Britt Kenley - [Guardians of the Gray Tower 3] - Guardian's Scar

8/18/2019 Britt Kenley - [Guardians of the Gray Tower 3] - Guardian's Scar

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Guardians of the Gray Tower 3

Guardian’s ScarGuardian Caid Sharsen knows that he is unlovable. A scarred loner, he

believes that his life as a Guardian is all he will ever have. Edrick Valemont has a reputation as a hedonist. Well-known for his numerousaffairs, he flits from party to party and bed to bed indiscriminately, withapparently nothing on his mind but frivolous pleasure.

When Caid and Edrick meet, the heat between the two men is undeniableWhat starts out as a brief affair turns into something much deeper, buttheir relationship is complicated by Edrick’s secret.

Edrick is a spy. Working for Javan, the spymaster, his job is to ferret outinformation about Angkeshi sympathizers within the city of WinterreachAmid rumors of an attempted assassination, Caid and Edrick mustovercome the scars of their pasts in order to save their king and their love.

Genre: Alternative (M/M or F/F), Fantasy, HistoricalLength: 25,927 words


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GUARDIAN’S SCAR

Guardians of the Gray Tower 3

Britt Kenley

EROTIC ROMANCEMANLOVE


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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK

IMPRINT: Erotic Romance ManLove

GUARDIAN’S SCAR Copyright © 2012 by Britt KenleyE-book ISBN: 978-1-61926-880-7

First E-book Publication: July 2012

Cover design by Harris ChanningAll cover art and logo copyright © 2012 by Siren PublishingInc.

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Letter to Readers

Dear Readers,

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GUARDIAN’S SCAR Guardians of the Gray Tower 3

BRITT KENLEYCopyright © 2012

Prologue

In a medieval world very similar to our own lies the richand prosperous kingdom of Emryn. Emryn is located in theFarNorth and is ruled by King Kelan the Wise. Enemies ofthe kingdom are many, but most threatening is theneighboring country of Angkesh, whose queen will stop anothing to wrest control of Emryn for herself. The king andthe rest of the royal family are guarded by an elite group of

soldiers known as the Guardians of the Gray Tower. Calledsimply the Gray by the citizens of Emryn, it is their swornduty to protect with their last breath the kingdom of Emrynand its royal family. Their strength is unyielding. Theirloyalty is unquestioning. Their dedication unswerving.


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Chapter One Caid strolled leisurely through the crowded marketplace

occasionally stopping to examine something that caught his eye a

one of the stalls that the merchants had set up. It was a cold dayas usual, but he barely felt the chill. Most citizens of Emryn wereinured to the wintry weather, as it was such a normal part of theirlives. He continued moving from vendor to vendor, his mind onthe list of items that he needed to purchase. As he was examininga dark, metal dagger, his attention was captured by a couple

loudly arguing a few stalls down from where he stood. Themarketplace was busy, and he probably would not have noticedthem, had the man not grabbed the woman by her arm andpulled her against him very roughly. The woman pushed againshim, obviously trying to free herself. Caid couldn’t abide it when

a man used his superior strength to intimidate or hurt someoneweaker. He was about to move forward and interfere when theman released the woman and stepped back. Caid continuedwatching them as they appeared to argue some more.

When the woman started to walk away, the man turned tostop her, and Caid was finally able to see his face. Caid felt a jolt

of recognition as he realized that the man’s face was vaguelyfamiliar to him, but he couldn’t quite remember where he’d seenhim before, perhaps at one of the local taverns or in the trainingyards. He wasn’t sure. Caid continued to study the man, tryingto jog his memory. The man’s looks weren’t anything unusual

The only remarkable features he had were rather heavye ebrows and a nose that looked like it had been broken more


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than once. He had a full beard that partially obscured hifeatures, and Caid thought that perhaps when he’d seen the manbefore, he had been clean-shaven. Like a tune that hovered juson the edge of his memory, Caid could not quite grasp where he

knew the man from, and it gnawed at him like an aggravatingsplinter. The man began striding away from the woman, andCaid was about to go after them, following some urge he didn’understand, when he heard a voice behind him, which stoppedhim in his tracks.

“Now, which one of those two tempting morsels has caugh

your eye, Guardian? The little blonde female is quite charmingbut the burly, bearded one has his own attraction, wouldn’t yousay?”

The slow, husky drawl was not familiar to Caid. He spunaround and met the dark-blue-eyed gaze of Sir Edrick

Valemont, younger son of the Count d’Estro. Caid quirked aneyebrow at the pale-skinned aristocrat.“Slumming, my lord? I wouldn’t have expected to see the son

of one of our most wealthy and noblest families doing anything sopedestrian as strolling through the marketplace. Surely you haveservants to do that for you.”

Caid didn’t suffer fools gladly, and the worthless hangers-onat King Kelan’s court were some of the biggest fools he’d everseen. Sir Edrick was one of the worst, in his opinion. The manseemed to have made a profession out of being frivolous anddoing nothing more strenuous than lifting a wineglass or pursuing

a potential lover.The other man’s mouth curved u ward in a laz smile that se


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Caid’s teeth on edge. “Well, of course, I have any number ofservants at my disposal, but I do so love to rub elbows with thepeasantry every now and again. It’s one of my favorite things todo. Caid, isn’t it? I thought I recognized you from the king’s

court. He’s very proud of his Guardians.”Caid bowed reluctantly, constrained by the good manners theGray had drilled into him. “Caid Sharsen, my lord.”

“We’ve never been officially introduced. I’m Sir EdrickValemont. I’ve seen you out and about before, Guardian. I mustconfess, I asked someone who you were.”

“I can’t imagine why you would care, Sir Edrick. It’s not likewe have anything in common.” Caid sent the man a stern glance.

The other man’s full lips pursed. “Oh, you might be surprisedSo, which one was it?” He glanced back toward the direction inwhich the couple was rapidly disappearing. “Which one stirredyour fires, Caid? The woman? Or the man? Or perhaps both?”

Caid turned his back to the vanishing couple and focused hisattention on Edrick. “Neither, as a matter of fact. I just thought recognized the man for a moment, that’s all. I’m not interested inhaving my fires stirred, as you so delicately put it. I’m simplypicking up some items that I need.”

Caid felt Edrick’s eyes sweep down his body before helooked back up, a look of interested speculation on his face“Now, that is a shame. Tell you what, let me buy you a drink andperhaps we can talk about it.”

“About what?”Edrick grinned. “Fires, and how to stir them, of course.”Caid paused for a moment. The sexual curiosity in Edrick’s


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eyes was unmistakable, and Caid felt a brief shiver of temptationMost men were put off by the scar that split his brow above hiright eye and curved a slice down onto his cheek, and hegenerally limited himself to paid companions when he found theneed for a warm body. There were a few, however, who foundthe scar and the man who bore it dangerously attractiveApparently Edrick was one.

“I’ll have to pass, my lord. Though I appreciate the offer.”“Oh, come on, Caid. Surely you have time for one cup o

warm ale. The day is dreadfully chilly, after all. What harm could

it do?” The man sent Caid a flirtatious sidelong glance.Most of the Gray were somewhat familiar with Edrick. He

had quite a reputation around the palace as a man who spenmost of his time in pursuit of pleasure. Sexual pleasure. Male orfemale, he didn’t seem to be too particular, and Caid knew thatmany of his fellow Guardians had spent their time in Edrick’sbed. He’d heard no complaints.

Sir Edrick was the youngest son of a wealthy man and hadobviously been pampered and spoiled his whole life. Fosomeone like Caid, who’d had to work hard and long foeverything he had, Edrick seemed like a boy who’d never had to

grow up rather than a man, despite his age.“I don’t really like to be one of a crowd, Sir Edrick,” he

muttered gruffly, and was surprised to see a shadow of hurflicker in the other man’s eyes before it was quickly concealed.

Edrick laughed, though Caid thought it rang slightly hollow“Somebody’s been listening to the palace gossips. Don’t youknow that those old hags lie outrageously just to make their little


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boring lives seem more enjoyable. I can assure you, stories omy conquests have been completely exaggerated.” Edrickwinked. “Come, one drink won’t kill you. We can talk abouanything you like.”

Caid wasn’t sure why he agreed to the drink, perhaps it wacuriosity, perhaps it was boredom, perhaps it was the fainstirring of interest in his cock. Whatever the reason, a fewminutes later, he found himself sitting with Edrick at a small tablein a nearby tavern.

Once they’d placed their orders for some ale, Caid leaned

back to study the man sitting across from him. Edrick was veryattractive. There was no doubt of that. His hair was a palesilvery white-blond that reminded Caid of an icecat’s fur indeepest winter, and his eyes were a striking dark blue, aninteresting contrast against the pale skin so common among thearistocracy. It was no wonder Edrick was rumored to have had

a continuous string of lovers since the tender age of fourteenSuitors probably fell into the man’s bed with depressingregularity. Caid found himself tempted to succumb to the man’sallure himself. He imagined how that pale, smooth skin wouldfeel beneath his own rough palms. How that pouting mouth with

its full lower lip would taste when covered by his own.The barmaid returned with their drinks, and Caid took a long

swallow of his. As he set the cup back on the table, Edrickcaught Caid’s eye and grinned.

“I can’t believe my good luck running into you at themarketplace like I did. I’ve been wanting to get to know you fo

quite a while now, but you’re a hard man to pin down.”


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a t te s ea . ve never een muc o one osocializing, and from what I’ve heard, it’s what you excel at.”

Edrick gave a careless shrug. “Yes, I do. Everyone needssomething they’re good at, don’t you think? Mine happens to bethe pursuit of pleasure. The life of the idle rich, I suppose. I wa

never trained in anything very useful. What would you have medo? Of course, I could always ask my brother to give me somesort of job, I suppose, counting his money or recording boringfacts into one of his ledgers. But then I would be taking workfrom someone who actually needs the money. Then I would be

criticized for that.” He gave a deep sigh and shook his headdramatically. “Truthfully, I can’t seem to win, so I don’t even try.Tell me,” he said, abruptly changing the subject, “what is it like tobe a member of the Gray? It must be very exciting, all thachopping men to bits with your sword and riding into the thick obattle to protect king and country and all that.”

Despite the sarcastic delivery, Caid got a glimpse of genuineinterest in the man’s eyes. He felt like he’d just caught a peek athe real Edrick, and what he’d seen intrigued him. Perhaps he’djudged Edrick unfairly. It was true that there weren’t manyoccupations open to wealthy members of the aristocracy. Older

sons, and daughters sometimes, were trained in running theiparents’ estates. Younger children often went into the clergy.And he had a feeling that the clergy and Edrick would be a toughfit.

He shrugged. “It’s a job, like any other, I suppose. We getup early, work hard, eat, sleep.”

“Well, from what I’ve heard, just the training is enough to kil


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a wea er man. n mus say a us oo ng a you, can eyou spend a lot of time in physical labor. I don’t think I’ve everseen anyone so well muscled.”

Edrick’s hand reached out and wrapped around Caid’sbicep. Caid felt a flash of heat surge through him at the touch. He

reached down to grab Edrick’s hand, capturing it against hisarm. His eyes bore into startled blue ones. “I’d be very carefuwhat I touched, Sir Edrick. You might get more than youbargained for.”

“Perhaps that’s what I’m hoping for, Caid.” Their eyes met

and Caid could see the arousal just below the surface oEdrick’s eyes.

* * * * Edrick couldn’t believe his luck. When he’d seen Caid

standing in the marketplace, his gaze focused on that couplehe’d been excited. He’d admired the Guardian for a long timehaving first noticed him at one of King Kelan’s many statedinners. Caid had been there as a representative of theGuardians of the Gray Tower.

So different from the other guests, he had attracted attentionfrom many quarters. In his soldier’s uniform, with his sternproud features, he had exuded an aura of barely restrainedmenace. He had spoken little, answering questions when askedbut rarely offering more than a minimal response. Edrick hadbeen fascinated.

He studied the man carefully. Caid had close-cropped hair o


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that seemed to see right through a man. His mouth was held in afirm line, but Edrick imagined that, when he relaxed, those lipwould plump out into temptingly sensuous curves. Caid was tallEven sitting at the table, he towered over those around him, and

Edrick speculated he had to be at least six foot five. Not quitesix foot tall himself, Edrick knew that standing next to Caid, hewould feel overpowered, and just the idea made him shiver.

Caid was pure muscle. His arms bulged against the fabric ohis overtunic, and Edrick imagined those same muscles would beechoed in the man’s thighs and abdomen as well. What thosearms would feel like closing around him was a delicious fantasythat Edrick found irresistible. Caid’s most striking featurehowever, was the jagged scar that branded his right cheek. Ihad added to the man’s air of danger and power and madeEdrick’s mouth water.

He had wanted to meet Caid that first night, but the man hadleft as soon as his duties had been fulfilled. Since that timeEdrick had caught glimpses of Caid around the palace, and onceor twice in the taverns around Winterreach. But he’d nevergotten a chance to really talk to Caid. Until now.

He knew his own reputation as a pleasure-seeking sycophanwould not endear him to Caid, and he had to admit that, up untia year ago, all the gossip about him and his lifestyle had beenquite true. But in recent months, he had found his old life boringand unsatisfying. The constant pursuit of pleasure and the endlessparade of faceless bodies could no longer fill the empty space

inside him. He wanted more. He wanted someone he could love


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.beneath the surface to the heart of the real man. He thought thaCaid might just be that man. Someone of substance. Someonewho knew that life wasn’t all parties and games.

He hadn’t had a lover in months. But he was sure if he told

Caid that, he wouldn’t believe him. He’d been tempted by LordJavan when he’d approached him not too long ago, but hadrealized quickly that Javan was just using him to make RomCaptain of the Guardians, jealous. He and Javan had sincebecome friends, a fact that still amazed him. In fact, Javan wathe only one to whom he’d confessed his current dissatisfactionwith his life.

Javan had suggested that if Edrick was so discontented withhis life, then he should change it, but that was easier said thandone. Edrick had discovered that people preferred it if youstayed in the same niche in which they had placed you and

tended not to like it if you attempted to stray from that spot. Hewas becoming frustrated.

At least Javan had understood. He had even given Edrick ajob. Edrick was now working for Javan as a member of his spynetwork, keeping an ear out for any information that might tricklethrough the palace gossips at the various parties and nightlifeactivities that Edrick had free access to. That work had givenhim a newfound pride in himself and a determination to do morewith his life than he had in the past.

He looked again at Caid, who sat stiffly drinking his ale, andwanted to do something, anything to break through the invisible

wall that he felt existed between them. For some reason, he fel


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.“Why did you decide to become a member of the Gray?”

Edrick wanted to get some genuine response from Caid but fellike he was beating his head against a brick wall.

He watched Caid shake his head. “I can’t really remember.”

Edrick was becoming frustrated. “Really? You don’t knowwhy you joined? I find that hard to believe.” His tone was jusshort of sarcastic, and he could tell that Caid knew it.

Caid’s eyes narrowed as they met his. “You want to knowwhy? Fine. It’s not a pretty story, but maybe you’ll find itentertaining enough to share with your friends. I joined because

there was nothing else for me. My father deserted my mothewhen he found out she was pregnant. When she had me, hefamily turned her out in the streets with no money and noassistance. She became a prostitute, selling her body to anyonewho was willing to pay the price. I can still remember the men

who would come to our rooms to partake of her charmsSometimes they wanted me as well. I ran away when I was tenafter one of the men offered her fifty coppers if he could have anhour with me. I could see the look of interest on her face whenhe made the offer. She turned him down, but I suspect that therewould have come a time when she did not. I lived on the street. I

stole. I lied. I did whatever I had to do to survive. When I wafifteen, I tried to pickpocket a member of the Gray. He caughme. He saw something in me, I guess. When he offered me achance at becoming a Guardian, I took it. So that’s why. Happynow? Is that the kind of entertaining tidbit you were looking for?

Edrick watched as Caid drained his cup and signaled the


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offered echoing in his head.

“I’m sorry if I struck a nerve.” He didn’t know what else tosay. His own life had kept him so insulated from the type oexistence Caid had just described that it was hard for him to

even comprehend what it must have been like. Though, sufferingwas certainly not limited to the poor, as he had reason to know“You have a lot to be proud of, Caid. To have pulled yourselfout of that kind of life and made yourself into the man you aretoday must have taken an enormous amount of determinationand persistence. Not to mention courage. I can’t tell you how

much I admire you for that.”Caid just shrugged. “And I suppose that I should feel gratefu

to have your admiration?”Frustrated, Edrick leaned back. “No. Seven hells, Caid

You’re a difficult man to have a conversation with.”

Caid smiled, though it was seriously lacking in humor“Believe it or not, I have heard that before a time or two.”“I’d like to get to know you, Caid. Maybe become friends

More, even. Is that such a terrible thing?”“Get to know me? Really? Is that what you want? To be my

friend? Why did I think you had something more…physical in

mind?”When Caid’s eyes met his this time, Edrick could see the

desire flickering in them, and he felt a tightening in his own loinsHe couldn’t deny it. Farking hells, of course he wanted morethan friendship from Caid. But he also wanted more than a quick

tumble between the sheets. At least, he thought he might. Caidinterested him more than an man or woman had in ears but i


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the only way to get close to the man was sexually, he wasn’taverse to starting there.

“And what if I confessed that yes, I do find you veryattractive and would very much like to spend some time alone

with you in my apartments?” He studied Caid’s face as hecontemplated the offer Edrick just made. Before speaking, Caiddrained the second glass of mug the barmaid had brought himand then stood up.

“I’d say, lead the way.”


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Chapter Two Caid followed Edrick out into the street, flinging his cloak

around his shoulders before turning to the other man. Edrick wa

right behind him, his own coat buttoned securely against the cold“Which way?” he asked as they paused at the entrance.Edrick gestured to the left. “This way. My apartments are in

the palace.”Caid hesitated. “The palace?”“Yes. Kelan was generous enough to offer me permanent

quarters there.” Edrick lifted his brows. “Is that a problem?”Caid paused and then shrugged. “I thought maybe we could

find somewhere a little more private, that’s all.”“Are you embarrassed to be seen with me, Guardian?” Again

a flash of hurt shone in Edrick’s eyes, and his body stiffened.

Caid shook his head. “No. Of course not. I just prefer tokeep my private life private.”Edrick relaxed slightly. “My apartments are in the south wing

and they’re very private.”Falling into step beside Edrick as he moved forward into the

heavy foot traffic, Caid smiled. “I take it you don’t spend a lot o

time on your country estates. Too boring?”Edrick chuckled. “Exactly. Things are so much more

interesting here in Winterreach. Parties and such, you know?”Caid sent a skeptical glance toward Edrick. For some

reason, he wasn’t sure why, he got the impression that Edrick

wasn’t being completely honest about his reasons for remainingin the ca ital. In fact thin s weren’t addin u with Edrick and


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Caid was beginning to think that maybe his original perception oEdrick’s shallowness was wrong.

They had finally reached the palace, and Edrick led him upthe stairs and down the corridor, which led to the south wing

When they reached his apartments, Edrick opened the door andthen stood aside, gesturing for Caid to enter.Edrick’s apartments were quite sumptuous, and Caid felt a

little uncomfortable, more used to the rough accommodations inthe Gray Tower. Soldiers were used to making do with the barenecessities. That certainly wasn’t the case here.

“Let me take your cloak.” Edrick’s voice came from behindhim, and he whirled around, tempted to just get the farking hellout of there before he got himself in too deep. But when he meEdrick’s eyes and saw the heat simmering just below the surfacehe knew he wouldn’t leave.

Edrick had his hand out, and Caid quickly reached up anduntied his cloak, handing it over. Their fingers brushed, and Caidfelt an electric tingle shoot through his arm. Edrick tossed it overa nearby chair along with his own, and then strolled further intothe room, turning to face Caid. “Would you like something todrink?”

Caid shook his head. He followed Edrick, moving closeenough to touch the other man. “No. Nothing to drink.” Hegazed down into Edrick’s eyes and knew he couldn’t wait asecond longer to touch the man whose nearness had beenteasing his senses for the past hour. He lifted his hand and

cupped it lightly against Edrick’s cheek. Edrick leaned his faceinto Caid’s hand and rubbed his face a ainst Caid’s alm.


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Caid looked down into Edrick’s face and saw a yearning

need that spurred him to action. Bending his head, his lips meEdrick’s for the first time. He kept the touch light, tentativewanting to savor the moment and the feel of Edrick’s soft mouth

beneath his own. He stepped closer, bringing his body into closecontact with Edrick’s much more slender one. He slid his armsaround Edrick’s waist, the hardness of his chest pressing tightlyagainst the other man’s. His thigh slid against his lover’s, theirstomach’s brushing together, and then their genitals, in a momentof heart-stopping intimacy.

Caid moved his hand to cup around Edrick’s neck in apossessive move, even as his other hand moved lower to gentlyknead the other man’s buttocks with slow, languid caressesEdrick moaned softly and pressed closer, and Caid at last sankhis tongue deep into the moist cavern of Edrick’s mouth, tastingthe ale he’d drunk earlier as well as the deliciously spicy flavor oEdrick himself. Caid explored his lover’s mouth with a thoroughprobing, wanting to learn every nook and cranny. He moved hishead, changing the angle of the kiss so he could get even closerdeeper.

He breathed in the scent of his new lover as he took the kis

deeper, the rough rasp of beard-stubbled cheek against smooth-shaven one an erotic enticement. Finally he stepped back andlooked down at Edrick. His eyes were closed, and his mouthslightly parted. When his lids blinked open and he looked upCaid murmured, “Your bedroom, Edrick?”

Edrick nodded and, without another word, took Caid’s handin his and led him down a short hall. He pushed open the door o


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the bedroom, and Caid followed him inside, shutting the doobehind him to deepen the privacy of the experience.

Dropping Caid’s hand, Edrick moved silently across thefloor, stopping when he stood in front of a long, oval mirror. Hiseyes met Caid’s in the reflection, and then his hands lifted tobegin unfastening the buttons that ran the length of his overvestCaid watched as each button parted, until Edrick shrugged ouof the garment and tossed it aside. Only then did Caid moveforward to stand behind Edrick, their twin figures reflected in thesmooth surface of the mirror. His much larger body towered

over Edrick’s.He watched as his own hands lifted to rest lightly on Edrick’s

shoulders, the softness of the silk shirt the other man wore aflimsy barrier to his touch. He ran his hands down Edrick’s armsfeeling the surprisingly wiry strength of the man, and thenentangled his fingers with Edrick’s own. With their hands claspedtogether, Caid bent his head. Edrick’s gaze stayed fastened tohis own as Caid’s lips explored the tender, smooth flesh ofEdrick’s neck.

He felt Edrick tilt his head to one side, allowing Caid easieaccess to the velvety skin beneath his lips. He dropped open-

mouthed kisses up the length of Edrick’s nape until he reachedhis ear, lightly clasping the lobe between his teeth and bitingdown carefully, just hard enough to send a shiver of arousathrough the other man’s body. He heard his lover groan andreleased Edrick’s hands, reaching up to slide his palms beneathhis shirt to feel the smooth skin of Edrick’s stomach. He felEdrick’s abdominal muscles clench as his hands explored the


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delicious warmth. He pushed the fabric higher until he was ableto pull the shirt over Edrick’s head and drop it to the floor nearthe already-discarded vest. He met Edrick’s gaze again in themirror, then he allowed his eyes to slip down, admiring theslender, pale body that was being exposed to his eager view.

Then his hands reached to unfasten Edrick’s belt. He kneldown to remove Edrick’s boots before pushing his breechespast his lover’s hips and to the floor. Then he stood up and tookin the sight before his eager eyes. Edrick was beautiful, delicateand pale against his own brawny darkness. His cock stood a

attention, slender and long, jutting from a nest of curls a shadedarker than those on his head.

Caid stepped closer, reaching around to grasp that intriguinghardness in his right hand. He heard Edrick’s muffled gasp as hebegan moving his hand up and down the shaft, squeezing andrubbing it in curious exploration. He pulled Edrick closer, holding

the other man’s gaze as he continued to stroke Edrick’s pulsingcock. His left hand was not still, sliding caressingly over Edrick’schest, his thumb brushing over his eager nipples, hardened withtheir arousal.

Edrick’s head dropped back to rest against his shoulder, and

Caid felt an uncommon warmth deep in his chest. He releasedhis grasp on Edrick’s cock and his hand moved lower, cuppingEdrick’s ballocks in his warm palm. Lightly, his fingers exploredthe round balls as they moved in their wrinkled sac. He sawEdrick’s eyes darken with his arousal and knew that the manwould not last much longer. He moved his left hand up to

Edrick’s head, tugging so that his lips were just beneath Caid’s


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own.Then he bent and took Edrick’s mouth in a hard kiss

plunging his tongue deep. His hand released Edrick’s balls andmoved back to again stroke his pulsing shaft. Faster and fastehe moved his hand, feeling Edrick arch into each stroke. Hi

tongue mimicked the motions of his hand, and his own hippressed into the rounded curve of Edrick’s ass with eachmovement.

He felt Edrick’s gasping breaths puff into his own mouth asthe other man’s breathing became harsher and harsher, but he

did not break the kiss. He tightened his hand and tugged one lastime on Edrick’s erection, and he felt the warm splash of cum asit shot from the tip of Edrick’s cock and coated his hand as hecontinued to stroke in slower and slower movements. When hefelt the last pulse of Edrick’s orgasm, he lifted his head, his eyesmeeting the dark-blue ones that gazed dazedly into his own

“Perfect,” Caid whispered.

* * * * Slumping back against Caid’s hard body, Edrick felt almost

boneless. Had he ever orgasmed that hard before? If so, hecouldn’t remember when. He turned around and looked intoheavy, slumberous eyes. His gaze traveled down to the plumpcurve of Caid’s mouth. Unable to resist, he leaned forwardpressing his lips his lover’s. Caid’s lips opened, and Edrick thrushis tongue inside. Edrick tangled his tongue with Caid’s, relishing

the hot, masculine flavor of the other man’s mouth.


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en a pu e ac . or e rs me, r c rea ze ahe was completely nude while Caid was still fully dressed. Imade him feel vulnerable in a way that he hadn’t in a long, longtime. He liked the feeling. A lot. A shiver slid down his spine asCaid cast a glance at the bed and then back at Edrick.

“Lay down on the bed,” Caid’s voice was a husky growl.Edrick did as he was told, tugging the covers down and then

climbing in and lying on his back. He gazed over at Caid whojust stood there for a long moment, his eyes sliding over everyinch of Edrick’s body. Then Caid licked his hand clean of

Edrick’s cum, his gaze dark and slumberous. When he’d gottenevery drop, he began removing his clothing, tossing each piececarelessly aside as it came off. Edrick’s eyes hungrily took in thehard muscled body as it was revealed to him. Caid’s nakedtorso gleamed in the dim light, strong and hard. Edrick’s gazetraveled lower, taking in the twin columns of his legs and the

large and blatant erection that stood practically parallel to Caid’sbody. It was a bold statement of Caid’s arousal, and it sentanother quiver of lust through Edrick.

As he’d suspected, Caid was a picture of masculine beautyThe scar bisecting the right side of the face only added to tha

stark beauty, in Edrick’s opinion, rather than detracting from it. Igave the man a dangerous, wicked edge that Edrick found morethan appealing.

Edrick saw more scars on Caid’s chest and arms, and oneparticularly wicked mark on his upper thigh. When he meCaid’s gaze, he saw Caid watching him with a hungry but

guarded expression on his face. Edrick raised up on one elbow


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looking mark. He felt Caid’s body jerk in reaction to his touchhis cock bobbing slightly at the movement. Edrick raised himseleven more and, smiling briefly up at his lover, he leaned forwardand pressed his lips against the scar on his thigh. He heard Caid

groan. Then he was covering Edrick with his body, pressing himheatedly down into the bed, and his mouth took Edrick’s in ahard possessive kiss that left no doubt of Caid’s intentions.

Their mouths parted and met again and again, each kissparking a burning need in Edrick. When Caid released himouth, Edrick shoved against his chest. “Turn over.” Caidallowed himself to be pushed down onto his back, and Edrickraised up over him. Leaning down, he touched his lips to the scaron Caid’s face, letting his lips softly trace the entire length of themark. He felt Caid’s stillness beneath him and could sense theman’s shocked reaction in the tension that filled his body

Edrick’s mouth lingered on the scar while his hands roamed overCaid’s chest and shoulders, rubbing and stroking with gentleeagerness. When he felt Caid beginning to relax beneath him, herose slightly and looked down into the other man’s heavy-liddedeyes. Then he began spreading hot, biting kisses down Caid’storso, making sure to press his lips against each and every markuntil he reached the man’s thick rod, swollen with arousal andneed.

He wrapped his hand around the hard stalk and heard Caid’sguttural, “Farking hells, yes,” groaned somewhere above himThen he lowered his mouth and engulfed the head of Caid’s

cock, savoring the taste and heat of his lover’s passion. ’


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.licking the head for several minutes, he released it and kissed hisway down to the base, pausing to allow his tongue to lick overthe tracery of veins that pulsed gently against his lips. Then hereturned to the head, his tongue swirling around the tip, dipping

into the slit and tasting the pre-cum that he found there.He continued to kiss and lick every inch of the hard rod unti

he felt Caid’s hand on the back of his head. “Damn you to sevenhells, Edrick, suck the damn thing before I go insane.”

Hiding his grin, Edrick proceeded to do as Caid haddemanded, his mouth closing over the other man’s cock withsmooth expertise. The hand on the back of Edrick’s headclenched, catching his hair in a tight grip and tugging almospainfully as Edrick took more and more of Caid’s cock into hismouth. When he felt the tip touch the back of his throat, hepaused and took a deep breath, consciously relaxing the

muscles. Then he moved again until his face was buried in thecrisp, dark nest of curls and his throat was filled with his lover’shardness. He sucked as best he could. Caid was not a smalman, and Edrick was pleased that he’d been able to take all ohim. He heard Caid’s choked groan of approval as Edrickbacked off, almost completely releasing Caid’s cock, beforetaking it deep once again.

“Farking son of a Nilerian ass, that feels incredible, Edrick.”Edrick allowed himself a small hum of pleasure and fel

Caid’s jerk in reaction of the pleasurable sensation. Then Edrickpulled back and began a shallow but steady motion up and down

on Caid’s cock. For a while nothing but the sounds of sucking ’


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silence of the room. Then Caid’s hand tightened once more onhis head, and he pulled Edrick’s mouth free with a soft pop.

“For the Goddess’s sake, stop. I don’t want to release inyour mouth. I need to fuck you, Edrick.”

Edrick nodded, eager to please his lover and almosdesperate to feel Caid’s body inside his own. He rolled over onhis back, and Caid sat up, his eyes scanning the room.

“Where’s your oil, Edrick?” Caid’s voice was tight withneed.

Edrick pointed to the elegant table sitting beside the bed and

watched as Caid’s hand closed over the bottle. Caid sat uplooking down at him with a wicked grin on his face. “Roll overand get on your knees, head down on the bed.”

With a grin of his own, Edrick did as Caid directed. He felCaid’s body move into position behind him, then the cool feel o

the oil as it was dripped onto his bottom. Caid’s handsmassaged the oil across his rear and into the tight pucker of hisanal passage. Edrick moaned softly at the feel of those largefingers working their way into him, pressing deep and coatinghim with the slippery oil. Edrick’s cock began to swell again athe sensation of Caid’s finger as it stroked across his prostate

gland.He began to lift his head from the bed, but immediately

Caid’s other hand was on his neck, pressing him down again“No. Don’t move. I want you like this. Bent over and ready totake me. I’m going to fuck you so hard and so deep you’ll fee

like I own you. And I will.” ’


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a hard probing against his anal rose, larger…much larger…thanCaid’s fingers had been. He took a deep breath and tried torelax, knowing that the pain would be much less if he did so. AsCaid began pressing forward, he pushed back, and the head o

Caid’s cock slipped past the anal sphincter and into Edrick’sbody. Caid paused for a moment, allowing Edrick to get used tothe sensation of penetration, before pressing forward again. Witha series of slow movements, Caid was finally deeply embeddedinside Edrick’s anal channel. Edrick had never felt so full, sopossessed.

“You ready?” a low voice gasped out the words, and alEdrick could do was nod.

Caid began sliding out slowly and then pressed in with a longstroke. Again and again, he repeated the slow movements untiEdrick was pushing back, moving into each thrust. As if that was

the signal Caid had been waiting for, he sped up. Faster andfaster, he plunged his cock deep into Edrick’s welcoming body.Edrick felt Caid’s balls as they struck against the cushion of hisass with each stroke. The thrusts became shorter and harderand Edrick knew that Caid was near his climax. His own cockbobbed against his stomach with each rough movement. Then he

felt the hot gush of Caid’s release coating his insides, and hisown climax burst from him, dampening the sheets beneath hibelly. Caid groaned out his orgasm with short digs. When he wadone, he pulled himself from Edrick’s body, and Edrick felt thebed sag as Caid flopped over onto his back. Edrick collapsed

down, uncaring of the sticky cum that now coated his belly. Hefell aslee like that worn out from the lovemakin .


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When he awoke several hours later, the bed was empty

Caid was gone.


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Chapter Three Glancing over the crowd that had gathered for the bonding

ceremony of Lord Javan of Westmarch and Rom, Captain of the

Guardians of the Gray Tower, Caid searched for one particularhead of silvery blond hair. Surely he would be here tonightPractically everyone who was anyone was there. It was aneclectic mix of Rom’s Guardian brethren and Javan’s fellowmembers of the nobility.

Ever since the night he and Edrick had made love, he had

been unable to get the other man out of his thoughts. And thanever happened to him. Usually Caid forgot his bed partners theminute he’d slipped from their rooms, but this time with Edrickwas different. He’d found himself subconsciously searching fothe man in every bar he’d entered and on every street he’d

walked down. He didn’t know what it was about the irritatingfool, but he wanted…needed to see him again.The night they’d spent together had been incredible. Maybe

he just wanted a repeat of the experience. Whatever the reasonwas, he’d finally decided that he was going to seek the man ouand see if he would be interested in furthering their acquaintance.

A burst of laughter from nearby drew his attention, and helooked over at the group of men surrounding Javan and RomHe felt a twinge of envy as he watched the two men togetherThey barely strayed two feet from one another, and Romseemed to be having difficulty keeping his hands off his

bondmate, constantly reaching out to stroke a hand down hicheek or rub his shoulder a ainst the other man’s. The love the


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two men felt for one another glowed on their faces every timetheir eyes met.

Caid shook his head. It still surprised him how happy Romlooked. The captain of the Guardians had always seemed so

aloof and content with his single life. Now it was rare to see himwithout a smile on his face, and he no longer lingered overlong inthe Great Hall of the Tower after meals but was always morethan eager to head upstairs to his apartments with Javan’s handclutched in his own. Of course, he could still be a son of a bitchon the training grounds. Caid allowed a grin to shape his lips a

the thought.He lifted his glass as someone called for a toast and then

drained it in one gulp. His eyes once more darted around theroom. He had been certain Edrick would be here tonight. Theplace was just so farking crowded that it was hard to find

anyone in the confusion. It seemed like every member of theGray not on duty must be here, along with Javan’s friends andfamily. He’d thought he’d spotted Edrick a couple of times, buby the time he’d managed to get through the crowd, the man haddisappeared again.

He set his empty glass on the tray of a passing servant and

began shouldering his way toward the exit. This was a pointleswaste of time. He decided that he would leave, and perhaps hewould have better luck finding Edrick on the morrow. The kingand his entourage had already departed, so he was sure no onewould miss him if he slipped out early. He had just reached the

nearest door when a voice behind him stopped him in his tracks.“Well, well. Caid. I wasn’t sure if I would see ou here


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tonight. Not leaving early, are you?”

Caid whirled around and met the midnight-blue eyes of theman he’d been unable to get out of his head. He was stunned athe relieved pleasure he felt at finally being face-to-face with

Edrick, whom he’d last seen snoring gently in the faint light of anearly morning, his body a limp, satisfied sprawl on the sinfullyrumpled silken bedsheets.

“Edrick.” That was all he could manage, and he mentallyberated himself. He was acting like some lovesick infant. Heforced himself to speak again. “How are you?”

Edrick’s lips curled up into a mocking grin. “Well, enoughThough I am quite annoyed with you. Don’t you know it’sconsidered very rude to slip away in the middle of the night aftersharing such an exquisite experience? I was quite disappointedwhen I awoke and found the bed beside me empty and cold.”

Caid managed a shrug. “I figured you’d be glad to avoid anyawkward morning-after conversation. It’s not as if we wereinvolved in any sort of relationship, after all. And I had duties thaI had to attend to.”

Edrick quirked a brow. “Well, I wasn’t expecting a requestfor a bonding, but it would have been nice to at least share

breakfast before you rushed off to your important duties.”Caid didn’t know what to say to that, so he just shrugged and

stayed silent.“So were you about to leave? I thought I saw you eyeing the

door with what looked like eager relief.”“I was thinking about it. I’ve never been much for parties.”“Ah, yes. The stoic member of the Gray. Life is always so


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serious for you men, isn’t it? Don’t you think you shouldoccasionally stop and smell the wassin flowers? Let your hairdown a little, and just have some fun. Do you even know how toenjoy yourself?”

Caid sent Edrick a look of exasperation. “Of course.”“Prove it.” Challenge was clearly written on Edrick’s face as

his eyes met Caid’s. “Come have a couple of drinks with meperhaps grab a plate and eat some of this delicious food that habeen prepared. Then we’ll see what else happens.”

Caid shook his head in bemusement, but Edrick took it for a

sign of denial.“Oh, come on, Guardian. It won’t kill you to spend a little

more time with me. You might even figure out that you like me,you know.”

“I know. Fine, Edrick. Let’s go and enjoy ourselves.”Caid saw the quick look of pleasure that flashed acros

Edrick’s face before the other man grabbed his hand and beganpulling him through the crowd, moving in the direction of thetables that had been set up for refreshments. Their path tookthem past the place where Rom and Javan were holding courtand they stopped when Caid heard his name called out.

Rom smiled at him, his curious gaze taking in their linkedhands before flashing up to meet Caid’s with a look that Caidcouldn’t quite interpret, but he found himself suppressing theblush that tried to ride up to his cheeks.

“Caid, it’s good to see you here tonight.” Javan smiled at himThen he turned to Edrick. “And Edrick. I don’t remember seeingyour name on the guest list.” He quirked a questioning brow a


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Edrick.Caid saw Edrick offer Javan a sardonic grin. “I came here as

a guest of Doran Sonclaire. You know I can never resist a goodparty.”

“Indeed. So are you two enjoying yourselves?” Javan asked.“As always, Javan, you throw an amazing party.” Edrick and

Javan smiled at one another in a way that made Caid feel like hewas missing something. “Caid and I were just on our way toenjoy some of the delicious refreshments you have provided.”

“Good. I’m glad you’re having a good time.”

“Congratulations again on your bonding.” Caid offered hicontribution to the conversation.

“Thank you, Caid. We’re very happy.” Rom smiled at hisnew bondmate with an affectionate look before turning back toCaid and Edrick. “I didn’t know you two were acquainted.” Hisgaze dropped again to where Caid’s hand was linked with

Edrick’s.Surreptitiously Caid tried to release Edrick’s hands, but the

stubborn man just tightened his grip.“Oh, Caid and I are very well acquainted,” Edrick cast Caid

a wicked glance. Caid glowered in return.

“Really?” Caid could see the interested speculation thaquickly came into Rom’s face. “Funny, Caid, that you haven’tmentioned this to me before now.”

Caid shrugged. “Some things a man just wants to keepprivate, Rom. I’m sure you know what I’m talking about.”

Rom chuckled. “I’m sure I do.”

They stood chatting idly for a few minutes before Rom pulled


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a o to one s e to r e y ta some uar an us ness. omwas taking a few days off, and he was having difficulty letting goof the reins. As Caid listened to his captain brief him again on hisresponsibilities, his attention was captured by a short exchangebetween Edrick and Javan. He didn’t know what they were

talking about, but his curiosity was definitely piqued.When Rom had finished speaking, they moved back to where

Edrick and Javan stood. Caid was about to ask Edrick whathey had been talking about when Rom caught his eye and shookhis head. He bit back the question. What was going on? Edrick

had looked unusually serious, and Javan had seemed concernedBefore he could speculate further, the conversation turned tomore general topics. They stayed chatting with the newly bondedcouple for several more minutes before someone else came up tocongratulate them. Caid felt Edrick tug on his hand, and they saidtheir good-byes to Rom and Javan.

The crowd had thinned a bit around the refreshment tables soit didn’t take them long to grab a couple of plates of food. Theysnatched some glasses of wine from a passing servant and madetheir way to an empty table tucked against a far wall.

As they settled into their seats, Caid allowed his eyes to soak

in the pleasing sight of Edrick relaxing across the table from himEdrick met his gaze and said, “I’m really glad that I ran into youtonight. I have to confess that I was hoping you would be here. wanted to see you again.”

Caid nodded, unable to lie in the face of the other man’shonest statement. “I felt the same.”

He was rewarded with Edrick’s pleased smile.


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* * * *

He hadn’t been lying to Caid. Ever since their night together

he hadn’t been able to get the Guardian off his mind. He’d

thought of dozens of possible ways to organize a “chance”encounter with Caid, but Javan had kept him busy ferreting ouinformation among the nobles and others of their ilk who hungaround the palace and at the parties that Edrick had oftenattended in the past. Though he really was no longer interested in

going to the balls and soirees, or venturing out to the brotheland gaming dens, Javan had needed someone with access tothose places, and Edrick, he had decided, was perfect.

So night after night, he’d gone drinking and gambling, dancingand flirting, until he was heartily sick of it all. But he had heardsome interesting gossip and had dutifully passed every tidbit he

heard along to Javan. Before he’d come to the bondingceremony, he had stopped by his favorite gaming den to play afew hands of dacre. While he was there, one of the otherdrunken fools at his table had let slip information that was morethan disturbing, and he needed to let Javan know as soon as

possible.It had been with great pleasure that he’d spotted Caid acrossthe crowded hall during the bonding ceremony, and he’d beensearching for him ever since they’d moved into the ballroom fothe celebration.

He’d been hurt and disappointed that Caid had slipped ou

without even saying good-bye or expressing any desire to see


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. . -to keep his rare sexual encounters brief and basic. That wasbefore he’d gotten himself entangled with Edrick, howeverbecause Edrick was determined that theirs would be more thanbrief. And much more than basic.

He smiled as he took a bite from his plate, not really eventasting the exotic dish.

“So what have you been doing since I last saw you, Caid?Anything interesting going on with the Guardians these days?”

He saw Caid eyeing him carefully as the man lifted a glass tohis mouth to take a sip of his drink. Then he replied, “Not fome, really, but I made a trip to Feresa to bring back LaeMonchmart and Gibor Vane.”

Edrick was surprised. “I’d heard about that. I didn’t realizeyou were the one who found them.”

Caid nodded. “The fighting was all over by the time I reached

them, but Lael was in pretty bad shape, and they’d lost theihorses.”

“I heard a rumor that it was Angkeshi bandits that attackedthem. Is that true?”

“Yes. It was very strange that they would venture so far in toEmryn.”

“It wasn’t in Feresa?” Edrick knew that, since Feresa was onthe border of Angkesh, it wasn’t very unusual for border raids tohappen on occasion.

“No. It was in Narda.” Now Edrick was really disturbed. “Narda? That isn’t good.”

Caid agreed. “There were also signs of some sort of beas ”


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.Edrick sat back, not sure he’d heard correctly. “A beast?

What kind of beast?”“Some sort of large cat. I saw its tracks, and both Lael and

Gibor confirmed that they saw it, though only through the

shadows of the trees.”“There have been rumors that the Queen of Angkesh can

shape-shift into a cat.”Caid let out a gruff laugh. “There are all sorts of rumors.”“Like what?”“I’m sure that you heard about the traitor that infiltrated the

Gray.”“Vaguely.” He actually knew quite a bit about it, but he

wasn’t sure how much of his work with Javan he should reveato Caid.

“Did you know that he was somehow controlled by Queen

Kalandra.”“What?” That was something he hadn’t known.Edrick continued to ask Caid questions, and the more he

learned, the more concerned he became. Now the informationthat he needed to pass on to Javan took on an even more sinistemeaning. He cast a glance around the room. Should he seekJavan out and tell him what he’d learned tonight? He thought iover for a moment and then decided that tomorrow would besoon enough. Javan and Rom deserved at least one nightogether to solidify their bonding. His information would waitOne day only, though.

He turned his attention back to Caid, changing the subject to ’ “


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.did you really leave that night without at least waking me to saygood-bye?”

“I told you.”“I know what you told me. I want the truth.”

Caid looked a little uncomfortable. “I don’t know what youmean.”

Edrick chuckled. “Hmm…I think you were scared.”Caid’s face went blank. “Scared? Don’t be ridiculous.”He studied Caid’s face carefully. “I think you enjoyed what

we had together a lot. More than a lot. I think that it scared you

because you felt the same thing I did.”“Oh, yes? And what is that?”“Like it was special. Important. Like it was more than just a

casual encounter.”He finally saw a reaction on Caid’s face, and what he saw

gave him more encouragement than anything else could have. Iwas a brief flash of emotion. He saw fear mixed with a burningdesire. It was quickly hidden, and if Edrick hadn’t been lookingfor it, he probably would have missed it completely. But it wasdefinitely there.

He forced himself to suppress the satisfied smile that wanted

to curve his mouth.“You’re wrong.” Caid’s voice was forceful.“Am I?”“Yes.”Edrick took a sip of his drink before leaning forward. “Prove

it.” ’ “ ”


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“You heard me. Prove it.”“And just how do you expect me to do that?”“Come back to my apartments with me tonight.”Raised brows punctuated Caid’s surprise. “How would tha

prove anything?”Shrugging, Edrick smiled. “If it’s true and the last time meantnothing more than a brief physical release, then our repeating theexperience shouldn’t make any difference to you and how youfeel. Of course, if I’m right, and it meant more than you want toadmit, then our coming together again will be something very

special. Something you won’t be able to deny.”“What the farking hells game are you playing, Edrick? I don’

know what it is that you want from me.”“Just the truth, Caid. That’s all.”Caid sat there for several minutes without saying anything

else. Finally he nodded. “Fine. I agree. One more night. That’sall.”Edrick felt a great spurt of relief. “That’s all I’m asking.” He

smiled. He knew Caid thought he could keep their cominglovemaking cold and clinical, but Edrick believed otherwise. Thelast time, he had felt something he’d never felt before with

anyone else, man or woman. And he knew that Caid had felt itas well. Tonight would be even more spectacular. He wascertain of it. Once Caid saw that, he would be unable to denythat what he felt for Edrick was nothing more than simple lustWhat it actually was, Edrick wasn’t quite sure. But he knew

beyond a shadow of a doubt that they were meant to beto ether and that his feelin s for Caid were onl oin to row


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deeper and deeper.

“Shall we leave now, then?” Caid’s head tilted toward thedoor, and his eyes sought Edrick’s.

Edrick nodded. “Of course. Let’s just say good-bye to Rom

and Javan.”They made their way once again across the room. The crowdhad thinned somewhat, and it was much easier this time to locatethe couple. They were seated at a table up on a dais with the resof their family members. Once again, they offered theicongratulations to the happy couple.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Edrick reminded Javan, whonodded his head.

“I’ll be expecting you.”They said their good-byes, and then they were headed to the

door. It didn’t take them long to traverse the corridors and arrive

at the apartments in the south wing that King Kelan had givenEdrick. Once inside, Edrick wasted no time with idle chitchatbut led Caid directly into his bedroom. Caid followed, closingthe door behind him and leaning back against it, arms crossedover his chest.

“Are you sure you know what you’re doing, Edrick?” Caid’s

voice came to him from the shadows near the door. The onlylight in the room came from the flickering fire. Edrick struck a firestick and went around lighting several candles before turning toface Caid across the several feet that separated them.

Edrick reached down and began unfastening the ties on the

front of his formal tunic. “Goddess knows.” He could feel Caid’seyes following the movements of his fingers as the materia


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parted an inch at a time. When enough were unfastened, hereached down and pulled the shirt off his head and threw it to theside. He did the same with the undertunic.

Then he reached for the belt that held up his breeches andquickly dispensed with it. He sat down to remove his shoesbefore pushing his breeches down and off, kicking them to theside, so that he stood boldly nude in front of his lover. His cockwas already semihard, and he reached down to stroke it, hearinga short gasp from the direction where Caid still remainedstanding near the door. He smiled as Caid took a step forward

and Edrick could see that his eyes were eagerly fastened onEdrick’s motions as he continued to caress himself.

“Damn you to farking hells, Edrick.” Caid’s voice was aharsh growl.

Edrick smiled.


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Chapter Four Caid couldn’t take his eyes off of Edrick. The slender beauty

of his body seemed to glow in the flickering candlelight. His hand

stroking his engorged cock cast a near-hypnotic spell on Caidwho licked his lips and clenched his own hands against the desirehe felt to rush forward and drop to his knees in front of the otheman. The knowing smile he saw curl Edrick’s mouth upward toldhim that Edrick knew exactly what he was thinking.

The fact that he wasn’t thinking at all was whirling through

Caid’s mind. He wasn’t thinking when he’d accepted Edrick’schallenge, that was for certain. He hadn’t wanted to admit thathe other man was right, maybe he hadn’t even admitted it tohimself. But the truth was that there was something to whaEdrick had said. He’d denied it, but he had felt something

different when he was with Edrick. Something that…disturbedhim. He wasn’t frightened, but he was wary. He had been almostanxious after their previous encounter. Not scared. He wouldn’go that far. But he had needed to get away from Edrick asquickly as possible. He’d waited for the man to fall asleep andthen he had bolted.

He had thought that was the end of it, even though he’d had ahard time suppressing his urge to see Edrick again. It was almoslaughable, the way he was torn between what he knew he shoulddo and what he wanted to do. And now he had allowed Edrickto maneuver him into a situation that he wasn’t sure he was going

to be able to handle. He should leave. He should turn to the doorand et out of there as uickl as ossible.


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Even as he thought it, he knew he wouldn’t do it. For bette

or worse, he would see this night through. He would find out iEdrick was correct, that what he felt for the other man was morethan just common, simple lust.

He took another step toward Edrick, and then anotherSoon, he stood less than a foot from the man. He gazed intothose deep-blue eyes, frozen with need. Then he felt Edrick’shands reaching out and removing his own garments. He movedstiltedly, as if in a daze, until he too had been stripped naked.

“You’re a beautiful man,” he heard Edrick whisper as his

hands began to caress Caid’s chest, stroking across the scarsthat marred his soldier’s body.

Caid laughed somewhat bitterly and shook his head. “Youknow that’s not true, or else you’re an idiot. I’m scarred andugly. I don’t need false flattery. Save your lies, Edrick. I know

how I look. Goddess knows, I’ve been told often enough.”Edrick smiled. “I know what you think, but it’s not trueThese people who told you that you were ugly are the idiots, nome.” He lifted his hand, and Caid felt his fingers smoothing ovethe scar that ran across his cheek. “I see the scar, and I see thebeauty. I’ve never seen a more beautiful man in my life, and tha

is not a lie.”Caid reached up and caught Edrick’s hand against the hard

ridges of his scar. Looking deep into Edrick’s eyes, he saw notrace of mockery, no gleam of deceit. The man was telling thetruth as he knew it. Somewhere deep in his chest, something

began to crumble. Some tight, hard place that he hadn’t evenrealized existed started to loosen its ri on Caid. He almos


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gasped aloud at the feeling. He leaned forward, keeping his eyeswide and unblinking, focused on Edrick’s, as his mouth closedover his lover’s. They gazed into each other’s eyes, and Caid fela stirring in the depth of his soul as his tongue pushed into

Edrick’s heated mouth, and the other man’s tongue slid eagerlyagainst his own.Then they were moving closer, Edrick’s arms sliding up to

clasp around his neck. Caid’s own hands moved to holdEdrick’s waist, his eyes sliding closed as the passion overtookhim. He felt the heat from the other man’s body against his, their

cocks rubbing together with each breath. Caid released Edrick’smouth and laid a trail of kisses across his jaw to his ear. Usingthe tip of his tongue, he traced the whirls and caverns of Edrick’sear, jabbing his tongue into the short tunnel and then breathingdeeply into the dampened interior. He felt Edrick shiver at thewanton caress. Then he took the lobe into his mouth to gently tugin the way he knew Edrick liked before nibbling his way downthe side of his neck and lower. Stooping slightly, he used histongue to trace whirling patterns around the man’s tight nipplewhich had hardened in arousal.

When his mouth closed over the hard little peak and he

suckled gently, he felt Edrick’s response in the hips that archedtoward him. He turned his attention to the other nipple, giving iequal attention, and Edrick began moaning his name. Lifting hishead, he smiled down into Edrick’s dazed eyes as they blinkedopen. “You like that.”

Edrick merely nodded weakly.“So do I.” He returned once again, torturing the male nipples


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until Edrick was groaning and urging him to do more. Then hestood and pushed Edrick until he fell back onto the nearby bedTugging Edrick’s body so that his legs dangled over the side ofhis bed, he pushed Edrick’s legs apart and sank to his knees inthe space he had created. He sent a glance up Edrick’s bodyuntil he met the other man’s eyes, which were wide with eageranticipation. Then he bent to study the other man’s rampanterection, admiring the tracery of veins in the slender rod.

He leaned forward and licked a long stroke up the length othe stalk. He repeated his action again and again until the whole

cock gleamed with the moisture from his mouth. Then he blewlightly and felt a shiver of satisfaction as Edrick’s hips lifted inreaction. He blew again before moving lower to give attention tothe wrinkled ball sac- that hung between Edrick’s thighs. Helicked lightly all across tender skin, enjoying the sounds oEdrick’s gasps and moans as they filled the air. Then his mouthmoved back up to drop more soft kisses up the flesh of the hardshaft.

“Farking hells, Caid, take me in your mouth before I goinsane.” Edrick’s voice was a pleading groan.

Caid grinned, remembering his own similar reaction to

Edrick’s teasing, and leaned forward, his mouth closing over thehead of Edrick’s cock and suckling gently. He heard the otherman’s strangled moan and felt the thrust of his hips as they triedto force more of Edrick’s cock into his mouth. But Caid washaving none of it. He pulled back and let Edrick’s cock slip frombetween his lips. He hid a smile at Edrick’s moan of frustrationPressing gently, he moved Edrick’s hips back into their origina


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position.“Don’t move,” he ordered when Edrick raised his head to

send him a look of supplication. “I promise you won’t be sorry.”When Edrick’s head dropped back to the bed, he returned

his attention to the man’s erection. Once more, he took the headinto his mouth and began sucking. Edrick moaned again and aspurt of pre-cum pulsed from the tip of his cock. Caid savoredthe taste, enjoying the flavor of his lover’s passion. Slowly hebegan taking more and more of Edrick’s length into his mouthHe could hear Edrick muttering and gasping from somewhere

above him as he sucked him deeper and deeper.He’d always enjoyed giving pleasure to his lovers, but thi

was something different. He wanted Edrick mindless. He wantedthe other man to give himself totally to this moment and to CaidHe wanted to own his every thought, his every feeling. He didn’try to analyze this need. He couldn’t. All he could do was follow

his own instincts, to push both himself and Edrick as far as theycould go. And then push even more.

He pressed deeper, until the tip of Edrick’s cock nudged theback of his throat. With a deep breath, he relaxed his throamuscles and took the man all the way into his mouth. He could

feel the hard rod slip deep, Edrick’s balls brushing against hischin. Then he pulled back and began slowly stroking Edrick’srod in and out of his mouth, sometimes deep, sometimes shallowbut maintaining that slow, steady pace. Edrick’s hands reacheddown to tunnel into Caid’s hair, grasping handfuls and pullingalmost painfully in his efforts to force Caid to speed up hi

ministrations.


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r c s voce reac e m. or t e sweet ove o a araCaid, let me come. I ache. Please, faster. I’m begging you.”

At last Caid gave in to Edrick’s pleading. He began to movefaster and faster, using his hand now to tug and tease at Edrick’sballs until, with a loud cry, Edrick climaxed, sending cum spurting

deep into Caid’s mouth. Caid continued suckling and swallowinguntil the last pulse of orgasm had faded, and Edrick’s handsdropped loosely to the bed.

* * * *

Was he dead? If not, he should be. Seven hells, that wasamazing! He felt movement and opened his eyes in time to seeCaid lying down beside him, his head propped on one hand. Theother hand reached out to trace a light caress around the outlineof Edrick’s lips. His mouth pulsed slightly with his desire to fee

Caid’s mouth pressing against his. He licked his lips, and he sawCaid’s eyes darken, their gaze focusing on the tempting glide otongue across flesh. Then he was there, his mouth coveringEdrick’s, his tongue pushing impatiently inside, allowing Edrickto taste his own passion in Caid’s mouth.

They kissed with lingering exploration, Caid’s body movingto cover Edrick’s. The other man’s rampant erection proddedEdrick’s belly, but when he tried to move so that he could touchit, Caid moved out of reach. “No,” the other man whispered“Not yet.”

They touched and caressed one another for what seemed like

hours to Edrick. Caid slowly built his passion again, kiss by kiss


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s ro e y s ro e. o a s nge nc o s o y was eunexplored. Edrick had never felt so completely consumed by alover, allowing Caid to do anything he wanted to him. And hewanted plenty.

At last, he gasped out, “No more, Caid. I can’t take any

more.”He heard Caid’s husky chuckle. “I think you’re lying, Lord

Edrick. I think you can take anything I want you to take.”Edrick moaned. “But I want to touch you now.”“Oh, you will. Have no worries about that.” Caid raised hi

head and looked around. When he reached out toward the nightable, Edrick knew that he was getting the bottle of tunis oil. Heshivered in expectation of what was to come, longing to feeCaid’s cock plunging into his ass, stroking them both to ecstasy.

Caid sat up and looked down at Edrick and whispered“Turn over.” Edrick eagerly complied, turning his head so that he

could watch Caid. Opening the bottle of oil, Caid tilted it so thaa small stream of the sweetly scented fluid dribbled down ontoEdrick’s back. Then he set the bottle aside and began smoothingoil over Edrick’s skin, coating him with the slippery liquid. Againand again he tilted the bottle until Edrick’s back was completely

covered, from shoulder to buttocks. Then his hand moved topart Edrick’s ass cheeks, seeking and finding the anal openingthat lay hidden there. Caid’s slick finger slid easily into that darktunnel. Edrick squirmed as he pumped in and out, adding anothefinger and moving them in a scissoring motion to widen the smalhole.

“You feel so good. So tight.” Edrick heard Caid’s whisper ’


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,move to stretch over him, covering his back with its heavywarmth. Caid moved, sliding his body up and down Edrick’sback, his cock a hard rod against his buttocks, sandwiched inthe crease of his ass. Moving with a languid ease, Caid rubbed

over and over against Edrick. Edrick’s own erection had stirredagain and was pressed firmly into the mattress with eachmovement.

Caid’s lips found the nape of his neck, and he could feel themoist pressure of the man’s tongue and lips as they moved gentlyacross his sensitive skin. When Caid bit down gently, Edrickthought he might just die of the pleasure. Caid’s arms slidbeneath him, grasping him across the chest. He rolled to the sidepulling Edrick with him, so that their bodies were spoonedtogether. Then Caid lifted Edrick’s leg, and he felt the proddingof Caid’s cock against his rear entrance. He moved, widening his

legs to accommodate Caid’s demand, and felt the hard thrust oa hard cock pushing into him.

He pressed down with his inner muscles to ease the passageand Caid’s erection moved deeper until it was completelyembedded into his core. Then Caid began moving, pulling backand pushing forward in a slow, languid rhythm. His hand grippedEdrick’s hip to hold him still for each thrust. Harsh gruntssounded in his ear as Caid’s movements sped up, and hereached down to wrap his hand around his own erection, whichwas aching for relief again. It didn’t take long to bring himself toa second climax, and he moaned with his release. Caid’s grip

tightened on his hip as he thrust harder and harder. He turned his ’


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, .mouths met in a wet, hungry kiss, Caid’s tongue thrusting in timeto the movement of his hips. With a choked cry into Edrick’smouth, Caid climaxed, his hips grinding against Edrick’s buttocksas his warm cum spurted out to fill Edrick’s channel.

They lay there, panting for a long time. He could feel Caid’ssoftening cock as it slipped from him. Caid rolled onto his backand Edrick moved so that he could look over at his lover. Caid’sarm was thrown across his face, concealing his eyes fromEdrick’s curious gaze.

Caid lay there, motionless and hiding for several moreminutes. Edrick waited patiently. At last, Caid lifted his arm fromhis eyes and looked up. What Edrick saw there was more thanworth the wait. Chagrin, and satisfaction, and unequivocaemotion blazed from Caid’s face. Edrick bent to capture Caid’slips with his own and felt the same pulse-pounding need he

always felt when he was close to his lover. This lover. Only thisone.

“Well?” he finally asked, when it became obvious that Caidwas not going to volunteer anything.

Caid’s mouth lifted in a small smile. “You want to hear thewords, don’t you?”

Edrick lifted a brow in arrogant acknowledgement. “Ocourse.”

Caid nodded. “You were right.”Edrick grinned.Caid shook his head and reached up to pull Edrick down

beside him. They lay close, entangled in one another’s arms’ ’


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,over his skin, ruffling the hair that curled damply there.

“So where do we go from here?” Caid’s voice came to himin a soft whisper.

He shrugged. “Wherever we want to go. As far as I know

there aren’t any rules.”“Well, then, where do you want it to go?”Edrick considered the question and decided that honesty was

the best policy in this situation. “I’d like to see you on a regulabasis. Not just for sex, though I definitely want that. And lots oit.” He tugged teasingly at a curl that was wrapped around hi

finger and stifled a snicker at Caid’s wince. “But I also want usto just spend some time getting to know one another. To learnmore about one another.”

Caid was silent for a beat or two. “I’m not going to any othose fancy-pants dances and balls that you love so much.”

Edrick smiled. “Not even one or two? If they’re important tome?”

He could hear Caid’s hesitation when he answered. “Maybeone.” Another pause. “But you’ll have to go with me to swordpractice, let me teach you to fight.”

“Okay. That sounds interesting.”

He could sense Caid’s surprise at his quick acquiescence“Really? No arguments?”

“No. I think that is fair. Getting to know one another is agive-and-take. There are things I enjoy that I think you mightbut even if you don’t, I’d like you to give them a shot. And the

same goes for me. We both have to put forth some effort or the ’


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that we both enjoy.”

“What if it turns out that we don’t like any of the samethings?”

“Then that will probably mean that whatever we’re feeling fo

one another isn’t going to last. But I think you’re going to besurprised. I believe we’re going to find out that we have a lomore in common than a first glance would lead you to think.”

“Seems to me that a rough soldier and a pampered noblemanwould have nothing in common.”

“Again, I think you’re going to get a shock. On the surface

I’ll admit that we don’t seem like much of a match. But dancingand sword fighting…those are only superficial things. Deepdown, I believe we’re very much alike.”

He could sense Caid’s disbelief at what he had said, but hedidn’t care. All he cared about at that moment was the fact tha

Caid was willing to give them a shot. Edrick felt a great sense orightness, held close in Caid’s arms. And he would do whateverhe had to do in order to prove to his lover that they were meanto be together.


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Chapter Five Caid lay in the bed and listened to the sound of Edrick’s sof

snores. He wondered what the hell he was getting himself into

but he wouldn’t run this time. Edrick, damn him to farking hellswas right. He had been running scared the last time. He hadn’admitted it, even to himself, but whatever it was that washappening between them was so powerful, it had frightened himSo he had left in the middle of the night like some thief. Like hewas ashamed of what had happened. Edrick had called him on

it, and he couldn’t help but respect the man for having thecourage to make him face the truth.

He was surprised, more than surprised, at how much he wasactually starting to really like the man. He’d known him, ocourse. Or at least of him. Edrick’s reputation around the palace

was not exactly the most pristine. He was well-known for flittingfrom man to woman on a fairly frequent basis. Caid couldn’recall ever hearing of any of Edrick’s affairs lasting more than aweek or two at most. Did the man really feel something speciafor Caid? Was it possible in so short a time? And how did hefeel about Edrick? It was all so confusing, and Caid had neve

liked feeling out of control. But he needed to find out what thisthing was between them. He’d told Edrick that he was willing totry, and he hadn’t been lying. Whatever was going on with themhe couldn’t walk away. Not this time.

Edrick stirred, turning to curl against his side, and Caid

couldn’t resist dropping a soft kiss onto the man’s foreheadThen he closed his e es and drifted off to slee .


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The nightmare started the same way it always did, with

the pain. The excruciating pain streaked down his face withthe agony of a hot poker. And then came the jeering voices.Nameless, faceless voices taunted and goaded him, turning

to maniacal laughs as he struggled to free himself from thetight bonds that held him down. Another burst of pain streaked through his chest.

Another hit his leg. Then he felt the pummeling blowsstriking his ribs as bones snapped. And always there werethe voices whispering and muttering threats and dire

promises in his ear.He jerked and cried out, waking himself from the horrible

memories that he could never seem to outrun. He sat up andrubbed his hand over his face, his forehead beaded with sweat.

“Are you all right?” The soft voice beside him was startling

and it took him a moment to recall where he was and who hewas with. He looked over and saw Edrick sitting beside him, hisface the picture of alarm. He shook his head and stood upwalking over to the window that was hidden behind a heavycurtain. He pushed the fabric aside and leaned his head againsthe icy cold of the window pane, needing the chill to help drive

away the pictures that filled his head.He jerked when he felt a hand stroke down his shoulder bu

then relaxed against Edrick’s slender body as the other man’sarm curled around his waist and pulled him close.

“What’s wrong, Caid?” Edrick’s voice, heavy with concern

murmured in his ear.“Just a ni htmare,” he mana ed to sa , his voice ruff with the


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earlier effort of holding back his screams.

He felt rather than saw Edrick shake his head. “Not just anightmare. That was something else. Won’t you tell me what iwas about? It helps to talk, you know.”

Caid cast a quick glance over his shoulder at Edrick. Whawould a pampered aristocrat know about dreams that were inreality a living nightmare that Caid had survived, though nowithout his scars. But the look in the other man’s eyes gave himpause. There were shadows there that Caid recognized becausehe’d seen the same thing in his own eyes. Shadows that a man

got only when he’d lived through one of the seven hells andmade it through to the other side.

“You don’t really want to know,” he finally told Edrick.“I really do. Here.” He took Caid’s hand and tugged. “Come

back to bed. I’ll get you something to drink.”He didn’t know why, normally he couldn’t stand pampering

of any kind, but he allowed Edrick to lead him back to the bedand settle him beneath the covers. The other man fussed withCaid’s pillows so that he was sitting in a semi-reclining positionThen he moved across the room to a long table and selected adecanter. After pouring the golden liquid into a glass, he came

back to the bed and crawled in beside Caid.“I don’t want a drink,” Caid shook his head when Edrick

tried to press the glass into his hand.“Drink it, or I’ll have to get mean,” Edrick told him.Though the words were teasing, the tone of Edrick’s voice

told him that he was dead serious, so Caid chose the path oleast resistance and took the glass, tossing back the fiery liquid in


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one gulp. It burned all the way down and helped to warm thechill that had seemed to permeate his soul.

“That’s good Jaelic whiskey. It’s meant to be sipped, youknow. It’s almost sacrilegious to toss it back like that.” Edrick’svoice held a twinge of sarcasm, and Caid almost managed asmile.

“Well, I’m just a commoner. I’m afraid I don’t know a goodwhiskey from a bad ale.

Edrick’s mouth curled upward, and he reached for the glasssetting it on the bedside table.

Britt Kenley - [Guardians of the Gray Tower 3] - Guardian's Scar

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Transcript of Britt Kenley - [Guardians of the Gray Tower 3] - Guardian's Scar