Warning: Reader discretion is advised. Parental guidance suggested. Adult language and sexual situations, consensual alternative sexual behaviors, nudity.
The rising sun is warm on his bare shoulders as he jogs lightly along the beach, just out of reach of the gentle waves sliding softly up the white sands. The harsh call of gulls mingles with the sush-sush of the waves, the soft thud of his feet, his guards thudding along at a respectful distance behind and the murmur of their voices into their com links.
Tyr smiles, lifting his face to the warm breeze, breathing in the sharp salt scent of the ocean as he circles around to jog back to his home. The beachfront house that he shares with Harper looks small in the distance, a shimmer of pale wood tucked into the edge of white dunes. He has an easy life now and is able to share that ease with Harper. His smile deepens, remembering the delighted excitement on Harper’s face when the human saw their home for the first time.
Tyr picks up his pace as he heads back. He feels almost young again, running along the edge of the beach, as long as he doesn’t glance over his shoulder at the guards running along behind him. Every new guard that Tamerlane sends seems younger than the last one.
Young. Hmph. Not a term one can apply to him…not anymore. So many years have passed. His children are all grown now with families of their own. Harper and he have only just returned home after the bonding of his only daughter to the First Son of Massai-Seminole Pride. Her mothers were very pleased with the match. Diana and Cerys had spent years grooming the child for this marriage. He is pleased enough with the match which will suit his daughter’s political ambitions but the young Massai is more of a fop than his own brother-in-law Charlemagne. Still if the boy has even half of Charlemagne’s shrewdness, the match will work out well enough and if not...Tyr chuckles. He has no doubt who will be the Alpha in that match if the boy’s mild manner is not mere facade. At least, his sons have chosen well. They had provided him with many strong grandchildren. Pride Kodiak is no longer extinct. It thrives. Tyr had honored the memory of his parents Victoria and Barbarossa.
Too bad Harper’s children have not yet shown any inclination to reproduce and pass on his shield brother’s brilliant genes. Zoë seems to have inherited all of her father’s genius but she isn’t getting any younger despite Harper’s defensive protests that she is still a child and has plenty of time left for the importance task of bearing children. Zoë’s mother who should have had more sense about such things was equally defensive about her daughter’s procrastination. And Rhys…well, the boy seems sharp enough although lacking Harper’s engineering genius, but if Rhys would just apply himself with the right girl, the boy could still pass on Harper’s brilliance. But Rhys had shown no more interest than his sister in providing Harper or their mother with grandchildren
Tyr inhales deeply and increases his pace still more. The call of the gulls and the lapping of the water against the shore, the refreshing crispness of the salt air all speak to him of his shieldbrother…of Harper. Harper has remained by his side through all these years. Harper will be rising soon and perhaps waiting to share a shower before the morning meal. His cock rises hopefully beneath his navy jogging pants. Tyr spares a glance over his shoulder. His guards are still keeping a respectful distance. He smiles as he hears one of them speak quietly into his communicator indicating that they are about to return home. His pace is not testing any of them, but that is just as well. He doesn’t feel the urge to sprint this morning.
The beach house expands into lavish dimensions, as he gets closer to it. He had tried to convince Tamerlane that he and Harper did not need such lavish accommodations but his youngest son had insisted, citing the need to house what Tamerlane considered adequate numbers of servants and security. The full staff had been irritatingly underfoot in the early years; every time he went into the kitchen to cook, a servant would pop-up, offering to do it for him. Finally he and Harper had grown accustomed to the hovering presence and the staff had learned to be as unobtrusive as ghosts. He had come to like the idea of Harper, safely surrounded by highly trained, armed Nietzscheans who knew exactly what would happen to them if they failed the human. As long as the guards kept their distance…although there had been one or three that…well, he had not liked the intrigued way that they had looked at Harper, the way they seemed to intentionally place themselves in Harper’s path. Those had swiftly found themselves coldly dismissed from his household.
He is willing to tolerate the extra security to keep Harper safe and ease his sons’ minds but the guards can be damned nuisances. He would have much preferred to run completely alone on his beach. Neither he nor Harper could go anywhere without the guards. Of course, that isn’t a bad thing in Harper’s case. Harper, even now, has a way of finding any mischief going on. But in, his case, while he may be a little slower these days but he is still no easy target.
Tyr glances at the ocean, admiring the rich blue; it reminds him of Harper’s eyes. He had personally selected this stretch of beach for their home to cater to Harper’s desire to live near an ocean. He had carefully reviewed the area for a spot where the surf was gentle and easy and not at all suited to surfing. The Little Professor still swam daily in the clear blue water but Harper finally ceased his suicidal hobby after a particularly nasty spill had caused an injury that had the whole family in an uproar. That memory still pierces him to the heart…of Harper lying pale and frighteningly limp in his arms as he carried the human out of the water. The stricken silence on the shore erupting into a cacophony and sudden motion as Rhys and Zoë fought their way through the surf to him. His sons protectively shadowing their siblings, shielding their more delicate bodies from the rough water as they converged on him and Harper. The mothers snarling instructions at the useless batch of bodyguards as he carried his small shield brother to the shore.
His heartbeat speeds up as he sees his shieldbrother waiting on the deck for him. Even after all these years together, he cannot look at Harper without wanting him. Harper is leaning against the doorframe. A dark blue terry cloth robe is wrapped loosely around him, partly baring the pale skin of his chest. The blond hair is lightly frosted with silver and still tousled from sleep. Harper has allowed his unruly hair to grow longer over the years. It suits him. The human cradles a steaming cup of what can only be coffee in both hands. Tyr sprints the last few yards and darts lightly up the steps from the white sands of the beach to the deck just to display subtly for his mate. The human makes him feel as powerful and strong as a youth in his prime.
“Not bad for an old man.” Harper’s gaze lingers on the long dreads, now more silver than black, but arresting still, framing the strong dark angles of Tyr’s face and flowing over wide shoulders heavy with muscle, the delicious contours of muscled chest and narrow waist. His lover only seemed to grow more beautiful and virile with the passing years. Harper’s smile deepens as he notices the solid bulge filling the front of Tyr’s exercise pants. He lifts his face for his kiss, holding his coffee cup out of the way.
Tyr pulls his mate to him, sinking luxuriously into the human’s cool mouth for a long kiss. His hips tilt, pressing ardently against his lover. “Who is old, Mr. Harper? Certainly not I.”
“Of course not, what was I thinking? Time stands still for Tyr Anasazi. Come inside.” Harper eases out of the embrace and leads Tyr inside, sliding the door closed as the guards disperse to take up positions outside. The beach run seems to have improved his lover’s mood. Tyr had been decidedly broody lately. “It’s too chilly to eat breakfast on the deck this morning.”
“Shower first.” Tyr traces his fingers down the line of Harper’s throat, smiling knowingly as his fingertips rest lightly over the quick pulse. “Join me?”
“In a minute.” Harper steps back, his blue eyes gleaming with mischief. He lifts his cup. “I want to finish my coffee first.”
“Is that Zoë’s gift?” Tyr inhales, testing the deceptively mellow scent rising from the coffee cup. The scent gave no hint of the appallingly high caffeine content contained by the rich gourmet blend. Both of Harper’s children were addicted to it and had decided to share the stuff with their father when Harper began griping about his dietary restrictions in general and the Sparky shortfall in particular.
He’d only left Harper alone with Zoë and Rhys for a mere hour while he, Diana, and Charlemagne had a few…words with the boy who was going to be Coupling with his only daughter. Leaving the Harper trio alone had seemed safe enough. After all, his own sons were there to intervene if any…incident occurred. Incidents tended to happen even with one Harper around, when three Harpers were around…well, an intelligent man took precautions. He had returned to the Coupling Chamber to find the Harpers grouped innocuously around the buffet table, sipping coffee with a disturbingly gleeful air. Then his Shield Brother had turned with a delighted smile to tell him about the wonderful new coffee that Zoë and Rhys had discovered.
Harper smiles over the rim of his cup as he savors another sip. “Yep Talerian Blend. Only found on Taleria. Still handpicked in the mountains of the southern continent.”
Tyr chuckles. “Your daughter spoils you.”
“It’s a bribe, and you know it. She’s probably hoping I’ll keep her mother off her back about bonding with…with…what was the kid’s name?” Harper frowns as he stares up at the ceiling. What the hell was the boys’ name? He just can’t remember. Maybe she’ll dump this kid too. Wouldn’t be the first time that things had gotten that far and his Zoë had taken off. Be a relief if the girl did the same thing this time. What she could possibly see in that vapid boy…what the hell was the kid’s name? Harper sighs, giving his lover an inquiring look.
“I have no idea. I can’t remember the name of the last one she turned down.” Tyr shakes his head in disapproval. The girl should have begun reproducing long ago. She had certainly had plenty of opportunity and been exposed to any number of suitable Alphas. She did not have to go through a Coupling ceremony to reproduce if the idea of making a commitment was holding her back. Only a sanctioned lover was required for that. “She’s not getting any younger.”
“Tyr, she’s still a baby.”
“Your ‘baby’ has a degree in…something or other,” Tyr waves a hand dismissively as he pretends to forget, “and teaches at the All Systems University.”
“Astrophysics with a concentration in SlipStream Dynamics.” Harper beams proudly. He takes another sip of coffee holding the cup between his palms.
“Finish your coffee, little man. But don’t take too long.” Tyr growls softly. His hand slides down his bare stomach to the swell of his cock.
Harper chuckles. He sets the cup on a table and steps closer, cupping his hand over Tyr’s. “Didn’t I just take care of that when you woke up this morning?”
“That was almost two hours ago.” Tyr slides his arms around the human and claims another long, slow kiss.
Harper writhes sensually as the pleasure of Tyr’s touch burns through him. His hands slide up the damp velvet skin to tangle in the long, silver braids. “You, Mr. Anasazi, have a one track mind.”
“And who is to blame for the track my mind takes, Mr. Harper?” Tyr pushes the blue robe back, baring a delectable section of shoulder and throat. His hand lingers over the cool, silken skin.
“You can’t blame me for your Über libido.” Harper snipes playfully, his eyes half closing as the plush heat of Tyr’s hand slides down his chest.
Tyr growls sensually as he bends to nuzzle Harper’s pale throat. His mouth closes over the dataport, making his lover arch urgently against him. “You know how excited I get when you call me that.”
“Über.” Harper murmurs sensually then bites the Nietzschean’s earlobe sharply.
Tyr moans throatily. His hands slid down the human’s back to cup greedily over the muscular curves of Harper’s ass. “I want you, Seamus.”
“I’ll join you soon.” Harper promises with a kiss. He watches with a mysterious smile as Tyr reluctantly releases him and turns to walks toward their suite of rooms.
Harper turns back to the table and opens a drawer. He pulls out a communication orb. He picks up his coffee and settles himself in a white wicker chair, leaning comfortably back against the thick yellow cushions. Harper touches the orb and the shimmering images of his two boys appear above it. Bellerophon and Chimaera are adult men in their prime now, strong and confident. They smile warmly at him.
“Harper! It’s been too long.” Bellerophon nods. His dark brown eyes sweep over Harper with concern. “Are you well? How is father?”
Harper leans closer and lowers his voice. “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”
“Tell us that what we’ve heard is not true.” Chimaera arches an eyebrow and sighs.
Harper takes a sip of his coffee. He eyes the boys thoughtfully. Have they heard the rumor that he carefully planted to get their attention? “That depends on what you’ve heard.”
Bellerophon frowns in disapproval. “Father is thinking of taking a…job…for an old employer.”
“Ummm…I’m afraid that’s true.” Harper summons up a grave expression.
Chimaera waves a hand dismissively. “Tell him he can’t go. He’s much too old for that sort of thing.”
“I’ve tried.” Harper puts a mournful note in his voice. He lowers his eyes to hide his amusement. He can’t wait to see Tyr’s face when the boys show up and tell him he’s too old to go on an adventure. Mental note to self: Be sure to tell the servants to remove all breakables from the living room. Harper sighs loudly and looks at his boys with an air of helpless resignation. “You know how he gets when he’s set his mind to do something. He refuses to listen to me.”
Chimaera rolls his eyes. His deep voice is sharp with irritation. “What makes him think he can still take a job as an assassin? He doesn’t need the money? He doesn’t have to prove anything. Why is he doing this?”
“I’ve asked. I don’t even think he knows.” Hmm. He was hoping that they wouldn’t ask that. He better cut this short before they think of another awkward question. Harper glances furtively over his shoulder and lowers his voice to a whisper. “He’s coming. I’ve gotta go.”
“Wait, Harper, is there something we can do?” Bellerophon asks, leaning closer. His strong hand reaches out as if to touch Harper’s shoulder.
Harper hides a smile behind his coffee cup. “Do you think you and your brothers could talk to him…in person?”
“Of course.” Bellerophon nods. He trades a determined glance with his brother. “We’ll come as soon as we can.”
Perhaps he ought to add a note of urgency to this or some political thing will come up and the boys will put off visiting them again. He is not having Tyr brooding all over the beach and house because the boys don’t visit often enough to suit him. “That will be great. He’s not telling me how soon he plans to leave.”
Chimaera pushes his long hair over his shoulder. “We’ll notify you when we’ll arrive.”
“No. No need for that.” Harper makes a show of glancing warily over his shoulder again. “I don’t want him to know that I’ve contacted you. A surprise visit might be best.”
“We understand. We’ll see you soon,” Bellerophon promises grimly.
The orb blinks off. Harper picks it up and tucks it away in the drawer again. No need to draw Tyr’s curiosity by leaving it out.
Much later that evening….
“Seeeeaaaamus!” Tyr groans long and low as he collapses, panting raggedly, onto Harper’s chest. His weight presses the human down into the wide bed.
Harper smirks as he runs his fingers through the silver braids, sweeping the hair back from his lover’s dark face. “Yes?”
Tyr nuzzles the human’s damp chest as he gasps. “That was…that was…”
“Stupendous, earth shattering, mesmerizing…pick the adjective of your choice.” Harper fills his hands with the long braids and pulls Tyr down for a long, savoring kiss.
“All of the above.” Tyr looks down into his lover’s face. He strokes back soft, blond hair and drops a kiss on Harper’s forehead. “And before you say it; I already know…The Harper is good.”
“I knew I’d get you trained one day.” Harper chuckles and slides his hands over the hard muscles of Tyr’s back.
Tyr eases gently away and rolls over onto his back, pulling Harper close to cuddle. “You’ve ‘trained’ me, have you?”
“I certainly have.” Harper curves his arm possessively over the dark, damp velvet skin of Tyr’s chest. His fingertip traces the circle of one chocolate nipple.
“I had no idea I was so easily managed.” Tyr whispers against Harper’s dataport. He nibbles teasingly at the sensitive skin then his mouth settles, hot and damp, over it.
Harper shudders, clutching at his lover. Oh, yeah. Oooh, man. Tyr knows how crazy desperate that still makes him. “I never said it was easy.”
“Good.” Tyr licks the vivid passion mark that he just raised on the pale skin of Harper’s throat.
Harper kisses the hard contours of his lover’s chest, pausing to nibble delicately at tight, dusky nipples. “Well, you don’t have to sound so smug.”
Tyr brushes his lips over Harper’s soft locks, cradling the cool, compact body close. “I’m not smug…just confident. Now sleep.”
Harper stifles a yawn, snuggling closer. “Is that an order?”
“Shhhhh.”
Harper presses his face into the curve of Tyr’s throat and shoulder. His eyes flutter closed. Ummm. Tyr is tensing up again. Just when he thought that he had his lover all relaxed and ready for sleep. “What’s the matter?”
“Nothing. I’m just thinking.” Tyr runs a soothing hand down Harper’s back. He reaches out, pulling the pale blue sheets closer and tucking them around the human.
“About what?”
“Nothing.”
Harper opens his eyes. He presses a soft kiss on Tyr’s shoulder. Is Tyr fretting about the boys again? Feeling old and useless since Tamerlane insisted on parking the two of them in this little beachfront fortress and surrounding them with hyper-protective guards who drive Tyr to snarls and growls? Personally he is perfectly happy to have an easy, relatively safe life and glad to see Tyr well protected from his former enemies and those who want to get at his lover because Tyr is important to Tamerlane. “You’re awfully tense about ‘nothing’.”
“What do you mean?”
Harper strokes a comforting hand over the wide chest, trying to ease the tight muscles. “I can practically hear your muscles screaming from the tension.”
“Don’t exaggerate.” Tyr drops a kiss on Harper’s shoulder.
“And you get lumpy when you’re tense.”
Tyr stirs pushing the sheet down. “Perhaps I should go into the living area so I won’t disturb your sleep cycle.”
Harper tightens his grip, silently urging his lover to stay. “No. Just think quietly, okay?”
“As you wish.”
“What’s the problem?” Harper asks softly. Will Tyr admit to missing his busy sons? The boys are grown with their own lives and families to raise and then there are the demanding positions of responsibility in Tamerlane’s government. He knows this. He knows that Tyr knows it but the boys could visit a little more often. It has been awhile since their last visit. He wouldn’t mind seeing the boys more often either. A sly smile curves Harper’s lips. Well, they will be getting a visit shortly.
“It’s nothing.”
“And I should believe that because….” Harper lifts up on his elbow, looking down into his lover’s face. He traces the lush outlines of those beautiful lips then raises his gaze to meet the clear amber eyes.
Tyr brushes a kiss over Harper’s fingertips. “Because nothing will come of it.”
“Of what?” Harper strokes the line of Tyr’s beard. “They’ll come soon.”
“You’ve been saying that for months but we both know that they don’t have time for two old men.” Tyr admits ruefully. He sighs softly, wistfully.
“Speak for yourself, mister.” Harper nips the full curves of that lush lower lip. His hand glides down to cup knowingly over the swelling cock. “I still feel as studly as when we met.”
Tyr chuckles. His hips arch into the slow intimate caress. “Studly?”
“Yep.” Harper eases lower, lavishing kisses over the strong lines of Tyr’s throat and shoulders. “And so are you my big, bad, Über Luuuuve Machine.”
“Seamus…” There’s a note of warning in Tyr’s voice.
“What?”
“Don’t call me…” Tyr growls as Harper’s cool hand squeezes and strokes his aching cock with exactly the right rhythm. Tyr moves restlessly under the tantalizing touch.
Harper works his way lower, nipping chocolate nipples into tight beads. “What…Über or Luuuuuve Machine?”
“Go to sleep, Little Man.” Tyr groans softly.
“Make me.” Harper shoves the sheet back, baring the rippling muscles of Tyr’s narrow waist. He sucks hotly at the damp, plush skin, tracing the flow and flex of hard muscles tensing beneath his attentions.
“I refuse to lower myself to that level of argument.” Tyr responds breathlessly. His hands close over Harper’s shoulders, urging the human back up.
Harper yields, gliding back up and sliding his body over so that he sprawls across Tyr’s solid frame. His thigh rubs suggestively over the hard cock as he looks down into his lover’s flushed face. “Why not? We’re awake and don’t have anything to do…or would a playful argument interfere with your, oh, so valuable brood time?”
Tyr gives him a stern stare. “Seamus. Go. To. Sleep.”
“Make. Me.” Harper tugs on the long braids and lowers his head to greedily devour Tyr’s mouth. When he finally raises his head a smile is curving those full lips.
“I think I can manage that.” The amber eyes narrow in mock menace.
Harper squirms sensually, wining a gasp from his lover. He smiles tauntingly as the dark, strong hands close possessively over him. “I don’t know. I might be too much for an old fossil like you to handle.”
“Seamus!” Tyr growls.
The next morning before breakfast…
“All you need to do is serve the food and stay out of the way.” The senior chef glares at the tall blond woman as he deftly chops mushrooms and peppers. He won’t mind when this one gets the heave-ho from the little human. She does more flouncing around and flirting with the guards than work. Not that he is going to bother training her since she will be out as soon as the human spots her.
The young woman tosses her long hair over her shoulder. “I don’t see what the problem could be. I’m even going to be nice to the little kludge”
“If you want to keep working here you’re going to have to drop that word from your vocabulary.” The senior chef warns. Not that it’s really going to make any difference unless she uses the word in front of Anasazi then she will be out on the next ship if she’s lucky. The last staff person to use that word got to walk back to the capital. Mr. Harper will dismiss her just for being blond. You would think that since the human was blond himself, he wouldn’t have such an unreasonable dislike of blondes but there it was. No use in trying to keep a blond on staff. Now if the girl was worth anything, he’d suggest she dye her hair a nice brown or perhaps red. Mr. Harper didn’t seem to object to those shades.
“Frankly I don’t see what the fuss is all about. They’re just two old men. What’s the worse that can happen?” She leans against the wall and rolls her eyes. “I’m sure I know how to please a man…even an old one.”
The two sous-chefs chuckle knowingly and shake their heads. One of them, a dark woman with black hair cropped short, puts her hands on her hips and looks the blond up and down. “You just keep thinking that way and you’re going to find yourself on your way back to…which pride did you say you were from?”
“Bengal pride. What do you mean by that?” The girl demands sharply as she pushes away from the wall, stalks over to the cabinet and begins stacking china for the breakfast table.
“Nothing.” The chef cuts off the sous-chef. The girl’s ambitions weren’t unreasonable. No doubt she is thinking that Anasazi is still handsome and virile for an old man and that Anasazi has fathered several children, one of whom is the Progenitor. The girl is probably calculating her chances of bearing a child who will be half-brother to the Progenitor. The chef shakes his head. Such things might happen in some places but not here. “Nothing at all. However, you will do well to remember that you are here as a serving girl first and a guard second. You are not here to provide comfort to the Progenitor’s father.”
“I didn’t think anything of the sort.” The girl tosses her hair and lowers her eyes, hiding the speculative gleam in them. “He’s old enough to be my father anyway. That would just be too strange.”
The chef sighs. Some people simply couldn’t be taught. He’s done wasting his time on the girl. He glances at his crew, gathering their attention. It looks like things are going to heat up around here if the girl has her way. Perhaps a reminder to the rest of the staff is in order. The veteran staffers will know what he means. “Just remember that the Progenitor’s father has a volatile temper. He is an alpha and he is the Progenitor’s father. That alone demands respect.”
“I’ll remember.” The blonde pouts. The rest of the kitchen staff share knowing nods and glances and return to work.
A quartet of guards sits at the kitchen table, talking in soft, excited voices as they finish up their breakfast. Fruit, rolls and omelets rapidly disappear from their plates as they discuss Tamerlane’s forthcoming surprise visit.
“I’ve never actually seen the Progenitor.” A young Jaguar guard with copper skin and long dark hair sips his juice. He flashes a quick smile at the handsome blond girl working with the kitchen crew.
Alexander, one of the veterans, runs a tidying hand through his short gold brown hair. “He looks much like his father. He is not as tall, though. His air is every bit as commanding.”
“The Progenitor’s father is a hard man to please.” The young guard sighs loudly as he stares down at his empty plate.
The veteran guards trade glances, shrugs and lifted eyebrows. They all know that it’s just a matter of time. They hadn’t even bothered to really show the boy the ropes. No point in it. Nope. The first time that Anasazi got a good look at that pretty face, the smooth copper skin and the long, black hair that was it and they all knew it.
Alexander glances sidelong at the boy. The kid is awkward and new but not bad. He even had promise and they all felt that it was too bad that they couldn’t keep him. They had tried keeping the kid out on the perimeter team but it hadn’t worked. A pity really but the kid just couldn’t seem to stay out of Anasazi’s way. Then the boy kept trying to compensate for Anasazi’s growing hostility by sucking up to Mr. Harper…well, in some households, it wouldn’t a bad survival strategy but in this one, once Anasazi sees the kid trying to charm Mr. Harper, well, that will be it for the kid.
One of the others pats the boy on the shoulder. “You’ve only been here a couple of days. Give it time.”
Alexander adds. “The best advice is to stay out of his way. If he does speak to you try to limit yourself to yes and no answers.”
The young guard stares sadly back at them. “I try to please him. I’m extra nice to his human. Yet every time I look up the Progenitor’s father is glaring at me.”
Alexander smirks. Yeah, that’s the kiss of death alright. The only question is how long the kid will last before Anasazi gives him the boot. Probably not long, the way the kid has taken to trotting around after Mr. Harper. The other guards chuckle knowingly. The discussion returns to the upcoming visit and the additional security measures.
A tall Nietzschean with dark chocolate skin tilts his gleaming baldhead, listening. He frowns at the others. “Here he comes. Quiet.”
The guards hastily spring to their feet and fall silent as Tyr strides into the kitchen. Tyr surveys them coolly, suspicious of the sudden quiet after the excited tones that he had heard. “Is there a problem?”
“No, sir.” The bald guard responds crisply as the others glance quickly at him.
“What are you all doing standing around here?” Tyr stalks closer, pacing slowly down the row of guards, pausing at each one in turn. The older guards give him blank face but their scents are excited, nervous and the youngest of group, a handsome, copper skinned boy is openly uneasy under his hard stare. “Don’t you have some place to be?”
“Yes, sir.” The bald guard sweeps a stern stare over his juniors. “We’re about to walk the perimeter.”
“Well…then…go.” Tyr waves a dismissive hand. He waits then arches an eyebrow when no one moves and stalks slowly back down the line of guards, coming to a stop in front of the newest one. This one is barely more than a youngling. He might as well have his grandsons as guards. “What?”
The youngster flinches minutely from the hard amber stare. Color rushes up his copper skin. The large, dark eyes widen in apprehension. “It’s just that…well, sir…”
Tyr snorts. He doesn’t need a guard who is rattled this easily. It’s enough to make him wonder who the boy fucked to get this position. Hmm. The boy rather reminds him of…Tyr’s eyes narrow in disdain as he looks the youngster over, noting the handsome features and long dark hair pulled back…Möbius. He’ll have to do something about that.
Tyr steps closer, almost nose-to-nose with the handsome guard. He will not be kept in the dark in his own household. He is Alpha still. If something is going on, he will know it. He knows Harper is safe; he just left the human, sated and asleep in their bed. Could there be something wrong with one of his sons? Surely they would not dare withhold that information from him. “What is it? Is something wrong?”
“No…sir.”
The bald guard stiffens at the boy’s soft response. A growl escapes him. Tyr turns his head sharply and glowers. He will not have this. He is the head of this household. He is the Alpha here. He glares, growling low and deep. His bone blades flex.
The other guards stare in alarm between Tyr and their leader. Their nostrils flare as they breathe in the rising sharp scents of anger and aggression. The bald guard suddenly drops his gaze to the floor and bows his head, signaling his submission.
Tyr turns back to the handsome guard and growls, staring directly into the guard’s deep brown eyes. “Well, it must be something. Tell me.”
The boy’s gaze flickers nervously. “The Progenitor’s head of security just contacted us. He’s planning to come here tonight.”
“Tamerlane coming here?” Tyr frowns, tilting his head. Why would Tamerlane not tell him? Tamerlane always announced his visits in advance. “He has not informed me of this visit.”
“We don’t know why the Progenitor has decided to change his schedule.” The youngster looks down, shifting his weight from one foot to the other.
Alexander murmurs respectfully, “It seems there’s an unexpected gap in his schedule, sir, and the Progenitor decided to come here before returning home.”
Tyr flicks a glance at the older guard then turns his attention back to the handsome youngster. He spends a long moment, looking the guard up and down. “That doesn’t explain why you are so nervous, young one.”
“It’s just that. You don’t like me very much and I was thinking that perhaps this meant you were getting ready to remove me.” The words tumble out in a rush as the boy steps back.
Weak. This one is weak. Not even Beta material. And certainly, not worthy to serve in his household. The boy had to have fucked someone to get here and if that is the case, the boy might well be thinking that if he fucked…someone else, that he might win a permanent place in this house. He is not having this popinjay around Harper. Tyr curls his lips back and snarls. “I would hardly need the backing of my son if I wanted to be rid of the likes of you, boy.”
“Yes, sir.” The young man gulps and takes another step back.
“Now,” Tyr orders sharply. “Find some place else to be.”
“Yes, sir. Right away.” The handsome guard scurries away.
Tyr sweeps a glower over the remaining guards. His amber gaze locks onto the bald guard. “That goes for all of you. Out of my sight!”
Tyr’s stare follows the guards out of the doorway. He pauses to peer at the servants busily cooking and cleaning. Looks like breakfast should be ready soon. He walks across the kitchen and living area to eye the cozy dining area. The small table is set with pale yellow linen napkins and place mats. A crystal bowl in the center of the table is filled with white sand and colorful seashells.
His gaze rises to the windows. He stares absently out at the blue ocean shimmering and glittering under the sunlight. Tamerlane coming here. What could his youngest son want? He has not talked to the boy in months. His duties as head of the Nietzschean prides requires that he spend a lot of time keeping his government going. From all indications he is doing an excellent job. Why come here now? Is there something that he needs from his father? A smile ghosts across his lips at the thought.
Harper walks into the room, buttoning a gauzy white shirt over his indigo blue lounge pants. “Uh, oh. Did I hear you screaming at the help? Are we getting ready to replace some of the security staff again?”
Tyr turns quickly. “Not yet. Although that youngling is becoming most impertinent.”
“Which ‘youngling’ are you talking about, Tyr? They’re all babies compared to you and me.” Harper chuckles as he walks over to stand next to Tyr.
“Tamerlane is coming tonight.”
“Really? What brought this on?” Harper asks blandly. “Is there something wrong?”
“I don’t know. Maybe he needs my advice on some issue.” Tyr’s eyes glitter with excitement. “Perhaps there’s some crisis that requires my particular expertise.”
Uh huh. Better adjourn this little discussion until after breakfast. Harper gently pushes Tyr in the direction of the table. “I’m starving. Breakfast smells good.”
Harper frowns as a young Nietzschean woman with long, blond hair cascading down her back pours juice in the glasses then adds coffee to the coffee cups. Who the hell is that? And how the hell had he missed her? His hand tightens possessively on Tyr’s arm.
Tyr allows Harper to guide him to the table. He sits, his gaze skimming absently over the blond woman before settling on Harper’s face. “He could be coming to ask me to sit on his council.”
“Tyr. We’ve talked about that. You promised you wouldn’t insist on doing that.” Harper sits and reaches for the coffee. His narrowed eyes track the blond slinking back toward the kitchen. Maybe Tyr won’t notice her but why take the chance? He’d seen the way she was looking at Tyr. That one has got to go. And soon.
“Why else would he come? It’s been almost a year since we’ve seen him.” Tyr takes a sip of his tart juice. “The boy needs my advice.”
“Maybe he just misses you.” Harper picks up his napkin and snaps it out sharply as the slinky blond oozes back into the room, carrying a silver tray with his breakfast. Just look at the way she tosses her hair and ogles Tyr! His fingers tighten around his fork as he glowers at her. She gives him an uneasy look as she sets his plate in the center of the yellow linen placemat. That’s right, you better watch yourself. I know what you are up to.
Harper sniffs. The omelet smells wonderful. He lifts his fork to dig in just as Tyr quickly moves the plate away. Harper sighs and tosses his fork down on the table. Not again. Why can’t Tyr just leave the poor cooks alone? But, nooo, at least once a week he insists that however they cook something is all wrong.
“What is this supposed to be?” Tyr curls a disdainful lip as he stares down at the plate.
The slinky blond shifts her tray and smiles winningly. Her voice is soft and throaty. “It’s an omelet.”
Harper scowls at the servant. She definitely has to go. He isn’t having her around Tyr. He holds out an impatient hand for his plate. “Tyr. Don’t start this morning.”
“It most certainly is not an omelet. What are those objects poking out of it? There’s barely any cheese. The kitchen staff has been told repeatedly how to prepare his meals. Take that back and prepare the dish the way he likes it. You do remember your instructions don’t you?” Tyr’s voice deepens menacingly as he hands the plate to the blond.
The blond licks her glossy red lips and looks at him from under her long lashes. “Yes, sir.”
“Tyr.” Harper’s voice is sharp as he reaches for the plate. “I’m starving. I’m sure it’s fine.”
“No, it’s not. Would you allow me to eat something you knew was not prepared to my liking?” Tyr takes Harper’s hand and presses a kiss in the palm.
Harper sighs. There is only one right answer to that question but, damn it, he is hungry. And he is not in the mood to indulge Tyr’s little dominance games with the staff today. Especially not when the staff in question is young, blond and beautiful. And being Nietzschean, Slinky is probably all ready to rut after seeing his Tyr going all Alpha and dominant. Harper jerks his hand back and glowers. “Well….no. But I’m hungry and I don’t really care.”
“Take this back and prepare a suitable dish.” Tyr nods to the girl. She sighs loudly and turns away. Tyr raises his voice, turning his head to watch as the girl sways seductively from the room. “If you think preparing meals is beneath you we can certainly send you on your way.”
Harper glares at his lover. So Tyr has noticed Slinky. Well, she can just forget about it. After all the years that they have spent together, he knows how to get and keep Tyr’s attention. So Tyr wants to play games. Fine. He’ll give Tyr a game for two players, guaranteed to rivet Tyr’s attention to him. Harper leans back in his chair, scowling. When Slinky sashays back in with a plate of steamed and roasted peppers for Tyr’s breakfast, Harper snatches it out of her hand and makes a show of inspecting it. “WELL! We can’t have this, can we? Take this swill back and prepare something more suitable.”
Slinky stares at him with wide, nervous eyes. “Sir?”
“Harper, there is nothing wrong with the food.” Tyr holds his hand out.
Harper shoves his chair back and stands, still holding the plate. “Oh, I think there is.”
Slinky reaches for the plate. “Sir…Mr. Harper, sir. I…I…will take it back and prepare it correctly.”
“Harper, sit. You’re being silly.” Tyr folds his arms over his chest.
“I…I’m being silly?” Harper glares at Tyr. He sidesteps Slinky’s grab for the plate and hurls the dish of steaming peppers at the wall behind Tyr. He watches in satisfaction as those glorious amber eyes fill with heat and the lush lips part as Tyr stares at him. Behind Tyr the brightly colored peppers slide down the wall to drop among the shards of white china. “There now. I think we need a new dish for Mr. Anasazi.”
“Right away, sir.” Slinky hurries out of the room, throwing Harper a shocked stare over her shoulder.
Harper lifts his chin to a defiant angle, noting with smug glee that Tyr’s eyes never leave him. Yes. He is the man. He can still hold his own against armies of slinky blonds. The Harper is good. Harper sinks back into his chair and levels a challenging stare at Tyr.
“Seamus.” Tyr’s voice is husky; his bone blades flutter as he reaches for his angry lover.
Harper turns his head sharply away to stare out the window at the ocean, refusing the proffered caress. Oh, no. Now that he has Tyr’s full attention, he isn’t going to lose it by being easy. “Oh, don’t you ‘Seamus’ me. I’m starving. There was not a fricking thing wrong with the omelet and YOU are behaving like an ass!”
The blond reappears and holds out a plate with a fresh omelet for Tyr to inspect. Tyr barely takes his smoldering gaze from Harper long enough to glance at it. He nods to the blond who deftly places the plate in front of Harper.
“Eat,” Tyr urges softly. He slides into the chair next to Harper, oblivious to the blond strolling back to the kitchen. “The food smells wonderful.”
Harper continues to stare out the window, refusing to look around as warm fingers stroke his nape, drawing enticing patterns and slowly, softly circling his dataport. He forces his mouth into a sulky line and lowers his eyes to hide the responsive thrill tingling down his spine. Ha! So much for Slinky. Who is Tyr looking at now? Not her. “I’m not hungry.”
Tyr kisses the human’s nape. He takes Harper’s fork and sections off a bite of the omelet. He offers the food. “Eat. It looks good. I think cook put crisp bacon in it just like you like. Mushrooms and lots of cheese….”
Harper shivers as the plush lips glide hotly up his throat. He struggles to control his breathing. He mustn’t make Tame-the-Harper too easy a game to win. “I’ll starve first.”
“Please, Seamus.” Tyr pleads, his lips moving seductively against the pale skin. “One bite.”
Harper turns his head, looking into those glorious eyes. He parts his lips and Tyr feeds him the bite of omelet. Harper chews the bite and closes his eyes. Bliss. Just the way he likes it. He opens his eyes and licks his lips slowly while holding Tyr’s darkening gaze. Tyr forks off another bite of omelet and feeds it to Harper. He takes the napkin from Harper’s lap and blots Harper’s lips. “Good?”
“It’s alright.” Harper keeps his tone carefully indifferent. He glances sidelong at his lover from under his lashes. Maybe he can head off another potential problem while he has Tyr all hot and bothered. No way is he going to allow Tyr to be exposed to all those blonds at the Tamerlane’s court. Tamerlane is almost as bad as Tyr when it comes to blonds. He adds a hint of pout to his lips and allows Tyr to coax him into accepting another bite of the omelet. “Promise you won’t ask Tamerlane about the council.”
Tyr growls hoarsely against the dataport and nips the human’s earlobe. “He’ll bring it up. There’s no other reason for him to be here.”
“Tyr.” Harper warns, arching his throat under the caress. His hand slides up the solidly muscled thigh.
“Alright.” Tyr gasps as the hand moves higher but stops tantalizingly short of his stiff cock. His hips shift encouragingly but the hand is withdrawn. “I won’t ask. But if he brings it up I’ll consider it.”
“I suppose that’s the only promise I’m going to get.” Harper reaches for his fork only to frown as Tyr promptly moves it out of his reach. “Tyr. I can feed myself.”
“I know.” Tyr offers Harper another bite. “I just enjoy feeding you.”
“Why?”
Tyr leans closer and nuzzles Harper’s cheek. “I like watching your mouth when you eat.”
“I know.” Harper smiles seductively. He leans against Tyr, and strokes his hand up his lover’s inner thigh to cover the hard shaft throbbing beneath the navy leathers. “I just wanted to hear you say it.”