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The Seduction of Seleste

from the world of the mating season

Baby

Chapter 43

The inside of Taigi's two storey hut was as beautiful as the outside. Intricately designed weapons hung on display on the walls, baskets of blue flowers dangled from the rafters. The chairs were covered in lush white bear fur, and there was even a double-wide chair that Taigi called a couch (while he grumbled that the slave girl had better not be caught sitting on her ass while his brother was injured). It, too, was covered in white bear fur, and pillows woven with bright designs lay on it.

An immense color portrait of Gosheven holding a blue bird towered on the wall opposite the front entrance, and Keme stared at it in amazement: either Gosheven used to be a stunning beauty, or the painter had flattered her a great deal. In the portrait she appeared younger, with a slender waist and high breasts, round hips, plump buttocks, and shapely thighs that gaped near her pelvis. Her tail clung to the shape of her hip, and one small, pretty paw held her shawl closed as the other lifted the bird to a twilight sky. Her curly mane was so long in the portrait that it would have fallen to her knees, except it was blowing magnificently in the wind. The bird was spreading its wings and bending its legs, as if to fly away. Gosheven eyes gleamed with joy as she watched it.

Keme stopped short and just stared at the portrait. No _wonder _Taigi had wanted Gosheven. He didn't know a thing about who she was, but what she was made her wife material for any young prince. In fact, the only strange thing about the portrait was the fact that Gosheven did not have a lick of jewelry on her body.

A fire pit encircled in precious stones sat in the center of the room, around which were stretched fur mats. Keme could spot no cauldrons, no pots, no cooking utensils, and had to remind himself that the richest wolves had kitchens: it had been so in the plains and also in the sun village.

Keme barely had a glimpse of Seleste before she was whisked upstairs by Gosheven, who was intent on getting Seleste into some clean clothes. Keme watched Gosheven's wide bottom bounce up the stairs and wondered if the female even had clothes that would fit Seleste. If the portrait of her younger self held any truth to it, perhaps she did.

"Enayape!" Gosheven called. "Wake up, girl, I need you!"

The little slave girl had been hunched in a corner. She started, then turned toward the stairs with her head down. She was no longer holding the empty basket, so her bound paws hung in front of her lifelessly.

"No, darling, Enayape has to go fetch a shaman for Honi!" Taigi called.

Hearing her master's words, Enayape wheeled about and hurried out the front curtain without having to be told. She brushed past Keme and Talisa, and Keme felt another surge of sympathy to see the miserable look on her face.

"Come, Baby, this way," Taigi said, and it took Keme a second to realize Taigi was talking to Honiahaka.

"Send me Talisa then!" Gosheven bellowed from upstairs. "I can't dress this poor girl by myself!"

"You can't do anything by yourself," Taigi said under his breath. He said it in a weary, amused sort of way as he led Honiahaka to a low table near the fire. He and Honiahaka knelt beside the table. Goblets and plates were on it, but he elbowed them off. Honiahaka winced as he stretched his injured arm across the table, and Taigi stroked his mane in sympathy.

"Talisa!" Gosheven called impatiently. "You heard me, girl!"

Talisa grumbled under her breath as she went up the stairs. Keme saw Taigi glare at her as she passed him. There was enough hatred in his face that Keme wouldn't have been surprised had he spit on her, but there was lust there as well. And something else . . . love? His eyes softened as he watched Talisa disappear up the stairs until finally, he looked away.

Keme looked at Honiahaka. The sun chief had noticed his brother's expression as well. He looked dismally at his arm, and Taigi, thinking that Honiahaka was simply in pain, stroked his mane again and told him Enayape would return quickly with a shaman.

"Or I'll hang her hide to dry and get a new slave," Taigi added darkly.

Keme scowled. Why did Taigi _hate _that poor slave girl so? He set his spear in the rack near the front curtain, then moved toward the fire pit and sat on one of the fur mats there. He figured it was the best place for him to sit without any drama: had he sat on the couch, he was sure to be cursed-out for acting "out of station."

"Aw, so you _do _know how to bend your legs," Taigi said to Keme.

Keme looked up to find Taigi watching him with the typical superior disgust. But there was lust in his eyes as well. The prince smiled with dark desire. Keme felt a thump in his throat and looked away.

"Becoming chief has served you well, Honi," Taigi said. "A lovely wife, two bodyguards of exquisite beauty. Do you take that one to your bed like the last one? Or hasn't that slut Talisa dragged you into it yet? Where _is _Kota?"

Honiahaka was looking more miserable the more Taigi spoke. He blinked furiously, as if he was blinking back tears. Seeing this, Taigi's face softened, and he stroked his brother's mane.

"I'm sorry, Baby," Taigi said to Honiahaka. "I know you and Kota were good friends, weren't you. What happened to him? You look like you'll collapse from the very mention of him."

Honiahaka shook his head dismally. "It was terrible, Taigi," he said in a low, trembling voice. "A storm wiped us out. Destroyed the ship. So many d-died . . ."

"My god," Taigi whispered sympathetically.

"I held him in my arms," Honiahaka said and clutched his fist on an invisible ball. "Held him close as he breathed his last breath --!" His voice broke and he slowly lowered his forehead to the table. Sobs came pouring out of him without end, as if he had been holding back since the day it happened.

Keme watched Honiahaka and felt terrible. He had never seen the sun chief cry like that - so _hard _and with such emotion. Never. It was as if, with his brother there to comfort him, all his walls were coming down.

Taigi looked miserable to see his brother weeping. He lowered his head to the table as well, and as he stroked Honiahaka's mane, he whispered words to him Keme could not hear. After a while, Keme realized he was singing a lullaby: Taigi was singing to Honiahaka in the moon wolf tongue. Honiahaka's sobs became softer but were just as wretched and torn as the heart giving them out. They both sat up, and he nuzzled his nose in Taigi's neck. Taigi held him tightly and continued to sing, and in that touching moment, Keme suddenly found it very easy to believe that Taigi hadn't always been so bad.

Taigi's soft lullaby continued, and as Keme closed his eyes and listened, he was taken back in time, back through the many days of one peril after another, to Enya and Yuri's cool clay hut. Being healed by sorcery was the most painful thing Keme had ever experienced. It had been more painful than the bears raping him, more painful than Watseka beating him. To this day, there was still nothing to compare. He had never counted on it hurting so badly, and when it was over, he just lay there in his own blood and sobbed. Sobbed like he'd never sobbed before.

What amazed Keme even more than the pain was Yuri's reaction: she climbed into the bed with him, and completely ignoring the fact that his blood soaked her shawl and fur from the action, she gathered him in her arms and held him. He sobbed into her neck as her slender arms held him tight, and it was such a sweet release. Her great breasts cushioning him, her warm breath, her deliciously soft fur . . . being held and rocked and kissed by an older female again . . . it was like having Aiyana back. And for that reason, he had clung to Yuri - had clung to her and sobbed and had not let go for such a long time.

Yuri seemed to sense that he wasn't just crying for the pain. She was patient and kind and kept holding him, kept singing to him, allowing him to take as much time as he needed to grieve the loss of a loved one.

And Keme was glad. He had never known such comfort after Aiyana's death. When she died, there was no one there. No one. No one to hold him, no one to listen to him, no one who cared. And he had never felt so lost.

"Ti lalo ka," Yuri sang softly, "Ee nolo ma . . . so faaaa naaa . . ."

When Keme had sobbed himself quiet, he asked Yuri what the song meant in common tongue. She pulled back and smiled at him and dabbed his tears away with the corner of her shawl. She was so motherly and fussy. It was wonderful. And he knew he was just a child to her. That was wonderful too. How long had he ached for a mother? Perhaps all his life. Aiyana had never seemed like a mother to him. Never.

"It means," Yuri had answered, "I'm always here. I'll always care. I love you."

"Mom's dead," Honiahaka whispered, and his voice brought Keme back to earth, dissipating images of Yuri.

Taigi frowned miserably. "I know. Father sent word. Then Zaldon . . ."

Honiahaka lifted his head. "What?"

"Zaldon has been keeping your shipwreck from Father," Taigi said heavily. "He didn't want to upset him in case you were actually alive. As if we all hadn't lost enough without losing you too!" Taigi's eyes watered with unshed tears. He sniffed and clutched the back of Honiahaka's neck.

The brothers smiled at each other.

"I was never so relieved," Taigi said, "as when a runner came to my home today. Said he'd been sent from the market and that you were on your way." He dropped his forehead against Honiahaka's and closed his eyes. "Don't know what I'd have done if I'd lost Baby."

Honiahaka laughed sadly.

Keme watched them both and was silently grateful Zaldon had been wise enough not to mention the _reason _Honiahaka was at sea in his letter. To tell Taigi that Honiahaka was chasing down moon wolf merchants would have been foolhardy - especially if that letter wound up in the wrong paws. Chieftess Iyira might have perceived it as a threat or attack. And then the villages would have been at war.

"I sent a ship out to find you," Taigi said. "Three weeks and they came back with nothing. The chieftess and I were planning to send a search party into the western forest - well, about damn time!"

The slave girl entered the hut with a shaman in tow, and hearing Taigi's anger, she hurried to collect a basin of water and set it on the table beside Honiahaka's bloody arm.

"Bet you took your sweet ass time on purpose," Taigi sneered at the girl. "Did you whistle and stand about in the moonlight twiddling your thumbs? Maybe if I send you with my foot in your ass, you'll move faster!"

Keme glowered when Taigi's words made the girl flinch.

"I was already attending to another injured warrior, you needn't berate her," the shaman said, and like every moon wolf, his tongue clicked on each t. He was a grim, bent old male with feathers tied to his wrists and ankles. He wore a belt of pouches and carried Yuri's same musky scent with him - the scent of magic. His blue fur was thin and withered, as if he was shedding. He was so bony and frail he looked as if he might fall to pieces. His long blue mane fell down his back to his buttocks, and it too was woven with feathers.

"No, Wihio, I must berate her. I'd have to resort to beating her otherwise," Taigi sneered, "and look at the thing! One smack would kill her."

"Then why don't you feed her?" Keme said. He was getting sick of Taigi and to hell with everything.

Taigi stared Keme down as Wihio took a shaky knee beside Honiahaka. Enayape leapt forward to help the elderly shaman kneel, and he began rummaging in the bags on his hip.

Taigi didn't break eye contact with Keme as he said, "Honi, if you don't teach your servant some manners, I will."

Keme's eyes narrowed. "Just try it."

Taigi's fangs bared in a scowl.

"Keme," said Honiahaka breathlessly. "Please."

Keme looked at Honiahaka and immediately felt guilty. Honiahaka was injured and in pain, and he was stirring up a fight with his brother.

Keme's face softened as he watched Honiahaka. The sun chief was breathless and pale and weak with blood loss. After all, it wasn't as if Honiahaka had merely scraped his knee: he had almost scraped his muscle down to the bone. There was a reason for all that blood. How Honiahaka had held up all this time was beyond Keme.

Wihio pulled an item very similar to Yuri's gourd instrument from his belt. It was a large clam shell tied to the end of a stick. Feathers were also tied to the stick, and inside the clam, small seeds began to jingle as the shaman shook his instrument over Honiahaka's wound. Wihio vocalized in a low voice, and as the wordless song left his lips, he traced the feathers over Honiahaka's wound and they began to seal him up. Honiahaka gritted his teeth as it was happening, and Keme knew he was in a lot of pain. Taigi, now completely absorbed in Honiahaka, squeezed his brother's shoulder and whispered comforting words to him.

At least they aren't healing him with sorcery, Keme thought.

As the shaman continued his work, Enayape scurried about in the background. She gathered up the goblets and plates Taigi had elbowed to the floor several minutes before, and Keme watched as she moved his way. He thought for one crazy second that she was about to sit beside him, but with her arms full of plates and goblets, she moved past him to a basin that was beside the fire, and kneeling before this basin, she dumped the dishes in. Water splashed as the dishes filled the basin, and Keme watched as she began to wash them.

Enayape worked with her head down for a few minutes, but as if she had gathered her nerve, she lifted her face and looked at Keme. Her lanky mane fell back, she smiled at him, and for the first time, Keme realized how pretty she was.

"So faa ye meh naa te," Enayape said, and when Keme blinked, she laughed softly. "I'm sorry," she said. "I forgot you are sun wolf. I said . . . I love the way you move."

Keme's ears pricked forward. "You . . . what?" He thought the world would end before he was hit on by a ten-year-old.

"Do not be alarmed," she told him. "I am far older than I look . . ." She gave him a smirk of a smile and shrugged one shoulder up. The motion made her small breasts jiggle.

Keme felt his face getting hot.

"You're cute," she said and laughed softly again. "Meet me in the kitchen." She perched her lips at him in a silent kiss.

Keme stared as her meaning dawned on him. "I - I couldn't - you - I mean --"

"You can," she whispered to him, then gathered the basin and carried it away.

Keme watched as Enayape passed through a curtain that he could only assume led to the kitchen. He just sat. He knew better than to follow her into that kitchen. It could only mean one thing.

Just as Enayape disappeared, Gosheven descended the stairs. Keme watched her waddle into the room and had to wonder where Seleste and Talisa were.

"Enayape!" Gosheven bellowed. "Where is that good for nothing --!"

"Must you screech, Gosheven?" Taigi said irritably. He flattened his ears as he watched his wife. "She went off in the kitchen," he said and gestured idly. His other paw rubbed Honiahaka's broad back, and when the sun chief cried out in pain, he dropped his head against his.

Gosheven's breasts heaved, as if she was loath to do whatever task she had planned for Enayape. Her eyes found Keme, and Keme thought, Oh, great.

"You," Gosheven said to Keme, "go and fetch some water and bread for Seleste. She is hungry and sick with child. Send that foolish slave of mine with it -- Hurry!"

Keme just sat like one slapped with a bucket of ice water. So it was true - Seleste was pregnant with his child! He couldn't move. Gosheven stepped close and clicked her nails in his face. Keme wanted to slap her paw away but calmed himself. He was nothing more than a servant in the haughty eyes of Taigi and Gosheven, and for all their sakes, he must play the part.

Gosheven put her fat paws on her hips and just stared impatiently at Keme. Struggling to hide his irritation, Keme got up and entered the kitchen.

A long wooden table was in the center of the room, and the surface was laid with more precious stones. The stones formed a mosaic, their bright colors taking the shape of a great bird - the same blue bird that had been in Gosheven's portrait. Herbs, carrots, and braids of garlic hung from the rafters, as well as pots and pans. Brooms stood against the wall, another fire pit was at one end of the room, and beside it, a small chair. A storage box was in the floor, and Enayape was squatting over it when Keme entered.

"I flirted to get you in here so we could talk," Enayape said. "Looks like it worked."

"No, Gosheven sent me."

"Right. Gosheven. Let me guess," Enayape said without looking up. She lifted the trapdoor to reveal wrapped packages of salted meat and cheese. "My poor Seleste is hungry. If only she knew what has happened to me!"

Keme halted and stared. "You know Seleste?"

Enayape's face changed, and Keme was taken aback by the sudden desperation there. "I am not who I appear to be - sit! If they come in here, we shouldn't rouse suspicion!"

Not knowing what to think, Keme backed away and sat in the chair beside the fire pit. He watched curiously as Enayape prepared a tray of food. She unwrapped a large slice of cheese, a large slice of bread, and started slicing up both into smaller pieces. Her fingers moved briskly and her face was dark with sorrow and thought.

"How do you know Seleste?" Keme asked.

"Haven't been working for Honiahaka very long if you need to ask," Enayape returned breathlessly. "Your sun chief has loved Seleste all his life. Visited her in her village when they were children. Taigi _went on these visits too." She said her master's name with a trembling lip and stared sadly at her work. "So he knew Seleste as well. Came to visit her after his wedding and everything - Took me -Took _Gosheven with him, and she and Seleste became great friends." She paused to smile sadly. "He tried to get Seleste to marry your chief. He's probably the reason they're married now. I know Seleste because _Taigi _knows her."

Seeing her bitterness, Keme gazed at her sympathetically. He remembered Honiahaka mentioning that Yuri had once belonged to the chief here. So this was the wretched life of servitude Yuri had escaped. She was lucky to have found Zaldon. So_ _lucky.

"So . . ." said Keme and made a face, "why does Taigi call Hon-- call my chief Baby?"

Enayape laughed softly at his confusion and disgust. "Baby is your chief's family nickname. He was the youngest of ten, so everyone always called him Baby."

Keme noticed for the first time that she had prepared not one meal but two: dried meat, bread, and cheese were on two plates on the tray. With her work done, she picked up the tray as if she would carry it off, but she set it down again, and her dark eyes looked at Keme wretchedly.

"Please," Enayape said with large eyes, "you have to help me get away!"

Keme frowned. "But who are you? You said you weren't who you seemed. What the hell does that even mean?"

"Help me get away from here," she urged, "and I'll tell you everything! Right now there is no time --"

Taigi's voice cut across Enayape, demanding to know what the "fuck" she was doing "in there." Enayape's face contorted. She rose quickly, snatched up the tray, and carried it from the room as fast as she could.

Keme sat for a moment. "What the hell was _that _about?"

When Keme emerged from the kitchen, Taigi was helping a groggy Honiahaka up the stairs. The sun chief's arm was freshly wrapped, and he looked too tired and drowsy to walk without help. Wihio must've given him something for the pain. Keme saw the shaman packing up his medicines and the clam shell instrument he had used on Honiahaka. They had paid him in the form of a meal, for he sat beside the fire and began eating one of the plates Enayape had prepared. Gosheven and Enayape were no where in sight, and Keme could only assume they were now upstairs with Seleste and Talisa.

Keme followed Honiahaka and Taigi up the stairs and had to wonder how Seleste was. Gosheven had said she was sick with a child. What did that mean? Was she having a miscarriage, was she dying? But no, that wouldn't make sense. The Mirror of Pavati had shown Keme playing with a child that looked as if belonged to both him and Seleste. According to his vision, Seleste would have lived long enough to give birth to a fully developed child. So what was happening to her now? And why wasn't the damned shaman helping her?!

Keme followed Honiahaka and Taigi up the shadowy hall. They passed many curtains barring rooms, and it reminded Keme of the day he followed behind as Askuwheteau led Honiahaka up the hall on his shoulder.

As they were passing yet another room, Keme's ear twitched and he halted. He could hear Gosheven inside. She was berating Enayape for cutting the bread and cheese poorly.

"Get your head out your ass, girl," Gosheven said angrily, "or I'll send you back to those hutboat heathens so fast, your head will be spinning!"

"N-No, it's alright, Goshev," Seleste said miserably, and Keme's ears flattened: she sounded so weak! "I can get it d-down. . . . It's alright!"

"Seleste, darling," Gosheven said fondly, "you are far too kind for your own good. You must be firm with inferiors."

"God," said Talisa, and she sounded exasperated. "I bet Enayape just loves working for you. No wonder she puts so much effort into every task."

"You --" Gosheven sputtered. "Listen here, bitch! The only reason I allow your whore-tail in my house is because you serve my husband's brother! You stay away from Taigi and you keep your fucking mouth shut! Do I make myself clear?"

Keme waited for the scream that would surely follow the sudden slap of Talisa's paw to Gosheven's face. But no slap came. Nor any scream. Just a long pause.

"As if," sneered Gosheven's voice, "you could ever take Taigi from me. You had your chance. He's mine now."

"Goshev," Seleste said in a small voice, "I'm tired. I think I'll just go to sleep now. Talisa will stay with me."

"Good. You need your rest, darling. You have an audience with the chieftess tomorrow, don't you?" Gosheven said sweetly.

"Goodnight, Gosheven," Seleste said.

"Goodnight, Seleste," Gosheven returned. "I'll return to check on you in a little. Ancestors _know _I can't trust Enayape alone with you."

Keme heard the bed creak as Gosheven's generous curves rose from it. He hurried to catch up to Honiahaka and Taigi lest he was caught eavesdropping. A second later, and he could hear Gosheven thumping up the hall. Her tail dragged flirtatiously against Keme as she passed him. Enayape moved wretchedly in her wake. They entered a wide curtained doorway at the very end of the hall, and Keme could only assume this was the bedroom Gosheven shared with Taigi.

Taigi, meanwhile, helped Honiahaka limp into a bedroom near his own. Keme followed them inside. It was a bedroom as lavish as the ones in Ahote's underground palace, only there was no bath carved out in the wooden floorboards. A large canopied bed stood against the wall, unlit candles were on the bedside table, and the shelves were lined with trinkets, books, and bowls of incense. In one corner, a large vase of blue flowers glowed against the gloom. Those damn blue flowers! Keme felt his head spin a little as he breathed them in.

"Now get some rest," Taigi said as he helped Honiahaka settle in. He pulled the blanket up around Honiahaka's chest, then sat on the edge of the bed.

"Going to read me a bedtime story as well?" Honiahaka teased.

Taigi closed his eyes and laughed. "I looked after you when you were a baby," he said and brushed a strand of mane back from Honiahaka's face. "Back when Mother was sick. So I guess babying you now is old habit."

"Hey," Honiahaka said and closed his eyes happily, "I'm not complaining. Fluff up my pillows, will you? And drop some grapes in my mouth."

Taigi laughed again. He looked at Honiahaka fondly. "I missed you," he said.

"I know," Honiahaka answered. "I missed you too."

Standing near the doorway, Keme could see Honiahaka's pale eyes darken with sadness. His actions had driven his brother away, after all. When Gosheven came to the sun village with her wares, Taigi was probably only too happy to leave with her. Anything to escape the disgrace of losing Talisa at their first mating season, anything to escape Talisa.

"Here," Taigi said and opened his fist.

"What's that?" Honiahaka wondered.

Keme couldn't see what was in Taigi's paw, for Taigi's back was to him as he sat on the bed. He had the strong urge to go over and look but had to tell himself not to. He was just a "servant," after all.

"One of Wihio's herbs," Taigi said. "You take this herb and you'll sleep like a baby. I want you to be well rested. Okomi is coming to see you tomorrow. I'm going to have Enayape send word that you're here. Then he can escort you to the chieftess so you can see about passage home. Honestly, to think you came all this way just to turn around and go home . . ."

"I know," Honiahaka agreed sadly, "but I have to go home to Father. I'm sure he thinks I'm dead after all this. And Seleste is sick now. I should return for her sake as well." Honiahaka glanced at Keme, as if to assure him he would take care of things.

Taigi glanced at Keme as well, but with the same dark desire as before. Keme's heart leapt. Why did the look on Taigi's face make him so _painfully _aware of his own dick?

Taigi turned back to Honiahaka. "Well, at least sit with Okomi for a while when he comes. He's missed you as much as I. Here, Baby. Take your medicine like a good boy."

Honiahaka laughed and offered his tongue. Taigi placed the leaf on it, and as Honiahaka chewed, he sank down in his pillows. Taigi kissed his cheek. "Goodnight, Baby," he whispered. He stood to leave the room, and as he passed Keme, he gave his tail a playful tug. "Sleep_ _tight, Keme," he whispered and was gone.

"Keme," Honiahaka called hoarsely.

Keme moved toward the bed, and he suddenly felt as tired as Honiahaka looked. The sun chief lay nestled down in the pillows, his eyes closed, his big body as relaxed as if he were melting. Keme was surprised when Honiahaka pulled the sheet back for him to climb in. He hesitated.

"Please," Honiahaka whispered. His pale eyes cracked open. "I've gotten so used to sleeping with you there."

Keme laughed. "Alright, alright. . . ." He climbed in the bed, though he still had misgivings: what if Taigi should come in and find them asleep together? Keme didn't know why, but the last thing he wanted was for Taigi to discover that he and Honiahaka were friends with benefits.

Keme smiled when Honiahaka threw his big arm around him. He felt Honiahaka press a kiss in his neck.

"I'm sorry for all this, Keme," the sun chief whispered. "I did what I thought was best - in order to protect you, to protect you all. We'll get Seleste home, I swear it. We'll get you home too." He squeezed Keme tight, then cried out in pain when his bandaged arm flexed from the gesture.

Keme turned over. He nudged Honiahaka onto his back and carefully laid his bandaged arm on his chest. "Stop using this arm, you dope," Keme scolded.

Honiahaka laughed hoarsely. "I'm sorry."

"And stop apologizing! None of this is your fault!"

"I know - I'm sorry - I mean . . ." Honiahaka sighed.

Keme laughed.

They fell silent as Keme adjusted his pillows and settled in. He pulled the blanket up to his shoulder and was resting on his side when he heard Honiahaka shifting beside him, shifting as if he couldn't find a comfortable enough position due to his injured arm.

"Honi?"

"Hmm?"

"Who is Okomi?"

"Another brother of mine. He lives here with his husband Timoe. He refused to take the fur-back throne because my father wanted him to marry a female. He felt he shouldn't have to marry a female to rule."

"But . . . what about heirs?"

"My father wanted him to at least find a female to have a child with. He wouldn't even do that. They had a big argument and he moved out here. He's older than Taigi and I. God, he must be thirty summers by now," Honiahaka said the last part to himself, as if he couldn't believe it. "Don't worry, Keme. Unlike Taigi, Okomi is actually nice."

Keme laughed. "God, I hope so."

"He is. I promise."

Keme snorted. "You promised Taigi was nice too. Look how that turned out."

Honiahaka laughed softly. He yawned and Keme heard him smack his lips. The sleeping herb was kicking in.

"Honi?"

Honiahaka laughed. "It's so cute when you do that."

Keme groaned.

"Alright, I'm sorry. What is it, Keme?"

"Talisa told me about what . . . what you did to Taigi for her."

Keme waited tensely for Honiahaka's response. When only a long pause ensued, he turned on his back to find Honiahaka gazing off miserably.

"She told you how I ruined his life to save hers?"

"Yeah. All of that sounds pretty terrible - I mean, for _all _of you, not just Taigi."

"It is terrible, Keme. It's the worst thing I ever did. To ruin his life like that . . . but I couldn't stand by and watch as Talisa's life was ruined. She would have been miserable with him. They didn't hate each other back then, but they didn't exactly get along either."

"And it wasn't because you also wanted her for yourself?" Keme prompted shrewdly.

"I told you before -- I'm not in love with Talisa, Keme."

Keme snorted. "If you're not in love with Talisa, I don't like dick."

Honiahaka laughed softly. "Well, at least you are now more self-aware than I."

"Seleste is right. You and Talisa are both so blind it makes me want to strangle you."

"What else does it make you want to do to me?" Honiahaka teased.

"Shuddup," Keme said, and Honiahaka laughed.

Keme's ears flattened irritably. He felt Honiahaka's big arm close around him again, and the sun chief whispered in his ear, "I love you, Keme. But I'm not in love with you. It's no different than how I feel about Talisa."

"You love me?" Keme whispered back.

"Of course. During all our time together, I have come to value you as a true friend. I thought I made that pretty clear back in Phanyah." He kissed Keme's ear, then the corner of his jaw. Keme's brows pressed together as Honiahaka pressed a kiss in his neck. He fumbled under the blanket and stroked Keme as if he was shaping his dick with his fingers.

Keme bit his lip. "H-Honi --"

"Mmm?" Honiahaka answered between kisses.

"We should go to sleep," Keme said weakly.

"You're right," Honiahaka whispered, "we should." But his kisses didn't stop. He climbed on top of Keme and kissed him down his bulging pectorals, down his rippling belly. Keme gasped when Honiahaka's hot, wet mouth closed on him under the blanket. He cried out as he was sucked, wet and slow. He could see Honiahaka's head moving under the blanket as he was pleasured, could hear the sun chief's eager slurping. He melted in the sheets and his toes curled as he whispered, "Oh, baby . . ."