Chapter 11
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Zane
I step out of the shower, steam swirling around me like a heavy fog. How did my father do it? He always had a serious side, but he was never dragged down by the weight of the vampire world coming at him from all directions.
I recovered the siphoned money and plugged the leak in our financials, but there is still an enemy to find, the blood trade to sort out, shipments of enchanted objects being fucked with, and the grief of my seethe.
I pull a pair of black silk pajama pants up my thighs and tie them. The fabric is cool against my weary skin, the last of my burns forgotten as new skin replaces old.
It could’ve been worse.
Dante’s death lingers in my mind, the devastation in Angelo’s sobs tearing at the last of my strength. The two of them were together for over a century.
I can’t imagine that loss. I barely survived Scottie leaving, and we were never lovers.
My bare feet are silent on the marble floor as I approach Scottie’s suite. Hesitation creeps in as I knock on her door. This isn’t just about me anymore—it’s about us, all four of us tangled in this mess we call life.
The door swings open and Scottie stands there, confusion knitting her brow. “Why did you knock?”
“Because I know you’re spending time with Tucker, and I didn’t want to intrude.”
She hesitates for a moment but then steps aside, inviting me in with a tilt of her head. The scent of her shampoo mingles with the warmth of her space. It feels familiar—but it also feels wrong because Tucker’s here.
The scent of their sexual escapades isn’t fresh, but it still offends everything in me.
“Hey,” the big man says casually from the corner. His arms are crossed over his chest, the position making his muscled physique even more obvious.
Awkwardness hangs in the air, but I push through it.
“I wanted to thank you both for last night.” I meet Tucker’s gaze and dip my chin. “I know what it must’ve cost you to step back and allow Huntley and me an evening alone with her. And I know what it cost you, Scots, to step beyond our past to rebuild.”
“Thanks, Z.” She steps closer, her brows creased. “What’s wrong?”
I draw a deep breath. “I went and spoke with Angelo first thing. He’s devastated.”
“Understandably.”
I avoid Tucker’s gaze and focus on her. “I know we’re still walking on eggshells, but I need you. I need my best friend to help me make sense of being king. I need the only woman I’ve ever loved to hug me and tell me I’m not totally fucking things up with the seethe. And I need to hold you and convince myself that you’re really here and won’t leave me again.”
Her gaze softens, but before she can respond, I drop to my knees. The cool floor bites into my skin, grounding me as I lay everything bare.
“I’ll beg if you need me to.” My voice cracks as I look up at her, letting the truth of my words bleed through me. “I’ll grovel and tear my heart out if it helps…but I need you, Scots—having you want to take the oath to be my squire is amazing, but I’m selfish. I want the woman, too.”
“Zane, I…” she starts, but falters, turning toward Tucker. “Can you give us a minute?”
“Take all the time you need, beautiful.” Tucker steps closer, his gait loose-hipped and relaxed. He cups her face in his hands, a serene smile plastered on his face. “I was raised in a pack community. I don’t need promises of exclusivity or to be the only one in your heart. You are mine, but you are also his.”
Damn right she is.
She sighs. “What did I do to deserve you?”
He winks and then bends down to kiss her. “You know where I am if you need me. Otherwise, message me about training when you’re ready.”
Shame flushes through me like ice water pouring down my spine. Could I be so gracious if the roles were reversed? Would I be?
Tucker pauses before leaving, squeezing my shoulder as he passes. “I’m happy to step aside and give the two of you time. It’s good for Scottie to heal and to thrive. And as long as you don’t get possessive and erase me from her life, we won’t have any problems.”
The wildest part of me wants to drop fang and tear him apart for the subtle threat, but the man knows better. There was a time when Scotland McCullough was mine and only mine.
I fucked that up.
Now she burns bigger, brighter, and stands on her own. She needs more than just me. She always did. I meet Tucker’s gaze. “I respect that.”
Tucker pats my shoulder and leaves the suite, closing the door behind him.
Sitting back on my heels, I look up at her. Silence settles heavily between us now that we’re alone—and it’s good that we begin with me kneeling at her feet.
She deserves that and more.
The power dynamic in our friendship always favored me—or at least, I thought it did. The moment she was gone, I realized how na?ve that was.
She’s always held the power.
She just didn’t realize it.
The weight of Dante’s death hits hard again. “What if I can’t do it, Scots? What if this guy keeps coming at us and I get more people killed? What if my father was wrong and I’m not ready and I make a terrible king?”
“Come on, Z. Up you get.” Her voice is soft, concern lacing her tone as she pulls me to my feet and hugs me. “Francesco wasn’t wrong. You’ll be an incredible king. You’re strategic and caring, just like he was. You choose diplomacy over violence, but if the situation calls for it, you’re not afraid to slaughter your foes. It’s been a shock, but you’re ready. You’re just tired and overwhelmed by the losses.”
That’s true. I’m numb and I swear my bones are vibrating from being so achingly tired.
Having her in my arms helps. It’s a balm on my grief and the only point of hope I’ve had since this all began. Bowing my head, I nuzzle into her hair and breathe her into the depths of my soul. “I love you, Scots.”
She brushes a gentle hand through the ebony waves of my hair and pulls me closer. “I tried hard not to, but I love you, too.”
Thank fuck.
Scottie
Am I really doing this? The question flickers in my mind for the briefest moment of panic before I push it down and shut it out. I used to have unwavering faith in Zane’s love for me. And yes, he hurt me, but his actions were still rooted in love.
He said he needs me and there’s no doubt in my mind that it’s true because I need him, too.
And I’ve always needed him—that never stopped.
Standing against him, held in the warmth of his embrace, the last of my resistance fades and a rush of the old me breaks through the walls I’ve shielded myself within for much too long.
Easing back, I press my palms on both sides of his face and meet his gaze. “Never push me away again. I won’t survive it a second time.”
Zane swallows. “Never. I swear it. I know what it is to be without you and never want to live that way again.”
Neither do I.
Reaching up onto my tiptoes, I pull his face down to mine. “Then this is your do-over. Show me how you wish things had gone that night.”
Shock takes over his expression and then his brows pinch. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying you need me, but I need you, too. I’m tired of holding you at a distance. If we’re doing this, we’re all in. Friends. Lovers. Partners. All of it.”
His eyes widen and he seems to consider that for the briefest of moments. Then our mouths crash together in a heated rush of desperation.
His hands are everywhere—wrapping around me, sliding up the back of my neck to grip my hair, caressing my ass—crushing me against him.
He’s only wearing silk lounge pants, so there’s no concealing the erection pressing into my belly.
Yes. This is how it should’ve been when I came to him. No. Not then, while he wasn’t in control.
In the time we were apart, I learned to stand on my own and figured out who I am and what I want.
Reaching between us, I pull the drawstring of his pants at the same time he shoves my stretch pants down my thighs. It’s a frantic frenzy, both of us desperate to get at the other.
I pant, my breath coming quickly as he palms my pussy and gives me a gentle squeeze.
“Are you sure?” The warmth of his breath skims over my neck. He nips at the racing pulse flooding through my jugular and a rush of wet heat meets his fingers as his hand slides beneath the cotton of my underpants.
“I’m sure.” Heat flushes into my cheeks. I might be embarrassed at how wanton I am, except it’s Zane and he’s just as out of control. “Erase the last time from my memory. Claim me, Zane. Show me you love me.”
The room blurs as he moves, and I close my eyes to keep from getting dizzy. The Rembrandt rattles beside me as he lifts me off the ground and pins me against the wall. His vampire strength is put to the best possible use as he holds me in place and strips my bottom half bare.
The cool air of the room hits my heated flesh and my nipples tighten.
“I love you, Scots.” He draws his tongue up the column of my throat as he shifts his stance. With my legs wrapped around his hips, the thick head of his cock brushes the wet heat of my folds. “I’ll say it a thousand times if it helps. I love you.”
Gripping the fleshy rounds of my butt, he thrusts upward, slicking his cock as he presses inside my hot entrance. His mouth closes over my neck and his fangs pierce my flesh.
The dual penetration is incredible.
A throaty cry tears out of me as the sting of his bite zings straight to my core. Vampire bites hurt at first, but it’s a pain with the promise of endless pleasure.
My entire body shudders in his hold as he begins a slow, sensual suck and his cock stretches me open.
“You’re so wet.”
“I’ve wanted you for a long time.”
He adjusts his hold on the back of my thighs and presses his hips forward, hitting something delicious inside me.
“Yes,” I hiss, the muscles of my pussy throbbing around him, squeezing him. “So good.”
A low, guttural growl vibrates against my flesh where he’s suckling my blood and reverberates through my whole body. Your arousal sweetens your blood. It’s addictive. My new favorite candy.
Zane’s voice in my head is new. He didn’t share this part of himself before. There were always parts of his vampire nature he kept hidden from me…
But that’s over now.
Zane’s cock is thick and gloriously hard and with my legs pinned open and him railing into me, he’s rubbing against my G-spot in the most incredible way.
Suspended in the air with my back pressed against the wall, I have no leverage to work with to take part in this. He’s filling me, fucking me, and I’m sure I’m dripping down the length of his impressive erection.
My insides are on fire as his hard length continues to rub over that spot inside me.
Too soon, he eases his fangs out of my neck and seals the points of puncture. “It would be way too easy to lose control and drink too much. I’m going to have to be careful.”
“Zane, please.” I’m teetering on the brink of my release and want more of him, not less.
He chuckles against my neck. “Impatient, are we?”
“I need you.”
He eases back and straightens, claiming my lips instead of my blood. His tongue sweeps into my mouth and the metallic tang of my blood sizzles on my taste buds. It’s weird and different.
Is it the squire magic that makes it do that?
My momentary distraction ends when he nicks my bottom lip with the tip of his fang and sucks it into his mouth. So fucking addictive.
My entire body tingles with squire magic. It’s as if my powers know I belong to Zane, as if they recognize our bond.
I run my fingers through his ebony waves and crush myself against him as my orgasm takes hold. It lights me up, my magic getting away from me a little as my powers zing through both of us.
I throw my head back, crying out his name as the walls of my pussy clench around him and I come all over his cock.
Zane’s pace falters as he hammers inside me. He stiffens and his hips lock as he grunts. He throws his head back as he fills me with his own release.
We both pant for breath as he pulls me away from the wall and steps out of his lounge pants pooled at his ankles. “I hope you don’t have any plans, Scots, because I have no intention of sharing you today.”
My insides melt like warm chocolate as he carries me toward my bed. I lay my head on his shoulders. “Nothing that can’t wait. I’m all yours.”
And always have been.