A Royal Craving (15 page)

W
hen the sun fell and the house came alive for another night, Spencer bustled around the library, reorganising the entire collection of books from scratch.

Prosper sat on the sofa, with some household paperwork. He watched, fascinated and distracted, while Spencer pulled each book from the library. He guessed that his stubborn boy would not quit until he fixed the situation. Even if that meant staying awake night and day, until he passed out from exhaustion.

Prosper kept one eye on his lover and one eye on his task, to ensure that did not happen. “What exactly are you doing?” he wondered, an hour later, as he caught his companion watching him.

The thought painfully reminded Prosper that he had not the opportunity to spend more time learning sign language. With this treaty approaching, they were limited on time.

“I am organising them alphabetically, by author, as I take them from the shelf,” Spencer answered, his voice muffled by the pen held between his teeth. He wrote a list of which authors he came across and where their piles were situated throughout the room, as he had already explained.

There were multiple towers of books mounting up around Prosper, barricading him in. The King cast his eye around the towers and the still half full bookcase. He wondered where on Earth Spencer would put the rest of the books, when he removed them from the shelves. The towers could not possible allow leg room to move between them, when he attempted to put them back.

“I could use assistance, but neither I nor the staff have seen Davian or your brother since my discussion with them,” Spencer admitted, offering a meaningful look over the book he held. He returned his attention to the bookcase, looking pleased, as he marked off another new author on his list.

Prosper did not want to offer disappointment, but worried that both men were hiding, because they had not moved forward in their relationship. He would not know the truth until he saw his brother in person.

“And no, I do not need your help,” Spencer informed him, over his shoulder. “You have paperwork to do. If I get in trouble, I shall borrow Jael from your sister,” he explained, answering Prosper's unspoken offer of assistance.

Uncertain how he did it, Prosper enjoyed knowing that some conversations remained unnecessary. Sometimes words could not express what actions could.

He reached over the side of the sofa and switched on the gramophone. He adjusted the volume and turned the needle to a tune with a beat.

Spencer laughed as a nearby towel of books wobbled.

Prosper would have apologised if not for the way his lover kicked off his shoes. He stood still, in his bare feet, eyes closed, trying to catch the rhythm.

“Is it not a bit loud for Parry?” he shouted.

“Parry is a closet fan of Jazz. I am sure he will appreciate being included.” He chuckled, as Spencer began swaying to the beat and lifted books from the shelves.

Seeing him happy sent warmth through Prosper that he had not felt since childhood. He would never get over the joy his companion took from ordinary concepts, or that a past of poverty, solitude and ignorance had deprived Spencer of the simplest pleasures in life.

P
arry lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling as he waited for Davian to return. Their night together had been indescribable. He had never thought that he would feel so many positive emotions in one night. He had rocketed through apprehension and exploded in ecstasy that extended beyond words.

He smiled, as a Jazz beat filled the room. His suite lay far enough from the library that he did not normally hear the music Prosper indulged in. He guessed the increased volume catered to Spencer.

He liked that his twin loved Spencer. He liked the prickling of his senses that said Prosper knew he could hear and share the joy.

He could not tell if it was because Prosper had found his life mate in Spencer, because they were twins, or because Parry had accepted Davian as his life mate. Whichever, something had changed. Their twin connection had been unmistakably magnified into something wonderful.

If it was not for his promise to share the night with his human, that they could know each other as life mates should, Parry might have joined them. But he did not bother.

He did not know where Davian had gone, but his lover had insisted he had a task to carry out, the moment he awoke. He swore not to do chores and that he would not see Sienna.

Deciding he could do something for his life mate, Parry swung his legs off the side of the bed and picked up the phone receiver.

He dialled out to the number he wanted and made his call. “Yes, I would like to enquire about your services and discuss a suitable time frame for completion of the work,” he began.

Once he had concluded his business, Parry sank onto the bed, deflated. He did not enjoy being far from his lover, now that Davian had finally given in to their attraction. It felt lonely.

Still, his foot tapped to the beat.

Perhaps he was not entirely alone, after all.

When Davian still had not appeared ten minutes later, Parry went looking for him. He caught his lover packing, when he entered Davian's room in the servant's quarters.

The sight shot a hole through his heart and he could not breathe. Once he had control, he shut the door and barricaded them in the minuscule room. It looked more like a closet than a bedroom and he wondered how his human lived in such confines.

“You swore you would not run from me again,” Parry recalled.

Davian whirled to face him, with a ratty old sack in one hand and a book in the other.

Parry raised an eyebrow and grabbed the book, before he could attempt to hide it.

From what he knew, Davian had never read a book before. Yet, when Parry thought back to that memory, he was corrected.
Spencer
had never read a book, while Davian professed ignorance of those in the library.

Parry turned over the leather bound book and watched his human swallow. Taking the book, not only his favourite novel but one the lad had read to him just a few nights ago, caused a curious movement.

Davian tried to push something behind him, as though he would not notice.

Utilizing his speed and furious that his life mate had attempted to leave him, Parry grabbed the item from the bed and pushed Davian against the closed door.

“I can explain,” Davian muttered, as Parry pushed his shoulder into the wooden barricade, holding him in place.

He lifted the item and immediately released his lover in shock. The item his human tried to hide was none other than his own shirt, that he had discarded two weeks ago, after a human guest had spilled wine over the silk.

“What.” He stalled, not sure which question to ask first.

Davian blinked rapidly again, and Parry finally understood why. He was panicking and ready to cry. “I did not think you would be angry with me. I would have returned it,” he professed, in a hurry.

Tentatively, he reached for the shirt and Parry released it.

Davian held it to his stomach with both hands, as though afraid to let go but afraid to look at it. “The Mistress sent word to my quarters that I should serve no other or face her punishment. I found the message, when I arrived here to pack,” he began, while staring with wide eyes that pleaded with Parry to understand. “I could not bear it. This shirt became a comfort to me, even before that awful news,” he explained, utterly distraught.

Parry watched his lover closely, recalling the passion and heat that had been in his eyes last night. The look there now could not be any different; fear, shame and tears that had not yet fallen. “I do not understand,” he confessed, stunned that his mind reached one conclusion.

“Knowing the Mistress had tried to keep us apart, this allowed me to keep a piece of you close,” his human stated, gesturing to the shirt in his hands. “I am ashamed to say that it has accompanied me to bed every night since you discarded it. It still holds your scent and I find that I fall into pleasant dreams and wake happily when it is close,” he said, staring at the floor as he confessed.

“Yet, now you have me to yourself, you wish to leave me?” Parry questioned, unable to make sense of his thoughts.

“No!” Davian shouted, then moderated his tone. “No. Never.” He threw the shirt onto the bed and cupped Parry's face. “I am packing to be
with
you. You said I am your life mate and that we will start a life together…that is why I pack. That I may give formal notice to the Mistress.” He explained his actions, as if the act would encourage him to be kind and gentle in his anger.

But Parry felt no anger. “You are…” He cleared his throat, finding the words stuck behind a lump of unfamiliar emotion. “You are seeking to leave employment within this house, so you may be with me?” he asked, to make sure he had not imagined the last few moments.

“Is that not what you wished?” Davian asked, letting go of his face to back away.

Parry dropped the book onto the bed and caught Davian's wrists, before he could think badly of the misunderstanding. “Yes, but…Davian, do these belongings mean anything to you?” he asked, looking at the bed, buried beneath a gathering of clothes at one end.

“The book and this, yes,” he answered, gesturing to the shirt.

“But nothing else?”

“They are not fitting for your company, I know,” Davian confessed, lowering his gaze in embarrassment.

Parry could not have stopped himself had he wanted to. He pulled his lover forward and kissed Davian's beautiful mouth, before he could speak any more ridiculous words.

His human surrendered instantly, with the same passion of last evening.

Parry broke the kiss only reluctantly. “I do not care what is fitting. But you have come from nothing and I was born with everything but the one I desire most. You have given yourself to me and now I wish to give back to you.” He reassured Davian that they would not debate this. “Let me provide for you, as Prosper has provided for Spencer. It is not charity, but love,” he insisted.

“If that would please you.” Davian nodded, with a hesitant smile.

“It would. Greatly.” Parry swore to it and confessed his relief. “I feared you were leaving me. You must swear you never will; I will not survive it,” he warned.

“I will promise never to leave, if you make the same vow,” Davian ventured, grasping the front of his shirt.

“Why would I ever leave you? You are my life mate.”

“And you are mine. Though I am human, it does not lessen the strength of my love for you,” he said.

And there, Parry finally understood.

“No. I will have to learn that humans are capable of more than I have given you credit for,” Parry agreed, caressing his lover's cheek.

“We are not all wonderful,” Davian corrected him, cheekily.

“No, darling. Only you,” he promised.

“And Spencer.”

“Yes. And that incredible boy who forced my hand.” He chuckled, pleased to see the tender, teasing side of his lover back again. He enjoyed seeing Davian happy.

“I love you,” Parry said, as they lay on Davian's bed together, while staring into his lover's captivating eyes. “I want you to be mine forever,” he told him.

Davian had dreamed of hearing those words and could not control his reaction. He kissed Parry, in relief of finally hearing those important three words.

Arms wrapped around him and a mouth brushed his in a kiss.

“I do not want any regrets. If you do not want me for the rest of
my
eternity, then we should not be together,” Parry explained, desperate to know his thoughts.

“It may not seem so to you, but giving up my job means the same. I only want to be with you if it is forever,” his human clarified, in amusement.

Parry managed to smile. He did not consider Davian's decision to leave his employment enough of a commitment, but reason told him he was wrong. His lover had willingly left a permanent position, that paid well, to be with him. Such jobs were not easily found in the world.

“But, in case you need to hear the words,” Davian said, with a smile. “then yes…I am yours, Parry. I want you to myself. I do not want to be your servant or your friend,” he confessed, surprising him.

“Why did you think I wanted anything less?”

Davian blushed. “I did not. But I have spent too long not speaking my mind. I never wish to leave anything unsaid again.” He shrugged. “You are the only one I have ever felt this for and I feared I could never walk away. I would never endure life, if you were not in it,” he confessed, never tearing his gaze away.

“I am glad.” Parry could not have stopped the admission if he had tried. He kissed his lover lingeringly. “Once a vampire has made love to someone…and I mean true feelings, not lust…” he clarified, “then it is impossible to make them stop, short of killing the one they feel for. A vampire exists only to find the one who will mean everything to them. A life mate. The one human or vampire that completes their soul,” he explained.

“Their love is unconditional – insurmountable — indestructible,” Parry confessed. “It is hard for a vampire to accept the discovery of their life mate, when they never believed.
I
never believed. Yet, here you are,” he elaborated.

“Now you are mine?” Davian asked, with a hint of uncertainty.

“Yes. To love you, to make love to you, to turn you, to feed you. I am your everything as you are mine.” Parry belonged to his human as fiercely as Spencer had always belonged to Prosper. No one could fight a vampire life mate connection and they would been stupid to try.

“Is that why you told Sienna never to feed from me?” his lover asked.

“Yes.” Parry nodded and kissed his tender lips. “It is why I rearranged the library. I wanted to know where you would be at all hours, so I could court you.”

Davian was his now, and there would be no more secrets.

“I know,” he confessed.

“I love you, Davian,” Parry professed.

“Yes.” His human let out a deep sigh. “I love you, too,” Davian returned the sentiment, never taking his eyes off him.

With their secrets revealed, they settled into a comfortable rhythm of lying together, sharing the occasional kiss, while talking over their misunderstandings.

When they were ready to leave, Parry used his speed to help Davian pack. His human did not know what he wished to keep and what could be discarded, but he would sort through them in Parry's room.

Back in his own suite, Parry let out a sigh of relief for the larger room and breathable air. He would speak with Prosper about the deplorable state of his human's old room. He could not imagine their servants living in such cold, dank quarters and his brother being aware of it.

Parry flopped onto the divan by the window and watched Davian. His lover emptied his silly human belongings onto the floor and sat cross-legged, to sort through them.

“I think we should tell my brother we are life mates, if you are comfortable with that?” he suggested, trying to take his mind off his human's pink lips. He unconsciously licked his own, as he tried to push Davian's from his mind. Looking away would be a start, so he glanced out the window, surprisingly nervous.

“Do I frighten you, Parry?” Davian asked, knowingly.

Parry did not say anything, but the refusal to meet Davian's gaze gave away his thoughts.

“Well, that is a turn up for the books. I make you nervous.” His lover laughed, giddily. “Is it because you do not want to share me with anyone and are trying to do right? Or is it because I am no longer afraid of how I feel?” he asked.

Parry hated the teasing, but could not avoid the issue forever. He turned to look his lover in the eye. “I do not want to share you. But I am frightened that you are unafraid,” he confessed, reaching up and cupping Davian's cheek. “I know it is not terrible, but I do not want to find you are not the Davian I longed for,” he admitted to his true fear. In accepting his feelings, Davian would no longer be the delicate human Parry had fallen in love with.

“I am. I promise.” Davian held Parry's hand to his face. “I am still the same. Only now, I can be with you openly. It was my irrational fear of being another servant or slave to your whims that I feared,” he explained. “Spencer's promise, that you could love me as I love you, convinced me to risk taking what I wanted,” he confessed, promising everything had changed.

“You were never a servant in my eyes,” Parry returned the promise with one of his own.

Davian met his gaze with a look of joy and relief, his neck beginning to go red in that same, sweet way that it always did when complimented.

“Some matters have not changed. You are still delicious.” He approved of the sweetness in his human and how it made him hungry.

His human chuckled and placed a kiss on the flesh of Parry's thumb. Davian stared deeply into his eyes, until a faint frown marred his brow that the Prince did not know what to make of it.

“You have been lost without me. Did I really give you no hope?” he asked, with a light sigh.

Parry could do nothing but admit the truth. He nodded and pulled Davian into his arms, to hold him tight. He would never get accustomed to feeling this strongly. He felt such an overload of unfamiliar sensations that it frightened him. But at least they would have time to bond and contain his emotions this night, before he must share his life mate with the house.

“I feared you kept your distance because you hated me,” Parry whispered.

“No, Parry. I kept my distance because I love you. Because you cannot fight a life mate bond and that terrified me,” Davian promised that he was not alone in his fear. He held on a moment longer, giving Parry the reassurance he needed before letting go. “Kiss me and then do not distract me until my task is complete. We shall tell Spencer and the…
Prosper
we are life mates tomorrow evening,” he ordered, with enough authority that it made him smile.

“Yes, darling.” Parry kissed him quickly and watched him throw out his past life, in preparation to accept the new.

To hear him stop and use Prosper's name, instead of calling him Master or the King, brought Parry joy. It eased his mind and reassured him that Davian could love him openly.