Heart of the Warrior (15 page)

"Tell me."

"You. I was thinking about you."

"Oh yeah?" Sev felt like he was melting into the
couch as Ari’s hand wrapped around his cock and slowly stroked him.

"Uh-huh." Ari’s lips closed on his neck and
sucked.

"Unh. God, that feels good." Sev’s head swiveled
to the side. "What exactly did you think about?"

With a pop, Ari’s mouth released his throat and his tongue
lapped over the love bite he'd just given him.

"I thought about us six weeks ago, in the kitchen. I
thought about kissing you." Ari licked him again and trailed his tongue to
the other side of his neck. Sev sighed and rolled his head in the opposite
direction. "I thought about what might have happened if I'd asked you to
stay. I imagined your hand on my cock, stroking me."

He found Ari’s erection. It had peeked out through the
separation of fabric in his boxers. He swirled his palm lightly over the head,
then closed his thumb and fingers around him for a few good strokes.

"Mmm, yes, I imagined you stroking me just like that,
Sev."

"What else did you imagine?" Sev turned his head
into Ari’s neck and lightly bit him, making him purr again.

"That you did stay the night with me six weeks
ago." Ari's lips brushed over his ear seductively as he whispered with
erotic heat. "That I bent you over the kitchen counter and fucked
you."

It was Sev’s turn to purr, along with shiver, followed with
a shot of growl.

"Fuuuuck."

"Can you see why I was so into kissing her?" Ari
said, grinding into Sev's hand.

"I thought you wanted her."

Ari shook his head and scratched his fangs against Sev’s
skin. "No, I wanted you. I want you now. I want you tomorrow. Fuck, I want
you forever, Sev."

Mates. Is Ari aware of what he's saying?

He could hardly contain himself and reached around with both
hands and gripped Ari’s ass. With a harsh yank, he pulled Ari further up his
lap so their cocks pressed together. Ari quickly adjusted his grip and wrapped
his hand around both of their hard-ons.

"What are you saying, Ari?"

Ari brought his mouth to Sev’s but didn’t kiss him. Nose-to-nose,
mouth-to-mouth, he searched Sev’s eyes as they breathed each other’s air.

"I don’t just want you to be my first, Sev. I want you
to be my last. My only."

He feels it, but he doesn't realize it, does he? Give it
time.

Sev stared back into Ari’s topaz eyes and found sincerity,
honesty, and trust. Ari was serious. Perhaps he was oblivious to the developing
bond between them, but it was clear Ari felt it even if he didn’t recognize it
for what it was.

Sev already knew he was head over heels in love with Ari, so
nothing would please him more than for the two of them to be together. As in,
together.

"I want that, too. I knew within a week of meeting you
that I wanted this." He pumped his hips in time with Ari’s hand as he
masturbated them both.

Sev knew they had a lot to work out together. Ari was
dealing with heavy shit. Io and his parents were huge influences on his life,
and he was only just now growing the wings to take off on his own path. Sooner
or later, Ari would have to come out to his family, Io, and everyone else if a
relationship with him was to work. But he seemed to be on the right path to
make that happen.

"It won’t be easy, you know," Sev said.

"I know, but I want this. With you. I want you."

Ari’s chest pumped hard against his.

"It feels good, doesn’t it? Opening up like this?
Knowing who you are?" Sev had never worried about hiding who he was. His
mother had known early on, and he never purposely tried to keep his
homosexuality a secret. He didn’t simply volunteer the information, but if it came
out, so what?

"
You
feel good." Ari’s free hand ranged up
Sev’s chest.

He was fast-approaching the breaking point. His cock felt
good nestled against Ari’s, his hand massaging them both. Up. Down. Up. Down.

"Kiss me, Ari. God, kiss me."

Ari’s mouth plastered over Sev’s and his tongue plunged deep
to wrestle with his. Fuck. So good. Ari felt so good. He was close. His scrotum
tightened, his spine tingled, his chest heaved for breath as Ari claimed him.
His imminent orgasm reared up.

With an assertive growl, Sev gripped the back of Ari’s
boxers and pulled. The back seam ripped open and Ari groaned against his mouth,
knowing what Sev wanted, wanting the same thing.

Without breaking their deep lip-lock, Sev pulled Ari up and
parted his ass cheeks as Ari rose on his knees and positioned the head of Sev’s
cock at his puckered entrance. As he sank down on him, Sev shoved his hips up.
They met in the middle, each grunting against the other's mouth.

Thrust-thrust-thrust
then shuddering bliss.

Just that quickly, Sev exploded inside Ari just as Ari’s
body stiffened and trembled. Hot spurts of semen shot out over Sev's stomach,
and he pulled his mate down so he could share the offering with him, rubbing
his stomach up against Ari until they were both coated with his erotic
fragrance.

Only then did Ari finally release his mouth as the two
gasped for breath. "Oh my God, wow."

"Mmm." Sev rolled Ari's nipples between his thumbs
and forefingers, grinning with contentment as his receding orgasm continued
thrumming through his muscles. "We're good together, aren't we?"

Ari’s body shivered again and he squeezed his eyes shut
through another grunt as one last spasm emptied his cock. Sev felt the tiny
convulsion through the wall of Ari’s rectum.

"I take that as a yes," Sev said.

"Yes, fuck, yes." Ari collapsed against him.
"What have I been missing all these years? Is it always this good?"

Sev wrapped his arms around Ari. "Usually. As long as
you’re with the right partner, anyway."

"Don’t ever leave me then. God, I think I’d die if you
did."

Yes, you would, my mate.

"I know I would." For Sev, the connection forming
through the mating link was already strong enough that if Ari walked away, it
would kill him. He knew it would. A lot of males couldn’t survive the loss of a
mate, and Sev knew he would be one of those statistics if he lost Ari. God, he
hoped Ari acknowledged his side of the mating bond before it was too late.

"Huh?" Ari said.

"Nothing, babe. Just let me hold you."

The two embraced on the couch, letting their bodies calm down
from another set of intense orgasms. Eventually, they would get up and go back
to bed, but right now, this was fine. This was perfect.

Three hours before sunrise, Lakota Bannon pulled into
Chicago. He was a day early, but he had made unexpectedly good time during the
night. After stopping at a gas station to fill up, stretch his long legs, and
buy a bottle of water – he didn’t drink alcohol, anymore, whether he was
driving or not – Lakota got back in his Suburban and checked his GPS. He was
only a few miles away from Felice’s house.

He was nervous. In truth, he was shocked Felice had finally
agreed to see him. It had been centuries since he'd – he didn't want to think
about what he'd done. He dropped his head in shame, the guilt nearly
overwhelming him. She was a better person than he was, dreck or not, because he
didn’t deserve a second chance. He didn’t deserve her kindness.

With a fortifying, deep breath, Lakota brushed back his
pale, shoulder-length hair and put the Suburban in gear. After pulling out onto
the street, he checked his GPS again and followed the directions toward Grant
Park until he slowed in front of a row of quaint, brick townhouses on East
Benton. He ticked off the house numbers until he stopped in front of the one
where Felice lived.

Sitting in his Suburban, staring at the cozy home, Lakota
trembled with shame and fear. How ironic that a male as tough and strong as he
was would be reduced to a quivering wuss over a decision as simple as whether
or not he should ring her doorbell. He checked his watch and huffed. Shit. It
was too late and he needed to get to his hotel. She was probably asleep,
anyway.

Yeah, yeah, you’re just making excuses, you big chicken.

He heard clucking, squawking chicken noises in his mind as
he put the Suburban in gear.
That's right, bwaaaak, bwak, bwak, bwak. I'm a
chicken. So what?

After circling Lake Shore East Park, he pulled out on
Wacker, drove down to Wabash, crossed the bridge, and arrived at the Trump
Hotel.

Everything he owned was in the Suburban. He had sold or
donated everything else so he could start over fresh here in Chicago, near his
daughter. The fact that his firstborn son, Severin, also lived here was simply
a bonus. One way or another, he would atone for his sins and make things right.
He had already missed too much of Severin’s life.

After parking in the Trump garage, Lakota grabbed his
overnight bag and suitcase, locked up the Suburban, and headed inside to check
in. Tomorrow night, he would have no excuses. He would meet Felice as planned,
take any shots she hit him with, and begin forging his new life.

Gina entered the hotel after getting back from pulling recon
on AKM and walked up to the desk.

"Good morning." The attendant smiled warmly at her.

Yes, it was morning, wasn't it? Gina was ready to settle
down to sleep after a meal and a relaxing bath. "Good morning. Could I
place an order for room service?"

"Certainly. Do you need a menu?"

"Yes, please."

The desk attendant handed her a menu, and while she
considered her options, a tall man with shoulders as wide as the state of
Illinois stepped up beside her and plopped his suitcase on the floor.

"May I help you?" The clerk stepped over to him.

"Reservation for Lakota Bannon."

Gina’s ears pricked up. Bannon? That was Severin’s last
name. Without wanting to appear like she was being nosy, she casually glanced
up at him and grinned as he looked over and caught her eye. The eyes were
bluer, and the hair was a lighter shade of blond and shorter, but other than a
few differences in their features, Lakota could have been Severin’s brother, or
his father. With vampires, it was hard to tell.

"Morning," he said to her.

"Morning." She looked back down at the menu while
the clerk processed Lakota’s reservation. Did she really have one of Severin's
relatives standing next to her? Could she have fallen under a luckier star? The
name was right, and he sure looked like Severin. This was just too much of a
coincidence. Maybe getting close to Severin would be easier than she thought if
she could find a way to use this to her advantage.

Suddenly, she realized he was looking over her shoulder, and
she glanced up at him again. He really was a striking male. Perhaps she could
mix a little business with pleasure, get close to him, and use him to get close
enough to Severin to kill him. It was worth a shot.

"Oh, sorry. I was just taking a peek." His voice
was deep and resonant, full of power. "My name is Lakota." He smiled
at her.

"Gina." She tilted her head in greeting. "Are
you hungry?" She flashed the menu at him.

"Yes. I’ve been driving all night. Us night owls,
huh?" He gave her a look that made it clear he knew she was a vampire,
too.

The attendant addressed Lakota, "Would you like to
order room service as well, sir?"

He looked away from her and nodded once at the attendant.
"Yes, I think I would."

The attendant handed him a menu.

"What brings you to Chicago at such an odd hour?"
she said.

Lakota's gaze browsed over the selections. "Family.
You?"

Oh, I'm just here for a little assassination. No biggie.

"I'm on vacation." The lie came easily, but it
wasn't like she could just come right out and say that she was here to kill
someone – most likely his son or brother.

They continued looking at their menus in silence, but she could
tell Lakota was intrigued. She looked up at the desk clerk. "I think I'm
ready to order."

He stood at his computer. "Certainly. Go ahead."

"Yes, I’d like the red eye –"

"With or without the egg?"

"With, please."

He tapped his fingers over the keyboard.

"And I’ll also take the Wimbledon strawberry bowl, with
cream, as well as the Mexican breakfast, no shot."

Lakota made a sound of approval. "You have a healthy
appetite."

"I’m a growing girl." She tossed him a come hither
look.

He cleared his throat. "If you don’t mind my saying,
you already look all grown up." His eyes darted away almost shyly, or
maybe that was guilt in his expression. Either way, she found both responses
odd for such a big male.

"That I am, Mr. Bannon." She handed her menu back
to the attendant and confirmed her room number when he asked for it then turned
toward Lakota. "Well, you have a nice day. Enjoy your breakfast. Maybe
we'll see each other again."

"That would be nice," he said.

She made sure he was watching her before she sashayed toward
the elevators. As the doors opened, she glanced back to find his gaze still on
her. She smiled then stepped into the elevator.

Gotcha.

"Open your eyes, Ari." Sev's strained voice caught
Ari by the balls.

Shit, he had closed his eyes again. Habit. Damn. He snapped
them open and caught Sev's gaze as he thrust into him, taking him hard. Again.

"That's better. Yes. I love your eyes." Sev
wrapped his arms around Ari's back as they rocked the mattress and banged the
headboard against the wall. "I love when you watch me."

And Ari loved watching Sev. He was beautiful during sex.
Sexy. A male worthy of the gods, as far as Ari was concerned.