The Harem Master (47 page)

"Rest, my king," Demir said.

"You too," Ihsan replied, but the words were mumbled, and then smothered by a yawn, and then he was curling up against all that delightful warmth and succumbing easily to sleep.

He cracked his eyes open sometime later to be greeted by dark and candlelight. Haluk's soft snores filled the room, Sabah curled up with him at the edge of the sitting area. Ihsan stood and stretched, looked around until he spied Kitt buried under all the blankets he'd stolen though the room was only pleasantly cool. But of Demir…

The soft clack of glass against wood drew his attention, and he turned to see Demir sitting at the table, sipping wine and reading over a bundle of papers. "What is that?" Ihsan asked quietly, padding across the room to sit next to him.

Demir looked up, amusement on his face. "My harem contract."

"What?" Ihsan took the papers when Demir offered them, rolling his eyes as he immediately recognized Sabah's handwriting. "I do not think Kitt's threat to steal you from your bed was as idle as I first believed. I think I should beat them all for conspiring against me." He smiled as he twisted around to glance at the sprawling figures still fast asleep nearby. Turning back, he set the papers down, fingers resting on them, fighting an urge to drum nervously. "I am honored you are with us, that you would want to put up with so many reckless striplings." He looked up, feeling almost shy, and smiled slightly.

Demir smiled back. "And I feared you would not want an old man in your midst. I will be feeble and gray long before the rest of you."

"Oh, I am fairly certain I will beat all of you to feeble," Ihsan said with a grin. "Let us hope there are no more sharp objects in my future. My poor face can only endure so much abuse." He reached up to touch his scars, managing a brief laugh.

He froze, startled, when Demir's fingers covered his own, looked up, and could not breathe for the intensity in Demir's eyes. Had Demir always looked at him so? Surely he would have noticed. "You have never been less than beautiful to me, my king. I admit I paid little mind to the boy you were when you ran away, but I was never able to look away from the man who returned."

Ihsan tried to form a reply to that because he was absolutely certain he hadn't earned such faith, but the thoughts fell away as Demir drew him into a kiss, cupping the sides of his head and gently holding him in place. Ihsan reached up and clung to Demir's wrists, gave a low, needy whine. He went easily when Demir tugged, practically falling into Demir's lap as they shifted, spreading across his heavy thighs. Wrapping his arms around Demir's neck, burying his fingers in that long, soft hair, Ihsan kissed him back fervently, exploring every dip and curve of his mouth, tasting wine and salt.

When they finally drew apart, Ihsan could not recall what they'd been talking about. He spanned his fingers across Demir's cheek. "I think you are far too good for me, Harem Master, but I'm selfish enough to want to keep you."

"Then it's a good thing you finally asked if you may," Demir replied.

Ihsan smiled and brushed another soft kiss across his mouth before reluctantly climbing off his lap before he eschewed work entirely to do what his cock wanted. He looked over all the work waiting for him and sighed much like he had earlier, gladly let himself be distracted by the sound of pouring wine. When Demir offered up the dish, Ihsan accepted, heart lurching again.

He had not dared to truly believe that Demir might join them, and even now that he was there, seamlessly falling into the role of concubine, Ihsan still feared he might wake up at any moment. "Thank you."

Demir nodded slightly, a bare smile curving his mouth, but his eyes unmistakably warm. He took a sip of wine then set the dish on the table. Reaching beneath the table, he picked up something that clinked and rattled, then laid it on the floor in front of Ihsan.

The keys to the harem hall.

"I meant to present those to you earlier," Demir said. "I did not anticipate being so quickly distracted."

Ihsan laughed. "Indeed." He picked up the keys and rifled slowly through them—paused as he came to one that was small and new enough to still be shiny. It matched exactly the key he carried at all times, and other copies that were carried by Euren, Kitt, and Captain Fatih. A couple of days after their adventures in the city, Haluk had redone all the locks on the secret entrances, occasionally pulling Kitt to help him. When they were done, Kitt had taken the master key and gone off to see to the making of copies. He'd never said what he did with the fifth one, but Ihsan hadn't needed to ask. "This one doesn't need to be returned."

"I've hardly need of it now," Demir said.

Shrugging, mouth quirking, Ihsan removed the key from the ring and held it out. "Keep it anyway. Hide it, wear it, do whatever you want with it." Unexpected heat curled through him at the idea of Demir wearing the key. He'd said it flippantly, but once the idea sunk in… Demir wearing his key, perhaps hanging from a band around his throat… Let everyone wonder what it meant. It would probably never occur to any of them that he wore a key that granted him a great deal of power, the freedom to vanish whenever he wanted.

Demir's mouth tipped up at one corner as he reached out and took the key, fingers drawing away slowly. Ihsan had a feeling he'd let every last one of his thoughts show on his face. "As you wish, my king."

It shouldn't be so heady, the way Demir said those words. But the others had the same effect, so he didn't know why he thought Demir would be any different. If the rest of Tavamara knew how much power these four men had over the king, there'd be a fresh call to disband the harems.

"You are making it impossible to concentrate on my work," Ihsan said, crawling forward and leaning up, still braced on hands and knees, to press a kiss to Demir's addictive mouth. If Kitt's mouth was the potent wine he couldn't stop drinking, Demir's was the lush bed he couldn't crawl out of. He pushed gently, gave a soft, pleased growl when Demir immediately acquiesced.

The black skirt had slipped to bare one of Demir's legs, and Ihsan was more than happy to run his fingers over the beautiful tattoos, slowly smooth his fingers along the soft skin, enjoying the tension of the muscles beneath as Demir reacted to his touch. Lowering his head, he wrapped his mouth around one of the gold rings in Demir's nipples, tugging it lightly with his teeth. That got him a hitch of breath, fingers dusting over his hair before Demir's hand fell away again. Releasing the right nipple, Ihsan dragged his mouth over to the left and worked on that one until Demir was moving restlessly beneath him.

Ihsan gave the ring one last tongue, gave a final lick to that beautiful skin, then sat up just enough to look down at Demir's face, the dark, lust-saturated eyes, the unguarded expression on his face, the tousled hair, and flushed skin. "You're a fool if you don't thing kings would do anything for you."

Demir's mouth twisted. "They may do anything to
have
me, but I know of only one who would do anything
for
me."

No words could form an adequate reply to that, so Ihsan settled for kissing him until his own lips throbbed. Then he trailed his mouth back down all that beautiful skin. Demir smelled faintly of soap, so he must have bathed at some point. "Did you sleep at all, Harem Master?"

"I'm not Harem Master any longer," Demir replied. "And a little, but I am not used to sleeping for long periods of time. I'm sure in my new post I'll resume the habit."

"I wouldn't be too sure of that," Ihsan said, laughing against Demir's skin. He paused when he reached Demir's stomach, pulling on the ring there, teasing with teeth and tongue. Demir's hips rolled, pushing into the touches.

Slipping further down, Ihsan nudged and rubbed at Demir's trapped cock, finding the piercing in the tip and toying with it, liking the groans that earned him. Sitting up again, he untied Demir's skirt and cast it aside, then wrapped one hand around Demir's cock. He used his other hand to tug gently at the piercing in it, his own cock throbbing at the way Demir moaned. "You could have stopped the trouble before it began with a single gold chain vanishing into your waistband, broken every mind in the palace with the power of imagination."

Demir shuddered. "The tattoos usually drew enough looks, but if you want it done, it shall be so."

Ihsan bent to kiss him, hard and wet and hungry. "I want you happy. The rest doesn't matter. My ramblings and imaginings are only those. Do not indulge me too far. I might become a spoiled brat."

Demir buried fingers in Ihsan's hair and drew him into another devouring kiss, free hand sliding along his skin, pushing between the openings of Ihsan's robe to wrap around his cock and stroke it with confident, knowing movements. Ihsan grunted, whimpered, lost in the kiss, in bringing Demir off and the hand working his cock.

And then it was over, cries muffled by sloppy kisses as they made a fresh mess over each other. Ihsan managed to remain braced over Demir, but only just. "I am never going to get anything done with all four of you around. Three was hard enough."

Laughing, Demir lapped lazily at his lips, tormenting and soothing them all at once. "Then you'd better hope you never find a fifth, my prince."

"Mmm," Ihsan agreed, kissing the corner of his mouth before moving to lazily nibble along his jawline, down his throat. They should clean up, get properly dressed, but it was, for the moment, still vastly more pleasant to remain there enjoying—

A sharp rap at the door made him jerk, look up. "I suppose being left in peace for a night was too much to ask for. Damn." He drew back, grimacing at the sticky mess on his skin before pulling his robe closed. Demir sat up, far less able to hide the semen on his skin, but he seemed unaffected by it as he sat beside Ihsan.

"Come in," Ihsan called out.

A guard in a black sash stepped into the room and dropped to one knee. "Beg pardon, Majesty, but Lord Cenk bid me deliver these papers to you tonight, said you had been waiting for them."

"Yes, thank you. Leave—" Ihsan broke off as Sabah came into view and walked smoothly to the kneeling guard, accepting the papers he held out.

When Sabah reached him, Ihsan took the papers and held out Demir's keys. Looking at the guard he said, "Deliver these keys straight to Lord Cenk. Tell him that the harem hall is officially closed, and the council can decide what to do with the abandoned rooms. Let it be known to all that Lord Demir has joined my harem."

The guard's head shot up, eyes widening as he finally noticed Demir, but he immediately bowed his head and said, "Yes, Your Majesty." Taking the keys, he rose, bowed, and departed.

Sabah chuckled and walked back over to them, settling behind Demir, hands wrapping around to splay across his chest. "I know what will be the favorite gossip tomorrow. But I suppose you're long used to it, hmm, Harem Master?"

"I'm not…" Demir broke off, shook his head, a smile twitching at his mouth and finally winning out. "I'm used to lingering eyes and gossip, yes." He looked at Ihsan and covered one of Sabah's hands with his own. Movement came from the sitting alcove, and they all watched as Haluk and Kitt joined them. Demir softly finished, "This is the first time I've felt like I've some true protection against it."

"I hope you never again have cause to doubt that," Ihsan said and leaned in to kiss him briefly, drawing back only so he could watch, warm and happy, as the others took their turn sealing the promise with a kiss.

Euren laughed and clapped as the juggler finished performing and nodded at Gulden to offer her a dish of wine. Beside Euren, Asli offered a dish of wine, dark pink against bright blue glass. Euren accepted it gratefully and chased it with a soft kiss to Asli's lips, let it linger a bit, enjoying the thrum of wine and want.

A hand rested on the small of her back, fingers moving in tiny, teasing circles. Euren turned to steal a kiss from Ihsan. "You look pleased with yourself."

"Why shouldn't I?" Ihsan asked. "My lovely wife is having a wonderful banquet, and Demir is about to perform."

"Oh, I see." She gave him a playful shove. "You are delighted to use me to see your concubine oiled up and playing with fire."

Ihsan sniffed. "I simply appreciate the happy coincidence of two events."

"Mm." Euren pinched him, then tugged him in for another kiss before turning back to accept more wine from a giggling Asli.

Nearby, Gulden was attending Meltem, a not even remotely subtle indication of Euren's favor. Next to them, Irmak was being served by Canan, as she'd not yet asked anyone to join her harem—though Euren suspected there was a healer who might eventually be asked a question.

Euren's eyes lingered on Meltem, dressed in dark pink and bronze, a wine-flush to her cheeks. She wore large, dangling earrings, and hair was bound up in intricate twists and knots, threaded with pink quartz and diamond beads. Since her brother had left with Altan and the rest of Cobra had returned to the Desert, she had settled completely into court life, though she was still a little shy about the elaborate clothes and being served food and drink. If she missed Desert life, it was not readily apparent.

Meltem looked up, caught Euren's eye, and offered a shy, happy smile.

Ihsan's soft chuckle filled Euren's ear, his lips brushing it, fingers once more teasing along her back. "You're not being very subtle about wanting to fuck the Cobra, my heart."

"Am I supposed to be?" Euren drawled, turning to bite playfully at his lips. "Because I was only following my dear husband's example in the way he used to make eyes at the former Harem Master."

On Ihsan's other side, Haluk laughed. "That point to my queen, and I think we all know better than to follow his examples."

"Don't take her side," Ihsan grumbled, but he was smiling as Haluk kissed him.

Before any of them could say more, a hush followed by a wave of whispers swept over the crowded pavilion. Dusk was just beginning to fall, making Demir all the more beautiful and mysterious as he walked to the middle of the pavilion and dipped into an elegant bow. "An honor to perform for you, my queen, my king, honored guests."