Tabor looked up into the gaze of the wolf. He could see the beast hiding just beneath the surface, but it was the man who currently held him spellbound. It had been so long since he’d had contact with another being that didn’t involve cruelty, and the hunky wolf wanted to kiss him?
Navarro slid a hand around Tabor’s waist, pulling him closer. Their chests brushed a moment before the wolf lowered his head. The first brush of Navarro’s lips sent a shiver down Tabor’s spine. The kiss was soft and slow, teasing him. The wolf licked at his bottom lip and Tabor opened for him. The first slide of the shifter’s tongue against his had Tabor melting against him, his hand sliding into the shifter’s hair to pull him closer. His knees weakened and a need grew inside of him that he hadn’t felt in so long.
When Navarro pulled away, Tabor reached up and touched his lips. They tingled and the taste of the shifter lingered. His chest rose and fell with labored breaths as he fought the urge to reach for him again. A kiss had never made him feel so much before. Tabor was three hundred and had been with plenty of Fae, but none of them had awakened him like Navarro did. The moment their lips had touched, Tabor had known that his life would be forever changed. Even though he wasn’t a shifter and didn’t feel the mating pull, there was no denying they were meant to be bound together.
“Is there anything you need?” Tabor asked. “Shower? Food?”
Navarro’s stomach rumbled. “Food would be good.”
“Dirian saves the best of everything for himself and his guests, but there are certain things the slaves are allowed to have whenever we wish. I’ll bring a tray up. You’ll have to wait here unless you want to go back in the collar.”
Navarro winced. “I’ll stay here.”
Tabor nodded and left the sexy shifter. His bare feet padded down the hall and down the stairs. When he reached the kitchen, it was empty. Tabor went to the counter where the food was kept for Dirian’s slaves. He grabbed two plates, filling them with cubes of cheese, crackers, and some thinly sliced meat. It wouldn’t be enough to fill up the shifter, but maybe it would stave off his hunger until the next meal. Even the slaves were given full meals three times a day, but dinner had come and gone.
He pulled a tray out of a cabinet and loaded the plates onto it. Grabbing two glasses, he filled them with juice, then carried everything back up to his new suite. Navarro was sitting on the end of the bed, staring at the crystal viewing screen with a perplexed look.
“How does it work?” Navarro asked. “I don’t see a remote.”
Tabor chuckled. “It’s not a TV. It runs on magick and you have to use magick to get it to work. We have a selection of human movies that are available to us, if you’d like me to put something on.”
“So, how do I change the movie when you aren’t in the room?”
“I’ll have to be creative with the magick I use so that several movies will play back to back. Even when I have to leave, I can always ask Dirian if I may come check on you. You could always leave the room and go with me, but you’d have to wear the collar and chain, and I’m sure you don’t want to do that very often.”
Navarro made a face. “Not particularly, but I can only handle being locked in this room for so long. It’s much larger than the cage, but it’s a prison just the same.”
Tabor nodded. “I understand. I’ll do whatever I can to make you comfortable, but I’m only a slave and have no real power here. Everything I have is at Dirian’s whim. Just as easily as he gave it to me, he could take it away. He could take you away.”
“If he even tries, I’ll rip out his throat.”
“Tempting. But the magick in the collar would prevent you from harming him.”
“The asshole has thought of everything, hasn’t he?”
Tabor shrugged. Having been a captive for so long, he was starting to forget what it was like to be free. Twenty years wasn’t much considering how long he’d been alive, but the time was dragging by. Twenty years as a slave felt more like one hundred years. And there was no escape. He would live a very long life, having to bow at Dirian’s feet and obey his every command.
“Dirian mentioned a harem. He never made you part of it, did he?” Navarro asked.
“While it’s true most Fae are bisexual, Dirian seems to prefer females. I suppose we should both be thankful for that. There are worse things than running around the house obeying his every command. At least we’re spared having to deal with him in the bedroom.”
“What about you? Are you bisexual or do you prefer men?” Navarro asked.
“I’ve been with females in the past, when I was younger, but once I was intimate with a male I knew that’s where my true affections lie. I haven’t been with a female in over two hundred years, and I wouldn’t touch one now even if she offered herself to me,” Tabor said.
“Two hundred years?” Navarro’s eyebrows rose. “Just how old are you?”
“Three hundred and some change.”
Navarro’s mouth dropped open. “So, what happens if I claim you as my true mate?”
“You mean bite me?”
Navarro nodded.
“Nothing. I’ll still live an incredibly long life. But if I bind us with Fae magick, I’ll die shortly after you do, as I mentioned before.”
Tabor set the tray of food on the dresser and handed a plate and glass to Navarro before picking up his. He placed his hand on the crystal viewing screen and infused it with magick, pulling up a movie he’d enjoyed a few times. It was funny and he thought they could both use a laugh. They settled on the loveseat and enjoyed their snack. When they were finished, Tabor put the empty plates and glasses back on the tray before sitting back down.
There wasn’t much space between them and Navarro’s hand brushed his. Wanting that contact more than anything, he twined his fingers with Navarro’s and watched the rest of the movie. Holding hands with the wolf seemed to settle him somewhat, and he wondered if it was the mating pull. If they truly were destined mates, then perhaps he would have a calming influence on Navarro. He’d witnessed firsthand how shifters acted when caged, and even though there weren’t bars on this particular cell, as Navarro had pointed out, it was still a prison. He knew it was only a matter of time before the shifter lashed out or lost his mind completely.
The movie ended and Tabor looked out the window at the nearly full moon. Judging by its peak in the sky, it was nearing midnight. Dirian would come for him early, which meant sleep was needed. He didn’t know if Navarro would decide to stay in the room all day tomorrow, or join him on his rounds. Either way, it would be best if they were rested before their captor sent for Tabor.
Tabor stood and tugged on Navarro’s hand. “Bed. Dirian will call for me in about five or six hours, depending on when he rises.”
Navarro followed him to the bed. Tabor pulled the bedding down and slid under the covers, waiting for Navarro to do the same on the other side. The wolf lay facing him with only a foot of space between them, but Tabor could tell even that was nearly too much for the shifter. Whether he ever bound the wolf to him or not, Navarro was part of his life for now, and he decided to embrace the wolf. He moved closer and wrapped an arm around Navarro’s waist, cuddling close.
The tension in the shifter eased immediately, and he pulled Tabor closer. The wolf was taller than him so he shifted a little and snuggled against Navarro’s chest. He had to admit that it was nice to be held. Dirian had denied him companionship for the past twenty years, and before he was captured, it had been a while since he’d been intimate with anyone. Fae seldom had long-lasting relationships, unless they were considering a binding. And since he’d never thought to bind himself to anyone, Tabor had gone from bed to bed whenever the mood struck.
Tabor closed his eyes and breathed in the scent of the male pressed against him. Despite his day in captivity, he still smelled of pine and crisp fall air. He breathed deeper, taking in the smell of fallen leaves and fresh earth. Tabor was allowed outside, as long as he remained on the grounds, but it wasn’t the same as running through the woods. He wanted freedom.
The shifter let out a rumble and his arm tightened around Tabor. The Fae opened his eyes and looked up, to see the shifter sleeping soundly. Tabor had a feeling sleep wasn’t coming for him anytime soon. He’d gotten used to having regular sleep cycles, but his kind didn’t really have to sleep every night. He preferred it, and definitely felt more focus when he’d had some rest, but it wasn’t required for his health.
He listened to the wolf’s heartbeat and even breathing. Concentrating on the feel of the shifter’s arm around him, he closed his eyes again and tried to sleep. He pictured the two of them free of their chains, running through the Wood Elf lands. It was easy to imagine them together outside of this horrific place, easier than he would have thought. Never before had Tabor ever contemplating settling down, but there was something about Navarro that called to him. Even when Navarro had been in wolf form, Tabor had wanted to reach for him, to touch him even in some small way.
Dirian had sensed that, and while he’d given Navarro to Tabor, the Fae knew it would come at a cost. Dirian never did anything out of the kindness of his heart. Tabor wasn’t even certain the evil Fae had a heart. He would enjoy his time with Navarro, but he would be watching and waiting. Something was going to happen, some nefarious plan was hatching in Dirian’s head, and it was only a matter of time before they found out what it was.
Tabor only hoped they both survived it.