Tarth City, Di Lusso District
Nizamrak Building, Penthouse Level, "The Loft"
"Maybe I should go." A pang of regret filled Jawk's voice.
"No." Wulf shook off his own regret and lifted his head. "No, it's okay." He reached up and rested the back of his hand on Luc's chest. "I think you'd better bind me. I need to feel your power tonight."
Luc hesitated, glanced at Jawk before nodding. "Very well. We'll see. Jawk, there are two sets of cuffs under the front edge of the chair. Hand them to me, please."
The metal chains rattled. Wulf shut his eyes to blot out the reality around him as he submitted to Luc's whims. How much longer could he bear this? He grimaced, neck in a spasm from tension. A snap sounded on his left, the noise made by a stanchion rising from the floor. It clicked into place, and Luc clanked the chain of one cuff as he fastened it to the stanchion's support bar.
"Give me your left hand, Wulf."
Keeping his eyes shut, he extended his arm.
Luc wrapped the leather end of the cuff around his wrist. "Are you comfortable? Is it too tight?"
Wulf shook his head.
"Say it aloud, love."
"I'm fine." Wulf didn't move, didn't smile.
"No, you're not." Luc unfastened the cuff.
Wulf opened his eyes, reached over with his other hand and grabbed Luc's wrist. "I'm fine."
Luc narrowed his eyes, mouth in a tight, thin line. "No, you are not." When Luc got that tone in his voice--his "master voice"--no one could reason with him.
Wulf sighed and dropped his hand.
Luc set aside the cuff. "Jawk." He turned his head toward the Kin. "Thank you. You're free to go."
Both Jawk's ears were laid straight back, hugged along the contours of his head, lost in the tangle of his thick curls. Eyes round, he fastened his attention on Luc. When Luc stood to his full height, Jawk scrambled to his feet.
The Kin followed Luc to the door as if he were on a leash. Jawk stuffed both hands in the pockets of his jeans and stared at Luc, his stance narrow, one foot farther toward the door than the other. His gaze shot from Luc, to Wulf, back to Luc.
Luc nudged his chin higher, whiteless eyes slits, mouth set in a hard, tight line. "I believe you can find your way out. McDoth will see you home."
"Cool. Good night." Jawk bit his lips together, then ran his tongue across them. "Um, maybe I'll see you at the club sometime."
Luc stared back toward Wulf.
The Kin turned and fled out the door. It opened, slammed shut behind him. The sound of feet running down a set of stairs faded into silence.
Luc removed a tiny remote from his pocket and pointed it at the door. Locks hummed and clicked. It had been locked to outsiders before; now it barred escape. Tossing aside the remote, Luc shrugged his jacket off his shoulders and down his arms, then dropped it to the floor instead of folding it as usual.
Wulf clutched a hand to his chest. His heart pounded beneath his palm. Coherent thought scattered like rabbits bolting for the safety of their dens.
*
FOR EVERY STEP Luc took toward him, Wulf backed away one. His younger lover's lack of an erection revealed more of Wulf's fear than if he'd flinched and run.
Luc unfastened his right cuff and folded back the sleeve with painstaking slowness. "Why did you lie to me, Wulf?" Luc folded back the other cuff, continued his slow advance toward the brunet.
Wulf bit his lips. His chin quivered. "Wh-what lie?" He stumbled as he skirted a low stool, but caught his balance and faced him once more.
"Why, Wulf?"
He stood his ground at last and lifted his head. "I-- I didn't." The tremor in Wulf's voice tore at his heart.
Luc jabbed a finger at his feet. "Come here."
Wulf bolted into position in front of him, hands behind him, head down. His cock still had not lifted. A fine sheen of sweat covered his chest and brow.
"If you didn't want to meet with Jawk, you could have said so. I expect you to be honest with me."
The sudden relief on Wulf's face matched his sigh. "I'm sorry, Luc."
"Do you understand that you need to be punished?"
"Yes, Master."
"Why are you being punished?"
Those soulful brown eyes showed fear as he flashed a peek at Luc. "Because I lied to you. I'm sorry, Luc."
He clasped his hands behind him, feet spread. Luc pointed toward the center door of their playroom.
Wulf followed his hand, and turned back. Tears welled in his pleading eyes.
"Go, Wulf." He ignored the sob from his submissive. "Resistance will make it more difficult for both of us."
His lover trudged toward the door as if he wore shackles. Luc set a hand in the middle of his back to encourage him.
As the door opened, indirect lighting illuminated the four sides of the room. It spotlighted the pillory on one side as well as the spanking bench on the other. The scent of leather and lube filled his nostrils. Luc inhaled. The bitterness of Wulf's fear spoiled the enjoyment, but some fear was necessary or he would never learn.
"Luc." Wulf turned and faced him, braced both hands against his chest to hold him back. "I can't do this anymore."
He gripped Wulf's wrists, studying his eyes for the truth behind his words. Was this a ploy to escape punishment, a refusal to obey, or a withdrawal from their master/slave relationship? While he hesitated, a single tear trickled down Wulf's cheek and across the corner of his trembling mouth.
Throat caught with emotion, Luc stroked back the hair on his lover's brow. "Wulf..."
"Jellybone, Luc." He sucked in a sobbing breath. "Please, Luc, I couldn't bear it if you hurt me. Don't punish me tonight. Please, d--"
Luc dragged him into his arms as he bent to possess Wulf's lips. The taste of salt mixed with the lush taste of Wulf the man.
His lover clutched at his shoulders, shoving his mouth up against Luc's, biting and nipping. Wulf groaned, the sound half-animal as he ripped at buttons.
Luc succumbed to the onslaught of passion and let Wulf strip him, standing still as his lover tore at his clothes. The Ainmar tuxedo pants split down the front as Wulf yanked them open, as feral as any Kin in his haste.
"Have to taste you. Want you in my mouth." Wulf didn't give him time to step out of the pants before he knelt and gripped Luc's cock with one hand, reaching back to cup his ass with the other. One swift movement and his cock was impaled balls-deep in Wulf's throat.
Luc cried out, head thrown back in ecstasy. A shudder cascaded over him at the embracing fire threatening to suck him down into a vortex of heat. His knees buckled, and he would have fallen if not for Wulf's strength holding him in place.
"Wulf ... Oh! Oh ... I love you. I--Wulf!" Fingertips on his lover's shoulders, Luc balanced on the edge of oblivion. His mind shattered under the assault on his senses. The curl of Wulf's tongue around his shaft, the clasp of his lover's wet and velvet mouth drove him to the brink of madness.
Wulf growled around his cock as he stroked his fingers up beneath Luc's balls. Luc screamed hoarsely, rocking forward as he gave up his seed. Wulf's throat convulsed around him while he swallowed the copious amount. He clutched both hands around Luc's hips and held him close.
Luc staggered, and fell to one knee as Wulf released him. Never had he been so thoroughly roused or so quickly taken. He put out a hand to brace himself as he hit the floor.
Wulf supported him, leaned over him as Luc lay back. Luc beheld his lover as Wulf loomed over him, dark hair damp and falling into his eyes. The beauty of his smile drove an ache through Luc's heart. He reached up to stroke a fingertip across Wulf's mouth.
"What?" Wulf kissed his fingers.
"I--" He trembled with the emotions in his heart. "I--love you, Wulf. I love you so much. I want you to be happy."
"I know, Luc. I'm sorry it didn't go like you'd planned."
Luc kicked off the pants he still had tangled around his ankles. "I should have told you what to expect. Better prepared you."
"No. Don't take any blame for my actions. I shouldn't have lied."
He rolled to his side and rose over Wulf.
The whiskey-colored gaze fastened on Luc's face. A shudder passed to Luc through their contact, skin to skin. "Forgive me?"
"Always." Luc stroked Wulf's damp hair, and slid his fingertips down Wulf's cheek. The lush feel of his lover's wet skin sent a wave of lust over him. "Are you up to a little more?"
At that moment, Wulf yawned, and made a guilty-looking face. "Sorry. Long day."
Yawning. Is that what it's come down to? Is it over, old man? Is the magic gone? Does he even love you any more? If you have to ask, the answer is no. Luc took in the dungeon and all its equipment. One look at Wulf and you have to see he isn't happy any more. You need to face it and let him go.
"Wulf, tell you what. Go to bed early. Stay home in the morning. Sleep as long as you want. I'll clean up down here."
"No, Luc, it's my job to--"
"I'll do it." He kissed Wulf on the nose, and then stood, holding down a hand. After he'd hauled Wulf to his feet, he kissed him again. "Get some rest."
Wulf crossed the room, picked up a white robe, and pulled it on. With a glance back at Luc, he left the room.
Luc walked to each corner, blew out the candles, and then set about straightening up the room.
* * * *
Tarth City, Palace District
Imperial Palace, Quarters of Alitus Vivaldi
Sumertsag 78, after midnight
Alitus entered his library, pulled off his veil and threw it aside. Grib, his young Tyran servant, snatched it out of the air. He knelt before Alitus and helped him with slippers.
Once in his office, Alitus sat at his desk and ran a hand through his hair. He had started on the first stack of reports when Grib entered with a tray and placed it atop his work. With a frown, Alitus sat back. "What's this?"
"Dinner. You should eat while it's hot."
"I have work to do. I'll eat later. Take it over there." He motioned toward the table.
"It's after midnight, sir. You haven't eaten since breakfast. I asked Cook. No servant in the palace brought you food." Grib folded his arms, head canted to one side.
"I'm not hungry." He picked up the tray and held it out. "Take this. It's in the way."
Grib refused to take it. "The Conqueror said she'd have my horns if I didn't make you eat."
"She what?" He stood, his chair scraping across the wooden floor. "How dare she threaten my staff?"
Grib's hooves clicked on the floor as he came closer. "I saw what they did to that Tyran who deserted the Armada. Please, sir. Try to eat a little. For my sake?"
"Fine, Grib. But I would never let her hurt you." He set a hand on the Tyran's shoulder. "You work for me, not her. If she or anyone else ever threatens you again, come to me at once." Alitus carried the tray to the table, sat, put a few bites in his mouth, and moved food around enough to make it seem like he'd eaten more. With a smile, he pushed away the tray.
Grib eyed it with suspicion, but took it without making a fuss and left the room.
Once the door shut, Alitus went into the bathroom, spit everything into the toilet and flushed it. Nothing he swallowed would stay down anyway. Why bother?
He sat down again and called up the reader files he had to wade through before sleep. For all publicly known purposes, the empress was trying to destroy the Sleeper and his work, while in private, they were co-conspirators in the immortals' game, Peril. Each had the same goal. Prepare the Tarthian Empire for a new government, new leadership, new ideals.
Being the Conqueror's Chosen took all Alitus's concentration. He must support her, but not ruin the Sleeper. Assist Wulf to support Luc Saint-Cyr, stay out of the way of Lord Roth, a neutral player in Peril, and coordinate the movements of any other Sempervian in the empire. There were at least seventeen at last count, all in positions of power, involved in games that overlapped the others'.
Alitus yawned. Still hours of work to do. Since Her Majesty had appointed him minister of imperial intelligence, he'd had little time to himself. He propped both elbows on his desk and covered his eyes, yawning again. At a tug on his sleeve, Alitus jerked upright.
"Grib!" His servant stood next to the desk. "Don't sneak up on me. Knock."
"I did sir. You didn't answer."
"Oh." Alitus rubbed his eyes. "I didn't?"
"No, sir. You were asleep sitting up. It's three in the morning. Let me get you into bed."
"Three?" The clock on his desk agreed. "Damn it! I have work to do. I can't--"
"Let me help you." Grib took his arm.
Alitus groaned, but let himself be steered into a warm shower and helped into a thick robe afterward. Grib coerced him into bed and covered him.
Alitus curled up to sleep, but the sheets smelled faintly like his veil. His stomach churned. He turned over and let his mind drift. Pietas, the Sempervian ruler, had decreed the old guard must abandon the empire when the current round ended. No, he chided himself. No, not abandon. Allow the empire to stand on its own. There's a difference.
Yet without Sempervians at the helm for the first time in hundreds of years, what would happen? It could leave the empire wide open to attack from forces beyond the borders. In a few years, several Sempervians who had never been here before would begin the next round of Peril. They would not rule, but be supporters, guided by the Chosen for one lifetime.
Alitus rubbed his eyes. As a Chosen, it fell to him to safeguard their plan. He stroked the Chanoyu ring that denoted his relationship to Destoiya, and remembered the vow he'd sworn. "I am Called to serve, Honored to protect, Obedient to the vow, a Safeguard of the truth, an Enabler of life, and a Neutralizer of threats. I am Chosen."
"Sir?" Grib stood near the foot of his bed.
Damn it! Did I say that aloud? He hadn't noticed Grib.
"I'm sorry, sir." The Tyran inclined his horned head. "I know you spoke, but I didn't catch it."
The air went out of him in a whoosh, fatigue settling around his shoulders like a mantle. "A quote I read, that's all. Thank you, Grib. You may go."
"Very well, sir. Good night." The Tyran's hooves clicked on the marble floor as he left. The heavy door shut out the sounds of the palace.
Alitus pulled a pillow beneath his stomach. How complicated this all is. He could speak to no one about anything related to the Sempervians, except Wulf Gabriel, who served the other main Sempervian in the current game. Wulf, who helped him with his various undercover duties and never failed to make him laugh. Here, in the dark, the memory of Wulf made Alitus's heart soar with joy.