Werewulf Journals 3: Hungry Pleasures (4 page)

only had eyes for you!” His smile slid off his face. Determination hardened his next words.

“I’ve waited a long time for this and I will claim my right to share her once, when the time comes, Captain of the Royal Guard.”

Pavel shook his head, his mouth tightening in anger. “No, Rickard. How dare you insist on something so medieval?”

“The pack and the royal family are bound and must remain so. Pavel, it may be ancient, but it is our law and works both ways. I am required to receive my bride from your hands on our betrothal night. Our fathers and mothers underwent the binding, as did theirs before, all the way back to the beginning of our dual pact.”

Pavel’s hand sliced the air between them. “Do you believe my loyalty a thing of

bindings? Am I held to you by tradition and duty or by love?”

16 Camille Anthony

Rickard’s heart softened as it so often did when he dealt with this man who was his

elder in age but in all else, his acolyte. He reached up and snagged Pavel’s waving hand, held it tightly. “No man knows the depth and breadth of your love and loyalty better than your prince. It has never and will never be in question.”

“Then why would you force this? You know what will happen once I’ve bonded with a

mate…”

“First, we will do this before I allow you to bind yourself so tightly. Second, you

promised me, remember? In exchange for my never fucking you again, we made a bargain.

‘When I think I’ve found the right one,’ you promised, ‘I’ll allow you to make the final decision, to give her to me or not.’ Is that not what you said?”

“For goddess’ sake, your Highness, I made that promise years ago, when we both were

struggling to find a way to remain friends, though no longer lovers. I thought you long past the need for compensation over losing my sexual services.”

Rickard winced and let go Pavel’s hand. He could feel his facial muscles stiffen as pain roared through him. He didn’t even try to mask his expression, not caring if he revealed to this man how much that comment had hurt him. “Ouch.” He met his friend’s already

sorrowful gaze. “You’ve learned to be cruel during your stay in America. The scalpel of your tongue is razor sharp. I feel the cut, here.” He touched his chest.

“Forgive me, please!” Pavel ran the fingers of both hands through his thick hair. “I

don’t know why I said that. You know I didn’t mean it. By the moon, Rickard, I’m

practically mind-fucked by this woman and I don’t even know for sure she is the right anything. I mean, I haven’t really met her…falling into my lap doesn’t count, and she’s driving me crazy. She wouldn’t even let us call her a cab so I could learn her address.” His face reflected his sudden angry frustration. “I can’t get her scent out of my nostrils!”

Rickard waggled his pale eyebrows. “Oh, you wanted to do more than call her a taxi.

You wanted to take her on a test drive, didn’t you? Rev her motors and ride her. Vroom!

Vroom!”

Pavel frowned. “Stop making light of this, Rickard. And how the fuck do you plan on

giving her to me when we don’t even have her name? We know nothing about her, and now she’s gone.”

Ah, Pavel, your emotional upset is showing. His friend didn’t make a habit of cursing.

“Temper, temper!” he crooned. Leaning forward, avidly searching for another sign of

weakness, he taunted, “I know you well, Duke Pavel Andreiavich Janecek. You have never responded like this to any woman. Oh, you’re a healthy male and every so often you’ll find a partner to help you burn off built up energy. You’ve fucked quite a few women in your time, but I’ve never -- before today -- seen your green eyes go incandescent gold with lust…in my very presence.”

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Rickard sat back and laced his long fingers over his belly, his soft laughter devoid of humor. “You want this woman, all right, and for far more than a casual fuck. Hell, if it were casual for you, would I be interested?”

Pavel sucked in a breath before turning his head away, closing himself off, trying to hide other secrets, perhaps. “You see too much, damn you.”

Too late, I already know your sec ets, am

r

acquainted with your demons. They haunt

my own nightmares, too. “I can find her for you, Pavel. Today, if need be.”

Sitting forward, Pavel revealed a ravenous hunger Rickard half wished had been aimed

at him. “How?”

And then, probably realizing he’d betrayed his interest, Pavel let his muscles relax. He leaned back in his chair, face once more blank and empty of expression. “We -- you -- have nothing to go on.”

“Lust has clogged your mind. Think, Pavel. We already know a lot about her. We know

she had lunch in the next booth. She didn’t pay at the counter, so we know she paid by credit card.” He paused, hooded gaze intent on Pavel’s face.

“Rickard, you know I hate it when you look at me like that.”

He knew exactly what his ex-lover meant but played ignorant. “I’m looking at the man

who ran into exile with me when we were both youths; the man who saved my life and my sanity at the cost of his mother’s love. How else am I supposed to look at the only man who has loved me for myself and sought nothing in return?”

Pavel sighed. “Just stop, okay?”

“Do you want that big black beauty enough to deal with me, love?” He lowered his

voice, used it to incite his friend’s erotic cravings, to fuel his illicit hungers -- issuing an invitation to indulge his carnal temptation. “Shall I get her for you?”

“What the hell kind of question is that?”

Rickard leaned across the table. “The kind you must answer quickly. Choose carefully, for I will only make this offer once. This is your last chance…”

Pavel closed his eyes on a deeply indrawn breath. “I see her, you know…the woman

unrevealed. She tries to hide her vulnerabilities, but she is so open to hurt. She runs from herself, can’t see her own beauty. Courage is like a cloak around her, yet she has never truly opened herself to life. She is a lot like you in that she pretends enjoyment while hurting.

Perhaps that is some of what draws me to her. Even in her hurried retreat, there was a quiet dignity. You had to have sensed what I did. You and I, we’ve gone through fire and turmoil.

We can tell when another has endured like experiences. Whatever she has been through, she has come out the stronger for it.”

Rickard snorted. His friend was so far gone he would never find his way home. Now

he’d make him admit it. “Quickly, my love. Do you want her?”

18 Camille Anthony

Pavel’s eyelids snapped open to reveal green eyes almost swallowed in the incandescent power of pre-change. “Yes, damn you!” His words were guttural, rasped through gritted teeth. “I want her. I want to dive into that energy she has boiling around her. I want to test the strength of her resolve as well as the strength in her thighs. I want to awaken her to her own potential as I sample her scent at the core, drink her down, and gorge myself on her.”

Rickard gasped, lower belly muscles flip-flopping at the green fire blazing in those

beloved pupils. Such passion! Such desire! He’d once had it all to himself. He wanted it once more, wanted to bathe in that heat, wash himself clean in the molten flames of Pavel’s fervor.

Pavel always made him want to be better than he was. His faith in him made him feel

powerful and assured, determined to rule and live so he might one day find himself worthy of the fierce loyalty his premier Duke ever lavished on him.

In truth, his foremost subject and friend was like a relentless force of nature. Pure, clean, uncontaminated by the world’s wickedness, Pavel was an innocent filled with passion and full of carnal fire. His commitment to his own standards constantly lost him potential power and positions, but he never bent, never compromised. His unwavering dedication had saved Rickard time and time again. Pavel was the only constant in his hectic, hedonistic life.

He had to have him one more time. He had to. To that end, he would ruthlessly press his advantage. “Enough to share her with me, hmm…?”

When he didn’t answer right away, Rickard leaned forward, placing his hand over

Pavel’s clenched fist.

“Pavel, you know I love you, despite the fact that we haven’t held each other like that for many, many years. It’s not only sexual, though I always want to fuck you. We shared one year during a time of hell and torture. I would have had the heart and humanity burned out of me if not for having you as my anchor. I know you never had the same depth of feelings for me. Nevertheless, beloved, I have never stopped -- could never stop loving you. Don’t ask it of me. It would be like cutting out the only living part of me.”

Rickard paused as his voice thickened with emotion rarely expressed. “If I must give

you up, totally, it will be to a woman of my choosing. As your ruling sovereign, I have that right. The woman who wins you, wins a great prize, wins my kingdom’s greatest treasure.

We both know I’d have no kingdom without you.”

Pavel bowed his head, averted his gaze. “You give me too much credit.”

Rickard shook his head, hand tightening on Pavel’s. Pleased warmth flooded him when

the older man turned his palm up and returned the pressure of his grip.

Pavel sighed heavily. “Oh, Rickard, you know I do not love you carnally, though I have shared my body with you for comfort. I do not lust for you. Yet surely, you must know my love for you is deep and fathomless. My fealty is eternal. Nothing and no one will ever change that.”

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Rickard swallowed against a lump in his throat. “You humble me with your loyalty.

Throughout our lives, you have stood my champion, even against your own pack. Yet, you will not allow me to repay your service. You hinder me at every step. You will not come back to Drestovia and resume your titles and duties as --”

“My line’s honor is tainted. We no longer deserve the title.”

Rickard grunted. “Uh, in the vernacular of American slang… Bullshit! You redeemed

the honor of your line when you single-handedly retook my kingdom. Still, you refuse every offer of help and won’t touch the funds I have deposited in your accounts back home.”

With a show of slow reluctance, he eased his hand from Pavel’s grip. “If this is the only way I can serve you, so be it. I will not stand by and see your gentle nature abused or used against you.”

Pavel sat up, eyebrows gathering in a scowl. “Wait, Rickard, I’m no weakling. What do you think --”

Rickard flung up his free hand, palm out. “Silence, Pavel Janecek. As your prince, I

order you to remain aloof from this woman. You are not to approach her without my

consent.”

Pavel leaped to his feet, snarling his disapproval.

Rickard drew his shoulders back, assuming a regal mien that, though he rarely used it, came all too naturally. “Did you just growl at your sovereign?”

The low rumbling subsided. A shame-faced Pavel bowed his head in submission.

“Better. Now sit down and heed me! I do not make this decision lightly. Your instincts tell you to move quickly, but I will not have you moving too fast. I will investigate this woman. She must be good enough for you, worthy of you. To that end, I’ll test her and find her measure. If she passes my tests, I will deliver her right into your hands. If you see her after today, you will know I have given my approval. And though I know how much it goes against your instincts, you must keep your vow to me. You are not to bind with her until I say.”

“I can still smell her. The scent is driving me insane. If another finds and binds her before I can…”

Rickard’s voice was stern when he said, “You will trust me to keep her safe for you.”

Their gazes met and clung, spoke of shared history, of debts and loss…of understanding and tolerance, brotherhood and love…of duty.

“Once,” Pavel gritted, finally. “I’ll share her and myself with you once, Rickard, then never again.”

Rickard’s mouth stretched in a wide, pleased smile even as his eyes filled with tears. He leaned back, laid his head against the worn cushion of the chair, his body gone boneless with the fierce arousal pounding at his groin. Just the thought of having Pavel once more had hardened him to the point of pain. However, a greater agony twisted his heart and came 20 Camille Anthony

with knowing, after that one night, their relationship would inevitably change, never to be the same. “Done and agreed. I’ll take you any way I can get you.”

“You could order me.”

Rickard frowned. “I am not so heinous as to force your sexual submission.” He opened

his eyes and lifted his head. “That you think me capable of such, hurts.”

“You are keeping me from her. That hurts.”

“I know. It won’t be for too long if she proves worthy.”

“I-I’m -- forgive me, sire, I am impatient.”

Rickard hid his smile. “That statement easily qualifies as an understatement.”

“I would like to know how you plan on finding out her name.”

“Now, that’s a piece of cake.” Standing and reaching into his back pocket, Rickard

casually pulled out a crisp thousand-dollar American bill and snapped it between his fingers.

“If you don’t want to be found, never leave a paper trail, my friend.”

Rickard bent and clamped Pavel’s chin between strong fingers. He pressed his lips

against Pavel’s in an aggressive mastering kiss; this time, not allowing him to turn his head or deflect his aim. He didn’t lighten up until the other man gave in and opened his mouth under the prince’s. His tongue snaked in and stole a taste of their shared past, flicked over the edge of a sharp tooth.

Straightening up, Rickard licked his swollen and moist lips, breathing hard. His palm ghosted over Pavel’s cheek as he quickly regained control of himself. Backing up, he saluted Pavel with a jaunty wave and a flirty wink. “Ciao, darling. You might want to take that long cock of yours in hand to keep it good and hard. It’s been quiescent long enough.”