Page 13 of Twenty-One Arrow Salute

Hernan joined me. He placed his open palm behind his ear, bending its pointy tip at me with his index finger and cocking his head while at it. “Say it,” he demanded.

I had to work hard to combat a smirk. He looked fucking adorable in his moment of triumph. It left me breathless. “Fine.” I heaved a heavy sigh and rolled my eyes, all for show. “Yes, I admit you’ve…had an excellent teacher.”

His laugh slowly transitioned into a smile. “You truly are an arse.” He reached to touch the top of my shoulder. “Thank you, Verhan. I owe you.”

My name on his lips combined with the warmth of his hand on my body fogged out my brain, stirring up a disturbance in my thoughts and my trousers alike. I swallowed. “Don’t mention it. Unless, well…”

“Yes?”

“… you’ll be willing to do something for me?”

“Seems only fair.” He shrugged. “What do you want me to do?”

“Kiss me.” I hadn’t planned on saying it, for the most part. But since it popped into my head and out of my mouth, I figured I might as well follow through on it.

“W-what?” He looked even more appealing all flustered and googly-eyed. Despite the uncertainness of his voice, I didn’t miss the way the tip of his tongue darted out to wet his lower lip. And how his body leant towards mine that tiny bit more. Or how his fingers rested on me more firmly.

He’s not saying no. He wants this.

I grew more confident. “You heard me. I’d like you to kiss me.” My tone remained calm even though I was tensed inside, on edge with anticipation. Moving a step closer enabled me to snake my arms around his waist and pull him to me, manoeuvring his hand so that it embraced my neck.

He felt so good against me that it made me shiver. Weak-headed, I brushed his temple with my nose and inhaled. It was a mistake. In seconds, I was fully hard and aching.

Kissing wasn’t an activity I engaged in, no matter who I partnered with for fun times. It came across as too private, too messy, too…vulnerable. It didn’t go well with rushed handjobs in the bathhouse or the quick shags I typically opted for after duty. But holding Hernan, I found myself seeking—pining for—the very contact I tended to abstain from. As though his closeness unlocked something in me.

Like a sudden wave, unvoiced desires rushed towards the dam that once held them back, and they cracked it. In seconds, I was dying to have his mouth on me. To taste him. To savour every moment of this new-found yet immediately irresistible intimacy between us. What should’ve driven me away had me panting with want instead. “Come on,” I whispered, drawing him further into my embrace. “Kiss me.”

“C-close your eyes, then,” he breathed, sounding a little panicked.

No sooner had he spoken than my eyelids clamped shut. My nerves hummed like a bowstring at release when his hands clasped both sides of my face.

Dear gods almighty. Oh, bloody hell.

At first, his lips merely brushed mine. A quick press of their plumpness, light as a good quality fletching. Searing nonetheless. The second time, and another one after that, he lingered a tad longer. He was gentle. Hesitant. A little clumsy. Lovely. I remembered that he was more unversed at it than me. And why my chest tightened in possessive longing at the thought of his inexperience was anyone’s guess.

He confirmed my speculation a moment later when he drew away. “Is this all right? I don’t…just do this.”

“It’s perfect. And neither do I,” I rushed to reply, lifting my lashes. I needed him to believe me, to see the truth in my gaze. But he covered my eyes with his fingers so that the pale green of his irises blazed in front of me for a sheer second.

“No! Don’t look,” he let out something akin to a squeal.

A choked laugh escaped me. “I won’t, I promise. But don’t stop.” I gathered him tighter in my arms, protesting the notion of any distance between us. My skin tingled and flushed all over as I arched into him, making him aware of my arousal and acknowledging his in return.

Without hurrying, Hernan slanted his mouth over mine again, opening for me this time, luring me in. So I delved into that wet, soft heat without another thought. Despite the slow, tender start, our lip-lock soon turned more knowing, and eventually, ferocious. I chased his silky tongue, getting thoroughly acquainted with it. I was quick to stamp on the musings about what that nimble muscle could do to other parts of my anatomy. After all, I wanted to avoid staining my crotch like an adolescent Elfling.

At that point, we were both half-gasping, half-moaning into each other, our heartbeats slamming away in unison. Kissing—no, kissing Hernan—felt great, and I committed to it with the enthusiasm of a neophyte. My hands wandered lower, grabbing a—

Achiah’s dramatic kaff-kaff—suggestive of the human illness called consumption, no less—warned us just in time.

Hernan and I jolted as if struck by an invisible whip and staggered away from each other. Our squad leader, as we faced her, pierced us with a look that promised ball-breaking in copious quantity.

Pulse racing in my throat, I reached for my bow, willing my hard-on away. I strived to get my breathing under control.

Hernan, his lips swollen and cheeks suffused with crimson, picked up his weapon the instant Commander Yennés made an appearance from behind the greenery.

All three of us stood at attention, snapped a salute and waited.

Yennés graced us with an icy glower. Few people I’d met matched his menacing ability to enforce obedience. He was a large and handsome Elf, but appeared to function in a perpetual state of inner clench. The sombre way he carried himself emphasised his stark features even further. Capitan Akhini deserved a medal on account of putting up with such a grump on a daily basis. For the sake of the latter, I hoped that whatever the Commander lacked in pleasantness, he compensated for in bedroom skill.