Chapter 16
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
TORGRIND
“Mm…”
I smirked down at the gorgeous male beneath me as he groaned and arched and leaned into my touch like a cat. He looked blissful as I ran my hands over his skin, gently massaging sore muscles. He deserved the pampering after what we put him through the night before.
After noticing Brenek once again ignored our rules of engagement when it came to Jamal, our usual competitiveness reared its head, and we were both incredibly demanding of Jamal when trying to fill him up more than the other had.
Jamal never complained, seeming to enjoy every second of our attentions, but when he woke up, he whined that his muscles were sore, and he couldn’t move without pain.
I also noticed that his throat was scratchy from all the noise he made, and he looked more hungover than he had after a night of long drinking.
Since Brenek needed to return to his duties, I got to spend time alone with Jamal for the first time in a long while, and I planned on spending it making him feel better after being so demanding the night before.
The oil I poured onto Jamal’s skin to ease the glide of my touch made his skin glisten and had I not been attempting to ease his pain, seeing him so relaxed and slicked up would have made me want to fuck him.
It was only the knowledge that he was sore and tired that stayed my hand.
I ignored the thickening of my cock, focusing instead on the muscles of Jamal’s thighs, pushing my thumbs into them to rub at the strain.
“Goddess, that feels good,” he moaned.
“You deserve to be pampered, tavi,” I murmured, switching sides once he relaxed a little more. “We were too rough the night prior.”
He didn’t open his eyes, but his face was turned to the side so I could see the smirk that pulled at his lips. “I like rough.”
Chuckling, I leaned over him to press a kiss to his lips. “I know you do. But you also deserve soft when the occasion calls for it.”
One gorgeous green eye peeked open to look at me, giving me a look that said he didn’t agree, until I returned to rubbing at his sore legs.
His eyes fluttered shut again and he hummed a happy noise, his voice a little breathy as he said, “If this is the kind of soft you mean, then I’ll happily take it.
If you plan on being a gentleman, then I’m not interested. ”
I snorted, shaking my head at him. He was still unhappy about us not touching him while he’d been too drunk to stand during his early time with our clan. I did not regret it, but I chose not to rehash the argument. Neither of us would change our minds.
After I’d rubbed every inch of him and he was feeling a little better, I pulled on legwear and boots long enough to get us to the river to clean off all the excess oil.
Unlike in the north, where the water was always cool, the small pools of water used by the clans for bathing and washing were warm and shallow enough that when we sat on some rocks in the shade, the water only came to mid chest. I kept Jamal in my lap since he was smaller than I was, and when I returned to running my hands along his skin to clean him, he let out a long and happy sigh.
“Are you happy, my tavi?”
“Mm… Yes,” he murmured, eyes shut and arms lifted over his head so he could tangle his fingers loosely in my hair. “I could get used to being treated like this.”
Were he to choose me, I would treat him like this every day. But I was beginning to think that would never happen without Brenek’s involvement. Jamal had shown no favoritism between the two of us. He asked for our attention equally. He didn’t seem interested in choosing.
I wasn’t sure yet how I felt about that.
I knew of other clan brothers in pairings of more than two.
It wasn’t unheard of amongst our people.
I even knew of one pairing that had five in total.
But their love was different. They all shared love between them, nothing like how things worked with Jamal, Brenek, and I.
I had no interest in fucking my clan brother.
The male in my arms was the only reason I was around him so often.
Should he choose to move on, it would not be an experience I’d repeat.
Only someone as special and enthralling as Jamal would make me set aside our lifelong rivalry to share. Jamal had been clear that he had no interest in choosing thus far. I wasn’t willing to give up what time I had with him by insisting. Not when I hadn’t even figured out if he wished to stay yet.
“Maybe you can reward me like this every time you two keep me up all night with sex,” Jamal suggested, oblivious to my inner thoughts, a mischievous grin on his face.
“Of course, tavi. You should always be pampered like this, especially after nights like last night.”
My easy acceptance seemed to surprise him, and his eyes popped open, his chin tipping back as he tried to look up at me without removing himself from my arms. “Wait. Really?”
My brows furrowed as I studied his stunned expression. “Of course. Why do you sound so surprised?”
A frown pulled at those gorgeous lips, and when he sat up so he could look at me properly, he looked confused.
“I was joking. I’m not a prince or someone of high status who gets pampered like that.
I’m a steward’s son. My life has been and will be spent in service of others, not the other way around. ”
I tried not to make a face. The image didn’t suit him.
While he might have been born to a man who served others, I didn’t think Jamal belonged in such a role.
He was not born to stand in the background.
With those enrapturing green eyes that danced with mischief and that fiery spirit, it was obvious to me that when the gods created him, they created someone meant to be seen.
“Should you choose to stay–”
“Oye! Torgrind!”
I was cut off before I could broach the subject I’d been hoping to speak about.
I glanced over in the direction of who was hailing me, trying my best not to scowl at Rukon for the interruption.
He hadn’t known he was interloping on an important conversation.
Most of the clan still assumed Brenek and I were merely enjoying our time with the visitor of the clan.
None knew that both Brenek and I wished to make a claim.
“Rukon. What is it?”
“There will be special training offered by a few members of the Northern Clan. The clan leader has called all warriors to join and learn from our allies.”
“When?”
While it was unusual to share training amongst the clans, it didn't entirely surprise me.
Ever since our move to Al Nuzem, the clans who made the journey all seemed more interested in collaborating rather than maintaining separation like we had before.
It was why several members of our clan had gone to stay with other clans to teach them how to use the talvok messengers properly, and why we all returned to the same spot for a rest instead of finding our own throughout the year.
Many changes were made after we were accepted into the kingdom of Al Nuzem, and I found myself enjoying the more cooperative interactions between our clan and the others.
It meant one less potential enemy to guard against.
“After the midday meal.” He raised a hand to block his eyes from the sun, looking up. “Which should be soon, I think. I’m starving.”
“What else is new?” I grumbled. Rukon was always hungry.
Jamal looked between us with a confused frown on his face.
He didn’t understand what we were saying.
Rukon didn’t automatically speak the common tongue when around those not of our clan yet, and Jamal knew nothing of our tongue.
For his benefit, I explained in Erabi, “There will be training for the warriors of the clan after mealtime. Brenek and I will need to attend.”
The way his lip stuck out in a pout made me want to grin, but I didn't want him to think I was uncaring that he would be left alone. I just found him adorable and those pouts made me want to smother him with kisses until he smiled again.
“Don’t worry, tavi. I’m sure it won’t be long.”
I gave my attention to Rukon long enough to acknowledge his words before waving him off and giving my attention back to Jamal. If I was to be forced to leave him, and Brenek could not be there to entertain him, I wanted to make sure he had plenty to do that would keep him out of trouble.
“What do you wish to do while we are busy?”
He lifted a shoulder, looking put out by the idea of being left alone.
It only solidified the fact that for now, our relationship was not possible without Brenek.
Jamal needed more attention than I could give him alone to keep him out of trouble.
Only with the two of us distracting him was it possible.
“Do you need more rest?” I prompted again, remembering how tired he’d been when he woke.
His gaze turned suspicious as he narrowed his eyes on me. “More rest? You want me to sleep more?”
Chuckling, I planted a kiss on his nose, reassuring him, “Not because of any reason I’m sure you’re thinking. I only ask because we kept you up late, and you complained when we woke this morning. If you’re still tired, it is fine to get more rest.”
“I complained because I was comfortable and you two moved away!” he argued, waving his hands around. “You both got up too early!”
Used to sleeping through the afternoon during our travels, Jamal was not prepared for either Brenek or I to get up as the sun rose this morning.
If we didn’t, we would’ve missed the morning meal, but Jamal had been displeased, and when adding in his soreness, he’d been in a foul mood upon waking.
It took until now to get him to feel better.
“I’m sorry, tavi. The change from night travel to regular waking is always difficult. Are you hungry? The midday meal is soon. We can go to the village center and–”
“No,” Jamal pouted, turning fully so he could throw his arms around my neck and bury his face against me. “I’m not done bathing. You skipped my back.”
I didn’t fight the smile pulling at my lips. In other words, he wasn’t ready to give up my attention just yet. I felt a little smug about that and returned to running my hands over his skin. The oil was gone now, but who was I to complain when the beautiful male in my lap wanted me to touch him?