought Darian out of his reverie, and he smiled, nodding.

  “Ah yes, I remember.”

  Xavier chuckled. “I'm sure you do.”

  Darian chuckled softly, remembering the shocked and dissatisfied expression on Xavier's face when he had ceased his seduction. “I'll be at the club. Tonight is the second night of the tournament. Speaking of the tournament, thanks to you, I lost one million dollars!” he said playfully, but slightly disappointed.

  “Me?! Well, you're the man who can 'see them coming'! Wow, you lost a bet. Oh my!” Xavier mocked as he placed his hand over his heart, pretending to stumble toward the door.

  Darian laughed as he clapped his hands. “Bravo, what an award-winning performance.”

  “I'm too scared to ask in which category,” Xavier said with a chuckle. “I'm still shocked you lost!”

  “Yes me, I didn't see last night's match coming. Last night was full of surprises. But you'd better leave now if you want to make it to the hospital in time. I'll see you tonight,” he said throatily, sprawling on the bed, giving Xavier a desire-filled look. Forest green eyes glazing over with lust, his hand stroked the satin sheets in front of him. “Try not to keep me waiting too long,” he whispered seductively. That oh so sexy voice made Xavier want to forget about the hospital and just climb back into the bed, shedding his clothes along the way. He knew he had better leave now or he wouldn't be going anywhere. He nodded, quickly turned and left the
room.

  He ran into a fledgling who lived with them. Darian had seven vampires living with him. He didn't mind a coven, he swore protection to all vampires in his territory that asked for it. If it meant some felt safer under his roof, he allowed them shelter. As long as they obeyed his rules, of course. His rules varied slightly from those he had for his city territory in general. No killing on his territory of any mortal without his permission was rule number one. If this rule was broken, on one of Darian's good nights, he would cast the guilty party out of the city. On a bad night, he would cast them out of existence.

  Rule number two was to respect what was his. Darian had plenty of expensive artwork, sculptures and furniture all around the house. At no point did he ever want to see any of his belongings damaged or ruined. Breaking rule number two would most definitely get the foolish one kicked out of the house. But at least he or she would get to stay in the city. Rule number three was no stealing. If found breaking this rule, it would mean death to the perpetrator. Other than that, the atmosphere of the house was laid back and entertaining. Darian hated only one thing, being bored. So he found plenty of forms of entertainment in the mortal world. He enjoyed their entertainment and technology. He'd decked his house in both forms. Becoming a technophile meant that every time something technical or entertaining was created or updated, he would obtain it. Money was no object when it came to Darian getting what he wanted.

  Xavier looked at the fledgling who was obviously running late for work. He was new to the city, Tony's lover and fledgling of three months. He stripped at the club. If one were to appeal to Darian's good nature, he required absolute gratitude for any boon bestowed. For all vampires who had come to him for protection, even those that didn't live with him, were put to work at his hot nightclub, Desires Unleashed or one of his other businesses. At the club, some tended bar, mesmerizing foolish mortals that wanted to get a closer look at the sharks. Others stripped or provided sexual pleasure in his bordello. There was only one section of the club the vampires hated: the “Coliseum”. They didn't hate it because of the violence and blood. They were leery, for those vampires who broke Darian's rules, would be pitted against one another in a tournament. Whoever won would be allowed to leave his city with their life. It would prove his point to other would-be rule-breakers, as well as bringing in double the money of normal tournaments. For Darian, it was a win/win situation.