Page 25 of Over the Emerald Valley
“You’re not.”
“You’re right.” Temaj cuddled in, took a breath, and closed his eyes. “Let’s go to sleep and dream of romance.”
“As you say.”
A soft quiet swelled between them. Temaj enjoyed the steady rise and fall of Solon’s chest, the pitter-pat of his heartbeat, the warmth he emitted. For a long while, he lay awake, fighting sleep to bask as long as he could in the comfort of the general’s arm over his side.
Solon’s breathing grew slow and even. Then he snored.
Temaj, showing great restraint, resisted the urge to wake him up just to say, “I told you so.”
CHAPTER8
Solon
Tangledin both the sheets and Temaj’s long legs, Solon came awake by degrees. Remarkably, his neck and shoulders weren’t as stiff as usual. The massage was to thank for that small miracle.
Temaj was plastered to his side, half on top of him, the heated skin of his inner thigh trapping Solon’s optimistic cock beneath it. Awaking with an erection wasn’t unusual, but a sleeping bedmate, naked and pleasantly warm, was.
Their room and the palace beyond remained quiet. Temaj’s even breathing and the songs of desert birds were the only sounds. Morning light poured through the thin fabric hung over the window, promising another sun-filled day.
No drool today. Not that he’d minded before. He’d just enjoyed teasing Temaj.
Solon wasn’t in a hurry to rise. Besides, no one here seemed to be in the habit of getting up early. And he’d prefer to will away his cock’s eagerness before disturbing Temaj.
But no such luck. Temaj stirred against him, the muscles of his stomach stretching and flexing against Solon’s forearm, which was also trapped.
Solon shifted to hide his erection before Temaj noticed. No such luck there either.
“Good morning, General. And, Little General,” said Temaj as he pressed his thigh against the traitorous organ. “Maybe not so little. Have you been up long?” Temaj snickered.
“To which of us have you addressed the question?”
“Either? No, both. Wait, don’t tell me. Him first, then you?”
Solon gently shoved the smaller man off in an attempt to retain whatever dignity he still possessed.
Temaj lay giggling next to him, stretching again, arms reaching overhead. He yawned. “It’s normal, you know. To wake up in such a state.” Temaj flopped back into the very spot Solon had moved him from, placing a hand on Solon’s hip precariously close to his assumed target.
A shiver of delight fluttered low in Solon’s stomach. His cock responded as well, twitching as if to reach for those tempting, questing fingers.
“May I touch you?” Temaj’s voice came out low and husky from sleep, dancing to Solon’s ears, even as his fingers crept over his abdomen.
“You are touching me. Practically everywhere.”
“So I am, except for the exact place I’d like to be touching you. May I wrap my hand around your cock? I want to.”
By the gods, Solon wanted that. How long could he continue to resist the slave’s infinite charms? But desire alone didn’t make it right.
“Temaj—”
“Don’t say no. Or rather, if you do say no, say it only because you genuinely don’t want me to touch you. Not because you think I’m somehow less than you because of my station in this palace.”
“I don’t think you’re less than me. Quite the opposite.” Solon hated he’d made Temaj feel that way. “You’re obviously the sort of man anyone would be a fool not to desire.”
“And you’re no fool. So you must desire me.” Temaj swirled his fingertips over the sensitive skin of Solon’s hip. “Let me.”
“How easily you trap me with your words.”
