The Alpha King Page 8

  “I think it’s to do with your new strength,” Kit said slowly. He had an idea Gabriel was going to say something similar. “I also think I am meant to help you with it.”

  I heard you. I would have happily killed Gareth and I’m not a murderer, but it was as if you soothed me.

  Then please, Sire, lay down. Kit watched Luca sink to the bed and clumsily pull at his shirt. Let me sooth you some more.

  Luca half-smiled. “I fear you may be disappointed. I think there is only sleep happening in my near future.”

  Kit didn’t bother acknowledging the ridiculous words. He simply took over undoing the buttons on Luca’s shirt. “Lie down, Luca.” His hand gentled as he stroked his face.

  Luca stretched out on the bed, his eyes fluttering shut. “It will last for at least the rest of the day,” he said with resignation.

  Not if I have anything to do with it, promised Kit. “I think you should get fully undressed. I want to give you a massage.”

  Luca cracked an eyelid open but said nothing as Kit undid his boots and slid them off and pulled his pants off as well. “Turn over please,” he asked quietly and went to the bathroom. He’d already spied some cream he wanted to use when he was in there earlier. The sun wasn’t shining in the window so he didn’t bother pulling the curtains. Kit came back to the bed and for a second marveled at the beautiful, tanned skin encasing the strong body of his King. He climbed on the bed and got some cream out of the jar, rubbing it in his fingers to warm.

  Luca groaned at the first touch of Kit’s fingers on his shoulders and Kit smiled. He purposely dug in, feeling the tight muscles hard against his hands, and concentrated on the knots he could feel in the back of Luca’s neck. For a while Kit had been a body servant to an old lady. He had been lucky as she had treated him fairly, and he had learned all sorts of tricks. She-wolves were never allowed to shift without the permission of an Alpha and there were a lot of older females who could no longer shift when they needed to. Consequently, many were suffering diseases associated with human old age, and this lady had bad arthritis. Kit learned how to treat her sore and twisted limbs with certain creams to bring her relief. He had been happy there for eight months before the old lady had died, then her son had sold him to a beta-wolf.

  The beta-wolf was cruel, like so many other masters he had, but Kit had known he must travel so he had run away and set off to reach Caedra. He had spent five years moving around Caedra and the last two working for Hendrick before the choosing and was beginning to despair he wouldn’t survive long enough to meet Luca again.

  “Where did you learn to do that?” Luca groaned again in appreciation as Kit’s fingers reached the base of his spine. Kit smiled. He had no intention of discussing his life up to this point. Not yet, anyway. He was sure Luca was asleep by the time he had reached his feet. His large body was completely sprawled out. Slow deep breaths exhaled rhythmically from soft lips. His head was turned to one side, and his beautiful, gray eyes were closed, the dark lashes fanning his cheeks.

  Kit paused and drank him in. Luca’s skin was a shade lighter than his own light brown. But he was tanned. Most of the wolves were indicating the amount of time they spent outside, but Luca’s body was a sight to behold. His arms were easily the width of Kit’s legs. Powerful muscles shaped and curved, and even at rest Kit could see how strong he was.

  Kit felt a fluttering in his belly and watched as Luca rolled over onto his back, his breaths slowed and even. The bed looked so tempting with Luca stretched out on it, so Kit lay down quietly so as not to disturb him. Lay and closed his eyes. He wasn’t asleep. He was just content to be close.

  Luca was like a furnace, but Kit’s skin burned just as hot. The heat radiating off the man was incredible and he smelled so damn good. He knew wolves used no scent because their noses were so sensitive. Kit inhaled and closed his eyes, his mind drifting. It was like when he had first become a kitchen slave. He had been clumsy and dropped a tray with some knives on, and one of them had sliced his foot. He had been in agony, but the old cook had given him some leaves to chew. In minutes he had been pain free but still unable to stand. Whatever had been in the leaves sent him flying higher than a bird. He vaguely remembered the cook chuckling and laying him on a pallet to sleep it off.

  This was similar but as he took another deep breath in, Kit wasn’t floating, he was completely focused. Luca’s broad chest. The dark hairs that his fingers ached to twist themselves in. The deep rise and fall, and the smooth skin begging to be touched. Without conscious thought, Kit’s breaths were soon timed to Luca’s. Each inhale sent a warm, tingling feeling through his body that started in his chest and spread everywhere. Sounds faded away as an awareness took hold, each breath in and out deeper until he felt like they were touching, and yet Kit still hadn’t dared reach out.

  Kit’s mouth dried as awareness crept into his groin. He could feel the pull of... something—desire? Or was it more? His cock lengthened and he pressed his lips together firmly to stop the breathy moan escaping. He almost shook on the next inhale. Luca’s scent swamped him. Need ramped up inside his body, and he was helpless to control it. His hand snaked out to feather the soft nipple nearest to him. Luca’s skin puckered immediately.

  “You have magic fingers,” Luca drawled, not opening his eyes. Kit moaned. Luca’s eyes shot open at the noise.

  “Turn over.” Kit managed to gasp out, gratification washing over him at the speed at which Luca moved, all eager. Luca sighed slowly and relaxed. Kit threaded his fingers through Luca’s hair and gently massaged his scalp. He had to get himself under control. He was fast losing the ability to reason.

  “How’s your headache?”

  “What headache?” Luca said dreamily and he rolled lazily onto his back.

  Kit’s fingers grazed Luca’s arms and he took each hand in his own to press his thumbs into Luca’s palms. Luca groaned again. The sound vibrated through Kit, fluttering where it settled in his belly. Kit closed his eyes and trailed his hands up and over Luca’s chest, letting his fingers tangle through the dark hairs and reaching his nipples—

  A strong hand clamped into his and Kit’s eyes flew open. Luca’s deep gray eyes were wide open and fixed on him. His full lips lifted teasingly in an enquiring smile. Suddenly Kit’s mouth was too dry to even swallow. “You are, I think, overdressed my little omega.”

  The words trickled down Kit’s spine and his cock twitched and hardened. Without waiting for a response, Luca sat up, immediately towering over Kit. Kit’s hands rose to his shirt but Luca batted them away impatiently and grabbed the hem. Kit lifted his arms quickly, or else it would tear as Luca pulled it up and threw it on the floor. He pressed a hand into Kit’s chest and Kit lay down obediently. It took Luca barely seconds before Kit was completely naked and he flushed as Luca looked admiringly at him. Luca lay down on his elbow next to him, and gently cupped Kit’s throat with his big hand. No pressure, no threat, but it was clear Kit was completely at Luca’s mercy. His breath caught and Kit could feel the desperate need to be touched flow through his body.

  “Sire,” Kit breathed and watched as the gray in Luca’s eyed deepened nearly to black and his pupils distend.

  Luca licked his lips. “You trust me.” It wasn’t a question, even as Kit caught the faint hint of wonder. More of an acknowledgement.

  “I-I belong to you,” Kit whispered. A tremor seemed to skitter down the length of Kit’s body. Need beat in his heart. Desperation to be...loved? Was that what it was? He had always known his purpose but he hadn’t expected the effect Luca was having on him. In his innocence, he had imagined more a partnership. Friends, hopefully. He had never dreamed they would be lovers beyond the first mating, but having experienced Luca’s touch once it was all he craved.

  Werewolf mating didn’t mean exclusivity. True mates were so rare they were merely whispered about. If the years he had spent crouched in the cupboard listening to his mother and the men and wolves that visited her had taught him anything, it was the hig
her up on the ladder the individual was, the more morals that were abandoned on the climb. It was neither his place nor his expectation to expect fidelity from Luca.

  “What is it?” Kit opened his eyes at the question, not having realized he had closed them. He squirmed restlessly. “What do you need, my little omega?” Luca asked solemnly, his hand leaving Kit’s throat and trailing lower. Kit could barely retain the gasp as Luca’s fingers brushed his nipple. “I think you want my touch?” Luca continued, the slow, deliberate stroke of his hand threatening to drive Kit insane. “I think you need to feel and you need taking out of that pretty head for a while. Just imagine what you want me to do,” he added as his lips descended on Kit’s.

  Kit cried out, a small, sharp, needy sound in the back of his throat. His arms lifted and slid over Luca’s back as he bent down over him. His lips were heaven. Firm, warm. Insistent until Kit obediently opened his and then softened as Luca’s tongue snaked in and touched his own. His pulse beat in his ears, ricocheted down to his groin and his cock pulsed to the same rhythm.

  Kit arched as much as he was able to and moved as Luca’s hand stroked lower. The first touch on his balls was so perfect Kit nearly came then and there. “Hush,” Luca soothed. He had known, but then Kit was so hard. So needy. He ached to have Luca take him. Kit stopped breathing altogether when Luca’s fingers moved underneath him.

  “Luca,” Kit begged, his voice breaking in the desperate, overwhelming need swamping his body.

  “Turn over,” Luca broke off and ordered. Kit hurried to comply, not wanting to waste a second. He lay with his head on his arms, ass up, and was gratified to hear the pleased sound that rumbled out of Luca’s chest. He had three growls that Kit now knew. The angry one where people had better run, the teasing one that seemed to be reserved for him so far, and this one. The desperate, possessive one that he also hoped would be just for him. Luca stretched his arms and smoothed the skin on the back of Kit’s neck, making his hands glide down Kit’s spine and over his ass. Kit gasped as he felt Luca’s thumbs part his cheeks and his fingers slide down his crack to his hole. Kit knew he was wet.

  “You have no idea how this makes me feel.” Luca’s voice was low. Vibrating. Full of heat and longing. “How did I ever get to be this lucky?”

  Kit was sure it was rhetorical, but as Luca’s finger slipped inside, he was incapable of any words anyway. Kit pushed back, silently begging. “Please.”

  “We need to go slow.” Luca’s voice cracked and exultation bloomed in Kit that he had the power to affect Luca so. It made him feel powerful by association, and, as Luca slipped another finger inside and his cock jerked, invincible also.

  “I’m ready,” Kit begged. He would combust if Luca didn’t touch him, didn’t fill him. “Made—”

  “For me. Yes, yes I know.” Luca withdrew his fingers and let out a shallow breath. Kit mourned the loss until he felt something infinitely larger and wider than Luca’s fingers at his entrance. Luca pushed and as Kit gasped, Luca felt underneath and smoothed Kit’s aching cock from tip to balls. Pre-cum jerked from the end, slicking Luca’s fingers. Luca groaned and smothered kisses onto Kit’s back. In one long glide, Kit was filled. The heat, the pressure, the fullness was incredible. Luca withdrew partially and slid back. Kit gave a low, needy cry.

  “Luca,” he moaned. “Please. Please.”

  “Tell me,” Luca commanded, and words spilled from Kit’s lips. Nonsense words. Loving words. Begging, writhing. How perfect Luca made him feel. How beautiful he was. How Kit’s body would always belong to Luca, and how his heart was already there. Kit didn’t stop to think what he was saying. His King had opened the dam and Kit couldn’t close it. He panted, whined. The pleasure in his body, in his mind, unstoppable. Never ending until the pleasure made him delirious and finally at Luca’s shout and the arching of his body everything seemed to explode and shatter. His balls pumped until they were empty and even Luca’s firm fingers couldn’t coax another drop.

  Kit was floating, not even sure his mind was still tethered to his body. It was only the large arms surrounding him and the warm solid chest he was pulled against that anchored him. He felt a kiss on the top of his head where he was tucked under Luca’s chin. Luca’s hands roamed gently. Stroking, petting, alternating gentleness and possession. Like he had the right to Kit’s body.

  Which was true.

  He did.

  But not just that. Luca didn’t just hold Kit’s body in those big hands. He cradled Kit’s very soul.

  Chapter Eight

  Luca had been awake for some time. The problem with Tara had kept him awake most of the night. He knew it was acceptable in their society, but he personally hated the thought of it, even if he couldn’t think of what to do about it. He was glad they could only speak telepathically to one another. If Kit knew what was in his mind he wouldn’t be sleeping as soundly.

  Kit sighed and moved. Luca tightened his arms protectively and looked down to see the blue eyes blinking up at him. He took a deep breath. The only chance he would get to talk without interruption today was now, before anyone was awake. He had to know what Kit thought on it.

  “I have something I need to discuss with you.”

  Kit’s eyes widened to fully awake and he gazed into Luca’s face. “Whatever it is, it’s causing you worry.” Luca swallowed and Kit’s eyes narrowed. “What’s happened? Now you’re worrying me.”

  “I was reminded yesterday of something that hasn’t occurred to me. Not that that’s surprising, as we’ve been a little busy.” He smiled. Kit didn’t.

  “Concerning?”

  Luca blew out a steadying breath, his stomach churning. “Our mating.”

  “You’ve changed your mind?” Tears sprung to Kit’s eyes as he stiffened in alarm.

  “Oh, hell, no,” Luca said fervently. “I know it’s been so fast and we’ve barely had time to breathe let alone get to know each other—”

  Luca’s words were cut off as Kit plastered bruising lips to his own. Luca hugged him fiercely, and immediately dominated the kiss.

  “Then we can survive anything,” Kit proclaimed as he broke off. He gazed into Luca’s eyes. “This is really worrying you, isn’t it? Please tell me.”

  Luca sighed. “Firstly, you must know that I would never do anything to hurt you.”

  Kit didn’t move. Luca knew he was waiting for the but.

  “I have been reminded I need to sire an Alpha.”

  Kit blinked.

  “It has been suggested to me that Tara may be suitable, but she has been approached by one of the Alphas from the cancelled choosing, so if we were to agree, I would need to tell her immediately.” Luca’s words dried up. Kit hadn’t moved, and his face was a complete blank. “To be honest, this isn’t a conversation I ever want us to have, but if we have the opportunity to make it a little more comfortable for you, then...” Kit still didn’t say a word but if he had, Luca was sure the sound of his own pounding heart would drown it out.

  Kit moved slowly out of Luca’s tight hold, as if he were putting distance between them. “I have to be honest,” Kit licked his lips, “when I knew what I was and that we were destined to be mates, fidelity wasn’t something I thought to rely on.”

  Luca winced. It was as if Kit was saying he had no higher expectations of Luca. That he expected to be disappointed, so what did it matter? “I hate that we have to even consider it at all, and even more that we have to talk about it soon.”

  Kit pulled back and Luca let go. “I understand, Sire.”

  Luca felt the draft of cold air. It had been Luca last night. “I—”

  Kit smiled. “If you would excuse me, Sire. I am grubby and need a wash.” He turned and nearly bolted into the bathroom.

  Luca closed his eyes in despair. He heard the lock clicking, and even as he knew Kit must realize it would be no defense against a werewolf, he guessed that really wasn’t the point Kit was trying to make.

  Luca sighed, jumped up, and pulled on his pants. He w
ould go for a run.

  ****

  Kit held his breath until he heard the bedroom door close, and then the first sob wrung from his throat. His shoulders shook. Putting his back to the door, he slid down defeated. Why? Why, when he had been expecting this, did it hurt so much? He wasn’t stupid. He knew Alphas needed heirs, and Tara? She had been kind, gentle with him, and supportive of Luca. She was even an omega herself. They would be lucky an omega would be willing to be a breeder for them when she could have her own Alpha...

  Kit wiped his eyes with his hand. That was it. It wasn’t that she was wrong for them, but that she might be right for Luca. What if Luca decided he preferred her company to his? What if they no longer shared a bed? There was nothing written anywhere that said it had to happen. The bond had already formed. There was nothing stopping Luca from keeping Tara, having babies, and then deciding they were going to stay together. Children needed their mothers.

  He had.

  He stood and quickly washed. He had been so happy for an instant thinking he was going to get everything he had ever hoped for. No, not everything. Much more. He had hoped to bond with Luca. He knew Luca was a good man. He had been near death when they met, and still Luca had wanted to protect him. He had never dreamed that Luca might love him. It would have been too much to hope for. He needed to concentrate on what he had.

  Kit picked up a cloth and toweled himself dry, and quietly let himself out of the bathroom. He saw the small tray at the side of the bed. The coffee was barely warm, but the orange juice slid down his parched throat easily. He drained it quickly and picked at the croissant, wishing he and Luca could have eaten together.

  Kit blinked and the food dried in his mouth. Swallowing quickly, he followed it with a sip of water in a covered jug. The thought of breakfast, something so normal for Luca, had given him pause because he suddenly realized how different his life was going to be. He had never eaten breakfast, just served it. He glanced around the large room that in two years he had never been inside. He knew the layout of the kitchens in the pack house but he had never been on this floor and had no idea it was so...he didn’t want to call it luxury, it wasn’t his idea of luxury. The size of the bedroom, even though the bed had been soft, was a slap in the face to the kitchen boys who would be huddled together on the stone floors of the cellar, scratchy straw all that was between them and the hard floor. It seemed wrong to enjoy it. Maybe he could talk to Luca. Luca had been very fair yesterday.