Arman smiled and obeyed. Kei sighed as once again that wet, delicious heat enveloped him and he could lose himself in the sensation, feeling Arman’s love, his mouth, his hands and the pure joy that he had a lover so brave and so generous.
It was more Arman’s hand than his mouth that made Kei come, and it was so sudden he couldn’t warn Arman, who coughed but swallowed manfully. Then had to cough again. “Sorry, I should have pulled away.”
Arman looked up and wiped his mouth. “It’s not like I didn’t know that would happen,” he said calmly.
Kei crouched to kiss him. “Thank you,” he said. “I really enjoyed that,” and he felt Arman’s emotions colour with pride and pleasure at his words. He sat down on the hatch, still bare-arsed, and laid his cheek against Arman’s, reaching for Arman’s lacings. “My turn.”
“You don’t—”
Kei looked at him sternly. “I want.”
“Ah. Carry on,” he said with a faint smile. Kei made him lie down so he could undress him better, shoving his shirt up to expose the broad chest. He spent some time licking and teasing Arman’s pink and pretty nipples before moving down to the impressive erection set in the golden curls. Arman’s cock was always a bit of a challenge, being thicker than Reji’s, but Kei rose to it, loving the taste and the feel of it on his tongue and the way Arman could lose his sadness through his desire, the way he became so wantonly needy, beautiful and responsive to every touch and movement. Sex with Arman felt like he had all the power in the world, like having a Gift that gave him complete control over this wonderful man, this kind and generous soul. It was completely addictive, and Kei had no intention of fighting that addiction.
Arman came with a cry, clutching at Kei’s head as he drank him down, licking his cock as it softened. Only when Arman moved because, Kei guessed, he was a little too sensitive, did he slide up Arman’s body to kiss his stomach, and then his chin, and finally his mouth. “Like?”
“Mmmm.”
Kei grinned. He’d robbed Arman of the power of speech. He sat up, intending to pull his trousers up again—and then heard a chorus of applause and whistles. He looked up—the previously uninterested sailors were all watching from the masts and crow’s nest and showing their appreciation of the unplanned entertainment. He blushed, but stood and bowed, bare arse and all, to his audience. “Thank you, thank you. You’re too kind,” he said with a flourish of his hand.
Beside him, Arman was frozen in place, embarrassment rolling off him. “You said they weren’t looking!”
“I never said they’d keep not looking.” Kei pulled his trousers up and then sat down, ignoring the sailors who’d returned to their watch now they had thoroughly humiliated the two lovers. “They still don’t care, beyond it being a great joke.” He touched his forehead to Arman’s. “It doesn’t matter. And I’m still proud as anything of you and to be seen with you.”
Arman closed his eyes. “I...don’t feel ashamed,” he whispered. “I’m not ashamed,” he repeated in a louder voice. “I love you.” He stood up and called to the sailors. “I love Kei of Ai-Albon!”
The sailors clapped again and called out a few “good for you’s”, grinning down at them. Arman pulled up his pants—Kei was so pleased he hadn’t done that first—and sat down again, looking rather flushed and still a little embarrassed. “Gods, maybe you have cast a spell on me. I’d have never done that before.”
“No. But it’s not bad for you, I promise.”
“I have no dignity left.”
“We don’t have dignity in Darshian,” Kei said. “We just have pride. And you have plenty of that, never fear. The Rulers are proud of you. They were going to come over to tell you in person, but I thought you wanted some privacy. And Blikus better behave tomorrow or he’s going for a swim.” At the sound of his former commander’s name, Arman’s spirit dimmed a little. Kei cupped his cheek and kissed him again. “We’re all proud of you. I hope you saw that tonight.”
“Yes. I did.” He sighed. “Now I’m really exhausted.”
“Come to bed. We don’t have to rise early. We could sleep up here, you know. It’ll be pretty hot in the cabin.”
“That’s a good idea. Let’s—”
Kei wagged a finger at him. “I’ll get the bedding. Relax.”
Kei couldn’t help smiling as he walked back to the cabin. Arman had come such a long way, not just in miles but in spirit. He was a beautiful, extraordinary man—and all Kei’s.
Chapter : Darshek 12
Rumbles of thunder woke them in the early hours of the morning, and they got below with only a minute to spare before the rain came down hard. Arman was so tired that he fell asleep again not long after they had rearranged the bunk, not bothering with the blankets in the stifling heat. When he woke again, bright light was streaming through the port holes. Kei was still asleep but as Arman moved, he opened his eyes. “Is it morning yet?” he muttered, putting a hand over his eyes to cut out the light.
“It could even be noon,” Arman said. “Move, I need a piss.”
Kei let him up, and he used the chamber pot. By the time he was done, Kei was sitting up and yawning and scratching his face—which reminded Arman he would now have to find time each day to shave again, something he hadn’t had to do in years. A small price to pay for accepting a new identity. Kei looked at him. “How did you sleep?”
“Well enough. I’d like a real bed at some point, but I think it will be Ai-Albon before we get one.”
Kei smiled. “I think I’ll pull in a favour and get one before then. But once we get moving...that will be soon, yes? There’s no reason not to take people across the pass before it’s cleared.”
“None. All we need is to organise the wagons and what extra beasts we need. It’s all in hand. Once we get to Urshek, it should be straightforward.” Arman came over to Kei and rested his hands on his lover’s shoulders. “Ready to go home?”
Kei nuzzled against his hand. “Not yet. By the time we’re there, I will be. And you?” he asked quietly.
“I need time to think, to adjust. A few weeks on the trail will give me that.” He bent and kissed Kei. “Thank you for last night. Not just for....”
“Embarrassing you to death?”
Arman smiled a little. “No, although it had its amusing side. For...everything, for support, for the love.”
“Always. Even into the next life,” Kei said, kissing his hand.
“You believe that?”
“With all my heart.” Kei’s dark eyes were solemn, as they rarely were, but then his expression became less sombre. “How’s the leg?”
Arman stretched and winced. “Still not good. How long before it stops?”
“Depends on how good you are at following my instructions,” Kei said severely, getting up and holding him around the waist. “You’ve been very disobedient until now.”
“Apologies. I’ve had other things on my mind.”
“Yes, and now they’re done so you can put yourself in my charge again. Don’t forget, I can always call on Jena to make you behave.”
Arman pretended to quail. “Oh no, master, please don’t.”
Kei wagged a finger at him. “I will, don’t think I won’t.”
“Then it’s a good thing Tiko’s coming with us on the journey,” he said, and Kei’s eyes widened in horror.
“No!”
“No,” Arman agreed. “But I could always ask him.”
“No! He was bad enough last time.”
“Be fair. Last time was very different. Now we’re lovers he can stop driving us apart and then trying to match-make again. We must have been very confusing to him.”
Kei looked sceptical. “I think he needs to go home to his real family and leave me alone to sort out my own affairs. After all, now I have a big bad Prijian general all of my own to hand rear, I should be safe enough.”
“I’d rather be a Darshianese farmer if you don’t mind.”
Kei looked away at that, and then freed himself to find
his clothes. “Why don’t you go on deck and get some air? I’ll bring our breakfast up. It’s stopped raining, hasn’t it?”
“Ages ago,” Arman said, wondering why Kei had suddenly withdrawn from him. “Did I say something wrong?”
Kei turned and gave him a bright smile. “No, of course not. I’m just glad it’s all over.”
“Still have to sign the treaty, don’t forget.”
“We know that’s a formality. We won. It’s over. You’re a damn hero, Arman. And I’m a damn hero’s damn lover.”
“You’re pretty heroic too,” Arman murmured. Kei was deflecting again.
Kei helped him to the stairs and up them. “Don’t move around. Let me come to you.”
“Yes, run away,” Arman said with a sigh. He’d had a suspicion he’d have to pay a price for Kei not enforcing the exercise regime over the last few days, and he was right. Oh well, it was, as Kei said, all over. More or less.
It wasn’t as late as he’d thought it was, and there were people eating on deck. Jena was there, holding the baby and talking to Reji and Kesa. She waved when she saw him, but as he came closer, she fanned her face. “My, it was hot last night, wasn’t it?”
“It stormed, did you not hear it?”
“Yes. But it was really hot before that. Really, really hot.”
Arman wondered why she was making such a big thing of the weather. “Yes, it was,” he agreed.
“Steamy even.”
“Yes.”
“So...did taking your clothes off help?”
He stared at her, and then flushed to the roots of his hair as he realised why she was grinning. “How...you weren’t there!”
She tapped her skull. “I was, in a way. Neka was awake because Jera just got back and...well, I was up with Karik and Kesa because he needed a feed...and Neka decided to let me...look.”
Neka!
Sorry, Arman. It was too beautiful not to share.
You shouldn’t have been inside our heads!
Her mental ‘voice’ turned defensive. I wasn’t. I wouldn’t do that. I was in one of the sailors. I asked him and he said it was all right.
Reji was grinning at him too. “Oh, it’s funny, is it?” Arman snapped. “Wait until it’s your privacy invaded.”
Reji held his hands up. “Look, it wasn’t me making love on the deck. I should have warned you about Kei. He’s not exactly inhibited.”
Arman’s face burned, and he was very glad the puzzled Kesa couldn’t follow their conversation in the least. “I’m never going to have sex again,” he muttered.
Jena handed Karik to Kesa and stood up. She came to him and kissed Arman’s cheek, to his great surprise. “It was really beautiful,” she whispered. “Don’t be ashamed. Your love was something wonderful to see.”
He caught her hand. “I’m not ashamed. I just wasn’t expecting anyone else to watch.”
“Didn’t see much. What I did see was impressive,” she said with an impish grin and a quick glance downwards which made Arman want to sink into the deck. “It was...stimulating.”
For some reason, Reji looked at Jena rather oddly just then. Arman considered the two of them, and wondered if Jena had worked off a little frustration with a certain handsome trader in a quiet corner last night—or if perhaps the trader had wanted to. An interesting development, he thought, and felt rather better about being embarrassed in this manner. “I’ll be sure to let you know when the next performance is,” he said, trying to keep a straight face, even though part of him was quietly horrified at talking openly about something so intimate. He had to keep reminding himself he was Darshianese now. “If we time it right, you could make sure you had company.”
There was definitely a blush on Reji’s cheeks. Jena was shameless of course, and only kissed him quickly again. “That’d be fun,” she said, taking the baby back and sitting down. “Where’s Kei?’
“Fetching food.” They made room for him on the hatch. “How are you, Kesa?”
“I’m well, Sei Arman,” she said in a quiet voice. “Everyone’s been very nice to me, and Jena’s teaching me her language.”
“Call me Arman, my dear. Have you all that you need? Are you comfortable?”
“Oh yes. Everyone wants to help, and Jena’s so kind. It’s almost like having my mother around again.”
The poor girl—denied a mother’s comfort after such a terrible loss. He doubted Mayl had even bothered to enquire after Kesa’s circumstances, and she would hardly have offered her a friendly ear. Jena would give Kesa some kindness for a short time at least. In a day or two, Kesa would be back with her husband. Vikis was a good man, a good ten years older than Kesa, but not a harsh person. He would help her grieve. It was important not to be alone at such a time. He’d discovered that rather painfully.
Jena was taking well to motherhood—or guardianship, he wasn’t sure how she saw it in her mind. He still felt a sharp, undefined pain when he saw the child and thought of what he represented, but Karik was undoubtedly a well-formed child. Probably would take after Mayl with those looks. Time would tell if the boy would grow up as fair in soul as he was in features. Arman wasn’t optimistic, but Jena would at least give him the chance to become a decent human being. It wasn’t anything to do with him, Arman told himself. He shouldn’t be affected in any way. But he still found it hard to look at the child.
Kesa wanted to know what was happening about the war, so he told her it was all over and that everyone should be moving soon. One ship would take the hostages and half the soldiers to Urshek, and then on up the coast to Darshek with the hostages who were returning by that route. That ship would come back to Utuk with some of the Prijian soldiers once Darshian was firmly back in Darshianese hands. The Prij had had to resign themselves to losing six warships for good. It was a real blow, and Arman hoped it would slow the response of the militaristic types like Blikus, who would want to retaliate as soon as the Darshianese left Utuk.
“There you are,” Kei said cheerfully, bearing mugs and a large piece of flat bread. “Hello, Jena, Reji. Kesa, how are you?” he asked in careful Prijian.
She smiled at him. “Very well, Kei.”
He sat down next to her. “You’ll see Vikis again in a couple of days. Are you happy about that?”
“Oh yes!” She was much prettier when she was happy. “Only I’ll miss you all. Everyone’s been so kind...so different to what we’ve been told about you and...I....”
Kei looked at Arman, clearly not picking up all her rapid Prijian. Arman explained. “She’ll miss the company, the kindness. She has no one except the brother, and I doubt he really understands what it’s like to lose a child.”
“Her husband?”
Arman shrugged. “A man isn’t as good as a woman at this kind of thing, it’s a fact of life. And Prijian men aren’t known for their sensitivity,” he added wryly. Jena gave him a grin at that.
“I don’t know, you’re pretty sensitive, especially that little place—”
“Kei!”
Kei gave him his patent innocent look. “I was just proving the flaw in your argument.”
Kesa watched the back and forth between them in complete confusion. “Kei says the Darshianese will miss you too,” Arman lied, though it wasn’t really a lie. Already the former hostages had taken her up as a bit of a pet, which was probably good for all of them. Pity it was to be of such short duration.
Kei understood what he’d said. “We Darshianese could do with getting to know the Prij,” he said quietly. “If we’re to have true peace, I mean—we have to make friends with each other.”
“It will take more than a few individuals. I fear it will take change at the very top of Prij society, and that’s not likely to happen for a good many years.”
“We can only do what we can do,” Reji said. “Kei’s right. We need to build bridges.”
“I won’t deter anyone from trying. I just warn you it will take a lot more than being friendly to a kind young girl like this.” Arman
smiled reassuringly at Kesa, who smiled uncertainly back.
At this point, the baby decided to wake up and express his displeasure over something. “I think he needs changing,” Jena said, getting to her feet. “I’ll take him down below. Kesa, would you like to come with me?”
Kesa would, and so would Reji. Soon, Kei and Arman were left on their own. “Reji seems to be getting rather attached to Jena,” Arman said, accepting a bit of the bread Kei tore off for him.
“Really? I hadn’t noticed,” Kei said, looking in the direction his friends had taken. “Ah, well, it won’t be for long,” he said with a sigh. “Jena will be home in four or five days.”
He leaned against Arman, who put his chin on Kei’s shoulder. “You’ll miss her,” he said.
“Yes, very much but I can’t see any reason why I would ever see her again. I’m not the only one of us who’s made friends we’ll regret losing.” He heaved another sad sigh. “I wish our country wasn’t so large. Not like yours when you can across from one side to another in a day or so.”
“Well, that’s on Kuplik. We have hundreds of islands, not counting the territories. To cover them all would take much more than a day.”
“Yes, but most of them have no people on them. Maybe we can build one of those wagons you were talking about and then we can race up and down the length of Darshian in a week.”
Arman kissed his cheek. “I doubt that’ll ever be possible but if we had a network of people like Reis, we could fly everyone between the two ends. That seems a rather large waste of resources though. But you said people travel between the clans. Why would Jena never visit?”
“She’s their healer, Arman. Like I’m Ai-Albon’s. We can’t just wander off the way Reji can. People need us.” He became solemn again, and buried his face in his mug of milk. There was something definitely going on in Kei’s head. For such an open person, he could be downright secretive. Poking him didn’t seem to work. Arman would have to be patient.
He wondered if he should tell Kei about Jena, and decided Jena would probably waste no time doing that herself, and get a lot of pleasure out of it, so who was he to deny it?
Kei's Gift Page 87
