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  Koray jerked his hands free and thumped Sorin's chest again. "I'm going to tie you up and—" He broke off, face going so bright a red Sorin half-expected it to burst into flame.

  Sorin grabbed Koray tightly when he tried to squirm away and flipped them again, capturing his wrists and pinning them to the bed.

  "Let me go," Koray hissed, twisting and jerking futilely.

  Sorin smiled, slow and hot, body thrumming with heat at this unexpected revelation. "Not until we discuss how much you obviously like the idea of tying me up." It would not have been his first, or even tenth, guess if someone had asked. He did enjoy surprises on occasion.

  "I'm not discussing anything," Koray snapped.

  "Yes, you are," Sorin said. He shifted his hold to pin both wrists in one hand, skating the other hand down Koray's body to press the heel of it to where Koray's cock was pushing against the weight of his robes. His smile widened when that renewed the flush to Koray's cheeks, made his eyes go hazy for a moment. Bending, he licked across Koray's mouth, nibbled at his bottom lip. "You like the idea. Why can't you admit it."

  "Because it's strange," Koray finally bit out. "I know what it's like to be bound. You did it to me, once, if you'll recall. There's nothing fun about it."

  "In those circumstances, no," Sorin replied, finally letting him go, bracing his hands on either side of Koray's head, and pressing fluttering kisses across his face. "But you tying me up here is completely different. You must realize that because you obviously like something about the idea. You wouldn't be the first to want to do it." He smiled at the scowl that earned. "You would be the first I'd allow to do it."

  Koray went still at those words, fingers clamping down where they'd just reached up to cling to his tunic again. "What are you talking about? At least three—"

  "Liars, all of them," Sorin replied and gave him a sharp kiss before sitting up. He raised his hands, fanning the fingers out. "I'm a soldier, and would be a pretty useless one without my hands. I can take a lot of abuse, but I prefer to be wearing armor and such when I do it. There's never been a soul in this castle I trusted enough to bind me. Nobles in general tend to be pretty cavalier about such things. They don't use their hands the way most of us do. What do they care if their wrists hurt for a few days?" He smiled, warmed clear through, at the anger that flickered across Koray's face. "Nevermind that I am High Paladin and could be called to fight at any given moment. You do not know wrath until you've had to abandon someone right when matters are … involved. Trusting one of them to immediately cut me loose? Without getting angry or resentful? No. I have never trusted anyone in the castle—the kingdom—that much."

  He bent and gave Koray a long, slow kiss, then drew away just enough to say, "Until a certain bratty necromancer inserted himself in my life. If you want to tie me up, necromancer, that can be arranged." He kissed Koray again, grunting at the hands that fisted in his hair and held him close as Koray returned the kiss with fervor, left his lips feeling sore and well-used. "Another day, however, since I do not have the right bindings and I'm impatient to have you."

  "You're impatient?" Koray groused, and honestly, the way his face seemed to have gone permanently red was more endearing than Sorin would ever tell him. "I'm the one who has been hearing these stories for days on end while you gallivant about the castle with your soldiers or race off to do battle and save demons."

  Sorin laughed and gave another quick, biting kiss before climbing off him to undress. "I like when you get impatient."

  "You like when I do anything," Koray retorted.

  "Yes," Sorin agreed, smiling, casting his tunic aside before making quick work of the rest of his clothes while Koray did the same. He watched avidly as Koray unbound his hair and combed the heavy strands loose. "Though I think your hair is my real weakness. If you ever cut it, I shall cry endlessly for weeks."

  Koray lifted his eyes to the ceiling. "As much as I like to see you suffer, paladin, I would never be that cruel. Even if I wanted to cut it, I do not think I'd be able to bring myself to do so."

  Sorin's smile faded off. "You know—" He narrowed his eyes when Koray's fingers clapped over his mouth.

  "Stop it," Koray said. "The matter is over. You have never said nor done anything that made me feel as though I had no choice. Stop dredging the matter up. If I ever want to cut my hair, I shall." He let his fingers fall away, eyes skittering off to stare at the wall. "I like that you like it. No one ever has—not like that. It's— I don't want to cut my hair. Now come to bed, paladin. I've had enough of all this confounded talking, and it's only a matter of time before a crisis draws us away again."

  "Yes, My Lord High Necromancer." Sorin climbed into bed, pushed Koray into the blankets, and buried his hands in all that beautiful hair. He put his mouth to that long, fine throat, sucking up marks on soft, warm skin, spurred on by the way Koray shivered against him. "I swear if I ever again have to go a fortnight without doing more than kissing you I shall do something drastic."

  Koray huffed, but the unimpressed expression he attempted failed beneath a pleased, boyish smile. "Less talking, or I'll do something drastic."

  Letting go of Koray's hair, Sorin smoothed his hands along Koray's body, enjoying the fat and muscle that had filled him out, a far cry from the bonier, half-starved man Sorin had first met. Koray would always be lean and trim, sharp edges to go with his sharp tongue, but he was no longer unhealthy. Sorin dragged his tongue over one of Koray's nipples, then trailed lazy kisses across Koray's chest to worry the other nipple with his teeth. That provoked Koray to drag his wicked nails down Sorin's sides, which in turn just drove Sorin to tease harder, until Koray gave a stuttered gasp and tried to rut against him.

  Sorin looked up, smiling as the flush on Koray's face slowly worked its way down his neck, at the lust-hazed look in his eyes. Bending back to his oh-so-pleasant task, he peppered wet, sucking kisses down Koray's body until he reached Koray's cock. Pulling back, he fisted it loosely, stroked it just enough to tease but not enough to satisfy. Koray moaned, snarled, writhed on the bed, hands flailing to smack any part of Sorin he could reach. "Paladin!"

  Releasing his cock, Sorin shifted again, leaning down to run his mouth over the scars that covered Koray's body from shoulder to sharp hipbones. When Koray was swearing, panting, trembling with want, he drew back and flipped him over. Koray snarled, and Sorin smothered his own laughter in Koray's beautiful hair. When his urge to laugh had calmed, he swept Koray's hair out of the way to trail his mouth down Koray's spine, alternating sucking kisses with sharp bites. "I hate you," Koray gasped out, fingers twisting in the sheets, tremors running through him.

  "Liar," Sorin replied cheerfully and bit the swell of his ass. Koray jerked up, and Sorin held him down, mouth curving as that got him more threats. Drawing back, he rubbed his fingers over the mark he'd left, hot satisfaction spiraling through him. "You're beautiful."

  Koray's face, turned toward the door so that his profile was in full view, flushed darker as he muttered, "Your opinion is not to be trusted."

  "Mine is the only trustworthy," Sorin replied. He spread Koray's legs, hands lingering on his warm thighs, stroking the soft, pale skin. It was terrible of him to be so smugly satisfied that no one else had ever seen Koray trembling and eager, heard his voice turn husky when he ordered Sorin to stop teasing, heard it break when he began to beg. He would do his damnedest to ensure no else ever did. He trailed his fingers along the crack of Koray's ass, faintly amused. "You're so tense. That eager for—" Sorin broke off when he encountered slippery heat, fingers sliding easily inside Koray's body. His cock twitched hard, and Sorin had to grab the base of it, force himself back from the edge. He gulped for air, but his voice was still fractured as he asked, "Did you—? You did yourself?"

  "Who else would if not you?" Koray snapped, squirming and twisting to get free. "Get off me!"

  Sorin turned him over, lightly held him down, and kissed him, wet and clumsy and too crazed with the idea of Koray riding his own finge
rs to focus on anything else. "Oh, my Goddess. Why didn't I get to see? I want to see."

  "Spoiled brat," Koray muttered against his mouth. "You don't get something simply because you demand it." He pressed at Sorin's chest, digging in with his nails when Sorin wouldn't move. "Get off me, you great big beast."

  Pouting, Sorin obeyed, rearing back to rest on his heels. "I want to see. When did you do it? Why?"

  Koray lunged up and shoved him back, climbed on top of him. Sorin grabbed his hips, groaning as he struggled against coming, completely undone by Koray's boldness, the way he looked straddling Sorin's thighs, naked body gleaming with sweat, hair spilling everywhere, their cocks brushing whenever he shifted.

  Some of Koray's shyness returned; he licked his lips and said, "They—they wouldn't stop talking about all things you did with them, and they weren't shy about details. I haven't seen you like—like this for two weeks. My meeting f-finished early so I came back here. I didn't know you'd planned anything today."

  Sorin groaned again, eyes briefly closing as need shuddered through him. "Show me. Please."

  "Why?"

  "Because otherwise I might die."

  Muttering about smothering bossy Paladins with pillows, Koray climbed off him and crawled across their large bed to the table tucked between the bed and the wall. He rifled through the little basket on it and returned after a moment with a porcelain jar. Settling on his knees next to Sorin, he opened the jar after a few fumbling attempts with faintly-shaking hands but then stopped. "This feels dumb. I'll look stu—"

  "Amazing," Sorin cut in. Sitting up, he piled their pillows against the headboard then sat back against them. Reaching out, he wrapped his fingers around Koray's wrist and tugged gently, urging Koray to straddle his thighs once more. He leaned in and and kissed Koray softly, lightly petting and stroking until Koray relaxed. "You know you don't have to."

  "Shut up, paladin," Koray mumbled against his mouth. He nudged Sorin back, then retrieved the jar he'd set down and slicked his fingers. Cheeks reddening anew, eyes firmly on Sorin's chest, he reached back—

  Sorin groaned, fingers sliding up and down Koray's body before settling on his hips and gripping tightly. He couldn't see Koray's fingers, but he could see the way his arm worked, the way his body moved in time, the flush that spread down to Koray's chest. Koray's eyes lowered, head dipping slightly. He had one hand splayed on Sorin's chest for balance, nails biting whenever his fingers hit the right spot and pushed out quiet, breathy little moans. "S-Sorin …"

  "Goddess, you're magnificent," Sorin replied. Koray finally met his gaze, smiling shyly, and it was so sweet, so endearing next to the lust-soaked eyes, that Sorin could not imagine how he had gone so long in life without Koray in it. "You're perfect."

  "Nitwit," Koray gasped out, a hint of warm affection curled through it.

  Sorin smiled, fingers tightening on Koray's hips. "How many fingers?"

  "Th-three, just now," Koray said, and his head dipped again as he curled inward, groaning loudly.

  Sorin couldn't breathe. Letting go of Koray's hip, he reached one hand between Koray's thighs, felt where he had three fingers pushed in deep. Grinning at the reproving look Koray tried to give him, Sorin slowly, gently, pushed his own finger in with Koray's.

  "Don't—" Koray's words failed on a cracked, broken shout as he suddenly came, spilling all over the two of them, body wracked with shudders.

  It was more than Sorin could take. He pulled his hand free and dragged Koray in for a wet, hungry kiss as his own climax rushed through him, adding to the mess on their skin.

  As he calmed, he softened the kiss, lazily caressing Koray's skin, combing through his hair. "I don't know why you worry that I could ever find you boring, necromancer. If anything, I fear the precise opposite."

  "If you're saying that I could find you boring, then stop talking," Koray said from where he'd let his head drop to rest on Sorin's shoulder. "I can't believe I did that."

  Sorin snorted softly. "I can't believe we haven't done that before Goddess knows how many times I've imagined it."

  "You should have said."

  "I did not want to push you," Sorin replied.

  Koray sighed and sat up, met his eyes. "I fear that cabin is going to haunt us forever. I don't— I like you the way you are. When do I ever hesitate to tell you that I've had enough of your running roughshod ways? If you persist even after I've told you to stop, I am perfectly capable of throwing things at your thick head until my message gets through it."

  Sorin smiled wryly, reached up to splay his fingers over Koray's cheek. "If I promise to stop holding back, will you promise to talk to me instead of Neikirk?"

  Koray's cheeks went pink, but he nodded. "Yes, but if you laugh—"

  Sorin kissed him, cupping his head and sinking his fingers into that long hair. He rubbed their noses together when they finally drew apart. "I would never laugh at you, Koray." He drew back and grinned. "I may, however, insist on explaining things by way of demonstration.

  The flush to Koray's cheeks darkened, but his jaw set in that familiar, stubborn way Sorin adored. "That is the best way to learn, My Lord High Paladin."

  Grinning, Sorin drew him in for another kiss that turned into several before they finally managed to part again. "What say we clean up, eat dinner, and you can tell me everything those idiots have been saying to you? We do have the rest of the day and all night ahead of us, after all. We should find creative ways to spend the hours."

  If it got him more of those sweet, soft smiles that no one else ever saw, Sorin would happily do whatever Koray wanted.

  And the next time he was in town, he would see he acquired the proper ropes for bedroom play.

  Koray scowled at the mess that had become of his hair, dread settling in his stomach because he was going to have to cut it to get rid of the foul-smelling, sticky substance covering most of it.

  The sound of a throat clearing drew his attention, and he reluctantly dropped the snarled, matted disaster to turn his full attention to the ones responsible for it. "Give me one good reason I should not lock you in a dungeon for ten years. Do you have any idea what you've done? You frightened one horse so badly that the injury it did itself will likely force us to put it down. You've injured two of my men, ruined nearly all of our supplies, and your explanation so far is that you were trying to prank your friends? Does this look amusing to you?"

  The cluster of children, three boys and two girls, all recoiled from him, ducking their bowed heads even lower, sniffling hard, rubbing their eyes with their sleeves. Nearby, at least thirty adults had clustered about to watch the proceedings. Koray could see the group that were obviously the parents of the children; they looked even more terrified.

  As though he would actually lock children in a dungeon for a prank that probably would have been harmless any other day. A bad combination of weather, an unexpected bang from somewhere else in the village, and a jittery horse had turned the matter into quite the debacle.

  But it didn't hurt to scare some sense into them.

  "It's not— we didn't— we can fix everything!" one of the girls said between quiet sobs. "We didn't mean to hurt the horse. Will you really have to kill it?"

  They were all old enough they wouldn't count as children much longer in most eyes, but they all still held themselves like children. Koray did not want to be the one who took that away. Stifling a sigh, he replied, "We'll have to look the injury over more closely. It's possible he may just need rest and care."

  No one countered him, though he could see on the faces of several that they knew he was a liar. Its back leg had been too badly damaged and would never heal properly.

  "Are you really going to put us in the dungeon?" one of the boys asked. Nearby, the woman who must have been his mother, judging by their similar faces and the way she pressed her clasped hands to her mouth, looked on the verge of doing something drastic.

  Koray shook his head. "I am not in the habit of arresting people. I leave such
things to the High Priest and the High Paladin. What I am going to do is extract a promise that you never again engage in such foolish behavior. What would you have done, what would your parents have been forced to watch, if you had accidentally killed a person instead of almost killing a horse? As to punishment, you are going to clean this mess up. Then you will help my men gather new supplies to replace everything you ruined, and clean these other horses. I expect you to also do penance to the Goddess for the rest of the month. I also leave to you the honor of explaining what happened here to the High Paladin when he arrives shortly." Because he certainly was not brave enough to be present when Sorin found out he had been thrown from his horse, and that his hair would have to be cut off.

  He left the crowd to their panicking as they realized they would soon have the High Paladin in their midst as well. Striding over to where his soldiers beckoned, Koray let them usher him into a house that he assumed had been appropriated for his use. "I hope the owners have not been put out overmuch."

  Myst, the man in charge of his escort, snorted softly. "High Necromancer, they are grateful you've not had anyone arrested or thrown in the stocks. I think even the High Priest would have been sorely pressed not to murder the lot of them for that stunt. But Your Highness will be relieved to know that this particular house is, at present, vacant. The owner recently married and moved in with his wife and has not yet sold it."

  Koray stripped off his outer robe, wiping his fouled hands on it as best he could. "I do not suppose a bath could be arranged? And I shall need shears."

  "Yes, Highness," one of the men said. "Your room is at the top of the stairs, second door on the right. We've put your belongings there. We'll have the bath shortly."

  "Thank you," Koray said and headed up the stairs in his under robes, shivering at the chill.