Page 28 of Alec in Wonderland (Rainbow Tales #1)

Alec stared down at Bax's hand. The hand he held as they walked through the corridors of the Hearts Fortress. On their way to bed. This would be goodbye. Alec knew he had to leave as soon as possible. If he didn't, he'd never go. Wonderland would fall to the Queen of Hearts and her dark magic would spread evil through the lovely, beautiful, mad place.

But her dark magic had also saved Baxenvir's life. How bad could it be?

Aha! There it was. Alec was already trying to reason away the mission. He couldn't do that. He couldn't . . .

Alec's thoughts trailed off as he looked up at Bax. How was the man so fucking beautiful? And why did it make such a difference? It shouldn't. There were a lot of beautiful people in both worlds. But Alec had fallen in love with this one. There. He admitted it. He loved the Knave of Hearts. And he had to betray that love.

He had to betray Baxenvir.

He didn't have the time to save them both as he wanted to. Not now that he knew the sword's location. He had to tell Torwen, and once Torwen knew, he'd insist on them stealing the sword and leaving. No time. There was just no time to break the hold the Queen had on Bax.

What would Alec's betrayal do to the Knave of Hearts? Would it destroy him? Maybe Alec was being too arrogant. Maybe he didn't matter that much to Bax. No, that was a foolish non-hope. They had shared so much in such a short time. Alec knew Bax, really knew him, and so he knew Bax was as deep into this relationship as Alec was. If Alec left, it would crush him.

Alec didn't want to see Bax hurt. But he also knew that Baxenvir was on the wrong side of the war. He knew people had suffered under the Queen of Heart's reign. Now, she threatened to spread that suffering to two more kingdoms. Thousands of lives were at stake. Maybe more than that. This was about more than one human heart. Or even two hearts beating as one.

Were they that close? Did Bax love Alec in return? Alec couldn't be sure. Maybe it was better to be that way.

“Mal,” Bax growled as soon as the door shut. He pulled Alec into his arms and kissed him.

That kiss blanked out Alec's thoughts. He forgot about the war, the sword, and even the poor captive prince. All that mattered was Bax. Sir Baxenvir of Hearts. The Queen's Champion. The Knave of Alec's heart.

Bloody, torn clothes fell away under their eager hands. And yes, Bax had played croquet in those stained garments. The Queen hadn't cared, and neither had he. Bax only cared about the Queen's pleasure. His comfort always came second.

The thought gave Alec pause. Was that still true? Bax certainly seemed to be interested in Alec's pleasure at the moment. But how long would that last? They were doomed. Perhaps in any future. No matter what they chose, Bax and Alec weren't meant to be. Simple.

So Alec took what he could get. He took as much as he could, grasping Bax with both hands, his strong thighs, and his heart. He led him to bed and fell upon the mattress with him.

“Never put yourself in danger like that again.” Bax cupped Alec's cheek, then leaned down to kiss him. “You were magnificent, and I can't believe you did that for me, but please, never do it again. You're well-trained, but not as a soldier.”

“All right.” Alec pulled Bax down beside him so that they faced each other and then stroked the knight's sculpted chest. “If you never endanger yourself again.”

Bax grimaced.

Alec chuckled. “You can't ask me to keep myself safe if you will not give me the same courtesy. Do you think it was pleasant for me to see you torn apart by those beasts?”

“No, of course, I don't think that. But now you know that I can defend myself, and the Queen will always patch me up. If something threatens us again, allow me to handle it.” He nuzzled their foreheads together. “I will protect you, my love.”

Alec went still.

Bax made a growling sound of irritation. “That just came out. It was an endearment, not a declaration. I—”

“I love you too,” Alec blurted.

Bax went still. “You do?”

“I do.”

“You don't think it's too soon?”

“I think it's not soon enough. I think time goes by faster than we think, especially when we're happy. Even here, where people can live forever, we might not have as much of it as we hope.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means we shouldn't waste any time, Bax.” Alec stroked the Knave's cheek. “I don't want to play games with you. I want to be honest. I want to grab onto what we have and absorb every ounce of joy I can with you.”

Honest. The word twisted Alec's heart. But it wasn't a lie. He did want to be honest with Bax. He just couldn't. Not with words. But maybe he could be honest with his body and heart.

“I want that too.” Bax covered Alec's mouth with his, his hot tongue slicing past Alec's lips.

Alec groaned and arched into Bax, aligning their bodies. Cocks slid together, chests rubbing nipple-to-nipple. Shivers of ecstasy ran down Alec's spine.

Bax drew back and fetched a bottle from the bedside table. He called it runi oil. It arrived with their breakfast the morning after they first made love. Bax loved the stuff, and he'd made Alec a convert. The oil was slick and thin, giving a better glide than any lubricant back in the human world. And it was sweet too. So, if Alec wanted to coat Bax's cock in it, then suck on him a bit, he could.

Grinning, Alec watched Bax pour some of the golden oil into his palm, and then coat his shaft with it. “Rub yourself some more for me.” Alec pushed up onto his forearms to watch the Knave stroke himself. “Fuck, that's hot.”

Bax licked his lips as his stare roamed Alec's body. “I want you to put your ass in the air for me and spread those plump cheeks. Show me where you want me.”

Alec groaned, the knight's words sending a sexy thrill through him. “How can I refuse?” He turned onto his stomach, then got his knees under him, lifting his ass while keeping his chest pressed to the bed. Head turned to the side and angled to look back at Bax, Alec reached up and behind to spread himself. He grinned when he saw Bax's reaction.

The Knave of Hearts shuddered, his hand clenching on his cock, then leaned forward to nuzzle his face between Alec's cheeks. A hot tongue flicked over his entrance and then another soft nuzzle came.

“Oh, fuck,” Alec murmured, his hair sliding over his face. “Please, Bax.”

“You're always so impatient,” Bax's voice was muffled by Alec's ass. He drew back and gripped the base of his shaft to slide it over Alec's hole. “Is this what you need, my love?” Bax pushed the tip in gently.

“Yes!” Alec cried. “More! Give me all of it!”

“You shall have it all.” Bax slid out, then in again, deeper.

Out, then in. Out, then in. He worked Alec open even though the oil made it unnecessary. With it slicking his cock, Bax could have given Alec exactly what he wanted with a single thrust. Instead, he kept teasing Alec. In and out. Until Alec let go of his cheeks, set his hands on the mattress, and rose to shove back on Bax's cock.

Bax started to laugh, but it quickly changed into a groan. His hands went to Alec's waist, holding him loosely—letting Alec do the work. “Take what you need then, Mal. Take it all.”

Alec looked over his shoulder, tossing his long hair out of the way to see Bax's eyes close in bliss, his big body arching forward in offering. Moaning, Alec pushed back, impaling himself faster. Bax filled him perfectly. Not too wide. Not too long. That slick flesh prodded Alec in all the right places, summoning rapture that twisted through his body and brainwashed him into believing that this was his destiny. He had to stay a little longer. It was too soon to leave. Yes, maybe if he stayed, he could save them both as he planned. He just needed a little more time.

The Vorpal Sword was secure. It would be waiting for Alec when he was ready. He didn't have to tell Torwen he had found it. And maybe he could use this time to not only break the hold the Queen had on Bax but to also figure out a way to free the White Prince. The more Alec thought about it, the more he realized that either theft would end Torwen's spying—the sword or the royal captive. So, they really should take both at the same time.

Yes, that's why Alec would stay. That's why he wouldn't tell Torwen about the sword. Not yet. For the White Prince. For the White Queen, who was doubtless worried about him. For Wonderland. Yes, for all of Wonderland, Alec had to stay. And for Bax. To save him along with everyone else.

Alec cried out in relief and release, spilling his cum across the Knave of Heart's bed as if marking his territory. This man belonged to Alec. He'd break the Queen's hold on Bax and then they'd leave the Hearts Kingdom together.