STORY EXCERPT

"Are we sure we have to do this?" Trevor Reiner pulled at the collar of his new suit. Something he was sure cost more than he would have ever made in a decade as a waiter. It itched, and around the corner, there were multiple reporters waiting with their cameras pointed and microphones at the ready.

While the king announced to them that his son's engagement with Lady Petricia was officially canceled.

"We could go back to your room. I could give you a quickie."

Trevor grabbed at Ludwick's collar, though the vampire prince seemed a little more comfortable in formal attire. Trevor pulled Prince Ludwick Starosta close, body to body, knowing how much Ludwick loved feeling Trevor's body heat.

He smiled at the man, trying to force a confidence he didn't exactly feel.

Ludwick grinned back at him, the whites of his fangs showing, and Trevor got him. He knew this was it. This had to be it. The other man was going to call off this whole press release, let his father handle it, and they were going to head back to his room for another amazing fuck.

"You will be fine. Stop being a baby about it." Ludwick gently patted Trevor on the ass, as though trying to comfort his ass more than him. "It will be over before you know it."

Trevor deflated. "That's not what I thought you were going to say."

Ludwick chuckled. He looked toward the curtain, probably listening to some of the questions the press were already asking.

They treated these things with a higher priority than the presidential elections, and since Trevor had ruined the marriage of the century, they were going to want to get a look at who had stolen Prince Ludwick's heart.

Bad enough they already knew Trevor was some nobody waiter, that he was human, but very soon, they were going to discover how plain he was. On a good day.

"They're going to expect me to be something I'm not. What if they ask about the money your parents wanted to pay me."

Now Trevor was hanging on to Ludwick for dear life, as though he were using the other man as a lifeline. He didn't want to go out there. He wanted to get back into bed, get Ludwick out of his pants, and put a smile on his face, but that didn't seem to be in the cards.

"They will not ask you such things. The only way they can know that would be if Mother or Father tells them, and they won't."

"People on staff know."

He was talking about Martin, but Trevor figured it best to not mention his name.

Martin had kissed Trevor a couple of times since Trevor and Ludwick had started seeing each other, and before they were even sure of their love, before they were sure it wasn't just about the enjoyment they got out of thumbing their noses at the aristocracy, Martin had made it clear that he wouldn't mind having Trevor to himself.

And Trevor had been tempted. At the time, how could he not when he wasn't sure if Ludwick's feelings were true or if the vampire just wanted to use him to have a little fun?

But Trevor knew better now. He knew exactly where Ludwick's heart was, and Trevor had no problem in giving his own to the man in return.

Ludwick pressed his lips together. "Do you trust that man to keep his mouth shut?"

Trevor swallowed hard. He nodded. "I don't think Martin would say anything to the press. I'm positive of that, but there's no guarantee he might not have said something to someone else on staff, even accidentally, and they could go to the press."

Trevor was already going to be seen as a gold digger by people in the media. He knew that and was making peace with it.

But that didn't mean he wanted to give anyone the satisfaction of knowing he'd been Ludwick's consort in the beginning just because there had been a two-million-dollar paycheck at the end.

To be with Ludwick permanently, for the rest of their lives, would mean Trevor would have a lot more access to the family fortune.

But he didn't want the fortune. He still wanted to help his family, but that was it.

He just wanted to be with Ludwick.

Ludwick stroked Trevor's hair, leaning in close to his throat.

Trevor shivered, expecting a kiss to his bite mark, but there was nothing.

Just the tease of expectation. Maybe Ludwick knew what he was doing after all.

"You will be more than satisfactory. I promise you." Ludwick pulled back, pale lips smiling. "Even if they find out, so be it. It means nothing to me and should mean nothing to you either."

Trevor thought that was a little easy for him to say, but at the same time, he had to admit that Ludwick's energy, his charm, and his easy mood were a little infectious.

Trevor was starting to feel like he wouldn’t throw up all over himself at the idea of stepping out beyond that curtain and having a look at what waited for him on the other side.

"Of course, when we return to my bedchambers, I will be more than happy to take you up on that quickie."

ADULT EXCERPT

Trevor didn’t release Ludwick’s jacket as he walked backward into their bedroom, pulling Ludwick along with him, their mouths still connected.

Trevor could taste a little of the sweets Ludwick had eaten for dessert, as well as the smoky flavor of his cigar.

It was heady. Or maybe he was just heady. Trevor couldn’t think about anything else other than how much he wanted this man right now.

“Fuck me. I want you.”

Ludwick reached his hands down and around, his fingers gripping Trevor’s ass in a way that made him jump, even though he saw it coming. “You want my dick inside you?”

Trevor swallowed hard, nodding. “Yeah. I want you.”

Much as he had enjoyed topping Ludwick, Trevor realized he would much rather receive than give out that kind of gift.

He was a little selfish like that.

Trevor pulled Ludwick back to the bed, shoving the dinner jacket from his shoulders as he went.

He couldn’t get Ludwick out of his clothes fast enough, and Ludwick couldn’t seem to get Trevor beneath him fast enough.

Trevor had never seen or felt Ludwick fumble like this, but it was great. Trevor always felt wanted with his mate, but like this…

It was as though it was just the two of them in the entire world.

Trevor spread his legs, welcoming Ludwick between them, even though they were still mostly clothed.

“Did you mean it? About the two of us having our own place to live?”

Ludwick nodded. His usually pale lips were a touch pink now from all the kissing and the fresh blood he’d had at dinner.

“Yes. I want something just for you and me. Somewhere we can go and just be together. It will have to be close to the palace. Father will accept nothing else, but it will be for you and me. No eyes watching us. We won’t even have servants.”

Trevor laughed at that. “I can’t wait to see you doing the dishes.”

“That’s fine. I’ve got my dishwasher right here.”

“Ha!” Trevor laughed at the unexpected joke, smacking Ludwick lightly upside the head. “You wish.”

“I know,” Ludwick said, still smiling. “You will have to show me how to do some things. I don’t want to have to rely on you too much.”

“You’ll get used to using a broom, don’t worry, and if things get to be too much, then maybe we can talk about letting a maid in a couple of times a week.”

Ludwick looked so relieved by that it was kind of amusing.

“I’ll do the cooking though, so you definitely don’t have to worry about that.”

“No.” Ludwick thrust his hard, clothed cock against Trevor’s, giving them both the friction they desperately desired. “I want to cook for you, too. I can learn.”

Trevor gritted his teeth, enjoying this game they were playing with each other a little too much. “We can both do it, but I want to do it more.” Trevor groaned. “I haven’t cooked for you, yet. I want you to try it. I want to make things for you that you’ll like.”

He didn’t want servants underfoot, cooking and cleaning for them every step of the way. Life was supposed to be a little messy, and even with the way they were thinking about doing things, it would be.

It would be perfect.

“God, I love you, so much.” Ludwick leaned in and kissed him, his hand coming down and cupping Trevor’s cock. “You have no idea how much. I can never get enough of you.”

Ludwick pulled back from Trevor’s body, pulling his shirt off and over his head, throwing it across the room as though it were trash.

It was a mad scramble for Trevor to get out of his clothes. He couldn’t seem to get naked fast enough, and then since he forgot to take his shoes off before yanking his pants down, it was a bit of a struggle for him to kick his pants and shoes off his legs.

Ludwick laughed at him as he helped, but then the vampire was kissing his way up Trevor’s calf then his thigh, and then the bastard had to tease his mouth around the head of Trevor’s cock before abandoning it entirely as he kissed Trevor’s belly, and then his chest, then his throat.

Ludwick slid his fingertips down Trevor’s stomach and body. He gripped and stroked Trevor’s cock, making Trevor throw his head back.

“Yeah, that’s it.”

“Tell how much you want this.” Ludwick let his fangs come forward. He scraped them across Trevor’s throat. “Tell me you want me.”

“I want you. I love you.” Trevor inhaled a deep breath. “I want to be like you. I want to live as long as you live.”

Ludwick looked up at him. Trevor smiled. “I want to be a vampire with you.”

Trevor didn’t think he’d ever seen Ludwick smile like he did when Trevor told him that.

He’d seen his smile. He’d seen him look devilishly amused whenever they talked about the aristocracy or low-ball insulted them to their faces.

This was bright, morning sunshine, winning the lottery, shooting-stars sort of smile, and when Ludwick kissed him, Trevor was pretty sure he tasted a little sunshine in there, too.

He might want to tell Ludwick about that because Trevor was fairly sure that might be hazardous to Ludwick’s health.

But then Trevor got too lost in the kiss, and there was nothing he could do except for hold on for the ride.