Alliance (26 page)

“I know.” They were close enough for Ryneq to smell the scent of fire and leather that clung to Nykin. He breathed it in deep, letting their foreheads rest against each other and closed his eyes. He should really go and find Eldin. They had a lot to discuss after the attack, but Ryneq couldn’t move. “I’m just as scared, believe me. But Nykin”—he drew back to meet Nykin’s gaze—“you’re talking as though we’ve already lost. I don’t plan on giving up my home to that Rodethian slime.”

Ryneq’s words had the desired effect. Nykin glanced up at the night sky, and when he looked back at Ryneq, his expression had changed, his resolve strengthened, and Ryneq felt the relief wash through him. He needed Nykin to be strong. It would be hard enough sending him away, without Nykin begging him not to.

“I love you.” Nykin pressed forward and captured Ryneq’s mouth in a soft kiss.

They lingered, neither of them moving to deepen the kiss, but not pulling away, either. Ryneq eventually stepped back with a regretful sigh. “I love you too. Don’t ever forget that.” He stroked his thumb along the edge of Nykin’s jaw, and Nykin leaned into his touch. “I have to go meet with Eldin now, but I won’t be long. Will you be in our room when I get there?”

“Yes. I’ll be waiting for you.” The look on Nykin’s face left Ryneq in no doubt about what they’d be doing when he got there.

He gave Nykin one last kiss before tearing himself away and heading back into the palace to wait for Eldin. The naked need in Nykin’s eyes sparked something hot in his belly, and Ryneq hurried down the passageways, eager to get this over with as quickly as possible.

E
LDIN
WAS
already in the war room when Ryneq eventually got there, obviously having passed him as Ryneq was waylaid by a couple of his men. He sat in one of the chairs and studied the map still covering the table. He looked exhausted, and Ryneq kept their meeting as brief as he could. Eldin gave him a rundown of the attack and the injuries sustained by both dragons and riders, and Ryneq felt relieved to hear that everyone should be fine by morning. They’d need everyone for what was to come.

“Eldin….”

Eldin paused from where he’d been about to leave the table. “Sire?”

“If it comes to it, I’m trusting you to lead the riders to Alel and aid Cerylea and the elves in freeing Torsere from Seran’s army.”

“Of course, Sire, but—”

“You will be the highest ranked next to Cerylea, and she will need you. I’ve no doubt it will be a difficult time for all the riders, and they will need your strength to see them through.”
Especially Nykin.
Nysad and Eldin were the commanders of his army, but they were the closest people to him after Cerylea and Nykin. He trusted them with his life, and his kingdom. Ryneq pushed his chair back and walked around the table to grip Eldin by the shoulders. “I’ve been honored to have you lead my riders, as I know my father was before me.”

“The honor is mine, Sire.”

Ryneq let go and clapped Eldin on the back as he moved past him. “Everything else can wait until tomorrow. Go get some sleep.”

Eldin nodded, unable to suppress a wide yawn. “Night, Sire.”

“Good night.”

With Eldin gone, Ryneq wasted no time in dousing the lamps in the war room. He’d had more than enough of looking at maps and discussing the possible fall of his kingdom. He headed to his own quarters where Nykin waited for him.

Ryneq’s back ached from sitting in meetings for most of the day, and he stretched a little to ease the tightness in his muscles. He hadn’t been out riding in days, and he missed the fresh air and the exercise. At least in Alel he’d been able to get outside. With Seran camped on his doorstep, everyone but the dragon riders was trapped inside. Ryneq hated Seran more with each passing day.

He reached the door to his quarters and felt some of the tension slip away. Finally he and Nykin would have some time alone, would get to sleep in the same bed at the same time. He smiled as he turned the handle and opened the door. “Hey. I—” He stopped short, pausing for a moment before hastily closing the door behind him. “Is there room in there for me?”

Ryneq walked toward the huge bathtub that sat in front of the fireplace. The air was warm from the flames, and Ryneq began to shed his clothes as he crossed the room.

Nykin spread his legs wide, sloshing a little water over the side, and grinned. “I saved a spot just for you.” He looked more relaxed than Ryneq had seen him since their return to Torsere. The smell of the herbs infusing the water and the steam rising off the top probably helped, but Ryneq hoped it was more than that.

Nykin hid nothing from view, and Ryneq let his gaze wander down past Nykin’s broad shoulders, the tight muscles of his stomach, and lower…. He shrugged off his jacket, letting it fall to the floor, and tugged at the fastenings of his shirt. The heat from the fire filled the whole room, and Ryneq felt hot and stuffy in his clothes. As soon as he had his shirt off, he bent to undo his boots, then kicked them off.

“Hurry.” Nykin moved to rest his forearms on the edge of the tub, unashamedly watching Ryneq undress. Ryneq looked up in time to see a bead of sweat roll down onto Nykin’s top lip.

Nykin flicked out his tongue to catch it, smirking when Ryneq fumbled the ties on his pants. “Come on, the water’s getting cold.”

Ryneq looked pointedly at the steam still coming off the bath water, but Nykin shrugged, his smirk still firmly in place. “If you’d stop distracting me, I’d be done a lot quicker.”

“Sorry.” Nykin lay back against the side of the bath again, stretching up and crossing his arms behind his head. It made his chest and stomach push forward a little. The muscles pulled taut, and Ryneq felt his pants get a little tighter. “That’s not really helping, you know.”

Nykin’s gaze dropped to Ryneq’s growing problem and laughed as Ryneq struggled to undo the laces. Finally he got his pants untied and nearly fell over in his haste to get out of them and his underwear.

The way Nykin’s eyes darkened as he watched Ryneq climb into the large tub made Ryneq shiver. Goose bumps rose all over, and Ryneq couldn’t stop the sigh that escaped as he sank into the hot water. No wonder Nykin looked so relaxed. Ryneq already felt the tension in his muscles easing as the heat and the herbs worked their magic. “This was a great idea.” He closed his eyes and settled back against the opposite side of the tub from Nykin.

“I thought you’d approve. It’s been a tense few days.”

Ryneq barked out a surprised laugh, because that was an understatement if he’d ever heard one.

“I thought we could both do with a little relaxing,” Nykin continued, poking his toes in Ryneq’s side.

Nykin’s voice had lost its teasing edge, and when Ryneq opened his eyes, he was met with Nykin’s heated gaze. Ryneq swallowed and sat up a little straighter. He wrapped one hand around Nykin’s ankle and began to massage Nykin’s foot with the other. Nykin groaned when Ryneq dug his thumb into the arch, pressed down, and dragged it all the way up to his toes. He didn’t close his eyes, though. Their gazes locked as Ryneq let his hands wander farther up Nykin’s leg.

“You know….” Nykin’s voice sounded rough, and Ryneq felt a smug smile pull at his lips.
He’d
done that, and they’d barely even touched. “When I pictured us taking a bath together, we were a lot closer than this.” He stretched out his leg and hooked his toes around Ryneq’s back, trying to get him to move.

Ryneq let himself be pulled closer, running his hand up and along Nykin’s thigh as he shuffled forward on his knees. More water escaped over the side, but Ryneq paid little attention to it. He trailed his fingers along the inside of Nykin’s leg, teasing him with soft touches that skirted the edge of his groin. Nykin’s cock was already half-hard when Ryneq had first climbed into the tub, but as Ryneq got closer with each stroke of his fingers, it now bobbed in the water, hard and ready. He slid both hands onto the top of Nykin’s thighs and pushed down until Nykin straightened them as much as he could.

Careful not to spill any more water—he didn’t want to flood the entire room—Ryneq climbed over Nykin’s legs and settled in his lap, moaning as he brushed against Nykin under the water. “Is this closer to what you had in mind?”

“No,” Nykin said as he grabbed hold of Ryneq’s hips and repositioned him a little, making them both groan. “This is so much better.” He smiled up at Ryneq, meeting him halfway when Ryneq cupped Nykin’s face and leaned in to kiss him.

Ryneq took his time, easing into it with slow, lazy strokes of his tongue, following Nykin when he leaned back against the tub. Nykin’s hair was wet, sticking up in short spikes but long enough now for Ryneq to get his fingers into it and hold on. He tipped Nykin’s head back and to the side, tugging on his hair until Nykin moaned again.

Ryneq kissed along Nykin’s neck, the skin reddened already from the hot water. He tasted faintly of lavender but not enough to be unpleasant, and Ryneq chased the drops of water with his tongue. He rolled his hips, slow and careful, dragging his cock along Nykin’s length again and again.

When Ryneq pulled back enough to see his face, Nykin had his eyes closed, a soft smile on his parted lips. Ryneq imagined for a moment that nothing existed outside of this room. There was no war, no army threatening to invade their lands, only him and Nykin, and they had all the time in the world.

He wanted to explore every inch of the glorious body spread out underneath him. They’d not had the luxury to do so yet
—
something more pressing always needed Ryneq’s attention. He wished he could lock them away for a few days, maybe a week, and just take the time to get to know everything that Nykin liked. Find out what made him writhe in pleasure or cry out begging for release. They’d already fucked, of course; the night of their announcement ceremony in particular had been one of the best nights of Ryneq’s life. But he just wanted, for once, to feel as though they weren’t rushing or on borrowed time.

He ran his hands over the hot skin of Nykin’s chest, watching the way Nykin trembled under his touch and ignoring the desperation threatening to surface. Despite all his wishes to the contrary, Ryneq couldn’t shake the feeling that this was good-bye.

He glanced up, his breath catching at the look on Nykin’s face. Everything Ryneq felt was mirrored in Nykin’s expression. “Nykin, I
—
”

“Shh….” Nykin placed two fingers against Ryneq’s mouth. “Not tonight.” He waited for Ryneq to nod before dropping his hand away and moving it under the water to wrap around the both of them.

Ryneq held on to the edges of the bath and watched as Nykin tightened his grip and began to slowly stroke his hand up and down. Ryneq bit his lip, Nykin’s torturous pace making him thrust his hips and beg for Nykin to go faster.

Nykin smiled and shook his head. “Need to make it last.”

Ryneq didn’t argue after that. He placed his hand over Nykin’s, twined their fingers, and let Nykin set the pace. The fire crackling beside the bath, and the gentle slosh of water were the only sounds that filled the room, punctuated every now and again by a soft moan or hitching breath.

Ryneq felt the slow build of his orgasm, starting low in his belly and working its way up. He relaxed into it, rolling his hips to match each downward stroke of their joined hands. Nykin did the same, thrusting up to match Ryneq’s rhythm. He heard the distinct sound of water splashing onto the floor as their pace increased, but Ryneq was too far gone to care. When Nykin brushed his thumb over the head of Ryneq’s cock, Ryneq stiffened, stilling both their hands as he came over their clasped fingers.

Nykin moaned, still obviously hard, but Ryneq flinched when he rubbed against his sensitive dick. He scooted back a little, dislodging their hands and wrapping just his own around Nykin. “Gods, Ryneq…,” Nykin said between harsh breaths. “Needed this.” He looked wrecked, and Ryneq couldn’t resist leaning closer, kissing Nykin’s parted lips, and capturing each exhale and whimper that spilled out.

Nykin arched into Ryneq’s hand as he came. He had hold of Ryneq’s hips again, with his fingers digging in hard enough to hurt. But Ryneq liked it, wanted Nykin to leave marks that would last for days.

Ryneq sat back after they’d caught their breaths, eyeing the mess between them. “I think it’s time to get out.” He stood and grabbed one of the cloths hanging over the side of the bath before tugging Nykin up with him. When he’d wiped both of them relatively clean, Ryneq stepped out and snagged two of the fluffy, warm towels from the basket beside the fire. “Here.” He passed one to Nykin, and they quickly dried themselves off.

Ryneq crawled into bed naked, shifting over to the other side and leaving the covers down for Nykin. “Come on, it’s late.” He didn’t bother adding that they’d need to be up soon. Nykin was well aware of what lay ahead of them tomorrow.

Nykin sighed, throwing his towel onto the floor next to Ryneq’s. He didn’t bother with sleep clothes, either. The fire would burn long into the night, keeping the room warm enough. Ryneq watched as Nykin walked toward him, his body beautiful in the soft glow of the fire. He smiled at Ryneq’s open perusal, unashamed at being on display. His apparent confidence made Ryneq realize just how much Nykin had changed from the young rider who’d risked his life to save him. It might only have been a matter of weeks, but Ryneq couldn’t imagine his life without Nykin in it. The thought that he might soon have to tore at his heart.

It must have shown on his face, because Nykin’s smile fell as he slid into bed beside him.

“Hey.” Nykin lay on his back and reached for Ryneq as he pulled the covers up over them. He hummed in contentment as Ryneq scooted under his arm and laid his head on Nykin’s chest. “Better.”

Ryneq imagined his people assumed their positions would be reversed, but he loved the feel of Nykin’s arms wrapped tightly around him, holding him together when everything else tried to pull him apart. Nykin gave Ryneq a place to simply be himself, not the ruler of a kingdom at war where everyone depended on him for their survival.