Ginn Hale - Lord of the White Hell book Two

Across the dance floor from them, Javier predictably displayed his physical prowess, spinning and lifting Dauhd easily in time to the music. Dauhd stared wide-eyed at Javier. Kiram knew exactly what she must have been feeling: a giddy thrill of exhilaration in the grip of Javier's touch and attention. The thought enraged him. He wanted to lunge out and slap Javier, once for flirting so obviously in front of him and a second time for toying with his sister.

As the dance drew to a close, Javier glanced to Kiram with a smug smirk, as if he expected Kiram to be impressed with his performance. At the same moment Kiram felt Hashiem's hand slide up to catch the back of his head. Kiram didn't evade him, but instead when Hashiem thrust his mouth over Kiram's, Kiram kissed him back.

Hashiem's tongue pushed between his lips and Kiram recoiled, offering Hashiem a coy smile. All around them members of Kiram's family looked on in approval. Hashiem's mother was beaming.

Javier's smile vanished. He exchanged a few words with Dauhd, bowed curtly to her, and then strode from the room.

Kiram watched his retreating back for a moment, then looked to Hashiem. "I think I'd better show Lord Tornesal the way to the water closet. Please excuse me."

"Certainly." Hashiem offered Kiram an indulgent smile and released his hand.

Kiram rushed after Javier, catching him near the front doors.

"Where are you going?" Kiram demanded. Despite his annoyance, Kiram hated the thought of Javier leaving.

Javier spun on him with that cold, controlled expression that Kiram so disliked. "I'm returning to the Grunito house. I'm their guest after all and it's getting late."

"You plan to walk across the city in the dead of night, during a rainstorm, wearing nothing but my brother's silk clothes?"

"No," Javier snapped. "I am going to fetch Lunaluz and ride to the Grunito house."

"You're going to ride him through the rain in the dark?" Kiram stepped between Javier and the tall double doors.

In response Javier raised his hands and a searing white light blazed up from them. Kiram scowled at the blinding flare until it faded.

"You don't know where the stable is," Kiram said and he leaned back against the doors and crossed his arms over his chest.

"On Briar Street. Your sister told me."

"Yes, but you don't know where Briar Street is." Kiram couldn't keep from grinning in triumph.

"It can't be that hard to find," Javier replied. The haughty disdain of his expression shifted nearer to petulance, which Kiram thought was more human and, in a way, charming.

"Even if you do find it, the place will be locked up by now and I'm sure the Grunitos will all be sound asleep by the time you reached their house." Kiram tried to sound reasonable. "You might as well stay the night here."

"I can't." Javier shoved a lock of his hair back from his face and Kiram couldn't help but momentarily think that it was getting long for Cadeleonian style though it suited him. "There aren't any wards in this house. I can't sleep here."

"Are you joking?" Kiram lowered his voice. "You don't need wards to sleep, Javier. I've slept with you for months without a single ward between our bodies and I'm fine."

Javier frowned down at the floor and Kiram knew that the absence of wards wasn't what troubled Javier. But he also felt certain that neither of them were ready to argue about what had happened on the dance floor, so he addressed the excuse Javier offered him.

"Where were you planning to sleep when you arrived here?"

"I didn't plan anything," Javier admitted and frustration played through his voice. "I just wanted…I just came. I didn't think about it, but I should have. I should have realized that you had friends and family here. That you wouldn't be alone."

Kiram almost asked why Javier had imagined he would be, but then he realized that it was because Javier himself was so isolated. He wouldn't have been prepared for family or friends and certainly not for a crowded Haldiim celebration. "Everyone feels honored to have you here."

"Even if I smell like a beast and look like a corpse?" Javier arched a brow.

"Auntie Fahad aside," Kiram said. "Even she warmed up to you once you had a bath and a change of clothes. They're not all perfect people, but if you give them a chance most of them will treat you very well. There's certainly no reason for you to leave in the middle of the night." Kiram stepped forward and took Javier's hand in his own. "I know this is all foreign for you but it can be fun. Stay here with me."

Javier tensed and Kiram thought he would pull away but instead he jerked Kiram to him and embraced him tightly.

Kiram leaned into him, returning his strong grasp. Javier's entire body relaxed against him. He bowed his head and rested it on Kiram's shoulder. Neither of them spoke.

Music drifted from the ballroom, as did the soft noise of conversation and laughter. Kiram drew back from Javier just enough to look at his face and see both his confusion and desire. Kiram kissed his lips and Javier kissed back with a desperate hunger.

Then a door somewhere slammed and Javier bolted back. Vashir wandered into the hall, glanced at the two of them, and then disappeared back into the ballroom. Kiram didn't release Javier from their embrace though he saw the blood drain from Javier's face. Kiram waited long enough for Javier to see that nothing was going to happen, to realize that this was not the Sagrada Academy.

"We're not who he was looking for," Kiram said.

"No?" Javier's tense grip relaxed slowly.

"He's presently engaged in a romance with the twins. I'm not sure if he's with one or both of them and I don't think he's sure either."

Javier smiled at this.

"I want to show you the apple cider dance, Kiram said. He stepped back but kept hold of Javier's hand.

"Does it involve actual cider?" Javier asked.

"No. But you get to spin until you nearly fall down." Kiram grinned. "It's fun, I promise."

"Will I have to watch that man, Hashiem, kiss you again?" Javier asked suddenly serious.

"No," Kiram assured him.

"I'll stay. Lead on."

Kiram led him back to the ballroom. He held Javier's hand until they reach the threshold and then, feeling how tense his fingers were, he released him. It was enough just to have him stay for now, Kiram realized.

They took part in a number of traditional Haldiim dances and several songs as well. Kiram coached Javier in the words and he picked up the tunes quickly. Neither of them were gifted singers but in the atmosphere of warmth and welcome it hardly mattered. As the evening passed into night, and the youngest children began to fall asleep on scattered pillows, card tables were brought out, which allowed Kiram's father to show off the deck of cards Kiram had brought back from Zancoda.

Javier and he stayed on dance floor with the younger adults. They hardly touched more than each other's fingertips, but every time Kiram noticed Javier's eyes on him he felt the sudden urge to display himself as he never had before. He drank in Javier's movements as well, feeling as if every flex of muscle was for his benefit alone.

By the time the midnight bells sounded, a fine sweat shone on Kiram's hot muscles and his entire body seemed to tremble between exhilaration and fatigue. A lively flush colored Javier's skin and the bare muscles of his arms bulged from his excess of lifting and spinning Kiram's nephew and nieces during the spider dance.

As guests took their leave, Kiram dutifully thanked them for coming and wished them each a good night. He embraced Hashiem but eluded the other man's attempt at a parting kiss. Once the last guests departed, Kiram raced back to the ballroom where he had left Javier to watch his family play out their final game of cards. He caught Javier's hand and announced that they would be rooming together.