Rexi and Talon

By Onyx Tao

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18. 'Zackton Silvercane'

The humor was a good sign, Zackton thought, and he wished he hadn't had to spoil it with the collar. But if the salon tonight was what he expected, having Talon there playing the part of devoted slave would be extremely effective in easing the shock over his being half-orc. And Talon would need the protection that collar provided - wearing it would signal that anyone touching, or even wanting to touch his pretty little Talon would have deal with Zackton. The half-orc had no intention of letting anyone touch Talon at all.

Of course, there might be someone there stupid enough to attempt to enrage him, but that would be particularly stupid. Baiting half-orcs was a good way to get killed. He should know. Perhaps, if someone did try, he'd indulge himself ... no, no, bad idea. He'd simply have to ... yes, that would have to suffice. He'd simply encourage someone else to rip them to shreds.

Zackton pulled his attention back to Talon, and sorted through his various expressions until he found something sufficiently gentle, and slipped his face into that, and pitched his voice to slightly regretful. "I need you with me tonight, and I need you to wear this comfortably, and that means ... I need to put it on you now." Zackton didn't have to mention the part where the half-elf would simply look good in it. He moved forward, slipped it around Talon's neck, and buckled it.

"It locks magically," Zackton said. "You can unbuckle it with the phrase 'garlic and sapphire'."

"Why..." said Talon, sounding confused, "would you tell me the phrase?"

"So you can remove it should you need to. You remember the leather hood?"

"This is ... like that?" Talon said slowly.

"Stage dressing," said Zackton. "Yes. You need to get used to it, that's all." Perhaps a touch of honesty, too. "And I admit I like the way you look with it." Zackton gave a half-smile, and then got back up on the bed. "I ... didn't want to interrupt you, but ... well, as you pointed out, we have a limited amount of time before we have to get dressed and go." He stretched himself out on the bed, deliberately showing himself off. Take the hint, pretty little elven boy.

Once Talon got over the size difference, and the green skin, and the tusks, Zackton thought with a chuckle to himself - what was there not to like? "I think I was asking if I still look ... monstrous?"

"No," Talon said hurriedly - what any person would say, regardless of what he truly thought, if his first concern was to avoid giving offense. Zackton simply smiled and waited to see what Talon would say next. He was, he thought, beginning to enjoy this. He could see Talon was aroused, the faint flush of his skin, the way his eyes kept darting down Zackton's body, and then back up, as if he were afraid the half-orc would notice Talon looking at him. The half-hard length of flesh bobbing so attractively between the half-elf's legs was just one more piece of confirmation.

But the half-elf was also, Zack noted, terrified of him. Still. He found that puzzling, but ... it was something he'd simply have to work past. Or more precisely, let Talon work past. "I would like it if you touched me," he breathed in a quiet, quiet voice. Not demanding, not even requesting ... just stating a personal preference. A request and permission, wrapped up so softly that Talon shouldn't even notice the hook sinking in.

"Where ... where should I ..." Talon said.

More deflection. Zackton considered it for a moment, and decided to focus on the sympathy and freak aspect - clearly, that was something the boy had encountered. And wear that pain a little thinner while he was at it. With the same gentle smile, he said "What's the least scary part of me, then?"

"I ... your ear?"

"If you say so," said Zackton. "So ... why not start there?" Start being the key, Zackton thought, and the half-elf reached out and brushed a finger against his ear. Zackton read a great deal of fear and hesitation in the movement, but there was nothing he could do, other than to smile encouragingly at the half-elf. The touch did feel good, and a moment later, Talon's finger traced the curve down to his jaw. Good, good ...

Why was the boy so scared? What was going through his mind? He'd thought Talon was shy, hesitant for that reason, but ... that explanation had ceased to make sense some time ago. And he'd seemed ... the collar?

No; he wasn't comfortable with it yet - he was pleased he'd remembered to give the boy time for that - but he wasn't scared of it. That meant, could only mean, Talon was scared of him.

Still.

Still.

Talon would simply have to work through it. Zackton kept his eyes focused on the half-elf, an inviting smile on his face. He suppressed his urge to coax Talon lower, to suggest that he touch with something other than fingers. Let Talon work through - whatever he was working through. Encouragement, though, he could encourage him, so he gave a soft sigh to show he was enjoying Talon's caress.

Almost-caress. Moving lower. Across his chest. That's right, thought Zackton. See how perfectly normal it is. It's just skin. See?

Except, of course, Zackton saw in a moment of clarity, I don't bruise when I'm touched. Of course, he doesn't, either - now - but that is not his experience, is it? He's scared of ... hurting me. Now, that was almost funny. Correctable, though. "Talon," Zackton said quietly. "It is unlikely that you could hurt me accidentally. You would need to pound with all your strength on my ribcage, or jaw, before you did any damage."

Talon froze suddenly.

"And even that might not be enough," Zackton continued. "I am ... very, very tough, Talon."

"Are you wearing one of these skin-toughening things, too?"

Zackton let his face go blank again. "Talon ... in the circles I move in, in the circles I will be bringing you in, you will not - you must not - speculate out loud what protective magics anyone has employed."

"I'm sorry ..." and Talon pulled back.

Zackton smiled again. "I'm not offended. But ... it's a personal and revealing question."

The half-elf nodded. "I see that. I'm sorry, ..." and Zackton read fear in the young man's stance. The fear was significantly not entertaining him

And that was enough of that. "Talon, put your hand - your entire hand - somewhere on me."

"Where ..."

"Anywhere you like. My belly, if you can find no better place," Zackton said, patiently. "But now," and he gave the last word the snap of a command.

Talon reached down for Zackton as if Talon thought Zackton was going to bite his hand off. And when he finally did reach down, it was if the boy expected to put his hand on ... on ... and Zackton suppressed the narrowing of his eyes at the thought. He couldn't be beaten with impunity because of the bleeding, but ... "Talon, have you ever been burned?"

"I ... a little, not really ..." Talon said, turning his face away from the half-orc.

"Did anyone ever burn you as a punishment?" A moment, and then Zackton added, "I am not threatening you with that. I would not and will not burn you, ever. I wish to know if someone ever did."

After a long moment, Talon nodded.

"A priest?" Zackton asked. It was a guess, of course, but ... a reasonable one, Zack thought.

Talon's widened eyes made the gasped "Yes, Sir ..." redundant.

Stupid meddling priests, Zackton thought, followed by, I wonder if he still lives ... "And he ordered you to put your hand on a hot surface, an incense burner, perhaps?"

"A griddle, Sir ..." Talon said, still looking away. "He ... he mashed my hand into it. But he said if I ever told anyone ..."

Zackton quenched the urge to grit his teeth. Talon was clearly more damaged than he had first imagined ... still. He'd always liked a challenge; it was just that it seemed rather incidental to his original plan.

Which, Zackton admitted to himself, he'd come up with when he'd first set eyes on the half-elf. He'd been so pretty under all that filth ... and he still was. "Then, Talon, you do not have to touch me," he sighed. "I'm sorry. I think I mentioned that whatever I do with you seems to be wrong ... I would not have knowingly ordered you to do what this priest did to hurt you."

Talon looked surprised, and then, thoughtful. "I ... hadn't thought of that - I didn't think of that, Sir, I ..."

Zackton considered for a moment, and decided to correct him. "Talon, I've mentioned I'm good at reading people. It is a skill, like any other skill, like dancing, or fighting, or playing a lute, or singing, or even magic, and I am a skillful fellow. I guessed - most of that, from your reactions, nothing more. You may not have thought about that incident - but your body remembered it." Zackton paused to seem thoughtful. "Did that priest ... do anything else with you? To you?" He let his face smooth slightly into a grave expression. "There may be other ... things ... that your body remembers more than your mind," Zackton said, spacing the words out carefully.

Talon shook his head no.

Zackton nodded. "Much as I'd like to ..." he paused and pretended to consider the time. "No; there's time, with a little magic to clean us afterwards ... it's never quite so pleasant as a bath, but ..." he smiled up at Talon. A little reward, a bit of pleasure, to show how much Talon was appreciated.

He reached up, and pulled Talon down to him - very carefully, although he didn't wish Talon to know just how careful he was being. Even with the amulet on, Zackton suspected that he could leave bruises without trying. Besides, Talon was so lovely, and Zackton liked men.

Zackton had always enjoyed men. At some point, Talon would garner the courage to pleasure him, but until then, Zack was almost as happy to pleasure him, and he took Talon's length into his mouth with unfeigned delight, swirling his tongue around the hard flesh, enjoying the salt-musk taste, lighter than a human's, and was rewarded almost immediately with a few salty drops of viscous liquor.

Zackton took a deep breath, the better to enjoy the warm, clean scent and the soft texture of skin over hard flesh as he moved it with his lips. The surprised - and happy - gasp from Talon pleased him too, and he took a few minutes to lave Talon's thighs, and lovely soft balls, and the delicate skin below that before returning to his cock ...

Just for a moment. He looked up at the now-slightly-glazed expression. "If I may," Zackton said, with a smile. "If you don't mind ..."

"I ... uh, no, I don't, of cor ... I mean, it's ... it's ... please!" and then, "Master!"

It wasn't particularly coherent, but the intent was clear. Good. Talon had both accepted that he could do, and given permission. Not that Zackton had intended to take no for an answer - at least not for long - but Talon's yes made it moot, and Zackton could amuse himself with feeling the half-elf's body tighten in his hands, tense as Zackton played with his length, running his tongue up and down and up and down and up and down ... Talon seemed to get hotter, his skin warmer, even as it took on a slight sheen, giving the smooth flesh a hint of slipperiness. And Talon made such cute little needy noises.

Zackton hadn't intended to let him find release so quickly, but ... the half-elf was young, and and once he'd started, there wasn't much Zackton could do to slow him down or stop him; it was the innocuous pebble that nevertheless triggers the avalanche. Or in Talon's case, geyser. Zackton drank the sweet-salt seed down, savoring it as much as he did the gasping, stuttering moan the half-elf made while it happened.

Nevertheless. Zackton didn't swallow the last spurt or two, simply holding it in his mouth, and then pulled the half-elf down to him, enfolded him in a firm hug, matched his mouth to Talon's ... and kissed him, forcing his tongue into Talon's mouth along with the warm seed. He could feel Talon tense, uncertain, not entirely willing to accept it ... but Zackton wasn't offering him a choice, really, and reluctant or not, Talon got a good mouthful of his own seed, along with a deep, probing kiss.

Talon didn't mind the kiss, Zackton noted, and drew that part out until the ephemeral salt-sweet was nearly gone. The half-orc let Talon out slowly, and gave him a big, toothy smile. "I felt so selfish keeping that all for myself ..." he said, and watched as uncertainty tipped over into belated acceptance. A slight shift, and Talon was laying against Zack's own still-hard length. Not a subtle hint, but then ... Talon seemed to miss subtle hints. No, that wasn't a fair observation: Talon lacked experience with which to decode them. He would learn. And it was equally unfair to expect Talon to pick up on anything when he was so deep in the post-release lethargy. Zackton loosened his grip a little - not too much, he wanted Talon to feel held, but not imprisoned.

"Thank you, Master," Talon said, almost dreamily, as Zackton watched him drift back to full awareness. It was ... cute, he thought. "That was ..." the half-elf paused, looking for the right word. "Great," and then he blushed, although Zackton couldn't quite tell if was general embarrassment over having enjoyed sex - the horror! - or over the understatement. Zackton knew quite well that his technique was significantly better than great. But ... the half-orc really didn't care. He enjoyed coaxing pleasure from his partners, and Talon ... Talon was indeed a pleasure to pleasure.

And no messy cleanup afterwards. Ah. That smile didn't make it to Zackton's face. At some point Talon might well find out that Zackton wasn't always so ... gentle. Indeed not. It was not a conversation he looked forward to ... and one he certainly didn't have to have tonight. Indeed, not.

Talon, however, looked ... "And what is troubling you now?"

"You ... you've ... and I've never ..."

"Would you like to?" Zackton asked, neutrally, and then he let his mouth move into a faint smile. "I would like you to ..." and the smile vanished back into blandness as he added, "if, and only if, you would like to."

"I ..." and Talon hesitated, stopped.

If the half-elf's coyness had been one whit less real, or feigned in any way, Zackton would have been irritated - but it wasn't. He simply was that shy, inexperienced, uncertain, ... indecisive. That last, Zacton thought, was unbecoming.

"Suppose ... you try?" Zackton suggested lightly. "And if at any point you wish to stop ... then stop."

"But ..." and Talon paused again.

This time, however, Zackton was mystified by whatever he was leaving unsaid. After the silence had stretched out a little, and still not drawn any further words, the half-orc prompted, "But?"

"What if ... you ... get so ... so ... and ... you ... I'm sure you wouldn't but ..."

Ah. "I assure you," Zackton said dryly, "I will not get so carried away by lust that I will ravish you against your will." Talon blushed. "If I cannot convince you to use your hand," Zackton said more lightly, "I do have two of my own," and the half-orc let his genuine amusement over Talon's much-deepened blush show.

"But what if ..." and Talon fell silent again.

Obviously Talon could manufacture hypotheticals all evening, and they didn't have all evening. He had to be at a goldsmith's in an hour, and then back here to go a salon, and the half-orc would very much like his own release as well. "I wouldn't worry about that," Zackton said, in a light teasing voice. "The ceiling seems sound enough; I don't think it will fall in. And since there are no goats in any of the adjoining rooms, it seems unlikely that we'll be caught in a stampede."

He paused, and stared at the mirror for a moment, wondering if Nomos was finding this amusing or irritating or even watching. No way to know that. He would simply have to ignore it. Hopefully Talon could live with the watching dragon. It was a small enough sacrifice to let the dragon think he'd outbargained Zackton. Always let the dragon win. Good advice, that. Zackton almost missed Talon's brief chuckle and dragged his attention back to the room.

And then Talon touched him, a hand tentatively placed on his thigh. Zackton made an encouraging sound, and Talon ... moved his hand a little higher. Up to the heavy sack between his legs, and hefted it - carefully, Zackton noted - as if it were something new and different. It wasn't, particularly, but it was his, and Zackton grinned.

And then Talon surprised him. Zackton had expected at best he might coax Talon into using his hands on him, and he even had some oil ready ... but instead, with a gulp of courage or determination or something - perhaps Talon himself didn't know - the half-elf took Zackton's length into his mouth.

"Careful of the teeth," Zackton said. "You can fold ..." your lips over them, remained unsaid as Talon figured that out on his own. Mmmmm. Zackton flicked a glance at the mirror - after first making sure Talon's eyes weren't on his. A clear line of sight. He would have to be certain Talon did not fall into Nomos' claws. The dragon's interests might be benign, but even so, Nomos wasn't human, didn't think like a human, and could not be trusted, simply because Zackton could never quite know what Nomos was thinking.

Zackton lost himself in the sensation for a moment. Talon might be doing an unskilled and amateur attempt at what he'd done earlier, but he was certainly ... Zackton moved to grasp the bottom third of his cock in his hand. "You'll gag, and that's not fun ..." he said softly. "Enjoy yourself."

Talon looked up at him quizzically, and - much to Zackton's regret - took his mouth off to answer him. "I thought you were supposed to enjoy it ..." and then put his mouth back where Zackton wanted it.

"Oh, I am," Zackton said. "Much. But ... done right, this is about enjoying each other." He let his tone turn serious. "I want - hope - you will enjoy what you are doing. And it takes some, ah, practice, to take the entirety without gagging and coughing or worse, throwing up ... it's simply a reaction to something touching certain places in the throat."

Talon lifted his head long enough to ask, "Did that happen to you?"

"No," admitted Zackton. "I had an instructor, who taught me."

Talon just nodded - or at least Zackton thought he nodded; he might have been moving his head up and down for an entirely different reason. It didn't much matter, he realized, as he let the pleasant feeling turn into a more insistent need - still pleasurable, but demanding.

And that, of course, turned into urgency, a tingling sensation that welled up inside him, and he gave a single, short, sigh of pleasure as he shot seed into Talon's mouth, his hot seed spurting into the surprised Talon's mouth.

When Zackton looked up, he saw most of his seed had spilled across Talon. It had taken the half-elf by surprise, obviously, and ... his seed was much stronger in scent and taste than Talon's. Talon looked a little taken aback, although whether it was at the taste or amount, Zackton couldn't tell. Zackton smiled to show he was happy - and he was, very, as he reached out his hand to gather some of the seed on his finger, and offer it to Talon.

Talon obediently licked it off his finger, and smiled back at him.

Excellent.