Matthias turned to him. "I have a favor to ask."
Tanner waited, wondering.
"It's about Ava."
What? Was Matthias planning to tell Tanner to leave her alone? That she was off limits, maybe?
"What about her?" He hated that his voice sounded so gruff.
"I want you to help me win her over."
Tanner blinked. That he hadn't been expecting. "What do you mean? She's eating out of your hand."
"Not quite." Matthias sighed and after they'd entered the elevator, he spoke again. "She responds to me physically, but mentally, there's a wall between us."
"Why?" Tanner really wanted to know. What was between them, anyway?
They exited the elevator and made their way to the small but crowded bar. While they waited for their order to be filled, Matthias sat with Tanner at the only unoccupied seat in the place.
"Ava's uncle is Shino Tailstack. But you know that, right?"
Tanner nodded. "She told me a little about what happened, why she left Dracon Mount." He kept his voice low, not wanting to be overheard by any Dracon-haters in the place. Matthias kept his voice as quiet, finally displaying a sense of caution he should have used in Morrow's.
"Emmaline Tailstack is a pathetic woman out for number one, herself. I'm sure Shino wouldn't have minded his daughter marrying my brother, but Shino's more loyal to the Dracon, thank God. Even he could see how selfish Emmaline is. Thanks to him, we found out what she'd been planning before she could go through with trying to kill Lea."
"Ava seems to have taken Emmaline's actions to heart."
"I know. I can't convince her that she's innocent of any wrongdoing, and neither can Shino. Sins of the father, or cousin, in this case. And for some reason, Ava blames Shino for Emmaline's actions. All this misplaced responsibility is her damned father's fault."
"How so?" Tanner grasped at the chance to learn more about either Ava or Matthias, and this insight into her character he welcomed.
"Ronin Tailstack was an honorable man who served the royal family for almost as long as Shino. Except Ronin was a bit of a control freak. He was obsessed with honor and duty, and about drove Shino and his family crazy with propriety.
"It used to kill me when Ava first came to Dracon Mount to visit, not a hair out of place or a misstep at all. Took the woman nearly four years just to bring herself to look at me." Matthias frowned. "And you've seen her. She's damned gorgeous, with a body to kill for. I'd have made a move years ago if she wasn't so young and innocent."
"Or a councilman's relation."
"Yeah, that, too," Matthias admitted with a wry grin. "Hard to tell a friend of the family you're lusting after his niece." His eyes sparkled. "But tell me, Tanner. How fucking amazing was it between her thighs? The woman practically sizzles. And it's more than her looks, it's what's inside her
heart.
" The emphasis on "heart" wasn't lost on Tanner, who flushed at the reminder.
"I agree, she's special." So special Tanner wouldn't have minded staking a claim if a damned Dracon prince hadn't already mentioned his intentions. "So what the hell do you need me for? You're a prince. Order her to come to you."
Matthias snorted. "You don't know shit about women, do you?"
Tanner chuckled. "Okay, that was stupid. I admit. I'm just saying, charm her like you do everyone else."
"Oh, like I've charmed you?"
"Cora Venlay didn't seem to mind you. Do to Ava what you did to her."
Matthias grimaced. "See, that's a problem. I flirted with Cora, and we dated a time or two. But it never went further than a few kisses. Trying to convince Ava of that is an impossibility. She thinks the only reason I came after her was to help her uncle."
"Wasn't it?"
Matthias gave him a strange look, one he couldn't quite decipher. "No, not at all. Ava's mine. She just doesn't know it yet. And that's where you come in."
"Me?" Tanner glanced at the bar. Where the hell was the food? For as much as he liked the idea of interacting with Ava over anything, the notion of doing so to scoop her up for Matthias left him cold, not to mention, out in the cold. Hell, he wanted to be with both of them, not an instrument to bring them together while he looked on from the sidelines.
"Look, Tanner. Ava likes you. She respects you and she's attracted to you. With you she relaxes. She feels protected. And I like that. That's what she needs. I'm not some asshole who wants to possess Ava. I want what's best for her."
Tanner stared at Matthias, again wondering just who the prince truly was. Because the selfless act was convincing, and it made Tanner want to be a part of Matthias's future all the more. An impossibility, he knew, but a tantalizing idea all the same.
"And I'm what's best for her?" he asked gruffly.
"Yes." Simply put, Matthias's answer puzzled Tanner.
"So what? You want me to fuck her, love her? Have her fall in love with me?" His pulse sped, and he did his best to remember they spoke about strategies, not an end state or reality.
"I want her to feel attached to you. I want her to have a reason to stay at Dracon Mount and give me time to work on her."
But Tanner had no plans to stay there, and he opened his mouth to say so when Matthias forestalled him.
"Don't say it. I know you want to leave Dracon Mount. I pushed you too hard too fast, and I'm sorry. But this is about Ava, now. And I need you to put aside your issues with me for her sake."
On the one hand, Tanner was disturbed that Matthias saw to the heart of Tanner's issues with the keep. And on the other, he was offended that Matthias thought him such a chicken-shit that he'd leave because of him.
"Just get to the point, Matthias," he growled.
"She likes you, Tanner. So talk to her. Get her to open up to you. And try to nudge her in my direction, too. I want her to stay at Dracon Mount. She can't live in that godforsaken town near Morrow's. She's precious, and she needs to be treated like a queen. Or at the least, like a princess." Matthias grinned, and Tanner had to blink not to stare at Matthias like an infatuated fool. Because he was
far
from lovestruck. "Help me settle her at the keep, where she'll be treasured and protected for the rest of her life. I can give her that. Stability, love, affection. And I will, if only she'll let me."
Tanner studied Matthias, taken with his sincerity. And he admitted that Ava could do worse than with Matthias at her side. For all his faults, Matthias was fierce in his defense of others. And the Dekkers staunchly protected their own.
"Come on, Tanner. How hard will it be to have sex with Ava? And maybe get her to share her love with me?"
Thoughts of making love to Ava with Matthias present, or hell, making love with the both of them, had Tanner's blood pressure rising, along with another, harder, portion of his anatomy.
Matthias noticed and laughed. "Don't get up. I'll grab the food waiting for us on the counter. Why don't you take a minute and think things over?" Matthias rose and sobered. "Trust me, Tanner. And do what your heart tells you."
Tanner scowled. Screw Matthias and that fucking heart crap. He was mulling the idea when moments later, they walked silently back to the room. Why couldn't the prince be a shallow, selfish, lackluster royal? Why did he have to be so introspective, so thoughtful, and so caring of others? Tanner shot him a dirty look. And why did the man have to be so damned right all the time?
When Matthias and Tanner returned to the room, Ava looked bleary-eyed as she answered the door.
"What took you so long?" she asked, but Matthias was having a hard time focusing on her words. She wore a long T-shirt that came to her mid-thigh, and when she flopped back on the bed, her pink panties flashed them.
A glance at Tanner showed the man as intent on Ava as he was, and Matthias contained a grin. His plan was definitely working.
He'd let Tanner stew on what he'd said, wondering how long it would take him to give Matthias a chance. To his delight, he didn't have long to wait. They'd just reached the door to the room when Tanner had stopped him, a hand on his arm to halt him from knocking. "I'll do it," he'd growled. Nothing more, but he'd said enough.
And now Matthias could feel his future sidling ever closer. Tanner's blond hair gleamed like gold in the flickering light from the television, much like Ava's did. God, Tanner and Ava were so much alike it was startling. So needy, and so damned desperate
not
to need anyone.
Matthias sighed and placed the food on the counter. He caught Tanner's eye and nodded toward Ava.
Tanner frowned but cleared his throat. "Ava? Can I fix you a plate?"
She yawned and stood. "No thanks. I'll help myself." Pattering to the Styrofoam dishes on the counter, she leaned close to inhale the burger and fries smothered in ketchup.
"Nice, guys. I like."
Tanner stepped closer, caging her between his body and the counter. "Me, too."
Matthias watched, captivated, as Tanner took control in no uncertain terms. Talk about shooting right out of the starting gate. The large man stormed Ava's senses. As she turned to face him, he swallowed her breath in a kiss that set the room on fire.
Though Matthias had figured he'd have to remain as silent as a church mouse so as not to alarm Ava, he needn't have worried. The moment Tanner settled those lips on her, she seemed to forget about everything else but him. And Tanner latched on to her passion like a drowning man. Oddly enough, Matthias didn't feel left out. Instead, he felt a part of something more, and his heart swelled with joy.
In moments, Ava stood naked in Tanner's arms, and Matthias had a hard time remaining still. Tanner groaned, and Matthias groaned with him. Tanner slid his hands up and down Ava's smooth back, riding over the swell of her firm ass, those rounded cheeks Matthias wanted to sink his teeth into.
All of Matthias's intentions to watch and wait, to let Tanner ease Ava into compliance, fled as he watched Ava stroke Tanner's body and saw Tanner's aroused response.
Shucking his clothes and ignoring the burning in his side, Matthias reached the pair and wrapped his arms around Ava, holding her hips as he pressed into her hot skin.
She started but didn't pull away from Tanner, and Matthias lowered his head to suck at her neck, groaning his own pleasure at her taste. The feel of her ass cradling his cock made him want to thrust hard, but when Tanner's hands tentatively sought his waist, Matthias's passion exploded.
"Take off your clothes, Tanner," he growled, thrusting his pelvis against Ava's greedy ass. She ground back into him as they both watched Tanner remove his shirt.
Matthias wrapped his arms around her waist and slid a hand down her belly and between her thighs.
"Ava, baby." He groaned and turned her face to reach her lips. The searing kiss had his head spinning. "Damn, Tanner, you've got her dripping wet."
Ava moaned, and Matthias kissed his way down her cheek to her neck, sucking at her pulse as he watched Tanner strip out of his jeans, socks and shoes. The man didn't wear underwear, and Ava gasped as her gaze fell on Tanner's flushed cock.
"He's big, isn't he?" Matthias felt totally turned on by the people he was growing to love. "He tastes so good. Like thick, sweet cream as he rushes down your throat."
Tanner moved to the bed, and Matthias and Ava followed. Tanner knelt on the bed, scooting back to give Ava and Matthias enough room to join him. No one denied the threesome about to happen, and Matthias was pleased he wouldn't have to work to convince either Tanner or Ava that this was right.
"Taste him, Ava. Take that cock between your lips and suck him until he comes."
Tanner held himself for her, his breathing choppy as he waited. He connected with Matthias's gaze, and the heat between them was enough to whet Matthias's need to burn something.
"Come here, Ava," Tanner rasped. "Because Matthias has that look in his eyes, the one he wears when he wants to torch something. He needs to put out the fire raging inside of him. And he needs to do it in you. Your sweet little pussy is what he wants, isn't it?"
"Yes," Matthias hissed, shuddering when Ava bent over on her hands and knees. She glanced over her shoulder at him, a sultry look on her face as she licked her lips, her eyes widening as she noted his thickening erection. She smiled, then, and turned to take Tanner into her mouth.
The man groaned as he threaded his fingers in her hair. "Christ, Matthias. You should see her face. She's so fucking sexy."
"Mmm. Yeah. But you should see her ass. So firm, so ripe. I can't wait to take you there, Ava. To fuck you there while Tanner slides into your pussy." Her moan had him rubbing harder against her ass cheeks. "But not now, baby. That first time should be slow and easy, and I just can't wait." He was panting with the need to fuck her.
"Do it, Matthias. Take her," Tanner growled, his shaft gliding in and out of Ava's mouth with a sensual rhythm that had Matthias following the movement with his shaft. He thrust against the outside of her hip when he really wanted to be inside of her.
"You ready for me, Ava? Ready for my cock?"
Ava moaned around Tanner, and Matthias spread her knees farther apart. He shoved a finger into her, her wet heat pushing him past the need for caution, for tenderness. The animalistic need building within him burst and, without pause, he thrust inside her and pushed deep. The motion sent her harder over Tanner's shaft, and the man groaned his thanks.
"This is so good." Tanner said thickly, uttering what Matthias had been thinking. "So perfect.
Lefne
, take me. Swallow me. All of it."
Matthias was aware of the odd term since Tanner had used it on him the other day. He hadn't thought to ask what it meant, but knowing the man called Ava by the endearment as well gave him added hope for their future.
Pulling out, Matthias slammed back into Ava and felt pleasure spiral along his shaft into his balls. He began pumping and reached around to her hard clit.
"You're tight, baby," Matthias rasped as he rode her. "So slick and hard. So close. You need to come, don't you? To swallow Tanner's cum and have me shoot inside your pussy. But more, you need to clench me tight. Milk me, baby. And take Tanner deep, swallow his essence. Feel him shudder as he comes. Feel me spurt, the life rushing into you when my cum bathes your womb." His rocking grew harder, faster, as his arousal spiked. "Until you don't know where you end and we begin. Until you aren't complete unless you're swallowing our cum, taking it deep inside of you."