Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9

EDOUARD

A fter that day outside the church, two years ago, Romain changed.

Oh, he’d still show up at my doorstep every morning at 7, pleasure me, then get prepared for school. He was still very much my captive, my pet, my obsession. But he talked less of the stars. Of his dreams.

I started wondering if maybe he was more religious then he’d let on, although with a mother like his, that was hard to believe. It was only a few weeks later, when I had some friends over and let Romain crawl up to me, wearing his cute kitty tail and ears, that I realized what it was. He was ashamed. I could see it in the way his cheeks flushed and looked away from the others. Like he didn’t want to be here?

With me?

The thought was a slap in my face. It enraged me.

That day, I sent everyone out, then confronted him. Romain had always been shy, but fierce. He stood his ground, like he had done that day when he’d innocently asked Dad if we could pay off his junkie mom’s depth with a twenty euro bill, but he never was angry. That day when I sent everyone away to talk with him? He was both. As he mouthed me off from his leash tied against my bed, with urgent, quick words and a snarl on those full, sensual lips, I realized he was defending himself. Because he was afraid.

I just didn’t know why.

Yes, I owned him. Yes, he was here because I wanted him to be. But I’d never laid a finger on him, I’d never hurt him in a way he didn’t want. We’d somehow fallen into a rhythm of lovers, despite the unusual conditions.

Then why was he embarrassed?

Two weeks after the incident outside the church, Dad called me into his office.

“I’m going to set Romain free,” he said, and he raised his hand in the air, shutting me up before I could even begin to protest. “We bought the boy. The debt is paid off. You are nearly ready to take over, my son, meaning I’m nearly ready to retire. Whatever it is that you wish to do with Romain, is now your business. Not a transaction, not a debt. He knows you want him. Patience is the only quality you still need to learn. Patience in the game, patience in love. Romain will leave and I will not tell you where he’ll go. You will focus on finishing the final steps in the business, and when you are ready, you will take over.” He smiled at me, the wrinkles around his eyes carving in his tan skin, revealing how often he smiled. It was contagious, had always been. Despite the horrible situation, I couldn’t help myself from returning the gesture of affection. He patted me on my shoulder as he leaned in. “Our family and the empire you will rule in the near future, is everything you need to focus on right now. I won’t allow our home to be poisoned by faceless bodies and meaningless partners. We are not like our clients. If you really want to take over our business and make me proud, you do your best to remind yourself of that. And if you ultimately decide he’s the one you want to spend the rest of your life with, willingly, I will put you on his trail. But when you do, mon fils , when you finally come face to face with Romain once more, remember to be patient. You only win someone’s heart by giving them space, safety and the knowledge that you love them.”

The next day Romain was gone. Aside from his stuff, what lingered was his scent and with that, countless memories. But he was gone, and in his wake, he’d taken part of my heart. And right when I thought I was going to barge out and throw my finger at the world, Dad started introducing me to his business partners. What followed was a year of hard work. He called it the finale, and up until today I wonder if that was his sadistic side, showing me one final time who held the strings. Who was in control. Who was the boss. People always called us so alike. That year had been hell, but looking back, it was a special time as well. It was the cherry on the cake, followed by an official promotion. I had done it. I had officially taken over the Beaumont empire and I’d just turned 21.

H is sweet ass is tight and pliant when I rock inside him. One hand possessively squeezes his cheek, where I keep him stretched wide enough for my cock to slide through his heat. Romain mewls and moans freely, bucking his hips as my brother opens his mouth and sticks out his tongue to lick at Romain’s wet cock.

“You just let him send you away from me?” I ask, already knowing that to be true, but I need him to talk to me. To open up for me. He doesn’t, though, his body quivering as he jerks forward and slides his cock a little further into the waiting mouth. He gasps when those lips curl tightly around his shaft, then pushes back to accommodate my gyrating hips, making my dick press against his prostate. Grabbing the knife from the pocket of my cloak, I pull him back by his hair and place it against his neck. Romain chokes, his body visibly fighting between fear and arousal. Our kneeling brother has leaned in and is now bobbing his head as he properly deep-throats Romain’s gorgeous cock, gazing up at us with pupil-blown eyes. “Hmm?” I hiss. “Say it!”

“I thought you were going to tell me about tonight.” He watches as my free hand slides over his stomach, down to where our brother is still working his cock. Placing it on Olivier’s head, my fingers tease the black velvet, brush a lock of his hair aside and caress the mask. Romain moans, a guttural sound that turns into a sob when I put more pressure with my knife, breaking his delicate skin. Oh fuck, the sight of blood makes my pumping cock thrum inside Romain’s ass. I pull back slowly, with only the tip of my cock remaining between his cheeks. I don’t want this to end too soon. “Why are we here?” He asks. “Why did you come here?”

“To get back what’s mine.”

Romain lets out a huff, that sounds more like a hoarse wheeze, and he tries to turn over his shoulder, but I won’t let him. The knife slices once more, and he yelps. More blood trickles down his shirtless neck. It’s fucking beautiful.

“To give you a better future, mon chat .” Oh, fuck. Romain’s hand slides down to where mine is still placed on Olivier’s head, his fingertips grazing the stretched lips, as their eyes surely lock. Alexandre’s boy on his knees for mine…it’s the sexiest thing I have seen in a long time. Like me, his hips have changed to a slow, rocking movement, savouring this moment.

“A better future?” Romain asks.

“ Oui . I wanted you to become a brother of the Alpha Fraternarii, because it will erase your past and rewrite your history. Regardless of the rest.” I pump him faster and he pushes forward, making the other boy choke on his dick, to which he lets out a string of apologies. He’s getting close. It’s time to change the rules a little. “If you want that too, I suggest you not only come with me, but also play according to my rules. We both know how much I love those.”

Slowly, regretfully, I pull out of him, my cock purple and wet and angry for not finding release yet. I close my cloak, grimacing at the way it bulges over my erection, then take a side-step to lean against the wall next to Romain. I trace a path with the tip of my knife through the leaking blood that is now dripping from his chest down to his flat, defined stomach. Alexandre’s boy Olivier is still kneeled in front of Romain, his mouth wrapped around my pet’s cock. His wide, innocent stare roams from me back to Romain as he bobs his head gracefully.

“He looks glorious, your angel,” I say out loud, knowing that Alexandre is watching us. “Come.” Then I turn on my heel and swagger toward the end of the hall.

“Where are you going?” Romain calls out from behind me, voice sounding strangled as if it’s hard to choose between getting his dick sucked and getting the answers he clearly wants. I smile to myself when I hear him swear. A few moments later and a visibly flushed Romain catches up with me. When I look down I see he hasn’t bothered with his pants, his thick, hard cock tightly pressed against his stomach. “Where are we going?”

“To your party. Remember?” The other guys follow, and when I briefly turn over my shoulder, I catch sight of Alexandre making out with Olivier, licking into his mouth as both his arms are wrapped tightly around the smaller man’s shoulders. They’ll join us later.

We make our way through the narrow corridors of the West Wing from where I steer him back to the South Wing. To the party. And the roof terrace, where I have planned for this night to end, and for the second part of our life to start.

“If you wanted me back, why did you take so long?” Romain asks. “I left two years ago.”

And I’ve missed you every single day.

Gazing at him from the side, I enjoy how his chest and stomach show traces of running blood that dip down to his half exposed, and still very erect, cock. He looks edible like this, and I plan on tasting every single inch of him very soon.

“I wasn’t ready.” We halt in front of the corridor toward the South Wing and I gesture for him to follow. Licking my golden tooth, I grab his chin with my ringed fingers, press them until he winces and looks up at me with those beautiful, blue eyes, then nods. “But now I am.”

“Have you ever considered that I might not want this? Want you?” His chest is heaving, and his lips, lush, and wet, tremble.

“No.” He clenches his fists and clenches his jaw at my reply, shaking his head as if he needs to jolt himself out of this moment. “Stop fighting it, mon chat. Stop fighting me .”

Finally he breathes in deeply through his nose and pats my fingers away. We resume our walk.

“What was that other reason?” He asks.

Inwardly fistbumping myself for winning this round, I try to sound aloof. “This secret brotherhood. We do a lot of business with them?—”

“Business?” Romain turns, frowning. “What sort of business?”

I shrug. “You know what it’s like. I have now officially taken over from Dad. He has retired.”

“Retired? The Dictator?” He catches himself, presses a hand in front of his mouth and watches me with large eyes. “I mean?—”

Tilting my head back, I let out a bark of laughter. “I know what you mean. Don’t you think I know what people call him on the streets? It makes me think of what cute nicknames people will find for me.”

“Tormentor,” he mutters without a doubt. We both chuckle at that, and the moment somehow clears the air and fills it with precious recollections. A game of push and pull. A mutual desire and friendship.

Romain is the first one to turn away. “Tell me about this secret brotherhood.” We continue walking. Soft piano sounds reverberate through the castle, welcoming us back to the party. To Romain’s Initiation.

“The Alpha Fraternarii were found as a result of the French Revolution.”

“French Revolution?” He pauses. “That’s like, ages ago.”

“Yup. Rich families came here because their houses were burnt in Paris. They were given shelter and created their new existence here along with the brotherhood. Even today, only the privileged can join, invitations solely transmitted through fathers to their sons.”

“What does that have to do with me? My father left Maman as soon as he heard she was pregnant.” That’s more than he’s ever shared about that man, but I’ll let it pass for now.

“When you were summoned by those strangers a few weeks ago, did they tell you that you’d been chosen?”

This time, Romain stops. Confusion is written all over his face, and for the slightest of seconds I feel for him. How could he have not seen this coming? How could he have not seen me coming?

“Yes, but…” He stops himself and brushes a hand through his hair. “I didn’t think it, I mean…I guess I thought it was a prank.”

He’s lying. And then I realize he knew. Deep down, he knew. But he didn’t have the courage to believe it.

“A prank? Oh no, the Alpha Fraternarii does many things, but I can promise you they’re all done in earnest. See those people there?” We’ve reached the open door to the party. Romain flicks his gaze toward the red cloaks who are lined up against the wall.

“Yes?”

“They are here for tonight’s entertainment.”

He turns back my way. “Entertainment?”

“Hmm. For tonight’s Initiations.”

“Initiations?” Trepidation flicks in his blue eyes, making them turn a shade darker. A navy blue ring around blown pupils. Gone is the earlier lightness in the air. He licks his lips slowly and eyes the room once more, where all our brothers are now united. “Whose?” He finally asks, his voice barely a whisper. He knows the answer, needs to rebel, to be assured. I’m suddenly very aware of my throbbing cock. Of the play I want to finish.

“Yours.”

Les tiennes. Les tiennes. Les tiennes.

“I know you want it, mon chat . I’ll let you mark me too, pet, don’t worry. I’ll let you use your sharp knife on my skin, while I’ve got the rest of your body cuffed in gold.”

“I told you, I have—” Changed. Yeah. The words don’t come though. Because we’re interrupted by Elder Jacques. He approaches, followed by the two other Elders, and his golden cane thumps on the wooden flooring with every step he takes.

“At last, my boy,” he says. Next to me, Romain flinches, then straightens his shoulders. Someone must have given him his knife back along the way—I’m guessing that little cutie Olivier—because it shimmers in the twilight in his palm. “Romain … Bienvenue. You won the Wicked Chase. Are you ready for your Initiations?” He gestures toward the sex swing with a leering smirk on his face.

“I—uhm—” Romain begins. He takes a step forward, but then?—

“Not so fast.” Two guys come forward, and though they might be cloaked and masked, I’d recognize them everywhere. Alexandre grins my way, then turns back to Elder Jacques. “My brothers and I decided to change up the celebration after the Chase this time. Variety is the spice of life, right?” He takes a step toward Romain, the slithering asshole-friend he is. “You get to choose, Romain. Either you go ahead with the Initiations and become our brother and this crazy guy’s chosen one, or you choose your own future and are gifted this for your participation.”

Arsène holds out a black-and-white kitten who takes that moment, while Romain is watching it with stars in his eyes, to let out a soft mewl. “For you. If you want it.” He nudges my way. “Or you can be the kitty cat and let your bad boy have you. What’s it going to be?”