Page 111 of Dragon Slayer

He did, slow and uncertain at first, but he took up the soap and the cloth and applied himself to the task. Recalling Arslan: “Do…do you want me to wash your hair?”

Mehmet hummed and tipped his head back, eyes shut, expectant and trusting.

Val wet it first, using the pitcher at the base of the tub; the reddish curls turned black when wet. He worked up a lather between his hands, and applied it as he would to himself, fingertips working in circles, massaging the sultan’s scalp.

Mehmet let out a quiet purr and went boneless, shoulders slumping against the edge of the tub. “You’re very good at that,” he said after a while, voice low and rich with pleasure. “You’d make an excellent slave.”

Val stilled.

Mehmet chuckled. “Rest assured. I know you are a prince, and a prince you shall stay. I’m only making an observation.”

Val resumed his work, worrying snarls loose with his fingertips.

“I saw your brother today.” Light, airy.

Val kept working; forced himself not to react.

“He was coming in from a ride. Lathered one of my nicer geldings.” Hetsked. “He was his usual gloomy, uninspiring self. I’ve never seen someone withsucha stick shoved up his ass. His constant expression is that of someone with the most terrible stomach cramps.” He tipped his head. “To the left, just behind my ear – yes, there.” A deep sigh; he slipped down a little farther in the soapy water that was, nevertheless, clear enough for Val to make out the sultan’s hardening cock beneath the water. It had begun to curl up toward his stomach; threatened to breach the surface.

“I must tell you, Radu,” Mehmet continued, eyes still shut, legs stretched out as far as the tub would allow. “And I don’t say this to hurt you – far from it. If anything, I wish to spare your feelings. It’ll be easier if you begin to adjust to this idea now, while you’re young. Hurts carried into manhood can be crippling, you know.

“Anyway, your brother. He didn’t ask after you. Not even once.” He cracked one eye open, green as spruce needles, calculating. Its weight pinned Val in place, his hands sunk in the sultan’s hair. “Vlad didn’t ask after you,” he repeated, slower. Trying to press the point home. “I know you love your brother, but he doesn’t return that sentiment. I’ve seen you worry after him, trying your best to be a good brother to him. You’re heartbreakingly sweet, aren’t you? But it would be best, for your sake, if you gave up on him. He will never feel the same. He will never love you as he should. You’ll only get yourself hurt trying to save him.”

Val dropped his head; he couldn’t look at him anymore, stared instead down at the surface of the water. Droplets splashed down, rippling its surface, and he realized he was crying. Silent, relentless tears that poured down his face; it was like someone had upended cups down his cheeks.

Mehmet sat up, and took Val’s wrists gently in his hands, lowering them out of his hair and to the water. “Radu,” he said, softly. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have told you.”

Val pulled in a shuddering breath through his mouth and tasted salt. He closed his eyes…but he couldn’t stem the flow of tears. They had built for so long, for so many reasons. This was merely the tipping point.

“There, it’s alright,” Mehmet said. His hands slid up Val’s arms, over the bunched, damp-edged sleeves of his robe. Up his shoulders, down over his collarbones, their sharp shapes beneath the silk. Down his chest, his belly, to the ties at his waist. An expert flick of his wrist and the robe fell open. The chill air of the bedchamber whispered over Val’s skin, teasing his nipples to points.

He gasped and opened his eyes as Mehmet’s warm, callused hand moved over the bare skin of stomach. “Here,” the sultan murmured, and with his free hand took hold of Val’s wrist again. Drew him down, pulled his hand beneath the water. Guided his fingers right where he wanted them. “Let me show you something.”

Simple touch seemed to content him at first, his eyes fluttering shut, his mouth falling open on a deep groan. But Val’s hand was small, and inexpert, and eventually Mehmet pushed the loose robe off his shoulders and pulled him into the bath with him, to sit in his lap.

At least, Val thought to himself, he knew what to expect now.

---