A King to Be Protected

by Brea Alepoú

  During the spilling of his guts, he stared down at the floor, but he slowly looked up at Titos. "Not till I met you." He glanced over to Seth. "And you," he whispered.

  Soft fingers touched his face and scratched against his beard. He sighed, knowing the soft hands that touched him. He closed his eyes, hoping it wasn't his imagination.

  "Is that all?" Titos asked.

  Alfrik nodded; there was nothing else. A grip to his shoulder had him opening his eyes, staring into Seth's. There was still hostility, but gone was the intent to kill. After gazing into each other’s eyes, the glare went away and a small smile appeared. Seth nodded and turned back to the bed.

  "Come on," Titos said, walking toward the bed.

  Alfrik stood there, frozen. He'd been so sure he was going to lose Titos before it had even begun. He looked around the room. This time, it was Titos who looked down.

  "You might not want them to be here, but I need them here, just in case I lose control," Titos whispered.

  Alfrik moved without thought, reaching out to touch him, only to stop before actually making contact. His eyes went to Seth, getting a nod before he placed his hand on Titos’s shoulder.

  "Sorry, I was shocked you still wanted me as a keeper," Alfrik confessed.

  Titos stared at him in confusion. "I decided I wanted you as my keeper downstairs."

  Alfrik wanted to laugh at himself. He'd been stuck in his own thoughts, yet Titos’s mind hadn't changed even with the new information.

  "I don't mind them being here. I want them here," Alfrik said

  Titos joined his keepers on the bed, moving so Alfrik could climb in. He moved slowly, as if he was afraid that Titos might change his mind. It was another to the list of people who wanted him dead.

  Seth: And we will protect you through it all.

  Kail: Anyone who raises their hand to you will suffer for it.

  Adom: We are here to protect you.

  Mazki: And love you.

  Titos felt the sting his eyes, the tears threatening to fall. They weren’t tears of sadness or loneliness; those tears he knew. But as of late, he’d been shedding the ones caused by love and happiness. It scared him as much as warmed his heart that he had so many that loved and treasured him. Seth placed his hand on Titos’s back, rubbing up and down in a soothing motion. Alfrik sat there, watching them. He didn’t ask what was going on, but Titos saw in his green eyes he wanted to oh so badly.

  Titos smiled at the gruff man. His auburn beard was misshapen due to all the tugs Alfrik had put it through. Titos’s fingers tingled to touch the coarse hair. Unlike Adom’s close beard, Alfrik’s was long, reaching the top of his chest.

  Titos sat there a moment longer, staring at Alfrik. He was handsome in the rugged live-in-the-mountains-in-a-cave kind of way.

  Mazki: So, Yogi Bear?

  Kail: Would you stop trying to name him famous bears already?

  Mazki: Are you jealous?

  The silence for a second tempted Titos to turn around to see Kail's face. He could feel the small spark of jealousy. Titos soothed Kail through the bond, but the jealousy wasn't for Titos with Alfrik, but of Mazki. Kail understood that Titos loved them all, but he was jealous of the fact that he thought Mazki might like Alfrik more.

  The rustling of the sheets as Mazki moved pulled Titos’s attention. He wanted to watch but knew he needed to focus on Alfrik for the time being.

  Seth: They are fine. We are here; bond with your new keeper.

  Titos felt along the bond, along all of theirs, to double check that no one was opposed. Yes, Titos wanted Alfrik, but he wouldn't damage what he had already. No matter if his very being told him that the edoli who sat next to him, giving him longing looks, was his already even without the bond.

  Adom: We accept him because you want him, but also because he risked everything and fought by our sides for a king he isn't pledge or bonded to.

  The words calmed Titos. He didn't move, still waiting for Alfrik to make the final decision. Titos had accepted another person he didn't know would want him dead. But he needed Alfrik to make the first move. Alfrik broke eye contact for a second before turning his focus back on Titos. He lifted his hand slowly, moving it toward Titos’s face. He cupped his cheek, the calloused hand was so warm it seeped into Titos’s skin, warming him to his core. He closed his eyes for a brief second, relishing in the heat that radiated off Alfrik. It was as hot as Mazki got at times. Another fire beast would be added to the keepers.

  With the first move taken, Titos moved with no problems, letting his fingers run through the course beard. The hairs tickled his fingers. Titos stuck his tongue out licking against his own with intent. Wanting to press his mouth against Alfrik’s slightly hidden thin pink lips .

  Titos glanced in Alfrik’s green eyes, seeing the pleading there and couldn't hold himself back even if he wanted to. He pressed their lips together in a chaste kiss. He was surprised at how soft Alfrik’s lips were for the man to look so gruff, but it didn't stop Titos. It only made him want to find out more about the man who would become his keeper.

  Alfrik opened his mouth, and Titos took it for the opening it was, their tongues caught in a sensual dance, tangling and rubbing against each other. It heated Titos, and he moved to get closer, wanting more of the amazing kiss. Alfrik wasn't rough, his tongue almost delicate the way it brushed against Titos’s. It sent shivers down Titos’s back.

  Alfrik’s arms finally wrapped around him, pulling him closer, as if he too felt the pull to be closer. Even with their chests touching and Titos sitting on his lap, it felt as if he was on the other side of the room. He was just too far away for his liking. Titos reluctantly pulled back from the heated kiss, sucking in air he hadn't wanted but probably needed. Alfrik did the same, breathing heavily. His eyes widened as he stared at Titos.

  "Your eyes," he whispered in awe.

  Titos smirked. "Yeah, they do that."

  His fingers worked themselves under Alfrik’s shirt. He pulled the shirt up and over Alfrik’s head in record time, marveling at all the beautiful freckles that decorated his skin. His mouth watered; he wanted to map out every freckle possible. See just how many sprinkles he could taste.

  Titos froze and turned to glare at Mazki. "Stop with the images. Although, we will have to try that."

  Mazki opened his eyes to stare back at Titos. He was naked and flushed against Kail's naked body. They looked breathtaking together. Kail's tan a contrast to Mazki's pale skin. If Titos had a camera, he would take a picture of the beauty they portrayed. Seth sat naked next to them, his cock hard, and he smiled at Titos before pulling Kail's hair, earning a moan from Kail. He covered his mouth, eating every moan that dared try to escape. Adom was also naked, his hand lightly skimming Mazki. By the way Mazki fidgeted, he was enjoying the teasing touches. Adom’s face was neutral.

  Titos: Always in control.

  Adom turned to stare at him, and Titos saw the heat within his gaze. The barely contained beast that wanted to so some much more, but bided its time. It sent tingles down Titos’s body seeing it, knowing there was so much more to Adom. He glanced at Mazki; they both wanted to see the beast in full action.

  Rough fingers gently drawing circles on his flesh made Titos turn to stare back at Alfrik. He didn't look upset; he too had been admiring the beauty of Titos’s keepers. An image played in his head of all of them touching, bodies colliding, and moans and groans filling the air. Unable to tell where one person started and the other one ended. And Titos right there in the middle of it, enjoying every caress and feel of his keepers. The image was fleeting, and he’d thought it had been Mazki who’d sent it, but to his surprise, Seth had been the one to share his desire for all of them.

  Titos loved his alpha so much. With his strength backing him, Titos took his own shirt, stripping it off. A gasp form Alfrik had Titos feeling self-conscious for a second until a hot mouth surrounded by coarse hair rubbed against his chest, wrapping around his nipple. Alfrik's tongue flicked against the ha
rdening nub, and Titos moaned from the electricity it sent straight to his cock. He buried his hands in Alfrik's wild hair. The soft auburn strands were easy to grip when Alfrik bit down, then he licked the sting of pain away.

  Titos pulled, desperate to feel Alfrik's lips on his once more. Alfrik wasn't deterred, moving from one nipple to the other. Titos groaned from pleasure and desperation. His hips moved, trying to get closer to Alfrik, if it was even possible. Both of their pants still barriers that Titos wanted gone.

  Without thought, he set ablaze the offending material. Alfrik let his hardened nipple go, surprised by the flames that now engulfed them. The smell of burning clothes stunk, but it didn't wain Titos’s arousal. He felt the hot flesh of Alfrik against him. He moaned from the feeling and moved his hips until his length was lined up with Alfrik's.

  A soft hand touched his back, and the fire that had been there, burning away the unwanted items, was gone. Titos knew it was Mazki, but his eyes were focused on Alfrik. There was no sign of any pain. He sat there, slack-jawed and staring at Titos, surprised he could use his keepers’ gifts.

  Titos wanted to show him much more, but the urge to bond with him was stronger. Titos rubbed his dick against Alfrik, the delicious friction sending small electric shocks through him, spurring him on. Alfrik recovered quickly, gripping Titos’s hips and moving them slowly and so gently. It was almost too gentle, but Titos could see the care in Alfrik's eyes. He brought their lips back together in a heated, sensual kiss. It stole his breathe away and made him want more.

  It happened. Like every time before, he didn't know when it would happen, but he knew it was the case when he looked around. Gone was the bed, gone was the mountain of a man from under him. He stood, looking around. It was incredibly hot, and the ground was cracked with red, glowing liquid moving like water, shifting the rocks. Titos looked up to see no opening, just more rock. He wasn't sure where to look.

  He opened his mouth to see if it was one of the times he could speak. The first few attempts were futile, but just as he was about to give up, a rock tumbled down and landed next to him.

  "Where are you?" Titos whispered. He looked around again, not seeing anything. He called out again, hoping that Alfrik would come out. "Hello?"

  More rocks tumbled down, and Titos turned in time to see a giant bear standing there. It wasn't the furry kind or even Pooh Bear like Mazki had been referring to him as. He was easily three times the size of a normal grizzly bear. Just like the ground, cracks ran all over his body, the glowing red liquid moving around under the sheets of rock on his body.

  Titos stood there in amazement of the creature in front of him. He moved to get nearer only for the bear to take two steps back. Titos moved again, but for every step forward, the bear took two steps back, keeping his distance. Titos lifted his hand and the creature flinched away as if Titos would cause him pain. He didn't attack Titos, although he was technically in his place. Instead, he kept a healthy distance from Titos.

  Titos decided to sit on the ground. He was afraid that the heat from the magma would burn, but there was only heat, nothing more. He placed his hands facing up on his lap as he stared at the giant bear.

  "I won't hurt you. I will never hurt you," he promised.

  It felt as if hours passed as neither one moved. Titos held still, not daring to rush the creature. Slowly, so very slowly, the bear crouched down until he was on all fours. It made him shorter, but he was still huge. Titos stayed still, waiting for him. Inch by inch, the bear moved closer to Titos, sniffing the air until the bear's muzzle touched his hand. He didn't know what he expected to feel but the soft nose wasn't it. It was hot to touch, and it should have burned, but it was as if the heat was sucked into Titos.

  "See?" Titos cooed.

  Green eyes he knew so well stared back at him. Titos knew it wasn't Alfrik but his beast, and although he’d convinced the man he was wanted and his freedom wouldn't be taken, he still needed to convince his beast. Titos moved slowly. He stayed sitting, but he let his hand rub against the beast’s head. The rocks were rough in some places and felt like glass in others. He continued to pet and sooth Alfrik's beast. He would do it as long as it was needed until the beast trusted him and knew he was the master it sought.

  "Will you join me?" Titos finally asked.

  The bears head was laying in his lap, the weight and heat welcome. The beast lifted his head, nose pressed against Titos’s cheek before he stepped back. Titos watched him as he went over to a hole in the ground. Titos moved to get a better view to see what exactly was in the hole.

  He moved closer, feeling the rise in temperature as he did. He looked down at the moving lava in the hole. It crashed against the walls it was confided in, moving the ground slightly, but it was like a wave against a rocky shore. Beautiful but dangerous. The beast jumped head first into the magma. Titos watched with bated breath as the beast stayed under for some time before crashing up through the magma. A roar shook the place. Titos could do nothing but smile and watch his latest beast enjoy the lava as if it was a pool of water.

  He blinked and gone was the heat of the lava and the view of the lava bear swimming in the magma. He was back in the room, sitting on Alfrik's lap and staring into dazed green eyes.

  Titos kissed him once more. "You need to take my blood."

  Alfrik blinked a few times and within seconds his fangs were descending. Goosebumps went down Titos back. His keepers didn't need constant blood for their connection to stay strong or even to increase their power, but he still relished the feeling of fangs piercing his skin.

  "Drink of my blood so that you may be bonded to me for eternity," Titos said. The binding words left him just as Alfrik bit down on his shoulder.

  Titos groaned as his blood flowed from him, clicking that last piece of the bond into place. And just like that, Alfrik was bonded to him. He was there, and Titos could feel the euphoria that Alfrik was feeling being connected to him.

  Mazki: Welcome, Pooh.

  Alfrik gasped, his teeth leaving Titos’s shoulder. The retraction of fangs from his skin was both pleasurable as well as agonizing.

  Alfrik: I can hear and feel you… All of you. But how?

  Mazki: That would be our lovely master’s doing. We are all connected through him.

  Alfrik: Thank you, master.

  Titos: Just call me Titos unless around other people.

  Mazki: Or when you want to be kinky.

  Titos laughed a little. "We can talk about it later." He rubbed his still very hard dick against Alfrik.

  A chorus of moans rose behind him with the sound of flesh colliding. Titos could feel the pleasure flooding through the bonds. He turned to see Kail making out with Mazki as Seth took Kail from behind and Adom took Mazki. Titos groaned from the sight, his hand wrapping around his length. Precum dripped out as he stroked himself. Alfrik's hand wrapped around his, stopping him from continuing. Titos turned his eyes on him, seeing the faint green glow around Alfrik, the glow all of his keepers had that stated they were his and his alone.

  Titos felt a smile stretching on his face as he admired what was his. Alfrik's hand went up as something was tossed to him. Titos turned to see the lube that Titos still had no idea where it came from, only that it was always there when they needed it. Alfrik made quick work coating his fingers before slipping them under Titos.

  He touched his entrance, and Titos had to restrain himself from pushing back and impaling himself on those gentle fingers. Every time he moved, Alfrik would go still. It was maddening, and Titos felt the urge to scream at him to just fuck him already. He opened his mouth to do just that when Alfrik's fingers slowly pushed into him, making him groan in ecstasy instead.

  One finger moved slowly in and out of him.

  Titos: More.

  "I don't want to hurt you," Alfrik said.

  Titos wanted to groan in frustration. Instead, he moaned as Alfrik found his prostate and pressed against the sensitive bundle of nerves.

  Finally, Alfrik ad
ded another finger, stretching him slowly. His restraint reminded him of Adom's. The only difference was that Adom had something under his restraint. He held it at bay for fear he would move too fast. Alfrik went painstakingly slow because he didn't want Titos in any discomfort.

  Titos groaned as Alfrik spread his fingers inside of him, making sure to stretch him. There was another finger, and Titos had to put his foot down. He didn't want another finger. He wanted Alfrik's cock.

  Mazki: He is definitely Pooh. Look how gentle he is with his honey.

  Titos turned to glare at Mazki as Alfrik’s fingers left him empty and wanting more. Coarse hair scratched against his skin, making him sensitive. Titos had no idea facial hair could be so sexy.

  Alfrik lifted him, and he felt it. He wanted to scream yes, but he was too busy trying to lower himself onto Alfrik's cock. But Alfrik held him still, lowering him slowly onto him. It was so slow, but as Alfrik entered him, Titos forgot about how slow it all was and focused on how good it felt.

  Alfrik wasn't small by any means—none of his keepers where—but Alfrik was thicker than his others, the fullness had him panting and his legs shaking.

  Finally flush against Alfrik, he took in breaths at a rapid pace as he tried to calm his racing heart and the urge he felt to move. The hands on his hips flexed a few times, and a low growl left Alfrik’s lips. Titos looked up to see his eyes closed and his eyebrows pinched in concentration.

  "Move now," Titos said through clenched teeth.

  If they stayed still for any longer, he would go mad. Alfrik’s eyes flew open, staring at him, and Titos touched his bond, wrapped it around his hand, and pulled slightly.

  Alfrik's hands tightened on his hips as he thrust up, and Titos moaned. He was too riled up, but he could see how Alfrik wanted to go slow. Titos promised him one day, but then and now, Titos needed to feel him and all of his strength. Alfrik grunted as Titos pulled against the bond again, making him flex up again.

  "What are you doing?" Alfrik asked breathlessly.

  Titos kissed him, squeezing around the thick cock inside of him, earning another moan from Alfrik that Titos ate, not letting the sound escape. Alfrik didn't have to be told again. He lifted Titos and slammed him back down.