Chapter 20

20

I n all his years visiting the dyflissa , Eben had never felt so bared, so exposed, as in this moment. Standing bent double and shivering over a washbasin in a scullery, with his still-clothed arse jutting up for anyone to see. For Tryggr to see.

There was a moment’s choked stillness as Eben kept standing there, waiting, quivering, please — but then, oh, Tryggr’s hands. Tryggr’s warm, capable hands, touching Eben , smoothing against his trembling hips. And oh, oh, with a flick of his fingers, the drawstring on Eben’s trousers loosened, sagging the waistband downward — and now Tryggr was drawing the trousers down too, baring Eben even further, right here in the damned scullery.

It was against the rules, Eben’s distant thoughts shouted, and Alma was still standing there watching it, scenting of stunned disbelief — but oh, Eben had never known such violent, desperate need, crashing through him, clawing him from the inside out. Tryggr was touching him. Tryggr was undressing him. Tryggr wanted to see what was his. Tryggr wanted… him .

“ Ach , just like that,” Tryggr’s low voice purred from behind Eben , his scent hot, sweet, approving, as Eben’s trousers dropped around his ankles. “ You are eager to please, aren’t you?”

Eben’s face was burning, his bare upraised arse trembling in the cool open air — but he somehow nodded, yes, of course he was, yes . And Tryggr rewarded it with a leisurely stroke of his warm hand, sliding over the curve of Eben’s arse. The touch soft, gentle, but for the sharp, succulent scrape of his claws, dragging against Eben’s bare, tingling skin.

“ Ach , just as I thought,” Tryggr continued, his voice even lower. “ So pretty, Ka -esh. Bet you’re nice and tight too, ach?”

Oh , yes, yes, Eben could be, he would be, please, and Tryggr’s hungry hand was already slipping closer, sliding slow and deliberate into Eben’s crease. And this wasn’t happening, it couldn’t be happening… but yes, Eben could feel a single finger deftly seeking, settling against his quivering rim — and then —

Pressing . Prodding gentle but firm, pushing into Eben’s body with brazen, proprietary ease. As if Tryggr had every right to finger him like this, to feel him like this, right here in the scullery, while Alma watched — and he did have every right, he did , and it was all Eben could do to stay upright, to remember how to breathe.

“ You ever take a Skai in here before, Ka -esh?” Tryggr murmured, dark and hot, as his finger kept prodding, searching, sinking all the way to the knuckle. “ Ever have a strong Skai ploughing, and get pumped full of good Skai seed?”

Fuck . Eben’s moan choked from his mouth, his invaded body frantically pulsing around that impossible finger, and he couldn’t stop his back from arching, his bared, opened arse pushing back harder, deeper. Needing more, more, desperate and shameful, and behind him, Tryggr gave a low, husky laugh, and — oh, hell — a gentle slap of his other hand at Eben’s arse-cheek.

“ Ach , ach, you’ll get it,” Tryggr drawled, and oh, Eben could feel him shifting, could hear the sound of rustling fabric. As if — as if Tryggr was dropping his trousers. As if he was truly going to fuck Eben , to plough him full of good Skai seed, here, now, please, please…

“ You’re gonna suck me all the way inside you, aren’t you, pretty Ka -esh?” Tryggr continued, as that finger slowly slid out of Eben , making him whimper with displeasure as it slipped free — but oh, now that was the sweet, stunning scent of Tryggr’s fresh seed, the slick sound of a swift pumping hand. “ Show me what a good little pet you could be?”

Oh . Oh , oh, please, Eben’s brain was distantly dancing and screeching, his heart lurching into his throat, his body trembling so hard he nearly lost his footing. But he was nodding, nodding, arching up, opening as wide as he could. Waiting , showing Tryggr , he could be such a good pet, please…

And then — a touch. A touch, slick and blunt and warm, pressing against Eben’s twitching, waiting arse. It was Tryggr , Tryggr’s prick was touching him, Tryggr’s prick wanted to fuck him — and Eben instantly bore down, opened wider. Relaxing enough to let that thick, solid flesh push into him, breach into him, stretching him out around it…

And once it was fully in, its head eased just past the muscle, Eben clamped it tight. Squeezing as hard as he could, giving them both that sweet drag and friction, and he could feel Tryggr’s prick instantly vibrating fuller, his hands spasming against Eben’s hips. While he just kept sinking deeper, and deeper, perhaps halfway inside now, Tryggr was inside Eben , he was fucking him in the scullery, fucking him in front of the woman he’d thought Eben had really wanted.

And wait, perhaps there was something in that, some kind of test on Tryggr’s part, or even more of that triumph — and curse him, but Eben couldn’t help a brief, darting glance up toward Alma . Toward where she was already staring straight back at him, her face red, her scent reeking of shock and incredulity, and — Eben blinked — just a twitch of envy, too.

“ Tryggr !” Alma hissed, as she shook her head, and clapped her shaky hands over her eyes. “ You can’t just go ahead and —”

But Tryggr had surely caught that scent on her too, and oh, Eben could feel Tryggr’s upper body bending forward, shifting his cock a little deeper, so he could inhale at Eben’s neck. Seeking Eben’s own jealousy or envy, perhaps — but there was only the wheeling charging hunger, and perhaps a shudder of his own triumph, too. Tryggr was fucking him. Him . And of course Eben hadn’t wanted Alma , he wanted this, only this, and if Alma had thought otherwise, well, then she could watch and learn the truth for herself. She could watch Eben take a Skai’s gorgeous prick, see how pretty he was, see what a good pet he could be…

Tryggr’s deep inhale had shuddered into a laugh, low and gleeful, his breath tickling against Eben’s neck. And that was another light, gentle slap of his hand to Eben’s arse, speaking of hunger, of approval. Saying , surely, I scent you. I see you. I can show you the way.

“ Ach , sure I can,” Tryggr told Alma as he stood tall behind Eben again, his hand now palming possessively at Eben’s arse-cheek. “ Boss had you in here while we watched, didn’t he? And it seems to me this Ka -esh likes it just as much as you did — and he even likes you watching, too. Don’t you, my pretty pet?”

Another slap struck against Eben’s arse, shuddering him all over, and there was no thought, no hesitation, only nodding, agreeing, obeying. “ Ach ,” he croaked. “ Sir .”

The scent of Tryggr’s triumph bloomed stronger through the air, and his laugh sounded breathless this time, his hand giving Eben’s arse an approving little squeeze. “ Then see, woman, you ought not deny him this,” he said smugly. “ Most of all after he has shown you such kindness.”

It was unthinkable, impossible, even that Tryggr could keep speaking like this, arguing like this, while Eben was helplessly panting and trembling beneath him, pinioned upon his cock. But perhaps that was part of the triumph too, and part of why Tryggr so blatantly wanted Alma to see this. Wanting her to witness him staking his claim, on both Eben and maybe even the whole damned room, just like Drafli had done with Alma . Making it clear exactly how this stood — and it was with Eben bent over a washing machine, with Tryggr’s prick stuck halfway up his arse.

Eben could taste Alma’s resignation, and thankfully her amusement, too — and finally she dropped her hands from her eyes, and gave Tryggr a wry, tolerant smile. And yes, yes, that was what Tryggr had wanted, and the scent of his triumph bubbled even higher as his firm hands caressed Eben’s flanks, and that invading cock finally, finally resumed its slow, steady plunge inside him.

“ Ach , that’s it,” Tryggr’s low voice breathed, as he leisurely pushed his way through Eben’s tight dragging clutch. “ That’s nice, little Ka -esh, real nice. Good and tight and sweet, ach?”

Oh , yes , and Eben whimpered and shivered as that hot driving head bumped up against solid flesh — but with a moan, he purposefully shifted and softened, and opened that, too. Welcoming Tryggr deeper, as deep as he could go, you’re gonna suck me all the way inside you, show me what a good little pet you could be…

Tryggr’s breath choked as he pressed further, carefully sinking himself even deeper within, into the double lock of Eben’s grip. Until his hips ground up flush against Eben’s arse, because oh, he was in, he’d filled Eben with Skai , opened him up as wide and deep as he could go. And Eben was squeezing as hard as he could, seizing and spasming against his lord, showing him what a good pet he would be, please…

“ Just like that,” Tryggr rasped, as his hips began gently grinding, circling, gouging himself even deeper. “ Even better than I thought. Ach .”

The pleasure and the frenzy were everywhere, everything, and Eben couldn’t stop his moans, his body arching up, pressing back, needing more — when something caught, gentle but firm, at his braid. Tryggr’s hand, holding it, drawing Eben’s head back, as he slowly, deliberately drew his cock out, away, breath by agonizing breath. Adding just a perfect twinge of pain to the dizzying loss, reminding Eben who was in control, in charge, you’ll get it, I can show you the way…

Tryggr slammed back inside with one smooth, staggering stroke, driving through Eben’s tight grip, seating himself hard and deep. Hurling out more fierce, fizzing pleasure, with just that beautiful painful edge, and Eben writhed and shouted beneath it, lost in it, please .

“ You like that too, little Ka -esh?” came Tryggr’s low, hoarse voice behind him. “ You like your Skai being a bit rough with you? Making sure you feel it?”

Fuck , yes, and Eben frantically nodded, while a distant rational part of him shivered with warmth, with happiness. Because Tryggr knew Eben liked it rough, of course he knew, but he was still — asking. Still making sure Eben wanted that from him. Showing Eben , again, that he could be trusted, even when he was fucking his arse in a scullery.

And Tryggr was pleased too, his chuckle low and approving as he ground himself deeper, and leisurely began wrapping Eben’s braid around his hand. Increasing the tension, giving it an experimental tug, scenting for any pain or misery — but it was perfect, perfect. And Tryggr knew it, keeping that throbbing smarting sweetness as he slowly drew out again, holding it for a hanging, hovering breath…

“ Even better, little Ka -esh,” he said, dark and low, as he slammed back inside, even more forceful than before. Making Eben shout and flail beneath it, his hair pulling against Tryggr’s iron grip, his body clamping tight and desperate against the invasion of that wondrous, pulsing Skai cock.

“ Ach , you’re so pretty, aren’t you?” Tryggr asked, as he drew out again, drove back in. “ So sweet, when you’re being railed by a good Skai prick?”

Yes , please, Tryggr was railing Eben now, ramming in again and again, yanking his head back harder, as his other hand’s sharp claws dragged against Eben’s hip. And Eben was lost, consumed, in the furious frenzied euphoria of it, in all his hunger and longing and fantasy made truth by this orc, this perfect orc, his friend, his trust, his home.

“ So sweet,” Tryggr gasped again, his voice catching, his hips plunging harder, wrenching the pleasure hotter and wilder between them. “ And you’re gonna smell even sweeter when you’re chock-full of Skai seed, aren’t you? When you’re walking around here reeking of me ?”

Fuck , yes, yes, yes, Tryggr’s bollocks tightening against Eben’s crease, his cock swelling, straining, locking in place — and then he groaned, guttural and deep, as he sprayed out deep inside. Pouring Eben full of that hot Skai seed, flooding him from the bottom up, as those sharp claws dug into his hip, yanking at his hair —

It was so much, so much, so perfect, everything — and without even a touch, Eben’s own cock shuddered, and then sprayed out, too. Releasing its pent-up longing again and again, spurting out in thick, heavy-scented strings. Catching all over Gareth’s new washing machine beneath him, painting it with his pleasure, while the ecstasy screamed and screamed through his body, his head, his heart.

By the end of it, Eben was shuddering almost too much to stand, his entire body tingling and shivering with the aftershocks, but Tryggr was still here, holding him upright. Both his hands now gripping firmly at Eben’s hips, while his still-hard cock held safe and deep inside, and the taste of his own pleasure and relief kept whirling, flooding heavy and reassuring through the air. Saying , without a doubt, that he’d liked it, too. Eben had pleased him. He had.

But then Tryggr cleared his throat, his hand palming possessive and a little rough at Eben’s quivering arse. “ Look at you, pretty pet,” he murmured. “ Messing all over your brand-new gift. You’re gonna lick that clean for me now, aren’t you?”

Oh , fuck. Eben’s body spasmed at Tryggr’s cock still inside him, and he was already nodding, his face burning, as he ducked his head, and obeyed. Licking at the too-strong taste of his own seed, sprayed all over Gareth’s brand-new forging. And that was unquestionably another statement too, another very purposeful point made on Tryggr’s part, putting Gareth in his place — and maybe putting Eben in his place, too. Showing him that this was how it would be, with Tryggr fucking him, commanding him, and covering over any claim Gareth might have had upon him.

And with Tryggr … approving of him. Caressing him, stroking him without claws, now, as a low, hungry moan hissed from his throat.

“ That’s good, pretty pet,” he breathed, low and hot. “ Real good. Now tell me, sweet thing” — he leaned forward, his lips gently brushing to the back of Eben’s neck — “what’s your name?”

Wait , what? Eben startled, breathless, and he only vaguely heard Alma’s faint, disbelieving laugh as she finally headed for the door, closing it tightly behind her. While Tryggr’s sweaty body shivered against Eben , and a low, regretful chuckle huffed against his skin.

“ Never thought to ask you, pet,” Tryggr continued, sounding suddenly almost — shy. “ An ’ you never said, and by the time I realized, I didn’t want to risk asking any of the others, either. Didn’t want ’em to catch how attached I was getting to you, I ken.”

Oh . Tryggr had done all that, all this, fucked Eben in a scullery, when he hadn’t even known his name — but he was also softly kissing at Eben’s neck, his hunger and regret shimmering through the air. Didn’t want ’em to catch how attached I was getting to you…

“ It’s — Eben ,” he replied, in a rush, over his shaky breath. “ Eben , of Clan Ka -esh.”

He winced even as he said it, foolish, foolish, of course Tryggr knew his clan, right? But Tryggr’s mouth was still kissing, his hands still caressing, his prick still slightly spasming deep inside. “ Eben ,” he repeated, as if testing it, assessing it, just like he’d done with his finger in Eben’s arse. “ Eben , of Clan Ka -esh. It’s a good name, pet. Real good.”

Eben’s shudder was fierce, far too conspicuous, but Tryggr’s warm hands just kept stroking, rubbing it out, easing him back into steadiness again. “ So you never wanted Boss’s woman, then?” came Tryggr’s voice, more careful than before. “ Not even a little bit?”

Eben’s head instantly shook back and forth, as a choked-sounding laugh escaped from his throat. “ Ach , no,” he croaked. “ I was only — jealous. I wished for you to — notice me, and bring me joy, and… come around . As Drafli did with her.”

And it was foolish again, shameful, but Tryggr’s mouth just kept kissing his neck, warm hands steadily stroking at his sides. “ An ’ what about other women, then?” Tryggr asked, and that sounded careful, too. “ You long for one? Or a son?”

Eben’s laugh was easy and incredulous this time, as his still-invaded arse gave a tight, sustained squeeze against Tryggr’s solid flesh. “ No ,” he breathed. “ Never .”

He could scent Tryggr’s relief, could feel his heavy exhale on his neck. “ Good , pet,” he said, hoarse. “ Never did much for me, either. Even tried a coupla times, even just to mayhap give Pa a grandson, but it never stuck, ach? Not like this.”

Not like this . Like this, with his breath on Eben’s neck, his prick in Eben’s arse, his possessive hands stroking Eben’s skin. And the sweet heady taste in his scent, the taste that somehow seemed so much stronger, unmarred by any of that darkness or jealousy. Hunger . Triumph . Affection . Awe .

“ Shoulda just fucking asked,” Tryggr went on, his voice slightly cracking. “ Just thought — thought it was so clear in your scent, ach? An ’ I could scent how you liked me, too, so I thought — ach. Thought you might just tell me what we both wanted to hear, only for it to come haunt us later. Once I got myself too attached to stay away.”

Eben couldn’t seem to speak, but it was all shifting and settling in his thoughts, sinking into comprehension, or even sympathy. While Tryggr’s breath shuddered against his neck, his hands gripping even tighter, as if to keep holding Eben here upon him, where he could never escape…

“ But got too attached anyway,” Tryggr whispered, with a broken little laugh. “ Couldn’t stand to hurt you, or keep away from you. You’re so sweet, Ka -esh, so pretty, so fucking perfect .”

What ? Eben’s disbelief finally cut through the shuddering warmth, his head rapidly shaking. “ Ach , no,” he gulped. “ I am not, I am —”

But oh, those were Tryggr’s claws, pricking into his skin. “ Ach , you are,” he insisted. “ You’re so damned clever. You know so much. You work so hard. You’re devoted to helping all your kin, even if you have to put up with constant rubbish to do it. Ach , you’ve been so good and patient with Duff , when so many people barely even see him, let alone think he’s worth talking to. He wouldn’t stop asking” — Tryggr huffed a low laugh — “why I wasn’t making you reek more of Skai , so you’d keep coming round, and helping us.”

Eben’s mouth twitched up, even though his head attempted another shake — but Tryggr’s claws were digging in deeper, shuddering him to stillness. “ An ’ you were loyal, too,” he said, harder. “ You coulda gone back to that dungeon, to that Gareth prick, any fucking time you wanted — but you didn’t. You took my scent, and then kept it only mine, when you didn’t need to. You — gave me that, Ka -esh, without me even asking. An ’ that means a lot, mayhap most of all to a Skai , ach?”

Right . Eben’s thoughts had again flicked back to those old Skai rules, to Skai not offering fealty to other orcs. But clearly some of them still wanted it, like Drafli , and maybe… maybe now Tryggr , too.

“ An ’ mayhap it’s vain of me,” Tryggr added, husky, “but I ken you’re also the prettiest little thing I’ve ever seen in my life, ach? You’re so pretty it hurts, Ka -esh, most of all when you blush and stammer like you do, and flutter your big eyes at me. An ’ then you say all the sweet things you do, and tell me you wanna honour me, and then you fucking just — bend over, and offer it up, too. You offer up this, give me this — but then you want me to take it, too? Want me to pound you, to get rough with you? To do whatever the hell I want with you? Make you beg and squeal and squirt for me?”

Fuck . Eben’s own hunger was surging again, shuddering up between them, seizing him around Tryggr’s prick — and Tryggr moaned, breathless, even as his hand gave Eben’s arse another firm slap. “ An ’ fucking that ,” he breathed. “ Never felt anything like this tight little arse of yours, Ka -esh. Like it’s just made to be fucked and filled by a good Skai prick. Just like” — he hissed, ground deeper — “that perfect mouth of yours, too. You ken what it did to me that day, to have your pretty head in my lap, your big eyes worshipping me, while I buried my prick in your tight little throat, and blasted my bollocks straight into your belly?”

Oh , hell. Eben’s moan rasped from his mouth, his body clamping even tighter around Tryggr’s invading prick. “ Ach ,” he gasped, thoughtless, helpless. “ It was — so good. All I ever — longed for.”

Tryggr’s answering groan was low and approving, his hips steadily thrusting. Moving easier, now, slicker, because he’d already poured Eben so full of him — but oh, that made it even better, Tryggr’s thick cock now gliding smooth and slippery against Eben’s grip, his breath hitching against Eben’s neck.

“ So you’re gonna be mine, ach, pretty pet?” Tryggr hissed, low and dangerous into Eben’s throat, and oh, that was his hand, too, curling close and possessive around Eben’s neck. “ You’re gonna sign over this tight little arse to me, and let me do whatever the hell I want with it?”

Fuck , yes, yes, please, and Eben was babbling it aloud, shuddering and staggering over the washbasin — but wait, Tryggr had hesitated, and his hand around Eben’s neck softened. Cradling it, caressing it, as if it were something precious, something cherished.

“ But you ken, Eben ,” he said, slower now, his voice careful on Eben’s name. “ You can always say no to me too, ach? An ’ me wanting to make you mine, take you as my pet, you ken it’s more about — playing and fucking, ach? It’s not about me seeing you as weak, or below me, naught like that. It’s me knowing how damn good you are, how perfect you are, and wanting to — to honour you, and take good care of you, and keep you happy and safe. It means — I care . An ’ it means” — he exhaled, slow and shuddering — “ I want to keep you, Eben . Want to care for you, as long as I can.”

More warmth was shimmering and sparking, deep in Eben’s very soul, and he had to fight to find words, to bring up truth. “ I — want that too,” he whispered, his eyes blinking hard. “ I have wanted it for — so long. But ach, I have not wished to be foolish, or weak, or subservient, or —”

He swallowed hard, twitching his head back and forth, his father’s distant voice rising — but Tryggr’s mouth was kissing him again, his hand gently stroking his throat. “ Ach , I ken,” he murmured. “ You deserve kindness, and honour, and respect. Deserve to have your wishes heard and followed and protected. An ’ if some snippy Ash - Kai or fool Ka -esh starts barrelling over you, or giving you grief, you deserve to have your Skai backing you up and hurling daggers.”

Oh . Oh , yes, oh please. And Eben truly couldn’t speak now, not with the quivering happiness choking in his breath, escaping in a half-laugh, half-sob. And Tryggr huffed a low, relieved-sounding laugh too, his hand caressing harder against Eben’s throat, his prick giving an experimental little grind inside.

“ And you deserve a good Skai prick filling up your arse, don’t you, pet?” Tryggr said, lower. “ You deserve a strong Skai ploughing whenever you wish, ach?”

Yes , yes, and Eben frantically nodded, so hard he almost staggered sideways — but oh, Tryggr still had him safe, had him by the neck, and up the arse. “ Good , pet,” he growled, as he drew a little out, and sank back inside. “ Real good. An ’ from now on, you’re only gonna scent of me. No fucking careless Ka -esh, no shitty smiths, none of it. Just me .”

Eben’s nod came even faster, more fervent, wrenching his neck in Tryggr’s grip, and oh, Tryggr rewarded it with a gentle prod of claws, a snap of his teeth in his ear. “ An ’ you ken I’ll take such good care of you, pet,” he breathed. “ I’ll make you beg and scream and weep for me, as much as you damn well want. But ” — he slammed in harder, deeper — “there’ll be no fucking lashes in our bed, you ken? Nothing that puts you at risk, because you’re mine , an’ I won’t — fucking — allow it .”

He punctuated the words with stunning, juddering slams of his cock, his hand yanking up and sideways on Eben’s braid, making Eben twist to look at him. And oh, fuck, how Tryggr looked, his eyes blazing, his teeth bared, his face flushed bright. And Eben could only nod, hold his gaze, squeeze that still-driving prick as fiercely as he could, yes, yes, yes .

“ Yes , sir,” he whispered, to those dangerous Skai eyes, his lashes fluttering. “ Whatever you wish, sir.”

And yes, yes, Tryggr’s groan shook between them, his eyes rolling back as he gouged in, raw and ravenous and desperate — and then he sprayed out, again. Pouring Eben full of him, again, and this time, Eben somehow found the strength to clutch his own straining prick in hand, and pump out his own release, too. Spraying it even wider across Gareth’s washer, covering it all over with his seed, seeping it into all the cracks and crevices. Ensuring it would always smell of this, of them, of Tryggr fucking out Eben’s seed, and making him his own.

“ Good , Ka -esh,” Tryggr whispered, shaky into Eben’s neck, as his teeth scraped over his skin. “ Real good. You’re gonna be such a good little pet, aren’t you?”

And even as his teeth finally struck, sinking deep and hungry into Eben’s skin, Eben could still feel him watching, waiting for the answer. Needing to hear it, even now, even as he greedily gulped Eben’s lifeblood, and kept squeezing the dregs of his bollocks into Eben’s belly.

“ Ach , sir,” Eben said, and he meant it, so deep it sang and ached in his heart. “ I am honoured to serve.”