Page 26

“Where are you?” Ledger’s annoyed voice came through the earpiece set in Pavel’s right ear, contending with the sound of the rain pattering against the glass of the kitchen windows.

“Don’t worry about it.” Pavel stood by the sink, stirring sugar into the coffee he’d just poured from the freshly made pot.

“Easy for you to say, Mom is going to freak when you miss dinner tomorrow. At least give me something so I can make the lecture a bit easier.”

It didn’t matter, Pavel wasn’t going to tell him.

This section of the manor had been designed with an open floor plan, windows lining an entire wall, overlooking the bluffs. With the storm, the ocean was dark and gray, chaotically sweeping toward the cliff where the massive home had been built. The kitchen area took up the left side, the center clear and leading to two glass doors that opened onto the balcony, and the right a dining area.

He'd kept the furniture minimalist, not wanting to decorate on his own, not when this space was always meant to be for the two of them.

Pavel thought of Zane, upstairs, asleep in their bed, and his lips lifted in satisfaction. A part of him finally felt relief for the first time in years, the tight knots he always carried inside of him undone. It was instinctual, brought on by his nature, but he welcomed it all the same.

There was a comfort in knowing his mate was here, safe, secluded, and all his.

He was more than happy to welcome that comfort.

And he wouldn’t let anyone, not even his brother, mess with it.

“Just tell her I’ll catch the next one,” he replied, smile growing when his brother cursed.

“This isn’t a movie theater hangout,” Ledger stated. “It’s dinner with our parents. It only happens once a month. She’s going to flip out.”

“She’ll be fine,” Pavel disagreed. “You’re going to distract her.”

“Excuse you?”

“Bring Nikita,” he suggested. “It’s about time he met them anyway.” When his brother went quiet, he scoffed. “Come on, Ledge, you can’t seriously still be confused? You want him. He wants you. You’re already dating.”

Ledger released a breath. “Way to use me to your advantage. When are you coming back?”

“I’m not sure.” He’d forced Zane here, but that didn’t mean he’d be able to keep him for the entire two weeks. If he was lucky, he could negotiate half that time, but he wasn’t overly confident. He could only push the delectable doctor so far before he risked pushing him away, so as badly as he wanted to chain Zane to the bedpost and refuse to let him step foot outside ever again, logically, he understood that was unreasonable.

“Were you able to get me what I asked for?” Pavel sipped at his drink, enjoying the warmth. It was colder here than in Valeo City, even with the fireplace in the living area on the opposite side of the room roaring.

“Saint was able to get it for me. Didn’t know the guy could hack.” Saint was another member of the Brumal, and a student at Vail. “What do you need with the university’s broadcast room access codes?”

“The journalism club is still running their weekly announcements, right?”

“As far as I know since there’s no holiday this week…Why?” Ledger sounded suspicious. “Please don’t tell me you’re going to do something even stupider than kidnapping the future Royal Doctor to the Imperial family.”

“Such as?”

“Such as broadcast you—”

A dagger sailed through the air at a rapid speed, causing Pavel to miss whatever else his brother had been about to say. The blade of the star crystal embedded deep into the wood paneling between the panes of glass, and Pavel kept facing the window for a bit, eyeing it and how close it’d come to slicing through his cheek.

“I’m sorry, Ledge, I have to go. My boyfriend is awake and he’s begging for my attention.”

“Screw you,” a bitter voice came from behind him, and Pavel chuckled.

“And he wants me to fuck him. Later, brother.” He hung up the call and removed the earpiece, clicking it back into place in the side of his multi-slate at his wrist before turning with his cup in hand. Leaning back against the sink, he took another sip, watching Zane seethe over the rim. “Morning, lover.”

“The last time you called me that, you hunted me down in a forest. Where the hell are we, Pavel? Where is my multi-slate? And why the hell did you bring me here?” Zane’s hair was mussed, and he was wearing the navy blue pajamas with white trim that Pavel had changed him into. “I swear to the gods your answers better be good, or the next one is going straight through your heart.”

Pavel pointedly dropped his gaze to the remaining weapon clutched in Zane’s left hand and hummed. “Yes, that’s a very scary threat. I’m curious if you can even find the location of my heart though, Doctor, what with you still not knowing exactly what I am.”

He sneered. “I know where your heart is, asshole. I’ve felt it pounding in your chest whenever you’re holding me down.”

“You pay attention.” He grinned but held up a hand when Zane lifted the knife. “Okay, okay. Calm down. I told you I wanted to go home, didn’t I? It’s not my fault you misunderstood and thought I meant Concealed.” It was entirely his fault, but he continued before Zane could say as much. “We’re on Ascent.”

Zane frowned. “The island?” He glanced around, confused. “I thought it was uninhabitable?”

“It’s not, it’s just privately owned.”

He stared at him. “By you?”

“By us.”

“Well, if that’s the case,” he took a step backward toward the front door, “I’m leaving.”

Pavel set his cup down and spread his arms out, hands gripping the edge of the counter at his back. “You’re certainly welcome to try. I wasn’t planning another hunt through the wilderness so soon, especially not in these conditions,” he angled his head back toward the window and the downpour, “but I meant what I told you last night. I’m always willing to play along.”

“This isn’t a game, Pavel!”

“Of course it is,” he said, “with you as the prize. Meaning, this is a game I have no intention of losing. What’ll it be, gorgeous? Are you going to put the weapon down and allow me to make you breakfast, or are we starting our day off with a brisk jaunt through the rain?”

Zane hesitated, and the quick flicker of interest in his eyes was enough to give him away.

Oh.

All right then.

“The island is small,” Pavel told him, voice growing gruff as anticipation bubbled low in his gut. “You can make it to any side in under a day. There’s only one way off, and I’ve sent that mode of transportation away for the next week, so there’s nowhere you can go I can’t find you. The storm, however,” he glanced out the window at the gray sky, “is supposed to go well into the evening. If you get tired of being wet, head East.”

His eyes narrowed but he slid back another step. “Why are you telling me all of this?”

“You know why.”

“Maybe I want you to say it out loud.”

“I was certain kidnapping you would soothe some of that misplaced brooding and show you how badly I want you, but apparently I was wrong.”

“What—”

Pavel straightened. “You want to run, Zane. That’s okay. I’ll play. Whatever you need, gorgeous.”

“What if what I need is off this island?”

He shook his head. “Let’s not get greedy now.”

“I have classes, Pav.”

“You were given a leave of absence and are allowed to work from home for the time being,” he revealed.

Zane’s eyes narrowed. “And how exactly did I swing that?”

“Kelevra met with your senior advisor.”

Something flashed in Zane’s eyes that Pavel couldn’t place, but before he could ask about it, the doctor drawled, “Kelevra did, or someone who looked an awful lot like him?”

“That last one.”

“You can’t impersonate the Imperial Prince, Pavel.”

“Afraid for my safety?”

“Just worried I’m the one who will be ordered to kill you for it, that’s all.”

“Weren’t you just making that threat all on your own a moment ago?” Pavel motioned to the knife. “Going to bring that with you? I don’t mind. I like it when you make me bleed.”

“That’s…” Zane frowned at the knife and then tossed it onto the ground between them, “a twisted thing to say.”

“Why?” He cocked his head. “Do you not like it when I make you bleed?”

“If you bite me again—”

“I won’t,” he promised, but before Zane could feel relieved from that, added, “I have other plans in mind. Speaking of, you were angry when Kazimir brought Lyra into the bedroom—”

Zane took a menacing step forward before he could finish. “If you allow anyone else to lay hands on me, I swear—”

“Never.” Just the thought alone had his spine stiffening and his eyes glowing brightly. A low rumble traveled up his chest unbidden. “I want people to see who you belong to. I want them to wish they could have you but know they never will. No one will ever touch you aside from me, bashert. No one. I’m your end game.”

“I haven’t agreed to marry you yet.” Despite his words, Zane’s shoulders settled, and he retreated again toward the door, only going a couple of feet, but enough to make his point clear.

“That’s why we’re here,” Pavel said. “I’ll have you begging me to be your life partner before we step foot off this island.”

He snorted. “We don’t have that much time.”

“Keep teasing me. I like it. I like thinking of all the ways I’m going to get to punish you for it later.” He took a step forward, voice dropping suggestively. “Maybe I’ll breed you in the rain with your face held in a puddle. Or I’ll fuck you against every tree in the general vicinity and make you count them as you mark them with your come. What would Royal Aodhan say if he found out his baby brother likes it dirty? Likes to be taken in the mud like a beast?”

Zane’s breath caught in his throat and he gave a single shake of his head, backing up toward the door as Pavel continued his slow advance.

“What if I shred your clothes and filmed it all, showed the whole planet what your bare skin looks like caked in mud and my spunk? What if—”

The door was unlocked, so there was no wasted time struggling with it. Zane raced across the house and yanked it open, running into the downpour without a second of hesitation. He darted straight ahead, down the paved driveway, most likely just to get his bearings, and then veered a sharp left.

Pavel gave him a head start to be fair, since he knew the terrain when his delectable doctor did not. His bashert probably thought he was getting back at him, making him work for it instead of making things easy. In a way, he sort of was. It would have been nice to have an intimate, quiet breakfast together like real lovers would on a dreary morning such as this.

But there was always the chance for a romantic evening meal.

Getting to hunt down and claim what was his?

That was an opportunity he would never pass up, and certainly not something that could be considered a punishment in his eyes.

The rain instantly had his matching pajama set clinging to his lithe form as he gave chase, his thick black bangs falling into his eyes, so that Pavel had to sweep them away every few minutes. He’d considered giving Zane more of a head start, but he didn’t have it in him, his impatience getting the best of him after the long wait.

It didn’t matter that he’d had the doctor beneath him last night. Pavel had been forced to be quick about it, fucking him fast mostly just to distract Zane long enough for him to get the chloroform. It always took the other guy a while to bounce back after orgasm, and Pavel had used that to his advantage.

Just like he was using the storm to his advantage now.

The rain had caused everything to turn to mud, and he tracked Zane’s steps with ease as he ran into the dense tree line and into the forest. When Pavel had designed this house, it was with the broken castle back in Valeo in mind. He’d loved the feel of the place, and the privacy of the wilderness surrounding them.

Although, privacy was the last thing he intended for the two of them to get today.

Zane might not like it, but it was unavoidable. Pavel had tried to pry, to get a read on whether or not his doctor was open to the idea of being filmed and watched. He liked being seen, after all. Liked all of the attention he got from onlookers at the university. There was a chance he’d be open to the idea of teasing them all from afar.

But there was also the chance he would not.

Pavel’s club had upper levels where live sex shows were common, but he’d never participated in one himself before. The closest he got to exhibitionism was the nude modeling he did whenever one of the other male models canceled last minute. He had a soft spot for Professor Jewel, a woman who’d been friends with his mom since their own college days.

That day Zane had walked in on class, Pavel had gotten hard and leaked all over the dais. The professor had excused herself but left class running, covering her eyes as she’d gone—probably because it’d been weird as fuck for her. She’d taken care of his skinned knees and rubbed his snotty nose when he’d been a kid, after all.

He hadn’t been embarrassed—he was hot as hell, why would he be?—and after class, walking around, checking out the sketches…Some of his peers' best work had been created that day.

It’d been a great day for other reasons too.

Pavel had caught the possessive gleam in his eye before he’d fled. Had noticed the way Zane’s nostrils had flared in displeasure when he’d realized everyone was paying an insane amount of attention to all of Pavel’s body.

His doctor really didn’t like sharing.

Pavel was going to have to navigate the broadcast delicately.

It wasn’t long before Zane changed course, heading East as though giving up. Was the weather already getting to him? He’d never had a problem with getting wet in the past.

Curious, Pavel followed closely behind, watching the signs of Zane’s tracks as they turned and weaved, clearly on the search for something in particular.

The cabin came into view shortly after and a thrill coursed through Pavel as he slowed his approach. The front door had been left wide open as if that weren’t an indicator enough of where his delectable doctor had gone, but it was also too obvious. Was it an invitation, or a trap?

It was hard to hear with the rain pounding around him, slapping against the wooden roof as he took the stairs slowly. The cabin was a newer addition to the property, something he’d had built especially after their jaunt through the forest over two months ago now. He’d be lying if he hadn’t made it specifically for this, and he wondered if Zane had bothered looking around inside yet, if he’d noticed all of the items that’d been carefully selected just for him.

Pavel paused within the doorway, scanning the main room. There was only this space and a small, attached half bath. The door to that was closed, and he thought maybe Zane was in there.

The second he took a step inside, however, he was proven wrong.

Zane darted out from the other side of the front door, slamming Pavel against the wall next to it, hard enough to rattle the glass of the window. His hand circled his throat and he squeezed in warning, not that he needed to, since Pavel had gone still.

“Hey, gorgeous,” Pavel smirked. “This isn’t exactly the game we agreed on, now is it? Why aren’t you still running through the woods, hmm?”

Zane’s brow was furrowed, and he was staring at Pavel’s side. With his free hand, he reached and tugged Pavel’s pajama top up, exposing the area where he was still bandaged. “I forgot about this. You’ve got it wet. We should head back and change—”

Pavel growled. “No, no. You don’t get to call an end to this whenever you feel like it.”

He huffed out a breath. “I’m worried you’ll get infected, you idiot. Let’s—”

“No.”

Zane stared him down for a moment, then seemed to realize it wasn’t going to get him anywhere. Switching things up, he pressed himself against Pavel, his touch around his throat gentling as his free hand roamed up and down his side, finger hooking into the waistband of Pavel’s pajama bottoms.

“How about a different sort of game then,” Zane suggested, voice silky and sweet, hinting that he had something wicked up his sleeve. “It’s called ‘Doctor, May I’. The rules are rather simple. You ask if you can do something, and I give a yes or no answer.”

Pavel quirked a brow. “I’m not sure how you expect that to sound more appealing to me than getting to breed you in the woods.” Although, having permission to call him doctor was kind of hot…

“Well, for starters,” Zane slipped Pavel’s pants down enough for his cock to spring free, “I never said I’d be using my words to respond.” He moved to stroke him, tipping his head as he scanned Pavel’s face for any sign of change as he played with his most intimate parts. “If I can get you off within five minutes, you have to come back to the house with me and let me bandage your wound.”

“No.” Pavel couldn’t let him do that, no matter how tempting it sounded. Especially since it was the first time his bashert was truly coming onto him. Not to mention, the last time they played by Zane’s rules, he’d lost miserably.

“Fine.” Zane went to step away, but Pavel captured his wrist, keeping his hand on his heavy cock.

He really, really wanted this…Damn it. Pavel's injury was the only thing keeping Zane here. Using that guilt against him was the only card he had at the moment, and he couldn’t risk losing it. However…

There was no way he’d reach orgasm before five minutes were up. He wasn’t some horny teenager getting off to porn for the first time in his parent's basement. Which meant there wasn’t really a risk at all.

“Wait.” It was stupid, but he was greedy. “Don’t think I don’t recall how you beat me before. I’m onto you now. I know you only suggest games when you’re confident you can’t lose.”

“Does that mean you aren’t confident you can last longer than five minutes?” he taunted.

“It means,” Pavel corrected, making a mental note to prove to him just how long he could last later, “I want something more before I agree.”

“Of course you do,” Zane didn’t even sound surprised. “Tell you what, if you win, I’ll run for you. You can hunt me down and fuck me in the dirt to your heart's content. I’ll even resist all through it. I know you like that shit.”

He did.

He really, really did.

“It’s probably the D’vitar in you,” Zane added.

“Did your research, have you?”

“If I win, we head back to the house, I bandage your wound, and then,” he rolled his thumb over Pavel’s cockhead, “you get to do anything you want to me—Anything that involves you keeping that injury out of the water.”

Pavel tried to find the hidden trap, certain there was something he was missing, but it was hard to think with Zane’s hand jerking him off. “What’s the catch?”

“I am.” The delectable doctor smirked. “Why? Are you saying you’re no longer interested? If I’m not good enough incentive—”

“You’ll let me do whatever I want to you?” he asked. “Anything?”

“That’s the deal.” Zane shrugged like it didn’t matter one way or the other to him. “If you take it, that is.”

There were so many things he wanted to do to the other man, but there was one in particular he needed to do.

“You don’t even want me to tell you what I’ll have you doing?” Pavel found that strange. “Your terms are interesting, gorgeous. It’s making it hard for me to guess if you want to win or if you’d rather lose. I mean, with that prize, even if you do win, aren’t you really just losing anyway?”

“I didn’t take you for the type to consider himself a poor lover,” he countered. “What? Don’t you think you can satisfy me if I win?”

“You’re assuming whatever I do with you will result in you getting to come.”

Zane snorted. “Naturally.”

“What if it doesn’t?” Pavel flicked his hips against Zane’s hand, unable to help himself. “What if I decide to edge you all day, well into the night?”

“A deal’s a deal.”

“Really?”

“I’ve never broken my word to anyone before either, Hart. I don’t intend to start now.”

“You want to tend to my wound that badly? Why? Worried if something happens to me, you’ll be stranded here?”

“Something like that.” Zane stopped his motions, holding Pavel’s cock in his palm. “So? We doing this, or what?”

He more than liked him. He cared. It took all of Pavel’s willpower not to tip off the other guy, not to blurt that truth out with pride and elation. Zane would be scared off if he did. He’d pull away and deny it. Deny his feelings.

But Pavel saw through him.

Zane Solace didn’t do anything that didn’t benefit himself. If he was willing to hand over that type of power, willing to make a deal wherein Pavel took control, he had to be really worried about the bullet wound.

He had to believe giving up his autonomy for a day was worth getting to patch Pavel up in return.

Pavel nodded eagerly. “Yes. We’re—What are you doing?”

Zane had dropped to his knees. “Already forgetting the rules? You ask, ‘Doctor, may I...’. If my answer is yes, I’ll hum. If it’s no, I won’t. Simple enough, don’t you think?”

“I—Good Light!” Pavel hissed as Zane leaned forward and swallowed his cock, taking it all the way to the back of his throat with little effort. He started to bob on him, movements measured, eyes lifting as though to silently ask why Pavel wasn’t starting as well. He rested his head back against the wall and growled, “Doctor, may I touch you?”

Zane took him in deep and hummed, the vibrations sending tingles of electricity skittering down Pavel’s shaft straight to his balls.

He threaded his fingers through his bashert’s dark brown hair, relishing in the soft feel of it even as Zane’s tongue traced the throbbing vein at the bottom of his shaft. Was that meant to be a reward for playing along? This game of permission was…interesting.

“Doctor,” Pavel licked his lips, needing to catch his breath as Zane continued to suck him, “may I shove you down and breed you?”

Zane didn’t hum, but he did glare up at him, even as he brought one hand to Pavel’s heavy sack and began to massage him. He pulled almost all the way off and gave his crown a hard suck that hollowed his cheeks before dropping back down.

“Doctor, may I ask where you learned how to do this?” Pavel’s eyes narrowed when Zane hummed yes, but then was clearly laughing at him even with his mouth stuffed full of hard cock. “Right. I can ask, but you can’t give me names right now. Later then. Don’t think you’ll get away with it.” Pavel’s hand tightened in his hair and he pulled him closer, hips lifting to meet that warm, wet heat. “Doctor, may I come in your mouth?”

Zane hummed.

“Doctor, may I tie you up later?”

Another hum.

“Doctor, may I pump you full of my seed on camera and share it?”

Zane’s brow furrowed and he slowed, but Pavel had anticipated that response.

He shoved Zane down until his cock hit the back of his throat. Using both hands, he gripped his head and began thrusting, fucking his mouth with enough vigor he could see the tense set of Zane’s shoulders. When his bashert planted both palms on his thighs and tried to push away, he laughed.

“Doctor, may I remind you this was your game? May I also suggest holding your breath?” Pavel buried himself all the way and held Zane there, choking on his cock as he moaned. “Doctor, may I ask if you’ve been paying attention to the time?”

He’d wanted to bandage Pavel so badly he’d set the prize too high. How foolish of him to forget what type of man Pavel was. He was going to take whatever was offered and more.

He was going to take, and take, and take until there was nothing left of Zane that he hadn’t marked and branded and made his own.

“Doctor, may I keep you forever?”

Zane didn’t hum, but then, he was busy suffocating so…

Pavel pulled him off, yanking him by the hair. He slipped out of his mouth and gave him a moment to gasp for air, saliva and precome dribbling past his lips. “We’ve got two more minutes, gorgeous. Open up so we can keep playing.”

Zane turned his head when Pavel brought this cock closer.

“Don’t be like that.” He hauled him back with his left hand, right capturing him beneath the chin and forcing his jaw open. Pavel slammed into Zane’s mouth, pumping his hips in a frenzy before the other man could regain his composure. “Doctor, may I tell you all about what I’m going to do to you?”

It wasn’t a hum, but Zane tried to say something, most likely in protest, the vibrations causing Pavel’s balls to tighten.

He was already close and getting closer with each passing comment. Picturing all the ways he was going to breed his bashert.

“I’ll take that as a yes, which means I can ramble a bit.” Pavel fucked into him and growled, watching the way his cheeks darkened, and those practically black eyes of Zane’s glared up at him. “I’m going to decorate you in chains and leather and bind you in all sorts of obscene positions meant to make it easier for you to take my cock. I’m going to breed that tight hole of yours on camera and broadcast it for everyone to see. They’ll know then who you belong to. They’ll know whose name you scream when you come. They’ll know what face the cold Prince of Medicine makes as he takes his man, how hot and expressive you can get for me.”

Zane was struggling, but Pavel was too close to stop now.

“The best part, Doctor?” He gave a few more thrusts and then pulled out just as he achieved orgasm. Come spurted from his tip, painting Zane’s face in cream. Pavel gripped himself and pumped his fist, making sure to cover him in as much as he could.

Zane tried to move away, but the hand in his hair held him still and, eventually, he gave up trying, kneeling there for Pavel as he finished.

“The best part,” Pavel let go of his spent cock and reached forward, wiping two fingers across the rise of Zane’s right cheek, collecting his come, “is after all of that, you won’t be able to turn me away. You’ll have to marry me, even if it’s just to save face.” He shoved his come-covered fingers into Zane’s mouth and rubbed his spunk on his tongue. “You aren’t the only one who wants to feel needed, gorgeous, and once the whole world sees you’ve let me into that delectable body of yours? You’ll need me to keep your reputation.”

Pavel shoved Zane away, watching when he sprawled out on his back on the cabin floor and tucked himself into his pants with a grin. It’d been exactly six minutes, which meant he’d passed.

“You’ve lost the game, Doctor.” He held out his hand to offer to help him up. “Shall we head back to the house so you can collect your prize?”