Dagan laced up his leathers. “And everyone accepts this?”
“What’s the alternative?”
Dagan chuckled as he wrestled with a clean shirt. “Not accepting it. Of course.” By the time he got it on and straightened and tucked, Hendrik still hadn’t responded. He just sat quietly, looking at the fire.
Dagan combed and re-braided his hair quickly, then made to gather up his dirty things, before Hendrik said, “I don’t even know what that would look like.”
Dagan felt another wave of pity that he didn’t quite understand; it was a complicated emotion, especially when applied to someone he hardly knew from a place he’d never been. Having nothing useful to say, he simply kept quiet, and on further consideration picked up Hendrik’s dirty things, too. “I’ll be right back.”
The water stirred urgently. Hendrik sat up and turned to face him, frowning. “Where are you going?”
“To see if they have someone to do the washing. I’m not sure your things are savable, though. I’ll look into finding you some new ones; there must be a tailor nearby.”
Hendrik glanced around the room and then back to Dagan. “You’ll be here, though? In this building?”
Dagan nodded, oddly touched by this sudden display of vulnerability from his well-muscled charge. “I could wait, if you like. I just thought it’d be nice if you had something to slip into that’s as clean as you are.”
“Yeah.” The flat lines and planes of his torso dipped back down into the tub. Hendrik seemed to flush, though perhaps it was just the hot water, as he said, “Yes, of course. Thank you. I’ll pay you back…somehow.”
“That’s sweet, but not necessary. It’s my job.”
Hendrik nodded then leaned back, this time facing the door. His hair floated in the water, tangling with lavender buds, and his strong, furry chin dipped just below the surface. He seemed at peace, again.
“Enjoy the bath. I won’t be long,” Dagan promised.
The ever-resourceful Will was eager to help, of course. While Dagan enjoyed a cup of apricot wine in the hall, the boy ran their clothes to the nearest washer, and when he returned it was with arms full of linen and leather. “Here, these should work. The tailor had some larger sizes readymade.”
“Thank you so much, darling boy. You’ve been so helpful.” Dagan laid a hand on Will’s arm and leaned in. “I’m more grateful than I can express.”
For a moment, Will’s dark, serious eyes caught his, then fell away almost shyly. His cheeks blazed.
The urges that Dagan had neatly packed away upstairs with Hendrik pushed to the forefront eagerly. Could this one be any more delicious? “You will have a drink tonight, won’t you?” he couldn’t help asking. He considered being even more explicit, making a comment about how much he enjoyed eating apricots, but he wasn’t desperate enough to let his dick do the thinking. Yet.
Will licked his pink lips, leaving them wet and inviting. So, he did know what he was doing, but wasn’t quite an expert yet.
How sweet. Dagan was even more determined to have him, now.
“If you really mean it.” Will smiled.
Dagan traced his way down Will’s bare forearm, considering. Normally, he’d just ask Will to meet him in the hall after he finished work. But he couldn’t help thinking of that little moment of panic from Hendrik, when Dagan made to leave. “I shouldn’t leave him alone. This is all very new and strange to him,” he thought out loud. “Perhaps bring up a bottle when you’re done, and I’ll see if I can slip away?”
“Of course,” Will looked discouragingly understanding, just then. But when he enthusiastically said, “You must do your duty,” it was clear that the label of “scout” was more than a little of what attracted him.
Dagan picked up his hand and kissed it lightly. Just a little promise of what would come, should the forest gods arrange things. “And if he falls asleep first, I’ll come down.”
“I’ll wait for you,” Will replied almost breathlessly.
Dagan stood and leaned in close to whisper, “I hope to see you soon, then,” on his way to the stairs. When he turned to look back, Will was watching him wide-eyed and hopeful.
Had he not been thinking about absolutely ravaging that sweet bartender just then, Hendrik being out of the tub and wandering the room in nothing more than what now seemed like a very small blanket wrapped around his waist might not have been quite so arresting. That’s what Dagan told himself, anyhow. He had to catch his breath before he could manage to say, “That charming boy downstairs found these, and he’s taken our clothes for washing.”
Hendrik looked over his shoulder—and oh, by all the gods, he was handsome now that he was clean shaven and smiling. The harsh angles of his strong jaw and chin combined with the effect of dazzling blue eyes couldn’t have been more arresting, and despite the hard living of the last few moons, his skin was creamy and smooth, flushed prettily from the bath. “He was charmed, but I’m pretty sure you did the charming.”
Dagan didn’t bother trying to hide his delight. He came to Hendrik, holding out the clothes. “How will I get to be a professional if I don’t practice?”
Still smiling faintly, Hendrik accepted the clothes and shook out the shirt. His blanket slid downward, catching for a long, tantalizing moment on his prick before it slid entirely to the floor. As Hendrik pulled his shirt on, Dagan got a full and complete profile of his entire body. He’d known already that the man was long-limbed and athletic, but was almost annoyed to discover that he also had a very nice cock. Longer than most, and thick enough to halt the blanket even in its soft, relaxed state.
This was one of those things he could not unknow. Dagan was both delighted and annoyed.
He busied himself on his side of the room, taking things out of his pack and refolding or leaving them out for use in the morning. When Hendrik finished lacing up his pants, he patted his hips and said, “Not bad.”
Dagan looked him over, and, of course, he looked magnificent. The clothes were slightly too big, which was a blessing, but shouldn’t be uncomfortably so. “Quite good, actually. And it’s nice to see your face, I might add.”
Hendrik laughed.
Dagan swallowed another flirtatious comment. Save it for that boy downstairs. It was almost physically painful. “It’s dark already. You must be tired.”
Hendrik nodded, wet hair clinging to his face and neck. “My feet hurt, actually. I’m really out of shape.”
“We’ll ask Will to look for some new boots, too. Those are usually special-made, but someone must have an extra pair.”
Hendrik sat on the bed, shaking his head. “Everyone’s so…nice.”
“You’ve hardly met anyone,” Dagan said, only half-joking. “Trust me, they’re not all nice.”
“I think my standards are a little different than yours.”
“Possible,” Dagan allowed. It did seem like the Stone City might actually have been one of the hells, from what he’d heard so far, so why not? He finished fussing with his own small things and came to Hendrik. “Why don’t you put your feet up. Do you like to read? I could find you a book that’s more than lists of plants.”
