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by
The village was in the middle of a festival that was filled with music, raucous laughter and shouting as people participated in games and contests of strength and skill. Tao looked over at his lover and grinned, seeing the open-mouthed expression on the warrior's face. It wasn't that Dar had never been among a lot of people before, not after Xinca and Chalka, which were far larger than this village. It was probably that he'd never seen such happiness and abandon among townsfolk. Well all right, he'd never seen this before period. Mischievously, Tao nudged Dar with his elbow and said, "You'll catch flies that way."
Dar's jaw snapped shut but he smiled at Tao. "This is...loud."
"Did the Sula never have festivals?" Tao asked curiously.
"Of course we did. Just never this...loud," Dar repeated.
From which Tao guessed that they were probably religious or hunting rites more than festivals. "Well this should be fun. Let's go explore."
"Tao!" Dar called but it was no use. Tao was already amidst the throng of people and though Dar's skin was crawling at being in contact with so many at once, he sighed and plunged into the tide. A smile hovered as he watched Tao go up to one of the games and start shouting out that it was impossible. Shaking his head, he came up behind his friend and rested a discreet hand on the smaller man's hip. Tao looked back at him with a grin and Dar felt heat run through him.
Gods! After the incredible week spent doing nothing but eating, sleeping and mating, Dar had thought he'd be over the need to touch Tao. But no. Somehow, the physical connection had strengthened their emotional bond and now he could simply look at Tao, or catch his scent, especially the scent, and start to harden. Right now, even surrounded by others, he could smell his lover and leaned forward a little to breathe him in. Tao looked back once more, caught his eyes and briefly rested against him letting Dar know that he knew what his lover was doing.
Squirming slightly as his loincloth grew too restrictive, Dar forced his attention to the game and after watching for a few minutes, found that Tao was right. It was impossible but only because the game was fixed so that no one could win. Well, except for whoever the person who ran the game wanted to win. Moving closer so Tao could hear him but no one else, Dar said, "No one can win. He's cheating."
Tao half turned and said, "That's the point, Dar. To see if you can win despite the odds."
Dar looked at the game again, challenged at the thought of winning one of those silver beaded wristlets for Tao. He met Tao's eyes and said, "Which do you like? The silver or onyx?"
Tao tried not to grin at the determined glint in Dar's golden eyes but didn't quite succeed. "Whichever you like best. They're both nice."
Dar nodded shortly and handed his staff to Tao before catching the attention of the man running the game. "I'd like that silver wristlet."
"You'll have to win it," the man challenged with a grin.
"I will. I'm just letting you know which I want," Dar replied.
"O-ho! I like a confident man. Be my guest!"
Dar picked up the sliver thin spear and weighed it in his hand for a moment. He looked carefully at the spinning circle of targets and waited until it went around twice more so he could gauge the speed, noticing a hitch when it reached a certain point. Probably what threw off all the other players. That and the terrible balance of the supposed spear. Ignoring the shouts from the people around him, Dar let the spear fly. Unlike the previous people, his aim was true and it burst into a red target. Smiling slyly at the scowling man he repeated, "I'd like the silver wristlet."
The man grudgingly handed over the silver bracelet and Dar in turn wrapped it around Tao's wrist, smiling as he did so. They moved away from the stall and back into the crowd. For the rest of the afternoon, he followed Tao through the crowds, stopping to watch acrobats and dancers and artisans at their craft. The noise was still a little too much but eventually he grew accustomed to it and really, as long as he kept Tao in sight, he was fine.
Towards late afternoon, as the sun began to set, he found himself engrossed in a display of fighting skills. When Dar turned to point something out to Tao, he found the Eiron had disappeared. Scanning the crowd showed no sign of Tao's standard green tunic and sash and Dar immediately tensed. He stepped away from the fighting contest and called out, "Tao?"
No answer, no matter how he strained his ears. His heart began to beat faster and he pushed his way through the press of people, trying not to shove too hard or hurt anyone in his haste. After a few minutes of a heart beating with fear, he finally heard Tao's voice and followed it unerringly to a circle of men and women just outside the festival boundary. Many of them were older than Tao, some even silver bearded, but they were all listening to him with perfect attention.
Dar hung back to listen. Tao was talking about Mydoro and the wonders they had found there. The crystals of healing as well as destruction. The scrolls of knowledge found only to be lost once more. The brief exposure he'd had to that knowledge and how it had changed the way he looked at things. One of the elders contradicted something he said and Dar watched as Tao patiently waited for the man to finish speaking. Then he launched into a full-scale attack of what the man had said, picking it apart piece by piece.
Looking around the circle, Dar found nothing but approval and nods of agreement from the others. Even the man whose logic he was routing looked thoughtfully open instead of angry or threatened. Of course, the fact that Tao was so obviously honest and sincere in what he said, as well as the incredible energy he gave off while explaining himself, would disarm even the most narrow-minded of scholars.
Tao made an expansive gesture and found Dar looking at him quietly from outside the circle and momentarily faltered in what he was saying. The complete love and confidence shining from the warrior's eyes warmed him to his toes and he had to consciously drag his mind back to what he was saying. When he was done, there was enthusiastic thumping on the ground and Tao nodded his head, a bit embarrassed, before leaving the circle.
Or at least he tried to leave the circle. He was immediately surrounded by a group of scholars and some of the philosophers who wanted to talk to him more intimately about his findings. Being the center of attention like this was both exhilarating and frightening. Tao had certainly never expected it when he'd drifted over to the conference and spoken up. He met Dar's eyes and tried to signal his apology and the golden warrior smiled in understanding, remaining against a nearby tree.
Finally, after almost another hour, the group began to thin out until only two women remained. One was older with dark red hair streaked with silver and green eyes. The other was only a little older than himself with honey-blond hair and blue eyes. They were arguing about something he had said and it was getting heated so he stepped in with, "That's not the point though."
They both stopped speaking and re-focused on him. A bit taken aback, he said, "Ah, what I was saying is that while the knowledge of Mydoro is lost, we can rediscover it through careful study of the natural world."
"But should that knowledge even be sought? Especially if it is as destructive as you say," the blond woman demanded.
"Of course it should. Knowledge for knowledge's sake is always a worthy pursuit," the older woman said firmly.
"Excuse me, ladies, but my partner is waiting for me," Tao said, trying to extricate himself from the argument.
"Wait. You know about the dance tonight, right?" the older women said with a smile.
"Dance?"
"Yes. All new couples attend. I probably shouldn't assume that you and the warrior are a new couple but you rather have that look," she continued with a faint grin.
What look? The look of not being able to sit down had hopefully passed from both of their faces a few days before, he thought with an inward grin. Dancing with Dar? That sounded far too tempting. It occurred to him to wonder if Dar had ever danced before and his eyes lighted curiously on his mate as he asked, "What time?"
"An hour after the main feast. It's in the north field," she answered.
"Thank you," Tao said gratefully.
"See you there," she said, taking the younger woman's hand.
Tao watched in surprise as the two women walked away, hand-in-hand, still arguing. Shaking his head with a grin, he finally walked over to Dar and greeted, "Hello."
"You had fun," Dar observed.
Tao thought for a moment then his grin got bigger and he nodded. "I did. How was the fighting display?"
Dar shrugged. "It was fighting."
"So what are you doing this evening?" Tao asked, leaning casually against the tree.
Looking at him suspiciously, Dar replied, "I don't know. What am I doing this evening?"
"There's a dance in the north field after the main feast this evening. It's for new couples," Tao said.
"Dance? Tao..."
"Don't say no. Please Dar?"
Dar stared into the dark, pleading eyes and sighed, giving in without words.
As a reward, Tao shifted closer to kiss Dar's shoulder. "You won't be sorry. I promise."
Smiling faintly, Dar said, "I'll hold you to it."
Darkness had just fallen and the village was lit with multiple bonfires and standing torches throughout. Tao was thoroughly irritated with himself that he finally, finally had the opportunity to eat roasted meat and he had turned it down. He couldn't believe it. He'd gotten in line and had a plate ready and then, when it was almost his turn, he'd seen not the arrival of food but the death of an animal. Groaning, Tao had looked at the spitted carcass one last time then returned to sit beside Dar empty handed. He'd taken one look at his carefully-not-smiling lover and ordered, "Not one word, BeastMaster!"
Dar had given him his patented, innocent, "Who, me?" look but not said anything. The warrior had simply held out his own plate, filled with ripe fruit, for Tao to pick from.
"Tao!"
Tao looked over to find the redheaded woman from the circle approaching and smiled. "Where's your opponent?"
Grinning, the woman held out her hand and said, "Taking a nap to be rested for tonight. My name is Jina."
"Good to meet you. This is Dar," Tao introduced.
"Can I have a private word with you? It's about the dance," Jina asked.
"Oh. Ah, sure. I'll be right back, Dar," Tao promised, standing and following the woman a short distance away. "What's wrong?"
"Oh nothing. I just realized that you probably don't know the custom surrounding the dance tonight and knew you would want to know before showing up. If you still wanted to show up," Jina said awkwardly.
"Custom?"
"Yes. It's not a dance as you might be thinking of. We don't do circle dances or group dances. They're all very individualized," Jina explained.
"Wait. You mean like performing for everyone?" Tao clarified.
"Right. It's an expression of our identity both as individuals and a couple to show the village that we are in it for the long term, that we've chosen our lifemates," Jina said.
"Dar is not going to agree to that," Tao said flatly. "To tell you the truth, I don't know if I'm too thrilled with it myself."
"I'm sorry. I should have told you this afternoon but it didn't occur to me until just now. I already spoke with the elders and they'll make an exception for the both of you, since you're not from this village or any of the surrounding ones and couldn't have possibly known," Jina said.
"Thank you," Tao said gratefully.
"You could still come to watch if you like," Jina offered. "Most of the village gathers to witness the event and it's really moving."
But something had crossed Tao's mind and he was already off on another idea. "Thank you but...I think I have something a little more intimate in mind."
She smiled and said, "Have fun."
"I will. But first, can you tell me where I might find..."
"Trust him. Trust him? Of course I trust him. Except when he's got that look in his eyes," Dar muttered to Ruh, making his way to the small clearing just west of the main dancing grounds. Ruh snorted with amusement, the large tiger falling into step with him the moment Dar had left the village.
The woman, Jina, had given him explicit directions on where to meet Tao, who had gone off with the woman after asking for Dar to trust him. Looking at his friend, Dar said, "You're finding this funny, aren't you?"
Ruh huffed his agreement.
"This from the tiger who had to travel three days to find his mate, to mate, just because you didn't agree on a place beforehand," Dar pointed out.
Ruh growled and this time, Dar snorted in amusement. He found the right clearing not just because of the directions. He could smell something odd, something familiar, coming from that direction on the soft, warm wind. Ruh stopped abruptly and Dar almost stepped on the tiger's tail. "What is it?"
Ruh's large head swung towards him, eyes glinting in the moonlight and their thoughts touched.
*Your mate.*
Dar frowned, it didn't smell like...well...actually it did now that he was a little closer but there was definitely something different. Not unpleasant, though. As a matter of fact, it was strangely enticing. Ignoring the tiger who abruptly lay down on the ground as the feline heaved a sigh, Dar stepped over the uncooperative lump and continued on to where Tao was waiting for him. Though how the healer arrived there before him, Dar didn't know.
As his eyes search the small glade for Tao, Dar heard music starting up somewhere nearby. It was soft and slow, sensual. "Tao?"
"Over here."
Dar turned to look and his jaw dropped. Tao was…Tao was glistening as though he had just stepped out of a pool of water. Every inch of his bare skin, which was pretty much all of it save a loincloth, gleamed in the moonlight. Clearing his throat, Dar whispered, "Tao? What are you doing?"
Smiling that small, mysterious smile, Tao replied, "Dancing for you."
"Dancing? For me? Why?"
"I didn't really want to do it for everyone else but for you, Dar, I would do anything," Tao answered. He pointed to the side and ordered, "Sit."
Dar looked over and saw what looked to be a bed in the middle of the clearing. A rather high off the ground bed. Eyebrows quirking in surprise, he walked over to it and sat on the edge, getting his explanation the moment he sat. It was a rock; a long and high rock, roughly square but not very even. There were more than a few blankets covering it to make it a little softer but at the moment what Dar wanted to do was just take Tao and lay him in the grass. He opened his mouth to say so when Tao began to move and the words left him.
Dark in the night, a mere shadow against the backdrop of the woods, Tao moved in time to the music. His hips swayed slow and provocative as he walked towards his lover. Raising his arms into the air, Tao's whole body turned, revealing that his back was just as slick as his front. Dar bit down on a groan when the question as to whether or not Tao's covered flesh was as coated as the rest of him entered his mind. It would be so easy for them to join if that were the case.
It had been easy enough to smell Tao before but now that the other man was practically on top of him, the spicy, unfamiliar scent filled Dar. Growling with need, he reached out for Tao but the Eiron slipped through his fingers, literally. Tao danced out of reach and smiled at him, shaking a finger in a silent scold. `Look but don't touch' was the obvious order.
Tao moved closer once more, still swaying in time to the music, but this time he turned around and leaned back. Dar gasped at the heat of his friend pressing against his chest. He sat a little lower than Tao stood which made it so easy for Tao to sit and grind against the hardness in Dar's lap. Groaning, Dar wrapped his arms around his lover's waist and whispered, "Tao, please..."
Tao deliberately rubbed his ass against Dar's groin and stood, slipping away once more. He turned to face Dar and asked quietly, "Do I need to tie you up to make sure you don't touch me?"
Tied up...at Tao's mercy...the image hit Dar like a volcanic explosion. Unable to move, Dar simply stared at the other man. Tao's slow smile jolted him from his stupor and he swallowed heavily but still couldn't find words.
"I'll have to remember *that* for later," Tao murmured, dark eyes glinting as he danced closer. "In the meantime, why don't you just stay there and watch?"
Which is exactly what Dar did because if he moved at all, it would be to pounce on Tao and drag him to the ground, taking him right then and there. His fingers gripped the edge of the rock, cursing the softness that met his touch instead of the jagged strength that should be there. The music had changed somewhat, slowing down even further and thrumming with a dark desire Dar hadn't thought possible to hear in anything but his own blood.
Tao's hands roamed over his own body, touching and marking himself with his nails, across and down his chest towards the loincloth. His eyes closed as both hands covered his groin and squeezed through the leather. The fingers untied the leather strap slowly then he unwound the piece until he was standing naked and Dar could see he was fully erect. Tossing aside the leather, Tao's hands returned to his body and this time one hand loosely gripped his own flesh.
Moaning, Dar ached to be the hand on Tao's cock. He watched, his own shaft tightening and hardening, as those long, slender fingers pulled and manipulated. Tao's eyes were closed again and the expression on his face exquisite to Dar, showing him that Tao was close to release. Unable to bear it any longer, Dar grabbed himself through his loincloth, knowing there wasn't time to undress. His body pushed up when Tao's fell back, his hips fell back when Tao's pushed forward. His eyes never left Tao's face and when Tao bit his lower lip, Dar licked his own in response.
Tao's hips moved faster, his shaft pushing through his hand with wet, sucking sounds. Dar groaned, imaging himself licking and sucking on Tao to make just those sounds. Tao's eyes opened just then and he gasped, "I love you."
Without either ever laying a hand on the other, both men came.
Breathing heavily, Dar collapsed backward onto the rock. In a few seconds, Tao tumbled onto the bed and rolled against him then on top of him, knees on both sides of his hips. Grunting slightly under the impact, Dar looked up into Tao's eyes and asked, "Can I touch you now?"
Tao nodded before dipping down to kiss him.
Instantly, Dar's arms wrapped around his lover and his fingers pressed into the back muscles, digging and releasing hard, as Dar had discovered Tao liked most. Tao moaned into Dar's mouth and kissed him even harder. Tao rubbed against him and groaned, obviously unhappy to encounter leather instead of bare skin. It didn't stop him, however, and Dar gasped as Tao ground into him without stopping. The longer they kissed, the harder Tao moved against him. The world spun again when Tao's hand reached between his legs then underneath to squeeze his balls.
When Dar came back to his senses, his abdomen was sticky and Tao lay limp on top of him. Smiling, he wrapped his arms around Tao's waist, linking his fingers together. His back would probably be sore by morning but it would be worth it just to hold Tao all night without interruption. Gently kissing the side of Tao's throat, Dar sighed in contentment and closed his eyes to sleep.
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