Author's Notes:
Warning, the end of this chapter is very lemony. It becomes important later, so I didn't write it just for the point of smut. ;) Just remember, this story is rated M for a reason.
Enjoy.
Chapter Ten:
Vegeta stretched comfortably as he slid into his dark-blue, silk night pants. He hadn't really needed the bath, after all, he had showered that morning, but it was far too relaxing to resist. Kakarrot was incredibly thorough when it came to washing hair, though there was little need to do so.
Reaching into his drawer, the prince grasped a long-sleeved, white shirt with a square neckline. It was his favorite to sleep in because of the perfect balance between keeping him warm in the colder months, and keeping him from becoming overheated in the hot ones. He slid it over his arms and dropped it onto his still damp head, trying to find the hole. It stuck a little to his wet hair, still not dry enough to stand on its own. He growled in frustration, wrestling to extricate himself from the smooth, white fabric.
A giggle announced Kakarrot's presence into the room, followed by two strong hands untangling the shirt from his own. Vegeta blushed, tugging a little harder than was necessary to situate it on his hips. He turned to the boy behind him. Kakarrot towered over him, the prince hardly reaching his nose. It struck him that the boy was only sixteen, he couldn't imagine how tall he would be once fully grown!
Kakarrot was wearing another pair of his black pants, the red sash tied loosely about his too-thin waist. He was smiling, brown tail sailing through the air before comfortably settling into a hook-like curl behind his broad back.
"Hn." The prince mumbled, turning his blushing face away from the young man and striding towards the gigantic bed.
A pleasant laugh drifted behind him, following him all the way to his destination. He cracked a smile, crossing his arms over his muscled chest and looking over his shoulder.
"Good night, Kakarrot."
"G'night!" He giggled back.
The boy grinned, pulling back a layer of the red bedspread for Vegeta to slip into. He did so, sliding all the way to the other side so the boy could slip in beside him. He felt the comforter folded back over so that it rested beneath his chin. Vegeta looked up, watching the boy fold it carefully before retreating to the far wall and shutting off the room light. The windows let in the light of the crescent moon high above, casting long shadows onto the walls of the prince's bedchamber.
He heard the sound of approaching footsteps, bare feet slapping the cold stone. He expected to feel the bed shift as the boy sat onto it, but it didn't come. Instead, he heard a gentle thump as Kakarrot curled up on the plush carpet to the side of his bed.
"Kakarrot, what are you doing?" He asked sleepily, turning so that he was facing towards the source of the noise.
"Going to sleep, Master. Are my quarters elsewhere?"
"No..." He began, snuggling more comfortably into the warmth of his bed. "But won't you be cold?"
"Oh, no, Master." He yawned widely. "This is much warmer and more comfortable than my old sleeping pallet."
"Are you sure?"
"Mm-hmm."
Vegeta could hear the satisfied sigh in the last statement, and so decided to drop the issue as his eyes refused to obey him any longer. He fell asleep.
~•~ POV Change ~•~
Raditz' head was spinning from the afternoon of surprises he had found in Vegeta's chambers. Like the prince had suggested, he had gone immediately to the medical unit to provide a DNA sample. They would need time to match it, but he felt mixed and confused about the whole situation.
The long-haired bodyguard wasn't sure whether or not he wanted this boy to be his long lost brother. Not that wanting would change anything. From what Raditz had seen, part of him hoped Kakarrot really was. He was respectful, funny, smart, and physically strong from Vegeta's description. But part of him was... Afraid that this boy was the one he had thought dead.
Raditz had seen first hand what it was like in The Carved Crown inn. Yes, it was fairly nice with its plush accoutrements, but there was something much worse underneath. That man was terrible. Cchini, the owner, had been abusing that helpless, collared boy for years. It wasn't all just physical abuse either.
As it was, he had seen the state Kakarrot had been in that morning. It was a wonder that the boy was even still breathing.
Raditz felt guilty. There was no other word for it. If this really was his younger brother, then surely, this must be partially his fault. Where was he when the boy was being beaten to death in an alleyway? An alleyway hardly six miles from where he lived! I can't even bring myself to think of that. His mind whispered.
His boots thunked dully against the stone floor as he wandered aimlessly around, trying desperately to clear his head. The more he thought about Kakarrot, the more things confused him. That young, sixteen-year-old boy in a bronze collar... How had he managed to live that long? And how, how was his ki so terrifyingly low? He had been wearing a scouter as he walked into the prince's sitting room. Three. That's what the scouter had read.
Three? How was that even possible? From the beating he had gotten, Kakarrot's ki should have doubled each time he had nearly died! And by the look of those scars, it had not been the first time he was beaten. So why was his power only three?
Raditz sighed. This walk was doing little to clear his head, only succeeding in knotting those thin tendrils of thought further. He picked a hallway, marching down it until he found a section of the palace he knew. He walked blindly, passing staff and guards alike, drawing upon an uncaring atmosphere in the hopes that no one would talk to him in his time of emotional upheaval. Suddenly, he arrived in front of his chamber door.
He had calmed significantly, his breathing easier, though his guilt still firmly attached. He had shoved the whole ordeal to the back of his mind, opting instead for a heated shower before falling into bed. That would have been the case, anyway, if not for what had been behind his chamber door.
Raditz pushed the heavy, metal door inward, stepping into the darkness of his room. He strode inside, stripping pieces of lightweight armor as he approached the light-switch. The long-haired man turned around, now wearing nothing but his spandex shorts, leaving little to the imagination on such a large and powerful body. He heard a gentle snort from the bed and whipped around to face the noise.
"Chiva!"
The redheaded bodyguard sat bolt upright, the covers falling off of her naked chest as she went. Her long hair cascaded over her shoulders, just barely obscuring her large breasts as she shifted into a sitting position.
"Surprise." She mumbled, rubbing her eyes with the back of one hand.
"Chiva, what are you doing here?" He asked, not with venom, but with concern.
"Well, you'd had a long day, love." She smiled groggily. "And I wanted to take the edge off that cut you got by... Balancing the sensation."
She traced the outline of a nipple with the tip of her beautiful finger, as if showing off just what she could give him. She looked up, smiling with narrowed eyes as he took in the sight of her, starkly naked agains his bed.
He grinned slyly. It was just like Chiva to do something like this. He didn't mind. "Is that so?" He asked, prowling over to her.
She stretched like a cat, causing her hair to fall back again, her naked chest visible to the cold room. All thoughts of weariness gone, she leveled a look at him, one that said quite clearly that this would definitely clear his mind. He approached, his long, brown tail snaking through the air as he stalked over. Her own tail rose from beneath the heavy sheets to join in waving through the cold night air.
The bed groaned as Raditz knees landed on it, bringing his face just inches from the also kneeling Chiva. He ran a big hand through her choppy hair, following the length all the way to the small of her back. She let out a heated breath as his hand slid to envelop her beautiful, questing tail. She groaned, arching her back as his other arm moved to embrace her.
Chiva's beautiful groan was all it took to bring him to full hardness, made obvious by the pair of spandex shorts being the only thing he was wearing. She rubbed against him, her head right beside his powerful neck. She licked, a long line running from the center of his chest to the base of his earlobe. He groaned as she took it into her mouth, biting gently. He didn't stop with her tail, Raditz threaded it through his hand, enjoying the tiny, needy whimpers coming from his love as she moved away from his ear to finally kiss his mouth.
She gasped, kissing him deeply and fully. She drove her tongue inside, Raditz pushing his own back in a heated battle. He moaned with her as her small, delicate hand found his arousal. She grinned into the kiss, feeling the head through the too-tight materiel. He placed his arms around her tiny but powerful back, gently placing her on the bed, naked body only barely obscured by his long hair and the stubborn sheets. He knelt down over her, straddling her beautiful, slight frame. He placed his hands on either side of her head as he lowered his face right next to her ear.
"So is this why Elry told me to hurry back?" He asked huskily.
She smirked, turning her face to again capture his lips. "Maybe." Chiva whispered, running a hand through his long, black tresses. She bit her lip playfully, leaning her neck up so that she could once again suck on a spot beneath his masculine jaw.
He loved nights like this, when she would sneak into his room, or he would sneak into hers. He loved the way she would arch into a kiss, or shudder as a long lock of black hair brushed over one of her delicate nipples. He loved the sight of her, eyes half closed as he hovered above her. The way her long, sensitive tail stood out straight and quivered as he carefully fingered at its base.
He grunted, going to his elbows above her. He leaned his face down to capture a tiny, pink nipple, gently sucking on it until he evoked a response. She cried out, throwing her head back against the pillow as one of his hands reached beneath the sheets. She was writhing, just for him. She knew it excited him, drove him mad with want. Chiva was excellent at provoking him. He licked lightly against the erect, pink nub. Oh, gods, he loved this.
He would need to get these shorts off soon, but he didn't want to give up his perfect position above her. He bit lightly and was rewarded with a delicate gasp, followed by an arched back. She used this arch to cause the tops of her thighs to brush against his trapped erection. He growled low in his throat at the flood of sensation, gone far too soon.
Without waiting any longer, Raditz reached down and began pulling off the torturing fabric, freeing himself to the cool night. Chiva smirked while he did so, pulling herself up until he was sitting next to the headboard, her back pressed firmly against it. He growled a little at the lost sensation of her body on his as she took his face in her hands to kiss him deeply.
He loved this. He loved her.
Years ago, when it all began, this had been only the want of flesh against flesh. They were partners for mutual release- to melt away the tension after a long day, nothing more. One night a week turned into two, then three. They became closer, their bond stronger, more than that of just sex. Raditz and Chiva had tried to see each other every night, but had to leave enough time in-between so they were not detected.
A relationship between two of Prince Vegeta's bodyguards was likely to stir trouble with their temperamental king, so the two kept their love a secret. It was not proper of them to be together.
Especially not since that night two years ago.
~•~ Flashback ~•~
They had been together for a year at this point, truly together, not just heat partners. Raditz sighed, holding Chiva's toned back to his broad chest, sighing in contentment. The bloody bite mark on his neck was still oozing sluggishly. As was hers, though it was placed on the top of her shoulder instead of the side of her neck. She nuzzled back deeper into his chest, heartbeat steadily aligning with his own. It was the same heartbeat now, essentially. She raised a finger, slowly letting a ball of ki form on the tip. He watched it swell, and felt a pull within himself as she did so. They knew it for certain now. They had done the impossible without even meaning to.
They had become mates.
"How...?" She asked, watching the ki form and then fizzle out. "We've bitten before... So, why now did the bond form?"
"I'm no expert, Chiva." He sighed, pulling her closer to his chest, breathing in the scent of her hair. "But I can't say I'm upset about it."
She turned, neck craning to get a look at him behind her back. She sighed, smiling as she felt the warmness of their bond settle between them. "Neither can I. It's a rare thing. In fact, I've never even met another mated couple."
"I have."
"Really?"
The long-haired man nodded, his strands of black pulling against the sheets as he did so. "Yeah, I'll tell you about them later. Right now there's something more important."
"And what is that?"
"What are we going to do about it, Chiva?" He asked painstakingly. He hated to ruin this incredible feeling, but it had to be said. "Do you see what this means? If our relationship was forbidden before, think of now! How... How can we keep this a secret?"
"I don't want to keep it a secret." She whispered, sounding dejected.
"Neither do I." He assured. "But... If we don't, we could be killed. You know why guards are not allowed to be together."
Oh yes, she knew. They both knew all too well. The king had forbidden guards from becoming involved with each other, out of the fear that they would protect the life of their comrade over the royal family. Raditz knew the idea was preposterous, but didn't say so. He and Chiva were not supposed to be this close, let alone be mated at all.
"I know, Raditz. But I want to tell everyone. I want them to know who I belong to, and who belongs to me. It's... It's so hard not to say."
He picked up a large hand, running it through her wavy locks of dark red, taking a deep breath before answering. "It's dangerous to be mates, Chiva."
"I don't care."
"But... If I die, so do you."
"I wouldn't want to live in a world without you, Raditz."
He smiled at that, closing his eyes shut at the selfless love lain bare in that short statement. "Neither would I." His throat caught, thinking about what else this would mean. "We need to be careful, Chiva. In battle, if one of us dies, both of us do. We can't let that happen."
"So... Will we tell anyone?"
"Not if we can avoid it. I know it's hard, but it's been this way for a year, we are mates now. If we can do that, we can do anything."
She chuckled breathily through her nose, rolling over so that her naked chest was pressed against his. "Alright, my love. My mate. I look forward to the day when all know whose you are."
He leaned in, kissing her hard on her smiling mouth. They stayed that way for a while, eyes closed, lips met. When they finally broke away, they stayed in each other's arms, listening to their heartbeat, their ki flow, and their life solidify as one.
They were mates.
~•~ End Flashback ~•~
Somehow, they had managed to keep their secret for two full years. It stunned Raditz to think it was such a short time. He felt more like he had known Chiva his entire life.
They each saw the other in the dead of night, always. Sometimes I wasn't enough, but it was all they had. It was still hard to keep secret. He wanted, so badly, to tell everyone that Chiva was his. More than that, that Chiva was a part of him. Without her, he would be nothing. It was heartbreaking to know that, but be unable to voice it. That he loved her.
Raditz straddled her again, sitting lightly on her legs so as not to hurt her. She grinned, pulling her back from the headboard so that his sculpted arms could envelop her again in their heated embrace. Chiva snaked her arms around him too, drawing the large man down to her level.
He groaned deeply when he felt a tail coiling tightly around his freed member. Chiva smirked at him, tightening slightly and moving her her soft, furry length up and down along the shaft. He was surprised his muscles didn't give out at her practiced grace. She had a talent for this. Raditz breathed heavily into her ear as she continued the assault. He turned his face in towards her neck. He breathed her in, drowning in her scent as she sent shocks of stimulation through his whole body. He licked the side of her pulsing throat, sucking a spot to the side until there was sure to be evidence of their nighttime excursion. He didn't care, though. Neither did Chiva, according to the high-pitched growl that issued as a result of the mark.
She was whimpering, needing something. He needed it too, and so obliged her, biting down hard into her beautiful shoulder directly over the spot he had bitten two years ago. She turned her own head inward as well, following with a tiny, sharp bite mark into the flesh of his chiseled neck. He hissed at the feeling.
Raditz loved that bite, loved both of them. The rush of sensation it opened up was intoxicating, but he loved more-so what it represented. He didn't draw her blood, as it wasn't strictly necessary after the first night of the mating bond. Chiva, though, did. Raditz grunted, prompting her to do it again. She grinned, biting deeper until blood welled to the surface, her mate letting out an exquisite growl.
He dragged her down with his embrace on her back, positioning her under him until she was laying flat on the bed. Chiva was too much to resist, her hot, tiny, powerful body beneath him was all he needed now. He needed her.
She laughed as he threw the tangle of sheets off the bed. He knew why. Raditz always cut to the chase after the bite. She had told him it was her favorite part, and so always laughed when he would lay her on the bed when he was ready for business. Chiva liked to take the lead beforehand, and then afterword, but while the act was preformed, she allowed it to be on Raditz' terms. There was not a dominant and a submissive with them. They were equals, as mates should be.
Raditz brow creased, an evil smirk darkening his features as he hovered above her. He slowly picked up his right hand, bringing it to her lips. She shuddered, pulling his big fingers into her mouth and wetting them with her tongue. She slid across them, sucking harder as he imagined where else she could put this talent to use. She felt the spark of that thought flash through his mind, allowing an evil smirk of her own cross her face around the fingers in her mouth. He slowly drew them out, lying more directly on top of her, so their chests were not even half in inch apart, but still not touching. He purred.
She cried out as his fingers slid across her. Raditz delighted in the cry, catching up the natural lubrication on the tips of his fingers before slowly pressing them inside her quivering body. She pulled a sharp breath. This was unusual for him, as he would typically just damn foreplay to hell right after he bit into her shoulder. Raditz enjoyed her surprised gasps as he pleasured her with his big fingers. He reached his head around, kissing her hard on swollen lips. She writhed from the combined sensation of her lover's mouth and fingers driving her insane.
Chiva was whimpering by the time he finally drew them out of her, wiping them on his arousal already dripping precum. He positioned himself, placing her legs around is rock-hard waist. Neither of them could wait any longer. With one needy thrust, he plunged in.
His love cried out, throwing her head back as he moved inside of her. He loved that sound. Not only the sound itself, but that he was the one to evoke it sent a spike of pleasure straight through his entire being. Raditz wanted to be the only one to ever cause Chiva to scream like that. In ecstasy, in sensation, in pure and raw pleasure, in love.
She clawed at his back with her long nails, each a beautiful pinprick of pain to combat the raging sensations of stimulation generating through his whole, large body. He pounded into her, listening to the delicate, mewling moans that escaped past her plump lips. Her long strands of dark red were tangled with his much longer locks of black. They were one, moving together for their own and the other's enjoyment. They were striving to bring the other to completion, while also being bombarded by intense waves from their lover, sending them higher and higher in the onslaught of rushing need.
With a final cry, Chiva tightened around her love, still moving inside of her. She screamed, pressing her mouth agains his neck and gritting her teeth until, with a final push, he too came. They collapsed to the bed, sweat-soaked muscles staining the sheets. She huffed a breath, turning in his arms to kiss him, long and hard on the lips. Raditz smiled, pulling his mate closer to whisper in her ear.
"I love you."
"I love you, too."