By Chance Met (30 page)

He caught his breath as the air around them stilled and every sound faded into silence. He glanced over his shoulder at Reijir. The Herun’s fixed stare at the plains before them was all he needed to see. It bespoke the imminence of a translocation portal’s blossoming.

Within seconds, it opened up before them, and Reijir led the company toward it.

Just before they entered the portal, Reijir flung one side of his cloak around Naeth, for which the youth was grateful. It was as oppressively chilly within as it had been his previous two times inside a translocation corridor. This time around, he chanced a peek around him. But the fleeting glimpses he caught of the countryside as they traversed it at abnormal speed made him feel giddy, and he quickly closed his eyes against the dizzying jumble of light and color. In doing so, however, he became acutely conscious of Reijir’s nearness.

After so many days of physical and emotional distance, it was almost painful not to be able to squeeze the arm that held him or touch the hard thigh that nudged his or tell the Herun that he loved him. But Reijir was so remote Naeth did not dare move or say a word.

He did not know what Reijir was thinking or feeling, could not even begin to guess.

He wondered why Reijir had come after him.

Trepidation filled him as he concluded that he had done so for no other reason than to punish Naeth for attempting to leave him without his permission or knowledge.

Reijir’s continued silence only served to heighten Naeth’s anxiety and confirm his worries.

He suddenly saw light from behind his eyelids. The cold gave way to warmth and a faint breeze. He opened his eyes and discovered they were a short distance from the main highway that cut across the Great Field just outside Rikara.

They took the highway into the city and rode back to the Arthanna townhouse.

Chapter Twenty

The grooms hurried forward to tend to their steeds when they entered the stable yard in back of the house. Naeth winced when he was regarded with open curiosity. He could just imagine the speculations about his stealthy departure earlier and the reasons for it.

And now here he was again and more firmly in the Herun’s custody than ever. And stern custody at that if Reijir’s frigid expression was anything to go by.

When they entered the rear foyer, they found Keiran waiting along with Rohyr, Lassen and Eiren, much to Naeth’s dismay. That was all he needed—an audience, including the Ardan himself bearing witness to his ignominious return. An assorted number of household servants also watched from afar.

Reijir scowled. To Naeth's consternation, he swept past all of them, even his royal cousin, and strode through the connecting passage to the main entrance hall and mounted the stairs, yanking Naeth behind him so fast Naeth nearly stumbled. Once they gained the upper floor, Reijir did not break stride but headed for the study near the end of the long gallery.

Keiran voice carried clearly behind them as he and the others followed in their wake.

His words made no sense to a befuddled Naeth.

“…not worried at all. The study adjoins his bedroom. Will you be staying the night?”

It was a blessed relief when they entered the study and Reijir shut the door behind them. Only then did he release Naeth before stalking away to the opposite end of the room to stare out the window behind his desk. Naeth stayed where he was, braced against the door for support. He gazed apprehensively at Reijir’s back.

*

For several minutes, Reijir stood in silence, his shoulders taut with tension. His feelings were at war. He did not know whether he wanted to throttle Naeth for running away or bugger him into the following week.

Only when he felt a measure of calm return did he deem it safe to confront his errant leman. It was then he heard a shuddering sob. He whirled around in alarm and stopped in his tracks when he saw Naeth.

The youth had slid down against the door with his head bent and hugging his knees.

And he was crying as Reijir had never seen him cry before—with helpless, wrenching sobs that made his whole body shake. Even worse was the pathetic hopelessness that enveloped him like a shroud.

"Sweet Veres," Reijir whispered.

He swiftly went to Naeth, going down on his knees and gathering him into his arms to hold him tightly.

"Don't, Naeth, please don't cry," he groaned against the youth’s hair. "I'm so sorry.

Veres forgive me, I didn't mean to hurt you."

He scooped Naeth up in his arms, carried him to the couch by his desk, and sat down with him on his lap. And then he just held him, rocking him gently in his arms while he murmured soothing words to calm him down.

*

After a long, long while Reijir’s ministrations finally penetrated Naeth’s misery and he managed to hold down the terrible sobs that had wracked his body. But he did not dare lift his head from Reijir’s shoulder.

Now that the initial storm of his grief and fright was past, there was room for other emotions, shame the most acute of them. He could not believe he’d wept so profusely in front of Reijir. He could not recall a more embarrassing moment in his life.

“Don’t go,” he heard Reijir softly say.

Naeth lifted his head and stared at him. “What did you say?” he asked.

Reijir cupped his face. “Don’t go,” he repeated more firmly.

Naeth wondered if matters could become any more confusing than they were

already. “I can’t stay,” he said in a barely steady voice. “I don’t want to be here when you bring your Heris home.”

He shakily got to his feet and hurried toward the door. But Reijir quickly blocked his way. Before Naeth could say another word, Reijir grabbed him and pulled him into a crushing embrace. Naeth desperately tried to twist out of his arms.

“Don’t do this to me,” he pleaded. “I can’t—”

His next words were cut off when Reijir sealed their mouths together in a scalding kiss. Naeth tried to fight his surging response. But it was no use. He’d never had the strength to resist Reijir. He certainly had not suddenly found the wherewithal to do it now. With a despairing moan, he opened himself to Reijir and allowed him to all but devour his mouth.

He was trembling badly when Reijir released his lips to scatter kisses on his face then suckle his throat. He could not help a soft sob as he inwardly berated himself for being so weak.

Reijir drew slightly away and touched his forehead to Naeth’s. “I’m not bringing anyone home,” he whispered. “I can’t imagine myself with anyone other than you.”

Naeth gaped at him incredulously. Reijir swallowed hard before continuing.

“Forgive me,” he shakily said. “I should have known you would never hurt me. That you’re nothing like Darion or
Aba
. Please, Naeth, don’t go. Don’t leave me.”

“I don’t understand. I thought you wanted to end our—”

Reijir silenced him with another scorching kiss, his fingers winding through Naeth’s hair. Naeth was breathless by the time the caress ended. Reijir looked him in the eye.

“You don’t know it, and I was an idiot not to explain it to you, but when you told me your reasons for accepting your inheritance, it brought back memories I believed long forgotten. All I could think was that the past was repeating itself. I couldn’t bear to live through that pain again and especially not at your hands. And I know I’m criminally late in saying this but, Veres almighty, I love you, Naeth. I love you. And I’m so, so sorry for hurting you.”

Naeth began to shake once more, torn between hope and disbelief. “You love me?”

he murmured fearfully. “Then why did want me out of your house?”

“I
didn’t
want you out of the house. But if you were to hold your head up in society, you couldn’t be perceived to be my leman. I only sought to make the truth of our relationship less obvious.”

Naeth frowned. “I remember you said that if I were to openly be your leman—” He halted and briefly gaped. “You meant as opposed to being
discreet
?”

“Yes. I never thought you’d perceive it to mean anything else.”

“How else was I supposed to perceive it? You stopped bedding me. And I couldn’t address you by name. And you told Keiran that you liked that last offer—”

“Enough!” Reijir shook his head. “I know my shortcomings all too well. Please don’t

make me feel like a complete cad by repeating them to me.” He paused to take a calming breath. “I love you, Naeth,” he reiterated. “I can’t bear to lose you. Forgive me, please?

Stay?” he whispered.

Naeth gazed at him. Saw the stark fear in Reijir’s eyes that he had pushed Naeth too far. That he had already lost him.

For an answer, Naeth snaked his hand behind Reijir’s head and pulled him into a third kiss. He groaned when Reijir responded with almost savage hunger. Saints preserve him, his lips were going to be swollen by the time Reijir was done with him. Not that he gave a damn.

Reijir took him right there, on the floor in the middle of the study, amidst their hastily discarded clothing, uncaring of the dust and sweat from Naeth’s near fatal escapade. He did not bother to fetch oil but simply milked as much of their fast emerging semen as possible and coated his shaft with the slippery fluid.

It burned when Reijir entered him for it had been many days since he’d last sheathed the Herun. But Naeth did not care. All that mattered was the feel of his beloved lord deep inside him again, owning him and loving him as no other ever had or ever would. Reijir repeatedly drove into him while he cradled Naeth in his arms, nipping and sucking at his throat and shoulders to leave a telltale trail of red bruises on his flesh.

If Naeth still harbored any doubts as to the depth of Reijir’s feelings for him, they were wiped out now by the sheer possessiveness with which he was being taken.

He sobbed harshly when his orgasm hit him. It was so strong he thought he would pass out from the ferocity of it. He felt Reijir tense, fighting his own climax, insisting on prolonging their union. Still impaled on Reijir’s shaft and subjected to a renewed spate of his lover’s inimitable kisses and caresses, Naeth began to harden all over again.

The moment his erection prodded the Herun’s belly once more, Reijir resumed thrusting into him. Swift, hard stabs designed to bring both of them to a quick, exquisitely brutal end.

Naeth climaxed a second time, his cry muffled by Reijir’s mouth on his. This time, Reijir let go as well, gasping raggedly as he spent himself inside Naeth.

After what felt like an endless torrent of rapture, Naeth limply fell back, his two orgasms in a row robbing him of strength and lucid thought. He dimly felt Reijir withdraw from him.

The Herun gathered him in his arms and rose to his feet. Naeth managed a peek that told him Reijir was carrying him into an adjacent room. Belatedly, he recalled the study adjoined the Herun’s apartment.

Reijir bore him to the bathing room where a filled tub awaited them. Naeth wondered in passing if the ever efficient Ruomi had seen to it. He sighed with bliss when he was gently lowered into the warm sudsy water. As soon as Reijir sank down beside him, Naeth curled up against him, happy just to be back in his lover’s arms.

He finally recounted his misadventure, including Syvan’s motives for slaying his family and attempting to eliminate him as well. Some of his cheer washed away along with the dust on his skin and the soreness in his muscles.

“He was the last of my kin. I so wanted to get to know him,” Naeth unhappily whispered. “I thought he was fond of me.”

“Even if he was, greed ruled him,” Reijir softly pointed out. “The estate and money meant more to him than any blood ties. He killed your family for it. He doesn’t deserve

your grief, Naeth.”

“I know but…” Naeth sighed. “I was such a fool.”

“Nay, you were merely naïve. But I assure you, a few years in my care will rid you of that,” Reijir gently teased. “Now, just relax and let me take care of you. You must be tired after all that’s happened this afternoon.”

“Your doing,” Naeth murmured around a small yawn. “I didn’t expect to be

buggered so vigorously on top of being kidnapped, chased, and nearly murdered by a sword-swinging lunatic.”

Reijir huffed a chuckle at his show of spirit. He gently bathed Naeth, nigh luring him into a nap with his soothing ministrations.

He shifted his attention from the fire to Reijir as the Herun sank down beside him, a swath of fabric wrapped around his lean hips. Naeth had to grin when he espied the bottle of oil Reijir dropped on the floor beside him. Watching Reijir drink his wine, he experienced a swift swelling of gratitude that the Deir he had loved for so long returned that love in full measure.

Reijir glanced at him, his mouth curving up slightly when he noted Naeth’s adoring gaze. He held out his arm invitingly, and Naeth promptly moved into its circle to settle close against him.

“Our dinner will be served in the study in about an hour or so,” Reijir informed him.

“Can you wait?”

Naeth grinned. “I’m sure you’ll keep me sufficiently occupied until then.”

Reijir eyed him with amusement. “You’ve developed quite the saucy tongue. Does that come of running away and being nearly assassinated in one day?”

Naeth chuckled and just nudged him. He leaned his head on Reijir’s shoulder. But after a few seconds, Reijir sighed somewhat pensively. Naeth looked up at him with concern.

“Darion said much the same thing you did,” Reijir unexpectedly said. He looked at Naeth, his eyes gleaming. “He was my first lover; my first love. I thought I would spend my life with him. Which only goes to show the extent of my foolishness.” His smile turned a little crooked. “But then I was only a callow lad who didn’t know better. And much as I hate to agree on anything with my sire, this much I will now concede. He was right to drive us apart. His reasons were wrong, but the result spared me greater grief.”