25. Lirion
Abreeze danced through the small porthole window, kissing the sweat as it dried on Lirion’s bare skin.
It was the perfect touch combined with the heat of Fenric’s body pressed against his.
Their breathing had just evened out to normal following some delicious early afternoon sex.
No complaining when Fen remained adamant about both of them getting off.
It was more than enough of a meal for him to simply bask in Fen’s orgasm, but if the man wanted to give as good as he got, who was Lirion to argue?
They were only a day into the voyage but already running a bit behind schedule thanks to a surprise storm that had blown in late yesterday afternoon.
Ferocious enough that it had forced them to drop anchor, it had put them half a day behind schedule.
Seemed the clear blue skies yesterday morning had been a facade for what the day would bring them.
It grated to already be delayed, but on the waters you were at the mercy of the goddess Nuna.
Luckily, though, with the skelebabies at their beck and call, when the weather was nice there wasn’t much for them to do most of the time.
Other than fuck and watch the world sail by.
However, Rain said they would reach Dead Man’s Curve soon.
Both the pirate and the rest of the team seemed confident they could manage it without a problem.
Lirion had never sailed through the pass himself, but he’d heard too many horror stories of creatures rising out of the depths to sink ships and devour crews.
Lirion wished he could relax like the others.
For now, he was content to soak in the cuddles Fen somewhat grudgingly supplied. The man wasn’t a cuddler by nature, but he also didn’t jump from the bed the second they finished. It was promising. The rogue could be taught.
“You know, I don’t think I’ve ever encountered an incubus or succubus,” Fen said in a conversational way. “Your people, are you just loners by nature?”
Lirion lifted his head from where it rested on Fen’s shoulder and stared at the man.
When was the last time any of his partners had asked about his people and it not be about sex?
He honestly couldn’t remember. Fen’s seemingly endless interest in him as a living being and not a vessel for sex squeezed his heart in unexpected ways, but he was careful not to let any soft feelings show lest his reluctant cuddler leap from their bed.
“Eh. Yes and no.” Lirion returned his head to Fen’s shoulder and released a happy sigh. “Kids are kicked out of the house by the age of eighteen if they haven’t left on their own sooner. We’re all forced to make our own way in the world.”
“Really? Isn’t that…I don’t know…a little dangerous? No offense. Just…”
Lirion chuckled. This man was too adorable. “Can’t you remember being a teenager with a bottomless pit of appetite, whether it’s for food or sex?”
“Oh, shit.”
Lirion huffed a small laugh at the horror resting in those two words.
“Yeah, we’re no different. No parent wants to constantly deal with their sons and daughters bringing home random partners.
Our parents teach us what we need to know to survive—the basics, at the very least—and then shove us out the door with a kiss and a prayer. ”
“Did you leave early?”
“Fuck no.” Lirion cackled. “I think my mom was one step away from drugging my dinner and dumping me out in the woods to get me to leave. Exploring the world sounded interesting, but I’m also a lazy creature who likes to be pampered.
” He stretched out his legs, spreading his toes to feel the breeze sweep between them.
Hell. Someone would have to drug him and physically pull him away from Fen right now.
He lifted the hand he had resting on Fenric’s chest and started tracing a finger along Fen’s body, following old scars and swirls of coarse hair.
“Besides, I was close to my sister. I wasn’t ready to leave her behind. ”
“I’m sorry you had to.”
Lirion shrugged, but he couldn’t ignore the heaviness growing within his chest. “It was for the best. Exploring the continent gave me the wisdom and experience I need to live independently and help her.”
Except his wisdom and experience hadn’t done shit for Aria yet.
She’d gotten kidnapped and stolen away before they could even meet up.
Why the hell hadn’t he returned home to be there when she stepped on the long road north for the first time?
He should have been there every step of the way, instead of lazily remaining up north and waiting for her to join him.
Because of him, she’d been trapped with evil fiends for almost two months now, desperate for rescue and suffering through the gods only knew what torment. How could he have done that to his beloved little sister?
Fenric’s arm around his shoulders tightened, pulling him in closer, nudging him out of his swirling dark thoughts.
It was only then Lirion realized he’d stopped tracing his finger along Fen’s chest and was now gripping the man like a fucking security blanket, his body curled up against the rogue, as much in the fetal position as he could get.
Lirion forced his body to relax again while Fenric ran his free hand through his hair in a soothing caress.
After a couple of minutes of silence, Fenric inquired, “Why are you the only one going after your sister?”
“We’ve been exchanging letters since I left home.
Most of hers were complaints about our mother and how she couldn’t wait to leave.
When she officially left home, we set up a time and place to meet up.
Our plan was to travel the world together, but she never showed at our rendezvous spot.
” Lirion licked his lips and forced words past the lump in his throat.
“I shouldn’t have let her travel alone. I should have gone home to meet her. ”
A painful thump on the top of his head made Lirion glare up at Fenric to see his fist still hanging in the air from where he’d rapped his knuckle on Lirion’s skull.
“Idiot. Didn’t you just get through telling me how your people are kicked out at a young age and expected to make their way in the world on their own? ”
“Yes, but—”
Fenric knocked on his head again, making Lirion wince. “No buts. That’s the way of your people. You couldn’t have known this mess would happen. Did she ask you to meet her closer to home?”
“No,” he mumbled against Fenric’s chest. “She wanted to travel on her own for a while. She was really excited about getting away from our mother constantly criticizing her.”
“There. You can’t blame yourself. Not unless you can see the future and just ignored it.” Fenric shifted and tilted his head so he could look Lirion in the face. He narrowed his eyes. “You can’t see the future, right?”
“No.”
Fenric flopped back down. “Then this isn’t your fault. You’re doing everything you can.” As he spoke, his hand smoothed over the top of Lirion’s head where he’d thumped him a couple of times. “You said you were supposed to meet her in Hundager, right?”
“Right. When she didn’t show, I backtracked through all the towns I thought she might pass through on her way to Hundager.
It was only in Warón that I caught the first hint she’d been grabbed.
I chased rumors for weeks, bouncing from town to town.
The first real bit of information I got was in Pomor. ”
“Where I caught you in bed with Mrs. What’s-Her-Face.” Fen snickered.
Lirion lifted his head and directed some stink eye at his companion.
“Ursula Cartwright. She used to work at a brothel in Pomor, and word through the grapevine was she knew of a new shipment of girls who were bound for a highly exclusive brothel. Unfortunately, she was only willing to trade the information for sex. Since I hadn’t fed in a couple of days, I wasn’t in a position to turn her down. ”
Fenric smirked and pinched Lirion’s chin between his thumb and forefinger, giving it a small shake. “Don’t give me looks. I’m teasing, not judging.”
Fen’s brief touch and his playful attitude did silly things to Lirion’s heart that he tried to ignore. But then, so did all of Fen’s questions.
The handsome rogue released Lirion’s chin and placed his hand behind his head with a sigh. “I’m surprised more incubi and succubi don’t open brothels, considering your unique appetite.”
“We do, actually. As I mentioned before, it’s boring, exhausting work.
It’s extremely rare that you get to choose your clients.
There are a few who can, but they’re the shining star of the place and can charge crazy amounts for just sitting in the same room together.
The customers actually have to compete to win the incubi’s or succubi’s attention.
Plus, we are grossly underpaid for our skills.
There are some brothels run by incubi and succubi, but they are very exclusive and ridiculously expensive. ”
“Ahhh…so you’re saying that a poor slob like me wouldn’t have gotten in the front door?”
Lirion grinned broadly at Fen. “Pretty much. Now, don’t you feel lucky to have me all to yourself?”
“A picky incubus who has selected me, just some poor slob, to be his meal provider for a very long voyage. Are you sure you don’t want to feast on my companions as well? Rain is more than happy to volunteer. Fuck, all of them would be happy to spend some private time with you.”
“Even Puppy?”
Fenric’s expression turned dark in a flash. “Not him. He’s too innocent for you.”
Lirion giggled until the man holding him finally huffed.
“Never mind. Stay away from all of them. This is the best arrangement,” Fen grumbled, making Lirion’s heart soar while he laughed even harder.
But he got his giggles under control. Too much and Fenric would climb out of bed. It was too soon for him to leave. Lirion was comfortable, and he was enjoying this conversation too much.
“Okay, then, why did you become a bard?”
Lirion relaxed again when it was clear Fenric wasn’t ending their chat and leaving the room.
This had to be the longest Fen had stayed to snuggle after sex, and Lirion was determined to soak it all in.
It didn’t hurt that they had nowhere to be and nothing to do.
There was just the gentle rock of the ship as it cut through the waves and the soft breeze through the port window brushing their naked bodies.
“That’s easy. I’m a talented musician.”
Fen snorted. “And humble. So very humble.”
Lirion was tempted to kiss the nonsense right out of his mouth, but he held back.
“Actually, my mother is quite talented at music and spells related to music. She taught me how to play several instruments, and then I picked up a few others while I was on the road. Besides, I enjoy being the center of attention. Listening to the laughter and cheers of the crowd as I belt out a bawdy tune in a packed tavern. Everyone singing along with me. How could I not love every second of that?”
A frown wrinkled Fenric’s nose for a moment. “Guess it comes with being a thief. I work much better when I’m not the center of attention. Life is easier when I’m in the shadows and no one notices me.”
“Or when you’re a cat, spying on people,” Lirion suggested.
“That too. I appreciate people who can entertain and make us forget about the world for a while, but that isn’t something I could ever do. What about your sister? Is she going to join you as a bard on the road?”
“Honestly, I don’t know.” Lirion shifted so he was mostly lying on his stomach, his chin resting on the top of his hand, which covered Fen’s chest right over his heart.
“I know she wanted to travel and see the kingdom with me, but in all her letters, she complained about how hard it was to learn to play instruments. If I know our mother, she forced Aria to become proficient in at least one instrument, but I doubt my sister will want to play it for a living. At one time, she mentioned opening her own brothel.” He shrugged and forced a crooked grin.
“But long term, no clue. Of course, I’ve never been one for big plans.
Just kind of go where the wind blows me. ”
Fenric reached out and captured a lock of pink hair between his fingers.
He rubbed it as if enjoying the silkiness, his expression blank.
A blink of the eyes and he was smiling softly at Lirion, brushing the hair back from his forehead.
“Don’t worry. In just a week, you’ll have your sister back, and soon after you can be on the road again, following the wind. Not a care in the world.”
The future Fenric painted should have sounded like heaven, but for some strange reason, it didn’t. It actually created an odd knot in the pit of Lirion’s stomach. What the hell?