The youth tucked one leg under him, facing Wulf. "Why not?"
His mind raced back over the last bits of their conversation, trying to understand his question. "Uh..."
"Why don't you care?" Senthys braced an arm against the couch. "It's obvious as hell that he cares about you. I was lying, you know."
Wulf fought the grin that wanted to plaster its fool self across his face. "Lying about what?"
"He never brings lovers here. He had a woman with him last time, but she didn't mean anything to him. Just a co-worker. You could tell. You're the first person he's ever introduced me to."
Wulf let that grin show itself. "Yeah?"
Senthys squinted, frowning. "So, you do care."
"Hell, yeah."
"I knew it!" Senthys pushed himself back on the couch. "What are you going to do about it?"
"Do?" Wulf swept a hand through his hair. "Play it by ear, I guess."
Senthys lifted his gaze heavenward, shaking his head. "For being a smart guy, you're acting pretty stupid right now."
Wulf folded his arms. "And I suppose you're qualified to tell me what I should do?"
"Hey." Senthys gestured to himself. "If anyone can clue you in about which of the Man's buttons to push, it's me."
"Well, I have to say that's prolly true."
"Do you love him?"
Wulf didn't need that nanosecond. "Yeah." He wet his lips, nodding. "Yeah, I do."
Senthys leaned closer. "Here's what you need to do."
Chapter Seventeen
Kelthia, Miraj City, Guild District
Thieves' Guild Academy
Sumertsag 28
Luc shook hands with Grand Master de Laney and followed him back to the waiting room, where Wulf and Senthys came to their feet.
"Everything's signed." Luc put one arm around Senthys and walked him to the opposite side of the room. "You'll have to stay here until I buy another house." He'd been waiting for fireworks since the moment he'd announced his decision.
Senthys slipped both hands in his pockets. "How long d'you think it'll take?"
"Perhaps a month."
His son shrugged.
Luc rubbed his mouth. "I didn't expect you to take boarding school this well."
"Hey." Senthys spread his hands. "Not your fault they blew up the house. You'll come visit won't you? Take me out of here now and then?"
"Of course. Wulf and I have some details to tend to on Tarth, but the Fists are playing on Whinbrice, the last game before the old stadium is torn down. I'll pick you up and we'll all go."
"Cool! You're taking me off the planet?" He bounced a little. "My friends will die when they hear that."
"Listen, Senthys. You're going to need new clothes and other things. I've already paid for your school uniforms and books." Luc withdrew a debit bracelet and handed it to him. "This is for whatever else you want. If you need more money, call McDoth. He'll handle it."
"Thank you, sir." He slid the bracelet onto his wrist.
Across the room, Wulf was speaking with de Laney. Neither paid any attention to Luc and his son. Luc hesitated, then finished before he could change his mind. "Wulf gave me a suggestion about you and I'm going to take it."
The youth glanced toward Wulf, and back at Luc, his mouth pursed. "Oh yeah?"
"He suggested I let you call yourself by whatever name you choose." When Senthys went wide-eyed, he added, "Which does not mean I will call you Senth. Nicknames--"
"Lack dignity. Yeah, I know." The youth grinned. "No problem." He shot a smile toward Wulf. "Thank you, sir."
Luc folded his hands behind him. "I guess this is good-bye for a few days."
Senthys threw his arms around Luc's waist and grinned up at him, then stepped back to walk away.
"Senthys."
The boy turned back to face him.
"Son, the warning you gave us the night of the break in saved our lives. You put yourself at risk. You..." He stopped himself from lecturing him about safety. "I appreciate what you did."
His son gave a quick bow, and walked toward Wulf.
Wulf met Luc's gaze and then greeted Senthys.
Luc gestured for Wulf to follow, and started toward the door, not looking back. In the hallway, four heavily armed idBot guards came to attention. Wulf joined him, and they and the guards proceeded to the elevator. "I don't think Senth will like it here, Luc, but he was gracious about it, don't you think?"
"Yes. He surprised me, in fact. I'm starting to wonder if he's planning some scam. But it's only for a few days."
"I was surprised the school let him back in without an argument."
The elevator opened. Luc kept Wulf from stepping out of it until the guards declared it safe. "They accepted him because refusing to house the son of the Harbinger would not be in their best interests, and they know it."
"You think he'll be okay?"
"He's in good hands. The first time I left him here, when he was six, you'd have thought I was boarding a puppy new to a leash. He did everything but cry, bite me, and wet the floor." He touched fingertips to brow. "The whining and griping alone gave me a headache for a week."
"He's a good kid. You've done a hell of a job with him."
Unsure what to say, Luc hesitated. "Thanks."
"Still, I've learned to check my pockets every time I'm near him."
Luc chuckled. "So have I."
Wulf walked beside him to the car and entered it ahead of him without being told.
Luc joined him and darkened the windows. "Finally! I haven't had you to myself for days." He held out an arm and Wulf slid over next to him for a kiss. "Mmm. You taste good." He teased Wulf's mouth, trailed kisses down along his jaw, onto his throat. "I intend to taste more of you. Every part of you."
Wulf clutched the front of his shirt and pulled him close. Rising, he straddled Luc and then leaned against him, chest to chest. One arm around his neck, the other hand in his hair, Wulf took control of their kiss.
Sitting back to enjoy the attention, Luc allowed Wulf to touch him as he pleased. Hands busy stroking and petting, Wulf feasted on his mouth, licking, nipping, sucking at his lips and tongue. The sensuality of the moment, locked inside a car with this breathtaking, beautiful man who made such sweet love with his mouth and hands...
Luc shuddered, his thoughts captive to Wulf's touch.
Wulf devoured him, hungry kiss after hungry kiss, his handsome, perfect face contorted with want, with need. Luc rested his head against the seat, submitting to the hot lust Wulf awoke in him. He gloried in the feel of his lover's insistent fingers rubbing against his nipples, pulling open his shirt so he could reach inside, sliding over his skin with feather light caresses.
Shirt open, Luc tossed his head as Wulf ducked to lick across his nipple. The hot tongue slid across him, then flicked and licked. Cool breath blew against his skin. Luc bit into his lower lip, his entire body tightening with desire. The lazy pleasure of the moment took his breath away.
"I love your chest." Wulf nuzzled his chest hair. "You're all soft and furry." Wulf sucked the hardened nipple into his mouth, making Luc cry out in painful lust, his cock so hard it felt like he'd gone to stone.
Wulf transferred to his other nipple, teasing and kissing, biting and licking until Luc clenched his fists. Wulf opened Luc's pants, their mouths still connected. He stroked the hard cock and rubbed his thumb across the slit on top. Luc jerked and groaned.
"Yes." Wulf kissed his way down Luc's throat, onto his chest. "Moan for me." He slid his fingers down to cup his balls, and wrapped his hand around them. "Yes, like that. Louder." He squeezed--gently--tugging forward a little bit. "More. I love it when I can make you groan like that."
Luc tilted Wulf backward and slid one hand between them, down the front of Wulf's body to the hard proof of his arousal.
"I want to feel you." Luc unfastened the pants, pushed them down as much as he could with Wulf on his lap, and pulled out his cock. "Want my hands on your skin. You're even perfect down here
, love. Look at you." He stroked the head. Pre-cum glistened at the tip. "You're going to come all night long, Wulf." Wrapping a hand around Wulf's shaft, Luc leaned in and took his mouth.
When he pulled back, Wulf panted, breath shallow and hot.
Feeling the fine shiver that went through his lover, Luc drew him closer. "I can't wait to fuck you. I'm going to pleasure you until you beg me to stop." He connected his mouth with Wulf's, stroking his tongue inside his lover's wet, velvet heat.
When the kiss ended, Wulf seated himself on Luc's lap, one thigh on either side of him. Their cocks were tight, hot, and up against each other like two men in love.
Luc wrapped his right hand around as much of them as he could grasp. Wulf matched him on the other side. Their shafts, his dark, and Wulf's light, stood within their joined hands.
Wulf lifted his gaze to Luc's. "I love you, Luc. I love you so damned much."
"Kiss me."
Soft brown eyes closing, he leaned in and pressed his lips gently against Luc's. He stroked Luc's cheek. "Tell me what you want, Luc." He kissed his chin, licked across his lower lip. "Tell me, dirty boy. Tell Wulf what you want him to do to you."
"I want you to suck me. Take my cock in your mouth and lick every single inch of it."
"Ooh." Wulf squirmed. "I like that, dirty boy." He licked along Luc's jaw. "What else?"
"I want you kneeling naked on this seat, giving me your ass. I want to plunge my cock into you. I want you to ride me. Take every bit of me inside you and beg me for more."
Wulf wrapped his arms around him and took his mouth in a kiss that promised heaven. Luc dragged him down hard, bruising him in his lust. Rough, biting, demanding more, taking more, wanting to swallow Wulf whole, possess, own, and claim him.
"Need to make you mine. Mine, now." Luc stripped off Wulf's clothes, Wulf helping him, opening his pants and squirming to get out of them.
When Luc pulled a travel-sized pack of lube from an inner pocket, Wulf took it out of his hand. "You were prepared to get lucky, weren't you?"
"Hell, yeah." Luc took it back, tore open the package, and squirted some onto his fingers. "I'm already planning what I'll do to you once we board the ship." He turned Wulf away from him and slid two fingers inside him. Wulf panted, pushing back, hands braced on the other seat.
"Fuck me!" Wulf wagged his hips. "I don't want foreplay, damn it! Fuck me!"
"Easy, my beautiful young lover. I don't want to hurt you." The tight opening spread as he worked his lubricated fingers deeper inside. "I intend to fuck you for hours once we're home." Luc guided him back, angling Wulf's hips toward him. "Let's make sure you're up to it."
Wulf moved side to side, pushing back, impaling himself on Luc's hard shaft. He spasmed inside. Luc knew it hurt him, yet Wulf forced himself back, hands braced on the other seat to shove himself further down.
Wulf's cry spoke of pain and lust, heat and fire. He moved on his own. Up, down, wiggling side to side. Back. Hard, harder. Thrusting when Luc would have waited, demanding more cock with his body. Taking it, keeping it. Filling himself.
"Want you ... ah! Luc. Oh, Luc." Wulf tossed back his head. "Give..." He screamed, ground himself against Luc, his back against Luc's chest. He laid his hands over Luc's on his own hips and writhed, sobbing with desire. "Fuck me. Oh, Luc, fuck me so hard..."
Luc reached around and gripped Wulf's shaft, pulled and pumped it, making him shiver and shake. His body afire, Luc shot into him, mind splintering with lust. Hot cream jetted over his hand as Wulf tossed his head back against Luc's shoulder. His lover's legs splayed wide across his lap, Luc held Wulf while he bucked and twitched in wanton abandonment.
"Yes, Wulf. Come for me. Give it to me. Let me take it."
Wulf's hot, tight ass spasmed hard, milking cum out of Luc, making him sob with residual pleasure. He gulped air, senses so overloaded he couldn't think, couldn't speak, only react to the sensations coursing through his cock and balls.
Curse words flowed from Wulf's lips as he eased down, both of them panting after the incredible, sexual high. He reached a hand up and back into Luc's hair, held onto him as they kissed.
"Wulf, love. Wulf." Holding him on his lap, so close, so much a part of him. "You're mine, love. Mine. Mine."
He gathered Wulf tighter against him, stroking down his chest with one hand while the other still gripped his wet cock. Wulf shuddered beneath his touch, mouth open to take his kiss, his breath shallow, fast.
"I love you so much." Wulf's mouth felt cool to the touch. He spoke softly, his lips against Luc's, each word a sweet kiss. "Promise me you're mine. Promise me you won't leave me. Promise me, Luc."
"Yes, Wulf." Luc slid a hand down Wulf's naked chest, his own cock still engorged and deep inside his lover. "I'm yours. Every part of me. My heart, my mind, my soul. All of me is yours."
"Oh, Luc." Wulf snuggled back against him, eyes closed, his face relaxed, serene. "Marry me then."
Chapter Eighteen
Kelthia, Miraj City, Guild District
Luc Saint-Cyr's hoversine
Wulf's request echoed in Luc's head. Marry me... Marry me...
After the heat and fire of their lovemaking, those words slapped him like a bucket of ice water. Luc's erection faded. The heat of their bodies brought about sticky, uncomfortable sweat, fogging the windows of the hoversine. The leather seat felt wet, slippery. Removing his hands from Wulf's body, he sat back.
Wulf stiffened. He disengaged from Luc's embrace. Avoiding his gaze, Wulf climbed off his lap and used his T-shirt to wipe off and clean himself. He hooched around in the car, pulling on his pants.
Luc tugged his up, buttoned his shirt, and tucked it in before fastening the pants. He straightened his cuffs, ran a hand through his hair.
Leaving his button-down shirt open at the throat, Wulf held his wet T-shirt, the evidence of their passion. He balled the shirt up in his fists, glancing around as if seeking a place to put it. When Luc held out his hand, Wulf ignored him. He wadded the shirt tighter, mouth a straight line. Abruptly, he turned his head and covered his eyes with one hand.
Luc turned his head the other direction, trying to ignore Wulf's hiccups, pretending the scent of lovemaking did not fill the hover's cabin. When the car slowed and then stopped, the driver did not have time to open the door before Luc leaped out and headed for the ship.
* * * *
Kelthian orbit, C-1, Luc's private vessel
Wulf leaned against the shower wall, hands over his eyes. He'd used every drop of hot water on the ship taking a shower, yet he couldn't wash away the betrayal left from every touch of Luc's hands. His silent rejection played over and over, the lies Luc had told him moments before stabbing his heart. "I'm yours. Every part of me. My heart, my mind, my soul. All of me is yours."
Luc had practically run from him afterward.
How could I be so stupid? How could I have listened to Senthys? He must be laughing at me right now. He knew Luc would never marry me. Wiping tears from his face, Wulf shut off the now cold water and exited the stall.
He wrapped himself in thick towels and opened the door to the bedroom, peeking out to ensure no one was present. Luc had sent a note with one of the droid crewmembers that he'd had to return to Kelthia and wouldn't come back until tomorrow. Wulf didn't expect him to live up to it.
Wulf had wadded up the handwritten note and thrown it against the wall. Not content with that, he'd grabbed it, torn it into tiny shreds, thrown it into the toilet, and made damn sure he peed all over it before he flushed it.
It hadn't helped. Much.
Wulf had begged him, "Promise me you're mine. Promise me you won't leave me. Promise me, Luc."
Luc had left him. Left him after he promised he wouldn't.
Throwing himself face down on the bed, Wulf pulled a pillow under his chest. If I was home right now, I'd break out some whiskey. He sat up and reached for the holophone beside the bed. "I'd like two bottles of Kelthian whiskey, please."
"Right away, si
r," the droid purser promised. "May I do anything else for you?"
"Yes, I want to make a call to Tarth."
"Certainly, sir. How may I direct your call?"
He knew the number by heart.
* * * *
Kelthia, Miraj City
Guild District, idBot Headquarters
Luc's private office
Luc stifled the urge to visit Senthys. If he did, Luc would throttle him. There was no doubt the lad had put Wulf up to asking him about marriage. Small wonder Senthys had been so easy to coax into boarding school. He'd been plotting to break them up. Divide and conquer. The little bastard was a damned genius at it.
Right now, Wulf likely pouted. Or cried. Luc brushed a hand across his face. Please don't let me have fallen in love with a man who cries. I can't take that. Tears turned him into mush. No matter what, he couldn't let the Harbinger be seen falling apart.
McDoth entered the room, securing the door behind him. Few other places on Kelthia afforded the level of privacy Luc would need for this call.
McDoth seated himself and initiated the connection, using a device within himself to link with Uurah, the android Master Referee of Peril. In turn, Uurah would contact Pietas, the Gamemaster. Depending on his mood, Pietas would answer immediately or get back to him when he felt like it, anywhere from an hour to a year to never.
McDoth made a gesture, indicating he was in contact with Uurah. A moment later he sat up stiffly and lifted a hand.
Luc stood, moved out from behind the desk and into an open area near the door.
Pietas ap Lorectic shimmered into view, life-sized. Taller than Luc, with waist-length silver-blond hair and brilliant turquoise eyes, Pietas possessed the beauty of an angel and the soul of a devil. If he still had a soul after all the horrors he'd committed over the centuries. Seeing him like this it was almost possible to forget the worlds he'd ruined and the millions upon millions of lives he'd destroyed.
Wulf, Tales of the Chosen Page 15