Kiram shoved Javier onto his back and Javier allowed it, breathing deeply and watching Kiram intently. Kiram ran his hands over Javier's chest and followed the black line of his hair to his groin. Javier's flesh stiffened beneath his fingers.
"Do you want to." Kiram wasn't sure of what words to use. He didn't want to scare or disgust Javier.
"Yes."
"You don't even know what I'm asking." Kiram caressed Javier, tracing the length of him, taking in the sensation of delicate, warm skin and the steely rigidity beneath. A breathless gasp escaped Javier.
"It's still yes," Javier told him. "I want to."
Kiram realized that Javier wanted him to decide. Kiram surveyed Javier's powerful Cadeleonian body. It would be simple and very pleasant to allow Javier inside him and he knew that Javier would be most at ease with that. But Kiram wasn't sure that he wanted to place himself in the same position as one of the whores at the Goldenrod. And there was also the intense temptation to touch Javier as no lover before him had.
Kiram stood and found the halda salve that Rafie had given him. It felt slick beneath his fingers and cool. As he returned to the bed he warmed the salve in his palm. It smelled slightly of cut grass and melons.
Javier watched him, a mix of excitement and uncertainty in his expression. Kiram offered him a reassuring smile.
"This is halda salve for your sunburn." Kiram worked a little of the salve over Javier's cheeks and shoulders, soothing the pinkish skin. He let his touch turn slightly firmer as he massaged the tension out of Javier's muscular arms and chest. The edge of worry in Javier's expression melted into comfortable arousal.
As Kiram rubbed the slick halda salve lower a soft groan of pleasure escaped Javier. He closed his eyes and slowly relaxed into Kiram's touch.
Kiram took pains to be gentle with Javier but even so, when he slowly eased Javier's legs apart, he felt the tension of alarm surge through Javier's powerful thighs. Javier's eyes flashed wide- aroused but also terrified. His entire body trembled.
Kiram didn't know that he'd ever seen such open vulnerability in Javier before. He'd been less afraid after being run through in the autumn tournament than he was now. Suddenly Kiram grasped how very much more this simple act meant to Javier than himself.
To Kiram it signified a deep intimacy-something lovely and special that he had shared with very few lovers. But for Javier it represented the most profound offering he could submit, not just to another man, but to his own desire.
"Should I stop?" Kiram stilled his hands on Javier's thighs. "We could-"
"No," Javier replied softly. He met Kiram's gaze. "I want this. with you."
Very consciously Javier relaxed, opening himself to Kiram.
His trust touched Kiram more any words could have. Kiram answered him with a tender kiss. Then gently, almost reverently, he explored Javier's body, touching and kissing his dark hair and delicate skin. Stroking the length of Javier's flushed, thrusting erection, he caressed the curves of his buttocks and made a slow, sweet play of working the halda salve deep into Javier. His own body ached with desire, but the tension that quivered through Javier's muscles tempered Kiram's need.
Steadily Javier melted into his hands. The quietest of pleasured gasps escaped his lips as Kiram found just the right angle. At last Kiram moved over him and eased deep into the heat of his powerful body.
He moved with all the skill he possessed, pacing his strokes to Javier's hungry responses. Something greater than pleasure built between them in steady thrusts and whispers. Soon Javier arched into Kiram, urging him deeper, faster. A fusion of exquisite tenderness and raw desire drove their rhythm. Kiram felt his whole being suffused with joy and marveled that something so simple-the heat and friction of another man-could consume him so completely. Pleasure mounted and Kiram's resolve broke. Javier met him, arching and driving with desperate need.
Javier climaxed first, calling Kiram's name out in a soft broken breath. Only a moment later Kiram's strength and drive burst as a last surge of ecstatic pleasure spilled into Javier's body.
They lay still a moment. Then very gently Kiram pulled away and then dropped down beside Javier on the bed. He could feel Javier's pulse, racing nearly as fast as his own. He drew in a deep breath. The smell of sex and halda salve saturated the air. His body felt hot and sticky with sweat.
Javier ran a hand through Kiram's hair as Kiram studied his face. He looked flushed and handsome. Kiram couldn't imagine anyone seeming more precious to him than Javier did now.
"So, now I'm truly bent," Javier murmured.
"But not broken." Kiram searched Javier's distant expression for a sign of what their passion had cost him.
"No." Javier released a slow breath and then offered Kiram a tired smile. "Not broken. Satisfied."
Relief flooded Kiram and he grinned.
"Good, because I'm tapped." Kiram closed his eyes. "You want more you're going to have to do it yourself."
Javier laughed in reply, which Kiram thought was a lovely sound. Then he felt Javier's lips brush his brow.
They slept, entwined and sated.
Chapter Fourteen
A few hours later a knock at the door woke Kiram. Moonlight lit the room and the air felt cool. He rose, wrapped a fallen towel around his body, and cracked the door open. Gold lamplight flared in from the hall, illuminating the scowling face of his brother, Majdi.
"Are you waiting for a written invitation to dinner? Maybe something inscribed on a golden tablet and inlaid with pearls?"
"Could you lower your voice? Javier's sleeping. He's had an exhausting day. We both did."
"I've heard. A nasty run in between your lovers at the Civic Gymnasium." His eyes flickered to Kiram's bed and Javier's naked body. "Speaking of your lover…It looks like you two have certainly kept busy."
"It's not my fault if you're jealous." Kiram refused to admit embarrassment, though his face felt warm. "So I'm going back to bed now."
"I imagine you'd like to." Majdi caught the door before Kiram could close it. "But what do you want me to tell our dear mum? You and Lord Tornesal have fucked yourselves into a stupor and can't come down? That might just give your game away, don't you think?"
Kiram conceded that Majdi had a point. "Tell her that we ate meringues at Mother Bahoush's sweet shop and now both of us feel ill."
Majdi raised his brows. "Slanderous, but clever. I'll tell her, but you can't keep this up and expect no one to notice. Word is going to get around."
"I know."
Majdi smacked his hand lightly against the top of Kiram's head in a gesture that seemed as much a pat as a slap.
"You know, but you don't seem to understand," Majdi said seriously. "You must be careful. People are already talking about the tussle at the gymnasium and if word goes far enough it will get outside the Haldiim district."
"Javier and I didn't do anything at the gymnasium." Kiram stole a quick glance back to make sure Javier still slept. "Musni made an ass of himself and Javier misunderstood and thought he was assaulting me. Nothing came of it."
"Nothing but Musni drunk out of his senses and shouting that you suck Cadeleonian cock," Majdi responded.
Anger and hurt flared through Kiram at the thought of how easily Musni turned to maligning him.
"He was drunk. I don't think anyone will take Musni seriously. The Civic Guards certainly didn't."
Majdi seemed to consider this, then released a slow breath.