Romi cleared his throat. “Had a similar conversation once or twice with Wepizi, actually. The Andonese have runners and express riders, but it’s no good in the winter. You need a mechanical system that doesn’t care how cold or snowy it is.”
“Maybe we could find a way to send messages through the air,” Karik said.
“I’ve an engineer who’s been experimenting with sending sound through water,” Arman said thoughtfully. “But that’s not very practical. The Prij use a battery of signalling towers, but that doesn’t suit all terrains. It’s been a dream of mine for years to solve this problem, but our mechanical knowledge is too limited.”
That gave Romi and Arman something to talk about for a while, but Kei didn’t join in at all. Karik, obviously fretting for his uncle, leaned against him and kept silent company too. Not the cheerful homecoming Romi had been expecting by a long way.
Finally they could decently excuse themselves to bathe and to rest. “Kei, are my things still here?”
“‘Things’, nephew?”
“My spare toilet kit—you know, my razor.”
For some reason, Karik mumbled the last few words, his cheeks gone bright red. Romi stared in puzzlement at the sight, as Kei and Arman looked at each other and just grinned. “You can certainly borrow my razor if you can’t find yours,” Arman said, still smiling. What was so damn funny?
“Any other items you think you might need, Karik?” Kei asked, a ghost of the cheerfulness Romi had seen in him before Andon, coming back to brighten his expression. “You know where everything is in the work room.”‘
“Shut up, Kei,” Karik muttered. “Come on, Romi. Bath.”
“Karik, I’ll be gone early as usual in the morning,” Arman said as Karik dragged Romi up by the arm. “But, Romi, I would appreciate your coming to my office at the House when your business is over at the academy, so we can discuss your report.”
“Yes, my lord.” Arman gave him an old-fashioned look, and Romi smiled wryly. “Sorry—it’s habit.”
“Yes, I suppose it is. You can be as formal as you like when you come to see me, if that makes you happy. Run along, Karik—you both look like a good night’s sleep would do you the world of good.”
Karik stopped long enough to hug Kei tightly and whisper something to him, and then to kiss Pira’s cheek and thank her for the meal. Romi added his thanks more formally, and then he was hauled out of the room and shoved towards the bathing room. “Care to explain the joke?” Romi asked.
“No, I don’t,” Karik muttered, sounding rather cross. Robes had been left out for them, and drying cloths. Romi only had a moment to register this, before the bathing room door slammed and Karik was in his arms. “Gods, just kiss me.”
Romi obeyed, taking his time to savour the taste of Karik and the pleasure of privacy with him again, though it had only been a few hours since they were last alone. Karik was shaking slightly—Romi hardly blamed him. “Not what you were expecting?”
“I’ve got to fix this. Kei looks like he’s aged twenty years. This is so much not like him, you have no idea. And I can’t imagine what Ma’s going through.”
“You don’t think they might sort it out now you’re back? They’re both sensible people, after all.”
Karik gave him a sidelong look. “Except when it comes to me—or each other. Pa’s caught in the middle—he loves them both.” He heaved a great sigh. “Maybe when he comes up here...oh, but he expects me to go back with him. I don’t want to go back if you’re leaving.”
Romi kissed his forehead, and unlaced his shirt for him. “Tomorrow, Karik. Kei says he doesn’t expect me back on full duties for a month or two at the very least. We’ve got time—I’ve got at least a month and a half of leave due to me, and I daresay I could wangle a month more if I have to. Your uncle hasn’t released me from my secondment yet anyway.”
“I know, but—”
Romi touched his fingers to Karik’s lips. “Enough. It’s been a very long day, I’m tired, you’re tired. Now, come on—I’ve not had a proper Darshianese bath in nearly a year, and that’s much too long, if you ask me.”
They scrubbed themselves clean, and Romi really appreciated the fine soap that Karik said Kei made himself—much better than the harsh stuff they had been making do with. His hair finally felt properly and perfectly clean, which was blissful. The bath water had been warming for over an hour, and was very hot—Romi half-expected Karik to prevent him using it and he prepared himself for a fight to enjoy this precious luxury, but Karik got into the tub without a word, and only waited for him to settle down before climbing into his lap.
“Hello,” Romi said, amused by his easy attitude with him. “You act like you do this all the time.”
“We’ve bathed together before, just not like this,” Karik pointed out, kissing his jaw, then sighing again, this time in pleasure. “Arman always said baths were the best thing next to Kei about coming to Darshian. Kei says he only ranks the bath second out of politeness.”
“I’m sure that’s not true. He obviously loves Kei very much.”
“Yes, he does.” Karik rested against him in a way Romi could easily get used to. He’d never bathed with Daiso—strange to think of that—but he’d been as tall as Romi and heavier. Holding Dai on his lap would have been very odd—but Karik felt perfect. “I can’t help thinking about what Pira said—about losing them both. What if I’d died on that expedition? Look at the harm it would have caused. I don’t understand why.”
“You’re an only child, and your uncles have none of their own either. That’s a lot of expectations bound up in one person.”
“But I can’t behave as if I’m made of glass,” Karik said, leaning back to glare at him. “I have a job to do!”
Romi stroked Karik’s face to soothe him, running his fingers along his beard and teasing the curls. “You of all people should understand the need to protect those you care about. I daresay if you’d been killed here in Darshian, with witnesses, and they’d known what happened, it might have been easier. But they were left with a cockeyed story, no one they could question, and no explanations. That didn’t help.”
“But...every time I go collecting, will I have to worry about this?”
“Yes,” Romi said bluntly. “I don’t see how you can’t. And don’t damn well ask me how you deal with it, because I have no idea.” It was hard to think at all rationally with Karik’s perfect bottom sitting right where it could do most...er...good.
“Romi?”
“Yes?”
“We...uh...there’s a really good bed in the guest room,” Karik said in a rush, and then flushed pink. “Two of them.”
“Ah. And what exactly was Kei expecting you to fetch from the work room?”
Karik turned even redder. “Um...tidomumblemumble.”
“What?”
“Tido oil cream!”
Romi grinned. “Ah. I usually use the oil itself. What’s the cream like?”
“I have no idea.”
“Oh? You’ve never tried it...in the spirit of scientific investigation?”
It was absolutely fascinating, the way Karik’s skin reflected his mortifying embarrassment so readily. It was easily one of the most beguiling things about him. “Maybe...a couple of times.”
“We all do it, you know.” He was still looking hideously embarrassed. Romi kissed him again. “We have plenty of time,” he said gently. “The bed will be there for a while yet.” There was something he had to bring up—and he didn’t know if there would ever be a good time to do so. “Kei asked me about the attack.”
Karik jumped a little. “So did Arman—I put him off.”
“Yes—but Kei knows. Jou told him, thinking you were dead.”
Karik climbed off his lap and moved to the other side of the tub, wrapping his arms around himself. “Do I have any privacy left?”
“Arman doesn’t know. Kei didn’t tell him. But he wants you to. One of us to, anyway. He wants Arman to stop Soza hurting s
omeone else.”
“He can’t,” Karik said dully. “How can he? No proof.”
“Actually, there are a number of ways I could pursue this if I was back south.” Romi didn’t want to go into the details just now—not with Karik looking so distressed. “But Arman can’t investigate a crime he doesn’t know about, nor can the army.” He reached over and took Karik’s hand. “It really needs you to be brave once more. I know it’ll hurt. But it’ll hurt anyway.”
“Easy for you to say,” Karik snapped, hunching over himself. Romi tugged him close and made Karik rest against him again, waiting for him to work it through. What a damn horrible homecoming this was turning out to be.
He stroked Karik’s back, careful to keep it as non-sexual as he could. He really wasn’t used to having to do this, not with a naked, handsome lover, but even with the discussion about the cream, he doubted Karik was really ready to make love—there had been too much proof of that on the boat. Oh, how he wanted to do an injury to Soza for the harm he had done to so many people, Karik most of all. It might not be right, but it would be very satisfying.
Gradually Karik uncurled, and Romi recognised the signs of him being lost in deep thought. He let him be, continuing the gently stroking which gave him as much comfort as it did Karik. But finally, he wrapped his arms around Karik and sighed. “I’m tired. Let’s just go to bed.”
Karik struggled out of his arms and then climbed out of the bath. “What did Kei say about your heart?”
“He thinks there’s no permanent damage, and that I just need time to recover. I should be back on duty in three months.”
Karik only nodded again, but his sudden stricken look told Romi this wasn’t unalloyed good news. What a mess. It almost made him long for when it had just been the four of them walking to safety in Andon. Trying to survive was somehow a lot simpler than getting back to their nice safe existence.
Staying Power: 45
Both the beds, as promised, looked very comfortable. Karik explained that over the years, Kei and Arman had a near constant stream of guests, and had thought it worth the investment. “Is this where you live when you’re in Darshek?” Romi asked.
“Of course. I could stay with Seiki and Mila, but Kei would kill me.”
Karik was dithering, Romi realised—taking his time hanging up the robes, straightening up their things Pira had laid out on the other bed. Romi came up behind him—slowly, since it was never good to startle Karik from behind these days—and wrapped his arms around him.
“Come to bed,” he whispered into Karik’s ear, and tugged him over to it. He lay down, but Karik just sat perched on the edge, looking ill at ease, though the fact they were both naked might have something to do with that. “What’s wrong?”
“I.... Can I touch you?”
It was the last thing Romi was expecting him to say, but all he did was light a few more fire sprites to make the room brighter, put his hands behind his head, and lie back. “Be my guest.”
Karik moved a little closer. Romi wasn’t sure what he was planning, but he wouldn’t put him off—he’d had a little fantasy going for a while now, about what Karik’s skilled and slender fingers would feel like on his skin, and he was curious to know if reality would match that fantasy.
Karik laid his hand over Romi’s left pectoral. “Not squishy,” he said, grinning suddenly.
“No squish left at all on me,” Romi said, smiling back. “Or you.”
“Pira will sort that out.” He ran his finger down the middle of Romi’s chest and down his belly, and then, charmingly, he bent and kissed Romi’s stomach, which made him shiver. “You taste good,” he said, his lips still against Romi’s skin.
“Gods, Karik.” Romi’s cock couldn’t help but respond to the delicate touch, and the heat in the whispered words. He didn’t know what to say—he could hardly stop his body’s natural behaviour, but how would Karik react?
Karik just turned his head and looked at his erection as if it was an interesting new plant. Romi felt himself blushing—even though he really wasn’t one for blushing. “It’s bigger than mine,” Karik said, in a perfectly conversational tone, as if he was describing a mug of tea.
Romi felt himself getting even hotter. No lover of his had ever subjected him to this, and he didn’t know whether he liked it at all—but there was also something amazingly arousing in being examined so carefully. He could feel Karik’s breath on the tip of his cock as he came in for a closer look. “It’s beautiful,” Karik whispered, running his fingers lightly down the length of it, and making Romi almost scream for him to touch it properly. Karik turned to look at him, an impish glint in his eyes. “There really isn’t anything I won’t put in my mouth, you know.”
“Karik....” Gods, was that his voice, so strangled-sounding? “Do you have any idea...?”
“No—but can I try?”
Romi’s fingers clenched behind his head. “Yes,” he said through gritted teeth. Just get on with it, he wanted to shout, but then he nearly leapt off the bed as the top of his cock was enveloped in wet, wonderful heat. Oh gods!
Karik really had no idea what he was doing. Romi couldn’t have cared less—this was so far from what he was expecting, and so much more than he thought Karik would do. He brought his hands down so he could stroke that soft, soft hair, gleaming gold in the firelight, as Karik licked and sucked in an endearingly enthusiastic way, teasing him unbearably and making his balls tighten into hard little stones—it had been a damn long time since he’d last come, and he needed to, oh he needed to, spill into that pretty mouth, and he needed it now.
But Karik didn’t know how to bring him off, and after a few minutes of wonderful but frustrating sensation, he stopped and looked up. “I’m doing it wrong?”
Romi sat up, and pulled Karik into his arms, sitting him next to him. “Use your hand,” he said, trying not to sound as desperate as he felt. “You know how to do that, right?”
Karik nodded, and with rather more assurance, wrapped his hand around Romi’s cock. Romi sighed—so good. “Please...oh, please, Karik....” He made Karik turn his head so he could kiss him, tongue sliding between those perfect lips and tasting himself on them. And all the while, Karik’s hand moved up and down with precise, measured movements, bringing him closer and closer to release until his body was just one big nerve, all a-jangle. Far too soon he jerked with the sudden intense pleasure of his climax, almost too much after being deprived for so long, gasping into Karik’s mouth, his vision narrowed to a pair of wide green eyes and golden brows.
He vaguely realised he was being petted, and as he came back to himself, he saw Karik looking a little worried. He hugged Karik close, making him squeak a little, and crushed his mouth on Karik’s lips, Karik’s eager tongue ready to explore and tasting so warm and welcome. “Gods, I love you,” Romi murmured, rubbing his cheek against Karik’s beard.
“Was that all right?”
“Absolutely perfect.” Karik smiled against his skin. “Beautiful man.”
“Huh?”
“That’s what Wepizi called you—‘beautiful man’. And you are.” He leaned back, and gave Karik a chaste kiss on his forehead. “Are you all right?” There were no signs of distress, for which he was very thankful.
“Yes. But I wish I knew how to....”
“Use your mouth?” Karik nodded. “Want me to show you?” Karik’s sudden flush was the answer he needed. He pushed Karik gently down to the bed, and finding he was guarding a hand sticky with Romi’s own come, he lifted it to his mouth and licked the fingers clean, which made Karik smile, and his eyes get even bigger. He spent a few moments nibbling on the slender fingers and making Karik smile wider. “Like that? Sensitive hands. Are you ticklish?”
“Yes, but if you use that information, I’ll set Arman on you.”
“Your secret is safe with me,” Romi declared solemnly. He bent and kissed the horrible scar on Karik’s stomach, licking the skin that was smooth in a different way from the rest of it. �
�Does it hurt?”
“Not any more. Hurt like all hells at the time.”
“I bet.” He stroked it a little, then made more sweeping motions across the fine, pale skin, first with his hand, and then with his tongue, leaving wet swathes on which he blew, making Karik shiver. He leaned in, kissed one small pink nipple, and heard a sound that was probably a giggle. Sensitive there too—he filed that information away for another time. Right now, he was interested in another part of Karik’s elegant anatomy which was equally interested in him.
It would have been so easy to just sweep Karik along in the desire that made his own body thrum with need, a need hardly sated at all by his climax, but this was Karik’s very first time. A little delicacy, a little polite discretion was needed. Or so he assumed—he’d never bedded a virgin, and his own first time had been with a much older man who had not been very considerate but who’d been a damn fine fuck for all that. Karik was a completely different proposition, and it needed careful thought if he wasn’t to think his lover a complete boor.
First, a kiss—never could go wrong kissing this man—and Karik might not know much about lovemaking, but he had the whole rubbing himself up and down Romi’s body in the most maddening manner down pat. “You keep doing that,” Romi growled, pushing him down, “and my mouth won’t get a look in.” Karik stared at him, cross-eyed with lust, and a little annoyed. “But if you’re enjoying yourself, go right ahead.”
“Oh.” Karik lay back, his body tense with the effort of not wriggling. “Please? Kei says it’s really good, and I want to know what it’s like.”
Romi ruefully shook his head—damn scientists. Too much thinking and not enough feeling. Body stiff as a board, and hands clenched, Karik was a picture of suppressed impatience, his cock quivering with need. Romi kissed Karik’s lips again, then slowly worked his way down the finely made body. Really, there was nothing to him, but what there was, was perfect and firm and warm. Karik surged up against him, eager and wanting, but Romi held him down, firmly but gently, not wanting to reawaken painful half-memories, as he brought his mouth close to the tip of Karik’s beautiful cock and breathed on it. Karik moaned, his hands coming to Romi’s shoulders and grabbing tight. He’d have bruises—he didn’t give a damn. One hand under Karik’s balls, rolling gently, looking to see if this was something he liked...oh yes, it was...and then he took Karik’s erection into his mouth, carefully sucking.
Staying Power (Darshian Tales #3) Page 56