A Royal Continuum

by Marie Harte

  "Good point. There are some long, nasty stretches between here and Dracon Mount where Dracon hide is worth a pretty penny." She wrinkled her nose in disgust. "And you definitely need clothes if we're driving home. I'll run into town and grab you some. Try not to scare Tanner away while I'm at it."

  He brought her closer and nodded. "Thank you, Ava." Leaning slowly toward her, he gave her every chance to back away. She didn't, and he gave her the loving kiss he'd been aching to. A slow melding of mouths, the kiss was filled with thanks, and with the sweet spill of love. Matthias stopped before he forgot himself and made love to her again.

  "Promise me you'll return? That you won't disappear the minute you walk out the front door?" He couldn't help the worry that dogged him.

  She sighed, her gaze soft, unfocused. "I won't, I promise."

  "We'll be waiting."

  She left and Matthias gave in to the satisfaction he was feeling. With a huge grin, he dropped the blanket and strode to the door. Then, remembering how Tanner had helped him earlier when he'd felt weak, he slowed his pace and went out to reel in Tanner, hook, line and sinker.

  Chapter 6

  * * *

  Tanner watched Ava leave with a frown. Yes, Matthias definitely needed clothing, but sending Ava out alone rubbed him the wrong way. No one knew she had two Dracon staying at her place, so logically she was the one to send for supplies. And she'd been living out here on her own for several months. She knew the land. But still, a female Dracon, alone and away from her clan, didn't sit well with him.

  He was tempted to follow her, and then Matthias walked out of the bedroom. Tanner couldn't help staring at the perfection of Matthias's naked body before he turned and focused intently on the meal cooking over the stovetop. Sweet mother, but would it hurt the man to wear a blanket, a towel, Christ, something?

  "What's cooking?"

  Tanner glanced over at Matthias, who now sat at the kitchen table, his impressive lower body thankfully hidden from view. "Bacon and eggs."

  Matthias stared, and Tanner wondered what the prince saw when he looked at him. "Want some help?" Matthias started to rise.

  "No! I mean, no, just sit there. I have this under control, and you need your rest, to recuperate."

  The amused gleam in Matthias's eyes made Tanner take a closer look. Matthias wasn't screwing with him, was he? But the prince merely sat back in the chair inhaled the tangy smell of bacon frying.

  "So who taught you to cook?"

  Tanner breathed easier and turned back to the pan. Thoughts of his mother would definitely kill his whacked-out sex drive. "My mother."

  "She passed away some time ago, didn't she?" At the sharp look Tanner shot him, the prince smiled his apology. "Everyone who lives in Dracon Mount is scrutinized before they're allowed entry. Lucas and Adrian do a thorough job of screening everyone, but as caretaker of the keep, I need to know who I'm living with as well."

  Shit. Matthias knew about Tanner's human mother. And how stupid to think the prince wouldn't know. From what Tanner had gathered, Matthias held Dracon Mount together. Whereas the king interacted with the humans, managing the Dracon's outside businesses and concerns, Matthias took care of the inner workings in Dracon Mount.

  Tanner shrugged. "So I guess you know everything there is to know about me."

  "Not everything, or I wouldn't be sitting here asking you questions." Matthias stretched, and Tanner couldn't help his mouth watering at the sight of such an impressive build. He never would have guessed it to look at Matthias when dressed. Yes, the prince was tall and broad, but leaner than himself. Yet underneath those clothes, Matthias looked streamlined, like a man who exercised regularly.

  "Do you work out?" Tanner turned to the eggs and wanted to kick himself for asking.

  "Not as much as I'd like. I keep in shape flying and engaging in those self-defense lessons Lucas thinks are so vital to a prince's upkeep." Matthias snorted, flexing his fists.

  "It's not all bullshit, you know. Lucas knows what he's talking about. When I lived in Miami..."

  "No, go on. What about Miami?"

  "There were a lot of issues between the leaders of Dracon Sands. And I used to hear things about Dracon Mount, things that didn't make Lucas too pleased when I told him what some of the other Dracon think of the royal line. Not everyone likes you as much you think they do," Tanner added gruffly, trying to convince himself he fell into that category.

  Matthias chuckled, surprising him. "No wonder you have such a low opinion of me. I don't think everyone likes me. Just because I help lead our colony in Dracon Mount doesn't mean I think I'm any better or worse than anyone else. I just have a different set of responsibilities. Unlike Forest and Morey in Miami, who could write a book about how not to lead effectively, we at Dracon Mount believe in equality among our kind."

  Tanner snorted and turned to look again at the prince, inciting the first frown he'd seen on Matthias's face since saving him. Hell, even Matthias's frown was sexy. Did the man ever have a bad moment where he looked like shit?

  "It's true. Stick around long enough and you'll see." Something in Matthias's voice had Tanner studying him closely.

  Matthias's eyes were a brilliant rainbow of color, flashing emotions so powerful they were almost blinding. And then he shuttered the look, staring at Tanner with a question on his face.

  Tanner felt the lure, the draw of the firebreather pulling him close. He took a few steps in Matthias's direction, not sure what he meant to say or do, when the smell of burning bacon hit him.

  "Shit." He quickly rescued the meat and the eggs sitting in the pan next to them. Shuttling the food onto two plates and leaving enough for Ava once she returned, Tanner handed Matthias a plate and fork and sat across from him, intent on his food. He did his best to avoid another look at the enigmatic man sitting across from him.

  They ate in silence for a few moments, until Matthias chuckled.

  "What?"

  Matthias wiped his plate clean, apparently a lot more hungry than he'd let on. "You know, I think I scare you Tanner. And I find that interesting considering your more than qualified history as a security consultant. Now why would a male protector be scared of the man he's protecting?"

  "I'm not scared of you." Tanner's mouth went dry as Matthias leaned closer.

  "Bullshit. Is it the fact that my brother's king? I can't help my parentage, and my status as a prince is mostly just for show now that Ferin's finally found a mate."

  Anxious to redirect the conversation, Tanner asked, "So what's it like knowing you're going to be an uncle in another year?"

  Matthias's grin lit up the room. "It's absolutely incredible. My brother is so happy, and Lea really completes our family. Your family, too, I mean. All of us at Dracon Mount are family, even the assholes like Brewster and Milo."

  Tanner laughed. "Yeah, I hate those guys."

  "Everyone does. They poke fun at everyone and everything. Trust me, I've been the butt of their jokes a number of times. Though I find it curious that they leave Adrian alone."

  "If they didn't, your brother would fry some serious ass. Not to mention what Lucas would do to them."

  Matthias's smile faded a bit. "Does that bother you?"

  "What?"

  "That Adrian and Lucas are...close?"

  Tanner had to focus not to squirm in his chair. He wanted to share a similar state of "closeness" with Matthias, and his stiffening cock wouldn't let him forget it. "No. Should it? Does it bother you?"

  Had Matthias actually known what he was doing when he'd encouraged Tanner to stroke him? Tanner had never heard any rumors to indicate Matthias liked men, but then, who really knew what the Dekkers liked and disliked?

  "Love is never a thing to be ashamed of," Matthias answered quietly, his response one that resounded in Tanner's heart. "Lucas and my brother love one another, though it's taking them forever to admit it." He smiled. "You've spent a lot of time among humans, and not so much around the Dracon, haven't you?"

  T
anner nodded.

  "Humans are much more concerned about gender as pertains to sex. The Dracon don't much care. Oh, we want to procreate of course, but when it comes to pleasure, to affection," Matthias paused as his voice thickened, "a Dracon can only go where his heart tells him to."

  Matthias rose and took those few steps around the table to stand by Tanner. And damned if the prince wasn't sporting a hard-on, one that rested right at Tanner's eye level. Matthias lowered himself to a crouch, thank God, and turned Tanner to face him, his warm hands on either side of Tanner's face.

  Tanner froze, wanting to escape from the intensity on Matthias's face as much as he wanted to lean into it, to feel the other man's warmth and vitality. To belong to another, even for just a few moments, as he had with Ava.

  "What does your heart tell you when I do this?"

  Matthias slowly met Tanner's mouth, and Tanner closed his eyes, not ready to see what he could already feel. Different than Ava's mouth, Matthias's was firm, not soft, and though not overly aggressive, certainly controlling. But that same connection that Tanner had felt for Ava he felt for Matthias. And the gentle kiss lasted longer than he might have hoped as Matthias slowly ran his tongue along the seam between Tanner's lips.

  "Open for me," Matthias murmured, slowly standing and pulling Tanner with him. On their feet, the men were evenly matched. Matthias stood an inch taller, but not enough to make a difference where their mouths met.

  Tanner parted his lips and heard himself groan as Matthias slipped his tongue inside. At the same time, Matthias stepped closer, and his cock met the hard plane of Tanner's cloth-covered belly.

  For all that he wore a shirt, Tanner might as well have been naked. He could feel the heat in Matthias's cock burning through to his skin, and it was all he could do to keep his fists at his sides, not wanting to startle the man into stopping.

  "That's it." Matthias worked his tongue again, this time plunging harder. The surprising gentleness was still there, but male need began to bleed through the embrace. Tanner couldn't help pressing closer to the arousal between them, especially when his own cock hungered for more.

  Matthias, however, wouldn't have it. He took his arms from Tanner's shoulders and ran his hands down Tanner's back to his waist, holding softly to his hips. The touch made Tanner tremble, as much from need as from bewildering emotion. Matthias was handling him so carefully, as if he might break, and Tanner didn't understand why doing so made him want too cling tighter.

  Dammit. This was not what he wanted. His body clamored for release, not some emotional drama that, frankly, scared the piss out of him. Not caring what Matthias might think, and half hoping the prince would back away, Tanner released the restraints on his control.

  Growling, he grabbed Matthias's ass and pulled him closer, thrusting against the man's body and rubbing against that magnificent cock as he did so. He sucked on Matthias's tongue and gave back the stroking, fucking sensation by thrusting inside Matthias's mouth.

  Matthias succumbed for a perfect, blissful moment, and then he started to fight back, trying to reassert dominance. Now this, Tanner understood. No touchy feely bullshit, but true, honest to God arousal.

  Clenching Matthias's ass with gripping fingers, Tanner pushed them both across the kitchen floor to the wall. Matthias slammed against the wall with a bang and growled back at Tanner, nipping his lip with sharp teeth.

  "You want to play?" Matthias rasped, his hands suddenly between them as he pried open Tanner's jeans and pushed them lower on his hips.

  The minute Matthias's hand wrapped around his cock, Tanner was a goner.

  "Oh, fuck." He plastered himself to Matthias, feasting on the lust between them, sucking at his mouth with vicious need. The instinct to claim this person as his own overwhelmed him, and without conscious thought about what he was doing or why, Tanner shoved Matthias to his knees with a strength that surprised him.

  Matthias didn't fight back, but stared up with a furious glint in his gaze, all tenderness gone.

  "Suck me," Tanner gritted. "Take my dick in your mouth, prince, and tell me what your heart tells you about that."

  Waiting for Matthias to refuse, and rightfully so, Tanner was shocked when Matthias took him inside his warm mouth, all the way to his balls.

  Tanner immediately experienced the need to come, to mark this Dracon with his seed the same as he'd done with Ava, and instinct had him pumping as he gripped Matthias's soft black hair, holding him tight.

  "That's it, more," he whispered, groaning when the prince sucked harder. Matthias did something with his tongue, and then Tanner felt the man's hands under his balls, one hand creeping between his legs toward his ass.

  Widening his stance as much as his jeans would let him to ease Matthias's way, he wasn't prepared for the hard finger suddenly thrust in his anus.

  The shock of pain mingled with the pleasure of Matthias's mouth over his cock, and Tanner felt the rumblings of his climax shaking through him. Much as he wanted to come inside Matthias, he knew it was wrong. He'd forced the man to his knees, shoved his dick in his mouth and ordered him to give pleasure...ordered the prince to pleasure him, a lowly royal guard.

  He began to draw back. "Matthias--"

  But Matthias wouldn't let him. With a powerful pull, he took Tanner's shaft all the way in his mouth and began thrusting his invasive finger deeper, pressing onto a spot within Tanner's body that had him throbbing with mindless pleasure.

  "Fuck. Please, lefne, please," Tanner begged, not sure what he needed, but he knew if Matthias stopped he'd fucking die.

  Then Matthias drove that finger harder and sucked his cock tight, adding an incredible heat through his mouth that set Tanner aflame.

  "Matthias," he yelled as he came, shuddering as cum shot into Matthias's mouth like a waterfall. He continued to orgasm, his pleasure immense, earth-shattering.

  He wasn't sure how much time had passed before he found himself blinking at Matthias, who wore a smug, shit-eating grin. Somehow the man now stood face to face with him, though Tanner wasn't aware of Matthias moving.

  Matthias kissed Tanner on the mouth with a smack. "You blacked out for a minute there, Tanner. I guess your heart was telling you that you couldn't handle me."

  Chuckling to himself, Matthias walked out of the kitchen toward the bathroom with a firm stride despite the fact he rubbed at his tender side. The shower came on, and Tanner struggled to put two and two together.

  Well, hell. If Tanner weren't mistaken, he'd just been seduced by a master. The pleasure still streaming through his sated body began to fade as anger overtook him. So, Matthias thought to control him, Tanner, with sex? Granted, Tanner had never come so hard, or been so rough with a bedmate. But still, the notion that Matthias had ended up the dominant after their small battle ate at Tanner's pride. And if he were honest with himself, at his need to make Matthias see them as equals.

  And if it weren't bad enough that Tanner had climaxed hard enough to pass out, Matthias had walked away with a hard-on the size of Texas. Moving unsteadily to his feet, Tanner shed his clothes in a path to the bathroom and decided two could play Matthias's game. But he faltered as he reached the bathroom door, wondering just what the hell Matthias wanted to prove.

  All that talk about men in love and what the hell his heart told him? What was the prince playing at? And why did Tanner feel the need to understand so badly?

  Shaking his head, he pushed the bathroom door open and yanked back the shower curtain. Matthias leaned his forehead against one shower wall while he stroked himself toward orgasm, not even bothering to note the interruption.

  "Hold on, now." Tanner licked his lips, the sight of Matthias so ready and so thick arousing him anew.

  "What do you want?" Matthias continued to jerk himself, his groan one of utter need. "I'm busy."

  "I can see that." Tanner clearly recalled the taste of Matthias's cum, and wondered if he could do that, bring the man to orgasm with his mouth. The image came to him easily and, testin
g, he sent it to Matthias.

  "Oh, shit." Matthias panted, glaring over his shoulder at Tanner. "Look, give me a minute, alright? You're making this worse."

  "I know." Tanner surprised himself by grinning, pleased he'd managed to thoroughly arouse Matthias as well as annoy him. He stepped inside the shower stall and closed the curtain behind him, the hot water sliding sensuously down his body. "Why don't you let me take care of that for you?"

  Matthias stared, swallowing hard. "You? I don't think you're ready for this, Tanner."

  "Why not? Scared of what your heart might tell you?" he mocked, and watched with interest as Matthias's eyes sparkled with anger.

  "Don't make light of my feelings."

  "What feelings?" Tanner prodded the man, pleased to see the calm, collected prince out of control. Matthias wasn't plotting seduction now, he was angry. And aroused. And the two combined to throw Tanner's normal reserve to the wind.

  "You're acting like an asshole. Get out of the shower and cool off. Or better yet, just thank me for the blow job and leave me the hell alone." The raspy grate of Matthias's voice had Tanner more than ready to service him.

  "Okay. Thanks."

  Matthias grunted and turned his back, his heartbeat overly loud. Tanner moved swiftly, giving the male no warning before he shoved him hard against the wall. Before Matthias could move, Tanner flipped him around so that they might face each other.

  "What the fuck are you doing?" Matthias snapped as Tanner fell to his knees and took that huge, hot, wet cock into his mouth. The prince closed his eyes and arched into Tanner's mouth as if spellbound. "Damn it, Tanner." He groaned. "That feels incredible."

  Tanner agreed, and began laving Matthias's flesh with the same devotion and attention he'd received. He remembered what felt good and allowed his throat to relax, using his Dracon shifting to suckle the man without gagging.

  Matthias's moans turned into grunts for more, and soon the prince was writhing as Tanner tormented him with his mouth, tongue and teeth...and then he added his hands.