Don't Read in the Closet: Volume Four (37 page)

wondrous work of metal craft. Two low marble containers supported

the elaborate flowering vine’s sturdy trunks. Their bright trailing

fronds softened the bronze shapes. A fond smile curved Tahir’s lips…

he recognized the Domas touch. Beautiful.

He stepped out and gasped. The startling view made Tahir step

back. Impressive. He looked down through the bronze tracery to view

the sprawling city. Beyond the city, a sun-drenched expanse raced

toward low foothills. Here and there small hamlets rose up along the

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mighty river nourishing the land. Flowering bushes and trees snuggled

alongside tidy fields. What a bucolic, peaceful view.

Strong hands caressed his hips. Gustav’s warm breath tickled his

ear. His king’s words smelled like wine.

“This spiritual sight humbles me. Such grandeur puts me in my

place. It has from the first day I viewed this as a child although now

the view is far more peaceful, When I was young, the Usurper’s

invading forces or our own armies always occupied the poor, abused

landscape. I find the current vista far more agreeable.”

“It is charming, Sire.”

Gustav ran his palms up to Tahir’s chest and massaged his lover’s

flesh through the damp material. “As are you, my wild one. And what

did I say about calling me Sire?”

“You told me to stop it, Gustav.” Tahir continued gazing over the

vista. “Here I stand on an airy balcony leaning against a brave,

handsome king. Mere weeks ago I marched toward this city with my

comrades under the wilting sun, wondering what would happen. To

our relief, we were accepted and treated with fairness just as

promised. Now I’m treated with a bit more than fairness.” Tahir

sighed and twisted in Gustav’s loving grasp. He studied the king’s

tanned countenance. “Gustav… the note you sent me. Your words

moved me and yes, I want to trust you. I want to tell you things but

I’m not ready. Can you tolerate a mystery in your bed?”

“I cannot wait to enjoy a mystery in my bed. Matter of fact, I

ordered us a cold dinner in case we needed to satisfy other hungers

first.”

“You are wise, Gustav.” Leaning close Tahir pressed his lips to

Gustav’s. Gustav tangled his fingers in his hair. Tahir released his

remaining tension into the glorious kiss. He ran his fingers up and

down Gustav’s silk-clad muscles. Tongues touched and teased.

Yearning sounds welled up from two throats.

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Surprising himself Tahir pushed Gustav backward until his lover

leaned against the inner wall. Their lips continued nibbling, nipping,

sucking at flesh. Tahir decided he had never tasted a more luscious

lower lip.

Gustav relaxed and let his Tahir take complete control. He felt

nothing wrong in kissing soft lips forever. Interesting; suddenly Tahir

displayed other ideas. He stepped back and undid Gustav’s tunic in a

deliciously aggression fashion. How unexpected! Gustav did nothing

to help except lift his arms. His casual kilt dropped past his knees.

When he lifted his feet, Tahir snatched boots and kilt off and let them

drop. A cool breeze from the high mountains caressed Gustav’s naked

flesh. The King enjoyed how Tahir gazed at him; definite answering

passion welled in alert black eyes.

Tahir discarded his own damp clothing. Reaching out he

forcefully tugged at Gustav’s hands and led them across the room to

the waiting bed. The lusting recruit felt like some strange force

controlled him. He wanted this king. He wanted. He desired. He

needed.

Bodies tumbled and rolled across the brocaded bedspread. A last

shaft of sun flared into the room, the glow tracking over straining,

muscular lust. Lips nursed and kissed all available living surfaces.

Fingers teased and entered private places. Both men surrendered to

their lust and welcomed the freedom.

Tahir hadn’t allowed himself to abandon himself in such joy since

the horror. Profound relief mingled with his lust. Time spent with this

generous king taught him opening to another human in joy and desire

still existed in him. Gustav showed Tahir how to trust again. Why not

show Gustav his true skills? Tahir pushed past his doubt and soared

free.

What happened here? Gustav laughed in amazement. They smiled

in joy. This desert man certainly knew how to adore! Long minutes of

delicious foreplay rolled them across the bed. Gustav sprawled back

and embraced Tahir. He rubbed his aching cock against long hardness.

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To his amusement, his voice sounded hoarse from his need. “Tonight,

my marvelous beauty, I am yours. Will you perform the honors?”

Tahir’s wanton moves abruptly ceased. He blinked in complete

amazement. “S-S-Sire… you want me to…”

Gustav’s arms squeezed this glorious man harder. “Now.”

“Yes, yes then… where…oil…” Tahir could barely speak.

Nice to realize Gustav could still surprise a lover. “Top drawer.”

Gustav pointed at the carved bedside table.

Swift moves of slick preparation followed. Tahir’s hands

massaged and manipulated Gustav’s cheeks. His fingers teased, toyed

a tight and somehow vulnerable opening. Perfect; his king welcomed

entrance. Murmuring under his breath in desire, Tahir lifted Gustav’s

ass higher. His lips followed where his fingers had traveled. His

tongue lovingly did the same. His royal lover had obviously bathed

before fetching Tahir. His puckered flesh tasted like mint and

knowledge.

Gustav released a joyous cry. How did this man know to tease in

such skill? His wet tongue caresses felt amazing. A vivid thought

gleamed in his mind. Had his Tahir been trained to… stop! Enjoy the

sensual moment. Don’t dare think such grim thoughts now. His

trembling fingers reached down and massaged long damp hair. “Tahir,

hold, you’d best cease teasing me or I’ll come in your face. Your

fierce lips drive me mad.”

Tahir’s low laughter blew against Gustav’s weeping cock. “Good.

Now, my king, I shall drive you into utter delirium.” He wrestled

Gustav’s taut legs into position then he slowly, carefully slithered into

his royal lover. He had acted submissive for too long. Not now. His

lover wanted him. Tahir would give this handsome king everything he

had ever learned.

After long, achingly teasing moments, Gustav decided he had

become Tahir’s willing love slave. An hour later, the king knew this

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inventive, wild creature captured his heart. He might even shade over

into love. Odd, how odd.

They finally ceased adoring each other and ate dinner long after

the moon controlled the sky. As they curled close and sipped their

wine, Tahir quietly released another dangerous pebble.

Hearing how a cruel man locked his young son into a small

wooden chest as punishment sickened Gustav. He possessed a sick

feeling complex Tahir had far worse to tell him.

In time. In Gustav’s adoring mind they had years.

A week later as they relaxed together, Gustav handed Tahir a

small silver medallion. Tahir smiled in delight and held the piece up

to the candle glow. “Thank you, my lover. How elegant. What does

the design mean? Wait, do I see your initials in the swirls?”

“The symbol means you may come and go as you please in the

palace.”

“Gustav, what a mighty gift, but how will I enter the palace? After

curfew I cannot leave the barracks. Ivar is furious over the constant

summons to the palace. He mocks me and…”

Gustav smiled and danced his fingers over Tahir’s firm chest.

“Shh. Not anymore. As of tomorrow, you occupy a room in the palace

guardhouse. You enter into training with them.”

A shocked Tahir stared at Gustav in sheer disbelief. What? “But I

still have four months of regular training before I… you did this for

me?”

“No, I did this for me. I want you here as much as possible. I’m

tired of you not spending the night curled against me. You’re

advanced enough to begin the final training. No one else agrees with

me, but sometimes this stubborn old king bends the rules.”

Accepted into palace guard training? What a miracle! After he

could move his stunned body again, Tahir reverently kissed the

medallion. “Gustav, you act too good to me. My lover, you…” Tahir

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shook his long hair and lunged forward, his lips crashing into a

laughing Gustav’s.

Two hours later, the guards stationed at the king’s door snickered

in amusement. “Three times tonight.”

“Wager on a fourth?”

THE CONFRONTATION

Tahir perched on his narrow bed’s edge. He groaned softly and

stretched his exhausted arms over his head. Pain cavorted in every

muscle and twisted down to his bones. He ached to his inner core.

Imagine he once considered Ivar to be a slave driver! Major

Bruscilous, the guard sword master, made old Ivar look tame. Strict,

follow the rules Bruscilous resented Tahir’s sudden appearance into

the palace guard recruits. He made sure he worked Tahir’s body until

the trainee wanted to curl and scream in pain.

Tahir expected the harsh treatment. He accepted harsh treatment

as a fact of life. Honest physical labor, pushing his body to its limits,

held no problem for him. Keeping his mind focused proved far more

difficult. Daily Tahir internalized resentment and trained himself to

embrace a cold, steely part of his personality. He followed Gustav’s

wise advice. His royal lover told Tahir to reign in his fiery passion and

save his lively warmth for them. Gustav told Tahir to protect his soul

and ignore the pain.

The advice kept Tahir sane and whole.

Gustav kept Tahir sane and whole. Tahir couldn’t believe he had

revealed so much to his lover. His lover conquered Tahir’s fear of his

miserable past. His lover saved him.

Enough relaxing. Today Gustav expected him immediately after

practice. He’d relax in bed soon enough. Tahir didn’t remove his

sweat-soaked uniform. Let Gustav smell Tahir’s eagerness. A fond

smile crossed Tahir’s lips. His sharp scent would excite Gustav. Sweat

enhanced Gustav’s lust more than any priceless perfume.

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Tahir locked away his precious sword in the spartan bedroom’s

weapons cabinet. He hastened across the back courtyard. After two

weeks at the palace guard barracks, Tahir still had trouble accepting

his new status. The guards knew him and winked him through the

inner palace gates. Their acceptance baffled him. Didn’t they love

their Queen? Tahir was an outsider, a Curamian who nightly crept into

their King’s bed. Why did they accept him?

Perhaps they loved their king well enough to fathom his basic

need. In a dazzling moment of mutual trust, Gustav had told Tahir

why he sought out other men. When those words fell upon his ears,

determination blossomed in Tahir’s soul. Since he had endured such

dire pain in his life, Tahir decided to be Gustav’s ultimate lover. This

noble, kind man deserved Tahir’s complete devotion and Tahir owned

no problem offering solace. He owned a problem with trust. Trust

came slowly.

The palace’s immediate boundaries fell behind him. Tahir reached

the ancient king’s image. Gustav had patiently taught him the proper

gestures to open the secret door. Gustav trusted him. Tahir slowly

reached toward his dazzling trust and responded in kind. Tahir’s

fingers touched the marble horse’s muzzle in the first step.

A hand grabbed his right shoulder in punishing strength and

whirled him around. His body thudded against unyielding marble. A

piercing blue glare examined him.

“Why do you lurk here? Who are you?”

Physical details flew at Tahir in a blazing rush. Light blue eyes.