by Carol Lynne
Before Nalu could answer, Ghazi invited his guests to sit. “I’d better do what he asks,” Nalu said, gesturing to the table.
“Will you meet me in the garden after dinner?” Raven asked. He needed to lock Nalu into a meeting before he had time to talk himself out of it.
“Can Brier come?”
“Brier and Jared if it would make you feel more comfortable,” Raven answered.
Nalu glanced around the room. “Okay.”
* * * *
After a pleasant dinner, Raven, Brier, Jared and Nalu disappeared out into the garden, and Ghazi invited Jackie and Seb to join him on the balcony just off his private study. “Cigar?”
Seb grinned and took one. He held it up to his nose and sighed. He took the cutter Ghazi offered and snipped the end off before handing it back. “It’s been a long time since I’ve smoked one of these.”
Jackie shook his head. “No thanks.”
Ghazi selected one of the cigars and returned the humidor to his study. He handed the lighter to Seb before cutting the end off of the expensive cigar.
“Did you choose this location on purpose?” Jackie asked.
Ghazi took a seat and smiled at the small group of men in the garden below. “Raven has told me many times what a jealous man Seb is. I assumed it would be the best way to reassure Seb his partner is safe.”
Seb took a puff of his cigar and grunted. “People blow my jealous tendencies out of proportion all the time.”
“Yeah, right,” Jackie countered. “You don’t want Raven anywhere near Jared and you know it.”
“Why?” Ghazi asked. He had to admit to himself that his own jealousy was starting to rear its ugly head. “Has he tried to get close to Jared before?”
“Yes,” Seb answered.
“No,” Jackie said at the same time. Jackie shook his head. “We both know the only reason he offered to drive Jared back and forth to work was because he knew it would make you get off your stubborn ass and claim Jared as yours.”
“Don’t kid yourself. Raven didn’t get his reputation for nothing,” Seb growled.
Jackie cleared his throat. “So,” he started, turning to regard Ghazi. “The two of you looked rather cosy at dinner.”
Ghazi didn’t know either man well, but he resented any implication that he was one of many in Raven’s life. Announcing his feelings to the two men went against his sense of privacy, but he intended to make damn sure they knew his feelings for Raven. “I’m in love with him.”
Jackie whistled. “I bet he’s in hog heaven.”
Confused by the statement, Ghazi’s head tilted to the side. “Hog heaven?”
“Happy. I bet Raven’s happy,” Jackie quickly clarified.
“Actually, I don’t think he believes me. He keeps trying to remind me that he was adopted. I’m not sure why that would make him any less a man in his eyes, but it seems to weigh heavily on his shoulders.”
Jackie and Seb looked at each other. Ghazi couldn’t read their twin expressions. “What?” he asked.
“We didn’t know he was adopted. He’s never talked much about his past. I mean, I’m sure Mac and Bram know, they’re the ones who hired him, but I’m his boss and I didn’t know. Did his biological folks die?” Seb asked.
“No. I mean, I don’t know anything about his father, but his mother couldn’t be bothered to stop drinking, so they took Raven away from her.”
Seb stared at the end of his smouldering cigar. “Maybe we have more in common than I thought.”
“You were adopted?” Ghazi asked.
“No. I wasn’t that lucky, but you never completely get over the fact that you weren’t worth hanging onto.” Seb set the cigar in the ashtray and stared over the balcony to the men below. “From experience, I can tell you the only way to convince Raven that you’ll stay is to wake up every morning beside him. Words won’t do it.”
“Do you really think Jared would ever leave you?” Jackie asked.
“Of course. I keep thinking someday he’ll wake up, take a look at me and wonder why the hell he’s tied himself down to a grouchy sonofabitch like me.”
Ghazi had seen the two men together over the last two days. They couldn’t keep their hands off each other. If Seb still felt the way he did, would loving Raven be a constant battle of reassurances?
“You’re wrong,” Jackie said. “You’re that man’s entire world.”
Seb nodded, never taking his eyes off Jared. “That’s what he tells me.” He blinked several times before looking at Jackie. “I love him more than my own life. I’m not foolish enough to push him away, but I guess I realise what a gift every day with him is.”
Seb eventually turned his attention to Ghazi. “If you love Raven, tell him, often. But sticking by his side no matter what will do more for his sense of worth than anything.”
“And when he tries to push me away?” Ghazi asked, remembering the arguments they’d had lately.
“He’s testing you, in his own way. He may not even realise it, but he is.”
“Testing me?”
“He’s probably still working through the reasons behind his mother’s indifference. Maybe he’s trying to see how far he can go before you leave him.” Seb stood and stretched his arms over his head. “I’m gonna get another beer. Anyone else?”
“Sure,” Jackie said, handing Seb an empty bottle.
“I’m fine,” Ghazi answered. He had a lot to think about.
* * * *
Once all four of them were settled on the benches beside the reflecting pond, Raven turned to Nalu. “Can you tell me everything from the beginning? I think I already know who the Guardian is by your reaction at dinner, but I’d like to hear it from you.”
“Where do I start?” Nalu asked.
“How did you originally come to live on Jurru?”
“My mother sold me to a man because she couldn’t afford to feed me,” he whispered.
“And this man brought you to Jurru? Then what?”
Nalu shrugged. “He found someone else.”
“And just left you here on your own?” Raven asked, appalled that someone could do such a thing.
Nalu shook his head. “He took me to Sanctuary. I didn’t know why at the time, but it was a nice place, and I got to go to school.”
“And that’s when you started working for the Guardian?” Jared asked.
“No. It wasn’t until I filled out a piece of paper asking the King if he would let me become a citizen. He said yes, but I would have to do my part as a res…responsible citizen if I wanted to stay.”
Raven sat back and scrubbed his face with his hands. He knew from talking to Ghazi that Nalu had become a citizen while Ghazi’s father, King Jaleel Zahar was in power. How could he possibly tell Ghazi his father had started the prostitution services on Jurru?
“And Halim? What part does he play?” he forced himself to ask. Raven felt eyes on him and looked around the garden before finally glancing up. He met Ghazi’s stare and took a deep breath. Although he would have to break his lover’s heart, the heat in Ghazi’s dark eyes made him want.
“He calls himself the Guardian, but we call him the Hammer,” Nalu confessed. “He gives us our assignments, pays for the house.” Nalu shrugged. “I guess we’d all be out on the street without him so I shouldn’t say too much.”
The statement brought Raven back to the situation at hand. “That’s bullshit, ya know? There’s a quote that I read in a book that has stuck with me since the day I said it aloud to myself. If you have to crawl to live, stand and die.”
“That sounds pretty. What does it mean?”
“Well, it might be different for someone else, but to me it means if you’re unhappy with your life, stand up and fight for yourself. You’re the only one with the power to change who you are and where you’re headed.”
Raven leant forward and gazed into Nalu’s eyes. “So, do you want a different life, Nalu?”
Nalu began to finger the light brown dreadlocks tha
t clung to his shoulders. “I like my friends, and I love living on Jurru.”
“Okay, that’s a start. So what would you change if you could?” Raven asked.
“You know.” Nalu shook his head before turning to look at Brier. “He told me sex was different with someone you cared about.”
Raven thought back to the way Ghazi’s tenderness made him feel. “Yes. It can be very different, better.”
“I guess I want that.”
“And I’m sure you’ll get it someday, but for now, you deserve the life of a teenager.” Brier stood and knelt in front of Nalu. “I never had that. I didn’t get to go to high school. I wish I could have gone to one of those dances I see on television, but it’s too late for me.”
Brier took Nalu’s hands in his. “I want those things for you.”
Raven wiped the moisture from his eyes at the simple plea. He noticed he wasn’t the only one affected by Brier’s honesty. Both Nalu and Jared were also teary-eyed.
Nalu wiped his face with his arm. “How would I get money to live? I don’t know how to do anything else.”
“You’re only fourteen,” Raven reminded Nalu. “Now is the time for others to help take care of you. I’ll make sure you get the education you need so you can become anything you want to.” He knew in that moment he would do anything to give Nalu a chance to thrive.
Raven swallowed around the lump in his throat. He wondered if his dad felt the same way when he’d scooped Raven off the chair in the bar so long ago. “Deal?” he asked, holding out his hand.
Instead of shaking his hand, Nalu leant over and hugged Raven. Fighting his emotions, Raven enveloped the teenager in a hug. It’s a start.
* * * *
“What’re you doing out here all by yourself?” Seb asked, sitting in the chair next to Raven’s.
“I told Ghazi about his father and Halim, and he said he needed to be alone. What’re you doing out here?” Raven asked.
Seb shrugged. “Jared’s playing pool with Nalu, Jackie and Brier. I noticed you were missing, so I thought I’d look for you.”
Raven chuckled. “Did you think I was lost?”
“Aren’t you?” Seb asked, no trace of humour in his expression.
The question surprised him, but before answering, Raven took the time to really think about it. “No. Actually, I think for the first time in my life I might be where I’m supposed to be.” He glanced at Seb. “So how do I convince Ghazi I’m worthy?”
“You don’t.”
“Gee, thanks.” Raven sighed.
“What I meant was that you don’t have to convince him, he’s already convinced. He loves you, Raven.”
“Yeah. He loves me so much he prefers to deal with the news on his own.”
“This isn’t about you. The man’s just found out his father, the man he’s looked up to his entire life, was no better than a pimp. Give him a fucking break, dude.”
“But I thought people in love were supposed to lean on each other when things went wrong.”
“They are, usually. Some things a man has to work out on his own though. Doesn’t mean he loves his partner any less.”
Seb made a lot of sense, but Raven still couldn’t get over the fact that the man was actually there sitting next to him. “Why’re you talking to me? You never do that.” A thought occurred to him. “Are you feeling sorry for me or something?”
“Sorry for you? Please. You’ve got a freaking King in love with you. I just thought you might need someone to talk to. I actually like you, ya know.”
“Really?” he asked in a sarcastic tone. “That’s why you won’t let Jared within fifty feet of me without growling. You know, I may have a reputation for being a slut, but I wouldn’t do anything to hurt Jared.”
“I know. And it’s never been your reputation I’ve worried about.”
“Could’ve fooled me,” Raven mumbled.
“Obviously I did. The reason I didn’t want Jared around you in the beginning was because I wanted him. I knew if he spent much time with you, you’d win him over. You’re like that, you know?”
“Like what?” Raven asked.
“Likeable. No matter what was going on, you’d always show up with that damn goofy smile on your face. It’s sickening to someone like me.” Seb scowled.
“Yeah, well, didn’t your mother ever teach you not to judge a book by its cover?”
“No, actually she didn’t. She was a drug addict. She was so busy trying to find her next fix that she had little time to raise two boys.” Seb stared at Raven. “I grew up in foster care.”
Raven blinked. How could he have known Seb for so long and not known that. “I didn’t know you had a brother.”
“He died when he was young.” Seb shook his head. “I don’t talk about it.”
Raven nodded. “Understood.”
Jared’s soft voice called Seb’s name through the darkness.
“I think you’re being summoned,” Raven said.
“To bed, I hope. It’s been a hell of a long day.” Seb slapped Raven on the thigh as he stood. “I’m sure Ghazi’ll need you once he’s done sorting through his feelings. Do yourself a favour and be there for him.”
Before Seb could walk away, Raven had one more question for his boss, his new friend. “Seb?”
“Yeah?” the man stopped and glanced over his shoulder at Raven.
“I wanna have a New Years dance for Brier and Jared. Can you come back for that?”
Seb scowled. “I don’t dance.”
“It’s not about you,” Raven said, throwing Seb’s words back at him.
Chapter Seven
“What time is it?” Raven mumbled.
“Well into the morning. Go back to sleep, love” Ghazi said, pulling Raven against his chest. As much as he wanted to seek comfort in the depths of Raven’s body, Ghazi knew if his lover woke fully, he’d have questions. More than likely, they would be the same questions Ghazi had spent hours asking himself, questions he still didn’t have answers to.
Raven’s face rooted around on Ghazi’s chest for several moments before he finally brushed his lips across Ghazi’s nipple.
Ghazi tried to soothe the man to sleep by slowly petting his back.
“I love you,” Raven whispered.
Holding his breath, Ghazi closed his eyes. How many nights had he dreamt of hearing those words from Raven? Although part of him feared the words were simply meant to make him feel better after the news of his father, Ghazi knew he might not ever get a chance to hear them again.
“Thank you,” he finally whispered back. A tongue swiped over his nipple several times before Raven rolled on top of him. Ghazi accepted Raven’s attentive kisses with a welcoming fervour.
Once Raven had worked his way up to Ghazi’s mouth, he frowned. He traced Ghazi’s eyebrows with his finger. “Don’t be sad.”
“I cannot help it,” Ghazi confessed. “Everything I thought to be true about my father has turned out to be a lie.”
“You don’t know that for sure. I’ve been thinking, and I believe I’ve come up with a way to trap Halim.”
“Why do we have to trap him? Why can’t we just ask him?” Ghazi asked, running his hands down Raven’s back.
“Because he’ll just deny it. He’ll point the finger at Nalu and his friends as liars.” Raven shook his head. “Those kids have been through enough already. It’s time we grown-ups show them we can be trusted.”
Wrapping his arms around Raven’s lean waist, Ghazi rolled them both over until he lay on top. “Can we discuss your plan in the morning?”
“Why? You have something else in mind?” Raven asked with a wide grin on his face.
Ghazi’s cock began to respond to Raven’s constant wiggling. “I’m sure something will come up.”
Ghazi started to move, rubbing his filling length against Raven’s. “Thank you for being here.”
Raven cupped Ghazi’s face in his hands. “You’re not your father. What he did or didn’t do should h
ave no bearing on who you are.”
“And you’re not your mother,” Ghazi reminded Raven.
“It’s not the same thing. You’re royalty, regardless of your father’s actions. I’m the bastard son of a drunk.”
“No. You’re the adopted son of the Stone family. And from what you’ve told me about your mom and dad, you should be proud of them, proud of yourself. A man is not measured by his birth, but his aspirations.”
Raven chuckled. “See? You even talk like a king.”
“Good thing since I am one, right?” Ghazi leant down for a kiss. He swept the interior of Raven’s mouth with his tongue for several moments before pulling back. “I need you.”
“Yeah, I can feel that.”
Ghazi shook his head. “No. I mean, I need you here with me, beside me. I made a promise to my father to take his place when the time arose, but that promise doesn’t mean as much to me as you do. If you truly cannot live with a king, I’ll hand over the crown to Faris.”
“Faris is too young, and you know it. Besides, you didn’t make the promise to your father, you made it to your people. It’s about time Jurru had a king who looked out for them, and I have no doubt you’ll do that.”
“But will you stay?” Ghazi asked.
“As what? I’ve been here for months and not once have you needed a bodyguard. I need to feel useful.”
“What would you like to do?” Inside, Ghazi was jumping up and down. It sounded like Raven was serious about staying with him on Jurru. Ghazi would give the man the world if he asked for it.
Raven wrapped his legs around Ghazi’s waist. “You’ll need someone trustworthy to run Sanctuary.”
“You don’t think it should be shut down?”
“Not at all. Nalu was willing to prostitute himself for the privilege of living in a home with people who cared about him. Let’s teach those kids what a real home feels like.”
Ghazi nodded. “We’ll have to set it up before the newly elected Prime Minister takes office, but I know both men and there shouldn’t be a problem.” He kissed Raven’s neck, anxious to make love to the man. “Anything else?”
“Just two things, but they can keep ‘til morning.”