Read Deathless for Free Online Page B

dissatisfaction both.
    “Do you…” He paused, then dropped to his knees by Kas’ legs and plucked the nearest berry, red dark as blood. “Do you know what this is? The word for it?” Kas shook his head, and Myrddin grinned, took a bite of the fruit and kissed Kas with the juice on his lips. “ Strawberry. ” Then he ate the other half, picked another and ate that too, then reached for something else.
    “Blackberries, Kas—” But Kas was already licking Myrddin’s lips for their sweetness, the soft flavor of the fruit, and when he pulled back, his eyes held impatience that was…intent.
    “You are teasing me. Why? You will make me want you, but you will say stop . You will say it again… stop. Wait. ”
    It was the most Kas had yet said all at once, but Myrddin reached up as if he hadn’t heard, pulled down a pear and bit into it once, twice. The juice ran down his chin, onto his chest, dripped over his fingers. Kas licked it up, drop by drop, his tongue hot and velvety. Myrddin shivered, stayed still as Kas’ mouth passed over one nipple, up his throat. Kas paused at his lips for only a moment before he took hold of Myrddin’s hand, grabbed hold of his palm and spilled the fruit from his grip.
    Kas pulled Myrddin’s hand to his mouth, and one at a time curled his tongue around sticky fingers, licking, sucking until Myrddin drew in a heavy breath, reached out to steady himself on Kas’ shoulder. “ Oh . That’s…”
    “Word?”
    The prompt was sly, the humor back in Kas’ voice as if it had never left, and Myrddin grinned faintly. “ Pear . But Kas, you were wrong.”
    “I know.”
    “You…”
    “But you will still say stop.”
    “No—”
    “Yes.”
    “ Kas .” Exasperated, half laughing, he pressed his mouth against Kas’ lips, but Kas pulled back almost at once.
    “Word, love, or no kisses.”
    Myrddin stared at him, mouth open, then shook his head and reached blindly into the leaves, plucked a raspberry and ate it. This time when he kissed Kas, his lover gave in, sought out the taste of the fruit in his mouth, sucked on his tongue and pulled him across his lap. Kas dragged his legs open and made Myrddin straddle his thighs, held him against his chest and kissed him until no hint of sweetness was left.
    His breathing was ragged, but he met Kas’ eyes and licked his own lips compulsively. “ Raspberry .”
    “I like that one.”
    “Kas, I want you to touch me. I want you to touch me again.”
    “ Again , love?” The mocking echo was back in Kas’ voice, but this time Myrddin detected hints of promise, passion—so many things. He looked away from the swallowing blackness of Kas’ gaze, the irises of his eyes indistinguishable from the pupils and his focus impenetrable, undeniable.
    “I—” He keeps calling me that, he keeps saying— Why? But Myrddin knew there was no point in asking. He had tried already, had gotten the only answer he knew he was likely to get, at least for now. “ You call me Kas.” He smiled despite himself. It was the perfect name, more fitting for this one than his own was for him. “Yes. Or I wouldn’t have said it, would I?”
    Kas stared directly at him, held his chin for the second time that day when Myrddin tried to look away. “You said it, but sometimes you—” He stopped, frustrated by the lack of a word he needed, and Myrddin touched his mouth with the tips of his fingers.
    “ I lie . I know.” He shrugged, a gesture that was almost flippant. “Can’t help it. I’m the spring, you know. Lies, secrets, green, they’re all mine. I could tell you—”
    “Not now.”
    Myrddin nodded, agreeing. “More words, then?” He was teasing, but Kas shook his head, more than serious.
    “Not now. I want—”
    “ Sounds, love .” Myrddin meant it to be an echo, mocking just as Kas had been mocking him, but Kas stared at him with sudden light in his eyes, two stars born in the dark spaces.
    With a sudden movement, half lunge, half embrace, Kas