by Morgan Hawke
It was amazing what some governments would use to pay off a mercenary army.
Roth moved silently among the shadows under the dim light from the low-hanging cast iron chandeliers. Rain spattered the night dark windows.
A man in a long black coat moved in the farthest corner.
Roth smiled grimly. Ah, there he is. He ducked into the deeper shadows, moving swiftly to intercept. Johan wasn’t getting away from him this time.
In the farthest corner of the artifacts hall, the headquarters commander, Colonel Johan Kessler, flopped down on the edge of a sheet-draped chase lounge. He perched his elbows on his knees and folded his hands tightly together. The gold trim on his black coat and matching creased trousers practically glowed in the half-light. In contrast, the long, tendrils of his blue-black hair fell over his shoulders like spilled ink. Behind his oval glasses, his slender brows were lowered and his narrow-eyed gaze was focused downward. His twiddling thumbs didn’t quite hide the pronounced frown on his lips. He appeared to be meditating rather fiercely on one particular flagstone on the floor.
Roth casually stepped out of the shadows. “Evening, Kessler.”
The commander’s head shot up to stare straight at Roth. His black eyes went wide, his lips parted, and his face went bone white. He threw out his hands and leapt to his feet, his coat flaring wide. A strained smile appeared. “Ah, Lieutenant Colonel Jaeger, how...um, nice to see you!” He pointed over his shoulder. “I was just leaving.” He turned to step away.
Roth snorted. “No, you’re not.”
Kessler froze, one foot lifted. “I’m not?”
Roth casually reached into the breast pocket of his coat and pulled out his pack of cigarettes. “The exit door is behind me.” Idiot... He tapped the pack against the heel of his hand to bounce a cigarette partway from the paper pack.
Kessler set his foot down, and slowly turned to squint beyond Roth’s shoulder. His shoulders drooped. “Wh-why, so it is.” His lips lifted into a trembling smile. “Silly me.”
Roth set the raised cigarette to his lips and pulled it free of the pack. The commander was clearly terrified of him, which meant he was definitely feeling guilty about something. He raised his lighter to the end of his cigarette and inhaled to light it. “So...” He blew out a puff of smoke. “How’ve you been?”
The dark-coated commander tilted his head slightly to the side, his glasses flashing in the half-light. His brows lifted. “How have...I been?”
“Yeah.” Roth tucked his lighter away. “I haven’t seen you in, oh a month or so?” He smiled with his teeth. “Since before I got back, in fact.”
Kessler turned his head, yanking his gaze from Roth’s and pressed his fingertips together. “Oh, well, I’ve been...busy! Yeah, busy!” He shrugged and put on a happy smile. “You know, with the move from the old headquarters to the new.” He nodded with short, sharp jerks. “Very, very, busy!”
“Yeah, whatever...” Roth waved his cigarette and took a casual step toward the clearly flustered commander. “Look, I just want to ask you a question.”
Kessler blinked, clearly startled. “Oh?” His shoulders straightened a bit and his lips relaxed into a more comfortable smile. “Okay.” He tugged on the lapels of his coat. “How can I help you?”
Roth pulled his cigarette from his lips, turned his head, and blew out a long breath of smoke. “Since all the reports go to you, you obviously know exactly where I was...that week.” He raised his brow in emphasis.
Kessler flinched and his cheeks flushed pink.
Roth smiled. Oh yeah, you know all right. “So, who got me out of there?”
Kessler’s face drained of all expression and went dead white.
Roth’s brows shot up. What the hell...?
Kessler swallowed but held Roth’s gaze. “I’m afraid that’s classified.”
Roth bared his teeth, fisted his hands at his sides, and shouted at the top of his lungs. “What?!”
Kessler lifted both hands, palm out, and shook his head. “It’s classified, as is where you were and...what you were doing.” He dropped his hands to his sides and took a deep breath, his gaze steady on Roth’s. “I assure you, no one knows; absolutely no one in the building beyond you and me.”
Roth curled his lip and took another step closer. “And Kruz.”
Kessler shook his head. “All he has is guesses. I’ve confirmed nothing.”
Roth’s voice dropped to a growl. “How do I know the person that got me out of there will keep their mouth shut?”
Kessler looked away to release a tight chuckle and rolled his eyes. “Believe me, Jaeger, they have no intention of ever breathing a word.” He winced, and a drop of sweat trickled down from his temple. “They like breathing.”
Something about Kessler’s strained voice struck an oddly familiar chord in Roth’s memory. Suspicion began to brew. He narrowed his eyes. That last guy, the one with the needle, it couldn’t have been...him?
Kessler’s eyes widened and took a step back. “Jaeger?”
Roth examined what he could of Kessler’s slender form. He’s the right build, and if I remember correctly, he had silky hair about that length. He focused on Kessler’s long slender fingers. The hands are right too. There was only one other way to tell, which meant he had to get a lot closer. Roth, flicked away his cigarette, yanked off his hat, and tossed it atop a nearby crate.
Kessler’s gaze followed the flying hat. “Jaeger?”
Roth lunged, grabbing for the commander’s upper arm.
Kessler yelped and jerked back to escape Roth’s hand. The back of his knees struck the chase lounge and he fell sprawling onto the sheet-draped cushions. “Uwah!”
Roth grabbed the curved back of the lounge, pinning Kessler in place on the cushions. He dove forward, pressed his face against the side of Kessler’s neck, and took a deep sniff. Cologne, soap, and a trace of sweat... The cologne wasn’t familiar, neither was the scent of the soap, but the sweat? There wasn’t enough to really tell. Damn it, he’s wearing deodorant!
“Jaeger? Jaeger...!” Kessler wriggled to get away. “What are you doing?”
Roth grabbed hold of Kessler’s upper arms, and jammed his knee between Kessler’s thighs to pin him in place. “Hold still!”
Kessler froze where he sat, and a soft gasp left his lips.
Roth suddenly realized that his knee was in full contact with Kessler’s crotch, and there was an erection forming right up against him. It didn’t distract him for long. He buried his nose right under the collar of Kessler’s black turtleneck and took a deeper breath. Ah, now I can smell him. And he did smell familiar. In fact, the distinct aroma of masculine musk, and the scent of arousal that was increasing by the second, was very familiar indeed.
Kessler grabbed hold of Roth’s coat sleeves and shuddered, his fingers curling tight. “Jaeger, please...!”
Roth pulled his head back and stared into Kessler’s reddened face. “It was you.”
~ * ~
Nine
Kessler’s eyes widened until the whites were clearly visible all the way around his slate black irises. “Er...” His fingers loosened from Roth’s coat sleeves.
Roth narrowed his gaze. “You were the guy with the needle. You’re the one that got me out of there.”
Kessler flinched away from Roth’s gaze. “Your suitcase arrived with a letter from a Mr. Fox. It said that you would be...there on a specific day, and to send someone trustworthy, so...”
Roth’s brow lifted. “So you went to get me?”
“Yes I went!” Kessler released Roth’s sleeves entirely to grab onto Roth’s coat lapels. “I couldn’t trust anyone else!” He stared up at Roth with his slate-black eyes wide and his cheeks bright pink. “I didn’t know that you were going to be...” He flinched. “That you were doing that, honest!” He bowed his head and groaned. “I walked in and was told you’d be ready in a little while, so I had a couple of drinks, and the next thing I know, I was being sent in to the baths, and then
they sent me into this room and... And...” He shook his head.
Roth snorted. “And there I was.” Naked, spread out, and hard up for a fuck.
“Yeah.” Kessler blew out a breath. “I had no idea what was going on.” He closed his eyes and shook his head. “Hell, I wasn’t even sure it was you! So I... I...” He glanced up at Roth and bit down on his bottom lip.
Roth jerked his gaze from Kessler’s lips and forced his mind back on track. “So, you just went along with it.”
Kessler sighed and nodded. “Yeah.” He turned away and his face blushed a deeper pink. “I haven’t told anyone. No one knows, but me, and now I... I...”
Roth frowned. “And now you...what?”
Kessler looked up at him with eyes dilated open to sheer darkness. “And now, I can’t get you out of my head.” He tugged on Roth’s lapels, pulling him closer. “Every time I catch even a glimpse of you...” His gaze lowered to focus quite obviously on Roth’s mouth. “I can’t stop...remembering.” His voice dropped to a hoarse whisper. “I can’t stop...wanting you.”
Roth swallowed, suddenly very aware of Kessler’s erection pushing against his knee, and the erection seriously beginning to ache behind his own zipper. He spoke, but it came out a breathless whisper. “You wanna fuck me.”
Kessler’s eyes narrowed and his mouth tightened to a hard line. “Yes.” He angled his head up and tugged Roth’s lapels hard, bringing Roth’s mouth to his. His tongue stabbed past Roth’s parted lips to stroke Roth’s tongue in a hungry kiss.
Roth answered Kessler’s kiss as though starved, stroking with his tongue, sucking with his lips, and nipping with his teeth. He didn’t know why he kissed him back...instinct? Habit...? Training...? He didn’t give a rat’s ass. His body was on fire and that was all that mattered. A moan bubbled up from his throat. He needed that hard cock pressing up against his knee. He needed it inside him.
Kessler’s hands shoved Roth’s coat off his shoulders where it flumped onto the floor at Roth’s feet. He jerked at the buttons on Roth’s shirt.
Impatient, Roth tugged Kessler’s coat open and pulled the man’s shirt from his pants. He slid both hands under, pushing the shirt up, baring Kessler’s smooth belly and pale nipples. His lips followed his exploring fingers, and then his tongue. It felt so good, like silk. He smelled so good, like raw male arousal. He tasted so good, salt and sex...
Kessler gasped and abandoned Roth’s shirt buttons in favor of tugging Roth’s belt open and then his pants. He shoved them down, freeing Roth’s cock.
Roth kicked his pants off, and away, not caring where they went. His fingers scrabbled for Kessler’s belt and then his pants button and zipper.
Kessler lifted up to slide his pants down to his knees.
Roth dove to take Kessler’s cock into his mouth, licking and sucking on the hard, hot flesh. He tightened his throat muscles to take Kessler as deep as he could and still breathe.
Kessler grabbed a fistful of Roth’s hair, threw his head back, and bucked up into Roth’s mouth with a deep guttural groan.
Roth pulled his head away, saliva dribbling from his lips. “Now...”
Kessler lifted his head, gasping for breath, his gaze half-lidded and slightly unfocused. “Now?”
Roth grabbed onto Kessler’s shoulders and climbed up on the lounge, setting his knees on the cushions to either side of Kessler’s thighs. He rose up on his knees above Kessler’s lap, and reached down to grasp the saliva-slick cock, centering it on his hungry anus.
Kessler stared at Roth’s rigid erection and grasped Roth’s bare buttocks. “Wait...!” Wait, you’re not...ready!”
Roth growled and began to lower himself. “I’m more than ready.” He pressed down on the hot, saliva-slick crown of Kessler’s cock and pushed to open himself. His anus relaxed, spread, and engulfed the flared head. He hissed. It ached, it burned without lube to help, but inside he pulsed with impatient hunger. He shoved down hard to take it all.
Kessler gasped and dug his fingers into Roth’s ass. He bucked upward, driving the shaft deep.
That swollen ravenous place inside was struck and pressed tight, delivering a pleasure so intense and brutal, Roth howled. He lifted up on his knees and drove himself downward, starving for another taste.
Kessler shouted and met him with an upward thrust.
They hammered at each other, thrust meeting thrust, fingers clutching, mouths sucking hard on shoulders and necks, their bodies writhing in a ravenous frenzy of sweat, flesh and raw lust.
Without stopping his upward thrusts, Kessler reached up to lock his fingers in Roth’s long hair and pulled the man down for a kiss that bruised both their mouths.
Roth grabbed hold of Kessler’s silky black hair and kissed him back just as hard, panting and moaning into his mouth.
Kessler’s hand found Roth’s cock. “I’m right there...” He began to stroke in time to his thrusts. “Cum for me.” His half-lidded gaze focused on Roth’s straining face. “I want to see you cum.”
Climax rose horrifically fast, and crested. Roth choked and stiffened, his muscles straining. “God...” His balls clenched, his cock pulsed. Release exploded within him. He threw his head back. Mouth open and straining, he screamed out his ecstasy. Cum shot free to spatter Kessler’s bare belly.
Kessler’s eyes closed and his head went back. “Yes! Fuck yes!” He grabbed Roth’s ass with both hands and slammed the man down on his cock once, twice, thrice... Within Roth’s body, Kessler’s cock pulsed, pumping hot cum deep within.
Roth collapsed on top of Kessler, panting for breath, his head limp on Kessler’s shoulder, their limbs entwined and still locked intimately together. Both of them were dripping with sweat, and spattered with cum. “Shit...”
Kessler groaned and dropped his head on Roth’s shoulder. “Okay, so now what do we do?”
Roth huffed out a hoarse laugh. “Well, I don’t think I’m ready to go picking out curtains, or anything.”
Kessler snorted. “What I meant was; how often do you want to do this?”
Roth drew in a long breath. “What? Fuck? How about whenever we feel the urge?”
Kessler chuckled and ran his fingers through Roth’s sweaty red mane. “You’re not going to get a whole lot of work done.”
Roth groaned and pushed to sit up. He smiled down at this commander. “Neither are you.”
Kessler grinned up at him. “That’s what staff are for.” He leaned up and pressed a kiss to Roth’s mouth.
Roth met him halfway.
* * * * * *
In his small tower room at the far end of the castle headquarters, First Lieutenant Ash lounged on his bed leaning back against the cast iron headboard with one long black-clad leg crossed over the other. His ice-gray gaze was focused entirely on the tiny television set on his dresser. Or more specifically, on the grainy black and white image of Jaeger and commander Kessler sharing a kiss after their rather frantic fuck.
“So...” Ash swept a hand though his silver blond hair and smiled bitterly. “Who’s the dirty one now, Jaeger?” He reached over to his dresser and flicked the dial to cut off the image.
Ash reached into his pocket and withdrew a piece of tightly folded black paper. He set the paper on his upraised palm and smiled at it. “Please tell your master that all went exactly as planned.”
The folded paper abruptly rearranged itself into an origami fox. “Master says thank you for your kind assistance in this matter.”
Ash grinned. “Tell your master, it was my pleasure. Really.” His smile evaporated, his gray gaze chilling to hoarfrost. “I owe your master my life. He’s welcome to my assistance any time he should need it, especially when it comes to Jaeger and his debts.”
The paper fox bowed low, its paper tail flicking into the air. “Master says should the need arise, he will contact you in the usual fashion.”
Ash rolled his eyes. “Don’t you mean when the need arises? I somehow doubt that Jaeger has learned his lesson, even from this.”
Ash bit down on his bottom lip. “Please tell your master that I didn’t pass the innkeeper that card or deliver his letter for that.”
The paper fox sat down on its haunches and shook its tiny head. “Master says he knows that, but a job well done deserves fair payment.”
Ash snorted. “Tell your master thank you, but getting Jaeger to pay his own debts is more than enough payment for me.”
The paper fox lifted a tiny paw. “Master says what’s done is done. What’s paid is paid.”
Ash rolled his eyes. “Great, thanks.”
The paper fox nodded. “Master says you’re welcome. He also says, stay alive and remain pure, Ash Wolfe. He is looking forward to collecting what you promised on your twenty-first birthday. Keeping you alive after that assassin nearly carved out your heart in Japan was not an easy feat.”
Ash’s cheeks bloomed hot pink. “I haven’t forgotten.” He rolled his eyes. “Though I don’t know why he wants...that.”
The paper fox sat up and pointed a tiny paw at the silver-haired boy. “Master says just because you do not see beauty in your face and form does not mean that others do not. He is most definitely looking forward to tasting more than merely your lips, Ash Wolfe.”
Ash’s cheeks turned scarlet. He turned away and covered his face with his overlarge and non-human hand. “Okay, yeah, thanks. Can I go now?”
The paper fox nodded. “Good night, Ash Wolfe.” It abruptly unfolded into a small sheet of black paper, then refolded into a neat and simple square.
Ash hastily shoved the paper into his wallet and tossed the leather billfold on his night table. He rubbed his face with both hands. “God, what is it with kitsunes and their fixation with sex?”