Glimpses by Lynn Flewelling Page B

of his thighs. He cursed
softly in delight as Alec traced the arch of his foot with his
tongue. Then he kissed him from throat to navel, soft blond hair
raising gooseflesh as it brushed Seregil’s skin, but stopped just
short of Seregil’s cock.
    Hesitant, or revenge? Seregil wondered with
amusement. It soon proved to be neither as Alec licked the tip and
closed his hand around the shaft, stroking him in a perfect
rhythm.
    All too quickly the ecstasy shook through
Seregil in waves, pulling a strangled snarl of pleasure from deep
in his chest as he came hard and long in Alec’s hand. Helplessly
undone, he laid there, chest heaving, as Alec lay down beside
him.
    He found Alec’s hand and gripped it. “Thank
you.”
    Alec grinned, looking rather proud of
himself.
    Happy. Seregil felt so damn happy. The
despair and self pity of the night before seemed like a bad dream.
They lay there together for a while, listening to the night breeze
and the beating of each other’s hearts. When his head finally
stopped spinning, Seregil rolled on top of Alec and kissed his way
down the side of his lover’s neck. “Your turn.”
     
    ***
     
    The night candle burned down to the socket
and guttered out before they fell, sated, against the bolsters,
sweat cooling on their skin. Alec yawned widely, eyelids already
heavy. “Sorry.”
    Seregil gave him a fond smile. “Nothing to
apologize for, talí.” Turning on his side, he pulled Alec back
against his chest and kissed him on the back of the head.
“Everything was perfect. Go to sleep.”
    Alec was, almost before Seregil had finished
speaking. But Seregil lay awake a little longer, thinking of all
the times they’d nearly lost each other. But Alec’s scent and heat
soothed away the dark thoughts.
    “Forever, talí,” he vowed softly. “No one but
you.”
     

     
    ***
     
    Something woke Seregil just before dawn. As
he lay there with Alec asleep beside him, the sense of happiness
was even stronger, like being filled with sunlight. He’d never felt
like this before. It took a moment to realize that it wasn’t only
his own emotions he was feeling. It was almost as if he could feel
a second heartbeat under his ribs.
    Alec stirred beside him, then his eyes flew
open in obvious surprise. “Seregil?”
    “You feel it, too?”
    Alec sat up, one hand pressed to his chest,
just below his throat. “What is this? I feel—you!”
    Laughing, Seregil pulled Alec down into his
arms, heart overflowing with shared joy. “The bond. The talímenios
bond. Our spirits are joined. Chypta Aura! I didn’t think I’d ever
experience it.”
    “Really?”
    Seregil felt a twinge of a disappointment not
his own. It was a little unnerving, really. This would take some
getting used to. “No, I didn’t mean it that way, talí. It’s just
that I never dared think you and I would end up this way.”
    “Can you hear my thoughts?”
    “No, it’s not like that, but I can feel how
you feel.”
    “Me, too.”
    Seregil stroked Alec’s cheek. “It’s
beautiful.”
    Alec closed his eyes and nodded.
    “As I understand it, the sensations probably
won’t be this strong all the time. But the bond will be there for
as long as we love each other.”
    Alec snuggled closer. “I don’t plan on that
changing, so I guess you’re stuck with me.”
    “Well, I can only think of one response to
that.”
    “Oh? Oh!”
     

     
    ***
     
    When they woke for the second time, Alec
could hear the clatter of dishes and fire irons in the house
beyond.
    “We’ve missed breakfast,” Seregil said with
yawn.
    Alec reeked of sex and his bladder was full,
but suddenly the thought of facing their friends was daunting,
especially in this condition.
    Seregil understood without being told.
Perhaps it was the bond again. “Get dressed,” he whispered.
    Together they climbed out the bedroom window
and snuck into the unattended stable for their horses. They didn’t
bother with saddles, but rode bareback up to the otter pond