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swirl of stars, and Joel s hand was strong and cradling on the back of his head, fingertips
like spots of light on his scalp. A sense of enormous relief overcame Kai, as though this
were a purging of some illness, after which he could hope to be stronger. Great Star
Spirit, they lied. They lied about everything. To be frozen is not to be powerful, but only
to be brittle.
He sniffed, the ocean of tears within lowered by a measurable level, and finally
approached what he had been trying to say all along. I will always regret not seeing that
sooner. Not seeing it in time. But I see you, Joel Wilson. I see the hand you offer to me,
and for as long as you hold it out, I will take it and hold it with all the power in me. It is
not a mistake I mean to make twice. I will not chase after novelty or vain delight when I
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have the one thing here I have been searching for all my life. You do ill to judge me by
the standards of my kind.
Joel s eyes widened and his fingers moved deliciously in Kjartan s hair, solid and
caressing and tender. The human s face was caught between sympathy and incredulous
joy when Kjartan leaned in and kissed him, slow and sure and deep.
I cannot make you immortal, or me mortal, he said, dismissing that thought as
unimportant, so let us enjoy the time we have together. You have made me free, and I
will never forget my debt or the love I feel for you. You will be remembered as long as
the world endures, Joel Wilson. So you had better start giving me something astonishing
to look back on, so that for all eternity, when I scream a name, it will be yours.
Joel s pity burned away like morning mist under the words. He gave a cocksure
smile, all the more charming because it was so obviously fake, and pushed Kjartan down
on the bed. Then prepare to have your world rocked, your highness.
Sex was not new to Kjartan it was one of many weapons in the gladiatorial arena of
court life. It had been used against him before he learned in mere self-defence what he
could do with its edge himself. But this was as alien to those cold couplings as Joel was
himself.
Joel knelt astride him, too heavy for any partner Kjartan had ever had before. He
peeled Kjartan s clothes off so carefully, as though he were unwrapping something
precious, and he smiled so. The touch of his hands on Kjartan s bare skin was almost
reverent. The sensation was like sex, a drag of smooth arousal, an uncoiling of pleasure in
his stomach, but the touch held something utterly unfamiliar. It made him feel cherished.
Closing his eyes, he allowed himself to be bared all over to those long, wondering
caresses, as Joel mapped him with his fingers.
I am glad you were shy in the shower, and did not do this then. Opening his eyes
caught Joel s look of wonder and humour, his good heart showing out in his face, making
him strangely beautiful, for a human.
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I wanted to. Joel smiled and picked up Kjartan s hand, where it lay beside him on
the bedclothes, relaxed and open to receive Joel s worship in whatever way he chose to
give it.
I even guessed you d let me, if I tried. But you were alone and hurt. What kind of a
git would I have been to take advantage of that? He laid a kiss on Kjartan s palm and
then pressed it to his own shirt, giving an encouraging tug.
Oh, he wanted Kjartan to be a little more involved? Another novelty, for it was not
Kjartan s place to handle another s clothes like a valet. Well, it was too late now for
Kjartan to stand on ceremony. He tugged the T-shirt up and off, and laughed to find no
one telling him he shouldn t. There was no one here to look down on him for stooping to
such lowly work. No one here but Joel, who did not despise him at all, but was still
looking at him as though he was an answer to prayer.
I expected you to take advantage, yes. Then I would have thought myself justified
in taking anything I needed from you. When I woke up healed in the morning, you would
have found even those few poor things you still possessed gone, and me with them.
He reached up and touched his own hands to Joel s skin. Oh. So warm, the skin soft
over hard muscles, a drag of sparse hair curling on his chest. He leaned up to close the
distance between them and feel that hair scratch teasingly across his nipples. His face
ached from grinning.
At the shift of position, Joel caught him around the waist, his strong arms supporting
him. The man tipped his head forward so he could kiss the juncture of his throat and
nuzzle along his shoulder. I would have deserved it.
Joel raised his head, looking thoughtful, disturbed. His hands paused in the long
sweeps they had been making along Kjartan s back. They had started at the waist,
explored up to his shoulders and were now making their way down towards his arse. He
didn t approve of having that trajectory interrupted. You would.
But it s all right now? I mean you are& this does seem& nervously inarticulate,
Joel nodded at the rucked-up bed linens, the scattered clothes, & like permission. Isn t
it?
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Kjartan caught his worried mouth with his own and kissed like he could taste the
sweet inside of him. He left his smile on Joel s face when he pulled back. I didn t want
to have sex with you. But now that I know you, I want very much to make love. Is it done
much differently?
Joel s laughter lit him up, made Kjartan touch him again as if Joel were a well of life
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