Ginn Hale - Lord of the White Hell book Two

Javier stretched in the water, running his hand across Kiram's back. Kiram leaned into his touch and marveled that he'd spent so much time and energy fighting against this simple pleasure.

"Sadly my ancestor's techniques didn't seem to impress you so much as they annoyed you," Javier said softly.

"Maybe they annoyed me because they impressed me."

Javier smiled like a pleased cat and Kiram couldn't help but splash water into his face.

"What?" Javier grinned. "You're the one who said it."

"I was just helping you to rinse your face," Kiram replied.

"Ah, you're a gentleman to the core."

"I am," Kiram replied as seriously as he could. "A gentleman and a scholar."

Javier simply dunked him under the water. Kiram came up sputtering. He grabbed for Javier to return the offense but Javier wriggled from his grasp and, laughing, launched himself out of the sunken tub. Water sloshed across Kiram's chest. He clambered after Javier, catching him at the dressing bench.

Excitement lit Javier's eyes and he allowed Kiram to pull his pants from his hands before lunging after him. Kiram evaded him, dashing to the towels and then making for the door.

Javier scooped up their clothes and gave chase. They raced down the hall half naked and laughing. When Kiram reached his room, he bounded onto his bed. An instant later the door slammed closed and Javier landed on the bed next to him. For a moment they played at grappling over Javier's pants but the friction of their bodies-the strokes of hard muscles and smooth skin-dissolved the pretense.

Kiram shoved Javier onto his back and Javier allowed it, breathing deeply and watching Kiram intently. Kiram ran his hands over Javier's chest and followed the black line of his hair to his groin. Javier's flesh stiffened beneath his fingers.

"Do you want to." Kiram wasn't sure of what words to use. He didn't want to scare or disgust Javier.

"Yes."

"You don't even know what I'm asking." Kiram caressed Javier, tracing the length of him, taking in the sensation of delicate, warm skin and the steely rigidity beneath. A breathless gasp escaped Javier.

"It's still yes," Javier told him. "I want to."

Kiram realized that Javier wanted him to decide. Kiram surveyed Javier's powerful Cadeleonian body. It would be simple and very pleasant to allow Javier inside him and he knew that Javier would be most at ease with that. But Kiram wasn't sure that he wanted to place himself in the same position as one of the whores at the Goldenrod. And there was also the intense temptation to touch Javier as no lover before him had.

Kiram stood and found the halda salve that Rafie had given him. It felt slick beneath his fingers and cool. As he returned to the bed he warmed the salve in his palm. It smelled slightly of cut grass and melons.

Javier watched him, a mix of excitement and uncertainty in his expression. Kiram offered him a reassuring smile.

"This is halda salve for your sunburn." Kiram worked a little of the salve over Javier's cheeks and shoulders, soothing the pinkish skin. He let his touch turn slightly firmer as he massaged the tension out of Javier's muscular arms and chest. The edge of worry in Javier's expression melted into comfortable arousal.

As Kiram rubbed the slick halda salve lower a soft groan of pleasure escaped Javier. He closed his eyes and slowly relaxed into Kiram's touch.

Kiram took pains to be gentle with Javier but even so, when he slowly eased Javier's legs apart, he felt the tension of alarm surge through Javier's powerful thighs. Javier's eyes flashed wide- aroused but also terrified. His entire body trembled.

Kiram didn't know that he'd ever seen such open vulnerability in Javier before. He'd been less afraid after being run through in the autumn tournament than he was now. Suddenly Kiram grasped how very much more this simple act meant to Javier than himself.

To Kiram it signified a deep intimacy-something lovely and special that he had shared with very few lovers. But for Javier it represented the most profound offering he could submit, not just to another man, but to his own desire.

"Should I stop?" Kiram stilled his hands on Javier's thighs. "We could-"

"No," Javier replied softly. He met Kiram's gaze. "I want this. with you."

Very consciously Javier relaxed, opening himself to Kiram.

His trust touched Kiram more any words could have. Kiram answered him with a tender kiss. Then gently, almost reverently, he explored Javier's body, touching and kissing his dark hair and delicate skin. Stroking the length of Javier's flushed, thrusting erection, he caressed the curves of his buttocks and made a slow, sweet play of working the halda salve deep into Javier. His own body ached with desire, but the tension that quivered through Javier's muscles tempered Kiram's need.

Steadily Javier melted into his hands. The quietest of pleasured gasps escaped his lips as Kiram found just the right angle. At last Kiram moved over him and eased deep into the heat of his powerful body.

He moved with all the skill he possessed, pacing his strokes to Javier's hungry responses. Something greater than pleasure built between them in steady thrusts and whispers. Soon Javier arched into Kiram, urging him deeper, faster. A fusion of exquisite tenderness and raw desire drove their rhythm. Kiram felt his whole being suffused with joy and marveled that something so simple-the heat and friction of another man-could consume him so completely. Pleasure mounted and Kiram's resolve broke. Javier met him, arching and driving with desperate need.

Javier climaxed first, calling Kiram's name out in a soft broken breath. Only a moment later Kiram's strength and drive burst as a last surge of ecstatic pleasure spilled into Javier's body.

They lay still a moment. Then very gently Kiram pulled away and then dropped down beside Javier on the bed. He could feel Javier's pulse, racing nearly as fast as his own. He drew in a deep breath. The smell of sex and halda salve saturated the air. His body felt hot and sticky with sweat.

Javier ran a hand through Kiram's hair as Kiram studied his face. He looked flushed and handsome. Kiram couldn't imagine anyone seeming more precious to him than Javier did now.

"So, now I'm truly bent," Javier murmured.

"But not broken." Kiram searched Javier's distant expression for a sign of what their passion had cost him.

"No." Javier released a slow breath and then offered Kiram a tired smile. "Not broken. Satisfied."

Relief flooded Kiram and he grinned.

"Good, because I'm tapped." Kiram closed his eyes. "You want more you're going to have to do it yourself."

Javier laughed in reply, which Kiram thought was a lovely sound. Then he felt Javier's lips brush his brow.

They slept, entwined and sated.

A few hours later a knock at the door woke Kiram. Moonlight lit the room and the air felt cool. He rose, wrapped a fallen towel around his body, and cracked the door open. Gold lamplight flared in from the hall, illuminating the scowling face of his brother, Majdi.

"Are you waiting for a written invitation to dinner? Maybe something inscribed on a golden tablet and inlaid with pearls?"

"Could you lower your voice? Javier's sleeping. He's had an exhausting day. We both did."

"I've heard. A nasty run in between your lovers at the Civic Gymnasium." His eyes flickered to Kiram's bed and Javier's naked body. "Speaking of your lover…It looks like you two have certainly kept busy."

"It's not my fault if you're jealous." Kiram refused to admit embarrassment, though his face felt warm. "So I'm going back to bed now."

"I imagine you'd like to." Majdi caught the door before Kiram could close it. "But what do you want me to tell our dear mum? You and Lord Tornesal have fucked yourselves into a stupor and can't come down? That might just give your game away, don't you think?"