Tiiran leaned to the side to curve against Orin’s leg, taking Nikoly with him. “But, Orin…”
“Oh no,” Orin interrupted, tone pleased despite his words. “‘But, Orin’, he says.”
Tiiran scowled sleepily, petting Orin’s knee, petting Nikoly too, shivering a little because he was hot and the floor was cold. “Want you both pleased. Can’t offer much, but I can do that. Can try.”
Orin leaned down. “No other ducklings, cockwarmers, random pretties, or anyone else who wants to bend to my will in bed could compare.” He sank his fingers into Tiiran’s hair, then apparently addressed Nikoly. “Does he have any work that actually needs to get done right now?”
“We’re always behind these days.” Nikoly’s voice was still rough. Stillused, Tiiran thought with a worry followed by a thrill. “A few hours today won’t matter. If he means with the extra projects he gave himself while he was sick and trying to avoid me, then….”
Orin laughed outright. “How did that go for him?”
“Fuck off,” Tiiran muttered, before scooting closer to Orin to pet the sturdy thigh that had supported him through his spanking.
“Perhaps those projects should wait anyway,” Nikoly went on delicately, speaking quieter when Tiiran reached out to take his hand. Not for any reason. Tiiran simply wanted to hold it. But Nikoly let him and even briefly pressed their joined hands to his hot cheek. “Cleaning out the offices of the Master Keepers is risky.”
“Not even using them,” Tiiran reminded him with one moment of sharp clarity. Then he thought that Orin’s hand felt nice. “Never been touched so much,” he remarked, and the other two went quiet. Tiiran let his eyes dip closed.
When he opened them again, he was crushed against Nikoly, half in his lap, half on threadbare cushions. He rested on Nikoly’s shoulder with Nikoly’s chin atop his head until Nikoly moved to take the cup Orin pressed into his hands.
Orin pressed one into Tiiran’s hands too, but didn’t let go, guiding it up to Tiiran’s mouth with noises of encouragement. The tea in the cup was bitter and cold, but Tiiran was parched the moment it hit his lips and drank it all. Then Orin urged Tiiran’s to rest against Nikoly again.
“I can fetch more tea,” Nikoly offered. “Proper tea, and something for you to eat.”
“Shush.” Orin was lovely when he was soft. Tiiran closed his eyes and shuffled in to get more comfortable in the chair.
“You must want your seat back,” Nikoly tried.
Orin came closer; Tiiran could feel his heat, then the brush of Orin’s leg against his knee.
“Did no one take a moment in your training to remind you that others might sometimes serve you?” The tone or the words themselves made Nikoly shiver. Tiiran turned in toward him to nuzzle his shoulder. “That they should, before you give away all of yourself? Tiiran has declared you’re special. I doubt he said it because you bring him tea.”
Nikoly swallowed. “I have always wanted to serve.”
“Oh, that I believe.” Orin did not sound amused now, but Tiiran couldn’t muster the strength to open his eyes to check.
“Orin,” he warned, then fell silent for Orin’s fingers in his hair.
“Competent and friendly, with some money to protect you,” Orin carried on, devastatingly gentle, “they left you here on your own, where you have of course done well. But a devoted thing like you, with your family and master far away, and no one to offer kind words outside of bed? That was cruel of them, though you might disagree. I can see you rushing to defend them, loyal pup that you are.”
“Iaskedto come here,” Nikoly answered. He could be stubborn. Tiiran hadn’t forgotten.
“Finish your tea and I will bring you more,” Orin said, either unconcerned with Nikoly’s stubbornness orveryconcerned with it. “You didn’t realize you were a stray until Tiiran said it.”
Nikoly sucked in a breath.
Orin was as merciless with him as he was with Tiiran at his most tangled. “Why else would you be here, now? Why look to him as you do, except you were drawn to his warmth? But fire can wound, and he did when he said that, didn’t he? He worries hewilldo that, because hedoesdo that, often with no malicious intent. He merely speaks the truth, as he sees it. Thepainfultruth, as most others see it. Shush.”Thatmust have been for Tiiran, who got Orin’s hand in his hair again. “And now I worry for you, Tiiran’s lost, lovely flower. He didn’t mean to destroy you.”
“I know,” Nikoly answered in a whisper, curling an arm around Tiiran’s back.
“He told you to look out forme, didn’t he?” Now, Orin was amused. “I’m not the danger here.”
“Not the only danger,” Nikoly returned swiftly.
Orin laughed. “He chose well. I should’ve known.”
Nikoly shifted as if uncomfortable. “Hechose?”
“Oh, you had no choice.” Orin said it as if he was revealing a secret. “From the first moment he used his fire to shield you, you were his. And, I imagine, seeing how much care he needs was a draw as well. You were helpless. It’s Tiiran with the power here, pet.”
