Chapter 22

 

 

Seyn did his best not to tense up outwardly when they announced Ksar’s name. But when they announced Leylen’s name right after Ksar’s, his mask of indifference slipped for a moment.

Seyn hurriedly put it back and didn’t look toward the entrance of the ballroom as whispers ran through the crowd. He pretended he couldn’t feel the stares and didn’t know that people were watching for his reaction to his ex-bondmate and his new fiancée’s first public appearance together.

They would be waiting for a long time.

Seyn smiled crookedly at Prince Aedan and murmured, “I feel like an exotic specimen in a zoo.”

Aedan shot him a sympathetic look. “It could have been worse.”

“You think?” Seyn said with a laugh.

“Your mother could have been trying to whore you out to another planet’s king,” Aedan said wryly.

Seyn grimaced. Queen-Consort Zeyneb, Aedan’s mother, was notoriously known for being eager for her son’s marriage to the King of Planet Zicur.

“Do you not like him?” Seyn said, trying to distract himself from the overwhelming desire to look toward the entrance. It was fucking ridiculous. He’d gone longer stretches without seeing Ksar than the nine days that had passed since the official dissolution of their non-existent bond. But somehow, it felt different this time. More final. The knowledge that there was nothing tying them together anymore made him feel…agitated. It was driving him crazy—this maddening, dissatisfied feeling under his skin—as if he had no purpose in life besides arguing with Ksar, which was fucked up on so many levels Seyn didn’t dare mention it to anyone for fear of sounding insane. The only person he trusted enough to talk about it with was Harry, but he was still on Earth with his human. Besides, Harry wasn’t exactly impartial where Ksar was concerned.

Aedan shrugged, his dark eyes not quite meeting Seyn’s. “He’s nice, I suppose. It could have been worse.”

Seyn blinked, having already forgotten what he’d asked. “Yeah—I guess,” he said. He hoped he didn’t look as distracted and self-conscious as he felt.

Judging by the look Aedan shot him, he wasn’t fooling anyone. 

“You don’t have to pretend to be completely fine with the situation, you know,” Aedan said. “In fact, if you do, it’ll probably be obvious that your indifference is fake. He was your bondmate for your entire life. Some hurt pride is expected, especially after the malicious rumors Leylen has spread about you.”

Seyn gave a laugh. “They were nothing but the truth. It’s hardly a secret that Ksar always found some fault in everything I did.”

Aedan huffed. “She claimed that he’d chosen her because Ksar wanted a ‘consort who can behave according to their station,’ which is just…” Aedan shook his head. “It’s incredibly offensive, both to you and your House. You’re a prince yourself. You’ve been literally taught how to be a King-Consort since before you could walk.”

Seyn shrugged. He wasn’t particularly offended by the rumors, especially since he was honest enough with himself to admit that there was some truth to them. He hadn’t always behaved in a way befitting a prince, much less the future consort of a king; he’d always known that, but he didn’t care. Behaving improperly had been a foolproof way to get Ksar to notice his existence. Granted, it had also earned him Ksar’s ire, but truth be told, Seyn had always preferred to be on the receiving end of Ksar’s anger to being ignored by him, as if he wasn’t worthy of Ksar’s attention. Ugh. Even thinking about it made his blood boil, his body tensing for a fight—a fight that wouldn’t happen. He and Ksar were nothing to each other. There was no reason to argue with Ksar anymore. No reason to want his attention. Not that he’d ever wanted Ksar’s attention. He’d just hated not having it. There was a difference. He was sure there was.

“Stop ignoring them so obviously,” Aedan said quietly. “People won’t stop staring at you until you satisfy their curiosity. Just look at him and then look away.”

Aedan was probably right. His indifference probably looked odd. How hard could it possibly be to look at Ksar and then look away, as if Ksar was beneath his notice? He could totally do it. He could.

Seyn turned his head.

The ballroom was huge. There were probably over five hundred people there. His eyes shouldn’t have found Ksar as quickly as they did.

Ksar was talking to Queen-Consort Zeyneb, looking regal as usual, not a hair out of place. Seyn stared at him hungrily, his gaze roaming over his firm jaw and sharp cheekbones, and thin, cruel lips that had felt so good on his—

Seyn looked away and grabbed a drink from a passing waiter. He gulped it down greedily, trying to quell the thirst he suddenly felt. It didn’t quite work.

Heavens, this was fucked up. 

“Don’t take it the wrong way,” Aedan said, nursing his own drink. He glanced over the rim of his glass in Ksar’s direction. “But after having my bond broken, I have a newfound appreciation for Ksar’ngh’chaali.” He grinned lewdly. “If you get what I mean.”

Seyn scowled. “He’s not the most handsome man in this room.”

“No,” Aedan said agreeably, looking far too amused for Seyn’s liking. “You are. But there’s something about him that’s just…” He licked his lips and smirked. “He looks like he’d be fantastic in the sack.”

Seyn pursed his lips and tried not to glare at him. In all honesty, he could hardly blame Aedan for noticing attractive people—he remembered how horny he’d been the first month after his bond’s breaking, so he could definitely understand—but it didn’t mean he liked it. He didn’t like that Aedan was imagining having sex with Ksar. He didn’t like to imagine Ksar having sex with Aedan. The mere thought was wrong, disgusting, and just—just infuriating. 

Dropping his smirk, Aedan actually took a step back. “I was joking, Seyn. Well, mostly.” A furrow appeared between his brows. “I thought you hated him.”

“I do,” Seyn said testily and walked away before Aedan could say anything. He felt absolutely mortified—and horrified—by his completely inappropriate possessiveness. He had no business feeling proprietary over a man who was nothing to him. Over a man he hated. It was none of his business if people wanted to bed Ksar. This vicious possessive feeling was weird and completely fucked up.

Furious with himself, Seyn wasn’t looking where he was going.

So of course—of course—out of the hundreds of people in the room, he collided with Leylen. 

“Sorry,” he said automatically before realizing who it was.

Leylen smiled at him kindly. “Oh, don’t worry. It’s understandable that you’re distracted.”

He wanted to hit her. 

Immediately, Seyn cringed at the thought. He wasn’t a violent person, least of all toward women, no matter how superior and smug they looked. He had been raised by two strong women and had nothing but the utmost respect for them.

But fuck it, Leylen didn’t deserve to lick his mothers’ shoes, as far as he was concerned.

Isn’t that a bit too extreme? his inner voice said quietly.

Seyn had to admit that perhaps he was being a little unfair toward the woman. He’d never felt such disdain toward her before. She was hardly the epitome of evil.

He still wanted to punch her in the face.

Seyn took a deep breath. He knew people were watching them. The hush that fell around them was unnatural. Making a scene was the last thing he needed after all the rumors Leylen had spread about his inappropriate conduct. So if he were thinking rationally, Seyn would have walked away without saying anything. 

He wasn’t thinking rationally.

“Your Highness,” he said flatly.

She arched an eyebrow. “Pardon?”

“One would think that someone with your impeccable conduct would know how to properly address your betters,” Seyn said.

She flushed.

For a moment, she looked mutinous. It was obvious that she already considered herself of a higher rank than him—and she would be, after marrying Ksar.

But she wasn’t, not yet. Seyn was a prince of the Third Royal House. She was a member of a minor noble family with more wealth than pedigree. 

“Your Highness,” Leylen grated out before smiling innocently. “Forgive me, I’m so excited these days that I get distracted and forget my manners. Have you already received your invitation from the Second Royal House?”

Seyn spared a moment to admire her quick mind. She was smart enough to know how to turn the tables on him and make him look pathetic.

Unluckily for her, he had a thicker skin after years of verbal sparring with Ksar, and she had nothing on Ksar’s sharp tongue.

Smiling amicably, Seyn leaned closer to her and murmured just for her ears, “Enjoy your excitement while it lasts. You don’t know him like I do. He will crush you.” He nearly face-palmed as soon as he said that. What was wrong with him? Seriously—what was wrong with him? It would have been easy to subtly put her in her place without resorting to such juvenile methods.

Leylen looked as shocked as he was by his open hostility before giving him a haughty look. “Jealousy is so unbecoming, Your Highness,” she said, raising her voice.

Scandalized whispers around them got louder.

Seyn winced inwardly, already imagining the headlines. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Before he could tell her how ridiculous her words were, a familiar voice said from behind him,

“Is there a problem?”

Seyn’s heart skipped a beat.

A nervous look flashed across Leylen’s face before she smiled pleasantly. “Not at all, Your Highness. We were just talking.”

Distantly aware of the stares and painfully aware of the man behind him, Seyn turned around. 

The moment his eyes locked with Ksar’s, he felt hot and cold all over, his stomach quivering.

Not wanting to be a hypocrite after criticizing Leylen for her lack of manners, Seyn executed a perfect bow and said politely, “Your Highness.”

Ksar gave a clipped nod, his silver eyes fixed on Seyn with a strange expression.

Leylen said with a smile, “Your Highness, we were talking about the—”

“May I have a word with you?” Ksar said, still looking at Seyn. He didn’t spare Leylen a glance, and it filled Seyn with vicious satisfaction.

Weirded out by his own emotions, Seyn hesitated. He should probably refuse. Talking to Ksar in private would only make the rumors and speculations worse.

He should refuse.

He should.

But—

But he didn’t want to. The prospect of being alone with Ksar made his heart beat faster, a strange, almost sickening excitement coursing through his veins.

Seyn found himself nodding before he could stop himself. Idiot. He was an idiot.

The whispers around them became louder as he followed Ksar out onto the nearest balcony.

There were two minor lords on it, but one look from Ksar made them leave. The door shut after the two men, cutting off the noise of the ballroom.

Biting his lip, Seyn braced himself and turned around, determined to act aloof.

But his carefully schooled expression was completely wasted.

Ksar wasn’t looking at him. His jaw was locked as he stared at the gardens below. If Ksar weren’t the one who had asked for a word, Seyn would think Ksar didn’t want to be there.

“Well?” Seyn said. “I don’t have all night.”

“Do you do it on purpose?”

Seyn frowned, genuinely bewildered. “Do what?”

Ksar didn’t look at him. “Don’t play coy. You always have to be the center of attention. You can’t live without making everyone look at you.”

Seyn bristled. “Screw you—no one forces you to look at me. Fucking look elsewhere.”

Ksar gave a laugh. 

“What’s so funny?” Seyn said, glowering at Ksar’s profile. 

Ksar didn’t answer. 

Instead, he said tersely, “Cease provoking Leylen and making scenes.”

Seyn saw red. “Me? She’s the one who started it!”

“I don’t care who started it,” Ksar said. “You should be smarter than that. Your reputation is in tatters as it is.”

Seyn blinked. Why did Ksar care?

“Yes, thanks to your precious fiancée,” he said cuttingly, trying to hide his confusion.

Ksar’s lips thinned. “She will stop spreading the rumors. I’ve already had a word with her.”

Seyn snorted. “Clearly it wasn’t as effective as you think. She was trying to humiliate me tonight.”

“You’re hardly an innocent lamb,” Ksar said, still looking at the gardens below. “You can take care of yourself. She’s just a spoiled girl with overinflated ambitions.”

“Charming. I see your opinion of her is as low as your opinion of me.”

“She’s very different from you.”

Seyn cocked his head to the side, studying Ksar. There was something irritated about the way Ksar said it.

“How so?” Seyn said, bracing himself for an insult. 

“She doesn’t disagree with my every word, for one thing.”

Seyn smiled involuntarily at that. “Your ego doesn’t need inflating.”

Ksar let out a laugh. “You’ve certainly never inflated it.”

Seyn eyed him uncertainly. He was perplexed that Ksar was seemingly content to waste his precious time on him when there was no reason to. Why had he even wanted to talk to Seyn? Just to tell him to stop making a scene? He could have spoken to his current fiancée to a better effect. She certainly wouldn’t have argued with him. It was puzzling.

“Why aren’t you looking at me?” Seyn said, asking about the other thing that had been confusing and bothering him. He’d never handled well not having Ksar’s full attention. “Don’t you know it’s impolite not to look at people when you’re talking to them? Stop being a dick.”

Ksar finally turned and glared at him.

Seyn wet his lips, holding Ksar’s searing gaze. 

He didn’t know who moved first. 

The next moment, their lips collided, and Seyn couldn’t stop an embarrassingly loud whimper. Moaning, he opened his mouth eagerly for Ksar’s tongue, hands burying in Ksar’s hair and trying to pull him closer. Heavens, he wanted to consume him, swallow him whole, suck his dick—anything, just to get Ksar deeper inside him. He was shaking with want so badly that he didn’t know what to do with himself. He sucked on Ksar’s tongue, clinging to his hard, muscular body, so familiar and so right, and breathing in Ksar’s scent like an oxygen-deprived man would breathe the air. 

As if sharing his need to be closer, Ksar pulled him tighter against his body, kissing him deeper and harder until it was no longer possible. Seyn whined in frustration, grabbing Ksar’s face, stroking his lean cheeks with just a hint of stubble, wanting to—wanting to—

Ksar tore his lips away, breathing hard, his eyes like molten silver, bright against the dark fringe of his lashes, intent, hungry, heavy lidded with primal need. “Damn you,” he said with resentment before kissing Seyn again. 

Moaning, Seyn kissed back. He was so hard it hurt. Try as he might, he couldn’t kiss Ksar as deep as he wanted, and the frustration was building, driving him crazy. He wanted to fuck. He wanted to come. He wanted to—wanted to—

“We can’t,” Ksar’s voice said in his head, his hot mouth trailing down Seyn’s chin to his throat. Seyn wasn’t sure when Ksar had untied his cravat, but suddenly Ksar’s lips were sucking a vicious hickey on his neck and Seyn’s mouth was opening in a silent moan. Heavens, why did this feel so good? It had no right to feel this good, not with this man. The fucked up part was that he couldn’t imagine allowing another man to do this to him, especially in such a public place. His parents—and hundreds of high-ranking members of society—were just behind that flimsy door that could open at any moment. This was crazy. Absolutely insane. But he wanted him so badly that at that moment he didn’t give a shit if hundreds of people watched them as long as Ksar kept kissing him and touching him.

“Ksar,” Seyn breathed out, alternately clutching at Ksar’s wide shoulders and running his fingers through Ksar’s hair.

“We can’t,” Ksar said, his hands slipping down and pulling their hips flush. Seyn sucked a breath in, feeling the hard length of Ksar’s cock against his. 

“Not here,” Ksar said, his voice so thick it was unrecognizable. He pulled away and straightened his clothes, not looking at Seyn, a flush high on his cheekbones, his lips wet and shiny. Seyn had never thought it was possible to feel such gut-wrenching want and disappointment. The distance between their bodies felt painful. He hated it.

Finished straightening his clothes, Ksar paused. He looked at Seyn. “I’m leaving the ball. I’ll key you into the security system of the palace for tonight.” 

Seyn could only gape after him as Ksar left.

Ugh, what a presumptuous ass. He was so infuriating! Who did he think he was? Did Ksar think he could just casually tell him to come for a fuck and assume Seyn would just run to him like an overeager, lovesick fool?

Screw Ksar.

He wasn’t that pathetic.

 

* * *

 

Later that night, as he was spread out under Ksar’s heavy, deliciously naked body, Seyn had to admit that apparently he was that pathetic. He had tried to stay home. He had. But it was a lost battle. 

So there he was, his legs hooked around Ksar’s wide back, fingers clutching at his shoulders as Ksar fucked him so good Seyn could only make hiccupped, strangled groans at every thrust of his cock.

He stared dazedly at the high ceiling above them, feeling like he was floating on a cloud of pleasure. It was hardly the first time they’d had sex, but it was the first time they had it in bed. In Ksar’s own bed, in his private rooms Seyn hadn’t even seen before.

“Ksar.”

“What?” Ksar gritted out, his face tense and his dark brows drawn together as he pulled in and out of Seyn, his biceps bulging with the effort to keep his weight off Seyn.

Seyn kind of wished he didn’t do it; he wanted to feel him. He wanted to be crushed under Ksar’s body, wanted him closer, tighter, deeper. Fuck, he wanted him. The intensity of the feeling scared him so much that it cleared the haze of lust a little.

His pleasure-drunk gaze met Ksar’s equally glazed eyes. “What are we doing?” he whispered.

Ksar glared at him and gave a vicious thrust, his cock stabbing against that spot that felt particularly good, and Seyn moaned, his eyes rolling to the back of his head. 

“You feel so good in me,” he said without thinking. Immediately, he almost cringed. What the hell? Who even said that?

But Ksar didn’t mock him. He stared down at him intently, his gaze dark and feverish. “Do I?”

Seyn moistened his lips. They felt sore and puffy from all the kissing they had done since he’d arrived. “Yeah,” he said honestly, wondering if Ksar knew what he meant. It was hard to explain. Having Ksar inside him was just…so incredibly satisfying, and not just on a physical level. No matter how defective and one-sided his bond had been, it had been a part of him for all his life. He’d spent years trying and failing to feel Ksar in him. This—sex—wasn’t exactly what he’d had in mind back then, but still, having Ksar inside him was gratifying beyond the physical pleasure of having a thick cock in his hole. 

“You feel good in me,” he said again, holding Ksar’s gaze. “Your cock. You.”

Ksar’s nostrils flared, his eyes wide open and unblinking, his pupils dilated. Leaning down, he kissed Seyn hard.

Seyn kissed back and tightened his legs around Ksar, digging his heels in as they rocked together, bodies entangled so tightly with each other it was hard to tell where he ended and Ksar began.

But before long, they had to stop kissing, the rhythm of their bodies becoming too fast and hard to make it possible. Ksar was groaning, mouthing the side of his face, his breath hot and unsteady. His mental shields were flickering on and off, as if Ksar couldn’t quite control it, and Seyn could feel some of Ksar’s thoughts. “You feel perfect, damn you.”

A hoarse laugh left Seyn’s mouth. “I think that’s the first compliment you’ve ever paid me, you asshole,” he said breathlessly, turning his head to nip at Ksar’s stubbled jaw. “And I’m not sure that even counts—you didn’t say it aloud.”

“If you’re still capable of talking, I’m doing something wrong. And I wasn’t aware you wanted compliments from me.”

“I didn’t—I don’t,” Seyn said, hating how unconvincing it sounded. He whined, pushing back onto Ksar’s cock. He was so full of him, but somehow, it still wasn’t enough. He wanted him deeper. He wanted more. “Ksar? Can we—you know?”

“That would be highly inadvisable,” Ksar gritted out, snapping his hips forward. 

Seyn opened his eyes blearily. Ksar looked as drunk on pleasure as he felt.

“So? None of what we’re doing is advisable,” Seyn said. “Get in me. Wanna feel you from the inside.”

Ksar’s gaze darkened. “You’re a menace,” he said, but he did dismantle his shields completely and let their minds merge. Either he did it gentler this time, or Seyn was getting used to the sensation. Either way, it felt so good. Seyn sighed in bliss, overwhelmed by the double pleasure. He could feel how tight he was around Ksar’s cock, how good it felt to fuck into him, to press him into the mattress and have him. He was a little disgusted by how much pleasure he derived from taking Seyn in his own bed, in his own room, on the sheets that smelled of him. He wasn’t a primitive animal. This wasn’t his territory. Seyn wasn’t his territory. 

“Stop overthinking it and fuck me,” Seyn grated out, pushing back on the hard, deliciously thick length in him. “You can freak out over your caveman tendencies later.”

Ksar glared at him, but his glares didn’t have quite the same effect when Seyn could feel how much Ksar liked having him under him, how much he wanted to fuck him into the mattress, to own him, to fill him up with his come until it was leaking down his thighs.

“I don’t have caveman tendencies,” Ksar bit off, tightening his grip on Seyn’s hips and slamming into him.

They both gasped as Seyn’s hole squeezed around his cock. So fucking tight. So fucking thick.

“Sure,” Seyn managed. “That’s why you’re getting off on having me in your own bed.”

Ksar glowered and snapped his hips forward, hitting that spot inside him with the precision that would have been unbelievable if Ksar wasn’t literally sharing his mind. Moaning, Seyn closed his eyes and relaxed against the cool sheets under him, giving himself over to the intense, overwhelming sensation of fucking and being fucked, Ksar’s mind enveloping him as tightly as Ksar’s heavy body on top of him. He didn’t think he’d ever felt so good in his life. So perfect. It felt like he was created for this, to be under this man, to have his cock and his mind inside him. He didn’t want this to ever end.

But it ended.

He came embarrassingly fast, but so did Ksar. Seyn could only moan Ksar’s name and hold on as waves upon wave of intense pleasure washed over him—over them.

He stared at the high ceiling, panting like he’d just run a marathon, his body still shaking with aftershocks.

Ksar started slipping out of him.

“No,” Seyn said, his arms tightening around Ksar. “Don’t pull out.”

Ksar paused and turned his head to look at him.

Their faces were so close Seyn could count Ksar’s every eyelash, could feel Ksar’s every breath.

“Are we talking about my cock or the merge?” Ksar said, his voice uncharacteristically slow and lazy—sleepy.

Seyn stared at him in wonder. He’d never seen Ksar sleepy.

“You would know what I meant if you read my mind,” Seyn murmured with a little smile. “It’s not like you’re shy to read people’s minds to get the information you want.”

“I don’t actually enjoy getting into people’s minds and reading their thoughts,” Ksar said, his thumb tracing Seyn’s smiling lips. “It’s not exactly pleasant. Unless the mind is fairly compatible with mine, it’s an equivalent of searching for something in a puddle of mud.”

Seyn snorted. “Are you seriously going to pretend you don’t find my mind pleasant? Seriously?”

“I didn’t mean you,” Ksar said, sounding faintly amused.

No, he didn’t sound amused. His voice was the usual flat, cold monotone with no inflection whatsoever. Seyn could feel Ksar’s amusement because they were still sharing a shallow merge.

Seyn frowned. “Why do you do this?”

“Do what?” Ksar said, lifting his eyebrows a little.

“Use that emotionless voice and pretend you don’t feel shit. It’s annoying.”

Ksar threaded his fingers through Seyn’s long hair, eyeing the silver locks with something that wasn’t unlike fascination. “I’m a politician. The less I give away, the less I’m vulnerable to manipulation.”

Frankly, Seyn was amazed that Ksar was actually bothering to explain himself. “We’re in bed, not in the Council.”

Something flickered in Ksar’s eyes. “I suppose it’s a habit by now.”

Seyn could feel that Ksar was saying the truth, but not the full truth. He was about to question him when Ksar suddenly pulled out of him—out of his body and out of his mind. Seyn pouted, the sudden emptiness disorienting and unpleasant.

“Stop looking at me like that,” Ksar said tersely, a grimace crossing his face, as if pulling out wasn’t pleasant for him, either. “A telepathic merge is illegal for a reason, and prolonging it would be highly irresponsible.”

Seyn pursed his lips, a little mollified that Ksar didn’t pull away completely— Ksar’s large body was still half on top of him. A small part of him was disturbed by how clingy he felt, but Seyn refused to think about it too much. He could freak out later. Much later.

“Have you done it before?” he said.

Ksar shot him a sleepy look that somehow managed to be entirely unimpressed. “Sex?”

Seyn scowled. The reminder that Ksar was a lot more sexually experienced than him irked him for reasons he didn’t want to examine too closely. “A telepathic merge during sex.”

“Of course not,” Ksar said, looking at him as though he was insane. “Even if I wanted to do it during a meaningless sexual encounter, I could hardly risk the other person finding out about the extent of my telepathic abilities. In any case, a telepathic merge isn’t something to be taken lightly—it isn’t something I’d do without the other party’s fully informed consent.” Ksar gave him an unreadable look. “There are very few telepaths insane enough to allow a Class 7 telepath the absolute access to their unprotected minds.”

There were several noteworthy things about Ksar’s answer. The most important thing should have been the fact that Ksar had finally admitted that he was Class 7. It wasn’t. 

Instead, Seyn found himself fixating on one particular thought.

Was this not a meaningless sexual encounter for Ksar?

“I’m not scared of you,” he said aloud instead of asking the question. If he did, it would make it obvious that he cared about Ksar’s answer—which he didn’t.

Except he kind of did. He really, really did.

Fuck.

“I could have done anything to you during the merge,” Ksar said.

Seyn shrugged, trying to shake off the panic creeping up his throat. “You didn’t.”

“You little idiot,” Ksar said, taking him chin and forcing Seyn to look at him. “When you allow me a full merge, you let me past all your defenses. Telepathic merges are outlawed for a reason, and that’s without taking into account that I’m a Class 7 telepath. If I had been careless during the merge, I could have rendered you brain dead.”

Seyn just looked at him for a moment. Contrary to what Ksar thought of him, he was well aware of the dangers of the merge; every telepath in the galaxy probably had heard the horror stories. Those horror stories still didn’t stop some couples from doing it, but it usually required an incredible show of trust in one’s partner.

It was terrifying to think that he trusted Ksar to that extent, but the evidence was pretty damn undeniable.

“I’m not afraid of you,” Seyn said quietly. “Even when I hated your guts, I never thought you’d hurt me. I guess…I guess I trust you.”

Ksar gave him a long, indecipherable look, something conflicted in his eyes. At last, he said, “Hated? Past tense?”

Seyn felt his face become warm. “Hate,” he said, but it came out teasing rather firm. “You’re still a dick.”

Ksar’s gaze was so intense it made goosebumps run over Seyn’s skin. Fuck, he loved having Ksar’s eyes on him. It was sickeningly exhilarating. It made him feel so damn alive.

Heavens, this was really messed up.

“Then why are you clinging to me if you hate me?” Ksar said, his tone amicable and lazy.

Seyn scowled. “Shut up, I’m not,” he said, lifting his chin. His arms and legs might be wrapped around Ksar, but it absolutely didn’t mean he was clinging to him. He simply didn’t feel like letting go. The merge was still messing him up. It was hard to go from being one with Ksar to not having him close.

Ksar leaned in and kissed the corner of his mouth, the touch barely there.

Seyn breathed out unsteadily. Why did he still feel so damn hungry for this man? So damn needy? He’d just come, for heaven’s sake. He shouldn’t feel this way.

“You don’t have to be defensive,” Ksar said against his mouth. “It’s likely a side effect of the merge.”

“Yeah?” Seyn murmured. “Do you…do you feel it, too?”

Ksar nodded, nipping at Seyn’s bottom lip. “Want to put myself in you and never pull out.”

Seyn shivered, his whole being craving the insane intimacy of it again. “Ksar,” he whispered, rubbing his cheek against Ksar’s, his cock already half-hard. “Let’s do it again…just one more time?”

He felt Ksar exhale unsteadily against his cheek. “We really shouldn’t. This is dangerous. Not to mention completely pointless.”

Seyn’s stomach dropped.

He gave a clipped nod.

Ksar pulled back a little to look him in the eye. His expression became somewhat pinched. “Damn you,” he said and kissed him, long and endlessly hungry, his mind slipping back into Seyn’s.

Seyn sighed in bliss and yanked him closer, everything else disappearing once again.