DefyingHisFate

by MarieMedina

  She moved forward in her chair a bit and smoothed her skirt. “My brother doesn’t share much with me, even though we’re twins. But when I saw you leave here last year, I had to ask. Be insistent. And while I got little information, I can say he was very affected by whatever happened.”

  I told him I loved him, and he turned on me like a wild animal. “Affected? Do you mean angry?”

  “Yes, but more than his usual gruff moodiness. He was hurt and withdrawn. Depressed. He went to bed very early but then often overslept for several days in a row. He raised no objections today when he found out I was your cariad. But it was an act. He was trying far too hard to make it seem like it meant nothing to him. There’s something there. It may only be unfinished business, but if you still love him, you have to tell him. Somehow, someway, you need to tell him. I’m assuming he knew how you felt before you two ended?”

  “Yes. I told him that night. It’s what made him break things off.”

  Her eyes showed dismay, and she shook her head as she looked down. “It’s been so hard since our parents died. I know we’re too old to need them, but…”

  “No, you’re never too old to need anyone.” Nathaniel looked to the portraits over the mantle. “He rarely talked about them, but I knew they hadn’t been dead long.”

  “Mere days after our twenty-second birthday. Our dad just knew how to get through to him. I don’t.”

  The house seemed quiet, so he asked, “He’s not here because he knew I was coming?”

  “Yes. He said he’d be seeing to the flocks and the lads that work for us. He should be back by nightfall, but he may sleep elsewhere to avoid me and you both.”

  “How are things with the sheep? I’ll be honest and admit I know nothing about sheep except the few things Reese told me. You have chickens, too, right?”

  “Yes. And everything’s fine. I can handle everything here, and even help out with herding at times. The flocks are small. We have lots of local lads to help. Good dogs.”

  “Good. If you ever need help, you can come to me. Even if nothing is to come of it, you’re still my cariad. Please don’t take it as condescending or anything. I’ve wondered how you both were the last year, and I’ll admit I walk by more often than I need to.”

  She sighed. “The offer is kind. But despite our lack of family, we have good friends. They’ll be there for us.”

  “I understand.” Silence fell a moment, and he wanted to go but felt compelled to tell her about the odd thing in Sebastian’s vision. “There is one more thing. About Sebastian’s vision.”

  “Oh?”

  “Reese was in it. Scowling at us. It terrified me. Sebastian came with me in case you wanted to talk to him.”

  “Reese was in the vision? Does that happen often?”

  “No. At times the people will be seen surrounded by family, but not one person. Not according to the records.”

  She glanced to the window. “Then I think you better bring him in. I definitely want to talk to him.”

  Nathaniel nodded and got up to call Sebastian inside. His head swam with thoughts of Reese and of all Gretchen had said. He wanted to be alone to think, but that would have to wait a little longer. Deep down, he hoped they might stay long enough for Reese to return, but he told himself not to get his hopes up. Gretchen was probably right—Reese would stay gone all night to be sure he didn’t run into the “spoiled and clingy” prince.

  Chapter Two

  Reese found himself slowing his pace as he approached the house. He could see Gretchen in the kitchen putting dishes away, and he stopped to stare at her. Nothing seemed to have changed about her. The house seemed quiet. Yet his stomach was in knots. Calm as everything looked, he knew things had changed irreversibly. He patted Daisy and Buck and snapped his fingers to send them off to their place by the barn. Then he made his way into the house, entering as quietly as he could.

  Gretchen came to stand in the kitchen doorway as he closed the door. “Morning,” she said.

  “Morning.” He set his satchel down on the little table by the door. “How did things go?”

  “We talked a while. And I met with Sebastian.”

  “What’s he like?”

  “Nice. I liked him. But he had something very interesting to say.”

  “Sebastian?”

  She nodded. “Yes. Wanna sit down?”

  “Not really.”

  She sighed and headed back into the kitchen, where she moved to the stove and the coffee perking there. She took her time as she poured herself a cup before turning back to him. “You were in the vision he had. Staring at me and Nathaniel. Scowling at us, he said.”

  “And?”

  “And that’s it. They don’t know what it means, not exactly, but I can guess.”

  “But you’re his cariad? That’s what the note said.”

  “Yes, that’s right. Sebastian felt our bond. But don’t you think there’s a reason you were in that vision? That perhaps what happened between you two changed our fates?”

  “I’ll leave that to the seers. It’s nothing to do with me.”

  She set her coffee down with a loud clunk and crossed her arms. “I don’t understand you. I never have.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “You keep everyone and everything at arm’s length. Act like you feel nothing. Except anger.”

  “Then go ahead and tell me why you think I was in that vision.”

  “Because the prince loves you. He told me so himself. And you must feel something for him. Otherwise you wouldn’t be trying so hard to make it seem as if you don’t care.”

  “It ended a year ago. I’m not some moon-eyed boy. I had lovers before him, and I’ve had others since him.”

  “Not ones you brought to this house. To your own bed. No other man or woman has ever slept at your side in this house.”

  Not wanting to discuss that, he asked, “So what did you tell him? What trouble have you stirred up?”

  “All I said was that he needed to talk to you in person. Needed to tell you to your face that he still loves you because it’s obvious whatever was between you isn’t finished.”

  “It is finished.” He pointed two fingers at himself, tapping his chest. “I finished it.”

  “Then tell him that yourself. We aren’t a bunch of children, sending someone else to ask who likes who and pass notes.”

  “Is he coming back?” Reese asked, his gaze flitting to the window briefly.

  “Why, you scared?”

  Scared? Not me. “No, of course not.” When his sister put her hands on her hips and raised her eyebrows, he took a step forward. “And I’ll prove it.”

  She stared back at him, a slight smile on her lips. “Go on then,” she said softly.

  He stared her down a moment before going back into the foyer, where he grabbed the knob and twisted, yanking the front door open. As he strode down the path, she ran to the door and called out, “You slept outside last night. At least change clothes and wash up a bit.”

  He turned back, walking backwards. “He never minded me being sweaty and dirty before. His Highness can get over it!”

  As he exited the gate, he heard his sister laughing from the door, which she then shut before he could turn back to her. He stopped a moment, realizing what she’d done. But then he kept on going. It’s my idea to do this. Nothing to do with her goading.

  He kept telling himself that all the way to the palace.

  * * * *

  Nathaniel blinked a couple of times as he looked at Louis, his brother’s steward. “Reese? Yes, of course I’ll see him. Where is he?”

  “Down in the front hall. He came to my study to request to see you.”

  “Let him come up to the family wing. He knows where my room is.” He hesitated and then added, “And let the servants know that he’s allowed to come up here. In future.” It might be wishful thinking, but he might as well go ahead and say it.

  Louis smiled and nodded before walking back tow
ard the stairs.

  Nathaniel pushed the feeling of awkwardness away, and nervousness soon replaced it. He looked at himself in the mirror, but then he realized that wasn’t what he needed to be doing. He ran over to his desk and began crumbling the pieces of paper up. He’d spent the entire morning trying to plan out what to say to Reese. He shoved it all away in the desk drawers. Sleep had refused to come the night before, despite Gretchen’s reassurances that there was hope for him and Reese.

  Was she right? Reese actually coming here had to mean something. Surely the man hadn’t come here looking for conflict. Yet, knowing Reese…

  Reese knocked on the open door, and Nathaniel’s heart caught in his throat as he looked up. Reese hadn’t changed much, though his golden hair was a bit longer, brushing his collar now. His blue eyes practically glowed, yet Nathaniel saw no warmth there. Their intensity had always captivated him, even though he had never seen the emotion he wanted returned in them. He’d seen plenty of hunger and need in them, but Reese’s passion had never held any warmth.

  “Reese. Come in.”

  Reese did so and closed the door behind him. “We need to settle this.”

  “Yes, we do. I tried before, but you avoided me.”

  Instead of denying or affirming that, Reese said, “You rejected my sister, and that’s fine. It’s much easier this way, I suppose. The problem is you filling her head with all these fanciful notions.”

  Nathaniel tensed. All I did was tell her the truth about my feelings. I even said I wouldn’t try to win you back. She was the one who thought there was hope. “Fanciful notions?”

  “Yes.”

  Nathaniel took a deep breath and said, “Being in love with you isn’t a fanciful notion. And you being in Sebastian’s vision is a fact. He didn’t know about us. No one but Gretchen did.”

  “Yet the seers have no idea what it means. Very convenient.”

  “Convenient? How do you figure that?”

  “You can all interpret it any way you feel like.”

  Nathaniel crossed his arms. “Then what is your unbiased interpretation? We didn’t offer one up at all when we spoke with Gretchen. We simply told her about it.”

  Reese narrowed his eyes at Nathaniel, perhaps disliking the sarcastic tone, but he still answered him. “It’s obvious. I never wanted to see you again. Marrying my sister would’ve put you in my life permanently. It was a warning. To you.”

  One I perhaps should’ve heeded, but there’s nothing to be done now. “There’s nothing wrong with that way of looking at it.”

  Reese tilted his head as he eyed Nathaniel, as if he awaited some sort of trick. “So we’re done? You and my sister will go your separate ways, and you won’t bother me again?”

  Nathaniel knew he should agree and simply let the man go, but he couldn’t. “Just tell me why.”

  “Why what?” Reese asked, shifting his weight and crossing his arms.

  “Why everything was fine until the moment I told you I loved you.”

  “You wanted something I couldn’t give you. I was tired of how clingy and needy you’d become. It was the last straw, as humans say.”

  “So you felt nothing for me?”

  Reese’s gaze darkened as a hint of a smile came to his lips. “Lust. My cock fit inside you perfectly, and you sucked me like you couldn’t get enough. Like no one else ever has.”

  “We’d just have gone on sleeping together indefinitely?”

  “Until one of us got bored.”

  “I can’t believe that.” Nathaniel bridged the distance between them. “You never let your emotions show, but sometimes though…” He trailed off, then shook his head. “Was every moment a lie?”

  Reese licked his lower lip. “Not when you were so needful you begged for my touch. When I made you come so hard you whimpered.”

  Nathaniel found it hard to breathe as Reese threw those things in his face. His throat tightened as Reese’s musky scent hit him. “You only wanted my body?”

  “I wanted to master the arrogant prince. But then I got a taste for it. My mistake.”

  “A mistake? Wanting to be with someone more than once?”

  “Yes. I can’t manage to get rid of you.”

  Nathaniel lowered his gaze, trying to rein in his emotions. Why can’t I just turn away from him? Kick him out? I’m a prince, and I know my powers are greater than his. Why is it so hard to even raise my voice to him?

  Nathaniel fought the pain in his chest as the ache and torture of a year ago came back full force.

  * * * *

  Reese felt his body respond when Nathaniel lowered his gaze and quickened his breathing. The prince’s submission and intense need had always lured Reese back in. He leaned in, his lips almost brushing the skin of Nathaniel’s neck. “Do you think of me when you’re with others?”

  Nathaniel backed away a little, his cheeks coloring. “There haven’t been any others.”

  Reese narrowed his eyes. “An entire year with nothing but your own hand?”

  “If you are only here to mock me, then leave! I won’t bother you anymore. But you can’t tell my heart what to do. Even I can’t! You think I want to love someone who despises me?”

  Reese stiffened. “I never said I despise you.”

  “You stand here stomping on my heart yet again. What do you call that?”

  “Trying to be rid of you.”

  “Then go!” Nathaniel turned and took a few more steps away, stepping on something. The prince looked down and snatched up the ball of paper before hurriedly scanning the floor.

  Reese did so as well, grabbing up another ball just as Nathaniel reached for it. The panicked look on Nathaniel’s face made him curious. “What’s this?”

  “Give it to me,” Nathaniel demanded as he reached for it.

  Reese held it out of his reach. “Tell me what it is. Why you’re so worried about me looking at it.”

  “None of your business.”

  Reese backed Nathaniel against the wall and pinned him there with one arm, smiling as he unfurled the paper with one hand. The prince didn’t fight him, though he could’ve gotten away if he’d tried. That made Reese smile wider as he pressed their bodies close. His eyes scanned the page, and his body responded more. He let the paper fall to the floor as he focused on Nathaniel. “Is that what you’ve been doing all day? Scribbling love notes?”

  “Let me go,” Nathaniel said.

  “Did you mean that? ‘I’ll be yours even if you won’t be mine.’ So desperate. Do I really have such power over you, my prince?”

  “I’ll call the guards if you don’t let me go.”

  Reese shook his head. “You won’t. I can feel your cock pressing against me. Can you feel mine? Maybe we’re both fools, slaves to our bodies, which fit together so well.” He sighed as he ran his thumb over Nathaniel’s lower lip. “I want you on your knees again, but that will only make you think you stand a chance. That sweet mouth.” He sighed. “The start of all this trouble.”

  “Is love so terrible?”

  Reese backed away, releasing Nathaniel. “I suppose I’ll love my cariad.” He shrugged. “Who knows? I doubt they’ll feel as good as you do around my cock.”

  Nathaniel went still a moment, but then he looked up, something unreadable in his eyes. He knelt down and placed his hands on his thighs. “Come here,” he said softly.

  The sight made Reese ache, but he smiled smugly down at Nathaniel in an attempt to mask his own need. “What’s this? It won’t work. I won’t stay.”

  Softly, the prince said, “I know. Come here anyway. Why waste a hard and ready cock? Let me suck you. If you can walk away after that, you’ll never hear from me again.”

  He’s trying to ensnare me again. He laughed. “So desperate for one more taste of my cum. I see you haven’t changed.”

  “No. I haven’t. I love you and want to give you pleasure even though I should hate you.”

  He frowned. I love you. The prince’s words carried the same resona
nce, after all this time. “Stop saying that.”

  Nathaniel sucked on his lower lip before saying, “Make me.”

  Reese had his cock freed before he even reached Nathaniel. He rubbed it over the prince’s lips and then fed it to him, trembling at the familiar pleasure. He took Nathaniel by the hair and fucked his mouth without mercy, the need to come overwhelming him. Nathaniel clung to his thighs and moaned as Reese used his mouth. Reese came with a cry and emptied himself down the prince’s throat within moments, and he nearly fell backwards from the force of it. He gazed down at Reese’s red and swollen lips, and before he knew what he was doing, he was on his knees kissing him. Devouring Reese’s mouth and tasting his own cum. Ripping the fabric, he reached into Nathaniel’s trousers and gripped him, biting Nathaniel’s lip when the trembling prince moaned deep in his throat.

  Reese inched back to look at Nathaniel. He tangled one hand in the prince’s hair and held him while the other hand stroked his cock. “I see I’m still your master. You’ve let no one else touch you?”

  “No one,” Nathaniel whispered. His eyelids fluttered as they gazed at each other.

  Reese broke the stare and watched his hand moving over Nathaniel’s cock. “Then I call your bluff. I will come to your bed whenever I like, but you will never come to me. Outside of this room, we are nothing. But here? You will be mine again.”

  Nathaniel came, his eyes rolling back as his cum shot over Reese’s hand. Reese licked his finger clean as Nathaniel watched, still trembling.

  Why must he be so damn beautiful in his pleasure? I should’ve left when I had the chance. He glanced away when Nathaniel held his gaze far too long. The man was always doing that, as if it would have some magical effect on Reese. He rose and tucked his cock away, looking down at Nathaniel. “We have a deal?”

  Nathaniel remained on his knees, sitting back on his heels and gazing up. “You say you’re calling my bluff, but that’s a lie. One I’ll let you keep telling yourself.”

  “Delude yourself all you like. No one but you will be hurt.”

  Nathaniel gazed down. “What are your rules for the nights you come to me?” His voice was almost a whisper as he added, “I always loved it when there were rules.”