(The Dark Servant)Midnight Matters Read online

“How so?” asked Rak, startled. “Your wings are covered in cat hair,” Jisten said. “I cannot live another second with it so.”

  “I guess you will just have to oil them then,” Rak said once he finished laughing.

  “After the bath,” Jisten said. “Good bathing, heal that cut and anything else that is hurt, then oiling.”

  Rak pulled Jisten into the bathroom, impatient now. He stripped on the way and was naked by the time he reached the tub. Jisten stripped off his jacket and shirt. He hung them on the towel rack.

  Rak’s eyes sparkled with mirth. “You should remove the boots and pants next. Unless Valers bathe with their boots on?” He sidled closer. “Want help?”

  “I do,” Jisten said, expression mischevious. Rak undid Jisten’s belt and the buttons holding up the pants. He slid them down Jisten’s long legs, kneeling in the process. Then he tugged the boots off, one at a time, in order to finish pulling the pants down. “Hmm,” said Rak, and nuzzled Jisten’s package through the thin cotton. “I remember this.”

  Jisten’s knees buckled a little. “Oooh, so do I.” He stepped out of his pants. Rak pulled the shorts down, too impatient to mess with the flap. He caressed Jisten’s balls with his tongue a moment later. “S’Rak, your bath,” Jisten said mildly.

  Rak kissed Jisten’s cock. “Are you saying you do not want me to do this?” “Uhmmm, how about we get in the tub? Your fuzzy wings are really bothering me.”

  “Very well.” Rak gave Jisten’s cock a last languid lick before he stood up and slipped into the tub. “Now you sit here,” said Rak, patting the edge, “and dangle your legs in. You can wash my wings while I service you.”

  “Service? Ah, wait.” Jisten pulled his shorts up. “We can’t just--what about the prince? What would Jethain think if he found out?”

  “You are a free man,” said Rak with a shrug. “It is not Jethain’s place to say who you can or cannot sleep with.”

  “I don’t think that he would take kindly to me…to his brother…” Jisten looked like he wanted to sink into the ground. “I hadn’t really thought this through before.” He knelt beside the tub. “I can’t risk it.”

  “Captain, leave that to me. I will deal with Jethain if need be.” “It’s not just that. I’ll not be the cause of someone being collared. I won’t risk doing that to you.”

  “So I have no say in the matter? Your mind is made up and your heart is sealed against all intrusion?”

  “It wouldn’t be fair,” Jisten said. “It wouldn’t be right.” He poured water over Rak’s wings and brushed cat hair off with his hands.

  Rak moaned in desire as Jisten’s hands caressed his sensitive wings. The fires were surging now, growing with every beat of his heart. “I would risk it, to have you.”

  “You don’t know, not really. All you see is this exterior. You don’t know what’s inside. What’s wrong with me.” Jisten sighed and sat on the edge of the tub, dangling his legs in the water as Rak had asked.

  “There is nothing wrong with you,” said Rak. He pulled Jisten’s shorts down again and stroked the semi-erect cock, causing Jisten to gasp.

  “Male couples take turns. I can’t give you that. I’m sorry. I’mwrong somehow.”

  Rak flushed. “Oh, Jisten. Is that all that is keeping us apart?” He closed his eyes. “I cannot top. Physically, I cannot. It hurts when I try. You know about the slave potions, and you know I have been dosed. You are worried about something that will never be an issue between us.”

  Jisten kissed Rak lightly, almost hesitantly. “You shouldn’t be ashamed, it isn’t your fault. It’s what was done to you. But me, I have no one to blame but myself. Is it cowardice? Sheer selfishness? Ugly domineering raising its evil head?”

  “ Ix, it is none of that,” said Rak. “You are shy and inexperienced. That makes you understandably nervous about such things.”

  “Shy, inexperienced,” Jisten sighed. “Pure.” He twisted the last word into a spat-out curse. “I know all about hated nicknames,” Rak said. “One of my owners used to call me pet. His lethal little pet. I hated it.”

  “A trained swords-master and gladiator, very lethal. But little pet?” Jisten shook his head. “Not in the least bit accurate.”

  “I am short,” Rak pointed out. “All Loftoni are, and my owner delighted in reminding me of that, but still, many of my opponents made the error of underestimating me based on my size.” Jisten’s warm, calloused hands felt delightful as they stroked Rak’s slightly rustling wings smooth against his back. Rak leaned into those hands. “I want you,” he said.

  “Lucky me,” Jisten said. “But are you sure? Shy...inexperienced.” “I am sure,” said Rak firmly. He floated between Jisten’s legs and once again addressed the man’s delectable shaft with his tongue and mouth.

  “What about Scorth?” Jisten asked suddenly. “It’s one thing to oil wings, to aide you, it’s quite another thing to ah… you know.”

  Rak’s wings flared, splashing water everywhere. “Scorth likes you. He has been positively pestering me to screw you, as he learned to say.” He slid Jisten’s shaft into his mouth, massaging the underside with his tongue as he suckled. Jisten gasped softly as Rak moved from licking and caressing to full fellatio. Rak hummed softly, vibrating the shaft in his mouth and followed this up by deep throating it. His head bobbed as he pulled up to breathe, and then back down to the base of the enormous, thick pole. His hands gently cupped, rolled, and occasionally squeezed Jisten’s balls.

  One of Jisten’s hands stroked Rak’s short hair, the other stroked the leading edges of his wings. No more protests or objections emanated from the captain, not with Rak fully engaged on his cock. The tension in Jisten’s body gave Rak warning, and he backed off so just the head of Jisten’s cock remained in his mouth. His tongue stroked and teased the head, and the slit, and his fingers massaged the still-damp shaft. Jisten gasped quietly as he climaxed, pumping his seed into Rak’s waiting mouth. Rak sucked gently, but firmly, swallowing everything Jisten had to give him. Only when the last dribble had passed did Rak pull off. He kissed the cock and the balls, then murmured, “Thank you.”

  “Why do you thank me when I received the most amazing gift of my life?” Rak’s mind scrabbled desperately for an answer that Jisten might accept. Finally, he was forced to settle for the truth. “It is a habit. Slaves are expected to thank their masters. I do not feel that you are my master, but I remember more than one whipping for failing to thank my user promptly enough.”

  Jisten slid into the tub and gathered Rak in his arms. The Loftoni relaxed against him, head cradled on his shoulder. “What do you need?” Jisten ventured at last.

  Rak sighed a little as Jisten stroked him. It felt good, but he needed so much more. “I need you, Captain. I need you in me.” He closed his eyes and waited for the explosion of objections. He didn’t want to get explicit or crude, and thereby risk offending his virginal lover, but he would do so if Jisten didn’t get the more subtle hints.

  “So, nothing more brutal, yes?” Jisten’s reluctance was obvious. “Only if you want to hurt me,” Rak snapped, momentarily losing patience. He took a deep, shaky breath, and smiled wanly. Then he whispered, “I do not need pain. But I must have relief, even if it does hurt, understand?”

  “Uhm, maybe,” Jisten said. He kissed Rak. They didn’t come up for air for several long minutes.

  Chapter Three: Bath-time Play

  Jisten’s hands traveled down Rak’s face, shoulders and onto his wings. He frowned.

  Rak stretched, arching his back. “Are my wings clean enough?” “No,” Jisten said immediately. “I only rinsed them and there’s still blood in your hair.”

  Rak relaxed back against him and looked up at his face. “I am in your hands, my dear Valer.”

  “I want to wash your hair, drain the bathwater, and start with fresh water. Your wings deserve fresh water for soaping and another rinsing.”

  “Very well.” Rak handed him the soap. Jisten’s large fingers were g
entle as they worked the suds into the matted hair over the cut on his scalp and the large bump on his head. Once the blood was washed out, Jisten massaged Rak’s scalp.

  Rak closed his eyes and enjoyed it. “I will need a haircut soon.”

  “Why not grow it out? You’re free, and you’re not in the desert for a while.” “I prefer to keep it short. It is considered respectful for a priest to wear his hair short, to honor the God.”

  Jisten finished with Rak’s hair. “Water change time.” Rak pulled the stopper with his toes. “There is a lot of cat hair in this water,” he said as he watched it drain.

  “There were a lot of cats on you,” Jisten replied, and chased the last of the soap suds with rinse water.

  Jisten refilled the tub with warm water and Rak added a handful of foaming bath salts which emitted a lovely fragrance. “I love baths,” murmured Rak.

  “Now that the cat hair is gone and I can focus, I see your other injuries, S’Rak. Please, call night flames and give them to me.” Jisten held out his hand and waited.

  Rak cradled Jisten’s hand in his own, impishly kissed the open palm, and murmured a prayer with his lips still brushing against Jisten’s skin. Dark flames blossomed from Rak’s hands, and as the priest lifted his head, the flames poured over into Jisten’s hand as well.

  “Will you allow me to heal you fully, or do I have to selectively heal the worst ones?” Jisten asked.

  “Heal anything that would show through my clothing, and the worst of the rest. Leave some, to mollify the one who punished me.”

  “I’ll mollify him one day,” Jisten growled, but he did as Rak bid. His large hands were gentle. He reached over the tub and pulled out a vial and he sudsed his hands with a soapy oil. He spread it over Rak’s wings in a sensual manner, pulling the Loftoni between his legs.

  “And I love that even more. You have all day to stop doing that.”

  “I wish I had all day. I never loved bathing until you came along.” “Alas, duty requires that we not spend our entire waking period in warm, soapy water,” said Rak in a mournful tone.

  “Such is the unfairness of life.” Jisten swept down Rak’s wings with oily hands.

  Rak shivered in delight and tried to contain his horniness. He could feel Jisten’s hardness against his back. Rak rubbed himself against Jisten in subtle invitation.

  “Any part of me you want, you can have,” Jisten whispered into Rak’s ear. “I want you in me,” Rak moaned. “Please.” It seemed unnatural, almost dangerous, to tell his user what he wanted. Jisten wasn’t making him beg, and wasn’t taking control. Tyll never made him beg, but he was empath enough to know that Rak needed him to take charge in bed.

  Jisten picked Rak up and carefully settled the Loftoni down on himself. Rak cried out in pleasure, and his back arched in such a way that his buttocks were pressed down, further impaling himself on the man’s shaft. Rak pumped his hips against Jisten. What he really wanted was for Jisten to throw him over the edge of the tub and pound him deeply, but he had no way of expressing that desire.

  Jisten put his arms around Rak and assisted in the pumping, adding strength to the pounding. Rak rested the back of his head on Jisten’s shoulder and moaned deeply as his internal muscles went to work, clenching Jisten’s cock rhythmically in time to their action.

  Reaching climax, Jisten nearly slammed Rak down and enveloped him in a bear hug. Rak cried out in ecstasy as Jisten’s climax triggered his own, and the dual orgasms swept through them both. They slumped down in the water, relaxing in the warmth.

  “I love the feel of you inside me,” murmured Rak.

  “That amazes me. But you are amazing in many ways.” Rak’s muscles started contracting along Jisten’s length again. “Thank you, Jisten.”

  Jisten stroked Rak’s wings. “We gave each other pleasure. Your past is talking again.”

  Rak’s wings rustled under Jisten’s hands. “Feels good when you do that,” he said, changing the subject. His muscles continued to work on Jisten’s shaft.

  “Feels good and is good for them,” Jisten said. “Now I’ll rinse them and I can oil them whenever we decide to get out.”

  Rak’s hips rolled against Jisten. “Very well.”

  Jisten kissed Rak’s neck and shoulders, then rinsed his wings. Rak continued to work himself on the renewed erection. He loved Jisten’s vigor, so much greater than Tyll’s. He felt a little guilty about thinking that. Although, in all fairness, Tyll had once been as vigorous, if never quite so large. And thinking about Jisten’s size made Rak feel even more guilty. Hasaviz’s words about sex slaves and large cocks haunted him. The suggestion that other sex slaves would clamor for Jisten rang true.

  By the time Jisten finished rinsing, he was sufficiently stimulated by the wings and Rak’s work to climax again.

  Rak cried out yet again as his own orgasm followed Jisten’s and once more they shared the pleasure of both.

  “Love you,” Jisten murmured into Rak’s ear. “But I won’t leave Jethain. I suppose that’s good. You have two spouses and children at home. But we have here and now, and each other.”

  “That will do, for now,” agreed Rak. “And I will be here until Jethain’s life is no longer in danger. That could be years.”

  Jisten hugged him. “It’s wrong to hope that. But I do.”

  “Speaking of Jethain,” said Rak, “We should check on him soon.” Jisten kissed Rak’s neck and gently disengaged. They climbed out of the tub together. Rak shook out his wings, spraying down the bathroom. Jisten sputtered and wiped his face in his towel. Rak blushed. “Sorry. It appears to be a reflex.”

  “I don’t mind, not really.” Jisten smiled at him. He shook his mass of wet hair and now it was Rak who was splattered. Jisten’s grin showed that he meant his mischief.

  Rak laughed and attacked Jisten’s hair with a towel. He accepted it with good grace, even ducking his head so Rak could reach better. A moment later Rak had a comb in his hand and was picking out all the tangles.

  “Let’s sit on the bed and do this,” Jisten suggested. “You are full of sensible suggestions,” said Rak. He steered the naked man into the bedroom.

  Jisten snagged his shorts on the way out. He hopped onto the bed, neatly pulled them on, and laid down. “Shall I put my head in your lap?”

  “ Ai.” Rak combed out Jisten’s hair, sensuously running his fingers through the silky black strands. Then he braided it in the tightest, most elegant weave he knew, adding a single nightstone to the rear braid, hardly noticeable unless one was looking for it.

  Jisten sat up and rolled Rak to his belly. He oiled Rak’s wings quickly, but thoroughly, and by hand. When they finally went to dress, Jisten raised an eyebrow when he glanced at the freshly laundered and pressed uniform laid out beside a set of Rak’s semi-formal robes.

  “Tebber,” said Rak with a wry grin. “He must approve of you.” “Tebber is a capable young man with a wide variety of talents. I can never repay you enough for freeing him,” Jisten said. “I’m glad he forgave me for bringing him to the palace all those years ago.”

  Chapter Four: The Purging Wine

  With Jisten hovering at his elbow, Rak checked the prince. He didn’t like Jethain’s color or his heart rate. Rak prepared the mint tonic and handed it over, but he was deep in thought. Jisten sat on the bed next to the prince while he drank.

  “I do not understand why you remain so ill,” said Rak, careful not to use the w ord weak to his brother. “The gut wound was healed. It is gone,” he added, palpating Jethain’s belly.

  Jisten was frowning as he looked at Jethain’s arm. “S’Rak, here.” He pointed to a tiny wound and a small bruise on the inside of Jethain’s elbow. “My Prince, how did you get this? The edges are neat. This is a cut.”

  Jethain looked at him with confused blue eyes. “Cut? I don’t remember a cut.”

  “ Drak’åkryxi!” Rak cursed. “Why could we not send a Therrai? That would have made sense!”

  “Drak what?” as
ked Jethain. “What’d you say?”

  “Drak’åkryxi . Dragon blast it,” translated Rak. “ Drak’åkryxi,” said Jethain, sounding it out. Rak helped him get it right, and the prince smiled in triumph as he mastered the word.

  Jisten, meanwhile, had inspected Jethain’s other arm. “Here’s another, S’Rak. What do you remember, Jethain?”

  “What did you have for dinner last night?” asked Rak at the same time.

  Jethain grinned. “I went from being alone to having two mother hens?”

  “Ai,” said Rak, but he grinned back. “I remember dinner, a tasty oxtail soup with actual meat in it, and then nothing until you came in this morning. I guess I fell asleep.” Jethain lifted his arm and examined it for himself.

  “Nothing? From dinner until this morning?” Jisten looked at Rak. “We need Forael,” said Rak. “This is beyond me. I am only an animal tender.” He found a bottle of wine on a side table and sniffed it to make sure it hadn’t turned to vinegar. It smelled okay, so he poured a goblet.

  “You’re not just an animal healer and I already sent a message to Forael, but there’s been no reply,” Jisten said. “Odd, for even if he is busy, he always sends back a message saying so.”

  “Give him more time, it takes half an hour to get to the Sun Temple and back, and he has morning rites to perform.” Rak pressed the goblet of wine to Jethain’s lips. “Drink.”

  Jethain drank gratefully, then gagged. “That’s the purging wine!” He promptly threw up on Rak’s bare feet.

  “Purging? Blast it to the depths of the abyss!” Rak took a calming breath and peered at the bottle. “I wonder where it came from.” He ignored the vomit and strode into the bathroom. When he returned, his feet were clean and the bottle was empty. He sent Gill with a note asking Tebber for a bottle of Okyran wine.

  “I didn’t know what it was until I tasted it, but I know beyond a doubt that the wine was used to purge me. I wish that I could remember the actual episodes. Then I could tell you who to kill.”

  Rak used a damp towel to clean up the remainder of the vomit. Most of it had landed on his feet. The good wine arrived and Rak poured Jethain a goblet of his own stock of high quality wine. While Jethain drank with Jisten’s deft assistance, Rak rummaged through his kit. “I will assume blood loss.” He mixed something and turned to Jethain with another drink. “I cannot promise that this will taste good.”