The Medici Queen

by Emily Bex

  Shade listened and stared at her thoughtful expression as she spoke. Damn, this woman was smart. He knew she’d reign beside him well.

  "You are very intelligent, bel, and that is a good point. Alec is bothered by all of the property I have taken from him in these deals. He would take advantage, just as I probably would if I had the chance. Any idea how much I lo ̶"

  Shade jumped bolt upright, stopping mid-sentence with Kate still clinging to him. "Vampire! Cazzo, its Jacks!"

  Kate had picked up the scent as well, knew it was vampire, but she didn’t yet recognize the scents of those vampires outside their own coven. She felt her heart pound, not in fear but anger. She heard the feral growl of the mountain lion and the two wolves, and she already knew, without looking out the window they had Jacks cornered. There was a part of her that wanted to issue a command to them now to rip her apart, but Jacks had done nothing to her, and Kate intended to keep it that way.

  "Let me go outside. I need to call to Aegis They’re holding her at bay now."

  Shade nodded. "Si, I had no idea she was coming, mi amore, I swear to you. I knew Alec was releasing her, I do not know her purpose for coming here." Shade followed behind as they quickly made their way to the door.

  Kate exited the front door to see the three animals surrounding Jacks. Aegis and Night Stalker were in front of her, teeth bared and growling, ready to attack. Riparo paced behind her, hissing and snarling, whipping her tail in an agitated state. Jacks stood spread-legged but still, her weapon drawn, ready to take aim at the first animal that attacked.

  Kate walked out into the yard until she stood directly in front of Jacks and made eye contact before lifting her hand and asking Aegis to settle. All three animals dropped their aggressive posture and sat at ease but alert and ready to respond to Kate's command. "Put your gun down, Jacks, and explain your purpose here."

  Shade stood in the open door and waited. He was curious to see how much control Kate actually had over the animals. He hoped like hell Jacks didn’t fire off a shot. He would have no control over bel's beast if one of those animals was hurt. He remained quiet. This was his queen establishing her territory with another female not of their coven and he knew better than to overstep his bounds.

  Jacks eased the Glock down, but didn’t engage the safety. She thought she was landing in friendly territory, but she was no fool and this welcoming party meant business, including the new immortal in front of her with the flaming red hair.

  "My lady, I’ve come to see your master before leaving the country. I’ve finished my assignment to Master Canton and only wished to let Master Shade know of my departure and to thank him."

  Kate nodded. "Just so we're clear, Jacks. I’ve spoken to Rissa, and I know you had sex with her mate, in her own home, right under her nose. I can't, for the life of me, understand why she’d tolerate that behavior, so it’s important you know...I'm not Rissa, and Shade is not Alec. Any inappropriate behavior on your part will be met with my beast. I understand you’re an assassin of note, but then, so was Cuerpo. So, tread carefully. Do we understand each other?"

  Jacks stared her down, her eyes never once leaving Kate’s. Shade had chosen well, for his mate didn’t back down, and she wasn’t afraid.

  "I understand completely. I came to wish you both good fortune on your mating and coronation, nothing more. I respect your master highly, as I do you my lady. I came to bear well wishes, and to thank Master Shade for the referral. I’ll leave you in peace." Jacks nodded to Kate and then eyed Shade intently.

  Shade walked outside, standing behind Kate, putting his arms around her waist. His eyes locked with Jacks.

  "I appreciate your well wishes, Jacks. I am disappointed in how you conducted yourself with Alec. Revenge of that sort will never get you ahead, only a reputation and disrespect. I still consider you an ally and I am sure we will fight alongside each other in battle. I wish you no harm, but you are no longer welcome inside this home or on this property. Understood, si?"

  "Understood, Master Shade. I’ll take my leave now." Lowering her head, she showed respect to them both and teleported out to Greece. There was a master there she wished to contact for some relaxation and perhaps, some work.

  Kate listened to his quiet reprimand of Jacks, and his decision to distance himself from her. It wasn’t the conversation she’d expected, especially after their argument. She leaned back against him as his arms encircled her. Kate turned in his arms, sliding her hands up his chest as he leaned down to kiss her. Aegis and Night Stalker danced at their feet like playful puppies.

  "My warriors approve, lover, and so do I. Now come inside, I’d hate to waste anymore of this night on business."

  20

  As Shade threw Kate over his shoulder, he slapped her ass and heard Aegis give a growl. Looking down, he laughed. "Master, remember girl? Take it easy, this is play."

  Running back to the house with her as she giggled, he climbed the stairs and headed into the bedroom, sitting her down. "Now what were you saying about being done with business?"

  Kate took one of his hands in hers and raised it to her lips, slipping his long finger into her mouth, and slowly swirled her tongue over the rough skin before sliding his finger out of her mouth. "Our business is never finished, lover."

  Shade moaned from the warmth and wetness of her mouth as her lips closed over his finger. "You keep that up and I will never walk again. Damn woman, you make my whole body tremble with need for you." He watched as she smiled and backed slowly away from him, her body saying things words never could. "Teasing your savage lover, are you?"

  Kate unbuttoned her shirt, showing quick flashes of the black lace bra against the contrast of her pale skin. "Am I teasing?"

  "Past teasing, now you are torturing. A peep show, is it? Then perhaps I should get comfortable."

  Standing where he was, in the middle of the bedroom, he lifted his tight fitting t-shirt over his head, exposing his broad chest and hard flat abs. Whipping the tee across the room, he slowly unbuttoned his jeans, one at a time, then reached in and grabbed his bulging cock and freed it from its constrained cage.

  "I can give as good as I get, mi amore."

  Kate giggled. "Oh, don't I know it."

  She dropped the blouse on the floor and shimmied out of her own jeans, sliding them down her hips, revealing the black lace thong. She turned her back to him and bent over the bed, flipping her hair to the side as she looked back at him over her shoulder. "A little help removing these jeans, please."

  "Cazzo! This game is a torture method, si?”

  Walking to the bed, he lifted the thong with one finger and leaned over her, burying his nose into her hair and inhaled. He moaned from the scent of roses, now mixed with her immortal scent. He lifted her crimson locks from her neck as his tongue glided down her spine from the base of her neck to the beautiful black thong. Standing upright, he crouched behind her, still in his jeans and boots. He grabbed her jeans and slid them down, kissing each ass cheek, letting his hands glide down those silky white thighs, over her calves and down her ankles, allowing her to step free of her jeans. Kissing behind each knee, he stood and kicked off his boots and flung his jeans across the room.

  Kate’s eyes were closed as she honed all her senses to the sensations he created. Her temperature rose, even as the goose bumps appeared on her skin from his tantalizing tongue. She slowly pushed her hips back into him as she pushed herself upright, standing and flipping her hair back and turning to face him.

  She grasped his hips as she squatted down in front of him. She ran her tongue from his naval to his pubic bone, before nuzzling her nose into that dark patch of fur between his legs, inhaling his male scent. She scraped her nails down the sides of his thighs before cupping his balls in her hands and running her tongue the full length of his shaft.

  Shade was rooted where he stood. His eyes followed her tongue as it traveled across his olive skin and he felt his eyes turn red, his fangs aching to punch through, but he held back.
His hunger for her was insatiable. As she buried her nose into him, his hands went to her hair, gripping tightly. Nothing turned him on more than that head of crimson. He rather liked her taking the lead. He wanted her to play and discover herself through him. He gave her a hint as to where he wanted her to go, and pushed her head down further to his feet.

  Kate felt his hands in her hair and the gentle pressure as he pushed her head down. She was on her knees, bowing before him, her face at his feet. She licked the top of his feet, nipped at his ankles, her ass in the air, her hair draped over his feet.

  He lifted her up and spun her around, walking her across the room and sitting her down in the chair. Walking back to the bed bare ass naked, he crawled onto the bed and lay down, propping himself on the pillows. With legs spread, he grabbed his cock and stroked slowly, his red eyes glowing and staring back at her. She was beautiful and he still couldn’t believe she was his.

  "Can you entertain me, mi amore? Do something that will surprise me. Don’t hold back."

  Kate looked at him spread-eagled on the bed, his cock in his hand. Entertain him? Surprise him? She knew his history. What could she possibly do that would surprise him? She sat back in the chair, head thrown back and arching her back, her legs spread, her ankles locked around the legs of the chair. She ran her hands over her breasts, stopping at her nipples, tweaking and twisting them, before slowly sliding her hands down her tight abdomen and between her legs. She let her fingers glide slowly in and out of her sex, already wet for him, and a moan escaped her lips. She raised her head, her mane of red hair falling forward as she locked eyes with his. She watched him, as he watched her.

  He gripped his cock tighter, stroking slowly from the root to the bulging engorged head. His fangs punched as her slim fingers glided between the silken wet cleft of her sex, pink and protruding with aching need to clench tight around something thick and hard inside her. His eyes never left her as she threw back that crimson and he growled.

  "Come. Let me taste you. Your fingers are wet and sticky with your sweet honey."

  She got up from the chair, her legs already weak with desire, and walked to the bed, crawling up to him, sliding her breasts along the hard muscles of his chest, and slipped her fingers in his mouth. He drew them in, his heated tongue tasting her, as her heart raced. She dropped her head to his shoulder, nuzzled his neck, and licked the length of his vein pulsing beneath her tongue.

  She came to him passive and playful and this wasn’t what he or his beast wanted. He wanted her to let her beast out, feel what it was to have that strength and to learn to control it. She was still young to the idea since her turning, and she needed to learn, in a safe environment, what it felt like, and how to manage her beast to her benefit. As she snuggled into his neck, she needed to feed and this was just the advantage he was looking for. He wrapped her hair tightly around his fist and yanked her head back, looking at her startled eyes and saw the flaring beast beneath the surface. Grabbing her ass, he sank his fingers deep into her tender flesh and flipped her onto her back as he crouched over her and growled. "Earn your blood, my queen. Earn it!"

  Kate was ready to feed when he yanked her away. She hissed and growled at him, baring her fangs as her eyes glowed a deep blood red. She wrapped her legs around his hips, and grabbing his shoulders, flipped him back onto his back, pinning his shoulders down, a growl deep in her throat. She grabbed his arms, pushing them over his head, and held his wrists in a tight grip. Her breasts brushed against his face and his tongue snaked out, licking at her nipples, sending a fire that settled between her legs. She concentrated her thoughts and willed his wrists to be bound, and was shocked as she saw the rope appear, binding each of his wrists to the headboard. She slid her body down his, licked his face and lips as she slithered further down his muscular frame. Her nails scraped down his chest as she settled between his legs, sliding her hand the length of his massive cock before slipping the bulging head into her mouth. She teased his cock with her tongue, sucking and licking at him. He lifted his hips and she pulled away, not giving him what he wanted. "Earn it? Before this night is over, you will beg me to feed from you."

  His beast growled loudly in agonizing pleasure. Careful what you wish for, Shade, your mate will give it to you in spades and then some.

  Throwing his head back against the pillows, he pulled on the ties, but to no use. His beast growled in frustration as she looked up at him through her tousled red hair. She slid his cock out of her mouth and climbed slowly up his body, impaling herself on his rigid, throbbing dick, as her own beast cried out in ecstasy and shook that head of crimson back and forth. Devil fucking help him, but she could take him alive and he’d let her.

  She slid the full length of him, moving slowly, his hips matching her rhythm. She laid down on his chest, licking his nipple, nipping gently at his skin, drawing her nails gently down his sides. She sat upright again, locked eyes with him, and raised her hands to her head, lifting her hair, tossing it about before dragging her hands slowly over her breasts as she ground her hips into him.

  Shade moved to her rhythm and embraced the torture, as she taunted his beast with her crimson. His hips lurched upwards, penetrating deep, but letting her set the pace. His body was aching for release, wanting desperately to touch her, let his fangs sink deep into the pulsing vein in the soft skin of her neck, giving him life and love and lightness. He withheld freeing his hands from the bonds and bending her beast to his will. He wanted this agonizingly slow torture of her teasing. "Bel, cazzo! Give me some release!" His body was covered in a fine sheen of sweat, his muscles straining and his fangs aching.

  She responded to his plea by laying her body down on his chest once more, covering his mouth with hers, letting her tongue explore, tangle with his, as she licked first one fang and then the other, knowing this would push him to his limits. "Feed now, lover?"

  His beast bursts free and there was no holding him back. She knew how to push him over the top as his beast growled "Yes! Now!" His beast broke the ropes that bound his arms, freeing his hands to grip fists full of her hair. He pulled her to his throat, inviting her to feed as he thrust his hips upward, hard and deep. Her fangs sank into the tender skin of his neck and he went insane with the love he felt for her. He sank his own fangs deep into her shoulder, drawing that sweet blood into his mouth, letting it wash over him in waves as his orgasm exploded, taking them both over the edge.

  She felt his whole body tense as he broke free of the ropes and pulled her to his neck. She bit deep, feeling the rush of blood across her tongue and the immediate flash of heat between her legs just as he thrust hard and deep inside her. She felt him sink his own fangs into her as the orgasm washed over them, and they rode it together, wave after wave, as they swallowed the sweet nectar that sustained and bonded them to each other. As the sensations faded, she unlatched and kissed him, their blood mixing in their mouths, as his hand still firmly gripped her hair. She broke the kiss and laid her head on his shoulder, their hearts pounding in sync.

  He never tired of how it felt to make love to her, feed from her, and he didn’t think he ever would. He lay with her, letting their beasts retreat and their hearts and bodies recover. He realized he still fisted her hair and released the silk from his hands, letting his arms embrace her.

  "I love you, mi amore. Devil knows how much I love you and cannot survive a moment without you. There is nothing on this earth that can hold me like you do."

  Kate slid off him, lying beside him, her arm thrown across his chest. She licked the wound on his neck and watched as it healed. Outside, she heard the howl of the two wolves, and she smiled to herself.

  Shade heard the howling. "Is that what I think it is?"

  "Lover, it’s Aegis and Night Stalker letting us know they approve of our mating."

  He sat up chuckling. "Just make sure they know who the real master is around here.”

  Kate giggled. "We make enough noise on our own, now we’ll have a chorus outside as well. There are n
o secrets in this house.”

  Shade rolled on his side, facing her. “Bel, I need to talk to you about something. It is really important to me. The meeting I’m having with the warriors, it is my first with them here in the new camp. I want to reign here differently than I did in Florence. I want us to reign together. Please, will you come with me and attend the meeting? I want you to know what’s going on, be a part of everything. My grave mistake when you were mortal was hiding so much from you and it almost caused me to lose you and that was a wakeup call for me. I never want to make that mistake again. We are king and queen, and I want us to reign together."

  Swinging his legs over the side of the bed, he sat there with his head down. “Padre kept business and the duties of his coven from Madre. She never had a say in anything. It was partly the times, but also his damn pride, he felt she had no place in his business. And he was so wrong. Madre could have made him so much stronger and powerful, but he was so damn blind to that. I am different, I want you to be here with me, know my business, be with my warriors, know them, help them, comfort them. I want my coven to love you for all that we do together to build and protect them."

  Kate stroked his back as he sat on the side of the bed. "I have felt, from the beginning, I need to earn their respect. I know your warriors are pledged to me, are loyal to me. But I know that loyalty flows through you. You ask it of them, and they freely give it. But I want to earn it. I know there’re skeptics outside your coven, and in the Council, that will always doubt my ability to fill the role of queen to this coven. But I’ll prove them all wrong. I wish to be at your side, to be a part of building your legacy. To make sure our children carry those values forward into the next generation."