By Chance Met (33 page)

“I love you, Naeth Arthanna
tir
Orosse,” Reijir whispered, their lips just touching, before drawing Naeth into the first kiss of their espousal.

It was restrained, of course. But none could deny the passion that threatened to run away with them if not firmly reined in. Not even the most obtuse among the guests could possibly miss the passion simmering between them, just waiting to explode once they gained the privacy of their conjugal quarters.

The festivities that followed in the spacious reception hall of Arthanna Court were all Naeth could ask for from the music to the dancing to the warm support and affection of kith and kin. But as always nothing and no one could distract him for long from following his beloved Herun with his eyes no matter where he was in the chamber, wondering every so often when Reijir would claim him for the night.

Perhaps Reijir sensed his regard or he may have simply been thinking along the same lines. Whatever the cause, he rejoined Naeth after a last round of drinks with his cousins, a wicked gleam in his eyes warning all and sundry that the time for consummation was at hand.

Ignoring onlookers, he pulled Naeth into his arms and kissed him soundly. “What say we retire to our quarters,” he said.

Naeth grinned. “It’s still quite early,” he teased. “Why the haste?”

Reijir leaned closer, his lips brushing Naeth’s ear. “Because I hope to find out just how good a rider you can be,
ariad
,” he murmured. “That is, of course, if you’re up to it.”

Naeth caught his breath. Afire with lust, he eagerly grabbed Reijir by the hand and started to haul him toward the hall entrance.

“Are we going to abandon our guests without so much as a by-your-leave?” Reijir laughingly said though he readily followed Naeth.

Naeth snorted. “They’ll only wonder at your restraint, knowing you so well! Nay, my lord, best to live up to your reputation tonight of all nights. And as for whether I’m up to it,” he added with an impish grin, “I think the question should be, ‘How much of it can
you
take?’”

A few torrid hours and one warm rejuvenating bath later, they returned to their well-used bed. Naeth blushed when he discovered the soiled sheets had been changed while they bathed. Reijir chuckled over his embarrassment and pulled him down onto the fresh sheets to lie at his side.

“The servants were only following my orders,” he told Naeth with a grin.

“Oh saints…” Naeth muttered. “They were here while we—”

“Dallied in the bath. Does it matter so much? It isn’t as if they didn’t know how the bed got into such a state.”

“That isn’t the point! They used to wait until I was gone from the room before making the bed. I can’t believe they were here all the time while we bathed. It’s embarrassing! All the more considering how the bed must have looked.”

“Yes, a veritable mess we made of it,” Reijir cheerfully agreed. “May that always be so.”

Naeth started to glare at Reijir, but he recalled what it took to bring the bed to the aforementioned messy state. And then he realized he ought not to complain about such blatant evidence of Reijir’s desire for him. He nuzzled his face against Reijir’s throat instead, happily sighing when his lord spouse pulled him even closer.

Reijir smiled at the sound. “Are you content?” he asked, raking his fingers through the silky strands of Naeth’s hair.

“Mmm, blissful is more like it,” Naeth said, lifting his head to gaze at him. “But I will admit my arse aches too much for another round.”

“Then we’ll let it rest awhile,” Reijir drawled, reaching down to lazily finger the orifice behind Naeth’s seed sac. “I’m certain this will more than take up the slack.”

Naeth sucked in his breath at the leisurely incursion. “What-what about you?” he gaspingly said as the delicious sensations of his body’s turning washed over him. “I hope you aren’t overly sore yourself.”

Reijir chuckled. “After you pounded so enthusiastically into me?”

Naeth’s eyes widened in dismay. He abashedly stammered, “I didn’t realize that you hadn’t—I mean, you’re so experienced, I thought you’d already—” He stopped to draw breath. The incessant slide of fingers against acutely sensitive flesh was making it hard to think with much coherence. “I’m sorry I didn’t take enough time to ready you,” he managed to say.

Reijir grinned. “Don’t apologize for pleasuring me so well. And as you said, you didn’t know. But do keep it in mind when you take the last of my so-called virtue.”

“Do you mean to say—?” Naeth gulped. “You really intend to give all of yourself to me?”

“Why not? You’re my mate.”

Naeth closed his eyes, shivering a little. When he reopened them, he swept his gaze over Reijir’s handsome face and splendid body. “I can hardly wait,” he whispered.

Reijir laughed out loud. “I knew there had to be a reason for my reluctance to yield to anyone before. But I never imagined it would be a blue-eyed imp with a countenance and form ravishing enough to tempt the saints themselves.”

Naeth dimpled, his cheer and confidence restored. “I’m so glad I please you.”

“Please me?” Reijir suddenly rolled Naeth on his back, pinned him down and

insinuated his hips between Naeth’s splayed legs. “Sate me fulsomely is closer to the mark. And yet, I can’t have enough of you, my sweet. You’re one habit I never want to break.”

Naeth moaned as Reijir’s resurgent shaft pressed into him. He spread his thighs wide and hooked one leg around Reijir’s waist to make it easy for the Herun to penetrate him as deeply as he desired. When Reijir repeatedly cleaved him, Naeth ceased to think with any clarity and surrendered himself to the pleasure of his connubial ravishment.

His first sojourn in Ilmaren, Naeth had not gone farther afield than Althia itself. But in the months that followed their binding, Reijir made it a point to introduce his new consort as quickly as possible to the fief’s people. Thus, Naeth found himself travelling to every figurative corner of Ilmaren.

This day was no different. The bustling market town Reijir chose to visit was the primary commercial center of the southwestern portion of the fief.

They strolled through the market proper itself; it was the sprawling hub of the town and the best place to go if one wanted to see and meet the town’s citizens. Naeth smiled and greeted his way through the small crowds that inevitably gathered wherever he and Reijir went.

During a stop at a woodcarver’s stall, he spotted a crib in one corner. He walked over and examined the crib, admiring the skillfully carved headboard and inspecting its sturdy frame and legs. Naeth straightened, smiling a little absently as he smoothed his hand over his abdomen. He started when a few moments later, Reijir came up behind him and, enfolding him in an embrace, pulled him back to lean against his tall frame.

“When were you going to tell me?” Reijir murmured, placing his hand on top of Naeth’s where it rested on his belly.

Naeth apologetically glanced back at him. “I wanted to be sure first,” he admitted.

“The heat in your belly would have been confirmation enough.”

Turning around to face Reijir, Naeth said, “Well, yes. But then, after I lost the first one—” He caught himself when a gleam of pain and guilt showed in Reijir’s eyes. He wove his arms around his spouse and kissed his cheek. “Neither of us meant for it to happen, Rei. I was just too young to breed. And indeed I still am.”

He explained a little embarrassedly, “I didn’t allow enough time for the
mirash
to take effect that night in Santhe. Veres preserve us, Eiren’s going to have a fit over this.

He complains as it is that Lassen may have started a fashion for over-early breeding.”

Reijir frowned. “We really have to be more careful. I won’t have you endangering yourself over ill-timed conceptions.” He placed a protective hand on Naeth’s belly.

“Nonetheless, I’ll have Eiren watch you closely. We’re keeping this child,” he firmly

said.

Naeth beamed at him and, uncaring of the presence of others, unabashedly let Reijir sweep him into a passionate kiss.

*

Overwhelmed by the knowledge of this second chance at siring a child on Naeth, Reijir did not immediately notice that someone was watching them with more than ordinary interest. He gently broke the kiss and focused his senses on that slightly intrusive presence. At length, he located their observer standing a little distance away partially obscured by the loosely gathered Deira around him.

He was comely enough from what Reijir could see of his face and quite richly attired. And he bore the air of someone who thought highly of himself. But when Reijir continued to study him, his confidence seemed to falter for his hand was seen to fidget with the fine leather belt around his slender waist. And when he finally met Reijir’s gaze, it was with a bravado Reijir easily recognized as false.

Reijir caught his breath when he saw the Deir’s face in full. He stiffened and pulled Naeth closer.

Naeth apparently sensed his sudden tension for he looked up, saw his focused gaze, and followed it. He looked back questioningly at Reijir, obviously curious why the stranger had elicited such a reaction from him.

Keeping his arm around Naeth, Reijir beckoned to the Deir. The latter visibly started then came forward a little hesitantly. Up close, he looked rather worn and much older than their initial impression of his years. He bowed to Reijir and respectfully dipped his head to Naeth.

“You look well, Darion,” Reijir said. He tightened his hold on Naeth when the youth darted a startled glance at him.

“I am well, Your Grace,” Darion said. “And delighted you saw fit to visit our humble corner of Ilmaren.”

“It’s rather amusing to hear one of the richest regions in Ilmaren described as humble,” Reijir remarked. He looked at Naeth and said, “Solandra is just two leagues east of here. Its citizens oft come to this town for provisions not available back home.” He pressed a kiss to Naeth’s forehead and murmured, “I think there are things that need to be said. Perhaps you could speak to the woodcarver and inquire into the commissioning of a crib for our son.”

Naeth gazed at him searchingly. And then he smiled with such love and trust Reijir was tempted to pull him into another kiss. Giving Darion a pleasant nod of

acknowledgement, Naeth gestured to the woodcarver to approach and took him aside.

Reijir watched him a while then turned his attention to his erstwhile lover.

“So, how goes life in Solandra?” he politely asked.

Darion smiled, but Reijir sensed his cheer was forced. “Life has been very good to me,” he airily declared. “I’ve doubled my acres and wed into a prominent clan. And I have two sons with a third on the way.”

Reijir quirked a small indulgent smile. “So I heard,” he replied. “Well done, Darion.

You achieved your dream. Your parents would have been proud.”

Darion started to agree, but he stopped when Naeth and the woodcarver drew his attention anew. They had crossed his line of vision to enter another section of the stall.

He stared after Naeth then bit his lip and looked at Reijir once more.

“Nay, they wouldn’t,” he said in a suddenly strained voice. “Not when my sons don’t carry my name.”

Reijir’s eyes narrowed. “Your spouse required it of you?”

“Yes,” Darion replied, bitterness underlining his voice. “He said my name isn’t respectable enough. That our sons’ prospects would be better if they carried his name.”

He half defiantly stared at Reijir, no doubt expecting some sign of derision from the Herun. But Reijir only said, “I’m sorry you had to pay such a price.”

“Are you truly?” Darion skeptically asked. “We parted on bad terms. Have you grown so magnanimous that you can easily let bygones be bygones?”

Showing displeasure for the first time, Reijir snapped, “Do you seek confirmation of the damage you wrought on me with your desertion? Very well, I freely give it. You can take pride in the knowledge that I was haunted for years by the fear of being used and cast aside once more. That fear nearly cost me my salvation. Thank Veres, I found the one who would make me whole.” He deliberately turned his gaze on Naeth, compelling Darion to do likewise. “He unmade the shackles your betrayal placed on my heart and taught me not only to trust again, but to love with everything that I am and have. I’m never as happy as when he is with me.”

Reijir stared pointedly at Darion when he finished speaking.

Darion flushed deeply. He looked away and murmured, “Forgive me, I had no right to speak thusly to you.” Still unable to meet Reijir’s eyes, he grudgingly said, “He has indeed made you happy. Happier than I ever saw you even at the height of our affair. But as for myself—I lied. Save for my sons, I can’t say the same. I’ve achieved my dream yet I am empty inside. When I gave you up for a swift reward, I lost the one thing that would have made all my efforts worthwhile.” He visibly swallowed, as if he was trying not to cry. “I would have you know, I did love you. Not as you deserved and not as much as your Heris does, but I truly loved you.”

When he finally faced Reijir again, his eyes were bright with tears. “You’re fortunate, Your Grace. So very, very fortunate.” His voice broke, and he struggled to get his last words out. “I-I hope it will always remain so for the both of you. That is all. Fare you well and Veres keep you, my lord.”

Reijir said nothing more but dipped his head in acknowledgement. Taking it as dismissal, Darion bowed again then turned and walked away. He did not look back, but Reijir saw that his shoulders shook even as they drooped. Schooling his expression, he turned and looked for Naeth.

The youth came to his side at once. “The woodcarver says he will be able to have one ready for us when the time comes,” he softly said. When Reijir only faintly smiled, he lifted a hand and stroked his mate’s cheek. “Is something wrong?”

Turning his face into Naeth’s hand, Reijir kissed his palm. With a sigh, he pulled away and, linking arms with his spouse, shook his head and said, “Come,
ariad
. It’s time we headed home.”

Epilogue

Beloved

“What did he say to you?”

Reijir turned from the window and the view of the expansive parkland in back of the great Arthanna manse. He looked somberly at Naeth.