The Pirate of Fathoms Deep (13 page)

Jader smirked. "I've been well-trained in punishing stupid, lazy soldiers, Commander. I have it under control."

"You'd better."

Rolling his eyes, Jader replied, "Go play with your pirate. Or go break the news of your retirement to His Majesty. I wish I could be there to see his face, but I'm afraid he might kill me to delay the matter." He saluted Lesto, bowed to Shemal and Bani, then turned and started snarling at the soldiers who, from the way they flinched, had clearly started to think they might get off lightly since Lesto was distracted.

Lesto walked with Shemal and Bani out of the room. "You're free to go, Bani. We'll find you later if we need you again. Thank you for attending him."

"My pleasure, Commander." She bowed and left, waving at Shemal in farewell.

Shemal stared at him. "Um—"

He was spared figuring out how to ask if he was allowed to kiss Lesto by the firm press of Lesto's mouth, a familiar, possessive hand curling into his hair. Shemal fanned his hands across Lesto's back, keeping him in place but not grabbing and rubbing the way he'd like. He was fairly certain if they did that where people could see them, Lesto really would kill him.

Eventually drawing back, he smiled and said, "I wasn't sure I was allowed to do that."

"Not when I'm yelling at halfwits, but otherwise, always," Lesto replied then smiled, a familiar glint in his eye. "Come on, there's something I want to show you."

Lust curled slow and lazy through Shemal, a satisfying heat he was content to let burn and build as he walked alongside Lesto through the halls of the palace.

"I hope you've had a good day so far."

"Hard to have a bad day when it's really only involved sleeping, eating, and walking." Shemal smiled slowly. "Would have been better if I'd gotten to do what I wanted when I woke up, but I guess that's what I get for waking up late."

Lesto laughed and squeezed his arm. "That would have been vastly preferable to being dragged out of bed because of those halfwits I was yelling at. I'd only just let them out of the stocks when you showed up. They probably think they're getting off lightly because Jader is handling their punishment now."

"They think they'll get off lightly because they're being disciplined by a white-skinned Islander who climbed all the way to Deputy High Commander?" Shemal let out a sharp bark of laughter. "I'd rather piss off Penance Gate again."

Lesto gave a wolfish smile. "Just so."

"The High King didn't have issue with an Islander becoming so powerful?"

"Why would Sarrica care? He's no bigger a fan of conscription and the general hatred for Farlanders than I am. We've been working to fix it for years. That aside, Sarrica cares only that things run smoothly so they're not one more problem for him to deal with. He has no complaints with Jader, though that might change once they have to start working more closely together." He smirked. "I can't wait to enjoy watching that from afar."

"Why are you retiring?" Shemal asked.

Lesto sighed. "Because I'm tired, and envious that everyone around me has gotten to step back and settle down. Even Sarrica is not as busy as he used to be, or at least, he's more cheerful about being that busy. I barely see my own estates, and now there is a lover for whom I would like to make time. Though I'd already decided to retire before you and I crossed paths again."

"So you don't have to because of me?"

Lesto stopped, stared at him. "No, though if that was necessary, I would have done it. I've been High Commander a long time, and a soldier nearly all my life. I wouldn't mind being something else with what remains of my life. Now come on, I think you'll like what I want you to see."

Though Shemal had no idea where they were, he had a pretty good idea where they were going. "Would it happen to be a certain room where I once behaved indecently with the High Commander?"

Lesto threw a grin over his shoulder but didn't say anything or stop walking.

A few minutes later he unlocked a door Shemal still saw in his dreams. He still heard that sound too, the soft but thunderous click of the door closing. The snick of a turning key was new. Lesto grabbed the front of his shirt and yanked him close. Shemal would never get tired of the way they were the same height, the way he could meet that mouth directly, brace his hands on the door and focus on devouring, not the strain in his neck from having to lean down or the burn of his muscles from hefting someone up. He drew back briefly to say, "I feel we're ignoring an important lesson about fucking in empty rooms where anyone could find us."

"You might not have learned anything, but I locked the door and came prepared."

Shemal laughed and went back to kissing him, feeding and sucking at Lesto's mouth until they were both breathing heavily. Finally drawing back, he pulled Lesto away from the door and dragged him into the center of the room. Last time, Lesto had pushed him onto the small sofa against one wall, climbed atop him, and rutted like they were youths still learning how their cocks worked. He'd made Shemal feel like he was that young again.

Then Lesto had dragged him to the floor and growled for Shemal to fuck him. Shemal had nearly lost it right then and there. If he'd thought about it, which back then he definitely hadn't, he would have expected an order to spread. That was how powerful types usually behaved with someone like him. Not Lesto, though; he was one breathtaking, mind-melting surprise after another.

"I'm surprised you want to drag me here when you have a bed the size of a house we could be using," Shemal said, nibbling at his jaw as he slid one hand down to cup Lesto through his breeches. "I'm also surprised you've forgotten what a pain in the ass it is getting you out of that belt and all those layers."

"I'm fairly confident it's worth the aggravation," Lesto retorted—then grabbed him and did some twisty-throw move that put Shemal on his back with all the breath knocked out of him.

Any chance of getting that breath back was ruined as Lesto straddled him. He spanned his hands over Lesto's thighs—and felt the bulk of bandages. "You shouldn't—"

"I swear to the Pantheon if you say a single word about my injuries, I will leave you suffering for a long time," Lesto cut in then set to work removing his clothes. "I was looking forward to seeing you in that jacket I picked out, but I admit I like what you went with even better."

Shemal snorted, though the compliment warmed him far more than even the lust. "You just appreciate the easy access to your mark on my skin, you possessive ass. Get
your
clothes off—I remember never being able to sort out all those buckles and straps. I could hear you coming from the far side of the pavilion, despite all the other noise."

Lesto smirked as he pulled away and stood. "I like to watch everyone flee or cower." He made quick and easy work of removing his sword belt, tunic, leather armor, and the quilted tunic beneath that.

"Yet you expect anyone to believe that you're going to retire and give up that thrill."

Tossing aside the last of his layers, Lesto resumed straddling Shemal's lap, rubbing and grinding against him. "I'll settle for the new thrill of being able to stay in bed as long as I want and not being dragged from it at all hours."

Shemal laughed, but it came out ragged as Lesto shifted enough to work on removing the breeches Shemal hadn't gotten to because he'd been too busy admiring Lesto.

His clothes were barely stripped away when Lesto was back, mouth dropping over Shemal's cock like a crashing wave. Shemal groaned, head falling sharply to thud against the floor as his hips worked to thrust his cock even deeper into that hot, far-too-talented mouth.
"Mother Ocean, who made you a
noble instead of a whore?"

Lesto pulled off his cock, dragged his tongue across Shemal's abdomen. "I'm not nice enough to have been a whore, if that's what you were asking." He straddled Shemal once more, rising up on his knees and getting hold of Shemal's cock.

Shemal started to ask if he was crazy when he slid into tight, slick heat. He groaned, almost came right then, picturing Lesto walking around slick and ready, just waiting for Shemal to show up. "You're the best kind of evil."

Laughing raggedly, Lesto sank all the way down on his cock, leaving them both gasping and shivering. After a moment, with Shemal's hands curled firmly around his hips, Lesto began to move, rising up and sinking slowly back down, increasing the pace steadily, never succumbing to impatience or haste.

Eventually Shemal could take no more of the exquisite torture and gave a last few sharp thrusts up into Lesto's body before coming with a cry he barely bit back. Lesto followed him shortly after, jerking at his cock and spilling over his hand and Shemal's skin.

When Shemal could breathe properly again and Lesto had slid off to sit beside him, he propped himself on his elbows and said, "I am fairly certain we said we wouldn't be doing this again. Something about being far too old for nonsense and hard floors."

Lesto shrugged, mouth quirking at one end. "I certainly have no plans to make this a habit, but it seemed appropriate."

Shemal couldn't deny that. "I don't suppose you brought something to clean up with."

Smiling, Lesto rose and went to the small table by the door, opened one of the drawers, and tossed Shemal some cloths.

"You really did plot this," Shemal said with a laugh as he stood and cleaned up. He closed the space between them, pushed Lesto up against the door, and took his fill of that warm, pliant mouth before drawing away to clean Lesto up. "What would the imperial army say if they knew their commander was spending his time planning assignations instead of working?"

"They'd hope that meant they could get away with something," Lesto replied and kissed him again before slipping away to get dressed. When they were both ready, and almost looked like they hadn't just been fucking, Lesto unlocked the door and led him down yet another hall. "There's something else I want to show you."

Shemal nodded, more interested in the way they walked close enough together that their hands kept brushing, reminding him of the time in the garrison where Lesto had walked off
holding
his hand. "Bani pointed out a couple of your friends today."

"Friends?" Lesto's brow drew down. "You've met all my friends, save those not on the premises."

"Maybe I should say marriage prospects."

"Oh,
them.
" Lesto shook his head. "Did Lord Tecilia spend all his time glaring at you and clutching his spoon like he wished it was a knife?"

Shemal chuckled. "Yes, actually. What is he, fifteen?"

Lesto smirked. "Twenty or so, I think, though his attitude is certainly closer to fifteen. What did you think of Lord Kamir?"

"He seemed decent and deserves better than to be a tool, though I know that's how you people do it."

Shrugging, Lesto replied, "Yes, but most people try to make sure couples will be happy together. Lord Kamir is a good man, but he and I decided a long time ago we were not compatible. I am relatively certain he is pining after a different commander, anyway."

"Commander Jader?" Shemal laughed when Lesto nodded. "I'm starting to see why gossip is such a thing. It could get addictive, tracking all the little pieces and goings on."

Lesto shook his head, smiling faintly. "I have a feeling you will get on well with Allen and Tara. Those two thrive on playing the game that is High Court, and Allen is certainly the master of the game. People train for years just to be able to live here for a few months, and those that remain here full time are not to be trifled with. I am not looking forward to dealing with it more once I retire, but so it goes. Here we are."

Shemal's questions fell away as they walked through a large open archway into the biggest room he'd ever seen. Most of the enormous space had been taken over by a gigantic bathing pool. There were plants and flowers all around the perimeter, and the area immediately around the pool was paved with colorful stones. The ceiling was glass, clear and beautiful, save for the very center, which was made of yellow glass in a sunburst design. "What is this?"

"It used to be a bathing pool, back when the public baths were located in this wing," Lesto replied. "It fell into disuse until Jader, actually, suggested making it what he called a swimming pool. It's quiet now, but usually it is filled with Farlanders, sailors, other soldiers and visitors who grew up around water. There's a festival or something Farlanders celebrate at the end of summer. They always gather here for it." Lesto snorted. "And sleep here because they're too drunk to return to their own rooms."

"The Festival of Mother Ocean," Shemal replied. "It's a celebration of women. One of our most important holidays." He smiled at Lesto. "Bad luck not to receive a kiss from a woman on the Ocean's day." He looked back at the pool, took a few steps closer. The air was a bit warmer than the rest of the palace had been. In the pool itself, the water was clear as glass, and so still that only the way the sun reflected made it visible at all. The walls and bottom of the pool were made of colorful tiles, formed into mosaics of fish, ships, suns, moons, and other marks of the ocean and sailing.

In the middle of the mosaic were his islands. Their actual name was a source of debate, alternately called the Broken Ends and the Lost Lands in various written and oral accounts. That was back when they'd still been part of the country of Pemfrost. Then Pemfrost had broken into three, and the Broken Ends became their own entity, largely forgotten by the war-busy Mainland. Eventually, Gearth had broken in half, creating the Outlands, and they'd remembered the far, forgotten islands and started paying attention to them again.

Which had made exactly nobody happy, and now they were the Farlands.

"You can go for a swim if you like," Lesto said. "Unless it's not of interest after all?"

Shemal turned as Lesto drew up beside him. "Oh, it's of interest. Once I get in that water, you'll have a hard time getting me back out. I'd rather see more of the palace for now, though. Find something useful to do with myself." Or maybe he'd find a way to improve his reading and writing abilities before everyone found out he was atrocious at both. Learning to speak Harken had been difficult enough, especially since he'd pushed himself to master formal Harken. There hadn't been time for more than the most basic lessons in reading and writing, something only people with plenty of time and money could afford.