Page 25 of Rifted Hearts
Kaveh paused a moment before replying. The true answer was that his adoptive clan had expanded the Saguaro Rift and could take over even more territory, a new power that had the potential to dramatically impact human and Riftworld interactions. No other clan had this kind of knowledge, and it needed to remain a secret. He knew littleenough about it, as only a few members in the clan understood the Riftworld technology involved. Rhys had once confided to him that a crucial component of the system, an artifact known as the control object, had been placed in the phantoms’ territory deep inside the base for safekeeping.
“I’m not sure.” That sounded lame even to his ears. “There’s a lot about how rifts form and behave no one understands.”
Remi seemed satisfied enough with that explanation, and Kaveh spent the remainder of the ride pointing out the desert plant life and explaining how the indigenous cultures of the region used them to survive in the harsh climate.
They reached the picnic spot and tied up the horses. Kaveh had put together the meal last night from pantry staples and the fresh food he had on hand. After putting a tablecloth over the picnic table at the site, he spread out a mix of foods he loved, including a Persian salad with tomatoes and cucumbers, Caramelo tacos with a variety of local salsas, and pan dulce for dessert.
“I can’t handle that you’re an awesome cook on top of everything else.” Remi sat back with a groan half an hour later, after polishing off a good portion of the picnic offerings. He hovered his hand over the last Mexican pastry on the plate, but Lyall stuck his nose in and gulped it down while Remi was trying to decide if he wasn’t too full to eat it. “You’re smart, sexy, and you can cook Persian-Southwest fusion, if that’s even a thing.”
Kaveh shifted in his seat, ever uncomfortable with praise. “I’m glad you like it. The restaurant last night was awfully pricey. This is pretty simple stuff.”
“But you made it by yourself, for me.” Remi waved at the brilliant sunshine and the base silhouetted against the glimmering colors of the rift. “And it’s lunch with a view. I gettaken out to restaurants all the time. None of my dates has ever set up a romantic picnic on horseback for me.”
“I’m doing well with my dating lessons, then?” Kaveh took a sip of the mint-and-cucumber water, trying to cover up his uncertainty about where this pretend date was going. He should be focusing on finding the spouse the Matchmaker had chosen for him, but he wasn’t sure he was ready for another fraught conversation with a friend right now. It was easier to sit here and chat with Remi, who understood the Matchmaker and knew Kaveh was a drakone. He hadn’t realized talking to someone else with a Riftworld background who lived in the human world would be so freeing.
Remi raised his eyebrows. “A minus.”
“Can I raise my grade with an extra credit assignment?” Kaveh truly had no idea how to flirt, but Remi nodded, laughing, so he guessed he had got it right.
“Let’s walk off lunch.” Remi stood up and stretched, then walked around the table to take Kaveh’s hand. He gave his terrier a meaningful look.
Lyall gave a short huff then trotted off to join the horses in the shade.
It was a mild spring day, nothing like the searing heat of summer, but Kaveh felt overly warm all of a sudden. Remi wrapped his slender fingers around his, and the touch felt electric.
They didn’t go far, only up an incline to another vantage point that gave them a different view of the rift. There was a boulder with a flat top that made a natural bench of sorts, and they sat down on it, Remi’s thigh pressing against Kaveh’s.
“It’s a pretty spot.” Remi angled his head toward the shimmering colors stretching up into the sky, but his eyes never left Kaveh’s. A smile played around his lips. “But I’mnot sure if it’s worth extra credit on your fake dating report card.”
“I could kiss you.” Kaveh thought that was what Remi wanted, but he didn’t want to assume anything.
Remi moved in to press his lips against Kaveh’s so fast he misjudged and they bumped noses instead. They both laughed, and Kaveh reached around to put a steadying hand behind Remi’s head, pulling him in close.
It ended up rougher than he had planned. It had been a long time since he had touched anyone in a romantic way. He had only ever been with Rhys, who never much liked kissing, even though Kaveh enjoyed it. His former partner had particularly disliked Kaveh being dominant in any way in their lovemaking.
But Remi melted into the kiss. His lips parted, open and inviting, and he moaned into Kaveh’s mouth.
Kaveh intertwined his fingers into Remi’s hair, enjoying the silky feel of it against his skin. He half pulled the streamer onto his lap, another maneuver that would have made Rhys furious, but Remi only deepened the kiss. Their tongues met, warm and seeking, and Kaveh felt his arousal grow as Remi ground his hips into him.
It had never been this way with Rhys, long and drawn out, with slow and sensuous movements. Remi kissed as if there was nothing more important in the world than the contact between the two of them.
They both needed to breathe at some point though.
Kaveh pulled back a fraction to take in air. “I love the way you kiss.”
“Well, you’re certainly getting an A in my class.” Remi gasped that out before pressing more kisses against Kaveh’s neck and jawline. “Do you want to do more? I want to tasteyou everywhere. I haven’t been able to think about anything else.”
“I’d like that.” Kaveh barely got the words out before Remi slid lower, pulling up Kaveh’s shirt and licking down his chest. He wasn’t quite sure how Remi got past the combined barriers of his belt buckle, button, and zipper so quickly.
Remi gazed up at him, the pupils of his eyes so wide with arousal his blue eyes appeared almost black. “Do you like oral? I mean, most people do, but I need to be sure.”
“Rhys never wanted—” Kaveh wished he could bite back the words. It didn’t matter how Rhys had focused so intently on being the dominant partner both physically and emotionally. His intimacy with Remi was what mattered now, not bringing up a relationship that had died years ago. “If you’re sure you’d like it.”
“I’m positive about two things.” Remi leaned forward to drag his tongue over Kaveh’s shaft, and all rational thought evaporated from Kaveh’s brain. “I’m much better than your ex could even dream of being at this, and I’m already loving it.”
He took all of Kaveh at once, and the surge of pleasure from the warm heat of his mouth was overwhelming. Remi hadn’t been merely boastful about his talents. The sensations piled up, and all too quickly the pleasure of climax swept over him. He tried to get out an inarticulate warning in case his partner wanted to pull away.
Remi did for a moment, before plunging back down. Kaveh climaxed so hard his vision whited out. The streamer had undone the top of his own jeans as well, so Kaveh reached down to stroke him into a release that followed a few seconds later.
