by Pelaam
“You came for me. You both came for me,” Einian whispered. “No one ever cared for me so much before.”
“Sukh and I both care for you. Very much.” Nakai smiled, hoping the smile looked more convincing than he felt. His shoulder throbbed, but he didn’t want to frighten Einian further.
“Lansa and my yona. Chua shot them both.” Fresh tears fell down Einian’s cheeks.
“But he failed to kill either,” Nakai said. “Your yona and Lansa will be waiting for us at home. But I’m not certain that even the combined forces of Sukh and I will be able to protect you from Lansa’s wrath.”
“Chua will not concern any of us ever again.” Sukh knelt at Nakai’s side. He reached across to cup Einian’s chin in his hand, and drew him into a gentle kiss. As he eased apart from Einian, he leaned down and claimed Nakai’s lips.
As the kiss ended, shouts alerted them to the arrival of Nakai’s men. One man came to kneel by Nakai as the others went to check on Chua.
“Lansa told us to come after you,” he said. He looked around. “Was it truly Chua who attacked you?”
“Yes, he did, and he would have killed me, Einian, and Sukh. He shot Lansa, too. Sukh abandoned his leg splint on the other side of the clearing. Please see if you can locate it. He needs it.”
“We’ll carry you—”
Sukh interrupted with a sound part hiss, part growl. “I will carry him.”
“Arrange for Chua’s body to be returned to his family. The fault was not theirs. Chua’s … mind became consumed with the desire to have a life mate. Who knows what his reasons were for wanting to kill any of us. I don’t want his family to suffer as a consequence of his actions.”
“Yes, Master.” The man ran off, shouting instructions to the others.
“I don’t need the splint,” Sukh said.
“You do, and you will wear it,” Nakai said, glowering as best he could at the Xyran despite the pain in his shoulder.
“I have a feeling my life will never be dull, or lonely, ever again,” Einian said, an affectionate smile curving his lips as he looked between them both.
“I have a feeling you could be right,” Nakai said.
Chapter Eleven
His arm in a sling, but feeling very relaxed from his pain medicine, Nakai sat in his bed and scowled. True to his word, Lansa had been waiting for them, but, however, the gruff man had cried himself when hugged by a sobbing Einian. The yona had also tried to crawl to his master when he saw Einian. Fortunately, the beast’s dense fur and thick skin had protected him from a worse injury.
Nakai smiled as he pictured Einian hugging Kele when the physician had told him the yona would be up and around much faster than either Lansa or Nakai himself.
Now he lay in bed all alone. A fire roared in the grate, and some scented tree cones had been added to the wood to give the room a clean, sweet fragrance. He’d assumed that once Einian and Sukh had been checked by Kele, and taken a bath, they’d have come to his room.
Even if Einian slept in the antechamber, just knowing his human was close by would help Nakai settle, but as yet no one had so much as looked in on him. He sighed heavily. Perhaps now that the fear of death and the elation of surviving Chua’s attack had worn off, neither Einian nor Sukh wanted him.
As he began to sink into despair, his door opened.
Einian and Sukh came into the room. Their arms were around one another, and Einian had a look of such happiness that jealousy coiled inside Nakai crushing him, making it difficult for him to breathe. Even Sukh was smiling. The sight was so rare that Nakai tried to take a deep breath, thankful that his skin remained golden and couldn’t betray his inner feelings. Otherwise he would be a most unappealing shade of green.
He schooled his facial muscles to take on a smile that he hoped appeared a lot less false than he knew it to be. Sukh’s skin held a tinge of violet. But since a Xyran couldn’t always control the appearance of his skin, Nakai could not be sure what this meant. Was Sukh just happy, or was there something more? This time the jealousy was a sharp shard in his chest. He took another deep breath, but breathing wasn’t helping.
In any way.
Einian perched on the edge of Nakai’s bed. “I’m sorry we took so long, but I wanted to check on Mo’ohta and have him moved to keep Lansa company while he’s bed-bound. Then we had to spend some time with Lansa.”
Einian’s carefree giggle took Nakai by surprise. “I wouldn’t have thought seeing Lansa was a cause for such jocularity.”
“He’s still threatening to paddle my rump for running away,” Einian said. “So Sukh growled at him, and then Mo’ohta growled at both of them.” Einian’s giggles became a laugh of joy. Then he took hold of Nakai’s hand. “I’m so glad your injury isn’t more serious. We both are. I was so worried. I caused so much hurt to so many.”
“You hurt no one,” Nakai said, squeezing Einian’s hand. “I loved Chua as a friend. But he was nothing more, and would never be anything more than a friend. This was caused by him and him alone. I don’t blame you at all. In any way. As for my injury, Kele has assured me that it will heal quickly. The sling is more precautionary. He just wants my shoulder resting without undue pressure or weight.”
Nakai was acutely aware of Einian’s thumb that stroked the back of his hand. The apparently innocuous and innocent sign of affection still caused heat to pool at Nakai’s groin. He was thankful that the coverlet was more than heavy enough to hide his rapidly growing erection.
“I was meant to distract Chua. You were not meant to be hurt,” Sukh said. “But you have my thanks. Einian’s life means far more to me than my own. And Lansa threatened to thrash me if I failed to make my confession.”
“I’m privileged to hear it,” Nakai said.
Sukh shook his head. “There’s more. You have treated me with compassion and respect. You cared for Einian, and his happiness was set above your own. You risked the standing you have within your tribe for his sake and mine. You protected us both. In the time I’ve been here, despite all my intentions, I have come to respect you, and grown ... fond of you. You never treated me, a Xyran, as less than your equal. Nor was I blind to your attraction to me. How could I be, when I shared it?”
Nakai had no words. He just stared up at Sukh.
“I love you, Nakai.” Einian leaned forward and kissed Nakai.
Nakai’s head was in a spin. Even more so when Sukh reached to the stays of the leather pants he wore.
“I need some assistance, Einian,” he said, his gaze never leaving Nakai.
Nakai stared as Einian knelt before the powerful Xyran, unlacing the stays of the pants and easing them down slowly. Sukh’s cock, long and thick, forced itself free. Nakai tried to remember to breathe as the Xyran’s muscular thighs came into view.
A black brace still supported his right leg, but his left was every bit as toned and muscled as the rest of Sukh’s body.
“My turn.” Einian held up his arms. Sukh unfastened the belt around Einian’s waist and lifted off the robe Einian wore. The robe was all he wore.
Nakai stared as Einian stood gloriously naked, his slender shaft jutting proudly from the nest of red curls. Einian then clambered onto the bed to kneel astride Nakai’s legs, and pulled the coverlet down slowly as Sukh moved to stand at the head of the bed.
Einian took hold of Nakai’s erection and began to stroke gently as Sukh claimed Nakai’s lips. The kiss was as different from Einian’s as the two men themselves. Einian’s kiss had been gentle and tender; Sukh’s was demanding and passionate, the Xyran thrusting his forked tongue past Nakai’s lips to slither proprietarily around his mouth, yet Nakai felt the love that underlined them both.
Nakai could only groan as Sukh rubbed a hand over his chest, thumbing and pinching at Nakai’s already peaked and sensitive nipples, before caressing both of Nakai’s horns with his fingertips. As much as he wanted to thrust, Nakai was held immobile by Einian’s weight across his legs.
“We’ll take care of you, N
akai. Just as you will take care of us,” Sukh whispered into his ear as the kiss broke apart. He chased the words with his tongue before using the prehensile organ on Nakai’s horns.
To his shock, Nakai realized the soft whining sounds of need fell from his own lips. He wasn’t going to last. Einian’s mouth on his cock, and Sukh’s tongue caressing his horns were giving him a sensual overload. A sharp pinch to his nipple and he came, Einian sucking hard, stroking his cock, milking him of all he had.
He sagged back into his pillows. “Sorry. I—”
Sukh silenced him with a hard kiss. “You looked beautiful. I dreamed of seeing you like this.”
Einian crawled up Nakai’s body to kiss him. Nakai wrapped his uninjured arm around him as he tasted himself in Einian’s mouth. Einian drew back, and Sukh claimed the young man’s lips. He grinned at Nakai, his fangs glinting.
“You taste sweet.” His voice was deeper, honeyed, the sound caressing Nakai’s ears like silk. “How much of a hindrance is your injury going to be?”
“None,” Nakai said. “I just can’t support my weight on it. But it will not interfere in any way with making love. To both of you.”
“Move over.”
At Sukh’s whispered command, Nakai slid across the bed, Einian moving adeptly with him. Sukh stretched out alongside him and pulled him into another kiss. While Sukh’s tongue plundered his mouth, Einian’s hand worked his sensitive shaft, gently fondling it. When the kiss broke, he looked down to see Einian licking Sukh’s cock from root to tip, pausing at the head to suckle, before descending, taking half of the long, thick flesh into his mouth before sliding back up.
Carefully, Nakai shifted a little lower, wanting to take Sukh’s nipple in his mouth. He bit down gently on the peaked flesh, and Sukh groaned softly. Einian climbed up Sukh’s body to take the Xyran’s other nipple, and Sukh arched as both nubs were licked and nipped.
Leaving Einian to continue teasing the peaked buds, Nakai eased himself carefully down the bed. He stared at the saliva-slick erection before his eyes. This wasn’t something he was used to doing, but he wanted to experience everything with both of his lovers. He ran his tongue along the hard flesh.
Sukh’s cock was solid, muscular, and warmer than he expected. Nakai licked over the head to lap at a drop of pre-ejaculate that oozed free, and salty tartness burst on his tongue. The taste was addictive, and Nakai sealed his lips over the flushed dome, licking at the slit to encourage more of the Xyran’s essence to flow.
Smiling, Einian slid down Sukh’s body to face Nakai, and licked the lower half of Sukh’s dick. As Nakai descended, his and Einian’s tongues rubbed against one another. The carnal act sent tendrils of arousal to tease Nakai’s groin.
Despite his recent release, he was already growing hard again. Nakai moaned softly as Sukh caressed his right horn with one hand, while the other massaged Einian’s skull and Einian reached across Sukh’s body to stroke along Nakai’s flank.
“Einian, straddle me so Nakai can prepare you.”
A thrill of lust sent a spurt of pre-ejaculate from Nakai’s cock. He openly groaned as Einian lay on top of Sukh, his legs spread wide. Nakai shuffled up the bed to retrieve the oil from his table, and thickly coated two fingers in the sweet-smelling oil.
As he pressed inside Einian, his lover moaned and writhed on Sukh’s body earning a low, rumbling groan of pleasure from deep in Sukh’s chest. The Xyran bit down on Einian’s shoulder, and Nakai longed to do the same. Instead he focused on thrusting and twisting his fingers, elated when Einian jerked and cried out his name.
“I’m ready. I’m ready. Please, Sukh, Nakai.” Einian raised his hips and rotated them as he pleaded with his lovers.
“Nakai, in deference to your shoulder, kneel up. Take Einian in your lap.”
Glad not to have to think, Nakai obeyed, settling on his knees as Einian leaned back against him. Einian reached behind himself to seat Nakai’s cock at his entrance, and slowly bore down. Nakai tossed aside his sling and held Einian’s hips.
He looked across as Sukh removed his brace, raised himself onto his knees and joined them. The Xyran ran his hands down Nakai’s sides and gripped his buttocks tightly. Nakai didn’t need to move. Einian gripped Sukh’s shoulders, and rose and fell on Nakai’s cock in a slow, unhurried rhythm. With a moan of Einian’s name, Nakai ducked his head, and bit down on Einian’s shoulder.
“Touch us, Nakai.”
The thick, husky sound of Sukh’s voice made Nakai look up. The Xyran’s dark eyes glittered, and the look of affection and lust almost undid him. He released Einian’s right hip, and reached around to encircle two hard shafts. Sukh covered Nakai’s hand with his own, and Einian reached back to hold Nakai’s hip.
The large hand that covered his urged Nakai’s movements into a smooth rhythm. Nakai locked gazes with Sukh, and they both moved forward to kiss over Einian’s right shoulder. Sukh’s tongue flickered around Nakai’s mouth to send another flush of heat to Nakai’s groin, and Einian moaned as Nakai’s pre-ejaculate spurted inside him.
Easing back from Nakai, Sukh claimed Einian’s lips, and Nakai sucked at Einian’s neck and shoulder. Einian lost some of his graceful rhythm, but his inner muscles clenched tightly around Nakai’s solid shaft.
“I love you. I love you both.” Nakai couldn’t hold back the words as his climax neared. He moved his hips in counterpoint to Einian’s movements, allowing him to thrust deeper into his lover’s body, and Sukh guided him into a faster stroke around the cocks he held.
Lights flickered before Nakai’s eyes, and blood roared like thunder in his ears as he neared his zenith. A cry from Einian came seconds before his seed flowed over Nakai’s hand. Nakai tried to resist, wanting Sukh to come before him, but with a low groan his orgasm flowed over him.
Einian slumped forward, and Nakai followed him down, draping over the smaller man’s back. A bellow from Sukh was the only warning before a cascade of the Xyran’s seed rained down over Nakai’s back. The sensation was erotic enough to send another flush of arousal through Nakai’s body, but he had nothing left to give.
Lethargy made his body sluggish, but he moved as urged by Sukh. He stretched out on his back with Sukh next to him. Einian lay face down, half on him, half on Sukh, and they all traded lazy, satiated kisses. Nakai looked over at Sukh as the Xyran reached over Einian’s head to leisurely stroke Nakai’s nearest horn.
“The reality was far beyond any of my fantasies,” Nakai murmured as he reached up to lace his fingers between Sukh’s.
“Love you, both.” Einian’s voice was a sleepy drawl and his kiss sloppy, but they warmed Nakai to the depths of his soul.
“Sleep, my little one,” Sukh whispered. “I will keep you and Nakai safe.” He squeezed Nakai’s fingers and smiled.
“Love you, Einian,” Nakai murmured, unsure whether he’d be heard. “And you, Sukh.”
“Einian and you are carved deep into my heart and soul where you can never be erased. It isn’t easy for me to speak of love. Xyrans see it as a weak emotion, one that can be used against you. Yet I have seen its strength.”
“Say only that which you are comfortable saying,” Nakai said. “I would rather you said what you feel than what you think I would want to hear you say.”
“I will learn, in time, to speak more freely. Rest now, knowing I will keep you and Einian safe.”
Nakai wasn’t sure if Sukh really intended to keep watch all night, or just until Sukh was certain he and Einian were asleep. He decided he didn’t care. He was warm, sated, and had the two men he loved in his bed. A deep sense of peace and contentment spread through him, and he relaxed fully.
Chapter Twelve
Nakai’s family insisted on staying to care for the orchard and vineyard. Nakai was grateful for their help. He’d been forbidden to work himself. He was of no mind to think of a replacement for Chua, and Lansa had been bedridden for a couple of days, and would be unfit to work for a good few more after that.
He looked u
p from his book as Tse came in. “How is everything going?”
“Marvelously.” Tse grinned widely. “Sukh is a natural. I suggest that you let Lansa and him work together when Lansa’s ready. I don’t think you’ll miss Chua. I think he was taking far more credit for doing a lot less than you thought.”
Nakai sighed and shook his head. “It seems I was blind where he was concerned.”
“Why would you look? It all ran so well. Of course you’d think it was down to him. I saw Kele earlier. He says Lansa can start moving around so long as he’s careful.”
“Yes. He’s going to join us for dinner tonight.”
“So Kele said. The news really excited Einian. He said he had a surprise for us all after dinner.” Tse shrugged as Nakai inclined his head. “He wouldn’t say more. He’s even puzzled Sukh. Seems we all just have to wait and see.”
Puzzled and intrigued, Nakai settled back with his book.
****
Dinner came and went in a mix of laughter, good company, and excellent food. Lansa joined them, and Mo’ohta constantly padded between him and Einian checking on both men. The whole family, including the children, had then been urged into the sitting room by Mair.
A large space had been cleared in the centre of the room, and the large rug that was normally there had been moved. Chairs were set close to the walls, and everyone had been ushered to a seat. It was only as he looked around at the other curious faces that Nakai realized Einian was missing. He looked at Sukh, who shook his head.
“Don’t ask me. Einian has been mysterious all day.”
After a few moments Mair came back, her smile wide and bright. She had a music disk with her that she activated as she sat down.
The sounds of panpipes and drums rose into the air. The door opened, and Einian came in, cart-wheeling in very precise movements as he ran a hoop alongside him. The children’s gasps weren’t the only ones Nakai heard.
His hair tied up into a secure bun, eyes lightly decorated in black and gold, glitter on his chest, and golden feathers drawn on his back, Einian looked every bit the ethereal adahy Nakai had first thought him. He performed a mix of dance and acrobatics. The children clapped loudly every time Einian completed a sequence.
