STORY EXCERPT

The new Baron leaned back in his tall chair and grinned. He had to say, this was probably the best plan he had ever had and now he had the power to execute it without so much as a peep from the Peerage. His papers were spread out before him, held down at the corners with polished balls of marble. He loved this room with its high ceilings and ornate walls depicting wars and death and fury. Even as a child, he would sneak in when his father called meetings in here, just so he could examine the artwork.

“So, what do you think, Andreu?” Rohder asked, not that he cared what the answer was. He was going to do what he wanted anyway.

Andreu nodded, his blond curls bouncing, his face excited.

“Brilliant,” he gushed. “Just brilliant, you will have the best and the strongest army in all of Elsotia.”

Rohder dipped his head and folded his arms across his chest. Andreu was right and of course, he knew that, but he still had Trobern’s shrill little voice in his ear, whining about how he couldn’t do that and that it was unconscionable or something. Whatever, he didn’t really listen because he didn’t really care what a silly old fart had to say. If he could get rid of Trobern without an uproar he would, but his father’s will had made it clear that his manservant would stay on the books, despite not having to work anymore as Rohder was quite capable of dressing himself and getting into bed. Keeping Trobern was a waste of money, so Rohder had decided he was just going to have to make savings elsewhere.

He looked out through the wavering glass of the window over the valley and his top lip curled. Those little villages down there were nothing more than charity cases, living off the kindness (and stupidity) of his father. Well, they weren’t going to sponge off him. Not now he had these big plans to conduct.

“So,” Andreu began, his cheeks flushing. “Where are we going to find these soldiers and, more importantly, where are we going to put them when we do find them?”

Rohder raised his eyebrows. He didn’t like being questioned. He was the Baron and he was in charge, which meant he could do whatever he wanted, no questions asked. But he grinned. He was pleased for a chance to brag about his plans, so, he’d let Andreu’s insolence slide this once. Only this once though, the staff of Glimburg castle were too lax in their ways because his father had let them get away with so much. Rohder wasn’t going to. He was going to run a tight ship.

“Well, there are plenty of folks on the outskirts who would be willing to take up arms. It’s not like they have anything better to do. A wage, a place to live and the chance to train with weaponry, I think most of those simple-minded men will jump at the chance to sign up. Don’t you?”

Andreu blinked, his face paling.

“The outskirts? Do you mean the refugees? The remainders?”

Rohder nodded and narrowed his eyes.

“That’s exactly what I mean. But I’m not a bigot. The same courtesy will be offered to the men of the neighbouring towns and the villagers, of course. After all, once their little mud huts are razed to the ground to make way for the barracks, they’ll want somewhere to stay and a good steady income, won’t they? It’s a win-win, really. It’ll practically put an end to homelessness and unemployment.”

Rohder didn’t know if this was true and really, he didn’t care. His father had been exorbitantly generous with handouts: food, money, clothes, tools, livestock and even then, some people were just beyond help.

Taking a deep breath, Andreu stepped forwards, pointing to the papers still splayed across the huge table.

“But the remainders, the refugees, they don’t share our customs, our values. Sheol, most of them don’t even speak our language.”

Rohder stood and straightened his tunic. He was beginning to tire of Andreu’s inimical attitude. But he pressed on, sure that once he knew all, he would think the scheme was just as impressive as Rohder did.

“That’s the beauty of it. They will be untethered by the temperance of the weak-minded villagers. Plus, any opposition they face from said villagers won’t be understood as they do not share a common tongue. It’s genius, really.”

If he did say so himself. And he did, of course.

ADULT EXCERPT

Rohder looked down at him again, feeling his breath hitch. Ambran was probably the most beautiful man he had ever seen. His fingers were almost grazing the stubbled skin of his cheek when a hand shot out and grabbed his wrist. Rohder started, his heart pounding through his chest. Ambran’s eyes were wide, staring at him.

“You,” Ambran gasped, squeezing his wrist tighter. “The fire, it was you.”

Rohder’s blood turned to ice. He wet his lips, words failing him. Tears welled in the corners of his eyes. A split second filled the room before Rohder shook his head, the tears splashing Ambran’s chest.

“No,” he croaked. “No, I didn’t—”

“You did,” Ambran hissed. “You did, you pulled me out of the flames, you saved me.”

Breathless, Rohder scrunched his eyes shut. He nodded. He nodded like a fucking dog, begging for a treat. He nodded because he couldn’t say anything else. He didn’t trust himself not to spill his metaphorical guts. He had saved Ambran from the fire. That was true, but he was also the reason the fire had started in the first place.

A pair of warm, soft lips pressed against his and the thoughts crumbled away like boulders down a cliff. He opened his mouth, allowing Ambran’s hot, wet tongue to glide over his. His cock sprang to life, straining deliciously against his breeches. Rohder slid his hands over the other man’s chest, tweaking his nipples until they hardened into rosy pellets. His skin was aflame, his lips tingling as Ambran’s light beard scratched against the sensitive skin, but he wanted more. Pulling away, he placed a hand on Ambran’s face, staring into the depths of his velveteen eyes.

“I want you,” Ambran sighed against his lips. “Fuck, I want you so much.”

Rohder could feel his talons digging into his back, guiding him back down into a hot, salty kiss. He tugged his shirt off, sighing as his skin contacted Ambran’s. He pressed hard, grinding Ambran’s fat cock against his thigh, excitement coursing through his loins when Ambran gasped. Shucking his breeches, he licked his lips as the cool air caressed his prick before yanking Ambran up by the shoulders where he climbed onto him. Grabbing both their dicks in his palm, he slid them together, precum glossing their swollen red heads. Closing his eyes, Rohder tossed his head back, biting his bottom lip. Ambran grunted, clasping at his arse-cheeks. Fuck, how was the room so hot? Sweat streamed down his face, his fingers singeing as their pricks danced jowl to jowl. Searing and slippery. He didn’t stop though, he couldn’t.

“Fuck,” he sighed.

Wriggling himself into position, he spread his ass cheeks and wet a finger. He groaned as he slid the wet digit in himself as Ambran licked his lips and took his cock in his hand. His insides burned as he fucked his own finger, stretching himself wide enough for the fat hunk of meat Ambran tugged on as he stared at him.

“Ready?” Ambran rasped, holding his prick up to the ceiling.

Rohder nodded, although he wasn’t sure he was. As soon as he did this, it meant it was going to end. It meant whatever he’d been imagining doing with the innkeeper would be replaced with reality. With action. However, the throbbing of his dick as it bobbed in front of him had already made the decision for him. Lifting himself, he skewered himself on Ambran, his body vibrating as the stretching ache turned to unadulterated pleasure. He bit into his tongue as he rocked back and forth, forcing Ambran back into the bed every time he arched his back.

Rohder grabbed Ambran by the neck, ready to devour him in another kiss when he froze. The eyes staring back at him weren’t the deep brown he had dreamed of every night since meeting Ambran. The pupils were a long-slit slicing through gold orbs, crackling at the edges like static.

Rohder crashed to the floor as the door smashed in and Andreu stood breathless, pointing his sword at the thing still waving a turgid erection in the air lay on the bed.