“This is your first time doing this?”
“Yes. Before, I would be here for the meetings but not bring my blanket. I would leave before the trees released their compelling scent.” Axoev held Darin a little tighter. “I think they felt my fear and made it their own, but now I am embracing everything.”
“Everything?” Darin felt a wave go through him, but he couldn’t pinpoint what it was, only that it seemed to be pushing his need to reach climax higher.
“All that I am as the leader of the clan.”
“Then I guess I should embrace my role as the man who must assuage your needs.” Darin grinned.
“When you say it like that it sounds so…”
“Dirty?”
“Lusty.” Axoev grasped Darin’s hips, helping to lift and lower him along the full length of his cock. “You make me crave completion.”
Darin couldn’t speak anymore. He felt if he didn’t find satisfaction he was going to die. And then Axoev did the wildest, most unexpected thing. Using his powerful hands and surprisingly flexible body, he kept the tip of his cock buried in Darin’s hole while he drew Darin’s cock into his mouth.
Speechless, Darin peered down as Axoev sucked him into a climax so powerful he would have completely collapsed afterward but for Axoev’s hold on his hips. As he was coming down from the high, he realized he was also sliding down on Axoev’s cock. Like a true leader, he’d taken care of his man first.
And now Darin was determined to return the favor. “Hold my hands.” By balancing on his feet and steadying himself by holding Axoev’s hands, Darin rode him like he was trying to tame him. Rocking front to back while lifting up caused him to practically dance on Axoev’s dick. Faster he went and more frantically he moved until Axoev uttered a stunned cry. He let go of Darin’s hands to grasp his hips. Axoev came so hard Darin felt him gush deep inside.
Darin angled down, resting his head on Axoev’s chest. Slowly, the compelling essence of the trees dispersed, but Darin didn’t think it had caused their frantic need. He still believed the perfume only enhanced what was already there, similar to the way alcohol released inhibitions.
“Did I tell you how beautiful your hair looks in the firelight?” Axoev’s voice was soft.
He had, but Darin wouldn’t mind hearing more praising words. “Is it?”
“I have seen men with light-colored hair, but you are the only one with hair so pale and soft.” Axoev stroked his fingers through Darin’s hair, making what little tension remained in Darin’s body completely evaporate. Behind him, the fire kept his backside warm while Axoev heated up the front. For the first time in his entire life, Darin felt he was in the exact right place he should be.
When he looked up to say this to Axoev, he found himself looking into another set of eyes that were so hot they almost singed him. Anger, fury—a seething cauldron of emotions seemed to pour out of the gaze and smack Darin. Instinctively, he recoiled. Axoev’s softening cock slipped out, and he looked to Darin then up. When Axoev growled, Darin’s fear caused his heart to race.
Chapter 8
“Go away, Nemro.” Axoev wondered why his relaxed and peaceful companion had turned so scared so fast. All he had to see was the side of Nemro’s face to recognize him. “The scent is gone. The fire is dying down.”
“I am here to put out the fire as my duty calls.”
Axoev couldn’t remember a time when Nemro was eager to douse the fire. He was only keen to do so now because he didn’t want Axoev and Darin to have any more enjoyment than they’d already had.
“Why didn’t you join us?” Axoev wasn’t certain if Nemro had ever attended a passion fire since this was Axoev’s first.
“I don’t need to find myself a woman to share my blanket.”
Axoev thought it was more likely that Nemro couldn’t find one rather than he didn’t want to, but Axoev was in too peaceful of a mood to antagonize the most difficult member of the clan. From talking with other clan leaders, Axoev had become aware that every clan had at least one person who was difficult. It was simply a part of life. No matter how good Nemro had it, he always saw himself with less than someone else.
As if to prove Axoev’s point, Nemro snarled, “I will not fight for one woman when there are those greedy men who take two.”
“Sieg doesn’t take them. They willingly seek him out.” Axoev looked at Darin, who seemed to be clinging a little tighter to him than he had before. Clearly, he didn’t like Nemro. “Sieg is popular.”
Darin grinned. “I noticed.”
“Do you know why he’s well liked?” Axoev asked Nemro while keeping his attention on Darin. He looked so beautiful that Axoev wanted to hold him in his mind in this moment for always.
“He gives them things.” Nemro fairly spat the words.
“He might, but he gives without expectation.”
“Women are fools.” When Darin tightened up, Axoev realized Nemro was looking at him, making him uncomfortable. “I think I will capture myself a faunsha.”
“You will have to be quick.” Axoev spared Nemro a glance while tightening his hold on Darin possessively. “And you will have to hunt elsewhere.”
There was a moment where Axoev thought Nemro would challenge him for Darin. A spark of longing and need pulsed in his gaze, but then it was gone, eaten up by a clear feeling of doubt. Between them, Axoev was the smaller man, but he was stronger. And they both knew it. Time after time, Axoev had had to prove himself in the clan. When it became clear he simply wouldn’t give up, he gained respect. When he also showed compassion by not killing Nemro when he had the right to do so, he gained gratitude. Unfortunately, the only member of the clan who didn’t appreciate Axoev’s leadership role was the very man he could have killed. It seemed rather than value his life, Nemro hated Axoev for making him look weak. The truth was that Nemro was ungrateful of all things.
Nemro spun on his heel. He grasped a large stick and proceeded to stir the fire, separating the embers. All the flames died, leaving behind only hot, red coals.
Axoev could have ordered him away, but it was clear the moment with Darin was ruined. Alone in his home, they could clean up then whisper under the furs. There were so many things Axoev wanted to ask Darin, and issues he longed to have clarified, but that could come later. His first goal was to get his faunsha comfortable.
“Come.” Axoev rose, keeping Darin in his embrace. When he stepped away to retrieve his shawl, Axoev noticed Nemro’s gaze riveted to Darin’s backside. Axoev had loved to see Darin in his outfit. He enjoyed having his body on display, but he found he hated having another look at him with lust. Rather than say anything, Axoev picked up his axe and then handed it to Darin so that he could pick up the blanket.
“So now he bears your weapon? Will he be penetrating your ass next?”
The vulgarity was ripe for retribution, but Axoev refused to let Nemro set his mood. He didn’t fear having Darin hold his axe. It meant nothing to anyone but Nemro. Rather than answer, Axoev placed his hand low on Darin’s back and walked through the woods toward his tree.
“Is he always such a total dick?”
Axoev laughed.
“What?”
“That word. I envisioned Nemro as a walking cock. It made me laugh as he kept tripping over his own balls.”
Darin laughed, too, then quit suddenly as he looked down at the axe he carried. “Does it mean something to your clan if hold your weapon?”
“No.” Axoev took the axe and strapped it to his back.
“Ah. I wondered what those strips of leather were for. I thought they were decorative.”
“You did not see me put it on before we left?”
“I wasn’t looking there.”
“Where were you looking?”
“Oh, man. I guess this is a night of confessions. I had my eyes closed when we came down the tree. I’m afraid of heights.”
Axoev wondered what he could do to help Darin overcome his concern. “Wait. That was later. After I was dresse
d.”
“Yeah.” Darin took the blanket from Axoev and folded it up as they walked. “I was looking at your crotch.”
“You were?”
“I had felt you, in the forest, but I hadn’t really gotten a good look, and then when I felt you between my legs you just seemed so enormous, and I was trying to figure out if you’d fit inside me, and—I’m going to shut up now.”
Axoev stopped and pulled Darin into his embrace. Rather than speak to reassure him, Axoev kissed him until the tension in Darin melted away.
When Darin leaned back, he was smiling with a dazed kind of happiness, almost as if he’d just woken up.
“You are very good at that.” Darin sighed.
“What?”
“Kissing me silent. If ever I talk too much, you should—”
Axoev kissed him quiet. With minimal effort, he lifted him up so that his legs were spread around his hips. In this way, Axoev was able to kiss Darin all the way back to his tree. Once there, he released him. Into the box went the blanket and Darin’s shawl. Since he was going to carry Darin up, he took off his weapon and put that in the box as well.
“Climb onto my back.”
Darin did so but cautioned, “Someday I’m going to have to learn how to do this for myself.”
“You will. But not tonight.” Once Darin was clinging to him, Axoev gripped the rope in his hands and pulled them up to the walkway that encircled his home. As Darin stepped within the entrance, Axoev had a strange premonition that Darin would walk into danger. What shocked Axoev was that Darin would do so willingly. Because…and there the feeling faded away.
Axoev shook his head, trying to force the strange idea away. Portents and harbingers were generally the bailiwick of Hosi, the leather maker. He swore he saw signs in all things. Even the way rocks tumbled in the water revealed secrets to him.
“Stuff and nonsense.” Axoev pulled up the box, retrieved all the items, hung up the ropes, and then stepped inside. The only reason he was even contemplating such babble was because of Nemro and his nastiness. After returning the weapon to its rightful place above his doorway, Axoev stretched his arms up high. They didn’t touch the ceiling where the handprints of the other rulers were pressed into the wood. Long ago, he’d been angry that he hadn’t grown more, but now he wasn’t concerned. Height was not all that made a man.
“Darin?”
“I’m getting something to eat.”
Axoev joined him for a light repast then managed to strip both of them bare with one hand while the other held Darin’s cock.
“It won’t run away.”
“What?”
“You don’t need to hold onto my dick so determinedly.”
“I want to make you hard again.” Axoev kept his touches light but gained his wish in a matter of moments.
“Why does he hate you?”
“Who? Nemro? He is not worth talking about.”
“I just want to understand.”
“He scared you.”
“Yeah. He just kept looking at me with what can only be called a serial killer vibe.”
Axoev struggled to make sense of that but failed miserably. “Nemro will not harm you. He is like a whipperbrush.”
“What is that?” Darin gasped when Axoev reached back behind his balls and pressed firmly.
“It is a bush at the edge of the forest. When something comes near—man or beast—it makes this high-pitched scream.”
“You have screaming plants?”
“We do.” Axoev now grasped and released Darin’s cock as he led him to the place of washing. “But like Nemro, they sound scary when they can do nothing.”
“Ah. Like a dog who is all bark and no bite.”
“Yes.” Axoev noticed that Darin winced as he washed his buttocks. “Did I hurt you?” If he had, Axoev would never forgive himself. Darin was so stunning in the firelight tonight. Axoev had avoided the fire of passion the last time it occurred, but he couldn’t again. Worse, he knew what would happen and hadn’t told Darin. “I swear I will never do that to you—”
“I’m not hurt.” Darin looked up at him and the tree light made his eyes so blue it was almost too much. “And you will do that to me again. And again. With my enthusiastic enjoyment.”
“Will you stay?” Axoev wasn’t certain how to go about changing their deal this time. He couldn’t hold a release out of Darin’s reach.
“You want me to?”
“I do.” Axoev pulled him close and hugged him firmly but gently. “I wish for you to stay with me always.”
Rather than answer using his voice, Darin squeezed him. Pleased, Axoev cupped his chin, lifting his face for a lingering kiss under the water. But then the moment was shattered when he realized all was not well.
“But your clan.”
“I don’t have—well, I guess my family and friends are my clan,” Darin said, smoothing soap over Axoev’s chest.
“Won’t they miss you?”
“Yeah. And I’ll miss them, too. Maybe someday I’ll go back and see them, but I’m happy here.”
“If ever you are not happy, you must tell me so I can take you home.”
Darin nodded, and they fell into quiet talk as they finished washing up, drying off, then snuggled down under the furs.
“Explain to me how you resisted the lure of the tree scent during the fire before.”
“How did you know that I had?”
“You said you hadn’t been with anyone, remember? That means I was your first, and since that tree perfume is pretty damn powerful, you had to resist somehow.”
“I would not go when the fire of passion came.”
“I thought that’s when you decided things. Like a town meeting.”
“It is. Most times. But once of three it is the way it was tonight.” Axoev explained how he would go, talk with his men, but then leave before the perfume hit. “That is why they commented about me finally bringing a blanket tonight.”
“That does explain it. And passion fire is a really good name considering everyone is fornicating up a storm.” Darin looked up at Axoev. “What really stuns me is I wasn’t at all self-conscious while it was going on, and even more shocking is the fact that I’m not now, either. I’ll see all those people tomorrow and I won’t feel strange.”
“Why would you feel odd?”
“They saw me naked. They saw me riding you like a passion-crazed monkey.”
“Trust me, little one, they were too busy with their own passions to watch ours.”
“When they were walking away they looked.”
“I suppose that is so. But it is part of noting who is with who so when a child comes, determining the father is simpler.”
“No DNA, huh?” Darin explained what that was then asked, “Does the father, I mean knowing who he is, matter?”
“Not really. Most men lie with the same women again and again. Sieg, for example, has seven—”
“Seven?” Darin gasped. “How does he have time to do anything else?”
“Sieg is probably the lustiest of Clan Shadow.”
“And you the least.”
“Oh, no. I am not the least. I just wasn’t certain why I was not interested in the woman the way Sieg is. Now I know it is because I am happy.”
“Gay.”
“I thought that was the same thing?”
“Eh, close enough.” Darin rested his head on Axoev’s shoulder and yawned. “But I wonder why the trees would want you to mate?”
“It is so there are always more of us to care for them.”
“I guess that makes sense.” Darin yawned again then snuggled deeper in the furs. “But what about children?”
“We cannot have children.”
Darin laughed. “I know that. I mean do you have to have kids because you’re the leader?”
“I don’t have to.” Axoev had never thought too much about children. He only had known he wasn’t ready for them. “As I age the children who are here now will battle to beco
me the new leader. Just because I am leader does not mean my child will in turn become the ruler of the clan.”
“Do you want to have children?” Darin’s voice sounded pinched.
“I don’t know. Maybe someday. But we would need to ask a woman to carry one for us.”
“Us?”
“I’ve heard of women doing this to help a man and his faunsha. It is not common but not unfamiliar.”
“Would you have to sleep with her?”
“Sleeping doesn’t accomplish the goal.”
“Would you have to fuck her?”
“There are other ways to…”
“Deliver the goods?”
“Yes. But that is many fires away.”
“I just like to have an idea about things.”
“You worry too much.”
“I’ll work on that.” Darin yawned again then closed his eyes. “So now that we’re all chummy and squared away, I suppose I don’t have to wear that outfit anymore.”
Axoev frowned. He did not want to start that argument up again, not when they were warm and happy. Instead of answering, he feigned sleep. Soon enough he’d have to explain to Darin that, though Axoev wanted him to stay, and he would honor him until the day he died, Darin would never been seen as a true member of the clan.
Chapter 9
“I want to go home.” Darin had tried to fit in, but it was clear he wasn’t going to be welcome no matter what he did. “You said if ever I wasn’t happy you would find a way to get me home. Well, I’m not happy.”
“I am sorry.” Axoev looked at the piles of gourds that Darin was expected to scrape free of food and then wash in the water from the communal pool.
“Bad enough everyone dumps their scut work on me, and I have to wear this fucking outfit or go bare, but this is just too much.” Darin pointed to the children who were hiding in the bushes at the edge of the clearing. “They make a game of throwing things at my balls.”
“I have told them to stop.”
“And they will. Until you go off to do your leader things. When you do, they’ll start right back up.” Darin wiped a tear away with the back of his hand. “I’m sick of this. I can’t take a lifetime of being the lowest member of the clan.”
Enslaved by a Barbarian [Sold! 6] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic ManLove) Page 8
