The Slave (Free Men Book 1)(26)

His cock was mostly soft, although it had thickened a little as I worked  my way closer, a chubby club nestled in a thatch of dark, springy hair.  A cursory tug aside, I ignored it, straddling his thighs to work on his  hips instead. I think I loved his hips best. Surprisingly narrow given  the breadth of his shoulders, the bones jutted just below his skin,  forming a deep V from his belly to his groin. I pressed my weight onto  them, enjoying the sensation of holding him as he usually held me, the  false illusion of power. I dug my fingers into the sides of his arse,  soft and malleable and covered in dark downy hair.         

     



 

I couldn't resist placing a kiss over his heart before I worked my way  up his torso with freshly-oiled hands, over his stomach-not quite as  flat as it once was, but seeming so when he lay on his back-and up  through the broad, thickly-furred expanse of his chest. He glistened  with oil, and I slid across him as I reached his shoulders, the rich  scent of coconut rising between us. He held me securely, his hands  wrapped around my knees. My groin was over his, my balls resting against  his cock, and he was definitely soft no longer, although still relaxed  enough he wasn't fully hard.

I palmed his neck, enjoying the rough drag of stubble against my slick  hand, the way he tilted his head to grant me full access, his eyes still  closed, completely trusting, like he was when I shaved him. I needed to  move if I was to oil his shoulders, but I didn't want to climb off his  lap. My cock was stirring, plump between my thighs, hyper-aware of his  proximity. It would take nothing for me to reach behind myself with my  oiled hands and position him at my entrance, sink onto his cock and ride  him to completion. I couldn't help feel, however, that would prove too  much for Kai.

My fellow slave had abandoned his pretence of not watching and was  focused on us with avid interest, drinking in the show I put on with  greedy eyes. I held the oil out to him, indicating for him to work on  Master's shoulders. He took the bottle, looking at it uncertainly for a  moment before rising from his chaise.

Master was watching from beneath his lashes, both of us probably  wondering how he would react. Kai had seen me and Master together  before, but he and Master had still not come close to touching one  another. I held my breath as Kai tipped a small amount of oil onto his  palm and rubbed his hands together.

He moved with purpose, standing behind me and bringing his hands down on  my shoulders. I gasped with shock, the oil a little cool against my hot  skin, but as he dug into the tendons at the sides of my neck, I groaned  and went lax.

His touch was firm as he kneaded my flesh, brushing my hair out of the  way with the backs of his hands so as not to get too much oil in it. I  arched my spine and hung my head, splaying my palms across Master's  chest, digging in as Kai found a knot of tension and worked it loose.  Master's eyes were wide open now, watching with undisguised interest as  the scene unfolded. Kai said nothing, and if they exchanged looks, I  didn't see, too consumed with enjoying the unexpected massage. If this  was Kai's way of rebelling against Master's ownership, I'm ashamed to  say I wholeheartedly approved.

It felt like no time at all before he stopped, wiping the excess oil  against my back, yet I felt completely boneless and content, my  shoulders never lighter. I hadn't thought I was a tense person, yet the  difference was unmistakable. I leant against Kai's chest, smiling as he  wrapped his arms around me and nuzzled my neck. Turning my head to kiss  him seemed a natural progression, and for a moment I forgot all about  Master lying beneath me, my whole world consumed by Kai's presence.

I was embarrassed when I recalled myself, although Master showed no  signs of being annoyed with either of us. He smiled lazily and chucked  me under the chin when I turned to him, said we were beautiful together,  and smirked as Kai stalked back to his chaise and threw himself down in  a tantrum.

Chastened, I curled on a cushion on the floor between them feeling  horribly conflicted. I owed Master everything, but I had forgotten him  entirely when Kai's hands were upon me. Was I really such a fickle  creature? How could I have so easily been distracted?

Master stroked my hair, his touch doing much to comfort me, but then the  brush of Kai's hand against my arm left me feeling unsettled once more.  Was it possible they were fighting over me? But why would Master  tolerate such a thing, when we were both his property? I had thought I  understood the emerging dynamic the three of us shared, but that moment  served only to underline my ignorance.

"Kai, I was wondering if you'd help me later," Master said, breaking the silence which, to me at least, felt tense.

"Help you?" Kai sounded startled and suspicious. "With what?"

"Nothing much." Master gave him a reassuring smile. "I wanted to  understand the Granthian corps formations a little better. As you can  imagine, good information is scarce. I thought you might be able to fill  in the gaps."

"I was only a foot soldier," Kai protested.

"That doesn't mean you don't know anything."

I looked expectantly between them. Master was outright asking for help,  but he was also asking Kai to choose between him and loyalty to his  people. Kai had fought in the army against Thirskan troops. Would he  really betray them?         

     



 

"I can't see anything I know being of any use," Kai grumbled.

"Then you won't mind telling me," Master said easily. "I have faith in you, Kai. You're an intelligent man."

"What would you do with what I tell you?" Kai asked, still suspicious.

"Probably nothing. I'm not in control of the army, as you well know."

"So why do you want to know anything about it?"

I sucked a breath at his impudence, but Master let it go.

"I like to be informed," he said. "We're a nation at war, and it comes  closer every day. I'd like to know what my people are facing. If you  tell me anything I consider of value to our troops, I'll speak to the  generals." He propped himself on his arm facing Kai, his expression  suddenly earnest. "This war has waged longer than any of us have been  alive. More men have died in it than we can count. Don't you want to  bring it to a close?"

"By helping you win, you mean?"

Master's jaw set. "Someone's got to. How many more young men must die on  battlefields-how many soldiers like yourself sold into slavery? I would  like to know peace in Thirsk before I'm too old to appreciate it.  Surely you can understand that?"

It wasn't fair. Even I knew it wasn't fair, what he was asking of Kai. But what choice did my fellow slave have?

"Fine." A nerve in Kai's jaw twitched. "But don't blame me when I can't tell you anything useful."

"All knowledge is useful," Master replied, closing the matter.

"Is that where you've been these last three days?" Kai asked after a pause. "With the army?"

"Kai!" I couldn't help my shocked exclamation. It wasn't our job to  question Master's movements, only to be grateful when he chose to spend  his time with us.

"It's all right, Tam." Master petted me. "You don't need to know where I  was," he said to Kai. "Indeed, the less you both know, the better."

"I thought knowledge was useful," Kai snapped in a surly tone.

I closed my eyes in despair. Had I spoken to Master like that, I'd have  been whipped for my impudence. I was certain Kai was about to be handed  the same fate.

Master laughed, surprising me. "I suppose I asked for that," he said,  sitting upright and focusing his attention on us both. "I don't want to  have to leave you alone so much, either of you. Half the reason I  purchased you, Kai, was I knew I was going to have to leave Tam alone  more often than he was used to, and I didn't want him to be lonely.  That's why I sent him to the slavemarket instead of going myself. He  didn't know it at the time, but he was choosing his companion. Inside  this compound, you're safe. Whatever is going on outside, you don't need  to know about. In fact, I'd rather you didn't."

"Are, are you in danger?" I asked hesitantly. I knew we were a nation at  war, but it had never seemed an immediate threat to the people of Otiz.

"No more than I ever was," Master said, not quite reassuring me.

"I was a soldier," Kai protested. "I fought in the war you're speaking of. I watched my friends die fighting."

"And I'm sure you were very capable, but that isn't your life anymore," Master said firmly.

Kai glowered. I couldn't say I didn't understand his feeling of  helplessness, being coddled after being a soldier for so long, but I  couldn't deny I was pleased Master seemed so determined to keep us out  of the conflict, either. I'd have been happier still if all three of us  stayed in the safety of his compound and never left.

"I want you to be content," Master continued, looking directly at Kai.  "You weren't born to be caged, and you've been too accustomed to more  than one man's company. I need to know I can trust you."