Page 125 of Gemini Kings
What I smell more than anything is the spicy reek of patchouli. I’ve been burning cones of it, with perhaps an overly lavish hand, in a desperate attempt to cover up my own mating scent. Because now there’s a third alpha male in the house, the unpredictable Maxim—a fully manifested dragon shifter in rut, God help us—and I live in active dread of triggering the young alpha with my own heat.
It seems most unlikely that Vasili would respect my clearly signaled wishes and leave me to struggle through the pinnacle of my heat alone… at least until I can get my paws on Zara and Ronin, who are safely mine to ravage.
But, somehow, that appears to be what’s happened.
Vasili is simply nowhere to be found.
Perhaps he’s out flying, as he often does when he’s restless. Perhaps he’s gone off with the others to the student party after all. Perhaps he’s having a rare moment of uncharacteristic deference to my wishes and he’s going to let me make my own decisions about managing my own heat.
In any event, I’m not waiting around for my formidable alpha to materialize. Grasping the lit candelabrum from the dining room table, I make a swift circuit of the house to ensure no unattended candles are left burning (fire hazard) and that all doors and windows are soundly latched (security risk). My students all have keys and can let themselves in.
At last, swiftly, gratefully, I retreat to my ground floor bedroom.
I’m irritably aware that I’m creeping about my own house like a burglar, practically on tiptoe, since there is no need to alert Vasili—if indeed he’s lurking anywhere about—that I’m barricading myself from him.
By now, my need is raging and clawing at my resolve like a rabid wolf. I’m rigid and unbearably swollen in my trousers.
God save me, this wretched heat is intolerable.
I’m already planning an emergency session with a generous application of Neo’s lubricant and my hand, followed by a long hard run on all fours through the forest, to work off the worst of it.
At last, I blow out the candles and flee into my patchouli-scented bedroom. With a vast sense of relief, I bolt the bedroom door firmly in my wake.
The spartan confines of my sanctuary enclose me in welcome comfort. The narrow bed with its fur coverlet and fresh linens neatly made up by Neo this morning, the tidy pile of books and papers beside my decanter of Hungarianpalinkaon the desk, the bearskin rug snarling at me from the floor before the hearth.
My fire is burning low and shadows pool in the corners, but this dim light is ample for my shameful purposes. I lower the candelabrum to my trusty desk, then allow myself to lean against the solid surface and bow my head with a low groan.
Dear God in Heaven. Thank Christ I’m finally alone. Alone to relieve this unbearable heat—
“I’d advise you to peel out of those professorial trousers you’re wearing unless you want me to tear them off you, pet. And be lively about it,do.”
The horribly familiar whiplash of my alpha’s voice has me gasping and spinning, my heart lodged firmly in my esophagus to throttle me, my pulse beating hard and fast in my groin.
“You’ve kept me waiting long enough.” Vasili’s razor-sharp stare slices my rabbiting heart to ribbons. “You know I despise being made to wait.”
Of course, this sly snake I’ve so rashly and unwisely mated has been lurking here in the shadows, lying in wait for me to stumble into his den, and relying on my own overabundant use of incense to mask his scent!
Now he’s looming between me and the door, a tall and deadly shadow in his Renaissance coat and breeches, lace spilling from his cuffs, boots silent in the thick pelt before the fire. Needless to say, every stitch of this creature’s civilized attire is strategically chosen for theatrical effect.
He’ll barely have to unlace.
He’ll strip me naked and fuck me raw while he’s still fully clothed with his boots on. With every pump, he’ll drive into both of us how desperate I am to take what only he can give me, how needy I am for his heartless domination, how thoroughly I’ve abased myself to this shameful passion for my former student.
At least, he’ll stay clothed the first time.
The mere thought that there will be a next time, and a next after that, and so on, that he’ll cheerfully fuck me unconscious if that’s what it takes to break my heat—the thought clenches my balls in a spasm of need and shoves my aching shaft against my zipper.
“Mr. Romanov.” Desperately I summon every shred of my academic authority. “I’m afraid you don’t have an invitation to visit my bedroom tonight.”
“Since when have I ever needed one?” His lip curls in a sneer that reveals his sharp fangs, which only worsens the plight in my trousers. “Darling, I promised you an absolutely relentless fuck, and you should know me well enough by now to know I always deliver on that sort of promise.” His velvety voice unravels in a sexy snarl. Then his mouth curls in a teasing grin. “Now stop clutching your pearls and come over here and kiss me properly. That heat of yours is so intense you’re makingmesweat.”
“Dear God, how can I possibly make you understand? I… I can’t simply bend for you as though… as though nothing has changed. Not wheneverythinghas changed.” My voice sinks to a wretched whisper. “Don’t you understand how terribly you’ve betrayed me?”
“Hmmmm.” His gilded head lowers in thought. “Surprisingly enough, I do understand—although, admittedly, I was a bit slow at first to grasp where you’re coming from. This relationship the two of us have fallen into, well, it’s complicated as fuck. You’re my alpha in the classroom and in the office, while I’m your alpha in this bed.”
“Yes, that does seem to be the crux of our dilemma.” Blood of Christ, my chest is splitting open and my heart is lying in fragments. Now that we’ve finally embarked upon this dreaded discussion, I can muster no further excuse to delay breaking our bond.
If I can.
