BlackRosesPart12

The attendant was back quickly with the things he'd requested. Still not looking him in the eye, but Rhion was almost grateful for that. He imagined the boy had his orders, and saw no reason to countermand that by trying to make friends. And truly, he hadn't exactly been a shining hero in the last few hours. Had let his companion be beaten, raped. And then killed, in his very arms.

But he couldn't deny the truth. Watching that huge, unstoppable brute possessing De had aroused him a little even as it sickened him. Even worse, he was now fairly sure that Mish-shy knew all about those feelings of lust. Had probably gotten off on them, the sick bastard.

Face it. He probably hadn't fooled the big demon on any level, in any thought. Not that he wouldn't continue the game once he was less tired. Less depressed.

And even worse. Hadn't he, Rhion, felt the smallest shred of satisfaction as De was brutalized, on the order of "I told you so!"? No, he didn't think he was that petty.

He gently stripped what clothes remained on the small, bloody form and began the slow, somehow soothing process of cleaning him up. The attendant had informed him in a low, toneless voice that the aromatic cleansing oils and salves were also of healing nature. So he didn't avoid the many injuries, was just more careful when he came to them. Wincing a bit at the worst of them, since he had no audience.

Funny, how soft and touchable his boy looked, in death or what passed for it. A slight curl to his mouth that almost verged on a ghostly smile. Perhaps it was peaceful for him?

Finished with the cleansing, which he'd performed with a kind of tender reverence a conscious De would never have received, Rhion finally began to feel somewhat spooked at the whole situation. When action was needed he dealt with things efficiently, but give him time to mull it over and watch him succumb to the heebie-jeebies---he recalled his recent "actions", then, and snorted at his own self-analysis.

Oh yes, he'd performed magnificently out there! Very "efficient"! He snorted again in contempt, even as he carefully dressed the boy in loose, comfortable drawstring pants and a shirt, both patterned in squared spirals of silver thread on a purple background that was nearly black. Like dressing a doll. A doll whose mind I trepassed in for just an instant and gods, was it awful! If he lives with that daily then no wonder he's warped!

I'm not saying it's right, but I forgive you, boy. You've been through enough; you need a friend whether you want one or not. I almost think Shining Moon would forgive you if he could.

His mind, long trained to caution, pushed the thought away automatically. Then reeled it in again thoughtfully. There was no one around to notice any slips he made or any softness he showed while under the influence. The attendant had mumbled something about a fully-stocked kitchen. And perhaps Damian would be hungry on waking; he'd been through a death-sleep himself, he remembered reviving from it. By the gods, he had been starved as a bottomless pit!

Pulling himself from the darkness had been a slow and tedious effort, as near to drowning in layers of heavy suffocating blackness as one could get. Peculiarly enough the texture of this blackness had reminded Daniel of honey, it certainly hadn't been sweet, cold and tasteless in fact but it seemed to fill the throat and restrict movement in much the same way one might imagine honey would.

At least here, in this place he was bound and unable to do harm. No future or past could haunt him here; it barely existed at all inside his mind. All those painful memories he harbored were no more hurtful than a wisp of fall wind, as harmless as a newborn baby.

He had nearly thrown in the towel several times despite this driving necessity to survive, but never getting close enough to death to really suit the gentler of the two princes who shared this one body.

Daniel was seventeen and already tired of this world, of pretending to be someone he wasn't, of fighting daily battles with himself and inevitably losing them all.

But most of all he was tired of having so many eyes upon him. It was like living on a stage where your every move was broken down, examined and then criticized as though all around him had such a right.

How many times had he been reprimanded for his tone, his appearance, his feelings or even the way he cast a look? Life had become some kind of inflexible test that he was continually failing, his father looking down on him as though he couldn't believe *this* is what he'd been given to work with.

Lee had often demanded during training sessions that Damian step forward but the Dark One heeded no order, be it man or god he held firm and refused to obey often times inspiring a whole new breed of trouble to come crashing down on their heads.

Early on it had become clear that Damian would not abandon Daniel if there were a real measure of danger involved. So therefore simple training sessions had often escalated into life threatening situations, the normal wounds of training turning into brutal punishment for an order refused, a hostage situation that continued until Damian stepped forward.

It just seemed easier in a lot of ways to let himself be swallowed up by nothingness, more so than it was to make the effort to claw his way through various layers of soul consuming muck.

And who could have blamed him? He had a sense of what he was coming back to, and damned if every bone in his body didn't wanta rebel against it. Dying was sure as hell a lot simpler than living at this point but damned if it was in him to let go of life.

"Pesky little rodent, always getting yourself into trouble. Lucky I care about you, or I 'd leave your high-born little ass here to rot." Who the hell was this? He didn't recognize the voice, at least not on any level he could use to tack a name to it with.

He lay very still, tried to regulate his breathing, as his hair was brushed lightly from his forehead by calloused but oddly gentle fingers. He caught a whiff of lily wine, as whomever it was seemed to pause to drink. There was a light clatter as the glass was set aside. The fingers returned, this time to drift across his face.

"Haven't you been through enough? I try to keep you safe, by the gods. Safe! All I can seem to do is follow you as you dance into more danger. Little prick!"

This---person, whoever he was, sounded truly annoyed now. But also very tired, on the verge of dozing; or maybe just a trace drunk, as his words seemed gently slurred. Daniel became aware that he was wrapped in a strong embrace. Held warmly against a muscular chest as the young man---or so he seemed by his voice, which was mellow on the verge of becoming deep---scolded almost dreamily.

"Why can't you just let me take care of you? Why must you fight so hard, like I'm just another of your enemies? Oh, hell do I expect an answer? Outside of 'go to hell' or 'get fucked'? Beginning to hear those phrases in my sleep, dammit."

He felt the man grow still, then pull back, probably to study him. Shit, why couldn't he have remained relaxed? But it had just felt too---good. Dangerously good. As if he were safe, and cherished. Which had to be an illusion and betrayal, of course. Didn't it?

Almost without meaning to he allowed his eyes to flutter open, blinking against the soft glow of candlelight as if it were harsher illumination. It took a few seconds for his eyes to adapt, for him to truly be able to see again.

He found himself staring into gold kissed eyes, deep and rich with the glitter of humanity shining brightly at their core. They were beautiful eyes, full of so much soul and life. He could have drowned in this one look, spent an eternity unraveling its mysteries.

Daniel was on the verge of pulling away when this person suddenly spoke. "Does anything still hurt?" The words were slightly gruff, schooled in some sort of personal defense system. An act that Daniel recognized easily, had in fact watched people around him do just this sort of thing all his young life.

"Um, I don't think so." Daniel spoke hesitantly, realizing as the words came out that his side ached a little. The kind of throb that came from being cut by a blade but this one seemed to sting also, an unusual effect. "My side---" He no more than had the words out than this person was easing him onto his back and rising up.

Daniel froze instantly as his hips were straddled and fingers began to slide over his exposed flesh. Seeming to judge the severity of the wound and deciding it would heal the familiar stranger moved on to other lesser hurts, checking the rest with the same battlefield efficiency.

The effect the light touch had on Daniel was suddenly very obvious not to mention resting right against his companion's inner thigh but the other boy didn't seem to notice, in fact it seemed to be an effect that was catching.

Who was this person anyway? Daniel didn't have reactions like that to, well, just anyone. No one in fact, it had always been fear before it got this far, and turning it over to De at once.

The second the other boy loosened his grip Daniel used the opportunity to wiggle out from underneath him and drop rather clumsily to the surprisingly warm stone floor. He ignored the hands that reached outward to help him, allowing only enough contact to steady himself before pulling away carefully.

He couldn't help but to look up at the other boy, study him as he hovered much too close. The blond had wounds too, a terrible lattice of bruises all down his strong throat, easy to see as close as he was, and since his shirt was slightly ripped as if in a struggle. His loose bright hair, his eyes, the warm masculine scent of him---

As memory came flooding back Daniel blurted out his sudden realization. "You're the one who kissed me on the cross?" He remembered that fact a little too clearly, better than anything else at the moment.

"Yes, that was me. I'm Rhion, by the way." The words were soft, almost soothing like someone speaking to a wounded animal. The amber eyes were thoughtful now; a little surprised, but calm. "You remember the cross?"

For a second it all came flowing back, a little too vividly to suit Daniel who nearly fell with the impact of it. Now he knew this man, Rhion. Could place him in time and space. And it was scarier than ever in a way, even less understandable.

Stumbling backwards he held out his hand to stop the other boy from approaching him, he had been on the verge of gathering Daniel to him and in his current state of mind Daniel feared he'd panic and lash out.

The other boy complied, stopped his forward movement but was now hovering even closer than before. "Y-y-yes I remember the cross and I remember you but what I can't remember is why you're here with me now?"

"I followed you. After---to make sure you were alright." The other boy's words were cautious but might well have been the first truly honest statement Daniel had ever heard.

He turned nervously, began to move away from Rhion along the outer wall of this strange and massive place. He couldn't help reaching out to touch the strangely warm stone, let his fingers skim over the elaborate tribal designs that had been inlayed in silver onto the surface of the polished black marble walls. "Come to think of it I don't even know where 'here' is?"

The older boy's voice was just soothing enough to make Daniel suspect he might be avoiding the question. "Where here is will keep, till we've both rested. Long story. But you're safe. Trust me." He said this even as he stayed just within arms reach of Daniel, perhaps worried that he might decide to suddenly faint.

Daniel looked over his shoulder to judge the young man's expression and realized he was being studied intently, strangely enough that didn't bother him much, he usually despised being stared at in such a way but somehow Rhion was different from all those others who'd tried to assess him.

"Tell me who you are," he now said, still in that unthreatening, rather marvelous husky voice. "You're very different, from the one I started following. Tell me why you don't remember what happened here. I barely think you remember me." He hesitated, then said firmly, "Tell me why your eyes are blue, instead of black."

"Different? Black---I---Have I done something? " When the other boy just looked at him Daniel realized he hadn't answered his question so why should he expect to have his own answered in return? "Daniel, I'm Daniel."

"Daniel?" Rhion's voice lingered over the name curiously; he studied his companion almost as if examining every feature. Then, although he didn't smile, his eyes and expression softened somehow in a way that made Daniel feel unexpectedly----cherished. Cherished, by a stranger? Few people in his life had ever given him such a warm look, and so long ago he barely remembered it. He froze, not sure how to respond. Almost forgetting his question until the other boy answered him.

It took Daniel only a heartbeat to decide he could trust this person. It might have been a foolish mistake but he just didn't have enough strength left in him to keep up appearances, to lie to one who only seemed to wanta help and Daniel wanted badly to believe that Rhion was what he appeared to be, so he was willing to take a chance, this time.

"Everything before the cross, not much after---" Pausing he considered what he remembered from after the cross. "After is mostly gray fog till now." That was very true, just a strange jumble of emotions he couldn't sort if his life had depended upon it. "Are you sure I didn't---hurt someone?"

"Why do you think you hurt somebody, Daniel?" There was no judgment in that voice of flawed silk, only honest interest. Nothing he could catch hold of, to determine if he had done evil or not.

"Because I---" He stopped, considered his explanation carefully. " I kind of have this other side---person. He's been part of me for as long as I can remember. Sounds crazy I know. I just thought that maybe he'd done something---" He allowed his words to trail off as he turned the corner into what appeared to be the kitchen.

This particular room was exquisitely large with domed ceilings that towered some twenty-five plus feet overhead, much higher than that of the bedroom which had been only about ten or so feet, perhaps the bedroom had been designed to feel cozy rather than luxurious.

There were gold swirls interlocking with silver ones that seemed to climb upward from the floor in this room. Predominating more and more as they crept toward the center of the domed ceiling.

These swirls looked more like vines than language, Daniel thought almost absently, purely decorative in their effect as they spilled across the open expanse to meet a softly glowing blue stone in the center of the ceiling. The stone, about the size of a normal size shield provided a cool sort of illumination that reminded Daniel of moonlight.

Where had he read about this at? It all seemed familiar but he couldn't seem to latch onto anything solid. He supposed it would come to him in time.

"Other side, person? With---black eyes? What part of you is he?" The other boy had trailed him into the kitchen. He was getting used to the closeness, beginning to trust this Rhion without really knowing why, and so he answered promptly without much thought.

"Damian. He goes by De most days. He's kind of my avenging angel, my older brother---its hard to explain really." Trust or no trust, all these questions about his other side were beginning to make him nervous, it wasn't exactly a subject he approached with those who weren't already vividly aware.

Once again those unnerving eyes studied him, and to his surprise a smile finally came. "Try, please? Have a little pity on my total confusion, Daniel. I'd pass it off on the drink and swear never to touch the stuff again, but you've already admitted I'm not hallucinating."

Damn!---smiling suited this fellow; in fact the way it made him look was---well, extremely distracting. Daniel tried to focus on his remarks rather than his appearance. "H-he's always dealt with the rough stuff. One of us is usually in the background but we can blend." Daniel paused considered his next remark carefully. "I can't remember what happened after--- This has happened a couple of times before and the end result was always very bad. He's not very---stable on his own."

"I don't believe that, Daniel" Daniel had edged behind the counter but turned to stare at Rhion questionably about ready to argue this statement when he said softly, "But I'll let it go, for now."

"Then I won't tell you." Daniel nodded toward Rhion almost sadly even as he continued to scrutinize the contents of the kitchen for some answer to where they were. His ill coordinated hands accidentally knocked a bottle of bloodwine into the sink, a crack down the side of the bottle began to ooze crimson colored blood.

For a second his eyes were riveted to the sight and strangely enough he found it appalling. It wasn't like he hadn't seen a million bottles of this stuff before; he was the chosen one of house Leviathan, a predominately Vampire House. Why should the sight of a little blood make him queasy? It bothered him that he couldn't remember the reason, even more so when he found himself backing away from the stuff as though it were poison, nearly tripping over his own feet as he turned to leave the kitchen; hell to leave these rooms.

His world suddenly came crashing down on him. In a split second he had realized that his people were probably hunting him down at this very moment, that his home was gone. That he was now immortal and alone except for this stranger, this Rhion whom he knew nothing about.

Right before he got to the door he was snagged from behind. He didn't fight it, allowed himself to be restrained, pulled firmly into an embrace from behind.

Rhion held tightly for a moment, willing all the comfort he had in him through that touch. Then he gently steered his companion back out toward the bedroom. Picking him up would have been faster, but he feared the boy panicking if handled too roughly or too abruptly.

"Whatever happened, it'll keep till morning. You're tired; hell, come to that I'm more than tired. A busy day it's been, and if you still wish to know all about it in the morning I'll tell you everything." He kept up the soothing stream of words as they reached the bed. The other boy was still sobbing against him, but more softly. Either comforted, or totally desperate now, one of the two! "But for now---"

"Daniel." He was sitting on the bed finally; it was easy to just pull his companion into his arms, into his lap if the truth be told. The smaller boy came easily, didn't seem interested in fighting anymore. "Sleep, for now. I want you close to me, just so I can keep you safe. Nothing more."

Ah, hell. He meant it. And he was exhausted, he truly was. He didn't know why desire had claimed him. He did feel Daniel pull enough away to study his face. And he knew he was blushing. There was absolutely no doubt the boy could feel him, in this position. "I mean it, by Hades! I won't touch you." Whether I want to or not. "I'll keep you safe till morning. I swear it."

He turned his head, determined to look the boy in the eye while saying this. Maybe to confirm the vow to himself, doubt was seeping into his own soul as his arousal simply refused to go away.

Daniel's face was turned to his, and much closer than he'd thought it would be. Surprisingly, the strangely blue eyes that studied him were filled with trust.

How could he not catch one hand in the soft black hair, pull that face even closer, kiss him softly? He'd done so in dreams so often, he was barely aware he'd really accomplished it until their lips finally parted. Until Daniel drew in a quick, gasping breath that froze him. Oh, shit!

Daniel pulled back if only a bit, tilted his face and dropped his chin just enough to hide the desire in his eyes and hopefully the blush on his cheeks. He felt foolish getting shaken by a simple brush of lips. Well maybe not so simple, it had stirred things in Daniel that he'd never felt before.

"Sleep, in this place? " Daniel asked, his voice slightly shaky. "I'm not sure I can." Admittedly Daniel was slightly flustered at the concept of actually sleeping here.

The pretty stone walls reminded him of a tomb, a very luxurious tomb but a tomb never the less. Or maybe it was just the fact that he felt so intimately close to death at the moment.

"I know," the other boy said quietly. "Outside, would be better for sleeping. It's close in here. Ugly for all its beauty because it's a prison, and I won't lie to you about that. I---well, truly, I don't know what to say to make you feel better. Except, I'll protect you to the best of my ability. And I'm sorry that I kissed--- Shit! No, that's a lie and I won't say it!'

The other boy's sudden quiet violence certainly startled him. But for some reason, he wasn't frightened; maybe because Rhion was somehow intense without being the least bit loud about it. So Daniel only stared, without trying to pull away. Wondering what had stirred his companion all of a sudden.

When the answer came it took his breath away, although to be honest he'd been desperately hoping, somewhere deep inside himself, for the impossible truth.

"I'm not sorry for kissing you at all," Rhion said quietly, gazing into his eyes almost desperately. "I'm sorry I'm not sorry! But I'm not sorry. Shit, I'm confusing myself!" he added, as he bent his head and proceeded to do it again.

Daniel could do nothing but moan gently into Rhion's mouth, allow the other boy to take whatever he desired from this incredible kiss, because in truth this was what Daniel wanted as well, he was just too unsure of himself to admit it out loud, he didn't have Rhion's courage or his skill in the matters of pleasure.

And he already realized that he felt something for Rhion, a spark of emotions that bordered on love. A ridiculous thought, too foolish to even be considered seriously.

Of course the mind and the heart rarely match up, so a part of Daniel had already decided what it felt for Rhion and that part didn't give a damn if his mind was a little slow to catch on.

He settled into Rhion's welcoming embrace as if it were made for him. He fit perfectly, and yet this somehow didn't surprise Daniel in the least, he had expected it on some level.

What he didn't expect was the sudden overwhelming need to please this other boy, the one who stared at him with rich golden eyes, eyes that reminded him of what living was supposed to feel like, not what it had always felt like for Daniel.

Oh god! How could he have lived never feeling this? How could anyone live without this tenderness, it suddenly made Daniel see how much hurt they had really endured over the years. It opened his eyes to the things he'd once thought 'normal' and it made him wonder how he could have ever thought the world he had endured since childhood was the only world that existed?

Daniel doubted it, his twin was too full of mistrust and hurt. He had many open wounds that needed mending before he could accept any of this heavy emotional stuff.

With a trembling hand Daniel reached upward, seeking to make some sort of contact, let the other boy know his affections were welcome. He'd have hated himself if Rhion had pulled away because of something he'd done to discourage him.

Daniel wanted to be pleasing for Rhion but in his innocence he just wasn't sure what that entailed, so he was in effect flying blind here and more than a little apprehensive about it.

Simply put, he was afraid of looking like an unpracticed fool. His trembling could have easily been confused with the hesitance of a virgin never taken and on some level this was true; his body had experience, he didn't.

He rested a trembling hand against the side of Rhion's neck, softly caressing the other boy's throat with the tips of his fingers as if the action itself were the embodiment of tenderness and welcoming.

If Rhion hadn't been sure already that he was dealing with someone other than De, that gentle, tentative caress would have convinced him. Rhion didn't doubt that Damian had the capacity for such tenderness; he'd felt it a time or two. But only when the boy was taken off guard in the grip of desire, and even then he fought like hell to hide it from Rhion, or at least to blame it all on "sex".

And somehow, it was far more arousing than anything else Daniel could have done. So utterly unexpected as to be wildly erotic for some reason. Damn! He didn't need this sudden surge of lust, not when dealing with a creature as shy and wild as this aspect of Damian seemed to be. No, Daniel, best to just consider him "Daniel". An entirely separate entity, to be treated very differently.

It was just the perversity of his nature, he supposed, that made him want to pounce on Daniel when he had been wishing for so long for a softer, gentler De.

He pulled back from the kiss very slowly, to meet wide, slightly nervous blue eyes staring into his. He wasn't surprised. Daniel couldn't have missed the sudden upbeat in his pulse. He was able to resist the overwhelming urge to pull Daniel closer, against his aching erection. Maybe Daniel hadn't noticed that (though he didn't look like an idiot, by Thor!) Sternly, Rhion contented himself with gently touching Daniel's face with one hand.

"You're so beautiful," he observed softly, almost dreamily. The damn wine was making him feel soft and protective, even through the slow hard throb of desire. Probably a good thing; he really didn't want to hurt this boy, emotionally or physically.

This was the person he should have met, before all that hateful stuff had happened. How wonderful it would have been, to have met normally. Discovered they liked each other, talked of nonsense and profound things. Become closer slowly, both a little shy, until one day friendship became something deeper. And a first kiss was given and granted, and then more, gradually filling their days with a slowly blossoming wonder----

Daniel had drawn back himself now, startled by the curse coming so soon after the compliment. Rhion cursed again, but silently. He was mucking this up very nicely. "I mean----oh, to the devil with it!"

Firmly, but not aggressively, he pulled Daniel back close to him. Hid his face in the soft dark hair, suddenly shy himself. "I want you, Daniel---uh, guess you figured that out." The boy's hand had dropped down to steady himself perhaps; anyway the fingers hesitantly reached his thigh and brushed his erection, making him absolutely gasp with the sweetness of the sensation. You'd think he was a virgin himself, by god! "Want to touch you, hold you, make love to you---!" Hell, might as well babble at this point before the boy ripped free and hid under the bed. "But I'd never hurt you, if you don't want to just say so now, because I---I'll need to go to a different room, I think, but of course I'll still protect you---"

The babble, which had become sheer jumpy ranting at this point, dried up as Rhion met Daniel's serious, slightly nervous blue gaze. Somehow, he felt like himself again, if not an iota less aroused. "I'd do anything for you, I think," he admitted quietly. "Even leave you alone if you want me to. Though I beg you not to condemn me to that!" The last was said with a faint smile, a hint of both wry humor and a definite question in Rhion's eyes.

Daniel felt an instant of panic. Leave him alone? "No!" The word shot out of him a little too forcefully, and Rhion stilled, his faint smile dissolving as he obviously misunderstood. And was he pulling back, pulling away? He couldn't, not now! What the hell did Damian do, to convince this man his touch was welcome?

No memories came, no sudden talent for seduction. Even his imagination was unequal to the task. In fact for some reason only violent images came to mind, things he shied away from even in thought. He was totally unpracticed, and on his own.

Desperately, he followed Rhion's retreat with his body, practically throwing himself into the other boy's arms. It wasn't a practiced move, and he doubted it was graceful. Didn't matter. The important thing was that Rhion caught him, probably just to keep him from flying off the bed. But it was enough.

He turned his head just enough to clumsily kiss the other boy's startled face. Oh God, he'd kissed him in the eye! "I didn't mean 'no', no," he stammered, miserably watching as this golden creature blinked the water from the abused orb. "I meant don't---DON'T leave me alone."

All other words fled as Rhion studied him gravely, still blinking a bit. "All right," he said finally, in a gentle voice. Daniel closed his eyes, suddenly weak with relief, as Rhion cupped his face with one hand. He felt lips touch his cheek, the heat of Rhion's wine-sweet breath as he spoke. "I want to touch you, Daniel. Want to be naked with you. May I undress you?"

Daniel swallowed, nodded once. "I'd---I'd like that." His voice was small and shaky, not even hinting at the bloom of heat and desire that Rhion's quiet words had sparked in his body.

"If I do anything you don't like, just tell me, I'll stop." Rhion's voice was so damned serious. Too controlled. Dammitall! He, Daniel, had managed to quench some of the fire he'd felt rising in the other boy with his nervous stammering. There was still desire for him, but not as wild and powerful as before. He was glad in a way----the force of Rhion's feelings had been nearly scary. Yet he couldn't help feeling a little sorry, too.

He opened his eyes, wanting to see this stranger's face it seemed that he'd known forever. "I don't think you could do anything I wouldn't like," he admitted a bit breathlessly. Knew he was blushing again. Didn't care this time. "But alright. Please?"

The faint, elusive smile was back. Without speaking, Rhion let both hands drift to the lacings of Daniel's shirt. He bent down slightly, and Daniel shivered as the other boy followed the slow release of the laces with his lips, tracing a line of wet fire down the skin he was gradually freeing.

Daniel gasped, went totally limp. He' d wanted to please Rhion. He'd wanted to seem, oh, a little less than a raging virgin? He hadn't counted on what the other boy's touch would do to him. The rush of heat that followed every light caress on his body, and lingered in a glow of sensation almost too wonderful to be borne.

"Yes?" The soft voice was on his chest now. A wicked tongue slipped across his nipple. He felt it all though his body, couldn't help crying out again. Was that supposed to happen? He arched wildly, as the lick became a soft nibble. "Oh, God!"

The nibbling stopped. Damn it! "You don't like that? I'm sorry, some don't. You'll have to let me know what you like if you can, Daniel, I don't----De never lets me give him anything, so I'm don't even know his tastes, not really. And yours would be different anyway, I think----"

Rhion was babbling. Oh, impossible! He's just as nervous as I am. Just as unsure of himself? How's that possible? Goddammit, De, what the hell did you do to him?

"No. I like it. I love it! I mean, you don't know. I want everything. I never felt this----I mean we've had sex, but no one else---ever----touched me." God, he didn't know how to say what he wanted to the other boy, and who knew when Damian would take over again. Cheat him of this glory. De should own this too, but he'd deny it, fight back in hatred.

He didn't bother to answer, just sighed quietly as Rhion's warm, wet mouth began to move down his body again in a slow glide of magic. All thought gradually tumbled away, only sensation remaining.

He felt Rhion's breath on his erection through the thin cloth of the drawstring pants, and had to bite back an actual scream at the jolt of pure, mindless pleasure.

When had he ever felt like this? His body was reacting to the other boy as if it had been made for him, and been waiting all of Daniel's life to be awakened fully by one person's magic.

Gently, with maddening slowness, Rhion peeled away the rest of Daniel's clothes. He then leaned back, and studied him for a slow, simmering moment that made Daniel blush and shiver. The older boy didn't have to say a word, the look on his face and in his eyes made Daniel feel completely desired, utterly beautiful. "Rhion---?" he murmured curiously, but with a blossoming seduction growing in his voice. "It's not fair---you're still dressed." He felt a little breathless as he looked up through his lashes with what he hoped was a tempting expression.

It worked far better than he'd expected. Rhion actually growled softly as he stood up and hastily tore at his clothes; it was a low, plush sound that made Daniel shiver. "Don't be afraid, Daniel---I'd never hurt you---" Rhion glanced down at his own urgent erection and chuckled. "By Thor, look what you do to me! No, don't shake like that!---I promise I'll take it slow---"

"You're wrong. I'm not afraid," Daniel blurted. The sight of Rhion naked was too much, and not only because he was as bright and splendid in his beauty as a warrior angel. Even when Daniel closed his eyes against this one's light, it drew moving patterns of dark silk across his eyelids. It cleansed but without pain. It sought the darkness not to destroy but to make it holy, to worship and be worshipped.

De had known this moment before, somehow, somewhere. Lies could not endure against this feeling, maybe that's why he had chosen to escape and let Daniel return.

Daniel fell back onto the rumpled heavy satin covers, letting his knees fall open with innocent wantoness. "I just want you so much I can't stand it. My heart feels about like bursting. And I don't even know why."

Rhion froze at his halting words, staring down at the beautiful slim creature offering himself so freely. There were only two things in Daniel's eye now; desire and utter trust. But still, those eyes widened a bit as Rhion leaped upon the bed like a big golden predator to press his length right across the smaller boy.

"You want me," Rhion said quietly, staring down into Daniel's eyes gravely as if searching for something. "You want me---and you admit it? And 'everything', I think you said? Not just a stiff---um. I mean, touching and all that too?"

"I guess that's about the size of it," Daniel admitted with a nervous but rather warm smile. Oops! He probably shouldn't have put it quite that way, considering what was pressing against his thigh right now! The thought surprised a giggle out of him, a rather silly sound, but it caused Rhion to smile faintly and kiss his nose. Daniel suspected the wine was kicking in nicely now, but it made Rhion funny and charming, not brutal or careless as he had seen the effect be on other men.

"You want to share pleasure, not just fuck." Rhion made it a statement, yet his voice was slightly dazzled as if he couldn't believe it. He'd moved the warm blanket of his body, he was now straddling Daniel again.

"Yes, please. Soon. Like tonight?" he added, and was surprised at the tease in his own voice. Their erections were practically touching. Daniel swallowed, wiggled a little to make "practically" turn into "absolutely". Rhion's soft gasp of surprise, the sudden rush of sheer desire in his richly colored eyes, made Daniel feel giddy with something very like triumph.

"Smart ass," Rhion observed in a breathless laugh. His hand ran down Daniel's chest and leaped from there unexpectedly to claim the boy's erection in a gentle grip and pull it snugger against his own. His eyes were shining as Daniel arched up with a startled whimper, as if the boy's open pleasure in his touch was the finest of aphrodisiacs.

Rhion stroked dreamily for a few seconds, until Daniel was ready to writhe and moan and beg for he barely knew what. "Silly me. Need oil. Stay here. In kitchen. Uh---you wouldn't mind me inside you, would you? I'm more practiced at that, but anything you want. I want to please you, so whatever you want." He was quivering with excitement, yet trying so hard to be courteous and thoughtful. How strange.

Anything I want, Daniel thought in a haze of sensations too complex to define. Anything I want. Me. I never thought about being in this position and liking it, how do I know what I want? But I think I know what Rhion wants. "Inside me would be fine," he agreed rather shyly, wondering what the oil was for.

The golden haired boy gave him a fiendish yet curiously sweet smile, a last gentle squeeze, then leaped from the bed and padded into another room. "Might be better smelling ones in the bathing quarters!" his voice rang out encouragingly.

Daniel rolled to his stomach to watch him go; for a second, he wondered if Rhion was making an excuse to back out of the whole thing for some reason. But that was silly, that was his insecurities flaring up. He only had to remember the way Rhion had studied him, touched him, smiled at him. Besides, they were imprisoned here. Where would he escape to?

The memory of their grim situation dimmed the boy's happiness just a little. Still, as he listened to Rhion grumbling and cussing to himself in the other room searching for an oil that pleased his nose, Daniel felt a small, affectionate smile tug at his lips. He decided not to worry and wonder about why he felt this way for a near-stranger. He would just accept it, enjoy it.

And maybe he should have been more anxious about what he had given Rhion permission to do to him. He wasn't experienced in any sense; De had shielded him from all sexual encounters, just as if they were another form of pain. But he definitely knew where all the parts went, and Rhion wasn't exactly under-endowed. No indeed! He was sure of that at least; aside from all the physical contact with the item in question, he'd made a point of, well, checking.

Even thinking of it made him flush! And no, he wasn't scared as he should have been. Instead, he felt a strange, jumpy excitement inside, a little like an upset stomach but much more pleasant. Anticipation, that was it.

The fact of the matter was he could hardly wait! Just hearing Rhion's muffled griping from the next room made his member throb underneath him, hard against his stomach. He supposed that was pretty damn weird. He realized he didn't care. "Rhion---" Oh, gods! Had that sounded seductive, or just really, really needy?

"I'm on my way, boy---" Rhion hurried into the room, hair somewhat ruffled, an amber vial in his hand. He looked every bit as eager as Daniel felt. And De's twin decided that he didn't care how hopeful and weak he sounded, if it just got Rhion next to him again.

"You're so---" he flailed for a word as Rhion stopped at the edge of the bed, and in tilting his head to look up at him Daniel realized he was practically eye to eye with his hard-on.

"What am I? Are you laughing at me?" Rhion's tone was menacing, but there was a curl of humor at the edge of his mouth. "Or at my pitiful attributes, perhaps? That's rude!"

Daniel managed to ignore that foolish remark. "You're so---handsome!" It wasn't exactly what he meant to say, but the words he wanted probably hadn't been invented yet.

Rhion burst out laughing, and moved around to climb on the bed behind Daniel. Something of a pity; the view had been delightful. "Well, thanks! Though really I can take no credit for that; it just happened. No, stay there; that's perfect---"

He didn't think it was perfect, since now he couldn't see Rhion, but the low growl in the other boy's voice pretty much nailed him to the spot with surprise and pleasure. The light touch to the small of his back, followed by a slow trickle of warm liquid in the same spot, was an indescribable sensation.

"Relax, boy." Rhion's voice was soothing; his hands, now moving over Daniel's lower back smoothing in the scented oil, were the opposite of soothing. "You don't like something, just say so. Remember?"

His hands drifted lower, gently cupped the boy's ass for a moment, then began to apply more oil there. Daniel held his breath, beginning to get a clue as some of the warm liquid trickled between and Rhion's fingers casually followed.

"Uh-" Oh, no, the fingers hesitated. Not what he meant at all! "Does that mean---if I do like something---I should keep my mouth shut?" He sounded a bit breathless even to himself.

Rhion made an amused sound that wasn't quite a laugh. He, too, seemed a little breathless, as he allowed his fingers to probe deeper, stroke gently. "Not at all."

"Oh----" That felt---- "So good---" He meant everything, the whole unbelievable situation. But more specifically he meant Rhion's fingers inside him, three of them now he thought. It was a strange feeling, but far from painful. So intimate. He felt like he was melting inside. He pillowed his head on his arms finally, relaxing totally into this new thing, unconsciously trusting Rhion to lead him through it.

"Very good indeed," Rhion agreed in a husky voice. He'd moved without removing those maddening fingers, straddling Daniel from behind now. The boy could felt the throbbing cock gliding gently against his now very slick butt, preparing he supposed to replace the fingers. He whimpered softly, in anticipation rather than fear.

The shock of pleasure caught Daniel totally off guard; he couldn't hold back a strangled cry that might have meant anything, pleasant or unpleasant. His fingers dug into the bedcovers convulsively, the push of his erection into the bed totally unplanned. The friction nearly undid him. "Rhion---" he gasped when he could, afraid that the other boy would take his reaction the wrong way. "I---that---" Damn! His emotions, the signals from his body, were so scrambled he could barely remember language.

"Don't worry, I'll remember where that spot was!" Rhion reassured him, making him laugh at the same time. His voice changed, thickened a little. "Are you sure you want this? I meant to, to make you more ready, but if I keep this up---well, the view from back here is too damn good, if I don't take you now I think more than the moment is gonna be shot to hell."

Daniel's fund of sexy talk might not have been practiced, but his stammering admission was all the other boy needed. "Relax," he ordered again, in a very soft, almost conversational tone. And then his fingers were gently withdrawn, and something else took their place before Daniel could protest.

Slowly, but not as gently because it was bigger, felt so much more than what he'd expected. And yet it wasn't painful, exactly; he supposed De's experiences in this area had more or less made him ready for this, at least physically. He was being stretched, then filled with something pulsing and alive. He was being---given something. Something unimaginable to him before this moment. He knew his thoughts were half crazy. He didn't care. Rhion was inside him.

He hadn't even been aware of holding his breath. It came out of him in a soft whimper, even as he instinctively pushed back, seeking more with an eagerness that was almost shameless.

Rhion bent forward enough to slip an arm underneath him and pull him up into a semi-upright position, pressed tightly against the other boy's chest. The movement changed the angle of Rhion's cock inside him and Daniel heard his own cry almost from a distance as pleasure fired through him again, a double dose this time as he felt his own erection gently wrapped by strong fingers and fondled almost reverently. He fought to say something encouraging through the drowning waves, and succeeded. To his horror, it was a gasping curse word, full of sheer disbelief.

He felt Rhion's grin against the side of his throat. Then felt teeth, nibbling gently, as the other boy began to unhurriedly---almost lazily---thrust into his body. But it wasn't just the penetration; it was Rhion's arm wrapped protectively around his chest, the other hand gently caressing his swelling member. The pleasure now wasn't as sharp and devastating, more like rolling waves that grew and crested higher every time---

The way Rhion suddenly trembled and bit harder into his throat without meaning to. The way he---swelled---inside Daniel's quaking body. The soft sound he finally made in the middle of the long shudders.

Every inch of his body strained against Rhion's grip as the shattering orgasm possessed him, an endless rush, a mindless high. Over so quickly, and yet it seemed to last forever. So this is sex, he thought in mild amazement. I could get used to this!

And at the trembling fade of it, Rhion was still there holding him tightly, whispering to him. Not turning over indifferently, or leaving the bed with a sick, lewd grin. Whispering to him about how beautiful he was. Thanking him, for giving Rhion so much pleasure. Wrapping them both in the rich coverings and not minding the mess in the slightest as he settled in against Daniel's body, making sleepy contented noises.

Daniel remained lying awake in the heavy warmth of the golden one's embrace, too dazzled with life to sleep. And then about twenty minutes later, the romantic glow dissolved and he began to giggle helplessly.

The uncertainty and fear of his surroundings still lingered, as did the worse, poison guilt of all the things Damian might have done while out on his own.

Who are you? he thought almost dreamily, before falling into slumber. Dammit, Damian, couldn't you give me some info here? He waited, but his twin was silent. Carlonday---I know that name. I'll remember your family. I'll find your secrets, I want to know all about you. What you like, who you are. How do you know so much, about loving---someone taught you well. I'm not jealous, I'm grateful. You might have touched me with the knowledge of a Ky-reth slut master, but what you felt in your heart---that was for me.