Chapter One
YOU MUSTN'T be caught.
Toka chanted the words in his head, his heart beating wildly as he attempted to ease his ragged breaths. The rustling of leaves sent him diving behind an enormous tree, and he flattened himself against the trunk as he crouched. For a moment he feared he'd been seen.
A fiery orange leaf floated down and tickled his nose as it made its descent, making Toka smile. Autumn in the Soldati Realm was Toka's favorite time of year, next to winter. What foxling didn't love pouncing into a tantalizing mound of crisp autumn leaves or freshly fallen snow? Unfortunately leaves crackled underfoot, giving away his position--well, nearly. He worried his bottom lip with his teeth, wondering if he should risk changing into his fox form. If he did, and his pursuer was near, he would catch Toka's heady scent. But in his fox form, Toka was quicker, more agile, and smaller. He could easily squeeze into a rabbit burrow. His pursuer would be lucky to fit a paw in there.
Blasted! Stop being such a coward!
Breaking into a run, Toka leaped and landed on his paws, his transformation complete in the blink of an eye. His clothes were like a second skin, becoming one with his body when he shifted. He couldn't imagine having to remove clothes every time he wished to change form. How terribly cumbersome. A roar frightened him, and he let out a cry as he took off. Wonderful. If he hadn't given himself away when he'd shifted, he certainly had now. Just as the thought crossed his mind, a flash of white caught his eye, and he skidded as he made a sharp turn to avoid getting pounced on by the massive tiger. Toka used his brush to help his balance as he rounded a large tree, the fiend on his heels.
"Give up, little fox!"
The husky voice spoke to Toka in his mind, and Toka barked before replying.
"Never!"
Toka leaped over fallen trees, ducked under low branches, and took sharp turns in the hopes of losing the tiger hunting him. The wind whipped against his fur, and he paid no mind to the pebbles and acorns he treaded on as he pounced through the wild grass of the dense forest. All he needed was to find a small enough place to hide in. A paw swiped at his brush, and Toka jumped, releasing a startled bark. He could hear his pursuer's voice laughing softly in his head.
"Your capture is inevitable, my little fox. Why prolong it?"
Toka would have rolled his eyes if he could. Someone was rather sure of themselves. Inevitable? He'd see about that.
Spotting a hollow log inclined against a large tree, Toka dashed toward it. He sped through the inside of the log and emerged at the other end. The hollow log was sturdy and lodged tightly against the tree it had fallen against. Toka hopped on the corner, and sprang up just as the log was knocked away. He landed on the nearest branch, then hopped from branch to branch, smiling inwardly.
"Clever little fox," the voice said in Toka's head.
Toka wiggled his butt and made the leap onto a branch of the next tree, ignoring the tiger jumping and swiping at him. As expected, Toka soon ran out of branches, and he soared through the air and landed gracefully in a pile of leaves. They fluttered up in the air before cascading down, and Toka darted away.
"When I catch you, you'll have to give me anything I desire."
Toka wasn't prepared for the silky words, and he faltered, his paw catching on a rock, sending him tumbling. Oh sugar! He changed to his human form and sat up, eyes narrowed when a familiar shadow stretched over him. A hand appeared before his face, and with a groan, Toka accepted and slipped his hand into the fairer one on offer. Unlike the Soldati, who had the appearance of larger, stronger humans, foxlings wore much of their animal features in their human form. Toka's hands and feet were a smoky color that traveled up his forearms and calves to fade into his bronze-colored skin, whereas Rayner was fair all over. Toka had never known a more handsome Soldati. Rayner's hand was large and warm, enveloping Toka's. Cheeks flushed, Toka was pulled to his feet.
"You cheated," Toka mumbled pitifully.
Rayner's amber eyes sparkled with mischief, his husky laugh sending a shiver through Toka. Why did the man have to be so darned handsome?
"Perhaps," Rayner admitted, placing his hands on Toka's waist as he edged closer, and then he walked Toka back against a tree. Rayner smelled wonderful. Of sandalwood, juniper, and cedar with something else mixed in, along with a scent unique to Rayner, one Toka would know anywhere.
"What... is it that you desire?" Toka's breath hitched as the black of Rayner's eyes spread, leaving slivers of molten amber. Rayner's proximity was doing awfully naughty things to Toka's body, especially when Rayner eliminated the distance between them, his knee between Toka's legs.
"You're trembling," Rayner said, his sinful lips inches from Toka's temple and his breath hot against Toka's skin. He brushed the back of his fingers down Toka's bare arm before bringing them to rest under his chin, tilting his head back.
Oh goodness. Toka swallowed hard. His eyes widened slightly, and his lips parted when Rayner dropped his gaze to Toka's lips.
"What I desire, my little fox, is a kiss from those sweet lips."
"Anything," Toka breathed, curling his fingers into Rayner's sleeves. He loved the way Rayner eclipsed Toka's slighter frame. The breadth of his shoulders was impressive, leading to an expansive chest with muscular arms hidden under the billowy black sleeves of the shirt he wore beneath the chestnut-colored jerkin. His thighs were powerful, his calves strong and sheathed in black leather boots. Rayner exuded more than strength, power, and confidence. He radiated an inescapable sensuality, one others couldn't help but gravitate toward when he was close.
"You shouldn't make such promises." Rayner brushed his lips over Toka's. "I have a very wicked imagination."
Toka whimpered, making Rayner chuckle. "You're teasing me," Toka said with a huff, turning his head away. Rayner took hold of his chin and turned his head back to meet his gaze.
"Oh, but I'm very serious, my little fox."
"I... I am your little fox, Rayner. Only yours, should you wish to have me." Toka dropped his gaze to his fingers, his cheeks burning. He was uncertain where this forwardness had come from. He supposed Rayner's own boldness toward Toka as of late spurred him on. "I've not allowed anyone else to... touch me in such an... intimate manner."
Rayner appeared stunned. "You've been saving yourself for me?"
Toka nodded. "From the moment I met your gaze, I knew there would be no other." The day Toka stood before Khalon, the newly crowned Soldati king, Toka's life changed, and not for the reasons he'd expected. The previous king and his court departed the Soldati Realm, and Khalon and his court were presented with their new servants. Toka was one of the many foxlings who would be serving Khalon and his court. As Rayner stood proudly beside his king, Toka's heart and body were seized by the unspoken promise in Rayner's amber eyes--a promise that Toka would one day be his.
"Your words humble me," Rayner whispered as he leaned in and brushed his lips over Toka's before he poked out his tongue to lick at Toka's bottom lip, drawing a gasp from him. "They also stoke the embers of desire within me. You are the most beautiful creature I have ever laid eyes on. I have never felt envious of my king until the day your mother presented you to him. Deep in my heart, I knew Khalon would never lay a finger on you, yet a secret part of me feared he might lose himself in your beauty. I wanted you for myself, even if we could not mate. I yearned to have you." With his lips parted, Rayner laid siege to Toka's mouth, his tongue plundering, dueling with Toka's own.
Toka surrendered himself without question. Whatever Rayner desired of him, Toka would give freely and eagerly. Rayner's heat enveloped Toka, and he closed his fingers around fistfuls of Rayner's sleeves, fearing Rayner might slip away. It wasn't his first kiss from Rayner, but it was the most heated by far. Toka lived for those moments when Rayner sought him out, stealing a kiss when no one was looking. The kisses were sweet, affectionate, and took Toka's breath away each time. This kiss threatened to send him to the stars. It lit a spark inside him, and he foolishly wanted more. Rayner's mouth was warm, and he tasted of the sweet wine he'd had earlier.
The feel of Rayner's hand sliding down Toka's side made him shiver, and he brought his legs together as tight as he could around Rayner's knee in the hopes of easing the rapidly growing desire in his groin. Rayner moved his hand underneath Toka's knee-length tunic to cup him through his undergarments, and Toka had never been more grateful for his bare-legged servant's attire. He gasped, throwing his head back, and Rayner took advantage, nipping at Toka's exposed neck.
"Oh heavens." Toka whimpered as Rayner caressed him through his clothing.
"Is that a yes?" Rayner whispered in Toka's ear, and Toka gasped.
"Yes," Toka replied through his panting breaths. Never had he expected to be treated as an equal. Rayner stole kisses, but now as he freed Toka's shaft from his undergarments before removing his own from his trousers, he had asked tenderly, as he would a lover. Rayner palmed both their erections, and Toka feared he might spill his seed all too quickly. They were both already leaking, and Rayner used the pearly drops in place of lubricant.
"Rayner," Toka breathed, the pressure and friction of Rayner's hand as he pumped their shafts together was blissful torture. Fiery heat flared through Toka's body, his muscles aching in the most delicious way. Never had he yearned for anything or anyone the way he yearned for Rayner. Rayner trailed kisses up Toka's skin to his jawline, his husky voice low and gravelly when he spoke.
"You are a gift, Toka. A beautiful, precious gift."