Kei's Gift (117 page)

“I wouldn’t do it in the middle of Darshek square, no. But here? Look,” he said, pointing at the sailors who were all watching the ocean. One or two had noticed what they were doing and were amused, he sensed. But no one was offended. “No one gives a damn. It’s a different attitude. Sex isn’t a sin or a crime. You need to get used to that.”

“I saw...years ago, in Urshek. A woman doing...what you were going to...with her lover. In a street. I was so shocked.”

“But you still looked? Was it beautiful?”

“Yes,” Arman breathed. “Her hair...and the love in their eyes.... I wondered what it would be like to be wanted like that, to love...to give pleasure in that way and to receive it. And to feel no shame at all.” He looked up at Kei. “I want not to be ashamed.” He sat up and pinned Kei to the hatch. “I’m not ashamed of you.” He placed his hand over Kei’s crotch and massaged it a little. “Let me?”

“Whatever you want, always.” Kei held his breath as Arman undid the lacings on his trousers—what was he going to do? He released the breath as his cock was freed of his clothes. Arman seemed about to kneel—Kei grabbed his shoulders. “No, you don’t. Not on your knees. What do you want to do?”

Arman was a little confused and somewhat irritated. “I wanted...to...well, use my mouth,” he mumbled.

“All right,” Kei said, trying to hide his sudden arousal, not to mention his surprise. “You sit, I’ll stand.”

“Kei—”

Kei held up his hand. “Bad leg—listen to me, or no sex. Got it?”

“Yes. Bully.”

“Stubborn idiot. Behave.” He got off the hatch and stood in front of Arman, who put his hand on Kei’s hips, keeping his shirt rucked above them and exposing Kei’s arse to the world. “You don’t have to—” Arman looked up in real annoyance. “All right, I’ll shut up.”

As he felt Arman’s breath on his cock, he had to clutch at Arman’s shoulders as his knees went a little weak with excitement. He’d never expected Arman to do this, not here and certainly not now. Arman had only had a couple of experiences of this act himself—did he have any idea what to do? He buried his hand in Arman’s hair, and gasped as Arman’s warm tongue licked across the top of his cock, as his hand cupped Kei’s balls carefully. “Gods.” He looked down. Arman looked uncertain. “Do that again.”

Arman did, and then licked a little down the length of Kei’s erection. Kei shuddered with raw need. He had to be patient, he couldn’t push...but gods, he wanted Arman’s mouth on him
now
.

Arman was being maddening, using one hand to play with Kei’s balls, to trace slow circles over his thigh, while his mouth moved from his cock to the hollow of his hip, licking, sucking...even, daringly, nibbling, which drove Kei
crazy
with lust. He adored being bitten carefully by his lovers. His hand tightened in Arman’s hair and he bit his tongue to stop himself begging. This was Arman’s first time. Arman needed this, and needed to feel confident. Kei had to...be patient, damn it! He jerked as Arman’s teeth grazed the head of his cock with exquisite gentleness. “Gods, oh gods....”

Warm, agile tongue curling around him, soft, firm lips pressing against his erection, a strong hand rolling and playing with his balls and then...around his cock, pumping carefully as Arman sucked, hesitantly, a little clumsily...but it felt so damn good despite that.

Arman shifted, and then he was trying to take all of Kei into his mouth. Kei pulled back, and made Arman look up at him. “That needs practice,” he said gently. “Just keep doing what you’re doing, it’s driving me mad and I love it.”

Arman smiled and obeyed. Kei sighed as once again that wet, delicious heat enveloped him and he could lose himself in the sensation, feeling Arman’s love, his mouth, his hands and the pure joy that he had a lover so brave and so generous.

It was more Arman’s hand than his mouth that made Kei come, and it was so sudden he couldn’t warn Arman, who coughed but swallowed manfully. Then had to cough again. “Sorry, I should have pulled away.”

Arman looked up and wiped his mouth. “It’s not like I didn’t know that would happen,” he said calmly.

Kei crouched to kiss him. “Thank you,” he said. “I really enjoyed that,” and he felt Arman’s emotions colour with pride and pleasure at his words. He sat down on the hatch, still bare-arsed, and laid his cheek against Arman’s, reaching for Arman’s lacings. “My turn.”

“You don’t—”

Kei looked at him sternly. “I
want
.”

“Ah. Carry on,” he said with a faint smile. Kei made him lie down so he could undress him better, shoving his shirt up to expose the broad chest. He spent some time licking and teasing Arman’s pink and pretty nipples before moving down to the impressive erection set in the golden curls. Arman’s cock was always a bit of a challenge, being thicker than Reji’s, but Kei rose to it, loving the taste and the feel of it on his tongue and the way Arman could lose his sadness through his desire, the way he became so wantonly needy, beautiful and responsive to every touch and movement. Sex with Arman felt like he had all the power in the world, like having a Gift that gave him complete control over this wonderful man, this kind and generous soul. It was completely addictive, and Kei had no intention of fighting that addiction.

Arman came with a cry, clutching at Kei’s head as he drank him down, licking his cock as it softened. Only when Arman moved because, Kei guessed, he was a little too sensitive, did he slide up Arman’s body to kiss his stomach, and then his chin, and finally his mouth. “Like?”

“Mmmm.”

Kei grinned. He’d robbed Arman of the power of speech. He sat up, intending to pull his trousers up again—and then heard a chorus of applause and whistles. He looked up—the previously uninterested sailors were all watching from the masts and crow’s nest and showing their appreciation of the unplanned entertainment. He blushed, but stood and bowed, bare arse and all, to his audience. “Thank you, thank you. You’re too kind,” he said with a flourish of his hand.

Beside him, Arman was frozen in place, embarrassment rolling off him. “You said they weren’t looking!”

“I never said they’d keep not looking.” Kei pulled his trousers up and then sat down, ignoring the sailors who’d returned to their watch now they had thoroughly humiliated the two lovers. “They still don’t care, beyond it being a great joke.” He touched his forehead to Arman’s. “It doesn’t matter. And I’m still proud as anything of you and to be seen with you.”

Arman closed his eyes. “I...don’t feel ashamed,” he whispered. “I’m not ashamed,” he repeated in a louder voice. “I love you.” He stood up and called to the sailors. “I love Kei of Ai-Albon!”

The sailors clapped again and called out a few “good for you’s”, grinning down at them. Arman pulled up his pants—Kei was so pleased he hadn’t done that first—and sat down again, looking rather flushed and still a little embarrassed. “Gods, maybe you have cast a spell on me. I’d have never done that before.”

“No. But it’s not bad for you, I promise.”

“I have no dignity left.”

“We don’t have dignity in Darshian,” Kei said. “We just have pride. And you have plenty of that, never fear. The Rulers are proud of you. They were going to come over to tell you in person, but I thought you wanted some privacy. And Blikus better behave tomorrow or he’s going for a swim.” At the sound of his former commander’s name, Arman’s spirit dimmed a little. Kei cupped his cheek and kissed him again. “We’re all proud of you. I hope you saw that tonight.”

“Yes. I did.” He sighed. “Now I’m
really
exhausted.”

“Come to bed. We don’t have to rise early. We could sleep up here, you know. It’ll be pretty hot in the cabin.”

“That’s a good idea. Let’s—”

Kei wagged a finger at him. “I’ll get the bedding. Relax.”

Kei couldn’t help smiling as he walked back to the cabin. Arman had come such a long way, not just in miles but in spirit. He was a beautiful, extraordinary man—and all Kei’s.

Rumbles of thunder woke them in the early hours of the morning, and they got below with only a minute to spare before the rain came down hard. Arman was so tired that he fell asleep again not long after they had rearranged the bunk, not bothering with the blankets in the stifling heat. When he woke again, bright light was streaming through the port holes. Kei was still asleep but as Arman moved, he opened his eyes. “Is it morning yet?” he muttered, putting a hand over his eyes to cut out the light.

“It could even be noon,” Arman said. “Move, I need a piss.”

Kei let him up, and he used the chamber pot. By the time he was done, Kei was sitting up and yawning and scratching his face—which reminded Arman he would now have to find time each day to shave again, something he hadn’t had to do in years. A small price to pay for accepting a new identity. Kei looked at him. “How did you sleep?”

“Well enough. I’d like a real bed at some point, but I think it will be Ai-Albon before we get one.”

Kei smiled. “I think I’ll pull in a favour and get one before then. But once we get moving...that will be soon, yes? There’s no reason not to take people across the pass before it’s cleared.”

“None. All we need is to organise the wagons and what extra beasts we need. It’s all in hand. Once we get to Urshek, it should be straightforward.” Arman came over to Kei and rested his hands on his lover’s shoulders. “Ready to go home?”

Kei nuzzled against his hand. “Not yet. By the time we’re there, I will be. And you?” he asked quietly.

“I need time to think, to adjust. A few weeks on the trail will give me that.” He bent and kissed Kei. “Thank you for last night. Not just for....”

“Embarrassing you to death?”

Arman smiled a little. “No, although it had its amusing side. For...everything, for support, for the love.”

“Always. Even into the next life,” Kei said, kissing his hand.

“You believe that?”

“With all my heart.” Kei’s dark eyes were solemn, as they rarely were, but then his expression became less sombre. “How’s the leg?”

Arman stretched and winced. “Still not good. How long before it stops?”

“Depends on how good you are at following my instructions,” Kei said severely, getting up and holding him around the waist. “You’ve been very disobedient until now.”

“Apologies. I’ve had other things on my mind.”

“Yes, and now they’re done so you can put yourself in my charge again. Don’t forget, I can always call on Jena to make you behave.”

Arman pretended to quail. “Oh no, master, please don’t.”

Kei wagged a finger at him. “I will, don’t think I won’t.”

“Then it’s a good thing Tiko’s coming with us on the journey,” he said, and Kei’s eyes widened in horror.

“No!”

“No,” Arman agreed. “But I could always ask him.”

“No! He was bad enough last time.”

“Be fair. Last time was very different. Now we’re lovers he can stop driving us apart and then trying to match-make again. We must have been very confusing to him.”

Kei looked sceptical. “I think he needs to go home to his real family and leave me alone to sort out my own affairs. After all, now I have a big bad Prijian general all of my own to hand rear, I should be safe enough.”

“I’d rather be a Darshianese farmer if you don’t mind.”

Kei looked away at that, and then freed himself to find his clothes. “Why don’t you go on deck and get some air? I’ll bring our breakfast up. It’s stopped raining, hasn’t it?”

“Ages ago,” Arman said, wondering why Kei had suddenly withdrawn from him. “Did I say something wrong?”

Kei turned and gave him a bright smile. “No, of course not. I’m just glad it’s all over.”

“Still have to sign the treaty, don’t forget.”

“We know that’s a formality. We won. It’s over. You’re a damn hero, Arman. And I’m a damn hero’s damn lover.”

“You’re pretty heroic too,” Arman murmured. Kei was deflecting again.

Kei helped him to the stairs and up them. “Don’t move around. Let me come to you.”

“Yes, run away,” Arman said with a sigh. He’d had a suspicion he’d have to pay a price for Kei not enforcing the exercise regime over the last few days, and he was right. Oh well, it was, as Kei said, all over. More or less.

It wasn’t as late as he’d thought it was, and there were people eating on deck. Jena was there, holding the baby and talking to Reji and Kesa. She waved when she saw him, but as he came closer, she fanned her face. “My, it was hot last night, wasn’t it?”

“It stormed, did you not hear it?”

“Yes. But it was
really
hot before that. Really, really hot.”

Arman wondered why she was making such a big thing of the weather. “Yes, it was,” he agreed.

“Steamy even.”

“Yes.”

“So...did taking your clothes off help?”

He stared at her, and then flushed to the roots of his hair as he realised why she was grinning. “How...you weren’t there!”

She tapped her skull. “I was, in a way. Neka was awake because Jera just got back and...well, I was up with Karik and Kesa because he needed a feed...and Neka decided to let me...look.”