Something flashed in Zane’s eyes that Pavel couldn’t place, but before he could ask about it, the doctor drawled, “Kelevra did, or someone who looked an awful lot like him?”
“That last one.”
“You can’t impersonate the Imperial Prince, Pavel.”
“Afraid for my safety?”
“Just worried I’m the one who will be ordered to kill you for it, that’s all.”
“Weren’t you just making that threat all on your own a moment ago?” Pavel motioned to the knife. “Going to bring that with you? I don’t mind. I like it when you make me bleed.”
“That’s…” Zane frowned at the knife and then tossed it onto the ground between them, “a twisted thing to say.”
“Why?” He cocked his head. “Do you not like it when I make you bleed?”
“If you bite me again—”
“I won’t,” he promised, but before Zane could feel relieved from that, added, “I have other plans in mind. Speaking of, you were angry when Kazimir brought Lyra into the bedroom—”
Zane took a menacing step forward before he could finish. “If you allow anyone else to lay hands on me, I swear—”
“Never.” Just the thought alone had his spine stiffening and his eyes glowing brightly. A low rumble traveled up his chest unbidden. “I want people to see who you belong to. I want them to wish they could have you but know they never will. No one will ever touch you aside from me, bashert. No one. I’m your end game.”
“I haven’t agreed to marry you yet.” Despite his words, Zane’s shoulders settled, and he retreated again toward the door, only going a couple of feet, but enough to make his point clear.
“That’s why we’re here,” Pavel said. “I’ll have you begging me to be your life partner before we step foot off this island.”
He snorted. “We don’t have that much time.”
“Keep teasing me. I like it. I like thinking of all the ways I’m going to get to punish you for it later.” He took a step forward, voice dropping suggestively. “Maybe I’ll breed you in the rain with your face held in a puddle. Or I’ll fuck you against every tree in the general vicinity and make you count them as you mark them with your come. What would Royal Aodhan say if he found out his baby brother likes it dirty? Likes to be taken in the mud like a beast?”
Zane’s breath caught in his throat and he gave a single shake of his head, backing up toward the door as Pavel continued his slow advance.
“What if I shred your clothes and filmed it all, showed the whole planet what your bare skin looks like caked in mud and my spunk? What if—”
The door was unlocked, so there was no wasted time struggling with it. Zane raced across the house and yanked it open, running into the downpour without a second of hesitation. He darted straight ahead, down the paved driveway, most likely just to get his bearings, and then veered a sharp left.
Pavel gave him a head start to be fair, since he knew the terrain when his delectable doctor did not. His bashert probably thought he was getting back at him, making him work for it instead of making things easy. In a way, he sort of was. It would have been nice to have an intimate, quiet breakfast together like real lovers would on a dreary morning such as this.
But there was always the chance for a romantic evening meal.
Getting to hunt down and claim what was his?
That was an opportunity he would never pass up, and certainly not something that could be considered a punishment in his eyes.
The rain instantly had his matching pajama set clinging to his lithe form as he gave chase, his thick black bangs falling into his eyes, so that Pavel had to sweep them away every few minutes. He’d considered giving Zane more of a head start, but he didn’t have it in him, his impatience getting the best of him after the long wait.
It didn’t matter that he’d had the doctor beneath him last night. Pavel had been forced to be quick about it, fucking him fast mostly just to distract Zane long enough for him to get the chloroform. It always took the other guy a while to bounce back after orgasm, and Pavel had used that to his advantage.
Just like he was using the storm to his advantage now.
The rain had caused everything to turn to mud, and he tracked Zane’s steps with ease as he ran into the dense tree line and into the forest. When Pavel had designed this house, it was with the broken castle back in Valeo in mind. He’d loved the feel of the place, and the privacy of the wilderness surrounding them.
Although, privacy was the last thing he intended for the two of them to get today.
Zane might not like it, but it was unavoidable. Pavel had tried to pry, to get a read on whether or not his doctor was open to the idea of being filmed and watched. He liked being seen, after all. Liked all of the attention he got from onlookers at the university. There was a chance he’d be open to the idea of teasing them all from afar.
But there was also the chance he would not.
