In Enemy Hands: MM Romance, page 17
He sits up as well. “You know, there was one moment when I thought—” He breaks off. “Never mind.”
“What?” I prompt.
He looks at me hesitantly. “When I thought you were going to hit me, too.”
Shock flashes through me.
“Me? When was this?”
“On our first evening together,” he says. “In the cave. I told you that you should’ve looked for shelter sooner.”
Oh yes. I remember looking at him quite intently then. I may have been a little entranced by the stubborn pout on his lips, just visible in the dim candlelight.
“Well, I never considered hitting you even for a moment.” I run a finger over his delicate cheekbone. “I was probably thinking of… something else.”
“I know that now, silly,” he says. “Now that I know you.”
His trusting smile sends warmth through me. But the fact that I caused him so much fear eats away at me. How many days did he have to endure the anxiety of being marched to the authorities?
I don’t even want to think about it.
“You must’ve been so worried when you were my prisoner,” I say softly, brushing his hair from his forehead. “I’m so sorry for everything I put you through.”
“I forgive you.” He says it without hesitation.
I shut my eyes. “Aaron, you are much too good for me.”
“I am not. Don’t let me hear you say that ever again.” He sounds uncharacteristically stern. Then he smiles a mischievous smile. “Aren’t you going to tell me what you were thinking in the cave?”
Tell him my incredibly unprofessional, inappropriate thoughts? Not likely.
“Wasn’t planning to, no,” I say.
His eyes get wide. “Please?”
Stars. I’m utterly helpless against that look.
“Fine,” I grumble. “I was thinking that you were the most handsome man I’d ever set eyes on.”
He slaps my chest lightly, looking scandalized.
“I deserve that,” I admit. “It was inappropriate to think such things of a prisoner.”
“No, Neil,” he says, exasperated. “That wasn’t for being inappropriate. It was for being hyperbolic. No way am I the most handsome man you’ve ever seen. You’ve been all over the world.”
I hold his gaze until his cheeks flush pink.
“So what?” I say. “My observation stands.”
He looks down to the bed in bashful confusion.
“Didn’t your last lover ever give you compliments like this?” I blurt. Then berate myself for betraying my curiosity so obviously.
“Oh, he did,” Aaron says, apparently unperturbed by my gaucheness. “That always embarrassed me, too.” He looks up, catching my eye with a shy glance. “I know it’s stupid.”
“On the contrary, it’s completely adorable.” I give him a sidelong look. “So… what was he like?”
“His name is Stenn. He lives on the outskirts of the city, on a farm.”
“Hmph.”
Aaron raises an eyebrow. “I do believe you’re jealous.”
I try not to picture Aaron’s supple limbs tangled with this Stenn fool. What sort of silly name is that, anyway? He’s probably a stupid, lumpen type, with brown teeth and a receding hairline. A farm boy. No competition. Aaron is in my arms now, perfectly content.
“Jealousy is an emotion for the weak-minded,” I say serenely.
“Uh-huh,” Aaron says, sarcasm dripping. “I think you would like Stenn,” he adds thoughtfully. “He’s a good man.”
Obviously, Stenn is a good memory. I wonder why they’re not still together? But I’ve shown enough nosiness for now.
“And what about you?” he adds.
The gates close around my heart and lock themselves up with a clank. My breath speeds, almost as fast as when those guards invaded the dancefloor to surround Senali. I see it all again. The greedy surprise of the ballroom guests, the chandelier, Senali’s cold poise as they walked her away. Though I’d meant to tell Aaron everything at the next possible chance, I find my mouth frozen, lips numb. I’m barely able to get out a few words.
“Senali,” I say shortly. “It ended on a sour note.”
He glances at me quickly. “Is that why you were all the way out on the steppes, then? I don’t usually see Rhennian soldiers so far into the wilderness.”
“Yes.” I cough to cover the lie, or at least the half-truth. “I went out there to clear my head.”
“All… alone?” he says with a cheeky look. “Isn’t that dangerous?”
I remember my lecture about his wandering around unarmed.
“Touché, my love. You were correct when you told me that I hadn’t prepared for the weather conditions. I’m lucky that I met you. I’m sure that you and your cave and your fire saved my life.”
And my heart. I keep the thought to myself. It would probably cause him to blush so hard, he might burst into flame.
Chapter 39
Aaron
I was worried that Neil would look at me differently after my wantonness last night. I don’t know what got into me. Was it the fancy hotel room, the surroundings so different than what I’m used to? I felt like an actor in a bright costume, marching into the center of the stage. I owned the whole room. Neil was the bandit, but really, every move he made was because he knew I wanted it. I felt like I was on top of the world. Then I came back to earth with a bang with Neil’s seed dripping down the probably priceless wallpaper. My bubble burst, my euphoric mood curdling to shame. What would he think of me? My hunger, my shamelessness in demanding exactly what I wanted? But he looked at me with even more tenderness afterwards. He took over the wallpaper mess and then he bathed me again, wiping the sweat from my skin and the chocolate from my mouth.
We’ve been lounging in bed for ages, neither of us with any desire to face the outside world. I trace a fingertip along his pecs, from one nipple to the other, and down to his navel. Did I ever find his size intimidating? It seems so long ago now.
“My snuggle monster,” he says.
I like this new nickname. I like all his nicknames for me. “My love” has a nice touch of awe about it. But I’ll always have a soft spot for “mosquito”, the one that slipped out before he’d even admit to himself that he liked me.
“You have so many pet names for me,” I say. “But I only ever call you Neil.”
“I love how you say my name. You don’t need to ever call me anything else.” He pretends to ponder. “You could call me Colonel, I suppose.”
I slap his chest, laughing, then lay my palm over his heart.
“Neil, you’re my elzeri,” I whisper.
He props himself on one elbow to look at me, hearing the seriousness in my voice.
“That’s a charming word,” he says. “What does it mean?”
“Oh, it’s a little like mosquito. It means an annoying kind of insect.”
He smiles. “I guess I deserve that.”
“Just kidding. I’ll tell you what it really means one day.”
He looks at me questioningly, but I refuse to be drawn. For now, it’s my sweet little secret. I lay my head on his chest again with a happy sigh. Then his stomach rumbles, sending miniature vibrations through my cheek.
“Trust me to kill the mood,” he says, sounding mortified.
“I guess that’s our sign that it’s time for breakfast.”
“Or lunch.” He glances at the clock on the bedside table, which reads… almost noon? I bet this is the latest he’s slept in years.
He rolls out of bed with a groan and starts to dress. I get up, put on my trousers, and stare at my hair in the mirror. In the restaurant last night, everyone else’s was much neater. I’m almost wondering if I should ask Neil to cut it to help my “disguise” when brisk footsteps sound out in the hall. There’s a knock.
“Hold on,” Neil calls.
He pulls on shirt and trousers and goes to answer the door. It’s a stranger. He wears a Rhennian officer’s uniform like a ballroom outfit, all careless style. His eyes are lined with kohl in the high-fashion city way, and a long sword hangs from his belt. I watch open-mouthed as, without a word, he catches Neil in a chokehold. The two of them clatter to the floor, grappling for dear life. I expect Neil to get the upper hand right away, but he doesn’t seem able to break free, even though the assailant is much smaller. Who is he? An assassin? Jealous ex? Crazed colleague? I don’t wait to find out. I charge him, taking him by surprise, feeling the breath knocked out of his body as we collide. He lands hard on his back. My muscles sing with triumph as I draw his sword from his scabbard and hold it to his throat.
He stares up at me, looking more amused than afraid.
Neil scrambles to his feet. “Aaron, Aaron, relax. This is Lanter. One of my dearest friends.”
His words land like cowpats in the quiet room. I’ve just drawn a sword to break up a playfight. Lanter pushes the blade aside and stands in one sweeping movement, fixing his cloak so that it flows with better effect over his muscular back.
“I heard you're back in town. I would’ve been here sooner, but I was off on training maneuvers with my men,” he says to Neil. “My sword, please,” he adds, to me.
Wordlessly I hand it over, the heat from my cheeks a perfect counterpoint to the ice in Lanter’s voice. I was so proud of myself for protecting Neil for once, and now I feel like a little kid who’s embarrassed himself at an adult party. Lanter’s insolent hazel eyes track my new outfit, like he can see my old shabby fur coat as though by magic. I wish I was a million miles away, back where I know how to behave. Where I don’t make a fool of myself within seconds of meeting someone new.
Lanter slides his sword back into its sheath. “So, when will we meet?”
Meet? Surely I misheard? He can’t want to spend time with me after that, surely the worst introduction in the history of Rhennes?
“For the duel?” he prompts.
I laugh nervously. He must be kidding, like Neil when he had fun at my expense in the hotel restaurant. I’m not falling for that prank again.
But Neil isn’t smiling. He gets between us and puts a restraining hand on Lanter’s arm.
“Don’t be silly,” he says. “There will be no duel.”
I feel my mouth drop open foolishly. Lanter is serious?
Lanter shakes Neil off, a scowl marring his smooth forehead. “He took my sword. You know I can’t show my face if I leave this unsettled.”
I shiver. Something tells me that he could settle me in only a few moments.
“He meant no offense,” Neil says. “He only wished to protect me. Isn’t that right, Aaron?”
I nod eagerly, trying to convey peacefulness and a distinct lack of wanting to fight a bloody duel.
“Who is he, anyway?” Lanter says curiously. “Why isn’t he speaking? And why was he so quick to leap to your defense…? Oh!” Comprehension brings a sly smile to his lips. “It’s like that.” He looks me up and down. “Well, if he’s such a little firecracker in the bedroom as he was just now, I can certainly see—”
Firecracker? What the fuck is he implying? My temper shreds all at once; caution flees my mind. I’ll fight this over-primped city boy gladly. Any time, any place. Right now, in fact. I launch myself at him. But Neil grabs me around the waist and pulls me back with an embarrassing lack of effort. Lanter squares up to the spot where I was a moment ago. He bounces off Neil’s chest as though it were a solid wooden door. I wince as his ass hits the floor. My blazing anger cools a little at the pained look on his face.
“Enough,” Neil roars. “You’re both acting like children.”
I resist the urge to point out that Lanter started it.
“Lanter, you will show respect,” Neil says. “Aaron is very special to me.”
“I’m… I’m sorry,” Lanter says. The hard landing seems to have cured him of his insolence. “I was rattled by his attack. Of course, I didn’t mean my crude insults.”
“Don’t apologize to me.” Neil’s voice resonates with quiet anger. “Apologize to Aaron.”
“Of course.” Lanter clears his throat. “Aaron, I apologize unreservedly for my unacceptable comments.” He gives me a little sitting bow. “I make no excuses for my boorishness. I only hope that you will be generous enough to allow me to start over.”
Wow. That was quite an apology. It goes a long way toward quenching my resentment. It even seems sincere—he doesn’t seem to be afraid of Neil’s anger. Which means they must be very dear friends.
Which means I should probably try to get along with him.
“It’s okay,” I say. “And I apologize for taking your sword. I really thought you were going to hurt Neil.”
Lanter holds out his hand and lets me pull him to his feet.
“A steppes-dweller,” he says wryly. “I suspected as much.”
“Excellent work sticking to the strategy of not speaking, Aaron,” Neil says in an exasperated tone. “You’re lucky that Lanter would never betray us.”
“Of course not. I do, however, expect you to buy me lunch,” Lanter says. “It’s the least you can do after possibly breaking my tailbone.”
“You ran into me,” Neil says, unrepentant. “You’re buying lunch. And count yourself lucky. If anyone else had spoken about Aaron that way, I would’ve broken them in half.”
“Point taken,” Lanter concedes. “Grumpy, isn’t he?” He gives me a conspiratorial wink.
I can’t help smiling back. Now that I’ve calmed down, he doesn’t seem like the worst sort. And I guess I did shock him with that battering-ram attack.
“I’ll buy lunch,” I say.
Never let it be said that I’m not magnanimous.
Chapter 40
Aaron
We ask Neil’s friend Amina, the owner of the Grand Hotel, to join us. She’s from Venna in the north, with pale skin, sooty black hair and laughing gray eyes. But she dresses in the colorful Rhennian style and speaks with barely an accent. Neil told me she’s a member of the city council as well as a businesswoman.
The four of us head for a little café just down the street. On the way, Neil fills them in on how we met: the whole truth, capturing me and all. Amina gasps in all the right places—she hasn’t heard the whole story yet. Lanter sympathizes with me, calls Neil heartless, no-good and a few other things, then tells him that he’s punching above his weight with me. Neil good-naturedly takes the jibes, clearly delighted that we’re getting along after our less-than-smooth start.
After delicious eggs, cold meats, toasted muffins and fruit, I’m still hungry. I burned through a lot of energy last night. Then I notice that they sell ice cream here. I only have the chance to eat it when I’m in the city. I ask Neil to order four bowls of pistachio, remembering just in time not to speak to the waiter.
“Still hungry?” Neil says, with an indulgent smile. “I don’t know how you can eat as much as you do and stay so slim.” He nudges the other two. “You should’ve seen how much food he dispatched while we were out on the steppes. Quite extraordinary, for someone of his size.”
“Weeeell…” I drag the word out. “I actually have something to tell you about that.”
“Oh?”
“I wasn’t eating it all. I was throwing it away.” I spit the confession out in a rush.
Neil cocks an eyebrow. “What hare-brained scheme were you thinking of this time?”
“I needed us to run out of food so we’d have to go fishing. It gave me the chance to lead you to that pool.”
“You sneaky little… Behind that innocent façade beats the heart of a true schemer.” He pats my chest affectionately.
“You’re not mad?” I ask.
“On the contrary, I’m impressed. Although…” His voice takes on a jokingly lamenting tone. “What a waste. The mess hall cooks put a lot of work into those corn biscuits.”
“Tastes like it. Tastes like they’ve stamped all over them in army boots,” I say viciously.
Lanter snorts with laughter. “He’s got you there, Neil.”
“That was a great escape plan,” Amina says, with a grin at Neil. “Looks like you’ve met your match.”
Neil holds up his water glass to me in acknowledgement. I give him a kiss to make him feel better about being outwitted. It’s fun to playfully gang up on him—Lanter and Amina are making me feel like part of their group already. It makes a change from Teara’s attitude. But I wonder what they’ll say when they get Neil alone.
Our ice cream arrives, and I shove the sour thought away. Maybe their kindness is genuine—not everyone is as closed-minded as Teara. The waiter puts the tray in front of us with a clatter. The dishes are made of scalloped glass and shaped like seashells, heaped with scoops of pistachio deliciousness, and decorated with nuts and flower petals. I dig in, closing my eyes with bliss as clouds of fluffy, sugary goodness hit my tongue. Neil dabs some ice cream on my nose and leans forward to lick it off.
Lanter pretends to grimace. “You two are nauseatingly cute.”
“That’s good to know,” I say. “And here I was thinking I’d get the break his heart, and I break you in half speech.”
Lanter laughs, pushing his blond curls out of his eyes. “No need for that. I can already tell that you two are good together. I’m just glad to see Neil happy. You know, after…”
He trails off as Neil looks up, a sharpness on his face. A message to stop talking. But I already know what Lanter meant. After Senali. He thinks Neil has told me all about it. Little does he know that I only heard Senali’s name for the first time this morning.
Why has Neil been so secretive? The thought bothers me because I can’t think of a logical explanation. I know he’s not faking his feelings for me—I saw how he looked at me last night. So why can’t he trust me with what happened?
He’s avoiding my eyes now, focusing on his ice cream. Lanter and Amina have fallen into uneasy silence. The mention of Senali has killed the conversation completely.
