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When it was over he let go of Daniel and closed his eyes as he tried to catch his
breath. His legs felt weak and wobbly and he wondered if he d embarrass himself by
collapsing at Daniel s feet. Daniel climbed his legs, using his hands on Harry s thighs to
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gain purchase as he stood up. Then he pressed full against Harry, bare cock to bare cock
and kissed him roughly. Harry smiled against his mouth at the taste of his cum on
Daniel s lips. He d never wanted to own anyone the way he wanted to own Daniel. To
walk down the street with a possessive hand on his back, daring the world to condemn
them. He wanted to kiss him in the middle of Bond Street just like this. He sucked
Daniel s tongue and pressed his open mouth against Daniel s, forcing his mouth open
wider so he could take Harry s rough caress. Daniel moaned, as Harry d known he
would.
Harry broke their kiss to nuzzle Daniel s neck. He loved the way he smelled right
after they were intimate.  What brought this about? Where have you been the last two
days? he asked against the rough skin just under Daniel s chin. He hadn t shaved
today. Why?
 More intelligence gathering, he murmured.  I just missed you while I was gone,
is all.
 Don t do that, Harry said, standing tall to look Daniel in the eye.  Don t dismiss
me. If you re upset about something, tell me. I didn t flinch when you told me about
LaRoche, did I? I know you have a dark side, Daniel. I ve seen it. I can take it.
 I don t want it to touch you, Daniel said, moving away and straightening his
clothes.  You are my escape from that.
 Escape? Harry asked, a chill racing down his spine.  Is that all I am? Just an
escape? He shoved his shirt into his pants.  A convenient prick? I thought I was more.
Foolish me. The hypocrisy of his words wasn t lost on him, but he d given up caring
about what was right or wrong. It meant nothing next to his feelings for Daniel.
 Dammit, Harry, Daniel bit out.  You are everything. He gestured around them.
 This place is unreal. He changed his motion to gesture between the two of them.
 This is real.
 Am I interrupting?
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Daniel jerked around to face the threat, but Harry wrapped his arms around him
and yanked him back against his chest before he could pull out a weapon. He d
recognized the voice as that Tarrant fellow who d been following him about.  Yes, he
answered rudely. He glared over Daniel s shoulder at the smaller man. He tightened his
hold on Daniel, making it clear they were intimate. He wasn t sure why he did it. To
prove he wasn t ashamed, he supposed, and to mark his territory. And maybe because
their argument had frightened him. He shouldn t push. Daniel would use it to pull
away, and he couldn t stand that.
 Harry, Daniel ground out quietly. He was stiff in Harry s arms, and Harry could
feel his hand still inside his jacket, still going for a weapon, probably his knife. He
needn t have bothered. Harry could tell Tarrant did not have violence on his mind.
 Hush, he told Daniel quietly. To his surprise, Daniel obeyed.
 Sorry, Tarrant said, and he sounded amused.  I waited until you were done.
Daniel glared at Tarrant from Harry s arms.  You bastard. You watched us?
Tarrant nodded, unashamed.  Yes. It s not the first time. It s been very educational.
Do you suppose if I got my own young lieutenant, Steinberg, that I d feel better? It
seems to have done wonders for you.
 If you re anything like Daniel, I m sure there s a lieutenant or two around here
who would be glad to oblige, Harry offered, squeezing Daniel a little tighter to keep
him from angrily replying.
Tarrant laughed and Daniel gave a little start, his eyes widening. Harry got the
impression Tarrant didn t do that often.  I shall try to be more like him, then. He
turned his back to them.  Come on.
Harry let Daniel go and winked at him to soothe his ruffled feathers. He nodded at
Tarrant with a question on his face and Daniel shrugged as he looked at Tarrant s back
in bewilderment.  You really shouldn t turn your back on us, Daniel said.  It s not
very smart.
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Tarrant shrugged just as Daniel had a moment ago.  Ashbury won t let you kill
me, he said practically.  He s not as jaded as you and I. Honor still means something
to him. Are you coming? He looked at them over his shoulder.
 I think honor still means something to both of you, as well, Harry replied.  At
least I hope so. He felt like the worst hypocrite. Did honor mean anything to him
anymore if it came between him and Daniel? He was afraid of the answer to that
question and so avoided it.
 Tarrant does not speak for me, Daniel assured him.  I have honor when it is
warranted.
Tarrant laughed again.  I don t think you re allowed to turn it on and off when it
suits you, he told Daniel, looking forward again.  Honor is one of those pesky things
you re supposed to have all the time.
 How inconvenient, Daniel said, frowning.  I take it back.
Harry changed the subject.  What do you want, Tarrant? he asked.  Is it James
again?
 No, actually, it s your commanding officer, Ashbury. He s looking for you. I sent
him in the wrong direction and came to get you.
Harry quickly donned his shako and tried to brush the wrinkles from his uniform.
 Damn me, why didn t you say so? Randal will have my hide if he sees me like this.
Daniel made an odd face.  I doubt it. His tone implied some knowledge that Harry
was not privy to.
 What does that mean? he asked, curious as to what Daniel might know.
 Nothing, he said.  What do you suppose he wants?
It infuriated Harry when Daniel avoided answering his questions. He shrugged,
hiding his irritation.  Nothing probably. He most likely wants to go over tomorrow s
duty list or something. Or inspect my sword. He wagged his brows at Tarrant who
laughed again.
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Samantha Kane
 Stop doing that, Daniel told Tarrant with a frown.  It s macabre. You never
laugh.
 I m trying new things, Tarrant said.  These young lieutenants are a jolly lot.
 We are jolly, Harry agreed and Daniel rolled his eyes.  But we prefer the dark
and deadly type.
 Really? Tarrant asked with an intrigued look.  I can do that.
 Yes, we know, Daniel said sarcastically. Harry just laughed and went in search of
Captain Randal.
Tarrant was practically chattering like a magpie as he accompanied Daniel back to
camp. Which meant he was speaking in actual sentences and had said more than four or
five words. For someone who wasn t much of a talker this was akin to a miracle.
 There s one. They d stopped just within the tree line, hidden from sight of the
camp, and Tarrant pointed across the clearing.
 There s one what? Daniel asked in irritation. He couldn t stop wondering what
Randal wanted with Harry. He had a feeling something was wrong. He should find
Simon. Simon had a preternatural sense about things like that. He d know if they ought
to strap themselves down for imminent disaster.
 A lieutenant. Tarrant sounded very pleased with himself.
 What lieutenant? Daniel asked, his patience wearing thin.
 Just a lieutenant. His name is Maron. I ve been meeting quite a few of them.
Daniel stared first at Maron and then at Tarrant in dawning horror.  You just
picked one randomly? As if he was a debutant at a ball?
Tarrant scoffed.  Of course not. I ve simply been& mingling. Isn t that what it s
called? I ve been meeting people. He tipped his head to the side as he observed the [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]