Luporum Cubilia (Regina De Luporum Book 1) Read online

  “Be careful Reina. Don’t withdraw too far into yourself...ok?”

  “I’ll try,” Reina murmured.

  With a final look at her lifelong friend, she turned and walked away. Stealing herself against the pain, she didn’t look back. She waited until Mark and Charles had safely escorted her to the car before pressing her knuckles against her mouth to stifle the sound of her crying. The familiar scenery flashed by through blurry tears. She let herself have a moment to break down. She hadn’t wanted to lose it in front of Amy, and didn’t want James to see it either. Her body guards remained stoic; they kept their eyes forward and let her cry without acknowledgment. Some may have thought it callous, but for Reina it was compassionate. She was grateful that they knew her so well.

  As they drove through the gate Reina had cried herself out. Mark and Charles patiently waited outside the car until she had pulled herself together; she took a deep breath, drew on her inner numbing ability, and readied herself for whatever the next challenge would be.

  When she stepped into the house James was waiting at the top of the stairs. He watched her, reading her expression and body language, but didn’t make a move towards her. He was still trying to give her a choice. Like so many times before, she had to take the last step. Whichever boundaries were going to be tested, she had to go willingly. Regardless of appearances, she held the power, the control. Surrender could only be given, not taken.

  She ascended the stairs, each step drawing her further into his gravity, until she was standing before him longing to feel grounded. His hands came to her face, his regard both relieved and concerned.

  “Make me forget…” she softly demanded.

  “Reina…”

  “Please,” she asked urgently.

  Her hands reached for him hungrily as she leaned in to nip and tease his lips with her own.

  “Please…” she whispered desperately, imploring to be temporarily released from her inner chaos.

  Her breathing hitched as his hand wrapped into her hair and tugged, his other hand trailing down the front of her throat. Before he could ask if that was what she wanted, her eyes met his and, “I want you,” poured sweetly from her lips. His inner predator rose to meet the needs of its mate.

  James fulfilled her desire, satiating her with a passion that blocked out all reasoning. With her hands tied to the bed, he loved her roughly. He took her to the edge, only to deny what she craved, commanding her body’s attention. When he finally allowed her release he took her beyond it, demanding more. He owned her body, claimed it as his own, and her mind gladly followed. There was no room for thought, no capacity for logic. The only thing that existed was sensation. There was only pleasure mixed lustily with pain, and the master of her soul that gave it to her.

  Chapter 4

  Reina once again packed the few things she cared about into boxes. She didn’t dwell on it. She’d made a decision. She wasn’t going to change her mind, and being emotional wasn’t going to help; she packed it away with everything else. For the time being they were keeping the house, so she used her energy to methodically put everything in order. The activity didn’t completely clear her mind but it kept her busy enough to bring the noise down to a low hum. The only thing making her truly frustrated was James. He seemed to be constantly keeping an eye on her, trying to read her emotional state, like he was waiting for her to crack. The more he hovered with the worried look in his eyes, the more irritated she became, until she was ready to fight it out.

  Reina stood near the end of the bed throwing random clothes in boxes, while James pulled clothes out of the closet and put them into boxes behind her. She could feel his eyes on her and it was making her insane.

  She spun around and glared at him, “You have to stop.”

  He glanced at the box and back to her as if she’d lost her mind, which kicked her irritation into high gear.

  She narrowed her eyes at him, “Stop looking at me like I’m going to break...ok…”

  Once she started letting off steam, it seemed to keep pouring out.

  “Why can’t you just have a little faith in me? I can handle it...ok...I’ve got it!”

  “Reina…”

  He held his hands up in a placating gesture but she cut him off.

  “I can take you,” she challenged.

  His face turned serious, cocky, and he shrugged.

  “Let’s have it then.”

  The devil in her heart smiled as she decided her course of action and let her anger meld into sexual aggression. She watched the rise and fall of his chest, noticing the shift in his breathing as he sensed the change in her intent. She licked her lips, smiled at him, and removed her clothes as she closed the distance between them. He stared down of her, a hint of amusement sparkling in his eyes like a dare.

  Reina lightly sucked his bottom lip between her teeth as her hands began claiming what belonged to her. She looked up at him, not in submission, but with ownership. She grazed down his body, taking his clothes with her as she went. She commanded his attention as she rubbed her face across his skin and breathed him in with deep satisfied sighs. She then sinuously flowed her way back up, stroking, kissing, and caressing. She could feel the tenseness in his body as he fought not to return her touch. His breathing was heavy but controlled, like a predator waiting to strike, and Reina reveled in the wildness filling his eyes.

  “This is mine,” she murmured as she stroked him and breathed her lips across his.

  She felt when his control slipped; just as his hands touched her skin she took small steps backwards.

  “Unless you don’t want me,” she teased with mock innocence.

  Before she could blink his arms wrapped around her and she was tossed to the bed. He struggled to pin her arms but she pulled free, wrapped her arms and legs around him, and dug her fingers into his shoulder blades. She smirked as his hand grasped her jaw and his eyes blazed.

  “Fuck me,” she demanded softly.

  His grip tightened, “Ask me.”

  Instead of complying she squeezed her legs around him and rubbed against him moaning as she sought her own pleasure. He tried to press his body into hers to slow her movements, but it only served to increase the friction. She watched his eyes as she let the pleasure build.

  “I’m going to come,” she panted.

  His control snapped, his lips crushed to her, and his hand gripped her thigh as he thrust inside her, giving her exactly what she wanted. Even as the pleasure rushed over her she whispered, “you’re mine,” in his ear.

  As their tempo slowed she soothed her hands over his skin until he rolled to his back and pulled her into his side. She waited, biding her time until his breathing slowed, while continuing to swirl her fingers over his skin. When he took a deep breath with a smile, she straddled him and smiled back mischievously.

  She brushed her lips over his gently, “Reina - 1, James - 0.”

  Reina laughed as James tugged her hair, growled, and proceeded to tease and coax until he ravished her. His hand in her hair, his arm holding her body as he thrust hard and fast, she took every bit of what was hers. Reina - 2, James - 0.

  The transition into their new life was swift and surreal. Together they were the same, living in a private world that belonged only to them. To the outside world they became something altogether different. Old phones were packed away, new ones acquired, and with it seemed to come a new identity. Publicly Mr. and Mrs. Beaston disappeared; Mr. and Mrs. Kartel evolved to take their place. They were no longer the celebrity couple that paparazzi fought to find and photograph, they were a mysterious power couple that everyone nodded to and whispered about. It was unnerving to go from being overly sought after to being held in a type of respected regard, spoken about by secret circles behind closed doors.

  James drove Reina for her first look at their new home, and as they drove up she was both awed and intimidated. The grounds were extensive and well-manicured, secluded by a surrounding of trees, and elegant with touches of Italian
style walkways and fountains. The palatial French inspired estate was breathtaking; the light stone exterior and dark slate roof made it appear as a formidable castle.

  Followed by a small group of developers, James gauged Reina’s response as they stepped into the grand foyer. Reina was momentarily speechless; it was much like stepping into a fairytale, only they were unwillingly taking the role of leading monsters instead of defeating them. The inside was a luxurious blend of marble and wood. The windows and doors were framed in a deep espresso; the cream Versailles-paneled walls gave way to domed ceilings accented in rich walnut; every corner was decorated with artistic flourishes. Boasting three floors, an elevator, wrought iron balconies, endless columned hallways, an immense and lavish kitchen, a large library, and countless bedrooms, it seemed one could easily get lost in the opulence of it.

  Flanked by Mark and Charles, Reina lingered a short distance behind, admiring the artistry of the estate and listening to James give orders. Bullet resistant glass, a sophisticated gated wall and security system, guard posts, separate guard housing, basement training rooms, fire resistant safes, weapons storage...as the list of upgrades grew Reina started to tune it out and found herself thinking that it sounded less like a castle and more like a prison.

  As she let the noise fade she couldn’t help but be enthralled as she watched James; it was like watching a predator in their natural element. Regardless of his vocation she could easily discern that he’d grown up in this world. He controlled the situation with ease, instinctively, and without question. Reina mused that it was one of the reasons he’d made such a talented performer. He radiated a sensual authority that drew people to him, and made everyone in the vicinity turn to listen.

  He must have sensed her perusal because he stopped walking and turned to look at her. She let her gaze wander up and down his body before she met his eyes with a smile. He smiled back at her with heat in his eyes. He was surrounded by a group of people waiting for his next words, almost eager for his next set of demands, and yet he looked at her as if he had the power to stop time.

  Chapter 5

  James and Reina settled into a lush, albeit temporary Mediterranean style villa, while their estate was being renovated. With a smaller more open floor plan, Reina found it appealing, but as with all things she didn’t let herself become attached. James was her home, everything else was relative. The villa did however, have a downside; their neighbors were closer and although it had a good amount of property, the location was more difficult to secure.

  Charles and Mark maintained their position as Reina’s personal guards, but were also promoted to head of security. Together, the four of them began the painstaking process of assembling what would amount to a small army. Reina couldn’t fathom the enormity of the situation, or the idea of having so many men in her space, but being included in the selection process gave her time to accept and adapt. Many of the first members were people that had served with Mark and Charles. They were already loyal and worked together well as a unit. Even so, each person was thoroughly screened and checked through multiple channels before being introduced to James and Reina. Interestingly enough, after they’d passed through interviews with the men, Reina had final say. She wasn’t quite certain how it had developed that way; she thought perhaps it was because James knew how she felt about people being in her personal space. Whatever the reasoning, she listened to her instincts and chose the ones that struck her as being the correct fit for their lives.

  She sat with Mark, going over upcoming scheduling and housing situations, while she watched James in her peripheral vision. He was resplendent in his suit, but he was preparing for his first meeting with the council and his eyes were distant. It was if he’d donned armor; the only other time she’d witnessed that particular look was when he’d had to deal with his father. The prospect of him walking into the wolves den was troubling. He could undoubtedly handle himself, but she had no idea what state he’d be in when he returned.

  Mark must have received a nonverbal cue, because he excused himself as James neared. She stood and stepped close to him, trying to decide the best approach to his guarded eyes.

  She laid a hand to the side of his neck, “Come back to me.”

  For a few seconds she saw the spark in his eyes, behind the mask, as his thumb grazed her lips.

  “Always,” he murmured.

  With a heavy sigh he walked away, and all she could do was wait.

  James had recently discovered that while he’d thought his father's assets had all been liquidated, a few of the businesses were his fathers in name only. They were technically owned and operated by the syndicate and were primarily used for filtering their money supply. They were also utilized for meetings and gatherings. As he entered one such building, a professional mix of marble and glass, he tried to block the unwanted memories of his father. It set him even more on edge, the visions of his father in expensive suits, commanding everyone around him; he dictated the world based on what he wanted it to be and was surrounded by people that would bow and make it happen.

  Already bad-tempered by the thoughts of his father crowding his mind, and the meeting of men he was about to enter, the irritation was compounded when he stepped into the room and found only Judge Morris waiting. Ironically Judge Morris also served as the council Judex, so everyone simply called him The Judge.

  “Where is everyone?”

  “”There’s something we need to discuss before you convene with the council.”

  James’ irritation mixed with apprehension. The last time he’d found himself in a similar situation, Reina had been kidnapped.

  “The council is present...correct?”

  The Judge nodded, “They’re in the adjoining room.”

  “Yet, you surmised that this would be the opportune time for an impromptu discussion?”

  Before James could vent any further frustration, The Judge took a file from his briefcase and slid it across the table between them. James opened it with an impatience that quickly switched to silent rage. The file was a thorough account of Reina, photos, childhood, phone conversations, detailed accounts of her destinations and interactions.

  “What the hell is this,” James demanded with quiet menace.

  “The council had Reina assessed.”

  “As a target?”

  “As a person of interest…”

  “Why?”

  “James, your father was well aware of his failing health. Eric had full knowledge of the position he was set to inherit. As you can imagine, the incident with Reina was...unexpected…

  James clenched his jaw, trying to maintain a semblance of control, as fire rushed through his veins. He forced himself to focus on The Judge’s words over the pounding in his ears.

  “James, before your father passed...he informed the council that Reina was a possible threat…”

  James’ hands fisted on the table as his disdain for his father became unbearable. Even from the grave his father had managed to find a method to dictate James’ choices.

  “Why didn’t you bring this to me sooner?”

  “I debated bringing it to you at all.”

  With James’ look promising a slow death, The Judge continued.

  “You must understand, ultimately I’m loyal to the syndicate. I want to live as much as the next man…”

  James couldn’t deny or debate the logic; his own decisions were based on the same general principles. The syndicate was a black and white world that forced you to live in a perpetual state of gray.

  “I hope you understand the full implications. If something were to happen to you…”

  “She’s a liability,” James finished.

  “Precisely. She’s not a syndicate member. Unless another member takes her in…”

  James glared at The Judge; as if Reina would just be handed off to the highest bidder.

  “What are my viable options?”

  The Judge took a deep nervous breath that made James dread whatever he was about
to say.

  “You could make her your heir,” he replied quietly.

  “That is not a viable option,” James fumed.

  “James...it’s your only option. Theoretically it’s only a precaution, but based on syndicate law it gives her the highest level of undeniable protection.

  James’ eyes became unfocused for a moment as he calculated his choices and tried not to take his anger out on The Judge. Whatever his motivations, he was currently the only person delivering pertinent information. With every move he made it seemed his father had always been one step ahead and now James was out of options.

  “Reina’s capable, but she’s not prepared for this life…”

  “Hopefully it’s a fail-safe that we never have to put into practice. Although...I believe you’re underestimating her.”

  James looked up sharply, trying to read the meaning behind The Judge's words. It was difficult to make a sound decision when he obviously couldn’t see all the pieces.

  “Considering the conditions that would have to occur for her to actually be put in that position...she’d likely burn it all to the ground…”

  In James’ mind he saw Reina as being able to hold her ground, but he couldn’t envision her having the level of ruthlessness required.

  “The council will never approve it.”

  “It’s unprecedented, but you are the end of the line, and she does carry the name. Considering circumstance, there is no official law prohibiting it.

  James looked at The Judge with undisguised suspicion, “Why are you pushing this?”

  The Judge sighed heavily and rather than James observing any hint of deception, The Judge looked tired.

  “I knew your father most of my life. You were around enough as a child to realize that we’re all brought up in the same social circles, with very specific expectations. It’s an endless cycle of crime, corruption, and obligation. I understand your position James; you fought to break free of the cycle...I respect that. Many a lesser man has taken drastic measures to try to escape the syndicate.”