by Mike Shade
Quinn moaned, pushing close. "So good."
He nodded. "Yeah. And I'm not sure how much we're going to be able to indulge once we're out there. This might be it until we're safely over the mountains."
Quinn blinked. "That could be forever."
"Surely not. It'll just feel like it." He winked and then grew serious again. "If we find someplace safe, yeah? But we have to be careful, we can't trust anyone else."
"I shouldn't have trusted you. Lots of people would say I still shouldn't."
"Lots of people would say I was crazy for letting you live." Bram shrugged. "Maybe I am."
"Do you think you are?" Quinn drew away, reaching for his clothes.
Bram shook his head. "I don't understand this thing between us, but it's real enough."
"I'm not a bad person, Bram."
Bram growled. "Did I say I thought you were? I’m the one who broke my oath, my promise, and saved your life."
"I don't think that makes you a bad person."
"I didn't say I thought I was a bad person either -- you're the one who brought up 'bad person'!" Bram growled again. "I'm just saying, if one of us were, it would be me."
"Right. We're not. The Emperor is. He orders people like me to be hurt with no reason." Quinn came close.
Bram shook his head. "I don't want to talk about it." He didn't want to argue with Quinn, with the feeling that saving this man's life was the right thing to do, with the way they were connected, but all his life he'd believed the Emperor was a god, someone not to be questioned.
His belly rippled beneath Quinn's touch. "Lets go to bed, have a nice long fuck before we have to go."
"Okay. Okay." Quinn's hands moved, petting. "Let's go to bed."
He nodded and hummed, the tingles low and soothing, making his skin sing. He headed for Quinn's bed, arm wrapped around the mage, holding Quinn close.
Quinn nuzzled his jaw. licked it. "You feel so good."
He nodded and tugged Quinn down onto the pillows on top of him. "Yeah, so do you, Quinn. So very fucking good."
Quinn cuddled in, holding him, the sensations huge.
Humming, he turned Quinn's face up, bringing their mouths together for a long, hot kiss. Quinn opened up for him, tongues sliding together. His hands moved over Quinn's skin, the warmth like silk under his fingers, the energy gentle, muted, but definitely there.
"Feels so good. So right."
Bram nodded. "When I became a Guard? That felt like the right path, like I was exactly where I was supposed to be. This is like that only...bigger. More."
Quinn nodded, "I understand. I do."
He ran his hand over the short curls and tilted Quinn's head, mouth taking one soft kiss and then another.
"I don't understand it. But I'm not letting go of it Quinn. I promise you that."
“Thank you."
Bram grinned and winked. "You say that now, but you've already called me bossy, just you wait 'til we actually get out there."
"Are you going to be evil?" Quinn's eyes just danced.
"Not if you behave." He grew serious then. "I'm going to do what I have to to keep you alive, Quinn."
"I'll be able to gate soon. A week. Maybe. Are you sure you don't want to wait?"
"We have hours, Quinn. Not a week. And I thought you couldn't get us over the mountains with magic."
And he hadn't counted on magic to save his life ever, he didn't know if he could start now. Not with the feeling of being hunted starting to breathe down his neck.
"I can't. I can't and know it'll work."
He nodded. That was fine by him. "Then we do it my way. Because I know that will work."
He brought their mouths back together again because first they were going to do this. Quinn opened up, just gave it all up. He moaned into Quinn's mouth, let the pleasure rumble up from his belly as he pushed deep into Quinn's mouth with his tongue.
Quinn's moan filled the air, his lips, his mouth. He rolled, pushing Quinn beneath him and moving against the slender body.
"So. You...You're going to fill me?"
"Don't you want me to?"
"More than anything."
He beamed down at Quinn. "Good. Because that's what I want, too."
He kissed Quinn hard, reaching for the oil and getting his fingers nice and slippery.
Quinn spread and moaned, letting him in, giving it up. He started with one finger, Quinn's body so tight, so hot. Quinn felt like silk inside. Quinn pushed into his hand, the ring brushing his wrist. It still surprised him, shocked him, even though they'd made love like this several times, even though he could feel the effect it had on Quinn when he touched it, played with it.
He shifted, bending so he could lick at the ring, grab it between his teeth and tug.
"Bram!" Quinn shuddered, gasped, eyes huge as he looked down.
He looked up along Quinn's body, taking in the long cock surrounded by silver white curls, the pale, bare chest with its small, dark pink nipples, those strange eyes. A shudder moved through him, his cock throbbing, and he tugged hard on the little ring, fingers pushing deep.
He could see the flush climbing up Quinn's belly, the long prick bobbing.
He quickly stretched Quinn open, taking less time than he usually did, the need riding him hard. "I need you, Quinn. Now."
Quinn just nodded, reaching for him. "In me."
He surged up over Quinn, watching those eyes as his cock pushed in, stretching Quinn wide. Quinn cried out, hot and eager, tugging him inside. Tight and hot and just like coming home.
He dropped his mouth over Quinn's, tongue pushing deep as he started to thrust, to find a rhythm that would send them both skyward. Quinn gave him everything, let him in, let him in deep. He just sank into Quinn, into the acceptance and openness and this thing that was between them. He didn't need to understand it to know that it was good and right and to enjoy it.
The energy built between them, the small tingles having long given way to the hot, hungry need that grew between them.
"Need you. Need..." He could feel the energy getting stronger, fiercer, then Quinn's eyes went wide. "We have to hurry. Someone's coming."
"What?" He jerked, coming to a stop, need abating as he rolled them off the bed, landing hard on his back to cushion Quinn. Then he rolled so Quinn was beneath him again. "What?"
"Someone's coming. Something big. I can feel it. We have to hurry." Quinn wasn't even looking at him. It was like he was looking deep inside.
He growled; what Quinn was doing sending shivers down his spine. "Where's your pack?" he asked, already up and getting dressed.
Quinn shook, still caught inside himself.
He cupped Quinn's face in his hands, looking into pale eyes that gazed back at him, unseeing. "Quinn! Look at me."
Quinn blinked. "Someone's coming, Bram. We have to hide."
"Yeah, I got that. Come on, you're naked. Where's your pack? The one you're going to bring with you?" He shook Quinn a little. "Come on, Quinn. If you want to bring it with you, I need to know where it is."
He grabbed some clothes out of Quinn's drawer and started dressing the mage as if he were dressing a doll.
"By the door. The blue one. By the door. Don't break the mirrors. I can't use a broken mirror."
He nodded and shouldered his own pack before grabbing Quinn's. He put it on Quinn's back and bent to put on the man's boots. "Which door, Quinn? Which way is safe to go out?"
Quinn looked, frowned. "Out the side, then down to the third door, then down and out. They're at the front and east. Hurry."
He nodded and grabbed Quinn's hand, turning to go without a backward glance. If they didn't have it in their packs, they were leaving it behind. He could hear them now, the sound of too many soldiers trying to be quiet. He sped up, dragging Quinn along with him.
The door opened for him and then Quinn pulled him along, into a closet to a little, hidden door. "Here. Down and out. We'll be a block over."
"Clever."
They h
urried down the stairs, and he felt better now that Quinn was no longer distracted, but right there with him. "We need to head north once we're on the street. Blend in with the theatre crowds until we can find a carriage for hire."
"Okay. Okay." Quinn tugged on a cap, pulled it down low.
He grunted and nodded. "Good job, Quinn."
Before they hit the street, he grabbed Quinn's hand again. They might draw a little more attention as a couple, but that way no one would be able to steal Quinn from him.
Quinn moved quickly, obviously used to running and dodging. He wondered if that was just from the last while, or if it was something all mages learned to do. The thought made him growl at himself. It was harder, out here on the streets, to remember he was on the lam now himself, that he was no longer of the Guard.
The tingle was there though, between their hands where they touched. He kept one eye out for a carriage and the other for soldiers.
"There. See the blue one? That's Jilly. She helps us."
"The blue one what?" He looked around wildly.
"The blue carriage. Right! I forget. You can't see. Follow me." Quinn moved across the street toward nothing. "Jilly!"
"Keep it down!" Damnit, now was not the time for Quinn to lose his mind!
"She won't hear me."
They hurried over, Quinn nodding and muttering, a silver coin disappearing. "Okay. Get in."
"Get into what?" he demanded. He reached out, gasping as his hand hit something solid, and let Quinn push him into a carriage.
As soon as they were inside he could see well enough, it was a normal carriage, if a bit ratty. He stuck his head out the window and it all disappeared again.
"Where do you want us to go?"
He settled back in the carriage, amazed. "Can she take us all the way to the Winding River at the northern edge of the city?" If they could get that far without being seen by anyone, they could make good their escape of the city and have a head start on any pursuit.
"Jilly?" Quinn opened a little window, a tiny girl with eyes like Quinn’s peered in. "Winding River, lovey?"
The little girl nodded. "Me and Geoffy needs to run, Mam says. We're going way south in the dark."
Bram nodded. "You should spread the word, Jilly. Anyone with magic needs to get out of the city. The Emperor's on a tear." He couldn't see what this child could possibly have done that she deserved it, but he knew the Emperor was against all the mages.
She nodded, wide-eyed. "Quinn. Um. You know who he is, yeah?"
Quinn nodded, smiled. "We're together, Jilly. Promise. He's a good man."
Bram snorted. "Not particularly, Quinn, but he's right, Jilly, he's safe enough."
Jilly nodded. "Okay, we'll go fast. Hold on tight."
Quinn grabbed him, held on with a death grip. He put his arm around Quinn, thinking the mage was overreacting, when suddenly they shot forward and it was only his quick reflexes that kept them from slamming into the opposing seats.
Quinn giggled, face in his throat, nuzzling in. He chuckled, holding Quinn close, enjoying the tingles and buzzes Quinn's nuzzling caused.
"Isn't Jilly perfect?"
"She's fast, anyway." He turned Quinn's face up, taking a quick kiss. "Nobody's perfect, Quinn."
"Nobody? Are you sure?"
"Yes." He was very sure about that.
"We're pretty good, though, even if we're not perfect."
He nodded, winked. "We aren't bad."
And for an invisible convenience, neither was their carriage. The blue cushions were worn, but soft and comfortable, which was a good thing, because they were being jostled all about. Quinn landed in his lap, bony ass bouncing on his thighs. He hummed, arms wrapping around Quinn to hold him securely, mouth finding Quinn's soft lips.
Quinn snuggled, belly against his chest. He slid one hand along Quinn's ass and down to cup his balls from behind, the jostling carriage making his hand jerk against Quinn.
Quinn gasped, the ring just obvious under the pants. "Bram..."
"Fuck, you're something." He stroked the ring deliberately this time.
"I...That makes me want. So bad."
"How long do you think we have?" he asked. He wanted, too -- they'd been very rudely interrupted.
"Long enough." Quinn shifted.
He moaned. "I'll give you long enough, Quinn."
"Uh-huh." Quinn turned, offering him that pretty ass.
"Fuck."
He pushed Quinn's pants down, sliding two fingers right in. Quinn was still slick, stretched, and he let his fingers slide away and lined Quinn up with his cock.
The carriage went over a bump and Quinn went down hard on him.
"Bram!" Quinn's head rolled, lips parted and damp. "More."
He nodded, growled, wrapped his hands around Quinn's waist and started bringing Quinn down hard over and over again. It was insane and heated and needy. Quinn took him in over and over. The carriage kept jerking, bringing them together with force.
Bram found Quinn's cock with his hand, started to tug and squeeze.
"Hurry. Hurry. I need. Now. Now, Bram."
He reached around with his other hand, finding that little ring and twisting it hard.
Quinn bucked, heat spraying, the scent heady and strong. Bram moaned and pushed up into Quinn one last time, coming hard. Quinn moaned low, leaning against the opposite bench. He rubbed Quinn's back, purring.
"Thank you. I needed..."
"Yeah, Quinn. So did I."
He drew Quinn back against him and got Quinn tucked back into his pants and then took care of his own.
It wasn't long before the carriage stopped. "I can't go farther, the magic won't stretch. We're at the river."
"Is there anyone around?" Bram asked.
Jilly shook her head. "Just one or two Guards playing cards."
He nodded. "All right then. Let's go, Quinn. And Jilly? You do as your mam said. You and Geoffy go as fast and as far as you can."
"Yes, sir. I will. You be good, Quinn. Be real safe."
Quinn nodded, looked truly scared for the first time. "I will."
"He will be, Jilly."
Bram took Quinn's hand and together they stepped out onto the street.
Quinn watched Jilly's... well... nothing leave.
"Come on, Quinn. We don't have time to dawdle." He tugged Quinn along, heading for the little bridge at the far end of the street.
Quinn followed, head down, steps quick and light. He squeezed Quinn's hand. He wasn't going to let anything happen to the mage.
"I'm here. Right here."
"I know. And I'll make sure you always are, Quinn. We'll get through this -- you'll get through it."
"Yeah. I've never. I've never been out of the city before. Ever."
"I've never been as far as we're going, but there's a whole world beyond this river."
"Yeah? Are you scared?"
"I'm worried, not scared."
"Okay. I can handle worried."
He chuckled and gave Quinn a quick kiss. "We'll be fine. Lets just get across the river."
"Okay. Over the water. Into the woods."
"Indeed. Lets hope we get a fairy tale ending."
Quinn's laugh was warm and rang out. "Only if you get to wear the wings."
Chapter Four
Okay. The woods?
Scary.
Dark.
Bugs.
And there was something howling out there.
Quinn paced, arms wrapped around himself, so tired he could hardly bear it. Three days they'd been walking.
Three.
Whole.
Days.
The distance between him and Bram was growing again, but before it got too big, Bram stopped, turned, and started back toward him.
"You okay?"
It wasn't fair, Bram didn't look the least bit tired or frazzled or at all like they hadn't rested except to lie in the dirt for three whole days.
"No. I want to go home." He didn't kick the dirt. He did
n't.
"And I want an ale. Come on, we can't stop here."
