Wulf, Tales of the Chosen

by Kayelle Allen

  "Yes, sir." Shohn tapped her notes. "He was named after his father's older brother, James, but his father legally changed the family name before he was born. It used to be Stalkos."

  "Ah ha!" Luc snapped his fingers. "That's why it sounded so familiar."

  "Sir?"

  "James Stalkos was my partner years ago, before he embezzled company funds and almost bankrupted me. This isn't about Wulf at all. Jim Stahlwell is attacking Wulf to get to me. I put his uncle in prison."

  "So it's some kind of trap for you?"

  "Could be." He set his hands together and tapped the fingers against his mouth. "Find out if Stalkos is still in prison. I'm betting he's been released. Check the holding companies Stahlwell's linked to and research his financial situation. The only way he'd give up sure money is to have guaranteed funds already on hand. It's always about money with these low lifes."

  "Yes, sir. How should we handle Mr. Gabriel? Stahlwell is still after him. We heard rumblings on the street about a contract."

  "Stalkos is a maniac. Give me the address of Wulf's friend, send six of your best guards over there, and have them wait for me. I'll take care of Wulf myself."

  "Yes, sir. Beaming the address to your desktop now." Shohn saluted. The idBot eye logo spun in the air before the image faded.

  * * * *

  Tarth City, Di Consueto District

  Renyoj Building, Park Serenity Overlook, Service area

  Wulf left Feeyona's flat with a pocket full of tradestandard cash and a transferable ticket to Porosen la. The central jump off point in the empire, he could catch a flight from there to any planet he chose. Not that it would stop the Harbinger--he had no illusions about that. But it might throw him off. Slow him down.

  At least until Wulf could think of a better way to hide.

  He took the express elevator to the ground floor and then walked down the stairs to the service area in the basement. As he exited the stairwell, a shadow loomed in front of him.

  Wulf drew back, waited a moment, but the shadow was from one of the cleaning droids. Wulf poked his head outside the door. The basement was quiet. On the far end, another pair of bots cleaned the concrete floors, the lights on top of the units blinking amber. The entire garage smelled of grease, soap, and the faint scent of cats.

  He'd taken no more than four steps before a hand cupped over his mouth from behind him and two strong arms dragged him back against a body as hard as steel.

  Chapter Eight

  Tarth City, Di Consueto District

  Park Serenity Overlook, Service area

  Fighting panic, Wulf breathed through his nose. His years of workouts in Tyran Ustijuj had trained him to go still and wait for any opportunity. The arms holding him gripped like iron bars. Android? Kin? Big son-of-a-bitch, whoever. The hand covering his mouth loosened as his captor stepped back, pulling him along as he did.

  Wulf struck. Dropping out of the loosened embrace, he rammed his booted foot back against his captor's shin and threw his weight into it, slid down and stomped the top of the man's foot. At the same time, he twisted and brought his elbow up into the solar plexus--his other hand bracing it. It felt like he'd hit a brick wall. He continued his quick drop, wrapping an arm around the man's upper thigh as he thrust himself sideways. He toppled his captor, rolled away and sprang to his feet.

  Sprinting for the lighted exit, Wulf wasted no time looking back.

  The tackle took him down hard.

  The wind knocked out of him, Wulf fought to breathe as the man flipped him from his stomach onto his back. He struggled to squirm out from under him. Free himself. Get away.

  His captor lay atop him, holding Wulf's arms above his head, pinned to the ground. Wulf regained his breath, gathered his strength to fight--and instead, went still.

  The black eyes of Luc Saint-Cyr came into focus.

  Wulf didn't move. The heat of the man's body alongside his made sweat prickle everywhere they touched, from thigh to shoulder. Against all reason and sense, his cock reacted to their closeness. This was too much like the fantasies he'd had recently of himself bound and Luc taking him repeatedly, forcing him to orgasm again and again. Making him beg to stop, stop...

  He gulped air, dug a heel into the ground, and tried to shove Luc off him, but the man squeezed Wulf's wrists within one hand and held him as easily as if he hadn't struggled.

  Oh stars, what would it be like in bed with this man? He forced that from his mind and continued wriggling.

  "Wulf, stop it." Luc brought one hand to his own mouth, a finger in front of his lips.

  This felt too much like sex, too much like a game. Wulf's ears rang, heart pounding. He bucked and twisted under him. "Lemme up!" He jerked and fought.

  Luc clamped a hand over Wulf's mouth again and leaned down closer to Wulf's ear. "Stop fighting me!" The urgent whisper felt hot against his skin. "There's a killer loose down here. My men are trying to pin him down. Be quiet." He moved his hand.

  "There's no--mmpf!"

  Luc's hand cut off the rest of his words. "Wulf! Will you be quiet! What the hell is wrong with you? I'm trying to save your life."

  Wulf stopped fighting. Luc's weight crushed his chest. The adrenaline racing in his system put his heart on overload. Sweat dripped into his eye. He tossed his head.

  Running feet slowed as they approached. "Mr. Saint-Cyr?"

  "Did you get him?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "Excellent." Luc released Wulf and went to his knees, then stood and held down a hand to him.

  Wulf knocked it aside and rolled over, getting up on his own.

  Five Kin in black and green idBot uniforms dragged a human male in the uniform of a utility worker into view. Struggling between two of them, hands behind him, the human fixed Wulf a stare of pure menace. Wulf backed away, angling himself behind Luc.

  "Thank you," Luc told the Kin. "Good job."

  The leader saluted him. The Kin escorted the human out of the area.

  Luc turned toward Wulf. "Stahlwell took out a contract on you last night. Apparently being seen with me made you a bigger target." He dusted off his hands. "You could have been killed."

  "A contract? T-to kill me?" Wulf dragged a shaking hand through his hair. "Are you sure?"

  He twisted his mouth. "I wouldn't make that up." Luc brushed off his clothes and limped toward a low dividing wall. "Didn't expect an attack from you."

  "I--I didn't know it was you. I was trying to get away."

  "I noticed." Luc leaned against the wall. Pulling up his pant leg, he ran a hand across a skinned area on his shin. "You kicked the hell out of me. Where'd you learn to do that?"

  "I took martial arts lessons from the time I was eleven."

  Luc snorted. "Figures. I probably paid for those." He grimaced. "And now I'm paying again. I think you broke my foot."

  Wulf set a hand over his mouth.

  "Lucky for me I heal fast." He tossed him the mobile. "Here. Call the driver. Press two."

  Flipping it open, he did as requested. The driver's image appeared above the handheld. "James here, sir."

  "We're in the service area. Mr. Saint-Cyr is hurt. Can you bring the car, please?"

  "At once, sir." The image faded.

  Wulf tossed Luc the mobile.

  "So, tell me." Luc pocketed it and leaned back against the wall. "Where were you headed?"

  "Does it matter?"

  "No. You left my home after I instructed you to stay there for safety. Disappointed, Wulf. I thought you were bored and wanted to get out, but when your friend bought you tickets off planet, I..."

  "You bugged me?" Wulf made fists. "How dare you?"

  Luc narrowed his black eyes. "How dare I what? Have idBot follow you? Bug you with trackules? Spy on you? Protect you?"

  Wulf threw out his arms, speechless at the casual confession. He turned his back. "I can't believe I ever trusted you! Every time I get close to you, you do something to push me away." He whirled to face him. "How can you run roughshod o
ver my life like that? As if I have no rights at all? As if I'm nothing."

  "Nothing?" Luc stood, wincing. "Do you think I don't value you?" He ran a hand across his hair, mouth tight. He tilted back his head and blew out a breath. "Good, lord, Wulf." When he finally gazed straight at him, Luc had tears in his eyes. "I was trying to protect you. If I hadn't, you might be dead right now."

  He flinched. Luc angry he could handle. The man's gentleness undid him.

  "Wulf, how could you even think I wouldn't care for you?" He closed his eyes and turned his head. "You are everything."

  The car rolled into view and the driver hopped out and trotted over to assist Luc. Wulf hesitated, then put himself on the other side of the Man and maneuvered a shoulder under his arm. Once they reached the hoversine, Wulf took over.

  "Thanks, James. I've got him." Wulf helped Luc inside, and then ran around and slid in on the other side. "I guess it's safe for me to go home, now. I'll come and get my things."

  "That was the first hit man. There are more. Stahlwell wants you dead."

  Swallowing repeatedly, Wulf took in those words. His hands trembled. "More?"

  Luc leaned his head against the seat. "It's me he's after. Turns out I put his uncle in jail. He knew he could get to me if he killed you. I believe he started threatening you so you'd ask me for help. Once you involved me, the use he had for you was over."

  I've been a fool. He sank back against the seat. "So... you were trying to protect me by asking me to stay inside."

  Luc rolled his head toward him. "Did you think you were my prisoner?"

  Wulf turned away.

  "I see." His pained laugh sounded too loud in the car's interior. "You must hate me."

  Stuffing a knuckle into his mouth, Wulf bit down. "I'm sorry. I..."

  "Save it." Luc lifted his right leg to the opposite seat and rubbed his shin. "You owe me no apologies. I should have known you couldn't forgive me."

  "When I saw how alike my room was at your place compared to my own flat, I thought..." Wulf shut his eyes, unwilling to continue.

  "Did you think I was stalking you?" Luc tossed back his head. "I told you my house was exactly like yours and that Rae was my decorator. And in case you forgot, you had him decorate your place after he finished mine, not the other way around. Every room in my house is done the same way. He's notorious for his one-way designs. Beds are always on the north, couches on the south. You didn't pay any attention to him, did you?"

  Wulf shook his head, too ashamed to meet Luc's gaze.

  "Anything else you care to accuse me of while you're at it? Might as well get it out in the open. Maybe I planned to murder you in your sleep?"

  Wulf clenched his fists. "That's not funny."

  "Not in your sleep, then. Maybe I'd poison your food. I know." He snapped his fingers. "I was going to be out of town and a burglar was to break in..."

  "Stop it!" Wulf rounded on him.

  "...and kill you while you tried to defend your home. Like your father."

  Wulf set hands over his ears. "Stop!"

  Luc gripped his hands and pulled them away. "I didn't kill your father, Wulf! My sin was I wasn't there to take the bullet for him. If I'd been there it would have been me who died. Not your father. I could've come back from death, but he couldn't. That's why you hate me. Because it wasn't me who died."

  Wulf tossed his head, fighting to break free. When Luc released him, Wulf withdrew across the car as far as he could and huddled in the corner.

  "You were so damned determined that I could give your father one of my lives and bring him back, like I was some kind of cat with lives to spare. I would've given anything to protect you from that, Wulf. I loved your father like a brother. I loved you."

  Wulf braced elbows on his knees and cradled his wet face. His chest hurt, throat too constricted to breathe.

  "That's why I made you watch the security vid of his death. I wanted to reach you. Show you that he couldn't come back." Luc's voice broke. "Wulf, I'm so sorry. I'm sorry for everything."

  Wulf pushed himself back against the seat, twisted to face him.

  Luc held one hand over his mouth, tears tracking down his face.

  As if a dam had burst within him, warmth cascaded through Wulf's heart. He twisted around, kneeling on the seat as he leaned in and gathered Luc in his arms.

  The man lifted his head, his confusion plain.

  "I'm the one who should be sorry, Luc. So sorry." He drew Luc's head against his chest and held him, rocking.

  "Wulf..." He gripped his arm. "What are you--"

  "Shh." Wulf pulled him closer, using thumbs to dry the man's tears. "I hate seeing you like this when it's my fault. You came and saved me when I thought the worst of you."

  "No, Wulf. I don't deserve your forgiveness."

  "Hush." He kissed his brow. "Let me forgive. I've been in pain so long." He cupped a hand under his chin and tilted up his face. "Let me heal."

  The smooth dark skin and black eyes of the man who'd protected him lay beneath his hands. Wulf stroked him, smoothing away the frown, the worry. He kissed his brow, and kissed across his closed eyes.

  "Wulf." Luc gripped his wrist. "Don't. Please."

  "Let me forgive you, Luc. Let me love you."

  Luc moved his head side to side, a silent plea on his lips.

  "I love you, Luc." He kissed down his cheek, hands caressing his face. "Love you. Love you so much." Wulf kissed him.

  As Luc's resistance faded, the man tilted back his head to accept the kiss. Wulf almost drowned in the wave of heat coursing through him. This wasn't just Luc Saint-Cyr, the Man, the Harbinger. This was Cyken Tomarus, the Sempervian known as Humanity's Friend who was surrendering to his kiss. Both arms wrapped around him, Wulf settled in for a good taste of the mouth he'd craved. Clean, fresh, as sweet and warm as he knew this man would be, with the faintest hint of cinnamon.

  They shared a perfect kiss--long, unhurried, with plenty of time to lick and savor and taste. Wulf pulled back long enough to catch a breath and then launched into another deep kiss.

  Luc dragged him into his arms and drew him across his lap, gazed down at him. Wulf could not miss the ridge of Luc's cock against his hip.

  Reaching up to his face, Wulf stroked his fingers along the man's cheek. "I love you."

  Luc offered him a tremulous smile. "You love me?"

  Wulf bit his lower lip. "For a long time. I grew up thinking of you as my enemy, but lately I've had wet dreams about you. Hot fantasies. I couldn't understand what was happening to me. The man I hated was also the man I desired. I would have come to you eventually, even without all this danger. I wanted you so bad this morning."

  Luc ducked his head to meet Wulf's gaze once more. "My cock wouldn't go down. I had to jack off in the shower." He wet his lips. "Twice."

  Pushing himself farther onto Luc's lap, Wulf hooked an arm around his neck. He trailed fingers through Luc's short, tightly curled hair. "How long does a Sempervian hard-on last, anyway?"

  He groaned. "Forever."

  Wulf reached over and depressed the pad to call the driver. "Are we there yet?"

  Luc chuckled.

  "Yes, sir." The car darkened. "Entering the elevator now."

  "About fucking time." Wulf stroked Luc's hair. "Sounds good, doesn't it? 'Fucking time.' Has a nice ring to it."

  Laughing, Luc hauled him closer for another kiss.

  Chapter Nine

  Tarth City, Di Lusso District

  Nizamrak Building, Penthouse Level, "The Loft"

  Luc limped into the penthouse, his arm across Wulf's shoulder for support. Having him close after missing him for so long... Luc crooked his elbow around the younger man's neck and hugged him, placing a kiss on his brow. Wulf beamed at him.

  When McDoth came out to greet them, he gasped and pulled up a chair for Luc. "What did you do?" The android knelt and removed his shoe.

  "It was nothing, McDoth. My men were chasing down Wulf's attacker and I got in the way."
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  McDoth raised his head and gave Luc a droll stare. "I've cared for you more lifetimes than either of us care to admit. What made you think you'd be able to start lying to me now?"

  "I have no idea."

  "One of you tell me how it happened."

  Wulf squatted beside the chair. "I stomped on him as hard as I could."

  The android swung his head toward Wulf, astonishment plain. "And you did this because..."

  "He mistook me for the bad guy." Luc looped an arm around Wulf's neck and hugged him closer. "Don't worry, McDoth, I'll exact my revenge later." He kissed Wulf's temple.

  McDoth gave a knowing nod. "No doubt."

  Wulf blushed.

  The android tsked over the swollen foot. The top, where it met the front of his leg, was already puffed out and purple.

  "Luc." Wulf clutched Luc's arm. "I'm so sorry!"

  Having Wulf gaze up at him, his brown eyes so full of concern more than compensated for the pain. Luc leaned toward him and Wulf rose to accept his kiss. "It's all right. I'll be fine."

  McDoth stood. "You will be once I get some triefan in you. For now, let's get you into bed. I could carry you if you're in pain."

  "No need." Luc held up a hand for assistance and McDoth helped steady him as he stood. "Rather walk." He hung an arm around Wulf's shoulder.

  Together they helped him into the lift and rode with him to the top floor. In Luc's bedroom, Wulf stared at the richly appointed chamber. Hard to see it with fresh eyes but Luc tried. He'd spared no expense on this room. Silver, mint, and rose threads glinted in the sumptuous, black brocade hangings. Piles of pillows covered the head of the canopy bed. Black marble gleamed on the floor. A Kin-made fur throw lay on one side, welcoming him.

  McDoth pulled down the covers and helped Luc lie down and put up both feet. He propped his right leg with several pillows along its length. "There. Now you rest while I go fetch some triefan." He shook a finger at Wulf. "Don't let him out of that bed. I'll be right back."