by Raine, H. J.
The damnable tongue ceased its wicked work, and the pop of a lube cap filled Lucian’s ears soon after. Weight pressed against Lucian’s raised legs, and Lucian took the hint just as Shea’s mouth, still flavored with Lucian, ate at his lips. Lucian’s answering noise broke into fragments that Shea consumed, and a slick tongue teased open Lucian’s teeth and stretched his sore jaw. Lucian tried to turn into the kiss, but a blunt fingertip stroked Lucian’s entrance and sank into him.
“Nnn-oh...” Lucian’s head flew back, and his brain stutter-fritzed. Shea’s soft moan was distracting but distant, and the invasion was swift and consuming. “Shea,” Lucian panted. “Oh -- Christ!” The word was wrapped around a wheezing inhale, stars tinging Lucian’s vision, the expert push to his prostate making himfeeltoo full, too needy, too everything.
Stroking, seeking, and another stretch all drove Luciancloser to Shea. Messykisses peppered Lucian’s mouth, jaw, throat, ear. Breathing so loud that it drowned Lucian’s frantic heartbeat echoed in his mind, his or Shea’s, he didn’t know, but he definitely heard his own clarion call when a third digit sought access to his insides. He thrashed, moved both into and away from the unrelenting surge, and his broken curses devolved into whispered pleas. Apiece ofLucian hated the naked emotion, but Lucian formed the words, regardless:“You... n-need... y-you...”
“Aye, my prince,” Shea whispered against Lucian’s lips, and the affectionand venerationinthe words eased some piece ofLucianhe didn’t know needed easing.
Torn foil preceded heartfelt curses, and gentle hands rolled Lucian onto his side, lifted the top knee, and stretched Lucian wide. Lucian relaxed to accommodate the position, and rounded heat touched sensitized surfaces.
“Here I come, my liege,” Shea said, voice flat with effort, and pushed.
Lucian could do nothing but take the length that moved within him as though it searched for the top of Lucian’s spine. He knew he cried out with each breath shoved from his lungs by Shea’s rhythm, because his mouth was dry and throat parched, and he groaned when a fist found his dick. For six blissful, heavenly strokes, Lucian moved toward the release that thundered in his guts and balls and made the head ofhis cock tingle inwarning, but thenShea stopped.
“Son of a bitch,” Lucian cursed around whimpering moans, and yanked to the point ofpainfulonthe belt.
“S-oh fuck, sorry... sorry, Sire.” Shea panted, but the mind-blowing thrusts only increased in speed. Lucian thought he would die before getting off, and then the fullness inside him vanished like a magic trick gone wrong. Shea gasped, sitting on heels and shaking. “Ah, holy Christ, this is gonna... ah fuck,” Shea groaned, and Lucianbit a pillow to stifle a callofpure irritation.
Shea cleared Lucian’s leg, lowering it and moving alongside Lucian. Two hands clamped onto Lucian’s hips and lifted him with smooth ease. Lucian grabbed the headboard to brace. Vaguely understanding what Shea wanted, Lucian helped Shea to rollhim, and when his knees found the bedspread, Shea set him down, in and on Lucian in an instant. The same strength that had picked him up impaled him, and Lucian didn’t know who was louder, Shea or himself.
Switching grip to Lucian’s hair and the side of his throat, Shea used both holds as sadistic points of leverage and pounded into Lucian’s body with wet smacks of flesh. Lucian arched his back, scrambled to rest on his elbows, and this time when Shea’s fist found him, Lucian swung into the tight tunnel and slammed back against Shea with complete disregard to anything but the search for endgame. He registered Shea bellowing a bitten curse, and Lucian triumphed despite knowing what was -- but who was not -- coming. Lucian buried his face to muffle the begging that followed the cessation of the strokes, but he lifted it to take Shea’s name invainand brand it withinvective.
An age of forceful pounding morphed into a quick stutter of jerks, and Shea yanked free of Lucian, hands, cock, and all. Lucian kept rolling, aching for what was so heinously taken from him, but finally got hair out of his eyes to cast a look over one shoulder.
Shea had a death’s grip about his own balls and covered erection, squeezing hard, as a stream of cussing flowed from his mouth between labored breaths. “Fucking merciful Mary, mother-beatin’, bone bedamned bastard. Have to... goddamned... shit...”
Lucianground his teeth. “My... incredible... Shea...” Lucian breathed. “Get control... and get me the fuck off.”
“Yes, Sire!” Shea bit his lip and flipped Lucian onto his back. Shea hefted both of Lucian’s legs, placing themover broad shoulders, and Shea slid in and seated to the root.
“Oh, hell yeah,” Lucian whispered, chin tipping up. Shea wrapped one hand about Lucian’s dick, and Lucian choked while spasming around Shea. The other hand wound into Lucian’s longhair and tightened to pull Lucian’s head back until he could just rasp breath. Lucian lost all connection with reality, struggling despite himself, and that was when Shea chose to move. Heavy thuds filled the room, slaps of flesh on flesh, and friction pulled and twisted over the head of Lucian’s cock. The orgasm rushed Lucian, blinded and silenced him. For a horrifying second he thought he might pass out and miss it, but Shea relinquished the hold just enoughfor the tide to crest, crash, and buryLucianalive.
The aftershocks beat Lucian against craggy rocks until finally leaving him on the shore. When he got his eyes open and brain working, Shea was on top of him, softening within him, and shivering like a man with fever chills. Lucian murmured something he hoped was soothing. Twisting one tender wrist, Lucian got a hand clear ofthe belt, and he threw anarmover Shea.
Rising, Shea flailed and shakilyfreed Lucianthe rest of the way, stroked down Lucian’s arm, and gathered Lucian tenderly against Shea’s chest. Lucian hooked a leg over Shea’s hip. He licked sweat off Shea’s collar bone, raked fingers through damp curls. “Beloved,” he said, voice a hoarse husk. “Exactly what and whom I wanted.”
The sigh of relief almost deflated Shea entirely. Strong arms tightened about Lucian convulsively and relaxed so that Lucian could breathe again. “Very grateful I’ve pleased you, my l--” Shea hesitated, swallowed. “Mylove.”
Lucian kissed the front of Shea’s throat and squirmed until he could look Shea in the eye. “Yes. Pleased me beyond compare,” he said. “And I... do love you.” Lucian tasted the words, weighed themwith his tongue, and found them just and worthy. “So you’ll no longer ever be out ofmysights or out fromunder my protection.” Lucian tried to keep the explanation affectionate instead of commanding but wasn’t sure he managed.
“Thank you, my liege,” Shea whispered. “That you would still include me in your house, after my grievous misdeeds, is beyond anythingI could have expected.”
“I’mjust gratefulfor my fulldisclosure regardless of how it was granted to me,” Lucian said, though he softened the chastisement by cupping Shea’s cheek. “And I like you here, known to me, lazy in my arms, and so I willstrive to keep you where I can reach you.” Lucian sighed. “And when I cannot, my men will. From now on you will have guards, my Shea. Especially in light of how your survival is a source of irritation to those I need to...” Lucian smiled, and he knew it was frozendeath. “Repayinkind for their treatment ofyou.”
Shea kissed the corner of that promise of certain, painful demise. He looked somberly back at Lucian, earnest and frank. “Thank you. Both for your indulgence and for your strong sword arm. I have been runningfor three years, and it willbe a reliefto stop.”
“Pleased you see it that way. Vengeance is not a point up for negotiation.” Lucian sighed, suddenly exhausted. “Neither is me resting here, using both blankets, or you holding me until I crawl out of the pit I’mgoingto strive to find.”
“Good, not sure I could let you go, now,” Shea murmured.
Lucian sighed, and they mutually moved through the motions of clean up, lights out, and tuck in. Lucian wrapped around Shea like a lamprey, and Shea covered themboth with the quilt and the sunset blanket. Lucian smiled when lips brushed his forehead just before he sighed and sank into the most restful slumber
inmonths.
Chapter 8
The walkie-talkie lyingonthe plushleather seat next to Lucianchirped, and Luciansighed at it.
“Car fifty-three to car fifty-four, where are you?” Clark’s voice asked. Tim sat on the rear-facing bench of the armored car across from Lucian, and he chuckled. The architect wore full tactical assault gear, the visor on the helmet lifted, and he filled in another answer into the boxes of his crossword puzzle. Lucian wasn’t fooled by the relaxed posture. Tim was as aware of their surroundings as any raptor on the hunt, but both the tranquility and the knowledge of Tim’s skill offered comfort.
Though, Lucian had to admit, sitting behind reinforced glass and metalpanels that were equipped to withstand bullets, fire, and wrecking balls did aid in the illusion of security. He picked up the radio and recrossed his legs at the ankles, the Kevlar vest and lined leather pants he wore beneath his trench coat restricting the movements. “Right where we were fifteen minutes ago, Sergeant.”
“How’s the view from the palace, Prince?” Clark asked, and Lucian glanced out the thick, heavily tinted window to peer across an empty side street and the expansive parking lot surrounding Haze. The club was inside a refurbished textile mill, and acres of concrete spread from its unsavory walls like a flora-eating disease. It was poorly lit, and there were no working security cameras within a mile radius. All the better for nefarious deeds done in the dark, and Lucian’s report onthe lack ofHaze’s defenses had beenthe tie-breaker in Clark and Kris’ debate as to where to take down one GaryBoehler.
“Serene, Sergeant,” Lucian replied, watching the unmarked black van barely visible in the gloomnear the club. Inside were Clark, Kris, Aaron, and Cale, waiting to ambush the man responsible for hurting Lucian’s beloved and killing possibly dozens more. Mr. Boehler was due to arrive at Haze at any moment for some recreational playtime. The idiot’s schedule had been simple to plot, and Lucian said another prayer ofthanks for the egos that made evilmendelusional.
“Peaceful here, too, your highness. How’re Lucky and Kato?”
Tim snorted and shot a middle finger in the general direction of the van. Lucian’s driver, Masaru Koyzumi, a skilled martial artist, marksman, and quiet man whom Clark loved to tease, merely waved just beyond the half-risen steel panel between the fore and aft compartments. The touch of a button could slam it home and engage iron bar locking mechanisms that protected bothdriver and passengers.
“They send their regards,” Lucian answered, enjoying Clark’s adrenalin-fueled banter despite himself.
“Tweedle Dee and Dum are doing fine, but the Britishinvader is gettingrestless.”
“Tell the old Rottweiler that we’ll feed him treats soon enough,” Lucian said. He could practically see Kris’ irritated expression, one with which he was now very familiar. The discussions about how this night should go had been long and lengthy, and Kris’ plans, while effective, usually ended in more death than Clark’s sensibilities liked or that Lucian cared to allow. Taking people alive was not the thug’s forte. Nor was caution. Or patience.
Intruth, Lucianwas growingrather fond ofKris.
“Message relayed and obscenities returned, your highness. My professional opinion is that he’s bitter over not getting to show us his full swing on the playing field.”
“Perhaps you should discuss that off-channel,” Luciansuggested.
“As you command, your Majesty,” Clark said, positivelygleeful. “Over and out.”
Lucian’s reflection smirked back at him, and he stared into the wintry night beyond the chilly car. He’d not seen another moving vehicle since they’d arrived. They were situated on the edge of the eastern parking lot, around the corner from the Members Only entrance. Employees and guests parked on the far side of the club. Afine mist of sleet had been falling off and on all evening, and Lucian was placing good bets that Gary would park close to the private door in an effort to come and go easilyand to avoid the weather.
The gamble was made surer by the line of construction cones that limited parking space options considerably. Upon their arrival, Aaron and Cale, outfitted in bullet-proofvests beneath the reflective garb of construction workers, had set out the cones, put up equipment, and played the part of lazy city workers to perfection. No one had even emerged from the club to ask what the hellwas goingon, and without windows or cameras to be external eyes, Lucian didn’t anticipate problems. The greatest thing about doing something illegal near a place like Haze was that no one would blink twice at a man being hooded and shoved into the back ofa van.
If there were any unforeseeable issues, they had backup plans in place, down to forged documents of consent to a very particular kidnapping fantasy. The optimal strategy, however, was to take out bodyguards and to nab Gary quickly and with minimal fuss and then transport the target to a secure location away from potential collateral damage. Lucian had faith in his men, though his ability to wait was wearing thinner by the moment. He checked his watch, saw a light in his interior coat pocket, and retrieved his cellphone.
Shea was calling.
“I should take this,”Luciansaid to Tim, who merely nodded and crossed off another solved clue. Shea knew Lucian was working tonight, as that’s what Lucian had told him, but Lucian didn’t want Shea worried or, worse, suspicious.
“Lucian,”he said bywayofanswer, firmbut kind.
“Hey.” Shea sounded just a touch hesitant. “How are things goin’?”
From the corner of his eye, Lucian caught headlights. The radio clicked three times, and Timsat at attention. The steel panel went up, but not before Lucian saw Koyzumi-san pull the slide on a nine mil. “As planned,” Lucian answered, and Gary’s Cadillac drove into the lot, started weavingaround cones.
“Good to hear it.” There were sounds of Shea flopping onto a couch, and Lucian smiled, picturing it clearly. “I wanna aska favor,” Shea continued. “For when you’re done with whatever job that’s had ya tied up for three days running.”
“Oh?” Lucian asked, interested but with divided attention. Aaron, Cale, and Clark were already out of the van and at the fake construction site before the Caddy’s wheels stopped rolling. Clark had a cap, highcollared jacket, scarf, and reflective vest to disguise himself, and all of it covered a set of body armor that matched Tim’s. Lucian resisted the temptation to snort when he saw that there was no driver in the enemy’s car, just two bodyguards and Gary. The guards got out and left the vehicle unmanned.
Idiots. This would be far, far easier than any of them ever thought, and Lucian knew Koyzumi-san would be disappointed that he didn’t get a car chase.
“What sort of favor?” Lucian continued a mere heartbeat later, and he sawAaron waving down Gary’s brutes. He knew what was being said without needing to hear it: Hey man, ya can’t fuckin’ park here. Aruse, designed to get the victims closer and disarmingly irritated.
“I would like a Scene, Sire,”Shea said smoothly.
Entirely distracted, Lucian wrapped fingers around the door’s armrest. His pulse, completely normal while watching the violence unfold, doubled in speed with Shea’s single sentence. “You... come again?”
Outside, Aaron and Cale felled Gary’s men with electric current and then a dose of sedative to the jugular, and Clark didn’t evenhave to use force to open Gary’s door. In two seconds, Gary was Tasered, injected, hooded, and hauled onto Clark’s shoulder.
“A Scene from you for me, Luke. I desire you to bind me, use pain on me, and make me your own, Sire.”Shea took a breath. “Ifyouso wish.”
Lucian’s mouth worked without sound, but his instincts stirred. Though they’d not seen each other in a few days, they had spent plenty of time together in the past two weeks, and not once did Shea mention anything about wanting to take things further. Not until tonight, the last night on a job long in the planning, and though Lucian knew he’d given nothing away intentionally, he also understood what Shea could surmise from the unintended. “Of course I so wish, beloved,” Lucian said, not giving any mind
for his audience. He watched Aaron and Cale shove limp bodies into the Caddy’s trunk, attaching a rig that would secure the lid to the undercarriage of the car. Meanwhile, Clark opened the rear of the van and crammed a bound forminside it. “Though one wonders about the timeliness of such a pleasing request. Missing me and fearingmylingeringabsence, are we?”
“Yes, Sire,” Shea said, and Lucian adored the earnest tones to the two-word phrase. “Very much so, especially since, in lieu of your presence, I seem to be entertaining a small army.” Shea sounded more amused than put upon. “They did seem to appreciate the hot cocoa I set out, but I’mgoing to have to make another runfor toilet paper.”
“Best make one of the soldiers fetch and carry,” Lucian said, chuckling and ignoring Tim’s look. Vehicle doors slammed and Koyzumi-san started the car and began to follow Kris’ lead. Lucian settled into the seat. “And I thought you could use the company, since progress at your current job site has been unfortunately stalled by city petitions, and you’d be all alone in the woods with nothing but your books, fire, and single shotgun.”
“Amazing how all of existence conspired,” Shea said dryly.
“Isn’t it?” Lucian replied. “Delightful when things work to my favor, and good of you to treat the members of Lion Security to chocolate.” Lucian paused, swallowed, observed Tim removing cell signal blackout devices froma bag on the floor. They weren’t yet in use, but they would be soon. “Even better that it afforded youtime to think onwhat youwant, myShea.”
