Akad followed Marduk into his room and watched him light a candle, setting it on a large round table between his bed and the balcony. The bed was covered with brown fur blankets, and a matching rug lay draped across the floor. Marduk slipped off his wet clothing, sank onto the bed, and wrapped a fur blanket around himself. Akad gazed at Marduk, wanting badly to touch him, but first he needed to clear the worries from his mind.
“Are you sure you’re okay? You seem distracted,” Akad said, taking a seat by Marduk’s side.
“No, I was just surprised to run into you.” Marduk slid into Akad’s arms and kissed him, but his kiss was devoid of passion. Akad broke their embrace and stared at Marduk, but Marduk’s expression was solemn, washed of its usual smile.
“Marduk,” Akad said, holding his face in both hands. “Sometimes I feel like there’s something bothering you, and right now, I know it to be true.”
“I’m sorry,” Marduk said.
“Just tell me what’s wrong.”
Marduk lowered his eyes but said nothing. Akad puzzled over him. Then he rose and shuffled to the fireplace at the end of the bed to start a fire. He was sure there was something Marduk was hiding. When the fire was ablaze, Akad turned to face him.
“You know, I asked my father today about the temple school, and I told him I wanted to join.”
Marduk looked up. “Akad, I promise you’re not missing anything.”
Akad rose and returned to Marduk’s side.
“Marduk, I’d rather spend my days by your side than alone. Plus, you go to class every day. It can’t be that bad.”
Marduk remained silent for a moment. “Well, when you asked your father about the school, what did he say?”
“He said the instructors harass the students.” Akad searched Marduk’s eyes. “Is that true?”
Marduk winced. “I—I don’t know.”
“What happened?”
“It’s nothing.” Marduk shifted his weight and looked away.
“My father said that Seth is the worst; that he has a reputation for messing with young gods.”
Marduk stared at him, his face turning white.
“Seth is a prick,” he finally said. “He tried to fuck with me the first day of class. He challenged me to a fight. Then he pinned me down and threatened me, but I broke free and punched him. After that, I stopped going to his class.”
Anger boiled in Akad’s chest. Something told him there was more than what Marduk was saying.
“Well, I’m glad you put him in his place, Marduk, but I want you to know that from now on, I have your back. If any god ever messes with you, I’ll beat the fuck out of him. I don’t care how old or powerful he is, I’ll fuck him up.”
Lowering his eyes, Marduk stretched out on the bed beside him and ran his hand up Akad’s thigh.
“Do you realize we’ve never been together in a bed?” Marduk asked, a playful smile on his lips.
Seeing Marduk laid out naked on the bed made all thoughts of the school evaporate. Akad pushed him to his back, crawled on top of him, and kissed him. Marduk immediately rolled on top of him, stripping Akad’s clothes off, stealing kisses along the way until they were both skin to skin, naked upon the furs.
“Let me pleasure you,” Marduk said, teasing his tongue over Akad’s nipple, sending a shiver through Akad’s body. Akad complied with Marduk’s wishes, allowing him to trail wet kisses down his chest, across his belly, and finally licking along the inside of his pelvic bone. He suppressed a groan. Marduk’s attention was making him harder and more impatient to take him. Then Marduk’s lips were on his hardness, taking him in fully, and Marduk swallowed his cock, shocking him with waves of pleasure. Marduk continued sucking, bringing him close before suddenly slipping a finger inside Akad’s ass. Akad’s body tensed, and in the next moment, Marduk was on his back beneath him, wrists pinned to the bed.
“Akad, I wasn’t done yet.” Marduk’s face flushed.
“I want to do something different,” Akad said, looking down at Marduk with a smile. “I want to see your face when I’m inside you.”
The color in Marduk’s face deepened, but he made no objection. Akad released his arms, pulled Marduk’s legs up around his back, and watched Marduk’s chest heave as he prepared him. Then, pressing his cock against Marduk’s opening, he eased gently in; and, with one swift thrust, buried his cock deep inside him. Marduk released a cry, his mouth wide open and back arched. Akad froze, struggling for breath. So this was what he was missing; the pink in Marduk’s complexion, his soft lips trembling and gasping for air. Oh gods.
Akad thrust again and again, Marduk’s complexion deepening in color each time, until a fire rushed through Akad’s body, burning in his face and driving him to greater heights. Marduk cried and gasped for air again, and Akad swooned just watching him. He kissed Marduk’s open mouth, pinning his hands to the bed, and fucked him harder until he squirmed and pled beneath him. His protest fueled Akad’s passion, but Akad prolonged his release, longing to soak up every word and every whimper that issued forth from his lover’s mouth.
“Akad, please,” Marduk pleaded, but Akad kept going, driving deeper until Marduk’s body shuddered, coming undone, and Akad’s climax rocked through him, engulfing every cell of his body. Akad slumped forward onto Marduk, burying his face in his neck. After catching his breath, he kissed Marduk’s wet cheeks and wondered at his tears.
“What is it?” Akad asked, wiping the moisture from his eyes.
Marduk buried his face in Akad’s chest but said nothing. Did he hurt Marduk again? His stomach tightened.
“Marduk, please tell me,” he whispered. “Have I done something wrong?”
“No, Akad. It’s not you. It’s just—I think I’m in love with you. But I can’t do this anymore.”
Akad’s heart stopped beating, and the warmth drained from his face. “What do you mean, you can’t do this?”
“Akad, I can’t be with you anymore. It’s too much, Akad, I can’t....” Marduk sat up, tears streaming down his face.
“Marduk, please don’t say that.” Akad sat up beside him, holding Marduk’s face in his hands. Marduk’s look of desperation reminded him of Talos, and Akad’s heart dropped into his stomach.
“I don’t understand why you’re doing this. You have to talk to me, Marduk.”
“There’s nothing I can say or do. I just need you to leave me.”
“No. Marduk, I won’t. Please give me a chance. I swear. I’ll do anything. Gods, Marduk.” Akad kissed Marduk’s lips, but it felt like a knife was jabbing through his chest. He gasped, pressing his forehead to Marduk’s; the pain in his heart was too much. “Please, Marduk. Let me make things right. Did I hurt you? Tell me. I swear I can be gentle. Just tell me what you need, and I will be that for you. I’ll give anything for you.”
Marduk’s eyes met his, and Akad could see the wheels turning. He watched Marduk with bated breath, waiting for his reply. Marduk lowered his eyes.
“Well,” he said softly, “sometimes I feel so out of control when we are together. Even though your powers are suppressed at the temple, I can still feel them seeping through you, and sometimes it’s too much.” Marduk stared at his hands and blinked. “Sometimes I’m lost when we’re together, and I need a chance to be in control.”
Akad lowered his eyes. He remembered the times when Marduk had tried to take the upper hand —and how he had shut him down.
“Marduk, I didn’t realize.” Akad’s throat constricted. Anshar’s threat returned to mind. If Akad ever gave his body to another god, his father would disown him. He would no longer be Anshar’s heir. A pit formed in his stomach. Was this what Marduk wanted of him? Could he really submit to Marduk and become everything his father feared he would be.
“It’s not just that, Akad,” Marduk continued. “Tonight I watched you. I was struggling to get through to you, but you stared down at me as if you heard nothing I said. It was like you weren’t even there.”
Marduk’s words dug into Akad’s chest. “But I was with you the whole time, Marduk.” Suddenly cold, he hugged his arms to his chest. “I heard you plead. I heard you and absorbed every word. The sound of your voice makes me want you even more; your cries make me crazy.”
Realizing how selfish his confession sounded, Akad buried his face in his hands. Why hadn’t he realized he was making Marduk feel such terror? Frustration racked his mind.
“I’m sorry,” Akad said. “I guess I didn’t consider your feelings.” He wrapped his arms around Marduk’s shoulders.
“But I can be gentle.” He kissed Marduk’s wet lips. He was ready to do anything to make things right. “Please let me make it up to you. Tell me what you need from me, and I’ll do it.” He heard the words escape his own lips but couldn’t believe he had said them. Was he ready to defy his father? His throat was suddenly dry, and the warmth fled from his face.
“Akad,” Marduk said, moving close to him, “you don’t displease me. Sometimes I need you to touch me and for you to let me touch you.”
Akad raised his eyes to meet Marduk’s, but it felt like pins were prickling under his skin.
“I can show you, Akad. Let me guide you.”
A sense of relief spread through Akad’s chest, but the pressure had yet to lift. The threat of losing Marduk was now replaced with the threat of shaming his father.
“If you like, I’ll take it slow,” said Marduk. “Just kiss me.”
Akad kissed Marduk’s lips, but Marduk broke away. “No ... lower.” Akad stared at Marduk before leaning in to kiss his neck. “Keep going lower,” Marduk insisted. Akad’s heartbeat quickened. He knew where this was going; his cheeks became hot. He suddenly felt shame for how he’d neglected his lover. After kissing Marduk’s nipples, a sliver of fear shot through him. Marduk’s stomach came next, followed by the beautiful spot above his pelvis. Then Akad’s gaze drifted to Marduk’s perfectly sculpted cock. He froze, breathing in Marduk’s intoxicating scent. He wanted to taste him, but his heart was beating out of his chest. What would his father think if he knew what he was doing? Was Akad proving him right? Was he really as weak as his father said he was? His cheek grazed the head of Marduk’s cock, causing Marduk’s body to jerk.
“Kiss me,” Marduk’s tortured voice pleaded. Akad wanted Marduk badly. He wanted to taste him and take him into his mouth. He realized, in that moment, that he had wanted to ever since Marduk first sucked him. Grasping Marduk’s cock at the base, he pressed his lips to the head. Marduk groaned and shuddered, Akad’s heart surged with excitement. He closed his eyes and took Marduk into his mouth. The tremor of Marduk’s body as his lips slid down his shaft filled Akad with a surge of power. He was holding this god suspended by his very core, and Marduk’s body was his to command. He grasped Marduk’s hips, taking control of his cock. Marduk writhed and squirmed in his grasp, but Akad kept going. He wanted to feel Marduk’s cock pulse and tremble on his tongue as he came unraveled, locked in the vice of his mouth. He wanted to drive Marduk crazy, feel and taste every moment of his ecstasy, but a loud bang broke his concentration.
His head shot up. No one else was in the room, but the sound came again. Someone was knocking on the door. Marduk sat up, his face flushed.
“Fuck!” he exclaimed, grappling for his clothes.
“What’s going on? Were you expecting someone?”
Marduk avoided Akad’s eyes as he dressed. “I’ll take care of it,” he said. “Please stay right here.” Marduk crossed the room, slipping out the door and shutting it behind him.
Staring blankly at the entrance, Akad realized how strange the situation was. Marduk seemed so nervous. Who could possibly be knocking at this time? He stepped off the bed, crossed the room, and pressed his ear to the door. The voice on the other side sounded angry, but the words were too muffled to understand. Akad wished he was dressed. He wanted to step into the corridor and bust in the head of the god who was chiding Marduk, but Marduk had asked him to stay put. Plus, how would he explain being in Marduk’s room? Akad gritted his teeth. Then the voices moved farther away from the door, fading until he heard nothing. His stomach dropped. Had Marduk actually left him alone in his room?
Akad retreated to the bed and lay waiting, thinking and worrying for some time. He tried to comprehend what could possibly have happened. What god had the power to pull Marduk away from his room in the middle of the night? The more he thought about it, the more he seethed. His father’s warnings came back to him. Was Marduk in some kind of trouble? Was that why he’d broken down? Every possible explanation made his stomach twist tighter. Akad resolved to stay in the room until Marduk returned. His thoughts continued to torture him until sleep took him under.