A Royal Continuum

by Marie Harte

  "You know, Tanner." She grabbed the two pillows and wrapped the quilt around them. "I'm glad to have you for a friend." She smiled at him, her gaze focused on his mouth as she licked her lips. His breath hitched, a small sound she heard since she'd been so intent on his reaction. "And I'm looking forward to reestablishing our friendship real soon."

  His gaze deepened and his nostrils flared. "So am I, baby. You have no idea."

  Ava grinned to herself as she preceded him out the room. She gave Matthias a subtle nod when she saw him waiting for them in the living room. He seemed to relax but still grumbled at Tanner as the man pushed them all toward the waiting truck.

  Score one for Ava.

  Chapter 8

  * * *

  Matthias sighed as they finally eased into a hotel for the night. After twelve hours on the road, he wanted nothing more than to curl up in bed. But as he watched Ava and Tanner stretch outside the truck, his libido kicked into full gear. Sitting beside Tanner mile after mile had been both peaceful and decidedly difficult.

  The male's scent was musky and overpowering at times. Tanner had an aggressive streak that called to Matthias's own, and Matthias could feel his need to challenge and overcome Tanner in the most primal of ways. Remembrances of sucking Tanner until he came kept him hard half the trip. And having Ava's light, floral scent so close and mixing with Tanner's was as torturous as memories of her naked breasts under his tongue.

  He groaned as he left the truck and stood. His body felt cramped and the stitch at his side was much more pronounced after the long drive. They were now somewhere in Wyoming and still had another few days worth of travel since he'd decided they'd take it easy the rest of the trip. Twelve hours at a time in this godforsaken truck was just too much. And besides, he had nothing major to rush home to. Adrian was filling in for him, and with Lea's help, had the keep in order. Why not use this alone time to work on his future mates? He was beginning to feel more confident about Tanner. Now to enlist Tanner's help with Ava.

  Working to walk as if his body felt perfectly fine, he joined Tanner and Ava. "I don't know about you two, but I'm ready for a nice, big bed."

  They nodded, but Matthias noticed Ava's narrowed gaze on his body and Tanner's suddenly shuttered expression. Throughout the journey, he and Tanner hadn't spoken much past directions and food recommendations. Ava provided a buffer between the two, so Matthias had let Tanner's distance stand. But now all bets were off.

  "Feeling okay, Matthias?" Tanner eyed the hand he hadn't realized he'd settled against his side.

  He immediately dropped it. "Fine except for the kinks in my legs. That truck should be put out of its misery."

  "Oh, come on," Ava chimed in, pert and pretty in that fresh way that made him think of spring lilies under a clear blue sky. "The heater only went out once. And I'm the one crammed into the back seat."

  "Don't you mean stretched out in the back seat?" Matthias teased. They entered the surprisingly full lobby and he noticed several people filtering into a bar. A local nightspot, maybe? Nearing the front desk, he paused and closed the distance to Tanner. "Tanner, why don't you and Ava grab the necessities from the bags in the truck while I check us in? You've already cased the place. No danger to speak of, right?"

  Tanner slowly nodded. The small hotel they'd entered smelled clean and looked neat. It wasn't fancy, but it was warm and the people behind the lobby desk had large smiles. "Just stay out of the damned bar."

  "You don't have to tell me twice."

  Tanner gave him a hard look before he took Ava outside. Matthias took the opportunity to rent them a room for the night.

  One large king-sized bed in a suite with a fold-out couch. The bed might comfortably fit all three of them, but the fact they had a couch would soothe Tanner, at first. Matthias, however, had no intention of sleeping alone. Or with just one of them. The time had come to introduce both Tanner and Ava to his style of loving.

  * * * *

  Tanner found Matthias waiting for them patiently, still favoring his right side. The damned prince refused to admit he was hurting, but Tanner knew it couldn't have felt good to be shoved into a vehicle for half a day after suffering bruised ribs. He winced, recalling how forceful he'd been earlier. But he hadn't seen any major bruises on the man. And Matthias hadn't complained, too focused on pleasure to do more than moan Tanner's name.

  Tanner forced his thoughts away from their intimacies. Instead, he found himself respecting Matthias's stoic acceptance of his injuries. Like a warrior. Matthias, to his credit, hadn't complained once about his bruises. And he'd actually been a decent traveling companion.

  Afraid he'd be forced to make small talk, Tanner hadn't said much and had deliberately kept the radio going. But Matthias had surprised him. The man just sat and watched the scenery pass them by. He'd been spot on with directions, and had made sure they stopped often to accommodate Ava, who kept up a steady stream of conversation.

  Ava was both witty and intelligent. And her commentary on everything from farming to rednecks to the new Dracon policies implemented by Ferin and the council had been enlightening. Tanner particularly appreciated the new Dracon laws governing interspecies marriages. Of course, with the king's new mate being a former human, notice had definitely been given to human/Dracon relationships.

  Still, all her talk hadn't been enough to completely distract him from the hard-on throbbing in his jeans. Having Ava and Matthias so close made his mouth water, his memories too clear about what he'd done with both of them, and what more he wanted to do. And now they were together in a hotel. He should have been tired. Hell, he'd demanded to drive the full twelve hours they'd spent in the truck, much to Matthias's mumbled protests.

  But instead of feeling exhausted, Tanner was keyed up. And following Matthias in those form-fitting jeans wasn't helping. A glance to his left made him groan under his breath. Ava's shirt parted, giving him a glimpse of her generous cleavage. Shit, this promised to be a long night.

  The room Matthias took them to was a suite with one large, king-sized bed, a small kitchenette and an area containing a couch, a few chairs and a desk.

  "Nice," Ava commented before flopping back on the bed. "Very nice."

  Matthias chose that moment to share a look with Tanner. She's better than nice, don't you think?

  Tanner swallowed around a dry throat, taken with Ava's breasts lovingly molded by her blouse. A glance at Matthias showed the man obviously taken with Ava, his gaze on her body, his arousal straining the jeans that clung to him like a second skin.

  Matthias shook his head, as if shaking the carnal thoughts evident in the erection he couldn't hide. "You two can have the bed. I'm going to watch a little TV on the couch. I'm not tired."

  "How about you let me look at those ribs first?" Tanner caught Matthias's annoyance and squared his jaw.

  Ava sat up, concerned. "Matthias? I saw you get out of the truck, so don't try to pretend you're not hurting. Just a quick look and we'll leave you alone, okay?"

  "I said I'm fine. In fact, I noticed a bar downstairs on the way in. Why don't I go down and order us something to eat? Room service closes at eleven. We're an hour past that." He glanced at the bedside clock.

  "That's a good idea." Ava beamed. "You and Tanner can get us something to eat...as soon as we've looked at your ribs."

  Tanner couldn't help grinning. Matthias's annoyance was as amusing as Ava's persistent pleasantness.

  "Damn it. Go ahead and look. But I don't know what you think you're going to see. It's just bruised flesh."

  Matthias shrugged out of his jacket and moved to lift his shirt when Ava interceded.

  "Gently. Tanner, help him, hmm?"

  Matthias glared. "I'm not an invalid. I appreciate your concern, but really--"

  Tanner's touch stopped him short. That electric connection between them buzzed as Tanner felt Matthias's warm skin under his palms. He carefully lifted the sweatshirt over Matthias's head, his hands gliding over the prince's silky skin. Tan
ner couldn't help noting how Matthias's breathing increased, or how his nipples hardened. And a glance at Ava showed she wasn't immune to the flooding of sexual tension in the room either.

  She cleared her throat and leaned closer. But she blanched when she took a harder look. "Good lord, Matthias. That must hurt like a son of a gun."

  Tanner frowned and looked for what she was talking about. There, on Matthias's right side, was a huge purple bruise that hadn't been there twelve hours ago. Hell. Had Tanner done that with his roughness in the shower?

  You didn't do it, Tanner. Matthias's gentle voice reverberated in his thoughts. I was sore before we were together. Remember Mike with the bat from Morrow's?

  Ava narrowed her gaze at them, and Tanner realized she couldn't hear them.

  "It's rude to mindspeak in front of a person." She crossed her arms and tapped her foot, but her gaze kept returning to Matthias's ribs.

  "Sorry, Ava. I was just surprised because I hadn't noticed any bruising on Matthias earlier today."

  Ava nodded, her frown fading. But he realized she didn't question how he might have seen Matthias. Did she know about them in the shower? And why wasn't he more embarrassed that she might know? His concern faded as he realized Matthias had walked around half-naked most of the morning. Ava hadn't noticed his bruising then either.

  "Everybody happy now?" Matthias sounded disgruntled as he fought with Tanner over his sweatshirt.

  Tanner used what worked on the man, and placing a restraining hand on Matthias's chest, saw the prince freeze in place.

  "So stubborn." Ava shook her head, but Tanner saw the quick grin she gave him. Little did she realize how affected Tanner was, his palm tingling over Matthias's muscled pecs. "Well, it's obviously bruised. Matthias, breathe deeply." She put her hand next to Tanner's, and the heat fairly sizzled through the room.

  Matthias's eyes glittered, a rainbow of color clearly expressing his desire. He said nothing, however, and did what Ava told him to do. After a minute, she nodded. "I don't hear any wheezing, and the pain's not excruciating, right?"

  "No." Matthias stared from Ava to Tanner, resting his gaze on Tanner's lips. "But I have to say I'm really starting to ache."

  Ava stroked his side before letting go. "Then why don't I go down to the bar while you wait up here and lie down."

  Tanner for the life of him, couldn't take his hand off Matthias. But when Matthias clasped his hand holding onto the sweatshirt and ran a thumb over his palm, Tanner let go of the fabric and took a deliberate step back.

  "Thanks," Matthias mumbled, donning the garment with a slow movement. "But I need to stretch out some. I'll head down to the bar while you two wait here."

  Remembering Matthias's last entry into a bar, Tanner denied him. "I don't think so. I'll go with you if you're so dead set on going downstairs. Ava, lock up behind us, okay?"

  She nodded and walked them to the door. "Fries if they have 'em. And bring back some ketchup, too."

  Matthias nodded. But before he left, he turned back to Ava and planted a long, lingering kiss on her lips. Much as Tanner longed to do the same, if he spent one more minute in the cramped little room with Ava and Matthias, he'd end up throwing one or the other to the floor and fucking the hell out of them. So he hustled Matthias out the door and muttered over his shoulder for Ava to lock up after them. Only when he heard the deadbolt turn did he join Matthias down the corridor.

  They walked quietly and waited by the elevator in silence.

  Matthias turned to him. "I have a favor to ask."

  Tanner waited, wondering.

  "It's about Ava."

  What? Was Matthias planning to tell Tanner to leave her alone? That she was off limits, maybe?

  "What about her?" He hated that his voice sounded so gruff.

  "I want you to help me win her over."

  Tanner blinked. That he hadn't been expecting. "What do you mean? She's eating out of your hand."

  "Not quite." Matthias sighed and after they'd entered the elevator, he spoke again. "She responds to me physically, but mentally, there's a wall between us."

  "Why?" Tanner really wanted to know. What was between them, anyway?

  They exited the elevator and made their way to the small but crowded bar. While they waited for their order to be filled, Matthias sat with Tanner at the only unoccupied seat in the place.

  "Ava's uncle is Shino Tailstack. But you know that, right?"

  Tanner nodded. "She told me a little about what happened, why she left Dracon Mount." He kept his voice low, not wanting to be overheard by any Dracon-haters in the place. Matthias kept his voice as quiet, finally displaying a sense of caution he should have used in Morrow's.

  "Emmaline Tailstack is a pathetic woman out for number one, herself. I'm sure Shino wouldn't have minded his daughter marrying my brother, but Shino's more loyal to the Dracon, thank God. Even he could see how selfish Emmaline is. Thanks to him, we found out what she'd been planning before she could go through with trying to kill Lea."

  "Ava seems to have taken Emmaline's actions to heart."

  "I know. I can't convince her that she's innocent of any wrongdoing, and neither can Shino. Sins of the father, or cousin, in this case. And for some reason, Ava blames Shino for Emmaline's actions. All this misplaced responsibility is her damned father's fault."

  "How so?" Tanner grasped at the chance to learn more about either Ava or Matthias, and this insight into her character he welcomed.

  "Ronin Tailstack was an honorable man who served the royal family for almost as long as Shino. Except Ronin was a bit of a control freak. He was obsessed with honor and duty, and about drove Shino and his family crazy with propriety.

  "It used to kill me when Ava first came to Dracon Mount to visit, not a hair out of place or a misstep at all. Took the woman nearly four years just to bring herself to look at me." Matthias frowned. "And you've seen her. She's damned gorgeous, with a body to kill for. I'd have made a move years ago if she wasn't so young and innocent."

  "Or a councilman's relation."

  "Yeah, that, too," Matthias admitted with a wry grin. "Hard to tell a friend of the family you're lusting after his niece." His eyes sparkled. "But tell me, Tanner. How fucking amazing was it between her thighs? The woman practically sizzles. And it's more than her looks, it's what's inside her heart." The emphasis on "heart" wasn't lost on Tanner, who flushed at the reminder.

  "I agree, she's special." So special Tanner wouldn't have minded staking a claim if a damned Dracon prince hadn't already mentioned his intentions. "So what the hell do you need me for? You're a prince. Order her to come to you."

  Matthias snorted. "You don't know shit about women, do you?"

  Tanner chuckled. "Okay, that was stupid. I admit. I'm just saying, charm her like you do everyone else."

  "Oh, like I've charmed you?"

  "Cora Venlay didn't seem to mind you. Do to Ava what you did to her."

  Matthias grimaced. "See, that's a problem. I flirted with Cora, and we dated a time or two. But it never went further than a few kisses. Trying to convince Ava of that is an impossibility. She thinks the only reason I came after her was to help her uncle."

  "Wasn't it?"

  Matthias gave him a strange look, one he couldn't quite decipher. "No, not at all. Ava's mine. She just doesn't know it yet. And that's where you come in."

  "Me?" Tanner glanced at the bar. Where the hell was the food? For as much as he liked the idea of interacting with Ava over anything, the notion of doing so to scoop her up for Matthias left him cold, not to mention, out in the cold. Hell, he wanted to be with both of them, not an instrument to bring them together while he looked on from the sidelines.

  "Look, Tanner. Ava likes you. She respects you and she's attracted to you. With you she relaxes. She feels protected. And I like that. That's what she needs. I'm not some asshole who wants to possess Ava. I want what's best for her."

  Tanner stared at Matthias, again wondering just who the prince truly was. Becau
se the selfless act was convincing, and it made Tanner want to be a part of Matthias's future all the more. An impossibility, he knew, but a tantalizing idea all the same.

  "And I'm what's best for her?" he asked gruffly.

  "Yes." Simply put, Matthias's answer puzzled Tanner.

  "So what? You want me to fuck her, love her? Have her fall in love with me?" His pulse sped, and he did his best to remember they spoke about strategies, not an end state or reality.

  "I want her to feel attached to you. I want her to have a reason to stay at Dracon Mount and give me time to work on her."

  But Tanner had no plans to stay there, and he opened his mouth to say so when Matthias forestalled him.

  "Don't say it. I know you want to leave Dracon Mount. I pushed you too hard too fast, and I'm sorry. But this is about Ava, now. And I need you to put aside your issues with me for her sake."

  On the one hand, Tanner was disturbed that Matthias saw to the heart of Tanner's issues with the keep. And on the other, he was offended that Matthias thought him such a chicken-shit that he'd leave because of him.

  "Just get to the point, Matthias," he growled.

  "She likes you, Tanner. So talk to her. Get her to open up to you. And try to nudge her in my direction, too. I want her to stay at Dracon Mount. She can't live in that godforsaken town near Morrow's. She's precious, and she needs to be treated like a queen. Or at the least, like a princess." Matthias grinned, and Tanner had to blink not to stare at Matthias like an infatuated fool. Because he was far from lovestruck. "Help me settle her at the keep, where she'll be treasured and protected for the rest of her life. I can give her that. Stability, love, affection. And I will, if only she'll let me."