The Medici Queen

by Emily Bex

  Shade sat up and leaned forward. "I do not recall feeding from my padre. Is this something new?"

  "Nothing new, master. Your son will need a strong bond with you as well. You would have been too young to remember, but your father fed you several times. The baby will seek you out to feed when he’s ready. In the meantime, you’ll need to feed your queen more often. How are you faring in keeping yourself fed?"

  "Oh, feeding. I’m fine. Everything is good. No problems." He slid his hands on his thighs and smiled at Kate. "Do you have any questions?"

  Kate looked at Shade quizzically, he seemed ill at ease with the question. "I think I'm fine, lover, at least until the delivery.” She directed her attention back to the doctor. “Is there anything different I need to do? I know we’ll go to Florence, and back to the same chamber where I was turned. But is there anything I need to know?"

  Doctor Bonutti answered, "My queen, as with the coronation, there is much ceremony. But the labor will be fine. We need do nothing specific. The Council will be present for the birth. As will I. Theresa is your mid-wife, and she’s quite skilled, and of course Shade will be there also. I think this baby is anxious to be a part of this world and meet his family. Council will witness the birth of the child, enter him into the official records, and establish his birthright and legacy. Once I examine him, we’ll leave you in the chamber. It’s a time you will feed your baby and spend alone time with your king. There’s no law as to how long you must be there. Whenever you wish to leave the chamber is your choice. But once you leave the chamber, he must be presented to the coven as the Prince of Medici. All must see him, to assure the lineage and protection of the coven. “

  Kate sighed. "Well, that sounds simple enough, especially after all the pomp and circumstance around the coronation. This will be a piece of cake."

  She rubbed her belly, as she felt a sharp kick from Lorenzo. "I better rest now because I have a feeling he’ll have me running in every direction once he’s here."

  Shade chuckled. " Come, rest, mi amore. I will take you up to bed."

  Standing, he shook the doctor’s hand and Gi arrived to see him out, as they said their farewells. The doctor again reaffirmed that all was fine and to please contact him at any time.

  Shade took her hand and led her up the stairs. Inside their bedroom, he settled her on the bed, and lifted her dress over her head. He crouched in front of her, removing her slippers. Rubbing her feet and massaging her ankles, he smiled at her soft moan of relief.

  "You need to slow down, mi amore. I have put too much on you to accomplish and now you suffer for it."

  Kate smiled at him as he massaged her ankles and feet. "Lover, I’m fine. And we’re in a good place. Cory’s moved in, and the nursery is done. The Paris house, the California Inn...everything’s moving along."

  Kate stretched out on the bed, lifting her hands above her head in a deep stretch. "I’ll be glad when he gets here, and I can get my shape back. I never realized how heavy he’d feel."

  She rolled onto her side as Shade's hands moved to the small of her back, massaging the muscles deep. She moaned quietly at the pleasure of his touch.

  He applied a little more pressure along her spine, as he massaged up and down her back. "You are so damn beautiful." He climbed into bed beside her as his hands began a journey all their own, sliding down the curve of her ass and onto her thighs, sensually massaging. He slid his hand between her legs, playing carefully, feeling the wetness of her sex as her body responded to him. "Mmm, wet and needing. Just how I love you."

  She leaned her back against his chest, turning her head to meet his lips as they searched for hers. His touch was electric as always, igniting a fire in her. She missed her slender body and the way she was able to climb over him so freely, her movement restricted now by the baby she carried. His fingers explored, and she pushed her hips against him, feeling the hard shaft of steel.

  "I need to be inside you, mi amore. I can no longer bear this. I need to feel you. I am so lost without us."

  He glided his cock into her soft wet sex, feeling her heat and his beast reared instantly. His chest heaved as Shade pushed him down, not allowing the beast to touch her.

  Her moans enticed and encouraged him. Gliding the bulging head of his erection inside her, he moved slowly, stretching her gently to take him. "You are so tight and hot, mi amore, you set me on fire."

  His hand slid over her hip, gripping her tightly and pulling her hips back against him, as she took him inside her. He leaned over her, kissing her, her hand tangled in his hair.

  "I love you," she whispered against his lips.

  "Let go for me, cum for me, let me love you always."

  Snuggling his face into her hair, closing his eyes, his body craved her blood. He was like a starved animal and he ignored the pain it created, inhaling her scent of roses, the smell of her sex surrounding him in a cocoon of desire. His body moved of its own accord, wanting to explode inside her. He felt her tremble from hunger and sexual need. He pushed deep inside her and felt the release.

  She felt him cum inside her, as he timed his own release to wait for her. Her body shuddered in the aftermath of the climax, as he held her tightly to his chest. She rolled onto her back, seeking his throat, as she ran her tongue over the throbbing vein in his neck before sinking her aching fangs deep, drawing his life's blood into her mouth. She felt his power with each swallow, and the fire between her legs ignited again. Her body demanded his blood now, to satisfy her hunger and the growing baby, and she took without reservation.

  He felt the ecstasy of having her feed, but the agony of not being able to feed from her. It was the price he paid to have a bambino. He felt her love and intense need, his own son demanding his blood. He fed them both, giving them all that he was. She continued to drink deep, draining him, and it was more than he could handle.

  He needed her to stop or he’d lose control. He rolled away from her, as he stood quickly from the bed, swaying from the dizziness caused by his own loss of blood, and not feeding.

  He slid to the floor, his back against the bed, pulling his knees to his chest, his head hanging down, his body weak and in agony. "No more, bel. No more."

  Kate crawled across the bed to him, leaning her head over the side of the bed, her hair cascading down around his shoulders as she slid her hands down his chest. "Shade! You’re not feeding!"

  His beast screamed inside him, starving. Balling his hands into fists, he slammed them into the floor, fighting back the pain. "I hate hurting you. I hate I cannot have you as I need. I fight it for as long as I can."

  Kate ran her fingers through his hair, calming him. "You don’t hurt me by going to Luca. You hurt me by abstaining. You need what he can give. And I need you to be strong. Lorenzo needs you to be strong. Go to him, lover."

  Looking up as she leaned over him and kissed him, it was a kiss of consent. "Si. I love you. I will always love you with my life."

  Standing he slid on his jeans, not buttoning them, and made his way to the door, turning to look at her. He placed his hand over his heart, smiling at her as he headed out the door, closing it behind him.

  Standing outside the door, he took a deep breath, relaxing his body before he went to Luca's quarters. The walk seemed to take forever, not realizing how desperately he needed to feed. Before he could tap on the door, it opened and Luca beckoned him in.

  Luca had felt his presence before he reached the door and opened it to greet him. The two locked eyes. Luca knew why he was here. It had been more than a week since Shade had fed from him, and Luca knew Kate fed from Shade almost every day now.

  "Master."

  Luca extended his hand, taking Shade's hand in his. "I was about to take a shower. Why don't you join me?"

  Shade locked on Luca’s hazel eyes and his mouth watered. He nodded and felt the warm skin of Luca's hand within his. He always dreaded this, until he was here, knowing this was the safest option he had, and somehow, Luca knew how to make this easier on his
soul.

  Following Luca to the shower, he watched him strip naked, his body tight and hard, the muscles ripped and his skin a golden caramel. Shade’s eyes never left Luca as he watched him turn on the water, the steam beginning to rise, just like his hunger and need. Luca turned to face him, their eyes once again locked tight to one another. Luca’s hands glided across Shade’s hips as he slid the jeans down, running his hands over Shade’s thighs and down his calves, as the jeans dropped around his ankles and Luca looked up at him.

  Luca let him step out of the jeans as he tossed them from the shower stall into the bedroom. He ran his hands back up the strong calves and powerful thighs of his master, before letting his tongue lash out at his groin, feeling the strong pulse and pull of his master's blood. He knew he wouldn’t feed from Shade. He’d only take his master's blood to save his own life, and only then if offered, but the scent of him was a powerful aphrodisiac. As Luca stood to his full height, he ran his hands over his master's chest and across his shoulders, letting his tongue taste the salty skin at his throat. Luca stepped back under the flow of the hot water streaming from the shower and pulled Shade with him.

  The water was hot and beat down on his skin like a drum, leading the beast to his prey. Luca's tongue flicked and played, but he knew his limitations. Shade let him have his way for only a few moments, and then slammed his back hard against the shower wall, the water running rivulets between their bodies, hard and aching. Shade placed his hands flat against the shower wall on either side of Luca's head and went straight to his mouth, but never letting his lips touch. "You tempt me."

  His voice was deep and low, almost a growl. Reaching for the toiletries that lined the shelf in the shower, Shade grabbed a shampoo and squeezed some into his hands; the scent was musky and all male. Nipping quickly at Luca's shoulder, he commanded him to turn around and as Luca complied, Shade’s hands went into his long dark hair, working up a lather and massaging his head, the fragrance filling the air. The softness of his hair and firm hardness of his body took Shade to another level and his beast appreciated all of his senses coming alive.

  Shade pulled Luca against his chest as they stood under the streaming water, letting it rinse the shampoo from his hair, as the sudsy water ran over his shoulders and down his back and ass. Shade put his hands on Luca's slender hips, his lips leaving kisses along the pulsing vein in Luca’s neck, slick, wet and warm from the water.

  "Oh yes, you tempt me."

  Luca's eyes were closed as he gave himself up to the ministrations of his master, feeling his hands in his hair before sliding down his body. Luca laid his head back, exposing his neck as he let his arms drop to his sides, slowly stroking his master's thighs. He could feel the engorged shaft of his master's hard cock as his own cock throbbed, hard and exposed.

  "Let me tempt you, master. Take what is yours."

  There was no stopping the beast now, he reared full force and his fangs punched, his eyes radiated, lighting the shower in a glow of crimson. Snaking out his tongue, he let it slide from across Luca’s shoulder, as he growled deep in his chest. Shade sank his fangs deep, the first burst of Luca’s blood like a flow of hot lava into his system. Shade felt Luca slump against him, his knees almost buckling under him from the deep draw he took.

  Shade’s hand slid under Luca's chin, letting his head rest there as Shade drew even deeper, unable to stop. He was parched and starved beyond his own limits and he should have known better than to wait so long.

  Shade’s other hand sought out Luca's steeled cock, filling his large hand and his own cock lurched. His moan was loud and gravely as his body ached in need.

  Luca let his master support his weight as he relaxed into him, feeling the hard slow strokes on his cock and the erotic sounds of his master taking his fill. His mind reeled with the thought that it is his blood that sustained his master. Luca's mouth was open, as his moans of pleasure echoed in the shower, building as his master pushed him closer to orgasm, stroking harder, faster, even as he drank deeper. He felt the release wash over him as he exploded, his shaft throbbing as his cum spilled from him, and over his master's hand, closed in a tight grip around his dick. Still pulling, stroking, milking that last drop from him as Luca screamed out with his release, his knees buckling as his master held him upright.

  Unlatching his fangs, licking the wound, Shade shook his head, the water drops flinging from his hair. The water ran over his body and he felt like he could conquer the world in that moment, young warrior blood pumping in every vein. Pulling Luca up, he kissed him deep, his tongue snaking around his warm mouth, diving deeper into his throat.

  Luca responded, his own tongue darting and playing and Shade moaned with the incredible feeling he had ripping through him. Luca’s hands went into his hair, as he gripped fistfuls, pulling his master tighter into the urgent kiss.

  Shade broke the kiss, knowing Luca's beast was on the edge, wanting to feed. "Easy."

  Their eyes locked. Reaching out, Shade slid his hand over Luca’s cheek and he nuzzled into his neck, licking, nipping, and working his way up Luca’s ear. "Take me in your mouth."

  Luca dropped his head back against the wall of the shower stall, gulping air as he fought the urge to feed from his master. At Shade's urging, he let his body slide down the wall until he was on his knees in front of him. His master's cock was still hard and throbbing. Luca ran his hands up Shade's thighs and encircled his massive erection. His tongue lashed out, teasing the bulging head of his master's dick and he heard the sharp intake of breath from Shade. Luca slowly slid his mouth over that hard knob, letting his lips play before sliding the shaft deep into his throat and beginning to stroke Shade's cock with his mouth. He felt Shade's hands in his hair, gripping tight, guiding his head faster. Luca could feel the throbbing shaft in his mouth and knew his master was close.

  Closing his eyes, Shade let the sensations roll over him, the blood, his cock deep down Luca's throat, and Luca’s tongue as it lashed and licked, taking him deep, sucking him. His hands gripped Luca’s hair, as he guided him deeper with each stroke. His beast wanted his due and Shade let him free. His hips lurched forward as his balls tightened and Luca devoured him. He felt Luca’s hands grip his balls and stroke as Shade exploded hard and deep, his body shaking and his scream loud. Dropping his head back, his eyes rolling back in his head as Luca sucked him dry, draining every drop of him. Shade slid his body down the slick wet wall until his ass hit the floor. Luca knelt between his legs, as Shade pulled him to his chest, his voice cracked. "Luca."

  Luca lay with his head against Shade's chest, both of them spent. "Master, I am yours."

  Shade kissed the top of his head. Without him, he’d be lost, and so would bel. "I need to go back to her. You need to rest and go to Shannon. Bring her here, if you think it best. I need you to stay strong for me. Ti amo."

  Luca stood and reached his hand down for Shade to grab. Stepping out of the shower, Shade toweled off and slid on his jeans. His hair still wet, he went to leave and turned to look at Luca. They both knew this time they shared would soon be ending, but it would come again. It was a bond that only brought them closer, a necessary bond that neither spoke of, but locked them tighter for all eternity.

  Shade walked out and closed the door behind him, hastily making his way to the bedroom. He found his bel sleeping. She slept on her side, her hair spread like a flame of crimson love across the white pillow. He dropped his jeans and walked to the bed, watching her sleep peacefully. This was his world, all wrapped into one small lily-white female. He crawled into the bed beside her. Her shape no longer allowing her to sleep draped across his chest, his son, even now, encroaching on their rituals and he almost laughed.

  Spooning his large body around her, his arm went protectively across her belly, his body tight against hers. His head snuggled into the sweet smell of roses that arose from her crimson locks and he was home. He felt the pull of his death slumber yank him hard. Closing his eyes, he felt her move slightly, his confirmation
she knew he was there now. His son kicked beneath his hand. "Ti amo, mi amore. Your lover is here."

  83

  Kate paced in their bedroom as she talked on the phone with Reynaldo. He was filling her in on the details of opening the inn. Reynaldo had suggested they name the inn A Touch of Tuscany, and Kate had quickly agreed. They had already had several guests without even advertising, and Reynaldo had narrowed down his options for a manager. He felt very strongly about one of the candidates, but Kate knew she was too far along in the pregnancy now to teleport out there.

  "Reynaldo, I trust your instincts. If you feel this is the right person, then just move ahead."

  Reynaldo informed her this immortal had experience in managing inn's and had worked at several well-known boutique style hotels in Europe. All of his references checked out and he had excellent endorsements from his previous employers. He was French but had lived in the States for many years and was very knowledgeable of the Napa Valley region. He had also been schooled as a sommelier.

  Kate heard Shade enter the room as she continued her conversation. She looked up at the window to see the sky was beginning to lighten. She hadn’t realized how late it was.

  "Let's move forward with it, Reynaldo. You said his name is Mica? Go ahead with the final interview, if you think he’s the one, we can have him teleport here, and make him an offer. If he accepts we’ll put him on the payroll. Okay? And give me a call if anything changes. Thanks, Reynaldo. Bye."

  Kate set the phone down and went to Shade as he sat on the side of the bed, pulling off his boots, pulling his shirt over his head, shaking out his hair. "Lover, you look tired."

  Shade had a long night. He’d overheard Kate issuing instructions to Reynaldo in California when he entered. She was firm and decisive and he almost laughed at how much she had changed since the first time he met her. She had been so timid. She could barely speak to him. Now she moved through business deals like a true pro, all of her projects in line. "There’s a lot going on, but I can manage. It seems you are just as busy if not more so. Sounds like you have found a manager for the California house, si?"