The Royal Flush (Knights of the Darkness Chronicles(Book Three)) (16 page)

“Exactly, so let us not waste
that
time panicking. We have to focus on our strategy. By the way, when Xander contacts us about these two S.U.I.T. officers, we’ll have a better idea of what we’ll need to do,” Darian stated.

Xavier nodded in agreement.

“I understand now. By the way, what did you say to Tony?” Natasha asked, knowing full well that she was being intrusive.

“I told him that we would find Gary for him, not to worry. I also told him to go to the club, I want him to keep an eye out for the two Gary left with,” Darian said.

“Oh. I know, I… was being nosy.”

“I didn’t say anything,” Darian said.

“No, but you were thinking it.”

“No I wasn’t, I had other thoughts on my mind, actually.” Darian sat on the bed close to Natasha.

“I hope you weren’t thinking about that, I am so
not
in the mood,” Natasha said as she shook her head.

“No, of course I wasn’t thinking
that
,” Darian lied. “I just thought you might like a massage, I can see that you’re tense.”

Xavier chuckled softly to himself as he looked at the both of them. Darian tossed him a look as if to say;,“You better not give me away.” Xavier winked.

Natasha watched both men.

“Okay, what’s going on? I’m feeling completely left out.” She looked at Darian. “And don’t think that you pulled a fast one on me either, I know that your mind was completely on sex as it is most of your waking hours and giving me a massage was something you just said to save your own ass.”

Darian laughed. “All right, you win. But would you like me to give you that massage?” His Greek-accented voice was as smooth as silk and twice as alluring.

“Oh, you’re good. Yes, please.” Natasha removed her shirt and bra, laying them on the night stand.

Darian smiled as he slid over on the bed so that she could lie down on her stomach. Xavier handed him a bottle of oil from the night stand drawer and he applied the oil evenly over Natasha’s back, rubbing it in gently as he massaged her aching and tense muscles.

“Ooohh, that feels wonderful,” she moaned.

“I’m glad you are enjoying this,” Darian said.

“If the two of you don’t mind, I want to go to that club Gary mentioned to Tony. If the people who kidnapped Gary actually took him to that club, someone there may have seen something. I want to go check it out,” Xavier said as he reached for his car keys.

“I think that’s a good idea, call me immediately if you discover anything new,” Darian said.

“Be careful, Xavier.” Natasha looked at him as he stood in the doorway.

“Don’t worry, I will,” Xavier promised as he turned to leave.

Darian continued to massage Natasha, feeling her muscles relax. She closed her eyes, relishing the sensation of his strong hands over her soft skin.

“I don’t want to sleep alone,” Natasha mumbled as she yawned.

“And you won’t have to, I’ll be here with you,” Darian whispered softly into her ear.

“Thank you.” Natasha could no longer stay awake, she slowly drifted off to sleep and Darian laid down beside her, pulling her into his arms.

He looked down at her slumbering form and smiled. She was so fragile to him, so beautiful and innocent in so many ways. In the time that he’d known her, she’d never ceased to amaze him. He understood, without a shadow of a doubt why Xavier fell in love with her. He understood because, he had fallen in love with her as well. He relaxed his own body as he lay next to her, brushing the stray strands of her hair from her face. He thought about the night before when they had made love and how he felt, content. He felt that way with only two other people in his entire life. His Maker and Xavier.

He forced himself out of his revere and began concentrating on their current situation and what decisions would have to be made depending on the information they received. He didn’t like what he had heard thus far and he believed that it would probably get worse. Nonetheless, he would be ready for whatever was to come.

Chapter Seven

T
he telephone rang just as Warren walked back into the house, morning newspaper in hand. He answered on the fourth ring. “Hello?”

“Hello, Warren, have you located the two officers?” Xander asked.

“I was just about to call you. Those two officers were on the S.U.I.T. covert Infiltration Team, but recently, they were transferred to my department, the Investigation Unit. Are you sure this source said they were involved?” Warren asked, still shocked by the information. “I mean, these guys are top notch, they’ve been here since the beginning?”

“That is what I was told. I’m asking you to set aside your personal feeling towards these two officers and watch them, see where they go, find out what they might know. If there is a plan to hunt supernaturals, I don’t want to waste a moment's time. We need to move quickly if we are to save Nicole and the others,” Xander stated.

“I know, I know, I just can’t believe they were mentioned as being involved in this. I’ll do what I can from my end.”

“Good, I’ll have Adrian trail them as well.”

“Okay, I’ll call you if I find out anything new or just to check in.” Warren closed his cell phone.

“Was that your father, um… I mean Alpha?” Matthew asked. He handed Warren a mug filled to the brim with ginseng tea.

Warren took the mug, smelling its contents, his nose wrinkled, but he sipped the tea.

“Yeah,” he said after swallowing. “They want us to keep tabs on Ryan Davidson and Jesse Foster, it’s suspected they might know something about what’s going on or even be in on this.”

“Shit, are you sure? I mean Ryan and J are two of the S.U.I.T.’s best.” Matthew asked surprised.

“I know, I know... but that isn’t going to stop me from checking them out. I just hope it doesn’t turn out to be true,” Warren said as he slouched against the sofa, physically and mentally exhausted.

Matthew sat next to him, gazing at his troubled expression and frowned. “Warren, you haven’t slept in two days. I know you’re exhausted, you have to be. I’d be dead on my feet by now. In fact, I think I am.”

Warren nodded slowly as he stared forward as if in a daze.

“Look, why don’t you try and get some rest, I’ll check out the boys, see what’s up,” Matthew suggested.

Warren came to himself unexpectedly as if rising out of deep concentration, he looked at Matthew blankly then the meaning of his words soaked in. He shook his head.

“No, no, I can’t involve you in this. This is our problem, I don’t want anything to happen to you. I’d never forgive myself.”

“Look, I’m a big boy. I can take care of myself. Besides, we’re partners and to me, that honor doesn’t end when our shift is over,” Matthew said sincerely.

Warren studied him, his words were hitting home, making him love and respect his partner even more.

“You really believe that, don’t you?” he asked tenderly.

Matthew nodded. “You know that I do. I hate seeing you so stressed out.” He laid a hand gently on Warren’s knee. “If I can help, please let me help you.”

Warren leaned forward and placed the teacup on the wooden coffee table. Sitting back against the cushions of the sofa, he continued to gaze at Matthew as if he were waiting for some significant change to take place at any second, when Matthew remained silent, he grinned. “Okay, but we work together, got that? I’m just going to do a little eavesdropping on those two. I don’t want you doing anything without me, do we have a deal?”

Matthew nodded in agreement. “Well, I suppose we’ll be going into work a little earlier today.” He attempted to rise from the sofa, but Warren’s hand darted out, catching him by the wrist. He turned, looking at him.

“What?” he asked curiously, but with a hint of anticipation.

“Matt, sit down, we need to talk.” Warren watched Matthew closely as the other man settle b
ack into the cushions of the sofa.

“About what?” Matthew asked innocently.

“About us. We’ve known each other for like

”

“Ever.”

“Yeah, it sure feels that way. We’ve really been through some heavy shit together and you’ve really been there for me at every
turn.”

“Well, yeah, Warren, we’re partners… we’re supposed to be there for each other.”

“Matthew, you’ve meant more to me than just a partner. I think we’ve passed the whole buddy-cop phase years ago. There’s something deeper between us. It’s profound and undeniable… at least, I can no longer deny what I’ve been feeling. I know you’ve been feeling it, too, have been for a long time.”

“What are you saying?” Matthew asked as he stared into Warren’s beautiful gray eyes.

They were finally having the conversation that he had fantasized about for the last few years. He only hoped that it ended the way that it always did in his fantasies.

Warren cleared his throat as he shifted his position on the sofa. “I’m saying that I love you. I’ve been in love with you for some time now. I haven’t acted on my feelings because I wasn’t so sure if taking that chance was the right thing to do. We’re great partners and friends, that doesn’t always mean we’ll make great lovers.”

“Doesn’t mean we won’t.”

“That’s true. Another thing that’s held me back is I’ve never been in a relationship with a human before. Also, I felt that you weren’t really ready to accept me as your lover.”

“What made you feel that way?” Matthew asked, wondering what could he have possibly done to make Warren fear such intimacy with him.

“You didn’t question me about my nature. Once you found out about what I was, it seemed as though you wanted to stay in the safe zone.”

“Ahh, that’s true. I do have to share some fault in that. But you have to consider the way I found out, Warren. You didn’t trust me enough to tell me on your own. A wall did go up between us that day, but I’ve worked very hard breaking it down,” Matthew said, moving closer to his partner.

“I know you have. When you started asking me about my nature, I knew then you were accepting me. The fear of rejection I had started to waver.”

Matthew chuckled. “You thought I’d reject you?”

Warren nodded. “I mean if I were to tell you I was in love with you and wanted you, and you said ‘no’, that would just make our partnership awkward.” He laughed nervously, hoping he didn’t just accomplish that very thing.

Matthew could no longer contain the smile that was now spreading across his face.

“This is going to make you laugh, or maybe not. But I’ve had the same feelings, too. I’ve never dated a shape-shifter before. But that’s why I wanted to learn as much about your world as I could. Because I wanted to become a part of it, I want to be with you. I was afraid to be the first to make the move because I thought
you’d
reject
me
.”

Warren did laugh. “Aren’t we two idiots?”

“Well, we certainly haven’t been smart about this, that’s for sure,” Matthew agreed.

Warren grew serious as he inched closer to Matthew. “Are you sure?”

Matthew nodded as he moved even closer to Warren so that their thighs were touching. “What about Adrian?”

“Adrian and I should have never been. I believe we are better as friends than we will ever be as lovers. I’ll tell him tonight. It’ll be something he’ll have to get over,” Warren said, finally m
aking up his mind to end his relationship with Adrian once and for all as for the past few months, they were growing more at odds with each other. It was time to move on.

“This seems sudden, I mean

” Matthew could no longer hide his mounting desire no mor
e than he could hide the growing bulge in his crotch.

“Matthew, this isn’t a decision I made five minutes ago. This is something I’ve been thinking about for a while now. I want to be with you, too.”

Matthew smiled. “I just wanted to make sure.”

Slowly, he reached up, taking Warren by the back of his neck and drawing their heads nearer until their lips were almost touching.

“God, I’ve wanted you for so long!” he panted as his soft full-shaped lips pressed passionately against Warren’s.

Warren's arms encircled Matthew, bringing him closer. Matthew broke their kiss and slowly began planting gentle kisses along Warren’s neck, his fingers worked on the buttons of Warren’s white shirt, unbuttoning each one then sliding the shirt off his lover’s broad shoulders. Hungrily, his lips suckled Warren’s pink nipples, teasing the sensitive flesh with his tongue and teeth. Warren’s nipples grew hard in Matthew’s mouth as his lover’s soft, wet tongue flicked over their tips. Matthew tortured one nipple then the other until Warren was squirming beneath him. Satisfied with his response, he trailed his tongue over Warren’s firm, muscular torso going lower, dipping playfully into his navel.

“That feels so good,” Warren moaned and panted as he rested his head on the back of the sofa, relishing the sensation of Matthew’s wet tongue flickering over his flesh. Warren grew harder and harder between his legs as he anticipated Matthew’s next move. Sweat began to dampen his forehead and his breath quickened as Matthew continued to undress him by unbuttoning his jeans.