by Jo Penn
“This is ridiculous. There’s one green item in this entire room! Even the wallpaper is black.” Freddie frowned at the ceiling. “Is that a trapdoor in the ceiling?”
Rico grinned. “It took me ten years, but I covered the entire castle in tunnels. My parents didn’t always get the concept of privacy.”
“You built secret tunnels and snuck out?”
“Exactly. I’m glad you’re here with me, Freddie. And I’m glad you’ll be beside me when we find the globe.”
Freddie’s smile was soft. “Nowhere else I want to be.”
The love he had for his mate was a powerful thing, Rico found. It changed his focus, made him think about the future and remember what he’d been missing for so long, what he belonged to.
“We should discuss our plan so we work together.” Sitting on the old black velvet sofa, Rico took out his phone to check the time. “We’ll—”
Freddie took the phone and placed it on the sofa then straddled Rico’s lap. Rico’s needs rose sharply as Freddie pressed against him, one hand going to his hair, their bodies chest to chest. With Freddie’s tongue sliding into his mouth and teasing, Rico’s thoughts receded, and feelings, physical and emotional, came to the forefront.
“Take it off,” Freddie whispered against his lips, hands tugging his T-shirt.
Happy to comply, he caught the hem of his shirt and pulled it up and over his head. Freddie’s lovely hands immediately skimmed over Rico’s skin in sensual sweeps. Tossing the shirt away, he planted his hands on Freddie’s hips and somehow managed to restrain himself from thrusting and rubbing.
When Freddie’s mouth and lips flicked over his defender markings, Rico jerked and groaned, fangs sliding out. Still, he held himself tight as Freddie’s tongue and hands explored, tasted, and kissed their way down to Rico’s nipples. The moment he felt his mate’s tongue over his sensitive nubs, he bucked, a growl escaping through his clenched teeth, and then, when Freddie sucked his nipple in and bit ever so lightly, Rico hissed and groaned.
His body burned. He moved his hands to the sofa cushions and held so tightly the knuckles turned white, because, hell, he wasn’t moving, wouldn’t give up the exquisite pleasure and soft little sounds Freddie made.
A slender hand slipped between them, fingertips following the line of fine dark hair trailing down his stomach to the waistband of his jeans and slipped beneath. Rico’s head fell back. Freddie’s hand, strong and a little calloused, closed around Rico’s cock. He jerked then forced himself to remain still, teeth snapping together, and a low, long hiss escaped. With each caress and stroke, Freddie’s mouth still on his chest, Rico’s control frayed.
His hands caught the bottom of his mate’s shirt and pulled the light material upwards. Freddie raised his arms, sherry eyes far more dark liquid now with passion.
Once the shirt was tossed aside, Freddie deftly undid Rico’s jeans, and a hand went right back to Rico’s cock. He was throbbing hard, but Lord, he wanted to touch and kiss and lick every inch of his mate first. Slipping a hand to the back of Freddie’s head, he urged his sprite forward till their lips met.
He wanted this, wanted all of Freddie and to be a part of the brethren as he had never been able to before.
“You are everything to me, love.” Rico nuzzled Freddie’s lips.
“I’ll get the lube. You hurry up and get undressed.” Freddie jumped off Rico’s lap and shucked his cargo pants and underwear.
Rico stood and removed his jeans while Freddie got the lube from his backpack, which was in the bedroom.
“This sofa is sexy.” Freddie handed Rico a condom.
“I’m a supernatural—”
“Yeah, I know, we don’t need condoms. But we don’t have a lot of time for cleanup. So, suit up, stud.”
At this moment in time, Rico didn’t care about the soul globe, crāwan, the balance, or that there was a dragon peeking in through his sitting room window. Okay, Rico did care about that and, waving a hand, closed the blind with an energy beam then caught Freddie to him. He craved his mate, needed Freddie.
They moved back to the sofa, Rico flicking open the lube lid and pulling Freddie down to straddle his lap. Drizzling the liquid onto his fingers and uncaring it dripped onto the black velvet, Rico reached down between them and cupped Freddie’s balls, squeezing just a little and caressing. Freddie bit his lip, gasping. Rico played with his man’s balls, teasing and squeezing as Freddie latched onto Rico’s mouth and pressed himself into Rico’s hand.
“Now, Rico, make it quick. I want to feel you hard inside me,” Freddie urged.
Rico released Freddie’s balls and slipped his hand farther back, his fingers smoothing over the little entrance, spreading the lube and taking his time to play a little and loosen the tight muscles.
He dipped one finger in and wiggled, Freddie’s gasp and moan making Rico hurry. He slipped another finger in and moved around, stretching, then slid another in. Freddie said that was enough and, with quick movements, tore the condom out of the wrapper and slid it onto Rico’s aching dick.
Removing his fingers, Rico held his cock for Freddie. His mate slid down, stilling for a moment before taking Rico inside his warmth, the muscles of his channel squeezing Rico’s cock. His mate knew what he wanted, and Rico sure wanted Freddie to follow his needs!
Freddie moved in long, slow strokes, his body brushing against Rico’s, their mouths coming together to enjoy quick kisses. Rico trailed his hands up Freddie’s torso, caressing, squeezing, stroking, and tweaking. As Freddie’s pace picked up, Rico pulled Freddie closer, one hand flat on the top of Freddie’s ass, the other in the middle of his mate’s back.
Wanting a taste, Rico pressed kisses along Freddie’s throat and chin, nipping here and there, swirling his tongue. His teeth ached to drop, so he let them, sucking on Freddie’s neck right where he wanted to sink his fangs and link them for all time.
“Do it,” Freddie murmured, his breath coming out in little puffs. “Join us.”
“Freddie.” Rico nipped his mate’s throat but shook his head. “I want you to have no regrets.”
Freddie ducked his head and kissed Rico. It was tender and hot, and he didn’t stop moving on Rico’s cock. Words and thoughts were put aside as they enjoyed each other’s body, Rico slipping his hands to Freddie’s ass and gripping, guiding his mate faster, so close, wanting to fill his mate with his seed and have Freddie come, bringing him pleasure.
They moved together, hands gripping, the tempo increasing. Rico released one of Freddie’s ass cheeks and, moving between them, wrapped his hand around Freddie’s cock and stroked.
With a loud groan, Freddie’s body tensed, only his hips moving. He came, head thrown back, ass sucking Rico’s cock and seed covering Rico’s hand and stomach.
Watching his mate’s pleasure turned Rico on even more. He stroked Freddie through his climax, loving the sounds and smells, the feel, and as soon as he was empty, Rico changed their positions, laying Freddie on the sofa beneath him, legs spread wide, and thrust back in, moving fast and deep, so close he knew it would only be a few strokes.
Freddie murmured Rico’s name, his mouth latching onto his shoulder and sucking, Rico’s cock jerked and he came, his mind blown with pleasure as he growled his release.
It was sometime later before either spoke. They lay on their sides on the black velvet sofa, relaxed and sated, Rico caressing Freddie’s back and side.
“When we redecorate, the sofa can stay. It’s big. It’s soft. And it’s sturdy.” Freddie chuckled.
“And now it’s a great memory.” Rico kissed Freddie’s shoulder. “Are you happy to move in here with me?”
“Well, it’s you and your family,” Freddie corrected.
Rico was concerned about this. Freddie had his own life before Rico showed up, and moving here to the Tarok land, to the pouvoir lands behind shields, would be very different from what Freddie had ever known.
“I can see you’re a bit worried about that.” Freddie said. “Bu
t I’m not. I want to be with you, Rico. I didn’t believe in the soul mate thing at first, but I get it now. It’s different from other relationships. I like the big old castle, I want to hang out with the dragons, and your family is…” Freddie chuckled. “Extraordinary and cool and different. Sure, it’ll be hard to just jump in the car or catch a train some place, but I’m sure one of you will give me a lift when I want to go to a bar or hang out with my sprite friends, right?”
“Anytime, mate. To change your life to be with me is momentous. Thank you. I will do everything I can to make you happy.”
“You can’t make me happy. Only I can do that. But we can be happy together. And now we better get ready.”
Shit. Rico wanted to forget the damn parchment and globe and stay here with Freddie instead. It was strange how a few days ago his life was entirely about the soul globe. Now, Rico still had a mission and was determined to fulfill his destiny, but Freddie was his future, as was his family, who he had neglected.
“Twenty minutes and we’re going.” Golden banged on the door.
Freddie scrambled off the sofa saying something about his guns and rushed off to the bedroom.
Grinning, Rico flopped back. He was happy. Freddie di Moor was the most amazing, thrilling, and sexy creature he’d ever met.
Getting up slowly, he removed the condom and disposed of it then went to the other bathroom and cleaned up. He realized his clothes were in the bedroom, and by the sound of it, Freddie was busy choosing his weapons, so knowing if he went in there, one thing could lead to another, he pulled on his underwear and jeans then teleported through the castle to Uri Golden’s suite.
“Hey, Golden—”
“Ahhhh!” Uri bellowed. “Gods damn it, Rico!”
Grinning, he sniffed his brother’s linkmate, loving Uri’s scent, his essence of joy and nurture.
“Sorry.”
“You knock! Haven’t ever come in without knocking before.”
“Yeah.”
“Yeah?” Uri pulled a jacket on that was loaded with weapons along the inside lining.
“Yep. Can I borrow a shirt and jacket? I don’t know what happened to my stuff. It was meant to be packed up and shipped to storage, but the storage people never showed up. I don’t want to disturb… Thanks.” Hit in the face by a shirt and jacket, he pulled them on.
“Your crap got packed up. It’s in the room next to yours, the furniture in the attic. Ugly furniture and so many books! Whatcha do with all those boring books? Use them in the fireplace?”
“I read them, bro.”
“Weird.”
Stepping out of the large walk-in wardrobe—Golden had a lot of clothes—Darkness was there dressed as usual all in black and mostly leather. He pulled his black hair back in a band then handed Rico a small pouch of the de Ville’s potions.
“Why didn’t you take from me?”
Smiling, Rico looked his brother up and down. “That attire would make me stand out, and as everything you own is black, except a few dark blue shirts, the better option was Golden or Cal.”
“True.”
“Should try updating your look, bro. Something that doesn’t make you look like an assassin.” Rico grinned.
Uri Golden snickered.
Scowling at them both, Dark released a little black mist, which made Rico choke. “Teasing.” He nodded, smiling a little. “Fine, I’ll be telling our sprite about that time you decided to test mirrors with your moon beams and sent Papa insane for a day.”
Rico winced. He used to do a lot of experiments, some of which ended in disaster. That one though, he’d done it deliberately. Old Dartmyth had been spying on Rico for days, and as Rico thought that was incredibly rude, he set up the mirrors and waited till his father peeked around the corner then shot out moonbeams, which sent the old dragon insane for a day.
He never admitted that he knew his father was there and he’d set the whole thing up, and truthfully, Rico didn’t think his moonbeams would actually send his father insane for an entire day.
He grimaced. “He was spying on me.”
“That he was, as he always did. Father enjoyed spying on you. He said it was a challenge.”
“He was a funny old dragon at times.” Rico smiled, remembering their father with great affection.
“Yes, frate?”
Callum had appeared, looking disgruntled. “Litton’s here. He said neither Hales or I are going to the control room at the Palace. We have to stay here or at the Arkman manor.”
During the meeting today, brethren had discussed setting up a communication rooms where all information was to be passed through, a way of ensuring guards and defenders were able to be monitored and assistance sent if required. Someone called it the control room, and the name stuck.
“This mission needs to remain quiet, brother.” Rico sent some soothing and logic waves to their Callum. “By you and Hales going to the control room, the brethren will be tipped off to when something is happening. We need to sneak in without a possible spy alerting the crāwan. There is another way to keep us monitored, Cal.”
“What’s that?” Callum was highly intelligent, no longer disgruntled as soon as he saw the reasons behind the decision. “Ah, right, via our family link, of course.”
“Good. We’ll need you and Hales here watching our backs. Anything goes wrong, have the lands put in shutdown and send out those Darkness feels are loyal to us,” Uriel said.
With a nod, Callum transported away.
“Right, I’ll get ready. Meet you two downstairs in a few minutes.”
“Yeah, yeah. Taroks are so damn bossy,” Uri grumbled, shuffling around in his walk-in wardrobe. “Gods dammit! Who took my iPod? I’ll pound ya!”
Getting out of there before Uri Golden hit the high whine tone, he returned to his suite to finish getting ready, thinking about the mission now and what it meant. Collecting a dagger, he slid it into the strap around his ankle and adjusted the cuffs over the top then stood and pulled on the casual jacket Uri had given him.
The last piece of the parchment puzzle then the globe. To be at this stage was a long time coming. Retrieving the globe was still a top priority, and he would fulfill his duty, but hell, having Freddie and being back with family blew everything else away.
Turning, he looked Freddie over. Like him, Freddie was dressed as a casual tourist in jeans, sneakers, a green T-shirt under a trendy cardigan, his hair tamed with some product. He carried a backpack, which Rico was a hundred percent sure contained a dozen weapons, including a tranquilizer gun.
“Can’t take a sword, unfortunately.” Freddie looked disappointed. “Hard to hide without a long coat, and as we want to look like everyone else, a long coat in this season would draw attention.”
Every time Rico saw Freddie, his breath caught. “True.”
“Ready?” he asked.
“Remember what we discussed, love? We work together. One of us says get down or back, that’s what we do.”
“I have fought numerous times before, Rico. This will be a cinch.” Freddie squeezed his arm. “Working together is how a task is accomplished. With trust and teamwork, anything can be achieved.”
“That is a good way of looking at it. Is that a sprite philosophy?”
“Ha, no!” He laughed, and Rico wanted to hug his mate and kiss Freddie all over. “A sprite’s motto is ‘go out and get ’em’. No, that is from a business course I went to for all of one class. Boring as!”
Grinning, he hugged and sniffed his mate. “I don’t know about that. Teamwork could be what we need today. I never have asked. What’s your job?”
Freddie blinked. “We sure skipped a few basics, didn’t we? I’m a tour guide. Ever seen those tour buses going around cities, towns, and the countryside?” Rico nodded. “I’m your friendly tour guide, driving the bus or on the microphone.”
Funny how Rico wouldn’t have thought of a tour guide job, but now he could picture Freddie up there chatting away. The tourists would love him.
They walked down the stairs together, Rico spotting boss Judge Talent talking to Torrent at the end of the hall.
“I was also thinking about your family and friends. There is a sprite community in one of the towns we have behind our shields. I cannot remember which one, but I’ll find out for you. Most who wish to move to the pouvoir lands undergo a relocation process, which is basically ensuring they do not wish to cause conflict or are crāwan.”
“I guess I can speak to them about it.”
They joined the group in the hall, Rico now back in the mission mindset.
“Freddie, this is Jeston Colton, Jazz’s older brother. Jeston is known as boss Judge Talent. He is the Defender of Justice and has another brother, about Hales’ age, Jules Colton. Talent, my mate, Freddie di Moor.”
Talent bowed slightly. “I saw you in the meeting earlier. Welcome to the brethren, Freddie. We rejoice you have joined us.”
Freddie smiled. “Hello, Talent.”
“Now, get that piece of parchment, genio, with as little disturbance as possible.”
“What does genio mean?” Freddie asked.
“Genius,” Talent supplied. “I think it was one of the guards of heaven who gave the name to Rico. As he never liked it, and refused to respond, we stopped using it. Back then, we were worried he would close himself off more if we pushed. Now, he can put up with it.”
“Yeah, well, fine,” Rico grumbled. “Let’s get on with this.”
“We ready?” Torrent asked, his mate beside him.
“Let’s get this done,” Darkness said firmly.
Chapter Twelve
With the sea breeze light on Freddie’s face and the beautiful sights around, the trip could be mistaken for a relaxed day out exploring the island of Hovedøya and its historical buildings. Not a mission to collect an old piece of parchment that was the final piece to finding a very powerful item that, if in the wrong hands, could cause a lot of destruction and pain.
