Just a Vampire [tribal Bonds 1] (9 page)

Luca could feel the stares of Everson’s soldiers like insects crawling over his skin as he climbed from his SUV and walked toward the Grand Hotel, Electus Everson’s headquarters. Some of the soldiers were eyeing him warily, others with outright distain. Luca made sure he kept his expression blank. It wouldn’t do to let anyone know how anxious he was to get his anamchara back.

Now that he was closer to Rowan, he could feel the man in his head again. He just couldn’t speak to him through their bond. As much as he wanted to cry out for his anamchara, he needed to actually see the man with his own two eyes before he would feel like his heart was beating again.

“Please, come this way,” a soldier said as he stepped forward. He looked very nervous as he took in the presence of the six guards standing behind Luca. “Electus Everson is waiting for you.”

“Where is my anamchara?”
“He’s with the electus, sir.”
Luca arched an eyebrow at the man’s impeccable manners.

Everson’s soldiers had never done anything more than glare in his direction. This soldier was looking at Luca with awe in his eyes. It was very puzzling.

“Please hurry, Electus. I’m not sure how much longer he can hold out.”
Luca growled and grabbed the soldier’s arm, squeezing until the man winced. “If a single hair is misplaced on my anamchara’s head, so help me, I will tear—”
“No, no!” The soldier shook his head quickly. “Your anamchara has not been harmed, but I cannot say the same for my electus.”
“What do you mean?” Luca asked as he dropped his hand.
“Your anamchara is trying to destroy him one piece at a time.”
Luca glanced over at Manu only to see his brother pressing his lips tightly together. Manu’s amusement showed clearly in his eyes, though. Luca rolled his eyes. “Just show me where my anamchara is.”
Luca and his soldiers were taken up the elevator to the penthouse. Luca tensed when the doors slid open to reveal a hallway full of vampires. He stepped out into the large entry and squared his shoulders. Several vampires quickly darted out of his way, revealing a set of large double doors.
Luca strode forward and pushed the doors open. His jaw dropped when he saw Rowan draped over a tall golden throne sitting on a dais on the other side of the room. He was laid out over it, leaning back against one side with his legs thrown over the other.
He was feeding himself grapes.
“Rowan.”
“Luca.” Rowan jumped to his feet and raced across the room, throwing himself into Luca’s waiting arms.
Luca’s heart finally started beating again as he wrapped his arms around his mate. He buried his face in Rowan’s neck and inhaled deeply. The sweet scent unique to Rowan filled his senses.
“Hello, anamchara.” A moment later, Luca grunted and grabbed his shoulder after Rowan smacked him. “What was that for?”
“It took you long enough to get here,” Rowan snapped. “What held you up? Lunch?”
Luca grinned despite the anger on Rowan’s face. “I am sorry, anamchara. We are not allowed to pass into the territory of another electus without permission. I did not have permission.”
“Well, neither did he.” Rowan waved his hand behind him. It was only then that Luca saw the man sitting in the corner with his head buried in his hands. He took in the broken pieces of furniture and busted lamps, the papers littering the floor. The place looked as though a hurricane had blown through it. Luca was impressed. “But it didn’t seem to stop him.”
“Electus Everson.”
Daniel Everson raised his head. Luca inhaled sharply when the man stood up on shaky legs. He looked ravaged. Long scratches marred his pale face. His shirt and pants were in tatters and hung on his frame. As he started walking forward, Luca noticed a pronounced limp in the electus’s left leg.
“What did you do to him, Rowan?”
“I warned him he didn’t want to kidnap me. He didn’t believe me.” Rowan shrugged. “Now he does.”
Luca blinked. “What did you do to his leg?”
“He tried to make a pass at me.”
Luca growled, his muscles bunching together as he tensed. “He did what?”
Rowan’s musical laughter filled the room. “Not to worry, honey, I showed him the error of his ways.” Rowan had a smirk on his face as he turned to look at Electus Everson, leaning back against Luca’s chest. “I seriously doubt he’ll be making a pass at anyone any time soon.”
“You didn’t—” Luca swallowed hard as his eyes dropped down to Electus Everson’s torn pants.
“Nah.” Rowan chuckled. “His balls are still attached, but only because he jumps really fast.”
Luca couldn’t say he was upset over how Rowan had to defend himself. He was just angry that Rowan had to defend himself in the first place. That wasn’t acceptable. Ever. Which reminded Luca… “Where’s Jackson?”
Rowan growled, his shoulders tensing. “He was shot by Daniel’s men when they kidnapped me. The physician is looking at him right now.”
“And the room?” Luca asked as he waved his hand at the destruction surrounding him.
“He wouldn’t let me go to you,” Rowan stated as if it should have been obvious.
Luca quickly wrapped his arms around Rowan’s waist when it looked like his mate might go after the electus again. He wanted to grin at the fear on Electus Everson’s face. He really did. But he also wanted control of a situation that could quickly spiral out of control. Luca nodded to the other vampire. “Electus Everson.” Everson swallowed and rubbed his leg. “Electus Ucathya.”
“I assume you have my money and the papers giving me the territory I want?”
Everson nodded. “You will sign something that states he will never enter my territory again?”
Luca smirked but nodded. “I will.”
“And you can enforce it?”
Luca’s eyebrows drew down as he frowned. “Are you questioning me?”
“No, no!” Everson hastily shook his hands in front of him. “I just want to make sure I never see him again. He’s a menace.”
Luca tightened his arms around Rowan when he felt him jerk and growl. Rowan clearly wanted to go at Everson again. “Enough, anamchara.”
Rowan instantly quieted and leaned back against Luca like he didn’t want to be any other place in the world. He even started rubbing the side of his face on Luca’s arm.
Everson’s jaw dropped. “How do you do that?” He gasped. “I threatened him with everything I knew, and he just kept attacking. How do you control him?”
Luca grinned when the guards standing around him burst out laughing. “I don’t control him, Everson. No one does.”
“But—” Everson waved a hand at Rowan. He looked so confused. “He’s a wolf. Aren’t you worried he will attack you in his sleep? Or…or…”
“Anamchara, are you going to attack me in my sleep?”
Rowan had a smile on his face as he tilted his head back to look up at Luca. “Only if you ask nicely.”

Luca kept his arm firmly wrapped around Rowan’s waist as he waited for Jackson to be loaded into one of the SUVs. He wasn’t taking any chances with his anamchara. Every time someone got too close, Rowan started growling and snapping at them. Rowan was obviously still pissed, and Luca couldn’t blame him. But hopefully, when word got out about what had happened with Electus Everson, it would stop others from trying to take Rowan.

“He’ll be fine, Rowan,” Luca said when Rowan looked at Jackson and whimpered. He knew that Rowan had a strange friendship with Jackson that made him care about the other man. “He’ll be on his feet and back to guarding you in a couple of days.”

“I get to keep him?” Rowan blinked up at Luca.
“I know this wasn’t Jackson’s fault. Jackson was shot and outmatched. He would have defended you if he could have. Besides, he hasn’t tried to strangle you yet. I will not reward his loyalty by taking his position away from him.”
Rowan sighed in obvious relief. “He really did try his best, Luca. If he hadn’t been shot…”
“Which is why when you go out, more guards will be assigned to you. If one is shot, hopefully another one can get you home safely.”
“But—”
Luca held up his hand to silence Rowan. “It’s not up for debate, anamchara. Jackson can guard you when you are home, but out on the streets, you will have more guards. I won’t feel comfortable with you running in your new park unless you are adequately protected.”
Rowan’s eyebrows crinkled. “My new park?”
“Did I forget to mention that?”
“Um, yeah.”
Luca chuckled. “Electus Everson paid me five million dollars and gave me part of his territory if I agreed to come get you. That includes a large forested park where you can run to your heart’s content.”
“He did what?” Rowan snapped. A feral light ignited in his eyes as he turned and started back the way he had come. “That motherfuc—”
“Rowan!”
When Rowan started to struggle against the hold Luca had on him, several of Everson’s guards jumped back, fear making them tremble. Luca grabbed Rowan tight up against his body and sank his fingers into the man’s sunlight-blond hair. He yanked Rowan’s head back and claimed his lips in a deep kiss, one he had been aching for since he set eyes on Rowan again.
By the time Luca lifted his lips several moments later, Rowan was slumped against him, a dazed lust shining in his eyes. Luca grinned and traced the soft outline of Rowan’s plump lips.
“Missed you, anamchara,”
he whispered through their bond.
“I missed you, too,”
Rowan replied just as silently. His head leaned back as he turned to look at the black SUV.
“I don’t suppose that thing has a privacy screen like the limo does?”
Luca chuckled. “No, it doesn’t.”
Rowan groaned.
Luca could see the hunger in Rowan’s eyes. It matched his own. He glanced back over his shoulder to where the other electus was still standing, surrounded by his guards. “I don’t suppose we can borrow your limo?”
Everson grimaced and tossed a set of keys at Luca. “Keep it.”
Luca caught the keys and nodded at the electus before turning back to Rowan. “Come on, anamchara. Our limo awaits.”

“Hey, babe,” Rowan said as he sauntered into Luca’s office, “I need to use your phone.”
Luca’s eyebrows peaked. “Rowan, you can use whatever phone you want. You don’t have to ask me for permission. You’re not a prisoner here.” A quizzical frown darkened Luca’s features. “I thought you knew that.”
Rowan walked over and plopped himself down in Luca’s lap, wiggling around until he found the exact spot he wanted—the one where he could feel Luca’s hard cock pressing up against his ass. It really was the perfect spot to cuddle.
“I do know that, but I need to call and check in with my family. I was kind of hoping you’d be there for that conversation.” Rowan started smoothing down the edges of Luca’s silk shirt. He would be the first to admit that he was nervous about calling his parents. “I haven’t told them about us yet.”
“Are you worried that they will be upset?”
“Yes and no.” Rowan shrugged. “I think they will be happy that I’ve found my mate but—”
“Is it because I am a man?”
A burst of laughter fell from Rowan’s lips. “No, they know I’m gay, and they have no problem with that.”
“Is it the whole vampire thing?”
“Again, yes and no. I think they will be worried until they meet you and see how much you love me but—”
Luca’s eyebrow arched. “You think I love you then?”
“Duh.” Rowan rolled his eyes. “I know you love me.” “And how did you come to this conclusion?”
“If you didn’t love me, you wouldn’t assign me so many bodyguards. You only protect the things you care about, and you care about me.” Rowan looked up at Luca through his eyelashes. The man looked a little stunned. Rowan couldn’t help but wonder if Luca knew he was also loved. “I love you, too.”
“Are you sure, Rowan?” Luca whispered. “I know mating is a really big thing for wolves, but are you sure it isn’t the bond you feel?”
His answer seemed to be really important to Luca, so Rowan took a moment to think about it before he spoke. “Well, I do feel a bond with you. I have from the very beginning. That’s why I left when you got upset that I was a wolf. I felt like my soul was being crushed.”
“Oh, anamchara.” Luca looked so contrite. “I know I didn’t take the news well in the beginning. I was just so shocked. I swear it doesn’t even bother me now.”
Rowan patted Luca’s chest. “I know.” Rowan grinned. “And that is why you still have your balls.”
“Rowan, you have got to stop threatening to take my balls.”
“Nope.” Rowan wrinkled his nose at Luca. “It keeps you in line.”
“Only because I’m afraid you’ll really do it.”
“Not to worry, honey. I happen to like them right where they are.”
“Unless I piss you off.” Luca growled.
Rowan arched an eyebrow. “Then don’t piss me off.”
“Rowan.”
Rowan grinned and started smoothing down the fabric of Luca’s chest again. It wasn’t that the shirt was wrinkled but more that Rowan really liked touching his mate. “Now, as I was saying, I do feel the bond with you. But feeling the mating bond does not mean we wolves automatically fall in love with our mates. That takes a little more work.”
“It takes work to fall in love with me?”
“Hell, yes!” Rowan burst out laughing at the disgruntled frown on Luca’s face. “You, my love, are not an easy man to care about. You’re egotistical, overbearing, and too damn stubborn for your own good.”
“Hey!”
“You’re also protective, possessive, and domineering.”
“I’m not sure if that’s any better, Rowan.”
“Oh, it is, believe me.” Rowan scooted around until he could swing his leg over Luca’s lap then sat down again, facing Luca. “You’re egotistical because you have a right to be. You lead a large amount of people, and you do it very well.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet. I’m not done.” Rowan grinned. “You’re overbearing and stubborn, but I think you need to be to be in the position you’re in. But you’re protective of those you lead and those you care about. I know you’d give your life to keep any of us safe.”
“It’s my duty as electus.”
“It’s more than a duty to you, Luca. It’s who you are.” Rowan leaned forward and pecked Luca on the lips. “You’re possessive of those you care about, those you love, because you want to keep them safe. Losing one of your tribe would hurt you. Losing someone you love would destroy you.”
Luca’s body became stiffer with each word Rowan spoke. Rowan started planting little kisses along Luca’s jaw line with each sentence to ease him. “Your family means everything to you, but I’m your anamchara. I mean the most. I’m the heart that beats in your chest, the blood in your veins. You’d wrap me in cotton to keep me safe if you thought I’d allow it.”
“I would,” Luca whispered breathlessly. “I’d do anything to keep you safe.”
“I know, and that’s why I don’t argue when you double my bodyguards. The need you have to keep me safe only tells me how much you love me.”
“It could be that I’m just trying to control you.”
Rowan laughed. “I have no doubt that you’re trying to control me. It’s in your nature. You are a vampire after all. However, I think I’m wolf enough to keep you in line when you overstep yourself.”
Luca’s mouth started to drop open then suddenly snapped closed. His dark eyebrows arched up. “You think you can control me, do you?”
“I’m going to try, and you know it. It’s one of the things you love about me. I refuse to be a rug beneath your feet. However, when it comes to the important stuff, like our love for each other, I will never use it against you to get what I want. That’s something too important to mess with.”
Luca looked thoughtful, the frown on his face easing slowly. “You seem to have this all figured out.”
“Oh, hell no. I’m just as lost as you are. But the one thing I know for a fact is that you love me and I love you. We’ll figure out the rest as we go along.”
“You’re that sure of me, huh?”
“I am,” Rowan answered without hesitation.
“Then I guess you might be right.”
“You guess?” Rowan frowned. “I’m going to win this argument, Luca.”
“All right, anamchara, I’ll let you win.” Luca grinned. “This time.”
“Promises, promises,” Rowan said flippantly as he turned and grabbed the phone. He could feel his mate’s hands running over his body in smooth, short motions. He knew exactly what Luca wanted, but Rowan needed to make his phone call first.
When Luca’s hand dipped between Rowan’s legs, massaging his raging hard-on, he dropped the phone and grabbed the desk, groaning as he wiggled his ass against the large bulge under him.
“I thought you were calling your family?” Luca growled softly in Rowan’s ear, backing his question up with a swipe of his tongue.
Rowan shuddered. “You know damn well I’m not talking to my mother while you fuck me.”
“Who said anything about me fucking you?” Luca asked.
“I did. Now fuck me.” Rowan slid from Luca’s lap as he kicked his pants free. He wanted to feel Luca all over him, marking him, fucking him until the desk crumbled to the floor. He climbed up on said desk, wiggling his ass back and forth as Luca licked his lips, staring at Rowan’s exposed hole. “Are you going to sit there and admire my ass or fuck it?”
Luca jumped to his feet, his pants pooling down at his ankles in seconds as he pulled a drawer open and extracted a tube of lube. He set the tube on the desk as his hands explored Rowan’s body, his nails scraping softly against Rowan’s flesh.
His fingers stroked Rowan’s mounds, and then he felt moist, wet fingers enter him. Rowan rocked back, impaling himself on Luca’s long, lithe fingers as he lowered his shoulders to the mahogany wood. The coolness of the desk felt great against his heated cheek.
When Luca pulled his hand free, Rowan inhaled sharply as he felt Luca’s large cock enter him. Good god, the man was blessed in the cock department! It made Rowan a very happy wolf.
Taking his bottom lip between his teeth, Rowan rode out the pain knowing it would morph into unbelievable pleasure. And he was right. Rowan keened loudly as Luca took him with brutal force. His lungs expanded as his cries echoed throughout the office.
He knew he was a loud lover and couldn’t care less as Luca pounded his cock into Rowan’s ass, making him scream as though he were being murdered.
“And you love it!” Rowan sang as he slammed back into Luca. He could feel every inch of his mate’s cock in his ass as his fingers dug into the wood, leaving claw marks behind.
Luca was going to be pissed about that when he saw them.
Rowan didn’t care at the moment. The only thing that concerned him was getting fucked by the most handsome man to walk the face of the earth. He reached underneath his body, curling his fingers around his cock and then began to stroke it to Luca’s pace. His release was close. Rowan could feel it clawing its way up his spine. His balls were nestled tightly to his body as he worked his shaft.
“Coming!” he shouted so loudly that the windows vibrated. Rowan saw stars as his balls emptied, his seed spilling onto the desk below him. Luca pounded his ass harder, gruff sounds coming from his mate before Luca shoved his cock deep into Rowan’s ass as he roared.
Rowan blinked a few times and then slumped against the desk, his heart beating out of control. Rowan lay there with a big goofy grin on his face as Luca slid from his body.
“You ready to make that phone call?”
“Five more minutes, Ma.” Rowan chuckled as he rolled over to his back, smiling up at the most important person in his life. He yelped when Luca smacked his bare hip. “What was that for?”
“Never call me your mother when we’ve just finished having sex. The visual just isn’t right.”
Rowan laughed as he pushed away from the desk, grabbing his pants and sliding them on. He took a seat back on Luca’s lap as his mate used a tissue to clean the desk off. “You scratched it!”
Rowan whistled as he glanced around the room, looking everywhere but at Luca. “Don’t know
what
you’re talking about.”
Luca growled as he wrapped his arms around Rowan, hugging him tightly. “I just bet you don’t. I’ll have to have someone come in and repair that.”
“Repair what?”
Rowan giggled as Luca nipped at his shoulder. “Make your damn phone call.”
Rowan rolled his eyes as he grabbed the phone and dialed his mother. He was excited to hear her voice. It had been some time since he talked to her, and he knew in his heart that she would accept Luca.
After a Demerol and a shot of whiskey.
“Hello?”
“Mom, it’s me, Rowan,” he sang into the phone, feeling homesick at his mother’s familiar voice. God, he missed her. He missed his entire family. They were very close. Hell, when Rowan had been banished from their pack, his entire family had packed up and left with them. They were loyal like that.
“Hey, Martha. I can’t talk long. I need to keep the phone line free in case Rowan calls.”
Rowan pulled the phone back and stared at it for a moment, wondering what in the hell his mom was talking about. Martha? Aunt Martha? Had his mother gone senile in the little bit of time he’d been gone? It hadn’t been that long. Had it?
“No, Mom,” he said as he put the phone back to his ear, “it’s me, Rowan.”
“No, I still haven’t heard anything from Rowan. It’s been heartbreaking not knowing where he is. Everyone is so worried.”
Rowan scratched his head. What the fuck? “Mom, are you okay? Where’s dad?” He needed to speak to someone and find out why his mother was taking a long walk in the woods without a compass. She was losing it.
“No, it’s not like Rowan to disappear like this. I’m worried he’s in trouble.”
Rowan was becoming frightened. His mother was sharper than a tack. She always had been. Hearing her talk like this was unnerving. Rowan glanced back at Luca when the man tapped him on the shoulder.
“Ask her who is there,” Luca whispered.
“Mom, who’s in the house with you?”
“No, Martha, you don’t have to come. Alpha Carlton Gregory heard about Rowan’s sudden disappearance, and he was nice enough to come over to help us search for Rowan. He hasn’t left our side, the dear man.”
Rowan felt his heart seize in his chest. Carlton was in his house! Rowan felt panic set in. Normally he didn’t give two shits about the wolf, but the man was in his mother’s house! “Help is on the way, Mom. Stall him.”
“Will do, dear. Take care.”
Rowan replaced the phone on the cradle, his hand shaking uncontrollably. “Carlton is in my mom’s house,” Rowan whispered as he stared at the phone as if it would offer an answer.
“Who is Carlton?” Luca asked with a snarl.
Rowan turned around, grabbing the front of his mate’s shirt, curling his fingers into the fabric. “We have to help them!”
Luca pried Rowan’s fingers free and then kissed his knuckles. Rowan could tell his mate was trying to calm him, but nothing would until Carlton lay dead at his feet. He wanted Carlton dead!
“Tell me who he is, anamchara.”
Rowan swallowed as he pushed the free falling bangs from his eyes. “He is the alpha of my pack.” Rowan shrugged. “Or he was.”
Luca sat up a little straighter, his body tense. “What do you mean
was
?”
“He…uh…he tried to mate me. When I refused, he kicked me out of the pack.” Rowan cringed as Luca roared so loudly that the walls shook. Luca’s eyes shifted to a deep crimson, his nostrils flared as he curled his lip back, baring his fangs. Oh yeah, he was pissed.
“I’ll kill him!”
Rowan jumped from Luca’s lap, and he pointed his finger at his mate. “Not before I do! He’s holding my family hostage. I’m the one who’s going to tear out his throat.”
Rowan was through pussyfooting around with Carlton. He was about to show the alpha he meant business. It was one thing to mess with him, but it was an entirely different ball game when the rat bastard went after his family.
He was going to claw the man’s balls off!
“You will not be going anywhere. My men and I will take care of him, Rowan.”
Like that was going to happen!
“Hell, no! You will not rob me of my revenge,” Rowan shouted as he let his claws extend, waving them threateningly at Luca. He had to hand it to his mate. Luca didn’t even flinch.
“Not even the threat of losing my balls will make me let you go, Rowan,” Luca snarled. “No, and that’s my final word.”
Rowan’s eyes narrowed.
His final word?
Rowan seethed with anger as he watched Luca walked out of the office.
How dare Luca!
Rowan was going to find a way to his mom’s house if he had to thumb a ride. There was no way he was going to sit around on his thumb and wait for news of his family’s safety.
Uh-uh. That was not going to happen.
Rowan stormed from Luca’s office as he headed toward their bedroom. He had to think of some way to get to his family. They meant the world to him, and he wasn’t going to sit around doing nothing.