CatNap

by Shelley Munro

  Rohan grinned. “Yeah? Ambar and I don’t. Our parents wouldn’t let us listen to anything except Indian music while they were alive. We had to visit our friends to hear the music everyone else listened to. You remember Indian music?”

  “Ah…hell if I know. It seemed like I did and now that you’ve asked me, I can’t remember.”

  Rohan stirred a pot and replaced the lid. He turned it off and checked his watch. “We have time for a nap before Ambar gets home.”

  “I stopped at the store first. Ambar told me not to distract you.”

  “Ah, but I planned ahead. I made sure I cooked something that won’t spoil. Besides, the oven timer is on.”

  “Something happened today.”

  “Tell me later. I need you now.” He strode over to Kiran and placed Kiran’s hand on his cock. It grew noticeably at his touch. “And not only do I need you, but I want you too.” He grasped Kiran’s hand. “Get naked and tell me about your day. It will make us both feel better.”

  Kiran let Rohan lead him from the kitchen and down the passage to their bedroom. Rohan seemed to sense his mood and undressed him slowly, kissing Kiran’s bared skin as he removed one item of apparel at a time. As always, pleasure started to hum through his body. Rohan pushed him onto the bed and straddled his legs.

  “I thought we were both getting naked.”

  “I thought so too,” Rohan said. “I’m veering off course. Got distracted by the sight of your dick.” He leaned over gave the flared head a delicate lick. “Mmm, tastes good.” Rohan took Kiran’s cock into his mouth and went straight for the kill. He swirled his tongue across the head, over the underside and applied hard suction. Sensation roared through Kiran. His hands curled into the navy blue and white quilt cover, creasing the cotton fabric while he bit back his cries of pleasure.

  Rohan stopped what he was doing and lifted his head. “I know exactly what I’m doing. Don’t even think about trying to hold back or remain silent. I want you to show me your pleasure. If something feels good, I want you to show appreciation. It makes me hot, Kiran. I love knowing I can make you feel good. I need it. Okay?” Rohan’s intense expression told Kiran his open reactions were important.

  “Okay. Rohan? You know I like anything you do to me.” He frowned, suddenly angry with himself for not giving his lover the truth. He loved Rohan’s touch, and he was pretty close to admitting his love for the man—at least to himself.

  “I know.” Rohan’s voice held smugness. “I’ve felt how you tremble every time I touch you. Do you think I don’t know you’re trying to hold back because you’re worried about your past? I understand. All I want is honesty. Don’t shut me out. I wanted you from the moment I first saw you and love came pretty quickly after that.” He smiled, his eyes glowing. “Yeah, it’s true. I love you. You’re my mate.”

  “Thank you.” A weak response, but that was all he had, all he dared.

  “Hell, don’t thank me. We’re a team. Together we’re stronger. Mates.” With a soft smile, he kissed Kiran’s shaft. He fondled Kiran’s balls, rolling them and took Kiran’s cock back into his mouth, seemingly unworried by Kiran’s failure to reciprocate by verbally admitting his love.

  This time Kiran let the guilt slide away. He savored the sensations Rohan’s hands and mouth plucked from his body. He shuddered and cried out, feeling the sharp release from his balls rushing up his cock and exploding into Rohan’s mouth. He came down from the high slowly, realizing the sound of his loud breathing filled the bedroom. He became aware of the faint tick of Rohan’s watch, the settling creak of the wood in the house. His eyes opened and he saw the dance of late afternoon sun through the blinds, Rohan’s smile and the devilment in his eyes when he licked his lips.

  Rohan stood, the mattress shifting under his release of weight. He stripped off rapidly before dropping beside Kiran. Their arms came around each other. They kissed, a slow meeting of lips and the giving of silent promises.

  A team.

  They smiled at each other when their lips parted.

  “What happened today that has you so rattled?” Rohan asked.

  “Gavin dug a tracking device out of the back of my neck.”

  Rohan stilled, his eyes narrowing. “No shit?”

  “I’m thinking we could all be in a lot of shit if the tracking device is working properly.”

  Rohan nodded, looking serious for once. “What happened?”

  “We were with Saber. They’ve decided to put the tracking device at the police station and everyone will watch for strangers who act weird.”

  A splutter escaped Rohan. “Ambar’s convinced some of the local farmers are weird. The single ones, anyway, because they’re haunting the store. Are you sure strangers would stand out?”

  “You know what I mean.”

  Rohan sobered. “Sorry. There’s no need to feel guilty. You didn’t know the tracking device was there. This isn’t your fault. You didn’t exactly volunteer to go to the zoo.”

  “But you don’t know about my dreams, the kinky shit I’ve been dreaming about—”

  “The dreams don’t mean a thing. Don’t let them define you.” Rohan’s voice softened. “I’m not the only one who cares about you. Ambar likes you. You’ve made friends, and we want to help. Don’t shut us out or think you have to leave. Let us help you, Kiran. Let us show our love and friendship.”

  Rohan’s words made him feel weak and strong at the same time. “I’ll try.”

  “Good.” Rohan checked his watch again and smiled. “We have time to get off and shower before Ambar gets home.”

  Rohan’s husky tone had Kiran’s cock reacting in a flash. “What did you have in mind?”

  Rohan crawled closer and thrust his hips. His erection slid across Kiran’s hipbone and came to a rest against Kiran’s cock. “How about some rubbing action? Or whatever makes us feel good.”

  “I like the way you think.” Kiran’s eyes closed and he blindly sought Rohan’s mouth, sighing with pleasure when their tongues swirled together. Their hips moved, shafts rubbing together with each lazy rock.

  Kiran surrendered to the sensual banquet, his last sensible thought that Saber and Rohan were right. Running wouldn’t solve a thing. Middlemarch was part of him now and he didn’t want to leave.

  Chapter Eight

  Three Weeks Later

  A touch of panic filled Nando as he picked up the rental car on his second visit to Auckland. He had to locate Kiran this time. It was obvious the man was in hiding. Nando knew the slave couldn’t leave the country because he didn’t own travel documents. Someone must be helping him because he’d entered the country as a tiger, after Nando’s fool employees had sold Kiran to make some quick rupees. They’d been smart enough to provide counterfeit papers for the tiger, which meant Kiran had ended up at a zoo. Nando had traveled around the Auckland area and gone north, trying to pick up the tracking device David had planted in Kiran when he’d first arrived at the family home. Great foresight on his brother’s part. Great foresight on his part when he’d copied his brother’s files, hoping to find information he could use to his benefit.

  This visit he’d managed to score a visa for three months. He’d search south until he picked up a signal.

  Kiran couldn’t live.

  The possibility of the slave’s return to India put Nando’s entire future in jeopardy. No, Kiran would die as would anyone who got in his way. Nando thought about calling for help and rejected it. That would require telling others the truth, giving explanations. He had to handle this himself.

  Nando programmed the directional system in the car and pulled out of the car park to head south. He’d figured he’d drive down the middle of the North Island, and if he didn’t have any luck, he’d catch the ferry across Cook Strait and start searching in the south. If he hit Queenstown before he found Kiran, he figured he’d do a bungee jump after all because he’d sure as hell need something to channel his stress by that stage.

  No, he’d find Kiran before he reached
the bottom of the South Island. From his observations of Kiran’s relationship with his oldest brother, he knew Kiran had a subservient nature. It wouldn’t be difficult to slip into David’s role, although he wasn’t interested in fucking the man.

  He’d use Kiran’s obedience against him and kill him. Simple. Mess cleaned up. He could continue with his life.

  Nando checked the road sign, took the motorway turnoff and headed south with the silent tracking beacon mocking him.

  —

  “Where is Nando?” At the back of David’s mind, he registered his calm and cool tone. It surprised him since he boiled with anger inside. Fury held him in its grip, and he didn’t think he’d manage to release the emotion until he learned the truth.

  The full truth.

  So far he’d learned his younger brothers were lazy and weak. Nando had taken over the business decisions for the family assets under their direction. Their youngest brother had both intelligence and innate slyness that hadn’t been obvious to David until he’d scratched below the surface. He studied the three men who stood before him. They were vain and weak.

  “He said he had business matters to take care of,” Jay said.

  “Where?” David demanded.

  “I don’t know. I didn’t ask.” Isa pouted. “He does a good job.”

  “He brought lowlifes into this house. He entertained them with my slaves.” And he’d lost Kiran because of it. He’d thought his slave was safe. A hard ache struck in the region of his heart, and he had to struggle for composure. “Now I find that not all the slaves were killed by the so-called fake virus.”

  David turned to his next brother. “Where is Nando?”

  “I am ashamed, my brother. I do not know,” Suman said.

  David turned away in disgust. “This will change. You will all pull your weight and carry out your assigned duties or you will leave.” He wasn’t sure where to turn next since he didn’t know exactly who Nando dealt with. His mouth firmed with resolution. He might not know now, but he would continue until he learned of Kiran’s fate. Until he knew for sure his slave—the man he loved—was dead, he would not give up his search.

  “Nando was having an affair with the prime minister’s daughter,” Isa said. “Perhaps she knows where he is.”

  “Thank you,” David said, his mind sprinting ahead to consider how he might approach the woman. “I have rearranged my schedule. My secretary has duties for you all. If you don’t wish to work for the family business tell her and vacate the premises before I return.”

  David walked away, amusement at their muttered grumbles about his Hitler secretary finding substance in a stark smile. He didn’t have time to baby them. It was obvious he’d allowed their father’s wishes to get the better of his good sense. It wouldn’t happen again. David didn’t make mistakes twice.

  Kiran, I’m so sorry. I’m coming, my love. We will be together again soon, in this life or the next.

  —

  “You look nice, Ambar,” Kiran said, taking note of her short black skirt and the length of slender, toned leg on display. Her red and white top was close-fitting but tasteful, and she had an excited glow in her cheeks as she entered the kitchen. He could feel Rohan’s brain ticking and wondered if Rohan had come to the same conclusion he had. A date.

  He and Rohan were having a beer before dinner. The scent of basil, tomatoes and meat filled the room since they’d decided to eat pasta for dinner. His cooking was improving, and he took pleasure in the new skill, although he was still nowhere near Rohan and Ambar’s level of skill.

  Rohan took his hand off Kiran’s knee and scowled at his sister. “Why aren’t you eating here tonight?”

  “I’m going on a date,” Ambar announced as she joined them at the dinner table.

  Bingo! Kiran glanced at Rohan and as one they turned their attention to Ambar.

  “Who with?” Rohan asked as he kicked off his sandals.

  “Where are you going?” Kiran asked, setting his beer on the table.

  “I’m only going to answer because I know you both care about me. Neither of you have the right to veto my date. I’m going out with Jake Quinn, and we’re driving to Mosgiel for dinner.”

  “That’s a long drive,” Rohan said.

  “It’s still daylight saving. It’s not dark until nine.” Ambar shrugged, but Kiran sensed the combination of tension and excitement inside her. “Would you rather I went to Jake’s place and had dinner?” she added, her chin lifting in defiance.

  “No!” Kiran said, thinking of all the ways she could get in trouble at Jake’s place. His eyes narrowed and he took a deep breath. It eased out while he waited for Rohan to react.

  “Jeez, guys. Rohan, why couldn’t you have been straight? Then I would have had another woman to back me up.” She wrinkled her nose at Kiran. “Right now I feel like I have two big brothers.”

  “Good,” Rohan said.

  “Yeah, you make sure Jake knows you have two brothers,” Kiran said. “That way he’ll be less inclined to take liberties.”

  “Jake is a human. I think I can take care of one male human.”

  “You shouldn’t act overconfident. He could drug your food or drink,” Kiran said. “You’d be helpless then.”

  “Is that what happened to you?” Ambar shot back.

  “I…” Kiran trailed off, his brow furrowing in concentration. In the dim recesses of his mind a memory teased him before slipping away. “I don’t know,” he said in frustration.

  Ambar reached over and squeezed his shoulder. “I’m sorry.”

  “No,” Rohan said with a sigh. “We’re sorry for questioning you. We care about you. Can you at least ring us when you’re on the way home?”

  “And can we meet Jake?” Kiran asked. “We promise to be on our best behavior.”

  Ambar visibly hesitated. “He’s been in the store.”

  A knock on the door interrupted their argument, and Rohan leapt to his feet. “I’ll get it.”

  “Rohan—”

  Kiran halted her with a smile. “We promise not to interrogate him or scare him off. Please.”

  Ambar gave a clipped nod and relaxed a fraction. Rohan sent him a grateful smile and turned away to answer the door. Rohan’s smile warmed him inside.

  “Thanks for going out for the night, Ambar. I appreciate the way you try to give us privacy.”

  Ambar grinned. “Are you kidding? You make Rohan happy. I love seeing him like this, although tonight is for me too. Jake isn’t like the other guys who come into the store. He doesn’t look at me as if he’s imagining me naked.”

  “All guys do that, Ambar,” Kiran said.

  “Eew.”

  “Not me. I only imagine Rohan naked.”

  “I’m pleased to hear it,” Rohan said.

  “Oh heck,” Ambar said, and Kiran wanted to laugh out loud at the burst of color on her cheeks. “You guys promised not to embarrass me.”

  Kiran stood and offered his hand to the tall brown-haired man at Rohan’s side. “I’m Kiran.”

  “Jake Quinn,” he said, not hesitating to take Kiran’s hand. “I’m pleased to meet you. I think I’ve seen you with Gavin Finlay out at my father’s farm. He said you’re both good with the stock, which is high praise from him.”

  “Thanks,” Kiran said.

  “Have fun on your date,” Rohan said.

  Ambar rolled her eyes. “You’re not gonna wait up for me.”

  “Of course not,” Kiran said, unable to resist teasing her. “Rohan and I are gonna make some noise. We have to hold back a little when you’re here.”

  “The two of you are impossible,” Ambar muttered. “Come on, Jake. Let’s go. There’s no telling what they’re going to say next.”

  “Nice to meet you both,” Jake said, seemingly unperturbed by their relationship.

  “Likewise,” Rohan said. “Maybe Ambar will let us talk with you next time.”

  “Impossible,” Ambar said, but she paused to kiss her brother and repeated
the kiss with Kiran.

  Kiran was only vaguely aware of them leaving. He lifted his hand and brushed his fingers over the spot Ambar had kissed. Family. He’d found a real family. He didn’t know why but the fact kept astonishing him, and he liked to reinforce the thought in his own mind.

  “What’s wrong?” Rohan asked. “Did you sense something wrong about Jake?”

  “No. No, I think Ambar can take care of herself. He seems fine. She kissed me.”

  Rohan frowned. “Should I be worried about that?”

  “No, I mean she likes me.”

  “What’s not to like?”

  Kiran rubbed his hands over his face. “Hell, I’m not explaining this well. Ambar made me feel like a member of the family.”

  Rohan’s scowl smoothed out. “Because she thinks of you as another brother. You’ve got the teasing thing down, and she knows how I feel about you. Why shouldn’t she treat you as family?”

  “It feels weird in a good way. I don’t think I’ve had a family before.”

  Rohan tugged him into his arms and cupped his face with his hands. “You have one now, along with a lot of friends. Do you feel like eating?”

  “Not really.”

  “Good.” Rohan stepped back and captured Kiran’s hand. “Wanna fool around?”

  Kiran’s pulse quickened with anticipation, his instinctive response powerful and physical. All the blood in his body rushed to his groin. He grinned at his lover, savoring the rush of pleasure, of eagerness. “Always.”

  Rohan switched off the elements on the stove. “I’m tempted to fool around in the kitchen, but Ambar would kill us if she found out.”

  Kiran chuckled, picturing the scene and let Rohan lead him down the passage to the room they shared. Rohan closed the door after them, enclosing them in their private haven.

  During the weeks since they’d started to share a bedroom, they’d unpacked properly and the room had taken on their personalities. It was restful in shades of blue, the wooden surfaces shiny and dust free. Kiran had discovered he liked to draw and they’d pinned his sketches of animals and people he met on a corkboard. Rohan wanted him to draw a mural on one wall, but they hadn’t decided on the subject matter yet.