Mercenary's Reward (10 page)

An audible gasp went through the gathered crowd, and he was not surprised. He'd fought to keep his cock soft until he had her down, but it was hard now and she could see it as well as everyone else. Her renewed struggles were evidence of that.

He'd known there would be some difficulty because of his size, but he'd never guessed how awful it would be. When he fitted the blunt head of his shaft to Polla's cunt, he could feel that she was at least a little wet. Using his free hand, he brought more moisture from his mouth to help ease the way.

There were cheers from the crowd, but he wouldn't remember that until later. In that moment, there were only the sounds of Polla's distressed cries and his own labored breathing. After what seemed like an eternity of thrusting and pushing, the sounds that came from her throat dissolved into moans and sobs. The cheers of the crowd gave way to what, in Tarin's mind, amounted to a horrified silence. The mat below his hips was peppered with Polla's blood and he was still only buried halfway.

His mind writhed with regret, but his body was perilously close to orgasm. Despite his upset over what he was doing, his cock could not resist the tight sheath that was like a vise on his hard flesh. Almost against his will, he convulsed. The hand that held Polla to the ground tightened involuntarily, and his hips bunched in a final hard thrust against her.

Long minutes passed, and when his mind cleared, he realized that two medics had approached and were waiting for him to get up. Tarin looked down and met Polla's eyes. Before that day, he would have said they were soldiers in arms, but the look on her face told him she would kill him if she ever got the chance.

Tarin knew the most wrenching part of that memory wasn't what he'd done—it had been expected of him, and it wasn't the most brutal thing he'd ever seen on the mat—it was how he'd felt about himself afterward. He couldn't deny he'd found physical satisfaction, but it had left him with a sickness in his heart that would not fade.

He loathed the practice of combat-challenges, and no matter how he tried to convince himself that it wasn't wrong, he couldn't manage it. Why should anything done to bring pleasure to one cause so much pain for the other? It was an issue of conscience that only he seemed to struggle with.

Through the trees, he saw that Jai and his woman were still locked together. Instead of acting frightened or coerced, she seemed to arch her body to meet Jai's, her arms twined around his shoulders, and her legs parted to restlessly slide against his.

Tarin watched, unable to help himself and even less capable of stopping his rising erection. The scene before him was so much more than he'd ever imagined sex could be. The tableau that had sparked his memory, the contrast between Jai's large form and that of his much smaller companion was all but forgotten. What was going on between them now bore no resemblance to any sex act that Tarin had ever seen on the challenge mat.

Although her lovely body was much smaller than Jai's, she welcomed him eagerly. They were lying on the ground, and he watched in unwilling fascination as she spread her legs to reveal the slick pink interior of her sex. Between her thighs Jai knelt with his cock in hand, looking too large and brutal for her small frame. But he didn't set upon her like a beast. He slowly eased down to her, fitted his cock to her pussy, and rocked forward.

It looked almost tender and infinitely gentle. Her arms held him to her, and she made soft, feminine sounds of satisfaction. Unbidden and unwanted bitterness rose up in Tarin's throat. He would never know the touch of another in such a warm and accepting manner. What had Jai ever done to deserve such? Furious anger seized his heart, and he spun away. He stealthily picked his way to the forest's edge and strode back the way he'd come. His meeting with Jai was not for some while, and he was ruthlessly determined to spend that time finding a way to turn this situation to his advantage.

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Mieli was awake when Jai needed to leave, so he simply gave her back her clothes and said firmly, “Stay."

She seemed surprised at his use of her language, but it was a word she'd used before, so he had a fairly good idea of what it meant. There was no protest, and he headed out only a little reluctantly. Mostly he was excited to be one step closer to freedom.

He approached the meeting place cautiously. Although he trusted Tarin, he'd be a fool not to step lightly when he had such powerful enemies. Jai spotted the other man almost immediately and did a careful survey of the area before he approached him.

"Tarin.” The sound of his name brought the big man around, though he must certainly have known Jai was there.

"Jai.” There was nothing suspicious in either his tone or his expression, and Jai relaxed ever so slightly.

"My friend. I am sorry we must meet this way, but something has happened.” Jai watched his comrade's face as he relayed the details of his crash, the failure of the ship, and his commander's lack of action. There was nothing to indicate he had known, so he continued, “I have to get back to Raston, and my commander must not learn that I live."

Tarin seemed stunned, and then he laughed. “Is that all? Just an unregistered transport from here to Raston?"

Jai smiled tightly. “Almost all."

"Almost?” There was something knowing in Tarin's voice, and Jai narrowed his eyes. “Maybe another passenger?"

"You're a very good tracker, Tarin. Did you enjoy the show?"

"Yes, actually.” A mocking humor infused his words. “I had no idea you hid such a soft spot for slaves."

"She is not a slave! I would be dead if she had not saved me, and I will not leave her behind."

Tarin seemed to take his measure and finally said, “No, I can see that you will not. It will be very expensive to arrange for your transport, and it will need to be done quickly. The longer you plan, the more people find out."

"I can pay, and the sooner the better.” Jai was relieved at how easily Tarin had agreed to the deal, but his relief was short-lived.

"There is, however, the small matter of my
personal
fee.” There was a strange intimacy to his look, and a cold knot of suspicion settled in Jai's stomach. “It's been a long time, my friend, since we have fought together."

"Yes. A long time since we were friends too."

"Now, don't be mean. I simply meant that it has been many years since I saw you challenge...or had the opportunity to challenge you.” The dark purpose behind his words was startling, and Jai looked at the other man through new eyes.

He had never considered that Tarin desired him. In retrospect, however, it made some things clear. Tarin's hesitance to challenge for the first time, his envious expression at Jai's first challenge, and the emotional closeness they had shared—it all made sense now that he knew Tarin wanted him.

Now, with that knowledge, he could see how the other man watched him. There was cunning in his expression, yes, but also hope and a kind of yearning. Dispassionately, Jai considered his form.

Tarin was much the same as their younger days, only a little more muscular and filled out with age. The broad body was still twice his size, but they were just about the same height. Instead of Jai's brown skin, the other man had only lightly tanned skin, and the broad planes of his face sported stubble that could grow to a full beard. In fact, Jai was nearly hairless compared to the profusion of hair that covered Tarin's arms, legs, and chest.

It was what he could not see he remembered now. The massive shaft that swung between those legs was a thing to be feared. As capable as Jai knew himself to be in combat, Tarin was simply too strong to be defeated.

Grim lines formed to bracket his mouth, and he asked tersely, “You would challenge me? Why now? What prevented you before?"

Tarin was slow to answer and seemed to be feeling out the words as they were spoken. “It is not the challenge that I desire.” He paused and looked away. “I do not want to fight you, Jai."

For a moment, Jai was genuinely confused. The other man would not meet his eyes, and there was nothing aggressive or taunting in his manner now. He almost seemed embarrassed, and long minutes passed in silence as Jai struggled to grip the situation.

Finally, something in Tarin seemed to snap. His ham-like fists clenched, and he met Jai's eyes with a defiant shame. “Can you truly not understand?” He flung one hand in the direction where Mieli waited. “I hunger for what I saw. Is that clear enough?"

Hot rage boiled in Jai, and he fell into a fighting posture. “You are mad if you think I will turn her over to you. You would destroy her, and she would never recover."

"You utter fool!” Tarin charged him, and Jai braced himself to fight.

But there was no attack. The larger man gripped him tightly and pressed his face to Jai's in a clumsy attempt at a kiss. Understanding dawned, and Jai held himself still, uncertain what to do. It was clear that Tarin knew as little of kissing as Jai had before Mieli had taught him.

When they parted, there was only the sound of harsh breathing. Jai could see how this revelation had cost his friend. Shame and longing were evident in his expression, and memories of their shared past seemed to hang in the air. They had known each other so well, for so long, and yet there was a gulf between them now that had nothing to do with their friendship.

There had always been a bond between them, and if the truth were told, it was more than it should have been. In the competitive atmosphere of the Tribe, their affection and camaraderie should have turned to jealousy and distrust. That it had survived was a testament to the strength of their loyalty.

He had known, whether or not he admitted it at the time, that Tarin hid a distaste for the combat-challenges. He'd hated his big body. The yearning for a tender touch was one Jai could better understand now. After Mieli. Across the small distance that separated them, he could feel the big brute's desperation, and with a new comprehension of his own nature, he could not turn him away.

Jai closed the small gap between them.

TARIN DIDN'T KNOW what he'd expected. Rejection, disdain, amusement. Any one of those seemed probable. But there was only silence at first, and then a touch on his arm. He lifted his eyes from the ground to see Jai right in front of him. The look he gave him was not unkind.

"I'm sorry, Tarin. I did not know."

"I didn't want you to. I just—” He drew a ragged breath. “Just wanted you to look at me that way. Just once.” Tarin didn't get a chance to say anything else.

Jai pressed his lips to his, and the firm, light pressure was bliss. Tarin closed his eyes on a moan, and he slid his hands around Jai's shoulders. Over and over those hard lips slanted with deepening pressure until their tongues touched and danced erotically. Almost as if it were planned, they pulled apart and began to strip.

Tarin was nervous and barely met Jai's eyes once he was nude. But it was still Jai, his friend, and he felt only mildly ashamed of his ungainly size. In silence, they lowered their attention to each other's bodies.

No longer hidden under the roughly mended uniform, Jai's body had some new scars, but the strength and beauty Tarin remembered were the same. The other man stood tall and proud, his form solid and brown. His hair had grown long, and the dark shag was a soft contrast to the sharp planes of his face. Jai was perfect, and Tarin reflected on what his friend was seeing.

The body that so many feared was scarred as well, but the hair that covered him completely masked it for the most part. In light of Jai's almost hairless limbs, Tarin felt almost obscene. And he felt a special loathing for the part of him that was even now straining toward the other man. Enormous and flushed, his cock rose from his body in an upward curve. The thick stalk of it was capped by a fat head that rivaled most men's fist.

Fearful it would turn Jai away, and suddenly afraid of being rejected now, he sought to find a way out. “Jai, I cannot make you do this. I am not so much a monster that I would force you—” Tarin's words were cut short as Jai stepped forward, and he caught sight of his cock. Like his, it was fully erect. The sight of it lessened his fears, and he moved forward to meet Jai, eager now for what was to come.

AROUSAL WAS NOT something Jai had expected to feel, but he welcomed it. With his regard for his friend firmly in his mind, there was only a little anxiety. Men were not his preference, and he had certainly never gone to his knees for anyone, but he knew what pleased him, and he hoped it would be enough for Tarin. Even though he had started this to keep and protect Mieli, he would finish it for his friend.

It was easy to kneel, and he found that Tarin was no less susceptible to the erotic act of cock sucking than he himself had been. The wide, blunt head of his cock was an almost painfully tight fit in his mouth, but he managed to stroke and lick the taut flesh well enough. Jai used his hands, wrapping them tightly around the shaft and working the length while he sucked at the tip.

Little time passed before the thick flesh in Jai's mouth pulsed with orgasm. He pulled away just as Tarin's shout punctuated the sharp blasts of cum that splattered Jai's hands and chest.

There was wonder and love in the look his friend gave him, and while Jai's feelings were not a mirror of those, he cared enough for his friend that he would not look away.

"You are still hard.” Tarin's voice was harsh from shouting, but almost reverent in tone.

Jai looked down to see that he was indeed still erect. He was surprised when Tarin dropped to his knees and pressed him back onto the ground.

Without ceremony, the bigger man braced himself over Jai and lowered his mouth to that rigid evidence of desire. The technique was not as practiced as Mieli's but still intensely pleasurable. Tarin's tongue was thick and wide, swirling around the shaft. He was even able to sink the entire length inside, surrounding Jai's cock in wet, hot suction.

It was so different from the delicate feel of his little healer. Tarin was a heavy presence over him, and the suction was far more powerful. Finally, Jai could take no more, and he went rigid with his climax.