CHAPTER SIX
R amos and Kai ate breakfast together in the dining room with a beautiful view of the gardens.
There was a balcony, but they chose to remain indoors; the balcony seemed too public, and they were not ready to share just yet.
The bond was solid after a night of convincing each other that they were enough; the morning had brought a closeness that neither had ever dreamed they would own.
The bonding had been an extraordinary experience, and so was the shower sex that had followed before spending the rest of the night in his beloved's arms. Being held as he slept had never been a fetish of Ramos, but it was now fast becoming one.
Kai had a grip that, although he was a smaller man, was incredibly strong, and when he held Ramos, it made him feel secure and protected.
That was a strange reaction for a man like him, someone who had spent his life securing and protecting and sometimes killing others, to suddenly be on the receiving end of a sense of safety and shelter.
He wasn't going to overthink it because it felt too good, and he was going to enjoy every perk of this bond from now until forever.
Kai was his person, his anchor, and his love. Love was a big word with too much of everything attached to it. It was a word that was never used until he met this man and accepted him, and now it was the only word to describe what he felt every time he looked at him.
"You're staring at me, Ramos," Kai said with a smile as he finished his breakfast and took a long sip of his coffee. "Having second thoughts?" It was a tease.
"Just admiring my beloved and thanking Fate for choosing me." Kai smiled, and it was genuine, and with just a touch of bashfulness, it was lovely.
"I'd like to see Tarek today." He interjected, and Ramos nodded.
“He and Cal reside in one of the cottages that are located throughout the gardens.
The coven grounds are massive, but according to Ira, it's about a ten-minute walk from here.
" Ramos explained. "We can finish up here and head over if you'd like.
" They cleaned up the dishes and put the remaining items away.
Ramos was pouring another cup of coffee when Kai came up behind him and wrapped his arms around him.
He set his cup down and placed his hands over Kai’s.
Kai then moved his hands lower, grazing his palms over Ramos' suddenly hardening cock.
The touch was brief at first and stirred him, and then it became intentional.
Ramos turned slowly in Kai's arms and leaned his back against the counter.
Kai brought his hands around front and undid the fastenings on Ramos' jeans before gradually lowering the zipper.
Ramos watched him, his eyes burning with the need for what Kai was offering.
Kai glanced up at him and licked his lips, and Ramos moaned softly.
His breath became shallow and measured as he waited with a growing anticipation.
Kai lowered himself to his knees and pulled at Ramos' jeans, instantly freeing the rock-hard cock, letting it hit his chin before running his tongue across the head.
Ramos kept his grip on the edge of the counter even though he ached to thread his fingers through Kai's hair and direct that mouth where he wanted it to go.
But this was Kai's show, and he would let him take control.
He took him into his mouth tentatively at first, tasting and getting used to the length and the girth, and then he took him to the base and Ramos nearly climbed up onto his toes.
The sensation of his hot mouth on his cock was everything he dreamed it would be.
The rhythm was delicious, and the tightness and the drag of his teeth along the sensitive head had Ramos dropping his head back on his shoulders and closing his eyes. He was not going to last.
Finally, he could not resist another moment, and he gripped Kai's head in both hands, feeling that silky soft hair between his fingers, and plunged inside that glorious mouth, pumping fast as Kai sucked harder, stripping him of all senses. His beloved was fierce and voracious.
He plunged deep, and Kai took him down his throat just as he stilled and broke, filling his throat and mouth with stream after stream of his hot seed.
The wild intensity of his eager mouth had Ramos trembling and grabbing the counter for support.
He closed his eyes as Kai eagerly sucked him dry and then blew out a long breath before glancing down at the most beautiful man in this world.
Kai was licking his lips and getting to his feet while Ramos returned his now satisfied cock back into his jeans and zipped up. He reached for Kai, and the man melted into his arms like it was the most natural place to be.
“Why were you in Sedona?” The question didn’t catch him by surprise because Kai knew he was sent to find him because he was already in the area. He also was trying to understand Ramos.
“I was there tracking down two individuals who Master DuCane had marked for death. They had been among several scheduled for execution for their crimes but had managed to escape.” Ramos held him as he leaned with his head against Ramos' chest and his arms around his waist. He would never in a thousand lifetimes ever tire of this man was the thought that crossed his mind as they stood in silence.
“Did you find them?”
“Yes.”
“This is what you do for Master DuCane?”
“I work in the field, and I do whatever he asks of me. I clean up messes and eliminate problems.”
“How will I fit into your life?” His tone was suddenly soft and unsure.
"I prefer working in the field, and it is where my skills are best suited.
I would like for you to come with me. Living here at the Palace is stifling for someone like me, but if it is what you'd prefer, I will make it work.
" Kai looked up at him with those eyes that measured and weighed, and they were shocked.
“You would change your life for me?”
"I want you more than I want anything else in my life, so yes, my life will revolve around you," Ramos spoke very clearly.
"You humble me, my love." He said and then appeared to get choked up for a moment before he spoke again. Ramos held him and waited.
"Tell me you love me and I will follow you anywhere, Ramos." He said at last, looking up at him with those eyes, those beautiful eyes.
“I love you, Kai.”
“I love you too. So, I guess the bond is doing its job because my heart refuses to be very far from you.”
"The bond only brings us together and lowers the resistance factors; the rest is just us. We were meant to be, baby, get used to it." Before Kai could respond, Ramos' phone rang, and he answered, considering it was Cal.
"Is Tarek there with Kai?" He asked, and he sounded tense.
"No," Ramos answered and put the phone on speaker and set it on the counter in front of them. Kai moved closer with his eyes on the screen. "We haven't seen him or heard from him." The tension on the other end of the line ramped up.
“He left over an hour ago said he was going to the Palace to see you and said he wanted to go alone.” He paused.
"Where would he go? What are you feeling?" Kai broke in, clearly feeling Cal's worry and responding to it.
"Something is wrong. I'm going to look for him, follow his scent as best I can. The guy is an expert at covering his scent, but I can feel him." Cal was becoming frantic.
"We'll help you," Ramos said. "We'll meet at your place." Just then Kai's phone rang, and he answered. "Wait, Kai has a call," Ramos said to Cal.
Ramos could clearly hear the conversation. It was an older man, and he had Tarek.
“I have your useless brother, Kai.”
“What do you want?”
"Oh, don't play games with me, you little bastard.
You know exactly what I want, and you're going to bring it to me if you ever want to see your brother again. You know I can disappear, people. I’ve done it before.
I learned from a sorcerer, and I can send him so far away you will spend a lifetime looking and never find him.
Or perhaps I'll just take his head off and leave it for you to find. I haven't decided."
"Where are you?" Kai asked, his voice steady, but Ramos could hear the pain seeping through.
“Do you have the dagger?” He shouted.
“Yes.” Kai lied.
“Get in your car and start driving north on the highway, and I'll call you again, and don't bring any of your new vampire friends with you. If you try anything, Tarek is a dead man." He then closed the call.
“Who was that, Kai?” Ramos moved closer to him.
"My father." They both heard the intake of breath from Cal over the phone, still lying on the counter.
"We're on our way to you, Cal. Stay where you are." With that, Ramos closed the call and stuck the phone in his pocket.
“They met Cal out front of the cottage, and they headed out. Kai was in the front seat driving, and Ramos and Cal sat in the back. "He's going to know that you're there," Kai commented once they were on the highway.
“We’ll figure that out when the time comes, and I doubt he’s as all-knowing as you think," Ramos responded. Cal was staring out the window, obviously reaching out to his beloved and not liking what he was receiving.
"Why don't you call Silas and let him know what we're doing? The Master will want to stay informed." Ramos told him so he had something on his mind apart from fearing for his beloved.
"He will most likely have more hired soldiers, and what about the sorcerer that he spoke of?" Kai was rambling.
"There is no sorcerer that was just a scare tactic," Ramos said confidently. "Sorcerers don't share their mystical skills with anyone, especially not some random human."
“We’re Liminals.” Kai corrected.
“Sorcerers share their magic with no one.”
"Why would Tarek go meet with his father?" Ramos directed his question to Cal.
"I don't know why he would go considering their relationship, and I don't know why he went alone." Cal was not a happy man. "He called Tarek and had asked about Kai and about his health and well-being. He sounded genuine." Everyone fell silent when Kai's phone rang.
“Pull off at the Mt. Pleasant exit and park behind the Rockwell Hotel. Don't get out of your car. I'll call again once you arrive. I'm watching you." He then hung up without Kai saying a word.
"The Rockwell is on Ludlow Street. Enter from the second exit and take Witman Street. There's a small, covered bridge just before Ludlow and the Hotel. Cal and I will get out there." He glanced at Cal, and he nodded.
“We’ll have eyes on you the whole way, so don’t worry.” He added.
“I trust you." He said, and it was the most beautiful word he'd ever heard directed at him from his beloved and ranked right up there with love.
“Thank you, Kai.”
Kai entered the little decorative covered bridge, and the two men jumped out and blended into the shrubbery. Kai kept moving up the front of the Hotel and then around back to the parking area. He parked and waited.
Ramos and Cal kept close to the building, keeping watch on Kai.
Cal moved to the other side of the rear entrance, and they waited.
The call came, and Kai dropped him a text of Room 242.
He sent the text to Cal. Cal went ahead, and Ramos held back and followed Kai to the room on the second floor.
It was mid-afternoon, and the area was busy both inside and out.