Killian

by T. N. Tarrant

  “In a few weeks, for about a week, maybe ten days.” Killian nuzzled the back of Shiloh’s neck. “Will those tenants still be living in the house?”

  “I don’t know, Kil. They don’t have the homes that’re supposed to be provided for them, so… And I don’t really want mobile homes on the plantation. I know they’re just as good as stick built these days, but I want to keep buildings on the estate as close to original as possible, for the most part. I want to rebuild their houses when I can.”

  “Well, we’ll just play it by ear then.” Killian kissed the back of his neck. “Sleep, love, we’ve had a long day.” He closed his own eyes, as something in his chest settled. This was where he belonged, with Shiloh. He didn’t know yet how they were going to make it work, but he was determined to try. Shiloh’s soft snores were the last thing he heard.

  § § § §

  The next morning, after the Council members had left, Shiloh sat at his desk looking over the notes he’d taken the night before. He and Killian had woken up early enough to have a good snuggle before they had to be seen out and about.

  Shiloh’s face heated as he thought about the way Killian had touched him, after blushing furiously as Killian admitted to watching some things on the Internet. Things he wanted to try. Try he did, and Shiloh shivered with remembered pleasure as he grinned. He really loved Killian’s learning curve.

  The housekeeper, the older woman who’d made the comments about his divorce, walked in without bothering to knock. Shiloh frowned as he looked up from the papers. Lorretta hadn’t been housekeeper the last time he’d been there; in fact, she hadn’t even been on the estate. It was time to deal with her attitude. He watched as she desultorily began to dust.

  “Excuse you, Mistress Lorretta,” he said coldly.

  She glared at him. “What?” As an afterthought, the woman added, “Sir?”

  “Sir?” He raised an eyebrow. “Is that the proper address for me?”

  She stared at him haughtily for a moment. “You may own the estate, but you are still a disgraced male. Your wife divorced you because you refused to honor your vows, little male. You do not deserve the title of ‘Lord.’”

  Shiloh nodded as if he might agree. “My disgrace doesn’t matter. That you would listen to gossip and not ask me for the facts tells me that I shouldn’t trust you.”

  “I honor my agreements, unlike some here,” she retorted.

  “But you have not kept the agreement that you treat the owner with proper respect, Lorretta.”

  She finally began to look worried. “I treat you with more respect than you deserve. Sir.”

  “In your opinion, not mine. You are relieved of your duties, Mistress Lorretta. I will arrange a severance and, in case the work you did previously was better than the half-hearted effort I’ve seen, ask Mistress Sherry to write a reference for you. But I want you gone from the estate within the hour. You may leave.” Shiloh turned his chair until his back was to her. Pulling out his cell phone, he called Sherry and ordered her to his study. The study door slammed shut.

  A few minutes later, he heard an angry voice, then a calmer one in the hall outside his study. Sounded like Lorretta expected Sherry to gainsay him. She could try, and he could dismiss her, too. No way in hell was he going accept being treated like this.

  A moment later, there was a knock. He waited a minute, then called out, “Come.”

  Sherry walked in, looking perplexed.

  “Thank you for coming promptly, Mistress Sherry. We need a new housekeeper, and I was curious to see if you had any recommendations. Otherwise, I will advertise elsewhere.”

  “Excuse me, Shiloh, but—”

  Shiloh cut her off mid-sentence. “I think that a return to formality is in order, Mistress Sherry. I had hoped that if I was just my usual self that I would get at least common courtesy in return, but since that isn’t the case… I told you I wouldn’t tolerate disrespect from my tenants. I guess they didn’t listen when you warned them,” he said calmly. He waved her to a seat to indicate that he wasn’t angry with her personally.

  “I see, my Lord.” She studied him for a minute. “And Lorretta’s dismissal?”

  “Is an example. If she can’t even be bothered with such a base courtesy as knocking before entering someone’s office when they’re working, what other courtesies will she ignore?” He sighed. What would be the best way to walk the line between putting them in their places and keeping their cooperation? “There is too much to do for this estate to tolerate petty bullshit, Sherry. I’ll bet the list I compiled yesterday isn’t even close to everything that’s been neglected, whatever the reason it happened. I need to be able to trust you all as much as you need to trust me.”

  “I grant that you have a point, but it isn’t that easy for them,” Sherry said carefully.

  “Can you explain to me why?” he asked. “The comment Lorretta made about me not honoring my vows gives me a clue, but is that the whole of it, or is there more?”

  She sat thoughtfully for a while, but Shiloh didn’t push. He could afford to give her time to figure out how to answer politely. “My Lord, do you have any idea at all of what’s been said about you the past week?”

  “Only Lorretta’s comment a few minutes ago. I figure Anan is running around telling anybody and everybody I refused to honor my vows, which is sort of true, and sort of isn’t.”

  “How do you mean, my Lord? You did marry her, correct?”

  “Yes, but only to satisfy the Council’s command and Senki’s will. I never wanted to marry Anan in the first place. I was forced to the altar and ran from it. I requested Sanctuary from Lady Larrestes almost eight weeks ago. The Magistrate turned the matter over to the Council.”

  “Why didn’t Lady Larrestes adjudicate the matter, my Lord?” Sherry looked confused. He could understand that, since anyone who had authority enough to provide Sanctuary normally also had the authority to adjudicate the matter. Shiloh quickly detailed events for her.

  “You were only married for an hour?” she repeated incredulously, chuckling. “And the lack of consummation was why Anan didn’t get the estate?”

  “Exactly.” He shook his head sadly. “Senka owes me reparations for failing to tell me of my inheritance, and for blackmailing me. Anan got to marry me but was also forced to divorce me. I got my freedom and kept my virtue and property, if not my reputation. I will get the estate back on its feet, but how I do that depends entirely on y’all. I don’t want to tell everyone to leave, almost all of you were born here and this is your home, but it’s my home now too, and I won’t tolerate being treated as a pariah in my own home.”

  She nodded agreeably. “You should know it’s being put about that you and Lady Larrestes are lovers, that you disgraced yourself before your marriage. Word has it that Anan divorced you partly because you were no longer virgin.”

  “I don’t care,” Shiloh said with as nonchalant a shrug as he could manage. “He might, though, and I hear he’s pretty good with a blade. Anyone who wants to repeat that rumor may wish to have a care, since he’ll be back in a few weeks.”

  “May I ask why?”

  “Sure. We’ve become very good friends. He’s not even a year older than I, only a few months really, but we kind of bonded because of Anan.” He grinned suddenly. “Wow. I finally realized something Anan was good for: I have a new friend because of her. Anyway, he’ll be here for a week or so.”

  “I’ll spread the warning. Will he be sharing your suite again?”

  “That would be best, wouldn’t it, since he’s a never-married male?” Shiloh shrugged.

  “It would take care of the who’s visiting his bedroom thing,” Sherry agreed. “It’s just…”

  “There will be some who will believe the moon is green cheese despite clear evidence to the contrary,” Shiloh said derisively, understanding what she was getting at.

  Sherry fell into that thoughtful silence again. He had learned several things about Sherry in the last two days: she was
well-liked and trusted by his tenants, and she tried to gather as much information as possible before making a decision. “My Lord, this may be delicate ground, but you said Lady Larrestes was also Anan’s victim?”

  Shiloh sighed. “Do you know how he became Regent?”

  “We heard that his mother killed his father in front of his younger siblings, and the Council ruled it murder and executed her. Lady Nedai spoke for the Larrestes for a time, and he was approved Regent some time ago, until his sister is considered old enough and ready to be Artris.” Again, Shiloh explained what happened.

  Sherry sat, stunned. “Did Lady Elizabeth know?”

  Shiloh gave her a grim, sober look. “They both did, according to Lady K’Arith. She told Senki herself,” he answered quietly. “And none of them told me.”

  She got up and went to the sideboard, where a decanter of brandy sat, with glasses. He said nothing as she poured a drink and swallowed it down. Belatedly, she looked at him for permission, and he waved the silent question away. She raised a glass, asking if he wanted one and he shook his head. She poured herself another and brought it with her back to her seat. He wondered if she felt odd sitting on that side of the desk when, for a few years now, she’d sat on this side of it.

  “So that was what the Council meant by Anan not profiting from deception,” Sherry said as she settled into her chair.

  “Yeah. The Council questioned her about her intentions, not only towards me, but my birthright and Lady Larrestes. They weren’t happy with any of her answers.”

  They were both silent for a time.

  “So do you have any recommendations for a housekeeper?” Shiloh asked. “I don’t care about gender, just ability.”

  “Actually, I know a young man who’s in college right now, his first year, but he’s not happy there. He went because there just wasn’t anything for him to do here that he’s happy with. I also suspect that he won’t have any issue with your divorce.”

  “What’s his name?”

  “Keith Torrai. He scandalized his parents by not moving with them when they left, and he gets some shit because he’s unmarried but doesn’t work to protect his reputation like some around here think he should,” Sherry answered. “No one can ever point out an instance where he’s actually behaved badly, though; he even lives in a male dorm.”

  “So he’s skirting that line but no one really thinks he’s crossed it,” Shiloh said with a smile. “What’s his number?”

  She gave him the number and he wrote it down. A male strong enough to buck convention like that without losing his reputation should be able to handle the politics of being a housekeeper just fine. Then Shiloh handed Sherry his to-do list and suggested she take it and add to it anything he missed, as well as her suggestions about how the jobs should be completed, if she had any.

  Shiloh picked up the phone to the sound of Sherry softly closing the door behind her.

  Chapter 13

  Two days later, Shiloh and Keith headed into the city together.

  When Shiloh received a cashier’s check for three hundred thousand, he had gulped in shock. He hadn’t known his father’s inheritance was worth three million. According to the United States, Shiloh wasn’t old enough to set up a bank account on his own, and too many people had access to the estate account for him to feel comfortable depositing the money there. Granted, neither the United States nor any other government on Earth was aware of the alien culture that lived amongst them, so Shiloh supposed they could be excused for treating him as a child. After all, humans matured more slowly than Rimalians. Therefore, since Keith was of age as far as Uncle Sam was concerned, he would help Shiloh set up a bank account.

  Shiloh had been delighted to find he and Keith got along great, and they had plans to get the house into shape. Keith certainly hadn’t been offended, as Lorretta had been, by Shiloh’s wish to maintain his own rooms.

  Thanks to Keith, after two hours of paperwork and red tape, Shiloh possessed a bank account he could access at need, a temporary debit card, and as a few thousand in his pocket in cash. The first place they headed was for the hardware store. Shiloh admitted it might be a little paranoid, but he would feel better if the locks on the house were changed, including adding a locking door knob to his suite. Until he felt more comfortable with the situation on the estate, he would just lock his suite and his study when they were vacant. They bought new doorknobs for every entrance to the House, as well as for the master suite, Shiloh’s study, and Sherry’s. Only the three of them, Sherry, Shiloh, and Keith would have keys for every door, with the exception of Shiloh’s suite. Only Keith would have a spare key to the master suite.

  He had already discussed with Sherry having a security firm look the house over and make a few recommendations for improving its security. Since this was an extremely low crime area and incidents on the estate were rare, she’d been surprised, but said she’d call around and ask for quotes. She said it might mean allowing humans to come in and look the place over. He said it was fine as long as she escorted them.

  After the visit to the hardware shop, they stopped to have lunch, and talked, getting to know each other better and discussing what else was required for the House. Then they went shopping, since Shiloh needed some more clothes. All he had was what Killian had bought him, and he needed some he wouldn’t care about ruining. To help him manage the estate, he also bought himself a good laptop and a Wi-Fi device. He couldn’t keep borrowing Sherry’s. Although he enjoyed being out and about, Shiloh was happy to get home.

  They spent hours changing doorknobs, not finishing till late, but Shiloh wanted it done before they went to bed. Finally, Shiloh was able to go to bed feeling safer. The fear that Anan might have keys to the house had led to some bad nightmares. Sherry denied Anan possessed keys to the House until Shiloh pointed out Ewan had owned a set and it was highly likely he’d given them to her. Sherry conceded the point and helped install the new locks in her personal time after she’d finished for the day.

  Shiloh pulled out his phone and called Killian. They woke each other up every night; when Killian started his day in a few hours, he’d call back, waking Shiloh.

  Killian’s sleepy voice answered, making him smile. “Hello, Sprite.”

  “Hi, love, how was your day?”

  “Long. Oh, before I forget, you should expect a call from the Council in the next day or so.”

  Shiloh knew better than to ask why, since Killian probably couldn’t tell him. “Okay, thanks. We replaced a gazillion doorknobs today, with only a minimum of cussing,” he told Killian.

  Killian chuckled. “Are you sure you did it right, then?” Shiloh heard faint rustling. He pictured Killian sitting up in his bed and settling back against the pillows.

  “Yeah, I’m sure they don’t wiggle and the keys work, so…” Shiloh smiled, although Killian couldn’t see it. “What are you wearing?”

  “What?”

  “I’ve decided to instigate a bit of phone sex, and from what I understand, it begins with ‘What are you wearing?’” Shiloh grinned as he heard Killian choke. He loved surprising the man. “Breathe, baby.”

  “Deity help me. Where’d that idea come from?” Killian asked, laughing.

  “From being seriously horny and hearing your voice,” Shiloh answered with a giggle. “Well?” he asked as he heard more rustling. What was his love doing now?

  “Well, what?” Killian teased.

  “What are you wearing?” Shiloh repeated, as expected.

  “Nothing, now,” Killian told him.

  Shiloh gulped as he pictured Killian’s tall, muscular frame, nude.

  “Shiloh…” Killian’s soft, seductive voice broke into Shiloh’s trance.

  “Huh?” he asked, his mind still a little stuck on Killian getting naked to have phone sex with him.

  “You’re wearing too many clothes. Take them off.” Killian’s voice held a hint of command that had Shiloh obeying without a thought.

  Putting the phone down, Shilo
h scrambled out of his clothes, glad he’d already locked the door. He picked the phone back up. “Now I’m naked, too,” he said cheerfully.

  Killian groaned. “Good. I want you to lay down with me.”

  “I wish I could,” Shiloh said as he lay down, stretching out on the slightly rough bedding. That was something he should have done in town, gotten himself some nice sheets for himself. Then again, for this bed, he’d probably have to look online. He had a sudden, very brief fantasy of Killian in this bed with him, on soft silk sheets. Oh yeah, now he definitely had to buy some. It would be worth it, though.

  “I wish you could, too, Sprite. I haven’t been sleeping well with you gone.” Killian’s admission gave Shiloh a ridiculous case of the warm fuzzies.

  “Me either, although I hope that at least tonight I won’t have nightmares about Anan being able to get into the house.” Shiloh shuddered at the thought. “I’m laying down, was there something you wanted me to do?” he asked, preferring to get back to something a lot more fun—playing with Killian.

  “I want you to touch yourself,” Killian ordered, his voice falling back into the seductive caress Shiloh loved. That tone being breathed against his bare skin felt incredible, and Shiloh let himself imagine Killian was there, doing exactly that.

  “Where?”

  “Your nipples. I love how the lightest touch has them hard under my fingers.”

  “Only when you touch them, Kil.” Shiloh’s breath came faster as he rubbed his nipples, enjoying the little zings of pleasure they sent shooting through his body. Killian had actually made him come just by playing with his nipples. His body tightened as he remembered that night.

  “Pinch them, Sprite. I want to hear your pleasure when you play with those tasty little nips.” Moaning, Shiloh obeyed, loving that prim, proper Killian enjoyed talking dirty. It had kinda surprised them both how much of a turn-on it was.

  “I want your mouth, Kil, please.”

  “I’m going to suck those pretty nips until they’re aching, Sprite. Then I’m going to lick them until you are writhing under me, begging.”