Fighting Temptation [Brac Village 11] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic ManLove) (11 page)

And then his mate bit into his shoulder.

Turi cried out as tiny, colorful ribbons began to form, one pulling from Turi, the other from Carmine. They swirled around and then two small transparent forms in the exact same image of him and Carmine danced around one another, melded together, and then split apart, Turi’s image entering Carmine as Carmine’s image entered Turi.

Even though his mate had said he wanted this to last for hours, he began to ram his cock harder and harder into Turi, rocking the bed with the force of his thrusts as he growled into Turi’s shoulder.

Turi tightened his legs around Carmine, pressing his heels into the alternately flexing and relaxing buttocks to impale himself deeper onto his mate’s solid cock. That was what he needed to send him over the edge.

Bowing his back, Turi’s eyes rolled back, his head thrashed and he screamed Carmine’s name as he came hard. He felt Carmine stiffen and then his mate was grunting loudly into his shoulder, his hot seed filling Turi’s ass.

As he went boneless, Carmine’s thrusts slowed before the bigger man finally pulled free and reached for a key on the table beside the bed. He uncuffed Turi and then pulled him to drape over Carmine’s broad, sweat-soaked chest.

Turi just lay there and held onto Carmine, listening to his heartbeat under his ear. It was beginning to slow, his mate’s breath coming back under control. Carmine caressed his hand down Turi’s back as he said, “I’m glad I came to my senses. I can’t imagine being without you.”

Turi felt the same way. Carmine had claimed him and Turi couldn’t be happier.

Turi glanced at his mate to see Carmine fast asleep. He didn’t want to wake the man. Their night had been exhausting, Carmine waking after the claiming to take Turi once more, longer than the first time, and so much sweeter, slower. He was tired as well, but someone was knocking insistently on the front door. Slipping from the bed, Turi found one of Carmine’s robes and pulled it on.

He hurried into the living room, not wanting his mate woken up. Turi highly doubted it was his uncle or father. They wouldn’t be knocking. When he swung the door open, his jaw dropped. “Kiki?”

What on earth was his cousin doing here? And how did the guy know where to find him? Turi quickly glanced behind the man, making sure he was alone. He had to make sure this wasn’t an ambush. He didn’t really hang that tough with Kiki.

“Still so suspicious,” his cousin said as he threw his hands on his hips, an exasperated look on his face. “Are you going to let me in or do I have to talk to you out here? It’s a nice morning and all, but the humidity is killing my hair.”

Turi wasn’t sure what to do. He liked his cousin. Kiki had never given him any problems, but he wasn’t sure he could trust the guy.

“Oh, for heaven’s sake.” His cousin pushed past Turi and entered Carmine’s house. “Stop acting as if I’m here to kill you or something.” Kiki dropped down onto the sofa, his eyes taking in the clothes that Turi and Carmine had shed the night before in the claiming. “Oh, snap. Someone got lucky.”

Turi could feel his face heating up as he closed the front door. His cousin had always been over the top, out there. He lived life on his terms and Turi envied the man that quality. “What are you doing here?”

“Honey.” Kiki sat forward, crossing one leg over the other. “When family visits, you are supposed to offer them something to drink, not drill them like they are a crime suspect.”

“Only if they were invited. I don’t remember inviting you, Kiki.” Turi crossed his arms over his chest, wishing he was dressed. His cousin was like a hurricane. He swept in, caused all kinds of havoc, and then swept out. Turi wasn’t going to let the man cause any havoc. He already had enough to deal with.

“I needed to get out for a while. You know how stifling the village can be.” Kiki glanced around the living room as his nose crinkled. “This is very…rustic.”

Turi would have demanded that Kiki leave, but his cousin wasn’t one to be easily dismissed. He had learned that quality about the guy growing up when his cousin had constantly barged into Turi’s bedroom, making himself at home.

“Why didn’t you just go to the city like you normally do?” Turi asked, glancing down at his clothes.

Sitting back, his cousin plucked at one of the pillows, his eyes drifting around the room. “Because I wanted to see what you were up to.”

Turi grabbed his clothes and headed for the hallway. “Don’t touch anything.”

Kiki gave an allover body shiver. “I’m afraid to. I just might grow hairs on my chest. This place is way too masculine for me.”

Rolling his eyes, Turi hurried into the bathroom where he quickly dressed. He hated putting on yesterday’s clothes, but he had no choice. At least they were dry. Leaving the bathroom, Turi walked into the living room to find it empty.

Where was Kiki?

Panicking, Turi searched until he found his cousin in the kitchen, bent over and snooping in the refrigerator.

“What are you doing?” Turi asked as he prayed the man left soon. “I told you not to touch anything.”

Kiki glanced over the shoulder. “Food doesn’t count. I’m starving. Tell me you have something in here besides cheese and some takeout food that should have been thrown out days ago.”

Turi marched over to Kiki and pulled him from the fridge, slamming the door closed. “You can’t just come into someone’s home and make yourself comfortable, Kiki. You have to leave.”

His cousin waved Turi’s concern away with a flick of his wrist. “It looks like you are very comfortable, Turi.”

“That’s none of your business.” Turi was not about to tell his cousin what he and Carmine had done last night. Kiki was famous for blabbing his mouth. Not that he cared who his cousin told, but Turi didn’t want Carmine to think—

“Whoa!” Kiki said loudly, his hands fluttering to his throat. “You are one big ass man!”

Turi closed his eyes and exhaled, knowing Kiki was talking about Carmine. Freaking great. He had been hoping his cousin would leave before Carmine woke up.

“And you are?” Carmine’s deep voice rumbled through the kitchen.

“Leaving,” Turi answered as he tried to shove his cousin toward the back door. The man wasn’t going. He turned his body and sidestepped Turi’s hands. He tried once more to grab his cousin, but Kiki still wouldn’t be pushed.

“Will you stop it,” Kiki said as he smacked at Turi’s hands. “Why do I have to go?”

“You shouldn’t have come here in the first place,” Turi argued. He hated the fact that anyone from his village knew where to find him. Turi no longer felt that Carmine’s was safe.

He wasn’t very close to Kiki. How did Turi know this wasn’t a trap? He glanced over at Carmine, pleading with his eyes. Egon was Kiki’s father. For all Turi new, Egon could’ve sent his son to fetch Turi.

Carmine was at Turi’s side in seconds, glaring down menacingly at Kiki. “Who the fuck are you?”

Kiki didn’t look the least bit intimidated. He flung his blond hair over his shoulder as he smiled up at Carmine. “Wanting to take on cousins?”

Turi was mortified.

Carmine didn’t miss a beat. He gave Kiki his most dazzling smile as he ran his thumb over Kiki’s chin. “I just want to know the name of the man I am about to kill,” he said as sweet as sugar, leaning his arm on top of the fridge. Turi wanted to smack his mate for touching someone else.

“Oh, a charmer.” Kiki chuckled. “I like you.”

“He’s my cousin,” Turi said as he waved a hand at Kiki. He just wanted the man to go. Turi knew that if his cousin stuck around much longer, the man would embarrass him further. “He’s my
uncle’s
son.”

“That uncle?” Carmine asked, one thick dark brow rising high.

Turi nodded. “Yep, that uncle.”

“Okay,” Kiki said as he planted a hand on his hip and pointed a finger between Carmine and Turi. “You two are speaking in code. What gives?”

“You have five seconds to get out before I kill you.” All playfulness was gone from Carmine’s tone. He rose to his full height, towering over the other man. “How dare you come into my home knowing what is going on with your father.”

“Oh,” Kiki said. “That. It was actually Turi’s dad who came to me. Delyn tried to convince me to con Turi into coming home.” He turned toward Turi. “Go home.”

“Hell no,” Turi blurted out.

“Okay, my job is done. I couldn’t convince you. Now, can we have some breakfast? I’m starving.”

Carmine glanced toward Turi. “Is he always like this?”

“Nutty?” Turi asked. “I’m afraid so. Kiki doesn’t really follow any set of rules. He lives life the way he wants.”

“You should try it, Cousin.” Kiki leaned against the wall. “It’s a hell of a lot more fun than following those ancient laws. Trust me, I know what my father is. I’ve come to terms with his perversions a long time ago. He tried to mate me, but I told him if he came near me, I would give him hell for the rest of his life.”

Turi hadn’t known that.

“I mean, if I were a female—although it’s still gross—I could understand. I could give him lots of babies. But I’m male. That only means he is sick in the head.” For the first time since knowing his cousin, Kiki turned toward Turi with apologetic eyes. “I hate that he wants you. It’s embarrassing as hell to know my father is twisted. He can get away with it, too, because he’s an elder. If you ask me, those laws should be changed.”

“So, you’re not here to kidnap me?” Turi ventured.

“And hand you over to that sick freak? Nope. Why do you think I stay away so much? I refuse to play their little games. I also know that your father isn’t just trying to tie you to my father for the prestige. I heard them talking. My father promised yours a wealthy amount for the mating.” Kiki crossed the room and placed his hand on Turi’s shoulder. “Face it, your father is doing this for the money.”

Turi stood there stunned. He hated his father for trying to make him mate his very own uncle for the prestige, but to find out it was all about money somehow made what was going on ten times worse. His father was basically selling him. What had he done so bad as a child that his father had hated him from day one?

He couldn’t understand any of it. Turi walked briskly from the room, holding his hand over his mouth. He didn’t care anymore if Carmine killed the man. Why should he care? His father didn’t care about him.

A whimper fell from his lips when strong arms wrapped around him and pulled him off his feet. “I got you.” Carmine pulled Turi close as he walked them to the couch and sat down. Turi was so mad, so frustrated that he wanted to lash out at somebody.

Instead, he buried his face in Carmine’s neck, wishing Kiki had never shown up in the first place. It was twisted logic to think that his father’s betrayal hadn’t hurt so badly when he thought it was just because the man wanted honor brought to his house. But now that he knew it was all about money, Turi felt like he was going to be sick.

“You never have to deal with him again,” Carmine said softly as he ran his fingers over Turi’s hair. “You belong to me, Turi.”

“He sold me, Carmine.”

“But he didn’t deliver,” Carmine pointed out as he massaged Turi’s arm in a circular motion. “He was paid for nothing because you are my mate and I am not letting him have you.”

Turi knew his mate was trying to cheer him up but he wasn’t sure anything would help right now. His entire life his father had told him he was a burden. Turi had always tried his best to stay out of the man’s way and do the right thing just so his father would be proud of him. Now he wished he could go to the man and smash his fist in the guy’s face.

“I know it hurts, baby.” Carmine dropped a kiss on his temple. Turi was so damn grateful for his mate. He wasn’t sure if he would’ve made it through all of this it hadn’t been for Carmine’s strength.

Wiping at his eyes, Turi sat up. “If I ever see him again, I’m going to kick him in his nuts.”

Carmine smiled as he brushed the tears from Turi’s cheeks with his thumbs. “I would love to see that.”

“Hello,” Kiki shouted from the kitchen. “I’m still hungry.”

“I can tell you two are related.” Carmine swept the long strands from Turi’s face. “Is he the same cousin that bought the badge from the novelty shop?”

Turi nodded. “He’s also the one who gave me the whistle.”

“Do you trust your cousin?” Carmine asked as he shifted under Turi, his café-brown eyes so beautiful that Turi could hardly believe this man was his.

“I really don’t know him that well,” Turi confessed. “We’ve hung out and all, but we’ve never swapped heartfelt stories or anything. My mind tells me to trust no one, but my heart tells me that Kiki wouldn’t do anything for his father or mine.”

“You’d be surprised what family will do,” Carmine said. “We don’t know if Kiki has an ulterior motive. He could be blowing smoke up your ass to get you to trust him.”

Turi didn’t want to think that his cousin was the bad guy. There were too many of them already. Adding one more to the list made him think that humanity was a thing of the past, that if he couldn’t trust a person he had grown up with, who could he trust?

He had known at a young age not to trust his father. That was no surprise. His uncle had never held a place in Turi’s heart. He never liked the man. But Kiki had never done anything wrong to Turi. The guy played by his own set of the rules.