Part Two #5
“These booths are for when people need moments to be themselves. To be true, whether that’s their own doing, or paying someone to strip all their pretenses from them.
They’re to allow people to lower their shoulders without judgment.
And for fucking,” Westin added before Sun could be smart.
“Sometimes they are for that too, or a combination of all of those things. Though most of that would be best done in a room.”
Sun was smart with him anyway. “Yes. I did figure that out, West. I’m so terribly young according to you, but I’m not actually a child.”
Westin shoved the knitting to the side and stood. Sun’s eyes went wide and his head came up. He wet his lips.
Westin wasn’t a giant, patient or otherwise, but whatever he was, Sun liked it.
“Stop that,” Westin ordered, then caught his breath, surprised yet again by what Sun could get him to do and by how little he minded.
“Stop what?” Sun returned without innocence. “Not that I take orders from you.”
“Except that you do.” Westin breathed it, slightly shocked at hearing the words said and at him being the one to say them.
“Because I care for you, and you know that, because you use it.” Sun’s lips slipped apart, stunned and soft.
Westin refused to be distracted and repeated himself so Sun couldn’t deny this.
“You trust me enough to do what I say, because I care for you.”
He didn’t know how he meant that, but every interpretation would be true, which was why he didn’t elaborate.
A shiver went through Sun. He closed his mouth but apparently just to be stubborn and raise his chin for a moment. “You can’t make me do anything.”
Westin nodded. He couldn’t. But Sun often chose to do what Westin asked of him—very often, now that Westin was allowing himself to think on it.
“That’s the part that still amazes me. I can’t make you, but you choose to. The fae know what Hely is going to charge me for that realization.”
Sun started to frown at the mention of Hely and that was amazing too.
Unless Hely had done something to offend him, the only explanation was that Sun was a hotly jealous creature, over Westin.
Even if that was over having Westin’s attention solely on him like the brat he was, it was madness.
But, fae help him, Westin’s heart was beating faster.
“You didn’t even stop to put on a shirt before you came crashing in here.” He ran his palms down Sun’s sides before settling his hands heavily at Sun’s waist, with Sun breathing harder and letting him.
“I don’t understand.” Sun tried to peer down at Westin’s hands on him, but kept looking back up and jolting every time he found Westin watching him. “Wait, you and Hely were talking about me?” He pressed his lips together, then parted them for one bemused question. “Why?”
Westin wanted to press a kiss to that mouth. He resisted. Words first. Sun needed to hear them.
“Because I hurt you and I wanted to fix it,” he admitted honestly.
“And I was upset at the idea of possibly never seeing you again.” Sun’s shocked breath gave him strength for what was much tougher to say, even for an older, experienced guard.
“And because I am wrapped around your finger, which Hely saw immediately. As many do, I imagine.”
Instead of a preening smirk, he got a wild, uncertain stare and then Sun quickly shaking his head. “You’re leaving. You were going to even before I made a scene.”
“The Outguard. Not you.” Westin dared to reach yet again by cupping Sun’s cheek.
Only for a moment, but Sun allowed that too.
How long had that been something Westin might do out of bed and he hadn’t noticed?
Sun granted him much, and even if he didn’t wear Westin’s scarf, Westin had this.
“I won’t leave you unless you tell me to. ”
He wasn’t expecting Sun to frown fretfully. “Don’t.” He broke Westin’s heart and then pressed the pieces together again in almost the same breath. “Don’t do that. Don’t stay where you’ll be miserable just to make me feel better. That still isn’t being selfish. I want you to be selfish.”
“Ah.” Another sigh, another realization.
Westin hauled a surprised Sun against him from toe to chest. Two months wasn’t a small amount of time no matter what Hely thought.
Westin bent his head and breathed in with his mouth against Sun’s wet hair.
“Oranges and rosemary? I thought you’d choose flowers. ”
“You don’t like flowers.” Sun was warm against him yet shivering faintly, probably the effects of not completely drying the water from his hair. “Not like that.”
Westin nearly asked why Sun would bother trying to please him, but suspected it would only get Sun’s back up. “I’d rather you wear what you like. You’ll need another bath tomorrow then.”
“Wes.” Sun shuddered as the rare, more private version of Westin’s name left him. “I’m not going to take all of your money.”
“What happened to ‘be selfish?’” Westin genuinely didn’t understand but was also a little too dizzy to think clearly. “I can afford it.”
Which was a strong reminder that he had more to tell Sun, but stroking Sun’s back and splaying his hands over Sun’s hips felt equally important.
Westin breathed in—rosemary and oranges, a scent for an older man inclined to be serious, not for a pretty danger like Sun.
“Violets for you instead?” he mused, because that scent had drawn Sun’s attention even over the smell of hot food when he’d been exhausted, soaking wet, and probably hungry.
“Are you drunk?” Sun demanded of Westin’s shoulder. He still hadn’t moved away, or asked Westin to, or offered any real challenge to the idea of Westin playing Noble’s Pet with him.
That was probably confusion, Westin told himself, or perhaps some pity, though Hely would be annoyed that Westin thought so.
He pulled away, watching Sun stiffen as Westin took the step back to his cushioned seat and half fell into it.
Westin looked up at him with raised eyebrows. “Have you ever known me to get drunk?
“No.” Sun crossed, then uncrossed, his arms. “I’ve heard stories of you from when you were younger that the others tell me. But you don’t get drunk. Not that I’ve seen.”
“Not really. Not anymore.” Westin had no idea why any other guards would find old stories about him interesting enough to tell.
He didn’t get into fights or behave recklessly when drinking.
He usually just tipped to the side and fell asleep.
“And not around you.” Their eyes met. “Not if you’re drinking,” Westin amended, because he wasn’t going to bring up what he imagined of Sun’s childhood.
“I like to make sure you’re all right. And that whoever you’re flirting with understands that you have a protector if needed. ”
“Why are you telling me this?” Sun shot a startled look around the booth. “Is it because we’re here? It’s this place?” He shook that off. “I don’t need a keeper—and you will say that I know you do that and that I allow you to do it because I like it.”
“Will I say that?” Westin asked, his heart pounding more than ever. “You knew I watched over you?”
“I knew you watched me,” Sun said, turning to stare at the candles. “But it doesn’t matter what I thought. I’m not going to empty your purse, West. Especially not now, if you really are retiring.”
“Hmm.” Westin wondered if he was giving off sparks again. If so, Sun didn’t seem to see them.
“You can afford to buy me a bath,” Sun allowed, oddly tense.
“And a room for yourself, and food, and some tea. Maybe for both of us. But two baths plus this? In this inn? I know I tease, but I don’t really want to cause trouble.
Not for you anyway. I can’t be Hely but I can at least manage that much. ”
Westin set aside the fixation on Hely for later examination. There was only so much he could think about with any sort of clarity with a half-naked Sun before him and several significant possibilities making his blood burn.
“You aren’t trouble. Not really. Not to me.
” Westin was firm. “But you’re worth trouble.
No matter what else is said in this booth, remember it’s a space for truth.
” At that, Sun raised one eyebrow. Westin nodded.
“All right, you’re some trouble. But nothing I mind.
You might not believe me now, but Hely says I spark at the thought of you, something he’s never seen from me before.
That’s only for you, Sun, and maybe it worries me but I was sitting in this inn, this inn, alone, trying to settle my thoughts at the idea of a future that seemed dull and lonely—and still will be, more than likely.
Then you came in and nothing was dull anymore.
You’re worth more to me than anything this inn could offer. ”
Sun was in Westin’s lap, knees on either side of his thighs, his hands in Westin’s braid, before Westin had time to worry over whether he should take the words back.
He steadied Sun by taking a firm hold of his waist and Sun shoved closer even before Westin had him secure and safe, his mouth hot beneath Westin’s ear.
“What did you use?” Sun demanded, his nose in Westin’s hair even while his fingers did their best to unravel the braiding. “You smell so fucking good. Months.” His voice cracked. “Months. Will you tup me right here? I won’t cost you anything.”
Westin slid a hand up Sun’s back to his neck to grip short, damp hair.
Sun moved for him without Westin having to tug, tilting his head to bare his throat for Westin to kiss.
His skin was still overly warm from the bathwater and unbelievably smooth for someone who lived on the road most of the time.
But he was always so careful with himself. Westin gently kissed several freckles for that. His heart was going to burst no matter what Sun told him. Even if Sun said no, Westin would have this moment.
“You will cost me everything,” Westin murmured as he scouted for more freckles to kiss.
Sun stiffened. Westin had sense enough to tighten his hold to keep Sun in his lap, but fortunately, Sun wasn’t inclined to fight him over it yet and stayed where he was.
“The truth comes out.” Sun hit him with a charming smile. “I’m too much trouble.”
“That is not what I mean.” Westin exhaled.
“I mean I’m dependable, reliable, and strong.
Boring,” he added in case that wasn’t clear.
“Responsible.” That was to please Hely. “Some people like that. But I’m not remarkable in any way.
” He held tighter to the bird in his lap.
“I accept that you would want me as a friend. I accept that you might pass time with me as lovers do. But it doesn’t take much of your attention to spin me around and turn me into a cock-led fool.
I’m sure you enjoy that, but that’s not all I want. ”
“Are you trying to flatter me?” Sun asked in a tone so light and thin it was brittle.
“Are you being gentle with me, Westin?” He laughed and Westin got goosebumps.
“You want peace. And you won’t find that with me spinning you around.
It’s fine.” He squirmed again, not quite fighting to get free although he could have.
“It’s fine, West. I’ll leave you to Hely. ”
“Don’t be charming with me.” It slipped out, tight and pained, but it made Sun stop. “No.” Westin shook his head. “Not that kind of charming. Not the effort to make sure I’ll still keep you around—is that why you didn’t pick a floral scent for your bath?”
This time when Sun wriggled, Westin let go. Sun pushed backward to rise smoothly to his feet.
Westin looked up. “If I wanted Hely, I would be with Hely.” He silently apologized to Hely for the presumption, because Hely’s time was his own.
“I wanted you the moment you walked in here and I wanted you before then, and you know that, so I don’t understand why you’d try to pretend.
Unless it’s to spare my feelings, but I’d rather have the brat telling me off than that.
Do you worry that if we aren’t fucking, I won’t want you around anymore?
” Westin gazed up in sudden horror, all the heat leaving him. “Is that why you’re here now?”
Sun raised his eyebrows, trying to appear lofty and distant when he should have been snarling. “You think I’m that concerned with keeping you near me that I’d try to charm you into ignoring my faults?”
That wasn’t what Westin had said, as Hely might have pointed out. Not at all.
Westin missed the herbal-citrus scent now, if only for the distraction it had provided. He tried to focus on something else instead, the faint spice scent lingering in his hair, the one Sun claimed to like.
“You rushed in here without shoes.” Westin almost sounded calm.
“Or a shirt. You journeyed to Solace House in a storm when you were going to see me in a day or two anyway.” He was as gentle as he could be but Sun’s loftiness increased, his chin rising in challenge.
Westin inhaled again. “You are going to take another bath tomorrow, and you’re going to linger and choose whatever soaps please you because they please you.
And I am going to pay for it all, because I care about you and I like indulging you.
You don’t have to try to charm me. I never want that.
I didn’t make the offer for you to share my room out of any expectation of—”
Sun bent down to press a finger to Westin’s mouth. “Shut up.”