Samhain Publishing Ltd, Ebooks and Books in Print

“Who goes there?” the young man demanded.

Tanis barked, his version of laughter. “A bit late to be inquiring, if you ask me. I could have had your breeches and what you put in them by now if that had been my goal.”

“Tanis of Appin? Is that you?”

Tanis wasn’t surprised that a member of the home guard knew of him. Most of the castle dwellers had heard of the man who brought meat to the Duke’s table during these lean times. However, as he wore hunting garb and with the thick of night upon them, a human’s eye couldn’t pick him out against the dark trees. The man must have zeroed in on his voice, and Tanis’ estimation of him rose another notch.

Athena landed on a dead branch near Tanis’ shoulder. He waited until the rustling leaves quieted before he answered the guard’s question. “Aye.”

“Damn and blast,” the other man said, slapping the water with the flat of his hand. “Do not sneak up on a body like that.”

“How should I sneak up on him then?” Tanis nearly laughed again at the disconcerted look his comment had earned him.

“Best not to do it at all, not if you want to remain on friendly terms with the likes of me.”

Tanis wanted to remain on friendly terms with the naked man wallowing in the hot spring. Very friendly terms. The problem was that he wasn’t certain this man would feel the same way. Having fantasies about sex with another male didn’t mean he desired the real experience, or that Tanis would fit the role of lover even if the young man did desire it. Though his face rarely caused young children to scream in fright, there were other parts of him that sometimes did. Chances were the only satisfaction he’d get out of asking this beauty for a love tussle was confirmation that he was the silly old fool he often called himself.

Yet his body refused to obey the command to walk away. His gaze was busy devouring the long expanse of a well-sculpted chest. His fingers itched to explore the curve of lower back and buttocks that hid below the spring’s surface. A little insistent voice whispered inside his head that this one might be different.

While his internal debate continued, Tanis replied, “I would think you would be more alert, stealing strength from the Duke’s healing waters as you are.”

The guard straightened his shoulders. “There will be enough left over for His Grace when the time comes as there is little of me in need of healing.”

The truth of his boast was self-evident, and Tanis rushed into speech to prevent a telling groan from escaping his lips. “What about now? Is there room for another?”

The young man seemed hesitant, and Tanis’ hopes plummeted to earth like a downed pheasant. However, he was stubborn enough to enter the pool anyway, if just to take advantage of the nature-made bathtub. No doubt he could use a washing after stalking prey through wet underbrush for the last fortnight.

“Plenty, I am sure,” the young man replied after a long pause. “Shall I leave you to it?”

Tanis hid his disappointed expression by bending over to unlace his boots. “I am not so wide that I require all that space to myself.”

“Then you should know the company you keep. My name is Curran Aurick, a member of the Duke’s home guard.” This declaration being made, the young man flipped onto his belly, his large frame disappearing under the black surface giving only a quick glimpse of his finely crafted arse.

Tanis wished there was a harmless way to encourage Curran to show off the rest of his lean frame. Wide shoulders and meaty arms from his swordplay were certainly worthy of appreciation, but Tanis was more curious about what lay below the water’s surface.

Tanis finished removing his boots and then went to work on his leather breeches. Athena watched him with keen curiosity until he stood in naught but a travel-stained brown tunic which hung to his knees. His semi-aroused state would be visible without it, as would the worst of the scars surrounding it. But he’d look like a damned fool if he jumped in with the fabric still on his back. The only reasonable solution that presented itself was to toss the cloth aside as he dove in.

Tanis did so, the sharp heat of the water smacking into his body. The night air had been mild for early autumn. The same could not be said for the hot spring, and he came up with an unmanly yelp.

“Hot, eh?” The guard’s grin indicated that he had once tried the same trick and met with similar results.

“It was not quite so warm when I was last here.”

“You come here often?”

“No.” It had been he who found it, a sanctuary for animals in the area. That was before Luthias became Duke and proclaimed the healing properties of the water should be reserved for his exclusive use. Tanis couldn’t explain the compulsion which urged him to seek it out this night, but he was very glad he had. “His Grace and I do not share the same taste in amusements. I find myself avoiding his presence whenever possible.”

The temperature ranged from scalding to barely tolerable, depending on where he floated. The cooler area happened to be closer to Curran. He didn’t want to crowd the younger man, but he didn’t want to end up with blisters on his balls either. His new friend was just going to have to settle for sharing his end of the pool or abandon it altogether.

Curran shifted his weight but didn’t move away. “Was your hunt successful?”

“There will be meat for the Duke’s table, if that is what you are asking.”

“Thank the Lord for that.”

Tanis bent over with the pretense of splashing water on his face to hide his bitter expression. “His desires are important to you?”

Curran laughed, a lively, happy sound that rocked Tanis to the core. “I have yet to meet him so I cannot know his desires. My question was self-indulgent as I look forward to breaking my fast more when I know there will be meat as well as the cook’s porridge to stick to my ribs.”

Tanis smiled in comprehension, and then turned his attentions to removing the dirt and sweat from his body. His own rough palms did most of the work since he had no soap or clean grit to aid him. “What brings you out this night? Surely there are places to bathe within the castle walls?”

“Aye, but always under the watchful eye of a bevy of servants or men of my own rank. I prefer to have a measure of privacy when I disrobe, even if I must break a few rules to find it.”

Tanis finished his chore and relaxed against the edge of the pool, his arms spread wide on the cool, dew-coated grass to prevent him from sinking. “And how do you feel about catching the rough side of the Captain’s tongue when you are caught breaking the law?”

“Why worry over that when I have yet to be caught?” Curran gave him a roguish grin.

Ah, to be that young and full of himself again. Tanis reckoned he had a decade or so on the guardsman in years, but a lifetime of bitter experience had hardened him into a much older being on the inside. It soothed some of the troubled patches of his soul to see this carefree man smile with such ease.

“I bet you enjoy the skulking about as much as the privacy,” Tanis said to him.

Curran nodded. “I’ve been trained to attack and defend inside the castle walls, but the Captain finds little reason to practice concealment. Doing so on my own is the only way to polish the skills my mentors have left out.”

A bark of laughter came unbidden to Tanis’ lips. The idea that men wearing metal and leather could hide among the corridors of grey stone was ludicrous. Maybe the light of the full moon had tainted the man’s brains into thinking the impossible was the reverse.

“You find my attempts at concealment laughable?” There was a definite challenge in his tone.

“No, no. ‘Tis not the quest to improve your skill which amuses me so much as the environs in which you choose to practice it.”

Sulking a bit, Curran replied, “We cannot all be one with forest dwellers. I do all right.”

“Is that an offer to demonstrate what skills you possess?”