Page 7 of The Cordial Bride

A natural tease, then. Ian didn’t mind the boy’s boldness. Nor did his dick, which boldly demanded to be let out to play. He mashed the collection basket against his groin to keep it in check. Hard to do, of course, with Calan leading the way, his small backside visible even with his tunic hanging past his waist. To keep himself under control, Ian focused on what the boy was gathering and the tutorial as to why.

The forest turned out to be a veritable marketplace of medicinals—or the raw ingredients that would turn them into such. Calan stopped frequently to gather fungi, plants, tubers and bark. He didn’t hesitate in his journey, knowing where he wanted to go, and his sure movements in collecting his specimens confirmed that this was a frequent task. Ian wondered if Celia ever did this herself or had she become dependent on her nephew to labor on her behalf. If so, it would explain her hostile looks thrown in Ian’s direction. When Calan had told the woman that Ian would be coming with him, her fury had been barely banked. It occurred to him now, too, that perhaps the woman was worried that Calan would give away the secret to the woman’s new and miraculous cordial. If so, Ian wanted to put that fear to rest. Isabeau was tasked with making a treaty to obtain the medicine. He wasn’t there as a spy or a thief.

The next time Calan stopped to pluck something up, Ian knelt down next to him. “I trust you know I’m here today to spend time with you because I want you and not as a ploy to pry information out of you.”

Calan stopped mid-snip and stared at him. “Of course I do. It never occurred to me that you have ulterior motives. And I wouldn’t tell you my people’s secrets, anyway. The treaty will be of too great a benefit to them for me to give away that which can be bartered.”

When the boy looked down again, obviously uncomfortable with the topic, Ian put the food basket down in order to lift Calan’s chin with the side of his finger. “And I would never ask you to do otherwise. Let us agree that we are leaving politics to the politicians while taking some time to please ourselves.”

To emphasize his point, Ian gave in to the urge to show the boy some affection. He leaned in to kiss him, intending to keep it light as he had the night before. One touch of their lips, however, broke his control. Dropping the other basket, he hauled Calan in to deepen the kiss. He attacked the boy’s mouth as it was meant to be, pressing his tongue inside to taste and conquer. Calan squeaked and stiffened for only a moment before melting into his embrace. Far from being passive, the boy embraced Ian and poured his own passion into the kiss. Before he knew what was happening, Ian found himself sprawled against a nearby tree, Calan in his lap, their bodies pressed together.

Ian’s hard cock clashed into Calan’s. The obvious sign of the boy’s arousal goosed his own, and Ian couldn’t resist humping their dicks together. For him, it was merely a way to prime himself for what was to come later. For an untried boy like Calan, the movement proved too much. With a cry muffled by Ian’s move, the boy first stiffened, then shuddered as his climax shot through him. Ian held on to him tightly and deepened the kiss, swallowing the sound he wrung out of the boy and using his body to drain him dry.

When it was over, Calan broke the kiss and collapsed into him, his head resting against Ian’s chest and breathing as if he’d run a long distance. “Oh my, that was…overwhelming.” He panted out the words and clutched at Ian’s tunic.

Ian kissed the top of the boy’s head. “Apologies, dear boy. I didn’t mean to take it that far so soon.”

A strangled giggle tore out of Calan. “No apologies needed. It was amazing, although I’m going to need to wash out my trousers before returning home.” He lifted his head, his eyes gleaming. “Fortunately, the place I have picked out for our break will permit me to do so.” His gaze dropped. “I think our work here is not quite done. You need…”

Ian grabbed Calan’s hand before he wormed it between their bodies. “Not necessary. There’s plenty of time for me, and the waiting makes it all the more pleasurable.”

Calan pouted in obvious disappointment. “You have more willpower than I do, apparently.”

“The function of experience and age. I don’t have as many orgasms in me as you do on any given day, darling. I like to use up my quota sparingly.”

Calan ran his fingers down Ian’s cheek. It was like the touch of a butterfly and sent delicious shivers down his spine. “You are hardly old.” He moved his hand down to press it against one of Ian’s pecs. “And you are very strong—yet also gentle.”

Ian roamed his own hands up and down Calan’s slender back. “I try to always be careful with those weaker than myself. I will never use my strength to hurt you, Calan.” He wasn’t sure why he felt the need to say that. There was something vulnerable about this boy. He brought out Ian’s protective instincts just as much as Isabeau and Amalie did.

“I’m not afraid of you.”

“Good.” Ian tucked a few strands of hair that he’d inadvertently tugged from the braid behind Calan’s ear. “Always remember that when it comes to what we do together, you are in control. We go at your pace and do only what you are comfortable with.”

“Oh.” Calan sighed and his face took on a dreamy look. “I want to do it all in what little time we have with each other.”

Ignoring the unexpected jolt he felt at the reminder of how short his visit was going to be, Ian gave Calan a reassuring smile. “And so we shall. Now, we should continue.”

As hard as it was to let go of the warm bundle in his lap, Ian lifted Calan off him and helped him to his feet as he stood himself. He brushed the leaves and dirt off his backside and tried not to look at Calan’s debauched lips. It was entirely too hard to resist the boy and to risk the temptation. Some of the items had spilled from the basket when he’d dropped it. He quickly put everything to rights and nodded. “What’s next?”

Calan had an impish look on his face when he opened his mouth, then with a shrug, turned sober. “This way.”

It was more of the same, except Calan’s pace increased and he gathered fewer items. They broke free of the tree line to a gleaming lake before them. It took a moment to recognize the spot was the one where he’d first spied Calan on the journey into Shadow Valley.

Calan stopped beside a natural path that led up to the top of the overhanging rock. “How about a swim before we eat?”

“An excellent idea.” Ian put the baskets down and nearly stumbled as he caught sight of Calan stripping.

Of course, they needed to take off their clothing before entering the lake, but despite his vast experience with men and his previous viewing of Calan’s body, he wasn’t prepared for the staggering effect of seeing him naked up close. The boy’s body was perfectly proportioned, his limbs slender and toned, his ass tight and pert and his cock…utterly delicious looking as it jutted out with renewed arousal.

Calan stood peering back at him with a sly expression. “Aren’t you going to take off your clothes?”

Ian nodded. “As soon as I can manage to do so without tripping over my tongue. You are a veritable feast, my dear, for my eyes.”

“You have me at a disadvantage, my lord.”

“Ah. My apologies.” Ian unbuckled his sword belt and put it near the baskets before yanking off his tunic. This he tossed with less care, as he did with his boots and trousers. Soon, he stood as naked and aroused as Calan. He watched the boy taking in the sight of him, hoping his large physique and dick weren’t overwhelming.

Calan licked his lower lip before saying, “You are everything I imagined my first lover to be. I want to touch you all over.”

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