More Than Chains To Bind (20 page)

He was sitting behind his desk, but rose as I entered and, indicating the pair of chairs by the fire, he said, "Let's be comfortable while we talk. I believe I'm right in saying this time it's a personal matter you wish to discuss," he said as he took his seat.

I was surprised he was so perceptive, but I guess I shouldn't have been. "Yes, it is." I took a breath and plunged straight in. "I've fallen in love, deeply, and we want to be joined, but I don't know how you will feel about it."

My father smiled. "Well, I'm pleased to hear it. I'd begun to despair if you would ever find someone. And I can only assume you mean you're unsure whether I'll approve of your prospective partner?"

"Yes." I took a breath. "It is Hollis." I met my father's gaze unflinchingly. "I know this is not what you expected and I hope you'll understand. I was in love with him before we were captured, but I kept my feelings to myself. Then when we were prisoners...it...he admitted he felt the same."

"Your dire situation crystallized your feelings," my father said.

It wasn't the reaction I'd expected. "That's one way of putting it," I said cautiously.

My father smiled, and the knot in my stomach uncurled.

"I'm not entirely surprised by your admission, my son. You never seemed interested in any of the females you met, and your mother and I had discussed the possibility of your interest lying elsewhere. In fact, I had noticed your...attachment to Hollis before you left on your visit to the coast. I wasn't sure if it was some kind of hero worship or something deeper, but it was something you had to discover for yourself."

I stared at my father, surprised he had seen so much. I had underestimated him. "I can't tell you how relieved I am at your reaction, Father. I was afraid you'd disapprove and that I-- " I stopped, afraid I was going to say too much. How would my father feel if I told him I would abandon everything to be with Hollis?

Father smiled at me. "I can't deny my reaction might have been very different if you had been closer in the line of succession, but I have more than enough heirs to assure the throne is safe and for you to make your own choices."

"Really? We can be joined?"

"Yes." He leaned forward and took my hands. "I'm very happy for you, son. I hope the two of you share as much love as your mother and I do."

I held on tightly to his hands, my heart racing in my chest. I'd gained everything. "Thank you, Father, thank you. I can't tell you how much this means to me. And to Hollis."

"I only ask you delay any official announcement until after the festival. Let the people enjoy your safe return to us first."

"Of course, Father. Whatever you wish."

"Now, go and give him the good news."

"I will. And thank you." I stood, kissed him on his cheek, and left the room. I felt as if I was floating.

I hurried up the stairs, almost running along the corridor to Hollis' room. I hoped he was back from seeing his friends. I was fairly bursting with my news. I pounded on the door, but couldn't wait for a response and flung it open.

He was standing there, as if he had been about to open the door.

I took one look at his face and I knew. He looked so happy, his smile threatened to split his face in half.
Thank you, Lords, thank you!
I opened my arms, and he slipped into them, leaning his head on my shoulder.

"He was even more receptive than I could've hoped," Liander whispered. "He had suspected there was something between us, even before we went south." He looked up at me then, bemused. "How could he have seen what even we didn't?"

"A smart man, your father," I said.

He leaned back then. "It's suddenly all very real."

I knew exactly what he meant. So very, very real and a little overwhelming.

"Come and sit down with me," I said, leading him to a couch near the window.

Liander made himself comfortable, leaning against me when I sat beside him. "You know," he said, "odd as it may sound, this is the first time I really feel as if I'm home." He smiled, looking at me, as he added, "It's as if I've finally left the threat and danger far behind me." He shook his head, frowning. "I don't know why now, though. Why not when the ship rescued us? Or when we reached Teslor? When my mother hugged me?"

"Perhaps because you feel your future is settled now?" I asked.

"Yes, I guess that makes sense." Liander smiled. "I am...happy."

I gathered him in my embrace, placing his head under my chin. His arms wrapped around me, and we just sat, savoring each other. Enjoying the right to be together.

Liander pulled away, smiled at me and got to his feet. I watched him; I could almost feel his restlessness.

He wandered around my room, touching things, his hands alighting momentarily before moving on to something else. He stopped and stared at the wall beside the door where my collection of blades was displayed. I had half a dozen swords of different designs and a few daggers. Abruptly, he reached up and took one of the swords down.

"Remember our sword fight?" Liander asked, twirling the sword and slipping it from one hand to the other. "Ever wonder who'd have won if it had been for real?"

"I'm the Guardian, so me, for sure." I raised an eyebrow, daring him to disagree.

He threw me the weapon, which was not dissimilar to the ones we'd used in Dioland. "I don't think so!" he challenged with a grin, as he took down another sword. "
En garde.
"

As Hollis plucked the weapon expertly out of the air, twirling it around to get a feel for its weight, he asked, "You seriously think you can beat me?" His eyes sparkled with more than a challenged ego.

My heart was racing as we faced off. If you asked me why I'd taken down the sword I couldn't have said, but now I reveled as the excitement raced through me. Hollis made a few quick movements with the sword to limber up his wrist, and I followed suit. Without warning, he attacked, a confident smile on his face. I blocked and grinned back at him. We went on like that for a couple of minutes, feeling each other out, making quick moves and each blocking the other. I knew exactly what I wanted and I just needed to move him around a bit and then press my moves. He was good; I believed I was better.

I flicked my wrist and turned his sword so he had to take a half-turn and step back. I kept at him, pushing him back step by step, until I succeeded in beating his defense and placing my point against the hollow in his throat, just as his back touched the wall behind him. The thought did occur that maybe he had let me win. Probably I'd never know, but I didn't care.

Hollis' breath was panting through his lips, but it wasn't fear that caused the pounding of his heart. His eyes glittered at me, full of passion and desire.

Slowly, oh, so slowly, I moved the sword back and down his shirt until it reached the first button and, with a twist of my wrist, the sword sent it flying. He gasped, and I looked up to see his eyes sparkling. I dragged my attention back to his shirt and sliced another button off, watching as his chest rose and fell with anticipation. He never attempted to stop me; I reveled in his trust.

Finally, all the buttons were gone, the shirt fell open and my eyes feasted on his proud nipples as they peaked within a dusting of wiry hair. I couldn't resist reaching out to feel one as I leaned in to capture his lips.

Then I felt something hard at my waist and my first thought was waylaid as he said harshly, "Stand back!"

I looked down as I took a small step backward to see his sword at my waist. My breath caught in my throat and I raised my eyes to his dark, lust-filled ones and my breath expelled in a whoosh.

"You made a mistake," Hollis said gruffly. "You should've disarmed me. Now drop the sword."

I complied, keeping eye contact all the while. Hollis reached out with his free hand, slipped it under my tunic and untied the lace at the waist of my pants.

He took a step back, but kept his sword pointed at my stomach. "Take off the tunic."

Hands shaking a little, I obeyed.

He smiled as his eyes roamed over my chest.

"Keep very still," he said.

I could hardly breathe as he very carefully slipped just the tip of his sword between the laces of my pants and loosened the first crossover and then the next. I shivered as I felt the metal against my skin, not from the cold steel, but from the growing proximity of the blade to my cock. He stopped after loosening the third crossover.

"Now," he ordered, eyes narrowing, "loosen the rest of them slowly and take the pants off."

I obeyed, not feeling threatened by his sword at all. No, I was thoroughly enjoying the power surging through me at the sight of Hollis licking his lips as he watched me remove my pants.

"You know," I said in a low voice, "what I did to Cor'lyn when he held a sword to my throat?" I hesitated to let him think about it. "I almost throttled the life from him."

He looked steadily at me, and I felt he was searching for my soul.

Very softly, he said, "My life is yours; do with it as you will."

My mouth was dry as I stared at him, this most remarkable man, so strong, so unafraid, so committed--to me. I fell in love with him all over again.

I pushed the sword aside, and he dropped it as I plastered my body against him, slamming him back against the wall as I did so, my hand grappling with his pants as my mouth crushed his. Hollis moaned as he opened up to me, tongue thrusting out to meet mine. I don't remember removing his pants...I just know I was grinding against his naked body, and he was pushing back against me. I was holding his hands above his head and it was only then I realized he was still wearing his now button-less shirt. I leaned in and devoured his nipples, first one, then the other, and he growled deep in his throat, murmuring my name.

Suddenly he fought his hands free and swung me around until I was the one against the wall and he was leaning into me, his teeth fastened on my neck. The sensation shot straight to my groin and I didn't think I could last much longer.

"Hollis, oh Lords, what you do to me!"

"Can't take much...more. You're killing me. Waited...waited too long for you."

He thrust his body against mine, grinding, grinding against me, and I fought to thrust back, but I seemed to have lost control of my body. I felt my orgasm build. It began in my toes and raced up my legs, heat gathering, soaring inside me.

"I'm coming...coming. Hollis, please, oh my Lords."

Hollis sighed, that was all, just a simple sigh as he shot over my stomach, and I exploded, my seed mixing with his. Then everything slipped away and I was sliding.

Looking at Liander as he lay there trying to control his breathing, I still found it hard to believe he could love me. But no way was I going to question my good luck. The desperation that had overwhelmed us was hardly surprising after weeks of forced denial and, though it had been great sex, pounding into each other against the wall of my room wasn't how I wanted to show Liander that I loved him.

"Well," Liander said, still sounding a little breathless, "that was certainly...exciting."

I laughed. "I did kind of lose it there, but wow, was it good!"

"Yes," he said, looking sheepish, "but quicker than I had in mind."

"A bit different, I'll give you that...and swords as foreplay?" I smiled, reaching down to pull him to his feet. "You've been thinking about that a lot?"

"It did seem to play a part in some of my nocturnal fantasies over the last few weeks," the prince said, grinning at me, "along with some others."

"I, er, had a few of my own," I confessed. "Want to try out one of mine? I dreamed of taking you in the bathing pool."

"The bathing pool?" he murmured.

"Sounds as if you might like that?"

"Oh yes." Liander smiled. "It does sound intriguing."

"I watched when you swam in the sea at the coast. I loved the way the water moved over your body and later I would imagine it was my hands, and I..."

"Oh Lords, Hollis, stop talking. Show me!"

It took mere seconds for us to move into the bathing chamber. I stood and watched as Liander walked down the steps into the warm water. He looked so beautiful.

"What are you waiting for?" he asked puzzled I was still standing there.

"Just enjoying the scenery," I murmured.

"You'd enjoy it much better if you were closer. Come here," he demanded, holding out a hand.

I quickly obeyed, and soon he was standing directly in front of me, so our chests were almost touching, his cock brushing against mine as arousal swept through me again. I crushed him to me and kissed him with so much passion, my hands reaching to feel the smooth silk of his back. I felt his hands caressing my shoulders and sliding down my arms, until he gripped my wrists and held them at the small of my back.

He broke the kiss, and I gasped at the passionate look in his eyes. "Wanted you like this for so long, at my mercy, doing just what I want, what I need."

Stomach tightening at the idea, I whispered, "What is it you need, Liander?"

"You, inside me. Owning you by your need of me. You do need me, don't you, Hollis?"

"Oh Lords, yes, but don't you know you already own me, body and soul, heart and mind."

"And you say you're not romantic. You can tell me anyway you like that you love me, Hollis. Just don't couch it in silly names."

"Aw, I can't call you sweetheart then?"

"You do and you'll be pleasuring yourself!"

"I'll behave, I promise." I laughed. "Is that me-inside-you offer still open?"

Liander released my wrists, saying, "You have a fantasy to show me."

We slid under the warm water and drifted to the other side of the pool where the bathing materials were. From the tray, I picked up a washcloth, coated it with cleansing cream and gently began to wash his body. Liander turned his back to me, and I drew the soft cloth over the contours of his body. I was back in my fantasy, watching the water as it cascaded over his shoulders and outlined his wonderful form. I watched for real now as it formed rivulets in the suds, sliding down his back and over his buttocks, some down his legs, others finding their way into his cleft.