by Pelaam
He stopped, bowed, and picked up the hoop from where he’d left it. He touched his left breast. “I wear this tattoo as a sign of loving Sukh, and he and I now wear rings to show we love Nakai. I don’t have anything to give to the men I love. Except to show them how love is a never-ending circle, like this hoop, and how I see the way our lives are entwined.”
Nakai stared enthralled. Einian used the hoop in ways he wouldn’t have imagined possible. He stood inside it, flipped in, out, and over it, and even balanced briefly on top of it. Nakai could easily have believed the hoop was also a living entity as Einian performed.
As his performance came to an end, Einian slid down into perfectly executed splits, his head bowed, in the centre of the hoop. Lansa was the first to stand and applaud. Everyone followed his lead. The children and Mo’ohta also scampered out to him, and he was enveloped in hugs and licks. His joyous laughter gave Nakai a warm glow.
Nakai stood and held out his hand to Sukh. Together they went over to Einian, who gracefully rose to his feet. Einian’s eyes shone as he looked from Nakai to Sukh.
“That was beautiful, beloved,” Nakai said. He kissed Einian tenderly, as did Sukh, and then the three men hugged tightly as the children squealed and clapped with delight.
Nakai faced his family, keeping an arm around each of his lovers. “As soon as I have the paperwork completed, I will take both Einian and Sukh as my bondmates. I’ve also petitioned to be released from any further military missions as I wish to settle and take care of my family.”
Tse and Yas rushed over as one, enveloping the three men as best they could in a giant embrace, and earning another round of excited squeals from the children.
“That’s wonderful news, Nakai,” Yas said.
“They can’t refuse you,” Tse said. “We’ll stand by you at the formal mating ceremony, won’t we?” He looked between his brother and their wife, grinning widely.
“Of course we will,” Mair said. “We’ll ensure all is ready on the day.”
Nakai smiled and nodded. “Thank you. All I want is to be able to say is, by law, Einian and Sukh are my bondmates. I don’t envisage any challenge to the mating.”
“If any were to try, they would also have to face me.” Sukh puffed out his chest and flexed his bicep muscles.
Nakai muted his groan, and then laughed softly as his nephews and nieces pleaded with their mother to help, even though they were too young to really understand what was happening, and Yas and Tse hovered beside her ticking things off on their fingers.
Lansa came over and hugged each man in turn. “I look forward to the ceremony.”
“This,” Nakai indicated his brothers and sister-in-law, who were all now checking things off on their fingers as they talked, “is why I am happy for someone else to organize the mating ceremony. I’ll deal with the paperwork.”
“And I’ll make sure that there is wine and fruits for the tables.” Lansa laughed. “I’ll consider that the easy part.”
“You and my brothers will also stand for me, to assure my bondmates to be of my good standing. Speaking of wine, shall we settle with a glass while the other half of my family plans the mating ceremony?”
“By this time next year, we will raise a glass of wine made from the vines Chua tried to destroy. They survived, and are growing well. Einian and Sukh can tend to them and harvest their fruit. I will make the wine, and it will be a very special vintage, my friend.”
Nakai hugged Lansa tightly. “Thank you, my friend.” His voice was a little rough, and he took a few seconds to get his emotions under control.
The four men settled together, and Nakai ensured he was on a seat big enough to accommodate Sukh and Einian sitting beside him. He raised his glass as Tse, Yas, and Mair talked on, oblivious. “To us, and our future.”
Sukh and Einian echoed his toast, and Lansa nodded.
Nakai knew his life was about to turn a new chapter, and he was eager and excited to share it with the men who had started as captives and were now his lovers.
The End
Other Books by Pelaam:
www.evernightpublishing.com/pelaam
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Evernight Publishing
www.evernightpublishing.com
