The Tiger King (Paladin Shifters Book 1)

by Patricia Logan

  “Your Majesty.”

  “Rise, boy,” Pasha Raab intoned. He smiled at the page as the boy bowed multiple times before backing away. Pasha Raab unrolled the scroll and looked it over before turning to Damiano and offering a brilliant smile. Paget watched his mate smile back and then the king turned to the room.

  “Today is a special day for me,” Pasha Raab began. “As you know I have been away for much too long and I am happy to begin to put my kingdom back together. The first order of business is to appoint a new councilor. I have chosen a man who I trust with my very life and I would ask Chino Cortez to fill that role.” He smiled again. “Will you accept, Paladin Cortez?”

  Paget looked over to the man standing beside him and grinned as Chino’s mouth dropped open. Paget had known the promotion was coming since the king had talked it over with Damiano and his mate had come to him with the exciting news.

  “I would be honored, Sire,” Chino said.

  “Then step forward, Paladin.”

  Chino left the group and walked up to the dais as the king rose and walked down the two steps until they were face to face. Chino was taller than the king by several inches but as the king approached, he sank to one knee and bowed his head. The king opened the box he had and took out a pin. It was similar in size to the star Damiano wore on his collar but fashioned into two simple silver bars, the mark of the royal councilor to the crown.

  “From this day forward, you will be known as Councilor Cortez,” Pasha Raab said. “Rise and accept this pin.”

  Chino stood and the king stepped forward and reached up and proceeded to pin the bars on his collar. He held out a hand which Chino shook as the room erupted in applause. When the room quieted down the king held up the scroll he’d been holding.

  “As your first duty, Councilor Cortez, I want you to share the new law with my loyal subjects.” He handed the scroll to Chino who opened it and then nodded.

  “Yes, Your Majesty.” As the king returned to his throne, Chino turned to face the room; he was grinning ear to ear. Chino glanced back over his shoulder at him.

  “Forgive my back, Sire,” he said, knowing that without apology no one was allowed to turn their back on a royal. When the king nodded, he turned back to the audience and cleared his throat, holding up the scroll.

  “From this day forward, let it be known that the law preventing the mating of true mates between classes shall be abolished.” A murmur rose as people in the great hall began to speak excitedly. “Further, anyone imprisoned for such crimes shall be made to go free and remuneration for said captivity shall be offered the injured parties. Let this be the law of a free nation.” Chino lowered the scroll and everyone in the hall began clapping. Chino turned back to the king and bowed as the king rose and held out his hand. He shook Chino’s hand vigorously and then handed him the scroll.

  Paget’s eyes locked on Damiano and noted how he was beaming from ear to ear. Though they’d not spent a night apart from each other since they’d returned from the king’s arena that day, now their mating could be performed in a legal ceremony like any other mated pair in the kingdom. He couldn’t have been more thrilled. Damiano leaned over and said something to the king and Pasha Raab grinned widely before nodding. Only a moment later, Damiano had motioned to Stevens and Takemoto and the men were walking up the steps of the dais. He said a few words to them before clapping them on the back and then he left them standing on either side of the king before descending the stairs.

  When he got to Paget’s side, he reached for him, dragging him into his arms and kissing him soundly right in front of the gathered guests. A great whooping sound went up into the air as everyone began clapping and Paget was shocked when Damiano bent and scooped him into his arms. Paget flailed for a moment of pure joy and threw his arms around Damiano’s neck, laughing out loud as his mate strode through the parted crowd and straight out of the hall.

  “Where are we going?” Paget asked as Damiano began climbing the stairs.

  Damiano looked down at him and grinned. “Right where we belong, my love. My bed.”

  Paget’s giggle was cut off as Damiano covered his mouth with his own. His kiss was full of promise of things to come and no one in the kingdom was happier at that moment than he was. They reached the top of the stairs and Damiano strode straight toward his chamber and when he got to the door, he broke their kiss and set Paget on the ground. Paget missed his lips almost immediately but he couldn’t wait to get into their bed… their bed… the sound of those two little words thrilled Paget. He anxiously waited while Damiano opened the door and then whooped again as Damiano bent and scooped him up, throwing him over his shoulder. When his mate kicked the door closed behind them and strode over to the bed, Paget laughed again. A second later, he was tossed onto the middle of the mattress.

  “Strip,” Damiano growled, his voice going low just the way he loved him.

  Even though they’d made love every time they got the chance since Fain’s demise in the arena, every time was still new to Paget. He was hopelessly in love with his sexy man and he could only do as Damiano bid and begin stripping. He watched as Damiano set his knives and guns on the bureau before stripping out of the dress clothes he’d put on just a few hours before. He quickly removed his own clothing, tossing it onto a chair which filled rapidly with Damiano’s hastily discarded garments as well. When his mate climbed onto the bed, naked and looking delectable, with tanned furred skin, Paget propped himself onto both elbows and waited as he crawled over to him. The expression on his mate’s face was the sexiest thing Paget had ever seen and he couldn’t stop smiling.

  “I couldn’t take my eyes off you in there and couldn’t wait for that blasted ceremony to finish,” Damiano growled as he straddled Paget.

  Paget reached out and cupped both of Damiano’s stubbled cheeks. His goatee was longer than it had been when they’d first met and he loved the feel of the soft hair as he stroked over it with the palms of both hands. Damiano’s light golden eyes flashed with fire as Paget felt his erect cock press into his thigh. He glanced down and saw how rigid and hard he was for him and when his own dick brushed Damiano’s, he let out a gasp of pleasure.

  “I need you inside me, mate,” Paget breathed.

  “I need to claim you all over again,” Damiano said, lowering his lips to Paget’s neck. He kissed him there and Paget bucked off the bed, feeling the pleasure race through his veins as he put his head back to give his mate more access. The scrape of Damiano’s elongated fangs running up the side of his neck thrilled Paget every time he did it and a low moan escaped him unchecked.

  “Oh, God, Damiano, get inside me before I burst.” Paget groaned, gasping again as Damiano rolled away from him.

  He headed straight for the bedside table and yanked the drawer open, drawing out a tube of lube before crawling back to him. As he moved away to perform the quick recovery, Paget found himself missing his mate already. He really couldn’t believe he’d lived his whole life without this man in it. He felt so complete and so whole with Damiano in his bed every day, he couldn’t believe how empty his life had been before him.

  When Damiano crawled back to him, he was grinning a Cheshire smile. His fangs were on prominent display, sparkling in his mouth and Paget felt his cock pulse. He loved it when Damiano bit him. It was like the day he’d claimed him as his mate all over again. They’d been forced to have that first mating in secret and Paget had felt nothing but an animal attraction to his mate. He almost couldn’t believe that he’d be able to claim Damiano Satriale in a public mating ceremony very soon. Right now though, his mate looked as anxious as he felt.

  “Roll over, Paget. I want you from behind.”

  That thought thrilled him and he scrambled to do as Damiano asked, rolling to all fours and spreading his knees as wide as they would go. His mate was a large man all over so it was quite thrilling when he moved in behind him, insinuating himself between his knees. The snap of the top of the lube bottle made a shiver go through Paget a
nd he braced himself, waiting for what was to come. He didn’t have to wait long. Cold, wet fingers slid up against his hole and he let out an involuntary gasp as they penetrated him one by one.

  “Damiano,” he groaned. “It’s okay. Just get inside me.”

  “I don’t want to hurt you, kitten,” came the rumbling reply.

  Jesus, Paget loved it when his mate’s voice deepened like that. He really was the sexiest man Paget had ever seen. And he’s all mine.

  “Enough, Satriale. Get inside me. I’m dying here,” he ground out, gasping into the pillow as he heard Damiano’s chuckle.

  Suddenly the fingers stretching his ass were removed and only a moment later, the blunt head of his mate’s cock was sliding inside him. Paget made a concerted effort to accept his length, relaxing as much as he could. His mate was no small man and as soon as he was fully sheathed, Paget let out a sigh of relief. Damiano let out his own groan as Paget tightened his muscles to encourage him.

  “Dammit, Paget, do that again and this mating is going to end much sooner than we both want.”

  It was Paget’s turn to chuckle into his pillow but he was abruptly cut off when Damiano pulled back and began to thrust inside of him. He leaned over him, bracing his hands on both of Paget’s asscheeks as he thrust in deeply again. Paget groaned and he reached underneath himself, taking his own cock in hand. He was thick and engorged and he knew he couldn’t last long. Not like this. When Damiano removed his hands and circled his chest, bringing Paget off the bed so that he was literally seated in his lap with his cock plunging in and out of him, Paget couldn’t believe how good the change of angle felt.

  Damiano’s arms held him tightly against his chest and Paget leaned his head back, exposing his neck. He was rewarded when he felt Damiano’s fangs at the large muscle between neck and shoulder where he’d bitten Paget so many times. He pumped his cock harder, knowing as soon as Damiano sank his fangs into him, he was going to explode. He was barely holding back now. Paget gasped again as he felt the scrape of fang on his throat. Damiano groaned as he plunged harder and harder into him, gripping his hips as he eased Paget on and off his long thick girth with ever increasing speed.

  “Got to mark you, Paget… can’t hold back, kitty,” Damiano whispered against his ear.

  “Bite me, Damiano. Come on. I need to come but I…”

  Damiano bit down into his shoulder and it nearly rocked Paget to his very bones. He instantly came as Damiano’s fangs drew blood.

  “Oh, God, Damiano!” he shouted as he convulsed with orgasm. Come shot out of his cock, landing somewhere on the bed. Paget felt Damiano plunge one last time and then hold him tightly against his hips, burying himself fully inside his body as he came. Paget felt the unmistakable throb of Damiano letting go deep up inside of him and the very thought of how his mate had been able to play his willing body made him climax again. He was sure he saw stars as Damiano continued to bite, groaning against him. When he finally let go of his shoulder, all Paget could do was gasp as he wrung the second climax out of his body. He leaned his head back on Damiano’s shoulder and turned his head, rewarded only a moment later as Damiano kissed him long and deep. Paget prayed it would always be this way with his mate because he was certain he was the very happiest cat on Earth.

  Epilogue

  D amiano woke up with a start at a persistent pounding on the door to his chamber. When Paget rolled away from him, he let go of his mate. They’d spent a blissful two days in bed, interrupted only when they’d been forced to leave their bed to attend to their respective duties. He groaned as the pounding came again.

  “Are you in there, Satriale? The king needs you,” Chino’s voice sounded from the other side of the door.

  Damiano shot out of bed and he strode rapidly to the door, stark naked, throwing it open.

  “What’s wrong?” he barked at his oldest friend.

  Chino looked him up and down and smirked. “Sorry to get you out of bed but Pasha Raab summons you to the throne room.” He looked over Damiano’s shoulder to where Paget stood, having pulled pajama pants on. “Sorry, Paget. He says he needs you too.”

  “What’s wrong, Chino?” Paget asked as Damiano went to find clothes.

  “I don’t know but he was meeting with Theo and he says it’s important.” Chino shuffled his feet. “You’d better dress unless you plan on meeting the king dressed like that.” Chino zeroed in on the blood which had dried on his body where it had run from the healing bite wound which seemed to open over and over again, each time they were in bed.

  “Give me a minute.” Paget walked away from the door and began dressing. A few moments later they were walking out of the room, headed for the throne room.

  Damiano was curious as to what the king would need from them but since Theo was involved, he had no doubt that whatever it was involved a vision the boy had shown him. They walked into the throne room a few minutes later to find Pasha Raab sitting on his throne. Theo was at his feet, sitting cross-legged on the dais, smiling as they walked into the room followed by Chino. Takemoto and Stevens stood on either side of the king’s throne, on guard whenever Damiano or Chino wasn’t with the king. As they approached the king, all of them stopped and bowed before him. When he looked up, the king was looking over at Theo.

  “Tell my primero what you just told me, Theo,” Pasha Raab said. He was frowning, looking angry but distressed at the same time.

  Theo nodded and stood, glancing at the three men standing before him.

  “I told my great and noble king that Queen Sancerre is not lost to us at all,” he said in his small child’s voice.

  “What?” Paget gasped from beside him and a chill went through Damiano.

  “What?” Damiano and Chino repeated at almost the same time.

  “As you know, Queen Sancerre escaped the palace aided by a stable boy during Pasha Raab’s coup. It was rumored that she died far away on an island when in truth, she lives. She has been in hiding.”

  “Where, Theo?” Damiano demanded.

  Theo smiled. “That part I cannot tell yet, Primero.”

  “You can’t or you won’t tell, just like you wouldn’t tell me the future before when I confronted you showed me all the things about my past and present?”

  “What is this?” Pasha Raab asked. “What haven’t you two told me?” the king demanded.

  “For one thing, the fact that I have… or had… a twin brother which I was separated from at birth.” Dami was quite ashamed that he hadn’t thought to bring up such an important fact before this.

  Pasha Raab rose to his feet, glowering at him. “That means that I now have two tasks for you to perform.”

  Damiano bowed his head. “Anything, Your Majesty.”

  “You are to find my queen and bring both her and our brother back to us,” he said.

  Damiano swallowed hard. Of course he would do whatever his king asked of him, but leaving Paget behind unprotected and without him, was a devastating thought. Still, it was his duty. He glanced down at Paget whose scent had suddenly filled the room with his pain of loss.

  “You will go with him, my Paget. You and my councilor will travel wherever the road takes you,” Pasha Raab said, his voice now much gentler than it had been.

  “Thank you, great king,” Paget said, dropping to one knee.

  The king rose and walked down the steps to where they stood. He reached out and laid his large hand on Paget’s shoulder. “Rise, my friend.”

  Paget immediately stood and looked into the king’s kind face.

  “I wish you to begin packing immediately. Choose your replacement as first subaltern, for when you come back, I shall have new duties for you.”

  “Yes, Your Majesty,” Paget said.

  Damiano had no doubt whatever Pasha Raab had planned for his mate would be perfect for him. In the short time he’d come to know his brother, he’d realized that he was not only a kind and fair man, but that he always looked out for his subjects. Just the idea of being reunited wi
th a twin he’d never known thrilled him. He didn’t think he could have been happier. He put his arm around Paget’s shoulder and when his lovely mate turned his green-eyed gaze up toward his face, love washed over him.

  Damiano was finally home.

  Other books by: Patricia Logan

  The Armadillo Series:

  Leather Nights

  Undercover Nights

  Warrior Nights (MMM Menage)

  The Westburg Series:

  Captive Lover

  A Very Good Year

  The Cowboy Queen

  The Silvers Series:

  Silver Bullets

  Silver Secrets (MMF Ménage)

  Silver Ties (BDSM) (Should be read before the Master’s Boys series)

  Silver Linings (BDSM) (Should be read after the Master’s Boys and Invitation Only series)

  The Master’s Boys (Serial) (BDSM):

  Trick

  Jett

  Kaden

  Grit

  Stix

  Con

  Secrets

  The Invitation Only (Serial) (BDSM):