WandWpart12

I couldn't believe this was happening, both Jalin and me curved into Carson's arms. One of the nicest feelings I've ever had; the boy snuggled into Carse's side as if he'd taken root there, but his hand had slipped into mine again beneath the long grey cloak that sort of tented us both.

None of us seemed to need to say anything. It was one of those perfect moments that defies rational speech. Although I did kind of wonder what Jalin was thinking.

Then Carson stirred, and I looked up at him wickedly. "You really don't give a rat's ass about this no touching bullshit, do you? Works for me." I grabbed some of the long braids pouring down his chest and tugged impatiently, wanting him closer. Needing his mouth on mine, actually physically thirsty for it. And then, to kiss Jalin, mingle the tastes. Oh, I'm bad. Don't mind admitting it, either.

He looked down at me with a drowsy, fond smile. "Actually - we will need to begin the Waiting shortly. We are formally betrothed now, and not all customs should be disposed of."

"The hell you say. Time to make some new ones, I think. Gods are on our side, and all." I yanked his hair a bit harder; he laughed and obediently bent down to me.

"Ah, no, passionate one. The menace the East holds will be upon you soon enough, and we cannot risk any mistakes in your becoming what you will become. But just for this moment, I will grant you. As thanks, and more, for what you've given me this night. Freedom."

And then Tyr was - not gone, I wasn't sure if he'd ever be completely absent again. He had given Carse a part of himself, not possession but a gift. I could feel it woven through him, a strong calm thread in the emotional, vibrant pattern of his soul.

But for now, Tyr pulled back politely, and it was Carson and only Carson who kissed me. Sweet and hot, absolutely famished underneath but holding back, knowing that if we let it run its course that kiss would grow and become something else and probably last for a week at least.

Halfway through it, I let my eyes slide partly open, to glance casually at Jalin. Who had pulled back a bit when the kiss began, but hadn't released my hand. If anything, gripped it tighter.

He was watching us, alright. Watching us kiss, eyes heavy-lidded and dark and definitely aroused. Not jealous though, it didn't seem; I actually couldn't tell which of us he was wanting, and that was fun and good and greatness. He was still pressed hard against Carson's side, and - omigawd.

From the position of his other arm, although my view was blocked, right, couldn't see all that well., I could swear the boy had ahold of Carson's ass. No, I must be hallucinating. Just hugging him back, was all. I think.

So it might've been my fond delusion. Didn't matter. I was rock hard in a flat second, so turned on by the idea of Jalin groping Carson that I had to question my sanity. What the hell were we into here?

"Wizard!!" Do'nar roared from behind me, so close behind me I was surprised he hadn't just walked up my butt before yelling. Carse released my lips, with a definite reluctance that made me glow with delight inside, and raised his head to give his second-in-command a "thanks for the lousy timing" look.

I turned lazily in his arm and couldn't help snorting. Do'nar was swaying there with four big mugs bristling from his fists, grinning like a rabid coon and obviously so swacked he could barely see. Or maybe he was seeing six of us by now. Nonetheless, I'd seen his type before and figured he'd be going strong until midnight at least, whether he was technically conscious or not.

"Or should I say: wizards?" he continued, peering at Jalin with fuzzy delight and trying to wink. "A damn fine show you put on, and it's proud of you all I am, prouder than a peahen. Gotta have toast. Here!" He shoved the mugs at us generously and I grabbed one from him, a little alarmed at how the contents had sloshed. I liked Blue Death, but not enough to bathe in it.

Although not much of a drinker, Carson released the pair of us to gravely accept two mugs, and passed one down to Jalin. Who first looked startled, then smiled with such sweet delight I would've kissed him right then if Do'nar hadn't been standing there leering.

The Riders don't really have an age limit on drinking; younger kids could guzzle themselves sick on beer or wine if they so desired, although the fact that they would still be expected to do their chores next day pretty much kept things from getting out of hand. But the stronger brews like Blue Death were for warriors.

Jalin looked a little shocked, and risked a quick glance up at Carson. Who merely laughed and took a drink, with an evident enjoyment that was definitely that of someone other. Carse could just barely stand the taste of white wine, let alone this paint remover. I took a pretty good swig, felt an immediate warm buzz even as my taste buds went numb. Do'nar, having finally managed to chase down his mouth, half emptied his mug in one swallow - an impressive feat, I gotta say - and then belched resoundingly, nearly knocking us all over with the backlash of lighter fluid breath.

"And to Iceflame!" Do'nar added. "A fine, strong name, youngling. Be sure you live up to it!" And damned if he didn't swig the rest of that mug in another massive gulp. Damn, the man must have had a gullet of cast iron.

Jalin had kind of missed the first toast once he'd gotten his nose close enough to the cup to smell the stuff. His face squinched up in disbelief, and you could almost see his brain re-evaluating the honor of drinking with the big boys. But now that Do'nar was toasting him directly, he naturally felt obliged to partake. Foolishly, he took a cautious sip instead of an actual swallow. Stuff like this, you needed to take a healthy gulp so the effect would slam into your brain before your shocked mouth and appalled stomach got the message.

Carson was nicer than I was; he tightened his grip and supported the poor kid as he choked and turned a beautiful pale green color. Myself, I stepped hastily away in case he decided to puke on me. I wouldn't let myself laugh at him though, as he hung on Carse's arm gagging and looking as if he'd received a body blow. Do'nar was the one who guffawed, and I guess that was a good thing because it straightened the kid right up. Eyes watering but glaring with outrage, he defiantly raised the mug he had managed to hold onto and took a righteous gulp this time. Once again, at first I was sure it was all gonna come right back up, but then those beautiful silver eyes widened.

"Oooooh," Jalin said dreamily, laying his head against Carson and grinning as he took another, even bigger swallow. "Nice. Warm." He peered at me from the folds of the grey cape and the smile he gave me was so debauched I was amazed. And kinda wishing Carson's cape really was a tent and the grinning Do'nar firmly on the outside of it. "Wonderful. Beautiful. C'mere, Hawk, 'kay?"

"Jesus Christ, a cheap drunk no less." I obligingly stepped back into my circle of companions, brushing the pale bright hair gently out of Jalin's eyes. I had never seen anybody get so looped so fast, and look it.

I dropped my mug too, and goddammit, I hadn't quite finished it. Had to commend the kid, pants this tight it was almost a magical thing to fit a hand inside. Complaining? Not. Felt good. Then there was a big laugh that I thought at first was Do'nar but then realized was more feminine.

"Wolf, be damned! Two beautiful boys you're needing? I don't think so. It's appalling greedy of you. I'll pay you a good ten gold for the redhead, for a week." It was my Xena battle-babe, striding up to hand Do'nar a mug he didn't need and swig at her own as she leered at us. Er, at me.

With a casual panache I would never have believed possible, Carson handed his emptied mug back to Do'nar and then swirled his long cape around me and Jalin, concealing us from the chest down but leaving it perfectly obvious that we were absolutely tucked in around him and liking it just fine. Jalin's head was cradled now against Carse's chest, his eyes were closed and he looked blissed-out asleep.

But he was definitely wide awake. I don't know what expression was on my face, because the kid had decided that my pants really were too tight for adequate exploration, he'd pulled his hand out but was now using it to try and undo my laces.

I couldn't see either of them making small talk for now. I was just drunk enough to take up the slack. "Bullshit, woman. That offer is lame. You know I'm worth at least fifteen gold for a week."

Do'nar actually blew some booze out on the ground at this remark, and started coughing fiercely. His Xena-esque friend, whom I now noticed was kinda holding onto his butt, burst out laughing and yelled, "Done, by the gods!"

"What!" I yelped. But it wasn't from this rapid devaluation. It was from the fact that Jalin had actually managed to unlace me one-handed. The stupid pants were still tight enough to stay up just fine, but his hand once again was down the front and having much more room to, uh, maneuver.

Carson seemed to think he'd insulted me, and that he needed to make up for it. Because it was definitely his hand I felt going down the *back* of my pants, cupping one butt cheek and - oh, my. Was he trying to kill me here? "No fingers, no fingers," I muttered frantically. "Carse, dammit, don't you dare - yow!"

"But then on second thought," Carson said smoothly, as Swansteel roared with delight and pounded poor Do'nar on the back, "I require them both for the night at least. My apologies." I caught him dropping a teasing glance at me as his fingers went even deeper. "Perhaps I can simply gag the redhead."

"Mo-ther-fuck-er!" I managed to growl as a totally obscene wave of sensation shook me right down to my fancy boots. The prick. Oooh. Show him. I closed my eyes and reached unerringly for where I knew his crotch would be.

It was there, all right. So was Jalin's other hand. No doubt if the ceremonial leathers hadn't been all one piece that little bastard would've been as deep in Carson's pants as he was in mine, but even just working from the outside I could tell right away he was doing one hell of a job. Oh, momma, wait a minute, Jalin with his hand all over Carson's crotch.

It was the weirdest orgasm I ever had; maybe because I was half-wasted, maybe because of the surreal circumstances or that I was trying so hard to look nonchalant. I didn't even know anything was happening at first, and then my bones were melting from the inside out and I had to lock my knees together to stay upright and then I couldn't stay upright anyway. All I could do was slump against Carson (who was still calmly talking to Do'nar and his babe, rot him, and with an erection like THAT and being felt up to boot) and basically gasp a little and go with the flow. And goddammit, I hoped one of these gutter-minded fools had thought to bring a paper towel or something 'cause there was one FUCK of a lot of flow.

Gradually the roaring of blood in my ears softened enough so I could hear Do'nar say disappointedly, "Dammit, Wolf, I think the wizard has passed out. Thought he had a better head for liquor than that."

"Oh, he'll recover," Carson said almost cheerfully. I could have punched him if I'd had the strength, but he HAD removed that rude, invasive hand to wrap his arm firmly around me so I wouldn't just melt into a puddle.

"And the boy is drunk on his ass," Do'nar assessed, slightly more happily. It was true, Jalin was giggling now and couldn't seem to stop, but I had a wrathful feeling that the drink wasn't all to blame. "Maybe you'd best put them both to bed and come back to party, Wolf. These youngens have no staying power."

"As a matter of fact, I must leave them to their own devices shortly, but not to enjoy myself, alas. Truly, I need to speak with the Witchwoman. I have intruded on her territory somewhat, though it had to be done. And owe her an apology. I fear she is somewhat angered at the turn events have taken, the breaching of tradition."

Carson sounded truly depressed at the thought of confronting Smitty; I felt absolutely no sympathy for him whatsoever. The sick bastard had stuck his fingers up my ass practically in public, for cryin' out loud. And I didn't care how good it felt at the time. While a sixteen-year-old drunken kid was jerking me off at the same moment. How sick was that? And I was damned if I thought that concealing cape fooled anybody; the thing must have looked like it was flapping in a high wind with all the activity going on underneath it.

As if to verify my suspicions, Do'nar said in a lewd tone, "Ah, let the wizard doze for a bit more; some very interesting dreams it looked like he was having, haw haw haw! The Witchwoman's been getting too pompous lately anyway, telling people not to drink and all; grown warriors she tries to herd about as if they was baby ducks, or something. Phaw!" There was a pause, a slurping sound. Yeah, I was keeping my eyes closed, embarrassed as hell. As drunk as Do'nar was, he knew damn well what had been happening under that cape.

Jalin was still fumbling with my dick, as a matter of fact, having a bit of trouble getting it back where it belonged now that he was finished. When you're drunk it's much easier to untie things than to relace them, easier to make a mess than to clean one up. I smacked him away from my crotch and took care of it myself. The horrible thought had struck me that he might take it into his head to use the clean-up spell on me. In his condition, who knew how far cleaning would go? I preferred just to shove it back in and lace up tightly; it was getting dark enough I doubted any outside mess would be noticeable, and the inside mess I could live with until I got a little more privacy.

Do'nar was continuing his rant. "About time some of these damnfool traditions changed. And since the gods were involved - " he paused, probably remembering belatedly that at least one of the "gods" was still very much present. "Er, ARE involved, who are we mere mortals to start quoting tradition? Anybody can see you and the Hawk are Bonded already. Screw his ass off, say I, and to hell with the Waiting."

I opened my eyes and pulled myself up; this had gone far enough, if Do'nar was comfortable giving sexual advice to someone who didn't need it, and about MY ass no less! I would've stepped haughtily out of the cape and away from these two perverts, but Carson still had an armlock around my waist. And Jalin was looking up at me woefully, sensing how annoyed I was. I made to push off from Carson and of course my hand landed right on his crotch. Yup, still quite interested, if flagging a bit at the thought of Smitty.

And suddenly I wasn't mad anymore. Why had I been upset to begin with? It had been fucking outrageous, but wonderful, and who cared if there was an audience? There were no cops or offended neighbors here; just Do'nar and his babe, who'd enjoyed the show if anything.

I stroked Carse firmly in apology; I could feel his eyes softening on me. What I was stroking, anything but softening; felt him arch, swear I could feel him purr. Then he kind of shook himself, and stepped away, but not before placing his hand over mine and pushing down fiercely before gently detaching my grip.

"Go play," he said quietly, smiling at me. "Don't let the boy trip over his own feet before you find your tent." He smacked Jalin lightly on the butt and strode off, cape flowing around him; still looked all vampiric and sexy, but I at least would never be able to look at him in a cape again without snickering.

Jalin just sort of stood there watching him go, hair hanging in his face again, looking wasted and a bit bereft. I dropped an arm around his shoulders and squeezed. "Say what, kid? You wanna party some more, or just go home?"

He had wriggled out from under my embrace. "Wait!" he blurted to me, and then was running after Carson, and not in a very straight line, either. I hoped he didn't trip over anything.

"Be damned," Do'nar observed. "Akanea." His big laugh boomed out as he shook his head and emptied what must have been his thirtieth mug of the night. "All the damn traditions shot to hell. S'athal is going to have to either lighten up or blow up, by the gods!"

"What the hell is 'akanea'?" I asked impatiently, relieved to see that Jalin had caught Carson with no mishap and was now speaking to him rapidly. Carson had stopped, bent down to listen, was now raising an eyebrow and looking both surprised and pleased. "And for that matter, what the hell kind of name is 'Iceflame'? Not that it doesn't fit him, but I thought he'd be getting an, er, spirit animal."

Do'nar grinned at me; he had one arm around Swansteel, who had succumbed to alcohol and was slumped against him dazedly. Even so, she managed to give me a big, dumb smile as well. "Iceflame," she mumbled. "Good name. Strong name. Glad for the boy; show all these bastards, teasing him constantly, smacking him around."

"Easy, Hawk; that's in the past now." Do'nar kind of jiggled Swansteel, either to shut her up or adjust her more comfortably on his hip. "Think the boy should explain what akanea is himself, but Iceflame - that's our word for - bet you don't have the Lordly Ones in your world, either? Hell of a stupid world." He shook his head sadly. "Lucky you are to be here, Firehawk! Bet there's no Blue Death in your world, either?"

"Oh. Sorry." He belched comfortably, not looking sorry at all, and fixed me with one bloodshot eye. "Dragons? You have dragons in your world, Hawk? Big huge lizards that breathe stuff?"

"Iceflame," Do'nar mused. "Is that the blue dragon, or the white dragon? Dammit, Hawk, maybe you best ask the boy about that, too. I seem to be too drunk to remember which. But it's our word for one of them dragons." He beamed at me, proud to remember even this much. "HELL of a strong name! Who would've thought it, for a cute little shit like that with no warrior skills? No offense, Hawk."

"None taken," I mumbled, hardly listening to him actually. I was watching Jalin, all quick and slender and exotic as hell in his black leather; even sexier, dammit, with the pale fine hair tumbling into those smoke-silver eyes. Smiling up at my Carson winningly, a little drunkenly.

Then Carse was off in a swirl of grey cloak and Jalin was running back to me; oops, a bit too far, running INTO me, wasted darn kid. Or maybe he'd planned on making me go "Oof!" and throw my arms around him like that. He certainly didn't show any inclination, once there, to unburrow his face from my shoulder or - wow.

I don't know why I blurted that one out loud, except that I wasn't exactly sober either. And I was damnwell not embarrassed about anything anymore. What was the point, in this crazy, outrageous, wonderful society? Jalin also wasn't the least bit embarrassed. Even though Do'nar was smacking his own leg and roaring with amusement at the both of us.

He raised his head from my shoulder and smiled at me dreamily; I wasn't sure if I was glad or sorry that the movement of his very full erection against me had stopped. "Carry me home?" he inquired breathily. And I swear, flapped his eyelashes at me. God, was he drunk. "I'll make it worth your while," he promised. "'Cause, Hawk, I, I really don't think I c'n walk that far 'thout falling down."

Do'nar flapped a hand at us, unable to speak; tears were squirting from his eyes at the sight of me with this long-legged, grinning wet dream lounging in my arms. I shoulda just tossed him over my shoulder.

"Why don't you put your arms around my neck there, Jalin, and hang on. It'll help me keep hold of you - no, I didn't say kiss my face, that'll just distract me from, from - whoa! Who dropped that damn mug there? Oh, that would be the same little bastard who's biting my neck, right? Jalin, stop it - damn. Excuse me, pardon me, coming through, baby on board - outta my way, you damn sots! Christ, Jalin, if you bite me there one more time I swear I'll drop your ass and sell you to the highest bidder!"

By the time we reached my temporary tent, Jalin was sobbing with laughter, wetting my neck down nicely. I was giggling pretty good myself, but all the biting and stuff on the way had managed to spark a great deal of interest below the waist as well.

Manfully, I ignored my strong desire to start biting back in the interest of getting the boy settled. I was lucky in one way, the edge was kind of off my sex drive thanks to the pair of them. Not that I still wasn't interested, hell yes I was, but more in control of it.

I lugged the kid into the tent and deposited him on the bed. He tried to keep his grip around my neck, but he was just too high and noodle-limbed to succeed against sheer determination. I released myself and went to light a brazier; it was dark as the inside of a rock in the tent now, and although I could still see somewhat, well.

He'd managed to focus on me, and the way his eyes changed then, went lowering and hot with desire, was a cock-tease in itself. "Hawk," he said again, in a different voice, a low, lush voice totally at odds with his innocent looks. Began to pull ineffectually at the straps criss-crossing his chest. "Please?" he said, a bit thickly. "Help me."

"You have so got it." I came and sat on the edge of the bed, pulling off my boots quickly before sliding up next to him. "No, let me do it, kid. You're too fucking drunk." I began to gently undo that complicated shirt from his body, trying not to be distracted by the way he shuddered or moaned every time I touched his bare skin. The kid was so hot for it I could barely believe it. To my relief, the long tight sleeves also turned out to have laces; I had foreseen some problems peeling him free from those, especially the way he was starting to wriggle.

As I finally tossed the collection of leather straps to the floor, he turned much faster than I would've believed possible in his inebriated state and went for me like a hungry tiger cub, rearing up to his knees and grabbing my face in both hands with a warning growl in case I tried to pull away.

I didn't. I let him take my mouth as he pleased, and he pleased to slide his tongue right in and search for tonsils. I kissed him back - God, how could I help it? - but in a softer way, until I felt him calm down, slow just a bit and stop shaking. I ran my hands down his naked back, marveling at the absolutely silky feel of it. Even that careful caress made him gasp into my mouth. The booze hadn't mellowed him down at all; it was more like it had sensitized his every nerve to the boiling point.

I brushed that errant, frosty hair back from his eyes yet again. Damn, he made it very, very hard to disappoint him in any way, with a look like that. All wistful and wanting even as he looked ashamed of himself, forgetting all about Carson like that. "It's okay either way," I reassured him, grinning a bit. "He did tell me to 'go play'. And I gotta admit, who knows how long Smitty will tie him up with her complaints?"

"He said, start without him, he wouldn't be long." Jalin's eyes slid up to mine, gauging what was there; he sighed a bit, but not too unhappily. "Maybe we should wait. Just a while. He made me akanea. He has been very kind - to me. More than anyone. Except you." And then, ah, shit, if those big translucent eyes didn't suddenly fill and spill over and instead of unlacing my shirt he was bawling on it. Well, I knew from experience that Blue Death would do that to you.

All I could do was hug the kid hard until he got a grip, and it didn't take him long, all things considered. An absolute storm of sobbing for maybe five seconds, then he was sniffing and hitching and pulling away, wiping his nose on the back of his hand and looking embarrassed as hell. "I'm sorry, Hawk, I, I haven't been a man of the Tribes that long, it would seem."

"Kid, you should see me blubber when I get going and have a load of Blue Death on board. No worries." I took his hand, began to play with his fingers idly. "I would appreciate it, though, if you would "

"Yeah?" He looked so serious all of a sudden, and I swallowed. Damn. I didn't know why, but his "serious" look was even sexier than his "seductive" look. Or maybe I was just terminally horny.

"Uh, well, sure." Good Lord, what now? I wasn't sure, but I had a feeling the hell was about to be embarrassed out of me. And I'm usually not wrong about such things.

He drew a deep breath. "Well, I did not intend to be there, except she scolded me for rudeness and insisted. She had said the king's consort would come, and that's what I was expecting. A beautiful, brainless fool whom I was jealous of for having so high a place in the world only through warming the king's bed."

His distressed look faded, but only slightly "I - I stayed just to please her. And." He bit his lip, then continued in a rush, not meeting my eyes at all this time. "And you were even more beautiful than I could believe, but not in the insipid way I imagined. And not stupid."

He was getting more agitated as he continued. I was getting alarmed. "You were a real person, the most real person I ever met. You were yourself. You talked to me about things that mattered to me, and not as if I were foolish for thinking they mattered. You had magic, and weren't grudging to share it with me, you were happy I could do it well even, I never met anyone like you before, how could I help falling in love with you?"

"Shut up!" he yelled, practically in my face, and I obeyed him instantly. He looked knife-edge from going ballistic on me; I remembered that cold magic he had thrown at the Wolf and decided that even the bad-ass wizard really didn't want to see him totally upset here. "Let me finish this," he said, in a softer, more controlled voice. "It is not easy for me, admitting I'm a fool."

"I, I told myself you were like what I would become. Staying with a person you didn't care for, only for the position it afforded. But really, as lonely as I was."

He drew a ragged breath; I was nearly exploding with the need to negate this, comfort him, hold him. I honored what he wanted of me, and left him alone. It damn near killed me.

"I knew it wasn't true, I think. You had power of your own, no need to be kept. But that would mean you were with the Wolf because you wanted to be. I couldn't stand the thought of that. Of you being with such a monster. My lady mother was wise, I lied to myself. Because I wanted you to to - gods! It is not important."

He let me grab him, hug him hard for a moment. Then he pulled gently back, meeting my eyes this time, his own cool and distant rather than raging as they had been.

"Akanea, it is something that happens when two warriors who fight together decide to become lovers." I couldn't believe how suddenly dry and lecturing his tone was, after all that nearly savage emotion. "It happens sometimes between sword-brothers, that they become so close there is no choice but to express it in this way. Yet, often one or both will have people who were important to them before the new relationship started. Family often, other lovers, sometimes a Bonded, even children." He swallowed. "The Swordbrothers do not forsake these bonds because they are now together. Instead, the people in their lives become akanea - shared between them. Both the pleasures and the responsibilities. They share what is between them equally, people as well as possessions. Do you understand this?"

Oh, Carson. I am liking, but I am so not believing. What the hell's happened to my jealous, insecure lover? Always knew he had a big streak of kindness under the ice, but up till now, only showed it to me. "Uh, I think so. You mean me and Carson officially are sharing - you. For permanent."

"I am akanea between you," he agreed softly. "Shared lover. The Warchief said he will make the announcement official when your Bonding is sealed, if I so desire it. Because it is not a normal thing, for Bonded to have akanea. More focused on what is between the two of them, that relationship is."

His eyes were beginning to lose that detached, scholarly look. "So you see what this monster has given me, Hawk. A name to live up to, instead of one to shame me, although I am still not sure how I deserve it. And the place beside you that I schemed to steal from him, handed over like a gift. So you also see who the real monster is. I - you won't even want to touch me now, will you?"

This last blurted out with all the hopeless certainty that only sheer youth or a good soppy drunk could provide, and the poor kid was struggling with both. Okay, no matter what he wanted now I was required to grab him. So I did.

But even more than that, I was pretty sure there was only one thing that would reassure him at this point. Make him realize that he hadn't fucked up everything as badly as he thought.

I breathed a mental apology to Carson plus a promise to make it up to him in spades, and pushed Jalin down into the bed with a hand to his chest before he could even start to get a good snivel going.

"Kid, you have way too many clothes on," I told him. Couldn't resist brushing my hand over that cool little string of beads at his bellybutton, before attacking his pants lacing.

Carson. Good God, how I loved him. Wanted him. But I wouldn't refuse this gift he had given me, this ardent child whom I also was beginning to care about deeply.

And damn right, I was hot for Jalin, too. Jailbait, according to the world I came from. Jailbait of the wrong sex, even. And he was Jarone's son. That almost felt like incest though it wasn't.

I paused in the unlacing long enough to lick his smooth, flat stomach right next to that teasing fall of crimson beads. Watched the muscles under the pale satin skin quiver and jump helplessly. I was still holding him down with one hand, and I won't deny it, there was a savage, hard satisfaction in being the master here, holding and bending someone smaller than myself to my strength, my will. A touch of rape even though he was begging for it now, clutching at my body everywhere he could reach, moaning and bucking against me as if I were the fucking sex god of the universe.

I had to release him, though, to finish unlacing him, and then peeling him of those tight leather pants took a bit of work. As soon as I'd tossed them to the floor he swarmed into my arms, eyes silently begging for a kiss. Okay, I had something else definite in mind, but I could do kiss.

I slipped my hands down his taut, quivering body to cup his ass gently, squeeze, pull him farther into me. Mouth falling onto his; his eyes closing, head tilting to fit our lips together woah - just perfectly. Sweet. Hot and wet and so sweet.

It was hard to pull my mouth away; not just because of reluctance to lose that taste but because he kept tracking me, following me even with closed eyes to keep and hold and deepen the kiss. Finally had to press a hand between us, push against his chest, almost rip my mouth free. He hissed in displeasure as I held him back.

"Asked you first." Unrelenting. Oh, gawd, so good. Looked cold, that pale coloring, aloof attitude. Illusion. Deception. Shattered like a mirror. Here and now, all for me. Hot. Iceflame. Oh, Carson Tyr - couldn't know how right they'd been.

"Much better," he breathed into my mouth. His eyes were wild and drowning. "Hawk, please - off?" He unwound his arms from around me to grip my waistband and tug eagerly.

I glanced down between us, and had to smile at the urgent erection straining against me. Beautiful. Pretty hefty for a kid this young and slender, too. Oh, not Carson by any means, and thank God for that, I didn't need to be put to shame from two directions. Actually, petty as the thought was, I found it really a turn-on that I was actually enough bigger in this case to retain the Alpha Male role. What can I say, it's a guy thing.

Mutiny all over his face, but also a beginning of curiosity, he did as he was told. On his back, one leg pulling up automatically - oh damn - so as to give me better access. Shall I describe how he looked, framed in all the amber velvets, frosty hair scattered around that pouting angel face? I can't describe it; shit, I could barely believe he was there. He looked as if he'd break if I caressed him too hard. Except for that really healthy erection that didn't look very fragile at all, especially compared to the rest of him.

His grey eyes grew a bit wider and then narrowed as I quickly stripped and sat on the bed near his hips, stroking his stomach lightly. I guess he'd expected me to just climb right on top of him and shove it in, and yeah, I could've done that without a problem. But that would've been for me.

"Hawk, what are you - " His words cut off in a gasp as I wrapped a hand around his dick as if I'd been doing it forever, as if we were old buddies just shaking hands. The way that part of him jerked and twitched when I tightened the grip a bit was just wonderful, so cool. Even though his mouth was still trying to argue. "You aren't going to - what are you - no, don't!" as I breathed on him gently and he finally clued in to what I meant to do to him.

"No speakee Tribal," I observed innocently. "Especially that word 'don't'." And then I figured enough time had been wasted by us both in talk and I took him in my mouth, going down with as sensuous a swirl of tongue as I could manage around the head, running my thumb lightly up the big vein in the shaft.

It worked so damn well that for a minute I thought it would be over before it even really started. He gave sort of a stuttering gasp, and his arms flung out rigidly, fingers locking into the velvet bedcoverings as if holding on for life itself. His hips sort of lurched, as if intending to drive his cock straight down my throat all at once, and I was ready for it. Could have handled it, too. Lord knew I couldn't throat Carson, not if I still wanted to be a talking person - and lack of vocal chords woulda really cramped my style. But sometimes I got stubborn about it when we were both too turned on to think straight. Well, even failure on something that monumental translated into great practice for something nearer sane proportions.

He managed to halt himself, though. Shuddering, half-crazed from sensation and just from watching me do it to him. A kid his age, all that sex-drive, should by rights have already blown a gasket. But it was there in him; that icy, born-in-the-blood control all wizards have, without which all the raw magical talent in the world is useless.

"Hawk," he whispered, holding back, quivering with the effort of not driving himself further in and just fucking my mouth. "N-nobody's ever - why are you - I should be pleasuring you - oh, gods!'

"'Should' is another one of those words I have trouble with, kid. And anyway, Iceflame. We're sealing your tribal name here. Remember, Tyr said that was my job? So what kind of dragon are we talking?"

"Trust me," I told him sweetly. "My way is better." And then, more softly, "Nobody ever did this to you? You mean I'm taking your blow-job cherry? That's so hot, Jalin. Major magic. We'll seal the hell out of this naming thing."

It was about what I'd figured. Whatever tribal lovers he'd had were the stone jerks, expecting him to give them pleasure with that hot little bod. Give it back? Huh, what?

The kid was so sweet. And so damn resigned to his place in life. That had been what I couldn't tolerate. That was what I never could stand, someone being used like that and thinking it was just how things were. Dammit.

I pulled my mind away from this run of thoughts before I got really mad and lost the mood. That was then. This was now. Now was me taking this boy and driving him batshit with pleasure.

He wasn't arguing anymore, not at all, though he nearly came off the bed several times as I alternately teased him with tongue, just the tip of his cock in my mouth, and then went suddenly all the way down, testing for the depth I could handle. The last time I swallowed him whole, I was inspired to grab those beads and tug gently, and that was when I won the prize.

His writhing froze into shocked stillness, and he made this kind of keening sound that was so wild and abandoned the hair on my arms stood straight up. And then he was pulsing down my throat as if he'd never stop, too deep to taste but so much of it and so fast that I was swallowing like crazy to keep from choking.

And before I could say a word, ask if he was okay, or even grab a bit of cover to wipe my mouth on, a pair of hands I knew very well indeed were gripping my ass from behind, kneading so hard it almost hurt.

I felt all that braided hair slide across my body as Carson leaned closer to bite my left butt cheek, the pervert. Not so gently, either. And then he was saying in that purring, half-growling voice that meant he wanted to play rough, "Very tasty. What else do you have?"