The embrace was all wrong. Essian had never touched him like this in the entire month they'd journeyed. Zerek would have given anything for it, but how could he accept it after what he'd seen?
He wormed out of Essian's arms. "Were you feeding?"
"What?" Their time together had improved Zerek's ability to read Essian's expressions, but he had a hard time believing Essian didn't know what he was talking about.
"Feed. I saw you fighting. The crowd. Do you take the same thing as the Hilruda?"
Essian's ears flattened against his head and his eyes widened. "You saw."
"That's not an answer, Seeker." Zerek spat the words.
"We're not like them. I promise you. I'd never hurt you like that. Many of us believe the Hilruda started the pit fights to mock our traditions."
Zerek wanted to believe, but he couldn't.
A frustrated snarl escaped Essian. "You're better. You've gotten stronger every day. Listen to your body. You are not diminished, are you?"
Unwillingly, he conceded Essian was right. In fact, he felt like an even better version of himself now that Essian had returned. That feeling of rightness would be a loss he'd have a hard time getting used to once Essian returned to his territory and the formidable task he'd set for himself.
"Then why were you doing it?" He only half meant the fighting. Watching Essian lick someone other than him had been almost as horrifying.
"Come outside. The time for secrecy is almost over, but I wish to be able to speak freely."
Zerek nodded. He wanted answers and straight talk, not cryptic statements he had to pick apart to decipher meaning.
Essian busted the lock on the window, flipped it open and jumped outside. Zerek followed, and they walked away from the main house. The woods were too far away, but away from the windows, the night was dark, and despite the lack of vegetative cover, it seemed as though they were alone.
"The fight you saw, it's common in mate quests. It's the way to show a clan leader you're a worthy mate candidate for their relatives."
Jealousy burned through him. This true mate quest wasn't as much of a subterfuge as Essian would have him believe.
"How did this help with your negotiations?" Essian hadn't spoken of the ceremony in anything but the most vague terms, but there didn't seem to be any negotiation going on, aside from which woman was going to warm his bed first. Or which beds he'd warm, since Zerek had yet to deal with one of Essian's lovers in the set of rooms the clans assigned them.
"I told you, all the clan leaders would know me by sight. They all granted me a private audience, and the negotiations took place prior to the fight."
"Don't tell me that fight was just for show."
Essian rubbed at his shoulder. "No. Not at all. Prosst tried harder than he would have if I'd just been a Seeker. Because fighting is also how we show we're bargaining in good faith. It shows we have strength in our convictions, and have the strength to stand behind an agreement."
Never had Zerek been more aware he was trying to understand another species. And failing.
Essian wasn't finished. "It's also how we choose clan leaders. They have to prove themselves physically."
"But your daughter..." The Kadrussians didn't have a significant sexual difference related to size, but he would have hated to see a woman fighting that fight.
"My daughter will do well when the time comes. It's not about winning. It's about respect and holding your own. Proving yourself. Granted, I wouldn't have liked to have lost to Prosst, but I didn't need to win to gain his support."
Zerek rubbed his arms. It wasn't cold, but he was still jittery and didn't know what to do with his hands.
"And you promise there was no feeding." The concept still had the ability to make him feel sick. Probably always would.
"No. I'd never hurt you like that. Never. I wish you'd hadn't been forced to fight in the pit. We tried to get you out before your first fight, but the Hilruda acted too fast." Essian's tongue slipped out, but the movement seemed wary, tentative.
Today was the first day Zerek had completely shaken off the effects of the feeding in that pus riddled cesspool, which had to be the only reason he'd let Essian's attraction fog his normally sharp mental processes. It had taken three days to make the journey from Stony Gate to Essian's Serpentes stronghold. He'd been in Hilruda custody less than two days before his rescuers arrived.
Shock, cold and clarifying, swept through him and he came to standstill. Essian took a few steps before he turned to face Zerek.
"I'm so sorry you went through that. You'll never know how sorry." Essian's words were halting, as though he were unaccustomed to apologizing. Zerek was certain the apology was sincere, but Essian's remorse wasn't enough to wipe away the hurt.
"Which doesn't change the fact that you were behind my capture." It had to be true. There was no other way Essian's people could have gotten to him inside Stony Gate as quickly as they had.
Essian's mouth dropped open. "We...I needed your help."
"Let me guess. Gress works for you. Or is part of the Serpentes clan." The complete and utter betrayal was ripping his heart into shreds, and he swallowed heavily before he puked up every meal he'd ever eaten.
Essian reached for him, but Zerek ducked away. For the first time since they'd met, Zerek didn't want Essian to touch him.
"The plan was to ensure we'd know exactly where you'd be, so we could go in and get you."
"That doesn't make it any better, Seeker. You had contacts, resources. You could have hired me. Like everyone else does." Zerek had further deductions. "Let me guess. You wanted to show the Hilruda you could pull one over on them."
"I never expected...I was counselled...that gratitude for the rescue would buy your loyalty and cooperation more effectively than gold. If I could change things, I would. I swear on my father's grave."
Pain lanced through him at the callous and misguided manipulation of him.
"You... you..." His bottomless pool of epithets dried up, and without a verbal outlet for his pain, Zerek launched himself at Essian. The surprise allowed him to take the heavier man to the ground, breath exploding from him in a whoosh, but suddenly Zerek found himself in a grappling match much like the one he'd witnessed earlier.
With Essian’s bigger size, keeping him down was a challenge, but Zerek managed it for a few moments while he got in a couple of punches to Essian’s chest. Essian flipped him over, and Zerek used the momentum to continue the roll. He pulled himself out of close quarters and leapt to his feet. Without surprise on his side, he wasn’t big enough or strong enough to keep Essian on the ground.
Usually, he was the bigger one in a fight, and he used his bulk to his advantage. Now, he was going to have to take the opposite role, and hope he could hold his own. He ducked and evaded most of Essian’s blows, but a couple glanced off him. They’d still bruise, but for some reason, Zerek didn’t think they had as much power behind them as when he’d fought Prosst.
Good. A tired Essian might give him an advantage.
Zerek danced around Essian, striking when he found an opening, but Essian blocked well, and none of his blows found much substance. Essian didn’t seem to be trying to hurt him, though, just control him and block his blows.
He put everything he had into it. All his anger, frustration, and jealousy, along with all his strength, but he was never able to best Essian. And after several minutes, he started wondering why he even wanted to. The worst of the betrayal had actually occurred before they'd even met. Callous, perhaps, but not a betrayal of the friendship they'd been building. Both of them were sweating and panting, Essian's spicy musk blooming around their tussle.
He had one last move, even though he knew it was doomed. Again, he launched himself at Essian, hoping the bigger man wouldn’t have been expecting it.
He was right. Essian went down, winded, and Zerek pushed down on Essian’s upper arms to pin him. But he’d worked out most of his anger, and after the pit fight, he wasn’t ready
to put anyone else down with his fists. Not if he could avoid it.
The unfettered access to Essian's body started having another effect, one that had his cock heavy and throbbing in his pants. He had to yield, get out of this close contact before Essian figured it out.
As he tried to extricate himself, his hand slipped on Essian's sweaty skin, and Zerek found himself flipped on the ground underneath Essian. He tried wrapping his arms around Essian to wrench him away, but Essian’s muscles were like unyielding stone.
The self-satisfied grin on his face and the madly flickering tongue were too much. Zerek ground his hips upward, rubbing his erection against Essian and he nearly fainted when Essian growled and rubbed back with his own stiff cock.
Essian straddled him and clutched Zerek's shirt in both fists. He cocked his head to one side as though asking Zerek's permission. What else could he do but nod? Zerek wanted Essian, and was willing to forgive him. They'd have to talk after, but right now, Zerek wanted to fulfill a couple of fantasies.
Essian ripped his shirt away, then moved to remove their pants while Zerek squirmed in anticipation. Essian didn't disappoint. The tongue that featured in so many masturbatory sessions started at his lips and worked down, arousing Zerek more than he'd thought possible. Even the hint of fang occasionally scraping across his flesh didn't frighten him as it perhaps should have. Instead, he found himself leaning into the caresses, lust making him reckless.
When Essian finally got to his cock, that wild bifurcated tongue created a sensation no human could duplicate. Zerek's hips began thrusting helplessly as his orgasm barreled down on him.
All it took was Essian moving his fingers along Zerek's balls to delve between his cheeks, while keeping that tongue twining around his cock, and Zerek was done.
Zerek shouted, his muscles locked, and his cock fired pulse after pulse into Essian's welcoming mouth. Limp and sated, Zerek could only lay there while Essian threw his head back, letting out a hissing ululation of triumph, fangs fully extended. No one had ever looked sexier or more primal.
A still-erect cock nudged his leg, and Zerek wondered what the howl was for, it wasn't to signify Essian coming.
But then, Essian put his tongue back to work, and Zerek no longer cared. As though aware his cock was too sensitive for direct stimulation this soon, Essian focused on extremities. Zerek had never had his feet or ankles licked or kissed, but he'd been missing out. A small flash of jealousy reared its head when Essian sucked on the inside of his wrists, knowing each candidate for his quest had enjoyed this same sensation.
When Essian moved to the inside of his elbows, though, Zerek's jealousy disappeared as his cock rose valiantly to the stimulation, far quicker than he'd expected. Instead of moving in on Zerek's cock, Essian leaned to the side, holding up a tiny pot.
Breathless with desire, Zerek still had to ask. "What is that?" Surely Essian hadn't planned to fuck him.
Sheepish was another expression that rarely graced Essian's beautiful face. "Lubrication. The clan leader usually provides it, whether it'll be used or not. It was in my pocket."
Irritation tamped down some of Zerek's arousal. "Was Prosst expecting you to find your true mate? How would you know, anyway?"
Essian stroked his chest gently, and without urgency, even though his erection thrust rampantly from his body.
"There are several clues, but tasting is the definitive proof."
Son of a farting donkey. Essian had been tasting all those women as a true mate test. His jealousy hadn't been unfounded, which didn't ease his mind any, or explain the lubrication.
"As for expectations...if there is doubt, a more intimate taste is required. Whether one finds a true mate or not, people are aroused, sex often occurs, and since a candidate can be male or female...lubrication is provided."
Zerek levered himself up on his elbows. "You mean every time you left me alone in the room to go to those fucking true mate gatherings, you were fucking your brains out with whatever woman crossed your path?"
Essian stroked his chest more firmly. "Calm down. I participated in the tasting, to convince any observers that I was a simple Seeker, but sex is not required as part of the ceremony, nor did I indulge."
Truth rang in Essian's words, dispelling Zerek's ire. Not that he could have fought against the pleasure of Essian plucking at his nipples and tracing the trail of hair on his belly. As though trying to draw Essian's attention, his cock twitched.
Moving back so he could settle between Zerek's legs, Essian then opened the jar and scooped out a glistening glob.
Zerek spread his legs in silent invitation, his cock a heated log lying heavy against his hip. While Essian slicked and stretched him, his tongue stayed busy, but this time swirling around his balls. All too soon, Zerek was ready to blow again, amazed Essian had held out as long as he had.
When Essian lifted his head and nudged his hips, Zerek flipped over onto his hands and knees with alacrity. The sensation of someone bigger than him mounting him from behind was unusual, but welcome. Essian's scent got stronger, and oddly, there wasn't even a twinge of pain when Essian pushed his impressive cock into Zerek's body. Nevertheless, Essian held his hips still, while that mobile miracle of a tongue danced along Zerek's spine, making him shiver.
"Move already," Zerek demanded.
Essian obeyed, even though there probably weren't many people who dared command him. The slow slide of cock in and out quickly sped up, Zerek moving his hips back to meet Essian's thrusts, both of them chasing climax together.
The power behind Essian's thrusts meant Zerek couldn't move a hand to get a grip on his cock, but it didn't matter. With every stroke, Essian's thick cock massaged his prostate and he wasn't going to need a hand to get off.
Suddenly, he became aware of eyes on them. Zerek turned his head slightly, only to see several Kadrussians watching. The only one he recognized was Prosst.
Zerek was too far gone to care that they had an audience. Maybe it even made him more desperate for the climax Essian could give him.
"Harder." This time, the command came out more as a breathless squeal, but Essian obeyed again.
Behind him, Essian let out another triumphant bellow, cock pulsing inside him. Fangs bit into his shoulder, and the sudden wash of pain exploded into orgasm. Breath stuttering, Zerek's cock striped the grass below him. He had a moment to realize that those fangs had probably poisoned him, but he was too sated to care. His arms slid out, no longer able to support his weight, and darkness took him.
Chapter 7
WHEN ZEREK AWOKE, it was full daylight. He stretched, feeling a little foggy. For some reason, Essian slept slumped in a chair beside his bed, his beautiful copper and bronze skin looking strangely ashy.
"Hey." Zerek reached out a hand to prod Essian. What was Essian doing in here anyway? As usual, they’d been assigned a suite with separate bedrooms. At least, he thought so. He didn’t remember this room at all.
Another man—Prosst—entered the room as Essian bolted upright. He wasn't sure what Prosst was doing in the bedroom, nor why the man made him wary, but Essian looked worried.
No, that wasn't right. Essian did look worried, but the weight of that worry sat around Zerek's neck, which was odd. There was no reason for Essian to worry, nor was there any reason for Zerek to take that same worry on his own shoulders.
"How are you feeling?" Essian stroked his arm, and that weird worry eased, like taking off an uncomfortable shirt.
"Fine. Good." Except he couldn't feel any of the ghostly physical reminders of sex, so that had to have been a particularly vivid erotic dream. Shame. "What's going on?"
"You've been unconscious for almost two days."
Two days, that couldn't be right. He didn't feel sick. Sitting up, he did a quick mental assessment, but he merely felt rested. No, he felt better than rested. He was energized and alert. He might even go so far as to say amazing. Except he couldn’t remember how he ended up in bed. He had no sense of those missing days.
Prosst strode over to the bed and loomed over him, staring at him for a moment before he turned back to Essian. "I'll act as witness, if needed. We'll talk soon."
"Thank you." Essian clasped his shoulder, then Prosst left.
"Witness?"
Essian's skin tone improved as Zerek watched. Had Essian been ill, too? Instead of answering, Essian responded with another question. "May I get in with you?"
His memory was still disjointed, but he was starting to think the sex hadn't been a dream. Either way, he wasn't about to deny Essian, not when he had the nagging feeling that Essian belonged there.
Essian slid in beside him and wrapped an arm around him. Zerek wasn't going to complain, especially as they were both shirtless, and he cuddled into the Essian's chest. Touching made the world seem better; he'd be a fool to pass that up.
"Do you remember anything? From two nights ago?"
Zerek sighed. "Give me a minute." His fingers moved lightly over Essian's skin as he tried to remember.
Before the bits and pieces coalesced, Essian spoke. "I bit you."
"You bit me." Self-loathing and pride swirled around his ears, and he wasn't sure why he'd be feeling either of those things. But the reminder coaxed him fully awake. "Did you poison me? You weren't...trying to kill me, were you?"
Essian's hiss was disappointed. "No. Not at all." He stroked Zerek's back, and the only feelings that remained were love, inside and out of Zerek's head. Falling in love with Essian was probably the stupidest thing he'd ever done, but for now, Zerek was going to revel in what he had. It was more than he'd ever expected.
"Then what?"
"There's never been record of a human true mate before. Probably because our bites are dangerous, if not lethal, to humans."
"You bite to bond a true mate?" Zerek's hand reached up to clasp his neck where Essian had bit him. Not even a scab remained.
"Yes." Essian kissed his forehead. "And you are mine."
"But I can't be your true mate. How is that possible?"
Come Undone: Romance Stories Inspired by the Music of Duran Duran Page 48