Lover Forbidden -- Scene 7

The Black Dagger Brotherhood world and characters are the property of JR Ward.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Scene 7

Phury opened his eyes.  He didn’t know where he was at first but he stayed calm.  There was a sense of peace in the place where he lay.  And comfort.  He could stay here for a long while, he thought.

His body was sore, like he’d been through a fight with thirty lessers, but he felt good.  Clean.  Invigorated. 

He glanced down to the hand that rested lightly on his arm and over to the vampire it was attached to.  Rehvenge apparently had crawled onto the big bed to pass out beside him but on top of the sheets.  How chaste, Phury smiled.

Amongst the memories of his horrible dreams, images he’d probably keep for the rest of his life, Phury remembered the kindness of Rehvenge.  And of Cormia.  He wondered briefly where she was, but he knew she’d gone back.  That kiss wouldn’t have happened if she’d been anywhere around, he was damn sure of that.

He rolled over on his side, facing the sleeping male beside him.  He reached out with his fingers and lightly traced Rehvenge’s handsome face.  The jaw, the nose, the dark slashes of his eyebrows.  The lips.  Great lips. 

Phury thought back to that moment when he realized Rehv had kissed him in his sleep.  He’d almost panicked when he’d seen the male drawing back.  He’d almost let him get away.  Phury had pulled him closer to get a true connection.  A real show of what he’d been feeling for a long time. 

He slowly moved himself closer, trying not to wake Rehvenge as he squirmed his way out of the sheets.  When they were body to body he kissed the other male’s chin and licked up to those lips that bracketed the sweetest mouth.

Rehvenge awoke with a start and stared at him, amethyst peepers glowing. 

“Turn about’s fair play,” Phury said and rose on his arm, snaking his hand around Rehv’s neck to pull him in for a full on lip-lock.  He heard the sympath groan as he pulled him even closer, slamming through those amazing lips with his tongue.  Taking all the sweetness and giving back what he could, hoping it was enough.

Rehvenge’s hands made their way to Phury’s hips and he locked them together in a rough grind.

The feel of Rehv’s erection against his own nearly had Phury going off but he didn’t.  He wanted more of that mouth before things went all the way, kisses being a novelty for him and all.

Their breathing was beyond ragged.  Hoarse and uneven, both trembling with need and they grasped each other desperately.  Bruising.   No quarter given.

Rehvenge reached between Phury’s thighs and caressed the rigid length through the loose pants.   He bucked against Rehv’s hand, liking that friction.  Liking it a lot.  But he liked groin-to-groin more, a preference he made crystal clear when he moved Rehv’s hand, clamped his own paws on Rehvenge’s hard glutes and pulled him as close as the laws of physics would allow. 

They ground into each other, panting and groaning and finally Phury gasped harshly and came right in his primale pjs.  Rehv wasn’t far behind as he lost it with a curse and shuddered in the tight circle of Phury’s arms. 

For an eternity neither moved save for the tremors that shook them after the intensity of their contact. They dozed, tangled together, heartbeats and breaths in sync.  An electric feeling thrummed through Phury’s body, he wanted more.  All of it.  But apparently, Rehv’s mind was on business.

“So what happens now?”  Rehvenge asked gruffly.  “I hate to get real, but … I need to know.”

Phury was silent.  Reality hitting him slowly but with the force of dynamite.  He couldn’t just choose this.  He wasn’t free. 

“I’m not sure,” he said, leaning his forehead against Rehv’s.  “I have … obligations.  I don’t …”

“What are your options?”

“I don’t know,” Phury said thoughtfully, not without hope.  “I’ve spent so much time avoiding the whole thing, I’m not sure what freedom I still have.  But I know where I might find out.”  The primale temple on the other side held the journals of all the previous primales.  Surely he could find something.

“You have to get the answers, Phury,” he pulled away slowly and sat on the other side of the bed.  “The virgin doesn’t take kindly to betrayal and she might see this as such.“

“If I get the answers.  If I can find a way for us to be together, is that what you want?”  Phury’s armor was going up all around him. 

“I …” Rehvenge seemed to struggle for words, which didn’t bode well.  “I think I might care quite a bit for you.”  Guarded, understandably.

The big sympath got up quickly and strode to his wardrobe for a change of clothes.  He ducked into the bathroom with the bundle, Phury heard water running, and Rehv came back out dressed in slacks and carrying a shirt.  Phury couldn’t help but stare.  The male really should have put his shirt on if he wanted to have a conversation.

“Let me put it this way,” he said, finally meeting Phury’s eyes.  “If we start something, there’s a good chance I’ll fall hard for you.  Irrevocably.  If that happens and the Scribe Virgin calls it quits, I … yeah, I don’t want to go there.”  He shook his head.

“Would you be willing to share me with the Chosen if that’s what she demands?”

“Yes,” Rehv answered too quickly. 

“Maybe you should think about what that would mean.”  Phury suggested crawling out of bed and testing his sea legs.  He took a couple of tentative steps and rested.  After all the thrashing during the withdrawal and then the grind, his prosthetic needed some tightening, but his legs, for the most part, were good.

“Need help?”  Rehvenge asked.

“No, just taking a break.  You got any pants I can borrow?”

Rehvenge went back to the wardrobe and selected a pair and a shirt to go with.

“Thanks,” Phury took himself carefully to the bathroom and, when he came back, he was dressed.  The pants were about an inch too long, and the shirt just slightly pulled across the shoulders, but he looked basically presentable. 

“What are you thinking?” Rehvenge asked.

“That I’d been hoping to have sex.”  Phury answered honestly.  Damn, his celibacy was a like a rash he couldn't get rid of.

Rehv made a growling noise in the back of his throat.  “That’s not the best idea until we know we won’t be ashed for it.”  His voice was strangled, pushed.

“So, barring having sex,” Phury paused, looking hopefully at his lover and Rehvenge growled again, shaking his head.  Phury sighed, “I’m thinking I’ve got to go to the Other Side, study the primale journals and laws of the sanctuary, and then … endear myself to the all-powerful virgin so she’ll let me have what I want.  Which is you, by the way, in case you can’t tell.”  He strode to Rehvenge, pulled him full body and kissed his breath away for a hundred agonizing heartbeats.

“You shouldn’t do that.” Rehvenge complained, not sounding like he meant it very much.  “I won’t let you go if you keep it up.”

“Promise?” Phury grinned, but he was partly serious.  He wanted some confirmation to go along with the adolescent-like thrill he was feeling.  A sense that Rehvenge was feeling the same way.

“No promises until we know what we’re up against.” Rehv said.  Then he cleared his throat.  “I have some things I need to take care of as well.”

“Like what?”  A bolt of dread shot through Phury.  Who, or what, did Rehvenge have that caused him to look so guilty?

“I’ll tell you after I take care of it.  It’s safer for everyone if you don’t know just yet.”  Rehvenge opened the fridge and produced a jug of orange juice.  Poured two glasses, handed one to Phury and raised his own in a toast.  “To a flexible Scribe Virgin.”

Phury threw back his head and laughed.  “You haven’t met her personally, have you?”

“God no!”  Rehvenge feigned horror, “but, actually that’s another consideration.  The rules about sympaths come from within the Scribe Virgin’s purview.  She would kill me if she knew about me, regardless of whatever difficulties you’re about to propose.”

“Here I was all excited about us,” Phury motioned between them, his expression troubled, “and you’re throwing up roadblocks.” 

Rehvenge took a couple of steps, grabbed Phury by the shirt collar and pulled him close.

“The road blocks exist,” he snagged the moment to melt into a deep, sensuous kiss, “so do the possibilities for us.  Get rid of the former and the latter is free and clear.  We could take this all the way, Phury.  I’m feeling you that much.”

Raw.  That was what Rehv’s eyes showed.  Stripped bare and vulnerable, he’d laid it all on the line for Phury to embrace or destroy.   Could Phury trust that?  Things are not always as they seem, he knew that better than anyone. 

Still, too much looking might mean no leaping.  And no sex with Rehvenge.  That would simply not do.

“Sorry,” Phury kissed him sweetly, just a touch of the lips, “I have fears of rejection and abandonment.”  He admitted sheepishly.

“I want you more than breathing, Phury.  If things weren’t as they are we wouldn’t leave this room for a week, and we’d have to negotiate options after that.  I can’t imagine getting tired of having you with me.”

Phury’s insides butterflied on him, coalescing into a swarm of emotion.  He swallowed a couple of times and rested his forehead on Rehv’s shoulder.   As honest tears leaked from his eyes, he drew on his lover’s considerable strength.  Rehvenge stroked his back, whispering soothing, loving words and Phury really did want to risk the wrath of the virgin if he could never ever leave those arms.  To be loved and accepted on mutual terms … what a blessing.  If it was true.  And it was, wasn’t it?

“I’m at least seventy-five percent in love with you already, Rehvenge.”  Things were moving fast.  But why not?  It wasn’t like they’d just met.  Rhage declared Mary his shellan after knowing her for about 24 hours and look how that had turned out.  Phury liked the no-games approach.

“Likewise, primale.  Now, let’s both take care of our business asap so we can take it to 100, okay?” 

“Deal.”  Phury smiled and pulled away.   He scrubbed the residual wetness from his eyes with his palms. 

“I could call in a delivery for first meal, if you want, or we can go out.”  Rehvenge tucked in his shirt absent mindedly, moving to the other side of the room, “I’m not sending you off hungry.  You need to get some good food in you to stay strong against any red smoke cravings.  You just went through withdrawal.  You also need blood.  Have you got someone?”  The last was said tightly.  No matter how foolish the thought, Phury imagined Rehv was roughly as happy about him feeding from someone else as he was about Rehv going elsewhere.  For the thousandth time in his life, his biology pissed him off.

“I last fed from Cormia.”  Phury said, “I don’t really have to feed on the Other Side, but you’re right, I need it to tough out the jones.”

Rehv looked like he wanted to say something.

“What?” Phury asked.

“Cormia.  What is she to you?’

“She’s first mate to the primale.  She’s my friend.  She’s not my lover.  If I can’t figure out another way, though …”

“Not my business.”  Rehvenge said quickly as a chime rang out.  He punched a button on the console, putting an earpiece on at the same time, which kept Phury from hearing the call.

“I’ll be right out.”  He said, and turned to Phury, “Don’t go anywhere.  Decide how you want to do first meal and we’ll do it.”

Rehvenge headed out, leaving Phury alone to contemplate his utter lack of cool.  He sat down.  Stood up.   Sat down again.  Tried to get a handle on this runaway train, but all he wanted was back in those arms, his lips on those lips.  He’d never felt this kind of rush before, but he’d always been locked down tight.  Except for Bella he’d never come close to opening up to somebody this way.  There were still things Rehv didn’t know about him and vice versa but he imagined them putting it all out there for the other to gauge and eventually dispel.  Wasn’t that what lovers did for each other?  He wouldn’t know. 

Out in the club there was a sparse crowd.  It would be another hour or so before things picked up.  Rehvenge looked around and found the scarred twin of his lover in the VIP area looking very much like someone who absolutely did not fit in. 

“Zsadist,” Rehvenge greeted his brother-in-law cordially enough, but prepared for a verbal, if not physical, attack.

“Where is he?” 

“I assume you mean your twin?”  Rehv kept one fisted hand in his pocket and the other on his cane. 

“You know who the fuck I mean.  Xhex called the compound last night and said he was here, where is he?”

“She was told we could do with him as we saw fit.  That he was PNG to the Brotherhood.  Was that not the truth?”

“It’s the truth.”  The air seemed to go out of the menacing male, “I just need to see him to know he’s alive.”

“What if I tell you he’s alive and give him the message you asked after him?”

“Then I’ll kill you just in case you’re lying to me.  After that I’ll kill your girlfriend, Xhex, how about that?”

“You’ll try.  You may end me, but Xhex … not a chance,” Rehvenge smirked, “I’ll ask him if he’s interested.”

Z looked like he wanted to say something but he wisely stopped himself.  Rehvenge really didn’t know how this was going to go.  Phury was pretty hurt and some of the things he’d screamed in his fits … well, he wouldn’t want to see his twin either, if he’d had one.

On entering the apartment he found Phury seated on the leather couch, thumbing through an Architectural Digest magazine that Rehv actually used more as a coaster than reading material. 

“Your twin is here.  He wants to see you.”

Phury stood up, dropping the magazine on the floor. 

“What?  Here?” The trapped animal look was back in Phury’s eyes and Rehvenge silently cursed Zsadist for pushing it too soon. 

“He’s out in the club, but I could bring him into the office.  He says he just wants to know you’re alive.”  Rehv said gently.  “Or I could send him away.  It’s your call.”

“Why? Is this some kind of torture?  What’s the point of tossing me out if they’re just going to come back and act like they care.  Because that is torture, Rehvenge.  Worse than anything I had on the lessers’ table.”  Rehv remembered that image, another one he hadn’t wanted.

“He just wants to see.  I can’t be sure, but I think he’s here extracurricularly, if you know what I mean.”

“Two minutes.  Not even that.  One.”  Phury was moving around the room now, a tiger in a cage. 

“One minute.  You can even leave this door open and stand at the edge of the alcove so you can disappear when you’re ready rather than when he is.”

“Good idea, thanks.”  Phury was fisting his hands over and over.  Working out the stress Z was causing him.

“I’ll knock when we’re in the office.”  Rehvenge left the apartment to get the scarred warrior, vowing to take the motherfucker’s head off if he said one disrespectful word to Phury.

Rehvenge found Zsadist on the other side of the office door, anxiously pacing.

“Where is he?”

“You assume he wants to see you.”  Rehvenge hated that attitude.  Leave when sent, come when bidden.  Fuck him.

That brought Z up short.  He looked stricken for a moment as if it hadn’t truly occurred to him that Phury wouldn’t want to see him. Rehv supposed Z had gotten more comfortable than he realized with the status quo.

“Does he?” Menace gone, voice small. Rehv mentally slapped himself for instigating within a situation he didn’t fully understand.

“He’ll see you briefly, but he’s not feeling all that strong, so don’t push it.”  Rehv ushered Zsadist into his office.  The first time his brother-in-law would ever see the space.

He walked over and gave the apartment door a couple of quick knocks and Phury opened it looking like he’d taken twelve steps backward in his recovery.

“Phury?” Zsadist’s voice quavered.

“I’m here,” a rough whisper, not much more, as Phury became visible to his twin.

“You okay?”

“So far.”

“Clean?”

“None of your fucking business,” a snarl. 

Wow, a little resentment, maybe?  Again Rehvenge found himself fascinated by the dynamic.  He and Bella had had a few issues in the past, but nothing like this.

“Fair enough,” Z said grimly, “I just wanted to see you … breathing, or … something.” 

“I am.  Don’t worry about me, okay?  You did the right thing.”

Phury disappeared from the alcove and the next sound was the click of the door closing. 

“Thanks,” Zsadist said to Rehv and vanished out the door. 

Rehvenge shook his head.  He really hated to see Phury in such pain.  He couldn’t force him to the table, though.  A lot of water had gone under Phury and Zsadist’s bridge and it would take something really big to bring them back together. 

He walked back into the apartment and heard the shower running.  Again Rehvenge found himself growling.  Also found himself pacing like an animal outside the bathroom door wanting to break it down and have a look-see at what he’d been feeling earlier.  Bad idea.  He paced some more. 

By the time the primale emerged – clothed -- from the bathroom, Rehv had done a hundred stomach crunches and the same amount of pushups.  Lactic acid burn was way better than blue balls any day of the week. 

One large first meal, an ill advised kissing break, and an hour later, Phury left for the Other Side and Rehvenge pulled out his ledgers to catch up on work.  He closed them again, feeling like he’d been run over by a bull. 

They’d done the right thing.  If he hadn’t insisted Phury go over, they’d just be in limbo until the hammer came down.  Savoring memories of their evening encounter, Rehvenge felt his heart twist.  It was so good.  So perfectly right, the opposite of his other activities … that he would never think of in the same category again, not even for comparison’s sake. 

He remembered Phury’s last words to him.  “No matter what happens either I will come back to you or you’ll get word.  I won’t leave you hanging.”

They’d kissed long and irresponsibly and when Phury pulled away one last time he’d smiled and said, “Seventy-five percent.  Coming up on eighty.”

“Like a rocket.”

“Mmmm, sounds intriguing.”  The primale had grinned at him.  Happy.  And then he’d left. 

Having lived as long as Rehv had, he would have thought he’d know himself from skin to in, but this time he was flummoxed.  For one thing, he’d fallen for an addict.  Never in his wildest dreams had he ever thought he’d do that.  He looked on most addicts with contempt or pity or both.    Add to that the addict’s gender.  He’d never been with a male, never been attracted and here he’d been making out and heavy petting with one like it was second nature.  Like he’d done it before.  He shook his head, wondering if he should be alarmed at this sudden change in preference.  But had it really been a change?  No.  He wasn’t attracted to any other males besides Phury.  It was just that one.  And it wasn’t sudden either.  He’d been semi-obsessed with the male going on a year.  Plenty of time to get used to the idea.  Phury’s ardor was what surprised him.  He would never have thought …

How was Rehvenge to make this happen?  He was a control freak, admittedly, and this was a situation like any of the others that needed to be handled with precision.  And, if it couldn’t happen, could he live with that?   

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Even more Inevitable note: It was brought to my attention that the way the scene read as originally posted was a bit ... abrupt.  Hopefully these changes/additions have helped to smooth the way. 

Inevitable note:  One of the things I’ve always found interesting about Phury and Rehvenge is how similar they are.  Both are actually fairly cultured, but rejected for their own individual reasons.  Both have a lot of self-loathing and both love their siblings like crazy.  When they each ended up in the situation where they had to have sex with someone they didn’t get to choose it really sealed the deal for me.  Not that the princess and the Chosen are at all comparable, but there’s a seed of sameness there, I think. 

Inevitable soundtrack:   Faith Hill's "Breathe"


Inevitable sountrack 2:  Acceptance's "So Contagious"

Scene 8 

Lover Forbidden -- Scene 8

The Black Dagger Brotherhood world and characters

are the property of JR Ward.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Scene 8

The best thing about the Other Side was access to the history of the race.  The Chosen kept extensive writings on all aspects of the vampire population.  If he’d had more time, Phury wouldn’t have minded settling in and going through every tome and artifact for simple fascination’s sake.  

The only biographical manscripts Phury actively avoided were those that dealt with Ahgony.  He had just come to the realization that he should be pissed off at the male who was his father and he wanted to explore that indignation for a bit before setting it aside.

The Chosen were beside themselves with glee to have the Primale in residence.  They came to his temple bearing gifts and gaping robes.  They all wanted him.  Isn’t that what he’d always dreamed of?  To be wanted?  Not like this, though.  And he hated that this was the Chosen’s lot.

He’d found in more recent history that the attack on the sanctuary many decades ago had prompted their isolation.  Prior to that, they’d fed the Brothers with regularity and often mated.  The late directrix had put restrictions in place that kept those sides of the race separate.  Then she blamed the Brotherhood for forgetting the Chosen.  She’d been a real piece of work, that one.

It galled him that he was the Chosen’s only option for intimacy.  Forget love.  There was affection already and a certain kind of love he would feel for anyone under his care, but there was no romance that was for damn sure.  And didn’t they deserve that?  At least the chance for it.

It didn’t help that all he thought about was Rehvenge and his own romantic situation, which wasn’t looking too shiny either.  Being away from that room in the center of Zero Sum, away from Rehv, had made his confidence in their connection drop precipitously.   Rehv’s reaction could have just been a heat of the moment thing.  Phury’s wasn’t, he knew that.  Absence wasn’t making the heart grow fonder, that might not have been possible, but it was making the trust in their union disintegrate and fear of heartbreak take over. 

If he stayed where he was, didn’t face it, he couldn’t be hurt quite so badly, could he?  No, that was stupid.  He’d spent the entire time he’d been here delving into the primale history to see if he could find precedent for a mate on the other side.  So far he hadn’t found quite that situation, but he’d found some potential leeway.  Mostly he found a passion for change.  No matter what happened to him, he wanted the Chosen to have some options of their own.

“Will you walk today?” Cormia’s voice snapped him from his thoughts. 

“Of course,” he rose and joined her at the temple arch.  They’d walked every day since he’d come over.  They talked about various things, their interests, keeping clear of all things personal Earthside. She didn’t ask about his drug issues, or the Brotherhood.  She asked about architecture and art.  That was good.  She didn’t ask about Rehvenge.  That was even better. 

Until today.

“Do you think your friend, Rehvenge, is in love with you?” She blatantly asked.

Phury choked on air.  What the fuck?

“Why do you ask something like that?”  He chuckled lamely, shaking his head like “that’s crazy” when he knew it wasn’t.

“The way he looked at you.  The way he took time to help you.  I do not know much about the selling of illegal substances, but it seems those who engage in such are not likely to often aid those who suffer from it.   And the way he created a reason for me to leave so he could be alone with you.”

“That reason wasn’t created.  The sympaths are very dangerous.   One apparently taunts him from time to time and saw you.  He was right to insist you leave for your safety.”

“So you believe him?”

“Yes.”

“Why would a sympath take note of a specific vampire?”

Oh shit.

“He must’ve crossed her path at some point and she took an interest.  They’re evil, there’s no rhyme or reason for who they decide to hurt.”  Oh crap, was that true?

“You haven’t answered my question.”

No, he hadn’t, and screw her for noticing.

Phury sighed.  Could he go all in with Cormia?  She had become a good friend.  Someone he cared about and someone he hoped she could trust.  And if his worst fears were realized he’d need someone to help him pull it together.  Better for her to know the story now rather than when … no, if, … his heart shattered.

“You think Rehvenge is in love with me,” he said quietly.  “I hope so.  I really hope he is.” 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

At this point we have the scenes from Lover Enshrined (pages 54-56 and pages 330-332) where Rehvenge prepares to meet with the princess.  These might not fit exactly, but there’s no way I’d rewrite these scenes as they’re perfect.

Keep in mind that Rehvenge at this point is trying not to think about Phury at all in order to keep him safe from the princess.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It happened on his fifth day in residence.  The primale’s whole reason for being was called into service.  He’d known it would happen.  Had known it would be soon.  They actually had a chart in his temple and he’d only been grateful that the first one on the list was going to be her. 

Still, he wasn’t ready.  He hated that he’d be the one to do this.  It should be someone who loved her or who could love her.  And he shouldn’t have to be with anyone besides the one he loved, either.  Guilt swamped him from both sides, which was ridiculous because nobody ever thought this wasn’t going to happen.  If there was anything out in the open the primale’s first duty was like a flashing neon sign; fuck the Chosen, fuck the Chosen, fuck the Chosen. 

Still, he had been surprised to feel her needing slam him like a meteor.  He couldn’t have kept himself from her if he’d had a busload of red smoke.  This was far more powerful than anything he’d felt when Bella’s time had come.  He’d have crawled to the small domed building that held the needing bower if he’d had to. 

“Where is she?” He gritted to Amalya who clasped her hands together in celebratory happiness.

“Just beyond these doors, sire.  She is in great distress.”  Her tone was so incongruous with her words he might have laughed if his throat hadn’t been nearly closed.

“I thought the effects were dampened here.”

“Not when there is a primale, sire.  Now that you are here, the effects are stronger.  Even stronger than for those females on the other side.  All protections are down to make it far more likely for your seed to take.”

His brain and his body were headed in completely different directions as he broke down the door of the small building.  He was a fucking animal and he growled harshly when he saw her.  Cormia was pulled onto a tight ball, rocking back and forth, her eyes flooded with tears and vacant. 

“I’m sorry,” she whimpered, “I know you do not want this.  I’m sorry.”

And how the hell was she going to stop it?  This was what they were meant for, right?  Phury growled again and she sobbed.

“I’m sorry.” She suddenly clenched tightly, pain he couldn’t imagine shooting through her and he snatched her up off the floor and into his arms.

“I’m not angry at you, Cormia.  I’ll take care of you.”

“But …” her whole body contracted and she groaned.

“It’s okay, sweetheart, don’t worry about me.”

It’s not as if his body was going to let him leave her anyway.  Males simply amp’d into “gotta have it” mode when a female’s needing hit.  It could have happened this way with any female.  His biology demanded it and he had to give.  But even if he’d had a choice, he’d never leave her like that. 

He shut off his brain and got down to work.  Not hating it.  How can you hate helping someone?  There are worse things, right? How can you feel bad about doing what your body – every male of the vampire race’s body -- demands? 

Phury braced for the long haul, thrusting into Cormia harder than he might have if the animal hadn’t taken over.  She didn’t mind.  She was coming.  And so was he.  Lather, rinse, repeat.

At least it’s her. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

At his point we have the scene from Lover Enshrined (pages 360-371) where Rehv has his meeting with the princess.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Phury awoke to singing.  A beautiful soprano voice soared through the open lightly veiled windows of the needing bower.  The words she sang were in the old language and Phury realized they were praises to him which gave him some serious heebie jeebies.

He lay on his back on a lush pallet amidst drifts of scattered white petals.  When had those appeared?  He looked around to see if any other Helpful Henriettas had brought gifts.  Yep, there was a tea service laid at a small table across the room.  The pot was still steaming, so they must have brought it recently. 

Cormia lay sleeping, curled on her side facing him, the lines carved by the pain of her needing beginning to ease.  How long had it taken?  He could barely remember any of it.  A total blur. 

Crap! How was he going to explain this to Rehvenge?  It had always been out there, but now it had happened.  How do you tell your lover you had sex with someone else but it was beyond your control?  Yeah, right.  Even though he understood it would still sting.  

Was he supposed to be doing something?  He recalled Z making food for Bella.  Feeding a female gave a certain impression, though.  One he didn’t want to give.  Besides, the interloping Chosen had already taken care of that with their tea service.   He saw little white cucumber sandwiches, about eight hundred of them, stacked on a plate.  His stomach growled and Cormia started.  He had to chuckle.  She was cute.

She opened her eyes and stared at him, realization dawning.

“Are you okay?” Phury asked her.

“Yes.  It’s over,” she looked for something to cover herself and found her robe.  “Are you … okay?”

“I’m okay,” he assured her.

“Thank you.”  She said once she had pulled the robe on and tied it.

“Don’t thank me, Cormia.  It was no great sacrifice for me.  Except seeing you in pain like that.  That sucked.”

“Feeling it sucked as well,” she said, spying the food and scrambling toward it.

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard you use language like that,” he grinned.

“I learned a little when I lived with the Brotherhood.”  She poured tea for herself and for him and immediately began chowing down.  There were cakes and cookies besides the sandwiches, and a bowl of odd-looking fruit Phury had made it a personal policy not to eat.

“You’re sure you’re okay?” He asked warily, the question full of unpleasant meaning. 

Are you sure you understand I still don’t love you?

“I’m fine,” she didn’t snap but her tone told him to “shut it” and he did. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rehvenge floated.  He swirled in the atmosphere, pain pulsing through his veins. Burning him.  Making the darkness the only place he could stand.

He heard Trez, noted the concern in his voice and turned to float further into the blackness.  How often does one actually get to fly anyway? 

Was he a puss that he wanted Phury?  Only he couldn’t have Phury after something like the princess.  He’d be horrified if his warrior knew the depraved things he’d been doing for the past quarter century.  He would know, though, if they were together.  Better to let that one go than to expose this part of himself.  The part that was a whore.

He floated away from that subject, too.  He didn’t want to think about anything but the nice, damp cloth that gently touched his forehead.  He sighed and gave himself over to the murky darkness.  It was quiet there and he could sleep.

Inevitable note:  This was hard to write for some reason.  I had written well over a thousand words and trashed them all to start over with a new approach.  Much better, I think (although you’ll just have to take my word for it).

Inevitable soundtrack:  

For Rehvenge – "Animal I Have Become" by Three Days Grace

For Phury -- "I Miss You" by Incubus

Scene 9 

Lover Forbidden -- Scene 9

The Black Dagger Brotherhood world and characters

are the property of JR Ward.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Scene 9

Rehvenge sat on the edge of his bed in his spacious room at the great camp.  His limbs were all in working order and the stiffness and kinks that come from sleeping for most of five days were down to the occasional twinge.  For the first time in all those days his head was clear.  He’d had a shower, shaved, and, while not exuberant, felt at the very least … better.

While he’d been low, that angel, Lassiter, had come to see him.  Asking questions about the Brotherhood, where they could be found.  Rehv had hooked him up after the angel had healed him of some pretty serious infection.  Humiliating to be seen like that, but also concerning that his Dopamine use was making him sick.  Like he needed something else to worry about.

He scrubbed his face with his hands and slipped his platinum watch onto his wrist.  He shivered a bit in the air, the shower he’d just taken having been as hot as his skin could take and then some.  The contrast was chilling, even though he was fully clothed. 

He felt him before he saw him.  Wondered if he were back in dreamland.  When the hell did Phury get here?

But there he was, standing in the shadows in the corner of the room.  In fact, one living breathing shadow as Trez materialized next to the warrior.

“What the fuck, Trez?” Rehv blasted, alarmed, appalled and completely fucking freaked out that his warrior might have seen him at his weakest.

The shadow shrugged but didn’t say anything in his own defense.  So, it was like that was it?

“I came back to see you and you weren’t at Zero Sum.” Phury explained.  “I made Xhex call Trez.”

“And you took it upon yourself to spill?” Rehv was still looking at Trez who stood, arms folded in fuck-you position across his chest.  Completely unrepentant. 

“Could you leave us alone, Trez?” Phury asked politely.

“I don’t know, can I?”  The shadow responded.

“He saved my life, the last thing I want to do is hurt him.” The warrior promised.

Trez looked over at Rehv and grinned, “angels, Brothers, ain’t you fancy?”

Rehv smiled wanly and nodded to let Trez know it was okay to leave him with Phury.  When the door closed behind his friend, he steeled himself, balling his fists into tight knots.  How much did Phury know?

“So …” Phury pushed away from the wall he was leaning against, “now’s the time for you to tell me what’s up.”

“How long have you been here?”

“Long enough to know you were half dead for a few days.  I got here night before last.  This is the first time I’ve seen your eyes open.  I was having first meal with Trez in the kitchen when we heard the shower.”

“What happened on the Other Side?” Rehv asked, drinking in the sight of Phury.  The warrior was absolutely radiating sex appeal.  The Other Side had done him good, it seemed.

“You first.” That beautiful face hardened and Rehv shut down the sex thoughts.  How could he tell Phury what he’d done? 

“I really think it would be better if we eased into that conversation.”  Rehv’s voice was weak, his eyes cast down.  He would tell him.  It would end everything, but he would be honest.  Damn it.

Phury was silent for a long time and Rehv thought they might stay like that forever.  Finally, the warrior made his way over to a chair in a sitting area by the huge fireplace and settled in.  His gaze latched onto the fire, but he didn’t complain.  It was the middle of the summer, and the room was warm, but Rehvenge still shivered with the cold.

“I served Cormia through her needing,” Phury said absently, staring.

“Oh.” Well if that wasn’t a punch in the gut.

“She knows, by the way.  About us.”

“What else does she know?”

“Just … that.  She doesn’t know you’re a sympath.”

“What did she have to say about it?” Rehv asked cautiously.  He wasn’t one for airing his feelings and this conversation had the markers of a soul-baring marathon. 

“She was hurt.  I think she felt … I don’t know.  It doesn’t matter because she’s not allowed to feel any more for me than I would be for her.  It’s all share and share alike as far as the Chosen go.  Even with the primale.  So, she was upset but she had no official right to be.  Which sucks for her.”

“When did she go into her needing?”

“I guess it would have been Monday, maybe early Tuesday.  It lasted twenty hours.  Amalya, the directrix, timed it.”  The last was said dryly.

“Twenty hours?”  Unbelievable.

“Yep.  Twenty hours.” Phury wiped his palms on his pants and Rehvenge sucked in a breath.  He knew that tell.  Phury wanted smoke and and he wanted it bad. 

Rehvenge walked over to the chair opposite Phury and sat.  He leaned forward and took a clammy hand.

“Are you okay?”

Phury laughed harshly at that one.

“That’s what Cormia and I kept asking each other after the ... after.  If this isn’t the biggest dumb mess, I don’t know what is.” He slumped back in the chair, effectively breaking their grip.  Rehv sat back as well and eyed the primale. 

“At least it was her.” Phury’s eyes were back on the fire but his hands continued their slide on his pants.  Rehv worried.  He also felt intense, irrational jealousy and the equally irrational wish that the Chosen Phury had served had been more anonymous to him.  Cormia was too close for Rehvenge’s comfort. 

“When,” Rehv had to clear his throat to get the next words out, “when will you have to do it again?”

“According to the helpful chart in the primale temple, not for another year.  But there are three needings scheduled within the span of about five months starting around November.” His voice had taken a bitter edge.

They were silent for a while, ruminating.  The winds whispered in the trees, and an owl called to its mate.  The silence of the two males at the fire stretched long and eventually awkwardness set in.  How does one speak when there are no words?

“You haven’t told me what happened to you,” there was annoyance in Phury’s voice now.  No more hiding.

“I know,” Rehv admitted, standing and beginning to pace. “It’s damn hard to get started on something like this.”

“Trez and Xhex didn’t tell me anything, but I got the distinct impression they thought I should know.” Phury locked eyes with Rehvenge and didn’t let him go.

“I’m not sure I can.”

“You can.”

Rehvenge heaved a sigh.  This was it.  He’d lay it all on the line except for some details that were Xhex’s to tell or not tell and he’d see what Phury did.  If he walked away from him then it wasn’t meant to be.  Okay.  Great.  Do it. 

And he did.  He told Phury everything.  Right down to the way the Princess always made sure Trez could see them when they came.  And how Rehv was reduced to being carried like a child to the car afterward.  He told him about the rubies and the scorpions and the bombshell that the sick, twisted freak who’d used him for twenty-five long years was his half-sister.

When he finally looked up he found blazing yellow eyes staring at him.  A scowl furrowed Phury’s brow as did a look of utter disbelief.

Well, that’s it then.

“Why is she still breathing?”  Phury’s voice was low. 

“If I kill her, or let Xhex kill her, my uncle, the king -- her husband -- will come after me.  He won’t make any deals.”

“It’s not worth it.  He can be killed as well.”

“Not as easily.  He can freeze you were you stand and feast on your entrails while you’re forced to watch.  And the princess knows other things, too.  She’s arranged it so the king will know everything should she die in a suspicious manner.  They’ll find Xhex.  They’ll come after my mother and maybe even my sister.  She’s a link to the Brotherhood, the potential for disaster is huge if I retaliate.”

“I don’t accept that.  We’ll stop it.  Together.  You don’t have to go through this alone.”

While Rehvenge secretly warmed to the possibility that his lover would help him, the reality of such an act was certain death to his warrior and that was not going to happen.  But he was weak.  He would let it lie for the time being and bask in the companionship he’d longed for. 

Rehvenge returned to his seat and reached out for Phury’s hand.  He was gratified when Phury pulled his own chair closer to Rehv’s and settled palm-to-palm with him. 

“I don’t like this happening to you,” Phury’s voice was tight.

“Neither do Xhex, iAm, and Trez, but it’s the only way,” Rehvenge tightened his hold.

Phury looked over at him and those eyes that shone like sunshine settled on Rehv’s lips.  The warrior licked his own. 

It wasn’t one or the other who took the lead, they closed the distance together.  Firm lips pressed hard against each other but with care and tenderness at the same time.  Both hurting, both doubtful, they poured all their pain and insecurities into that connection and, without effort, it grew.

Rehvenge swept his tongue through Phury’s mouth and the warrior pushed back, tangling and savoring and teasing.  Their kisses were a battle of wills alongside total surrender and they lasted for-freaking-ever. 

“I want you,” Phury whispered when they came up for air.

“Yes,” Rehvenge reached for Phury’s shirt … no that was his shirt.  He’d forgotten Phury’s recent lack of possessions.

And since it was his own property, he felt perfectly empowered to rip it off the warrior, scattering buttons and rending fabric.  Exposing the massive, carved chest that always set him back.

“Ah, you’re … amazing,” Rehvenge looked his fill.

Phury responded by taking his sweet time unbuttoning Rehvenge’s shirt.  Slowly.  Seductively.  Making sure to kiss or lick every inch of skin as it was exposed.  Rehv could hardly breathe.

“Phury,” He choked, “look at me.”

The warrior looked up with those glorious eyes and Rehvenge’s brain blew a fuse.  He was speechless for a moment before he remembered he’d wanted to say something. 

“Um … I’ve never … ah … been with a male before.” Idiot! He sounded like a sweet little virgin.  Very sexy, moron.  Smoooth.

Phury didn’t respond, just watched him.  Kind of like a predator, Rehvenge realized as he gathered what air he could in his lungs.

“I guess it’s the blind leading the blind,” Rehv joked nervously.

Uh oh. The warrior sat back in his chair again, eyeing Rehvenge from under his burnished bronze lashes.   The look he was giving him was so hot Rehv mentally kicked himself for pushing the pause button.

“Not really.” Phury confessed.

Huh?  What? His mind must still be on the fritz. 

“I’m not a virgin,” Phury said slowly, quietly, “but you have to vow never to tell a single soul what I’m about to tell you.”

Rehvenge’s mind reeled.  Of course Phury wasn’t a virgin, hadn’t he just served Cormia through her needing?  Couldn’t do that and come away a virgin.  But he knew what the primale was saying.  He wasn’t a virgin with males.  How the fuck had that happened?  Not at Zero Sum, that’s for sure.

“Promise me, or I won’t tell you.”  Steel underlay the silk of Phury’s voice and he moved away further, across the room in fact.  Rehv got the strong feeling he was about to hear some shit he didn’t want to know.  All sexuality had dissipated as primale’s confession demanded to be aired in its place.

“I would never divulge a confidence, anyway, but I vow to you that I will tell no one.”  Rehvenge promised.

“For over a hundred years, I’ve been celibate – well, until recently, of course,” Phury began, “and before … well, I’d been celibate my whole life.”

Confusing, but Rehv was hanging on every word. 

“My twin was held as a blood slave, as you might have guessed from his ink,” Rehvenge nodded and Phury continued, “I spent a century searching for him,”

“I saw some of that,” Rehvenge had explained to Phury how he’d calmed him during his withdrawal.  How he’d seen snapshots of the warrior’s life.  The male hadn’t liked it, but since the alternative had been extreme danger to Rehv and Cormia, he’d accepted it.

“Did you see Z?” 

“I saw him strapped to a table …” Now Rehv was damn positive he didn’t want to hear this, but, at the moment, Phury was in charge.

“The mistress who kept him used to rape him regularly.  She would bring males from her … entourage … to watch and then have their fun after she was finished.”  The words were flat, without emotion.  Which, of course, rocketed their impact to the level of insane.

Holy shit.  Holy fucking shit.

“I had to make her believe I would be interested in attending a session.”  Gone.  Phury was an imprint now.  Full protection by absence of awareness. Rehv held his breath.

“So you … “

“I brought a male to my room in her mansion and had sex with him.  That was my first time.  It took six different males before she finally decided to invite me.  Probably because, the last time, I allowed her to watch.”  Phury was turned away, staring out the window into the dark night.  His shoulders were tight with tension, his voice thick with stored rage.

“I hated that I had moments of pleasure in that place,” Phury slammed his fist into the wall and nearly broke through the hardwood paneling.  “I still hate it!  Can you imagine how Z would feel if he knew I’d had sex with males that had probably fucking raped him already?”  He gave the wall a couple of extra slams for good measure.

All that red smoke suddenly made a hell of a lot of sense to Rehvenge.

“You didn’t see that?”  Phury turned to him, eyes glistening.

“I saw a flash of something … a newly transitioned male, but it didn’t occur to me … your celibacy …”

Phury waved it away with a jerky twitch of his hand.  “I’ve blocked it for so long, I’m not surprised it didn’t show up.  I’ve never told this to anyone.”

“You did what you had to, Phury.”

“Did I?  I didn’t have to enjoy it.”

“Yes, you did!  You think those fuckers weren’t reporting back to that bitch?  You think she wouldn’t have noticed if you were faking it?”

Phury remembered having those thoughts himself way back when.  But, when he got down to it, there had been lust and pleasure.  He should have been able to fake it.

“I’ve never forgiven myself,” Phury turned back to the window. “I never will.”

“Because Z would never understand?” Rehvenge took a chance.  He walked slowly over to the warrior, but didn’t touch.  There was a nearly visible barrier around the male and Rehv had this idea that he’d destroy everything in a ten-mile radius if he crossed it.

“He wouldn’t.  He’d never forgive me.” Phury disappeared an errant tear with a swipe of his knuckle.

“He never has to know.  I won’t tell.  You won’t tell.  It’s just one of those shitty things that people sometimes go through for the ones they care about.  I’ve never told Xhex what goes on with the princess,” Rehvenge leaned against the tall glass of the window.  His shirt was hanging open and sloppy, but he had no intention of dressing.

“She’d go nuts,” Phury nodded, “Z’s already killed his mistress.  Used to keep her skull in his room.  I wish I’d done it.”

“He never has to know,” Rehvenge said, wanting to get back to the subject at hand and steer clear of any conversations regarding the dispensing of vengeance.  The mistress was not the princess.  No comparison.  If Phury thought he wanted to keep the sympath female’s skull for a century, well, Rehv wasn’t letting him anywhere near that bitch.

“Do you still want me?  Knowing what I’ve done?” Phury asked.

“How can you even ask that?  Have you forgotten what I just told you?  About my half-sister the sympath princess?  I should be asking you that question.”

“You do it because the thought of Xhex being hurt by them is impossible to bear.”

“Exactly.  I do understand why you did what you did, Phury.”

The warrior took a moment to gather himself, putting all the pieces back in place.  Finally he focused on Rehv.

“I want you.  I want to be with you for a million reasons but mainly because I don’t have to.”

Rehvenge stepped away from the window and slipped off the shirt.

Phury walked straight into those open arms and held on.

Inevitable note:  It was not my intention to end it there, but it was the right place.  Ima stay in the bunker for now.

Inevitable soundtrack:  "Iris" by the Goo Goo Dolls

Scene 10 

Lover Forbidden -- Scene 10

The Black Dagger Brotherhood world and characters

are the property of JR Ward.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Scene 10

Intoxicating.  Stronger than any red smoke or alcohol he’d ever imbibed.  Rehvenge’s kisses were a drug and Phury had no defense.  No desire for recovery.

His focus lasered down to exploring the male before him.  Delicious discovery with each and every caress.

Phury licked along Rehvenge’s jaw line, feathering light, teasing kisses as he went.  His tongue swept up behind Rehv’s ear and he made a light snack of it, nipping and tugging until the male groaned in exquisite agony. 

Rehvenge ran his hands slowly over Phury’s shoulders as if he were memorizing them.  They were shaking, those hands, and Phury was honored that he’d be the one to give Rehvenge the pleasure he’d denied himself for so long.

With a gentle pull, Phury took them both to the floor. 

“Tell me this is not a polar bear we’re laying on,” he said dryly. 

“Wool.  Just fuzzy,” Rehvenge choked out, barely taking time away from tasting the thick column of Phury’s neck.

Phury’s clothing expertise came in handy when his fingers reached the buckle of Rehvenge’s belt.  One-handed he released the closure and opened the pants.  He slipped his hand inside, flattening his palm to the sympath’s skin and sliding it around, pushing the pants and underwear down as he enjoyed the warmth and texture of Rehvenge’s skin under his touch. 

It took even less time for Rehv to get Phury out of his pants as he made no attempt at finesse or seduction.  Snatch, slash and drag, simple as that.  

And before they could say, “fuck me and I’ll scream your name” they were skin-to-skin, body-to-body, heart-to-heart.

Phury took a moment to breathe.  He wanted this to be spectacular for Rehvenge.  It’d been a long time and they were both nervous for their own reasons, but he wanted to use everything he’d ever learned to bring pleasure to the male in his arms.

They rocked against each other slowly, their aligned cocks creating excruciating friction.  Their big arms wrapped tightly around each other, there was no space between them.  They could go all the way like this, but Phury wanted more.

He wriggled a bit and Rehvenge expelled a gasp. 

“I have to touch you,” Phury whispered, “Now.”

Rehvenge did little more than hiss and Phury was all over him.  Touching, kissing, licking.  He wrapped his big hand around Rehv’s cock and stroked it slowly.  That’s when he found the barb.

“What’s this?” He touched it lightly and felt Rehv pull back.  “No, it’s okay, it’s a sympath thing, right?  It comes out when you orgasm?”

“How did you know that?”  Rehvenge jerked his head up and looked him in the eyes.  He was all wariness and armor. 

Phury grinned sheepishly. 

“Maybe I’ve studied up on the anatomy of sympaths recently,” he said and touched the barb again.  He was rewarded with an approving hum from Rehvenge and, after a moment where the sympath seemed to be making a decision, another kiss.  He fingered the barb again and Rehv’s fists clenched in Phury’s hair. 

The little hook was sensitive, was it?  Good to know.

“Trust me?”  Phury asked.

“Mostly,” Rehvenge answered breathlessly.

“Good answer.”

Phury sat up and gestured for Rehvenge to do the same.  He positioned Rehv with his back against his chest, Phury’s cock pressed between them.

“You are so sexy, Rehvenge.  Every part of you makes me crazy,” Phury licked the male’s ear from behind as he whispered into it, “but the small of your back, it’s fucking art.”  He ran his hand down between them to the perfect curve where the muscles separated, hardened and then gave way to the sculpted glutes below.  The tats were icing … incredibly lickable icing and Phury planned to indulge heavily in that sweet treat. 

But for now, he wrapped his arms around his lover, pulling him tightly against him.  He reached down and gripped Rehvenge’s cock, making sure to run his pinky over the barb, loving the tortured groan he elicited with his touch.  He ran his teeth lightly on the back of Rehv’s neck as he used his free hand to explore the male’s chest.  He latched onto a nipple and rolled it as he started a subtle grind of his hips against Rehv’s back.  His cock was granite and Rehvenge’s felt about the same.  Rehv moaned and dropped his head back, resting it on Phury’s shoulder.

Rehv put his hands around the backs of Phury’s knees, pulling him even more tightly against him.  Phury continued to stroke Rehv’s shaft in time to his own hips rubbing up and down, precum making both efforts silky and sensuous.

Phury reached further down and took Rehv’s balls in his hand, giving them attention they’d been lacking.  They were tight, ready to blow and he moved his action back to the cock with fervor, gripping tightly and stroking at a faster pace.  His other hand moved to the other nipple and gave it a firm tug as he felt the male start to go off.

Just as his own orgasm rolled over him he opened his mouth and bit into Rehv’s neck, sinking to the gums. 

They cried out together, bucking hard on the floor as they came simultaneously. 

Rehvenge jerked forward suddenly, dislodging the fangs from his neck, and flipped over.  He had Phury on his back, legs spread wide and was pumping on top of him, grinding hard, groin against groin, eyes glowing with amethyst fire.  Phury came again instantly, but it didn’t stop there because Rehv started coming, too. Once, twice, damn, Phury lost count of his own orgasms in the heat and passion of the moment.  He rolled them, took charge and then gave over again in an erotic cooperative violence he’d never dreamed possible.    

He licked the twin wounds on Rehvenge’s neck closed and, as he mentally passed a sign saying “welcome to Cloud 9”, Phury stopped thinking altogether.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was a couple of hours later when they awoke in each other’s arms.  Rehv was shivering, the cold finally having gotten to him.  Phury grabbed the down comforter and a quilt from the bed and wrapped it around him, to Rehvenge’s eternal gratitude.

“The Dopamine makes you cold?” Phury asked, settling back down on the thick rug and wrapping his arms around Rehvenge.

“Yeah. The furs are not just a fashion statement,” Rehv replied, running his fingers through the primale’s hair.  He couldn’t get enough of that hair.

“You sure this isn’t polar bear?”  Phury glanced at the white furry floor-piece again.

“I’m not that bad,” Rehvenge laughed.  “Besides, I’d be wearing it if it were.”

Phury grinned and ran his fingers through the rug. 

“Comfy,” he said and leaned in to kiss Rehvenge. 

As many times as they’d kissed so far, Rehv could never stop his stomach from curling and launching into somersaults.  Each kiss was similar but also, impossibly, totally different.  Each kiss brought promise.  For the first time in his life he wanted to just make out.  On the floor.  He was like a newly transitioned male with his first hard-on when Phury was around. 

He didn’t want him to leave.

“How long can you stay?” He finally asked, although his skin burned for more lovemaking.

“I don’t know,” Phury replied.  “Since there isn’t a needing for a long time, I don’t  see why I can’t at least stay for a while.” Phury ran his hands along Rehv’s spine.  Rehvenge recalled what the primale had said about the small of his back and thought he might find a triple mirror somewhere so he could see what the male was talking about.

“Did you find any loopholes?”  Rehv asked, trying to keep focus.

“Not really.  None of the previous primales had commitments on this side, but since it doesn’t seem to have come up … there’s always a first time, right?”

Rehvenge didn’t answer.  This was what he hadn’t wanted.  To start a relationship with this potential doom hanging over their heads.  And then there was the promise of future Chosen booty calls.  This wasn’t how he wanted to proceed.

Was it the only way?

Since there was no resolution at the end of that discussion, he pulled Phury in for a kiss and his stomach growled.

“Food first,” Phury pulled back, smiling.

“Yeah, that’s probably a good idea,” Rehvenge grumbled.

“Trez stocked the fridge a couple of days ago, let’s go find something,” Phury stood and started looking for the pants that had been ripped off him.  He’d have a hard time actually covering himself, Rehvenge thought with a smirk, they’d been practically shredded.

He watched the primale inspect the severely damaged trousers before discarding them.  Rehv took great pleasure in just sitting back and ogling his warrior.  Phury pulled a sheet off the bed and wrapped it around his trim, muscular, waist.  He glanced down at Rehv on the floor and a quick smolder lit his eyes.

“Ready?” 

Hell yeah.

“I’m glad you’re here,” Rehv said, pulling himself to standing.

“So am I,” Phury closed in and they were kissing again. 

Now that they’d gotten to this point, Rehvenge thought, what they could get would have to be enough.  It was strong enough for that. 

He sank into his lover’s lips and let go. 

Inevitable note:  Well, that was interesting to write.  My first time writing a scene like that.  Yeehaw.

Inevitable soundtrack:  "Love, Reign O'er Me" by The Who (I know, it's dramatic, but it's the right one)

Scene 11 

Lover Forbidden -- Scene 11

Scene 11

The Black Dagger Brotherhood world and characters are the property of JR Ward.

-~~~~~~~-

“What do you mean they’re together?” Xhex demanded.

Trez just grinned and shrugged.  Filled a bank bag with cash and closed the zipper.  “I left the brother with Rehv.  There was definitely possession there,” he nodded, “definitely.”

“This is bad,” Xhex did not need this.  “Really bad.”  She rose from the massive desk and paced Rehv’s office.

How could Rehvenge pull a stunt like this?  He knew better. 

“It’s a surprise he’s feeling a male, but if it makes him happy …” Trez shrugged, picked up another stack of bills and started counting.

“I’m not talking about that!” Xhex growled.  Trez was being obtuse.  Or purposely missing the point in order to rile her.  Neither option made his chances of drawing breath much longer very likely. 

“I know, Xhex,” Trez knew the history.  He pulled back on the nonchalance quickly.  “But we don’t know the worst is going to happen.” 

“She already threatened the Chosen, she’s watching every fucking move he makes,” Xhex balled her fists, wanted to strike something, but nothing appropriate volunteered.

Trez stopped counting and looked at her.

“He was pretty pissed at me for having Phury at the great camp, but he was happy, too, Xhex.  He ate the brother up with his eyes.  We’ve gotta let him have that for a few more nights at least.”

“The more attached he is, the harder it will be to let go.”

Trez waved his hand in the air dismissively.  “You quit freaking out whenever that John Matthew vampire walks in the door, then you can tell me about ‘hard to let go’.”

“Don’t go there.”

“Just sayin’”

“Well, don’t.”

She exited the office with a good hard slam of the door.

-~~~~~~~-

Phury arched his back as he came, his hips thrusting upward, a groan of tortured ecstasy rumbling out between clenched teeth.  Rehvenge sucked hard, pulling on the pulsating girth with his lips and tongue, then taking it deep, keeping the rhythm even as all hell broke loose in his lover’s body.  A sheen of sweat covered Phury’s chest and muscled torso making him glow in the soft candlelight, a sight that sent jolts of pure lust to Rehv’s already rigid cock. 

When the primale’s shudders ceased, Rehvenge took a few last greedy slurps and smacked his lips.  Looked at his warrior with a gleam of satisfaction and a twitch of a smile on his wet, swollen lips.

“Mmmmmm,” he murmured, “magically delicious.”

Phury laughed and propped himself on his elbows.

“Always after me lucky charms.”  He chuckled.

“Damn right,” Rehv growled as his tongue quickly swiped Phury’s balls, bringing a rewarding hiss to the warrior’s lips.  He crawled up the sheets to Phury’s side and nestled close. 

They’d had a nap after their improvised meal and shower that had more to do with slick adventures in wet sensuality than getting clean.  In fact, it was the dirtiest shower Rehvenge had ever had. 

He couldn’t wait to do it again. 

They’d returned to the bed and slept side-by-side.  Rehv had woken with his hand wrapped around Phury’s wrist, as if he’d worried even in his sleep that his lover would disappear.  The soft pulse above the strong hand had aroused him to the point he just had to place a special wake-up call.    It took two strokes of his hand to get Phury hard and the rest; well … he was awake, wasn’t he?

Now they wound around each other, Phury reaching up to caress Rehvenge’s neck, his face, gliding his hand through the thick hair of the mohawk and repeated the mesmerizing motions again and again.   He kissed Rehv’s jaw and nuzzled his throat just above the clavicle placing little, stinging nips along the skin as he went.  Rehvenge’s erection was snuggled in between them and his hips moved back and forth, increasing the delicious friction.

Phury moved back slightly, breaking the spell.  Rehvenge had closed his eyes but they snapped open at the halt. 

“What?”  He asked, worried by the uncomfortable look on Phury’s face.

“I …” the warrior’s face grew red and Rehvenge tried to figure out what he -- or they -- had done to cause it. 

He waited.

Phury blew out a deep breath.

“I want you inside me.”  The warrior finally said, his voice tight with an emotion Rehvenge couldn’t name.

Silence filled the room for the space of a good many heartbeats.

“You want …” Rehvenge began, not wanting to finish the sentence in case he was off base, being a newb and all.

“Forget it,” Phury was pulling away but Rehv wasn’t letting go.

“You want me inside you.”  He repeated.

“Fucking me.  Yes.”  Now Phury sounded annoyed.  Rehvenge understood that.  It takes a lot to put yourself out there sexually.  Most people don’t want to be that brand of vulnerable and warriors are even worse.  It wasn’t helping that Rehv was being a bit dense about the whole thing and he knew it.  Tried to shake it off.

“Wow,” ah, the perfect response, shit-head.  Despite his disgust with his lack of supportive conversation, Rehvenge felt his cock react as it always did for this male and, much to his chagrin he said it again, “wow.”

“Does that sicken you?”  Phury looked away.

“No!  Fuck, no.”  Rehv assured him, touching his chin and turning it back so their eyes could meet again.  “What if I hurt you?”

He didn’t want to hurt Phury.  Not in any way, but his physiology was not something they could ignore.

“You could pull out before the captain pops.”  Phury shrugged.

Rehvenge had actually belly laughed earlier when Phury had referred to his barb as “Captain Hook”.  He’d been so surprised by the spark of playfulness coming from the typically guarded primale that he’d lost his own composure with big barks of laughter that turned out to be contagious.  It had been freeing.

That Phury’s innocent heart with its mischief and silliness had been strangled to the point of suffocation for over two centuries made Rehvenge as angry as it made him sad.  He wished there were someone on whom to take vengeance, but it was circumstance that had done the harm and his desire to right things with his fists or worse could never be. 

Some of his dark thoughts must have shown on his face because Phury pulled away further.

“Whatever, we don’t have to,” he said.

“No, it doesn’t bother me,” Rehvenge pulled Phury back into his embrace so his solid steel hard-on was again pressed between them.  “Feel me?  I’m not turned off, am I?” 

It took a moment but a smile finally lit Phury’s beautiful face and he kissed Rehv’s chin before the discussion began again.

“I’ve only ever, um, topped, have you ever …”

“Not with a male but with a female, yes I have.”  He pushed himself up to kneeling; getting enough distance to, hopefully, get hold of the lust tsunami that was playing havoc with his cognition.  Phury reached over and stroked Rehvenge’s cock lightly, absently, with a couple of fingers.  Yeah, Rehv was not going to be concentrating on this conversation if he kept that up.

He grabbed Phury’s hand to stop the distracting onslaught and took a few deep breaths. 

“We’ll need some kind of lube.”  Rehvenge said, fearing they didn’t have anything.

Phury flashed him a grin, got up from the bed and padded quickly out of the room.  No toga cover-ups this time.  They knew they were alone in the house.  He returned moments later with a bottle of olive oil. 

That was unexpected.

“Don’t tell iAm.” Revenge took the proffered bottle. 

“Why?”

“He says olive oil is the nectar of life,” 

“I won’t tell if you won’t,” Phury winked, causing Rehv’s stomach to flip like a fucking teenage girl.  What was happening to him? 

“Come here,” Rehvenge set the bottle aside on the sheets and spread his arms.  Phury entered Rehv’s embrace quickly and they melted together. 

Phury kissed his way across Rehv’s chest and down his rib cage, tasting each tattoo as he went.  On his knees, settled between Rehv’s legs, he swirled his tongue around Rehvenge’s naval, traced every tattoo, and continued his path to the goods where he lightly licked the sensitive skin at the crease of the thigh. Then he did it again, ending on the other side, his tongue nimble and cunning, teasing and torturing. Rehvenge’s breathing was labored and he threw his head back, wondering if Phury was going to get him off before they could actually do the deed.

Just as Rehv started to thrust his hips he saw Phury’s arm snake out to grasp the bottle.  He watched, transfixed, while the primale poured the oil into his palm and set the bottle on the floor.  Slowly, agonizingly, Phury applied the oil to Rehv’s cock with firm, but gentle strokes that brought forth gasps in response.  Once the pump was primed, so to speak, he picked up the bottle and handed it to Rehvenge.

Climbing back onto the bed, Phury watched Rehv watching him.  He was nervous, of course, worried that he was pushing his male into this, but the incredibly rigid state of Rehvenge’s cock pretty much told him the interest was mutual. 

Phury stayed on his knees and turned his back to Rehvenge, placing his hands on the wall above the headboard of the four-poster.  He looked back over his shoulder to give Rehvenge the permission he seemed to need and waited, legs spread, perspiration beading on his brow, butterflies exploding in his stomach.

The first thing Phury felt was a trickle of oil down his spine.  He shivered as it made a slow, sensuous path down the small of his back to the valley of his glutes.  Then he felt Rehv’s fingers lightly following the oil’s path.  He shivered again at the touch, his cock growing impossibly harder with every caress. 

Rehvenge murmured words in his ear as he pressed his chest to Phury’s back.  Phury felt a finger invade his small opening and he closed his eyes tightly.

“Are you okay?” Rehvenge stopped his motion but kept his hand where it was.

“Yes,” Phury whispered.  “More.”

Rehvenge continued the invasion, adding a second finger and a subtle thrust action that had Phury nudging back for deeper penetration. He groaned approvingly and Rehv slowly removed his hand.

“Now,” Phury choked, “please.” 

He felt Rehv shift and position himself and that shiver ran through him again.  Phury swallowed a curse as he felt the thick head of his lover’s cock slide past his entrance to fill him little by little.  Rehv was so careful with him, it almost brought a lump to his throat, but before he could dwell on the sweetness of the moment he felt Rehv’s pelvis bump against him and he was filled completely.

“Okay?”  Rehv’s voice was a husk.  His hands on Phury’s hips shook with tension.

“Yes,” Phury reached back over his head with both arms, twining his fingers together in the soft strip of hair on Rehvenge’s head, pulling him to his shoulder.  “Fuck me.”  He said, bumping back against him, thrilled to hear Rehv’s startled growl and feel him accept the invitation.

Rehvenge was moving in and out of him and Phury was bucking back steadily.  His cock was hard and heavy and bumped against the headboard; pre-come dripping off the head onto the sheets.

The speed picked up and Phury let go of Rehvenge to wrap one hand around his own cock, using the other to support himself against the wall.  Stroking fast and hard, matching the rhythm of Rehvenge’s thrusts, Phury knew it would only be a matter of seconds before he let loose.  His breathing was labored, the sting and power of Rehv’s cock inside him was exactly what he’d imagined it would be and he reveled in the overwhelming sensation of being taken.  Rehvenge’s fangs pierced the skin on his neck and Phury slammed his hips back hard, taking it all.

His orgasm hit him like a rockslide, slow at first and then with a deluge of intensity as he cried out in a voice as harsh as grit.  Rehvenge’s pace continued to pick up until Phury thought he might just get off again, but then he felt Rehv pull out, pump against his back a few times and then seize with a groan and a shudder as streams of hot wetness bathed Phury’s back and ass. 

Rehvenge collapsed against Phury’s back, wrapping his arms around his waist, holding him close enough to share a heartbeat.

“Holy shit.” Was the first thing Rehv said, and it seemed a labor to do so.

“Likewise,” Phury panted, smiling.

“I think I had a heart attack,” Rehvenge was still trying to catch his breath as he licked his warrior’s twin neck wounds closed.

“I’ll give you mouth-to-mouth,” Phury craned his neck and bussed Rehvenge on the cheek.

“Let me get something to clean you up,” Rehvenge backed away a bit.

“We could always take a shower,” Phury suggested, licking his lips with a sultry look at Rehvenge. The sympath physically tighten with barely controlled lust, a sight Phury would never grow tired of. 

“We could do that,” Rehvenge’s gaze zeroed in on Phury’s mouth and the primale saw that big cock twitch again.  For him.

“Mmm, we could,” Phury said, crawling off the bed.

As they headed toward the bathroom, they couldn’t stop touching each other.  Fingers entwined, Phury thought they must look silly, but it was fine because they were alone.  Far from any curious onlookers or homicidal maniacs.  Life, for the moment, was perfect.

Perfect?

Phury was in deep.  A jolt of fear shot through him.  His inner guards demanded reinstatement but they found no purchase.  Rehv had stripped him of all armor and he was bared to him in all ways.  Was that love?

Crap.  He was in love. 

“A thick lather with a good soap would make a decent lube, wouldn’t it?”  Rehvenge’s voice pulled him back from his panic.   

“Yeah, it’d do the trick,” Phury was already hard. 

He wants to fuck me again?  Hell, yeah.  So all over that.

“Good,” Rehvenge said.  “It’s your turn.”

-~~~~~~~~~-

“I want to look at his e-mail.  That’s where the threat came before.”  Xhex was still agitated after hours of pacing and grumbling. 

Trez sighed.

“You don’t know his password and you’d never invade his privacy like that.”

“If she thinks he has a lover she will take that lover down.  They’re alone at the great camp right now, completely vulnerable.”

“Um … a brother and Rehvenge … completely vulnerable?  I don’t think so.”  Trez laughed and shook his head.

“I don’t think so, either,” came the deep voice at the door. 

Trez and Xhex whirled on Rehvenge who looked more relaxed than he had in decades.  Dressed in a fine suit and a thick fur, he leaned against the door jam and just looked at them.  Waiting.

“You … “ Xhex didn’t know what she wanted to accuse him of.  He’d had her tied in knots all day and here he was, lounging against the paneling.  The bastard.

“Yes?” Rehvenge prompted.

“You’re totally irresponsible!”  She blurted. “Hooking up with a warrior, for fuck sake!  You know what an enticement a strong male is to those monsters!”  She knew all too well.

“We are taking precautions.”  Rehvenge told her, an amused smile playing at his lips.  He rounded the desk and sat at his computer. 

“I’m not talking about safe sex, I’m talking about someone you care about dying by slow degrees, his mind being eaten away …”

“Enough!”  Rehvenge slammed his hand on the desk, it sounded like a gunshot.  “You think I don’t know these things?  I do.  Now, I’m only staying here for an hour to get caught up.  Other than that, I’m taking some down time.  If you have a report, let’s hear it.  Otherwise, assume I already know what you’re going to say and don’t bother saying it.”

He pulled up his e-mail on the computer and started clearing spam.  Xhex fumed on the other side of the desk, but that was fine.  He was fuming too.  He’d been happy for a few hours and she had to spoil it with her own insecurities and misplaced guilt. 

Not that she didn’t have a valid point, but why poke him with it now?

“I don’t want to see you hurt.  I know how it feels to lose someone to them.”  Xhex’s voice was strong as she defied him. 

“I don’t want to talk about this now, Xhex.”  Rehvenge growled. 

“Maybe … if you let me take her down,” She began.

Ah, so this is it.  She’s using Phury as a launching pad to assassination.

“And let her take you down?  Not likely.  Give it a rest, Xhex.  I’m happy for the  moment.  I know what’s out there, but give me these nights.  Please.”

“That’s kind of what Trez said.” 

“Smart guy.”

“I … “ She paced a couple of times, her arms wrapped around her middle, “Okay.  If you need me, I’m up for anything, you know that.”

“I know.  And I appreciate it.  Thank you.”  Rehvenge said with a small, but genuine, smile.

She left the office and he breathed a sigh of relief.  Xhex’s history gave her a negative perspective on everything.  However understandable that perspective was, it was still suffocating to be around sometimes. 

Especially now when his entire being ached to be back at the great camp.  He’d allowed Phury unprecedented access not only to his body, but also to his soul and his warrior had cherished it.  Resurrected emotions, beliefs, that Rehv was sure had been lost to him forever. 

He never prayed.  Always hoped the Scribe Virgin wouldn’t notice him even as his mother dedicated her life to service.  He wanted to now.  He wanted to ask for Phury’s safety and happiness.  To keep that heart light and unfettered so his warrior could fly free.  But he wouldn’t.  Too risky.

Turning off his monitor he reached in his desk for a bag of M&Ms. He too had his addictions. 

He passed Xhex on his way out.

“I thought you were staying for an hour,” she scowled.

“Change of plans,” he passed her and popped a candy in her open mouth.  She glared at him and he laughed.

He’d been there fifteen minutes.  Tops. 

Knowing his warrior awaited him at the great camp gave the place a siren’s call Rehv couldn’t resist.  Not just for the sex, although that was amazing.  It was the comfort, the companionship, the whole fucking package. 

Trouble was ahead and he knew it.  A few nights to remember forever would be a blessing beyond measure.  The problem would be giving Phury up.  The thought punched his gut and sent pins and needles prickling over his skin.

Yep, he had his own addictions.  He wouldn’t survive the withdrawal from this one. 

Inevitable note:  Sorry this took so long.  Real life got in the way.  I have every intention of finishing, though, so don’t worry. 

Inevitable soundtrack:   Keith Urban: Only You Can Love Me This Way