The Games of Kings

Chapter Seven


Benedict and Alicia leaned back and relaxed as they watched the two strapping young men deal with the human sized crate they had found. The two of them manhandled the crate into the conference room. The size of the wooden box seemed to shrink the large, but already crowded room. Chris was on the couch that dominated the far end of the room. His injured ankle was elevated and had ice packs all over it.

"So," Dylan flipped a blackjack end over end. "Who gets to do the honors?"

Every eye went to Ramsey, who sighed and held out his hand. He slid the flat end of the jack into the seam between two of the panels but before he could crack it open, an ominous crunching sound was followed by the smell of something burning. "Move!" Ramsey ordered.

They jumped back just as the case split at its seams to reveal a rather disturbing clown. Or perhaps it was a normal clown, but in the context of the Game Master's antics, even everyday objects took on a more sinister meaning. The clown was life size and fully equipped. It even had a balloon animal in its hands. The team stood staring at it. The clown returned their stare with a lifeless one of its own.

"What now?" Dylan asked, obstinately waving a hand in front of the clown's tricolor face.

They all jumped and more than one gun was pulled when the clown moved. Arms moved mechanically, waving about. The face contorted as the mouth twisted to give it a voice.

"Saki xenocryst harder eagle zabaglione rasio wafture sabbat flocci fanariot habeas thysanopter Eocene toa baja." The clown chanted the words over and over.

"That is fucking creepy." Dylan hadn't put his gun away and was still staring warily at it.

"Amen." Alicia, similarly, hadn't reholstered her gun either. "Reminds me of Pennywise."

Ramsey tilted his head, silently agreeing with Alicia. It looked exactly like the clown from Stephen King's It movie. He stepped away from it. "Anyone have any idea how to shut it off?"

"Not without getting close." From the tone in his voice, Chris definitely wasn't volunteering, even if his ankle could hold his weight.

Benedict huffed out a laugh as he stepped forward. "Now, I'm glad I never saw the movie or read the book." His younger team members all sighed in relief when he found the off switch on the clown's back. It was still eerie, even motionless.

"It's been a long day." Ramsey studied the haggard expressions surrounding him. "Leave it for now. Everyone go home. Get some rest." Weary nods greeted his declaration. He watched as they all shuffled about readying themselves to leave, Chris more than the others thanks to the ankle. "Chris, I'll drive you home."

It was a sign of his tiredness when all Chris did was nod. Ramsey ignored the knowing smirks of Dylan and Alicia. He also ignored the speculative eyes of Chris' uncle. Chris was a big boy. All he had to do was say 'no' and he'd back off. Ramsey ruthlessly quelled a smile. He didn't think Chris would.

"You didn't have to see me to my door," Chris mumbled, shuffling slowly but surely towards his apartment door.

"Yeah, well, I wanted to." Ramsey wasn't about to let the younger man out of his sight again. Especially after finding out the severity of his twisted ankle and most especially after that kiss. He leaned against the doorjamb, waiting patiently as Chris fumbled with the keys. The younger man wasn't normally this clumsy. Ramsey grinned wolfishly at the thought of what really unnerved Chris enough to make him jittery.

"Stop smiling like that!" Chris demanded, poking exasperatedly at his shoulder. He'd given up on dealing with his keys in favor of glaring at his tormentor straight in the eyes.

"Like what?" Ramsey was all innocence as he asked.

"Like you're dying to eat me!"

Ramsey couldn't help the grin as a result of thoughts of how much he'd like to eat Chris up.

Chris huffed, eyeing him before resolutely turning back to the door. "Thanks for the ride, I'll see you tomorrow." It was clearly a dismissal.

Ramsey wasn't having any of that. "C'mon, I'll tuck you in."

The look on Chris' face was so comically shocked, Ramsey had to laugh and take advantage of Chris' inability to fight. He grabbed those slim hips, slowly walking Chris backwards into the apartment, taking on most of the younger man’s weight in his hands. The door slammed shut with a satisfying thunk, thanks to his foot, but Ramsey really didn't care. He was much more interested in the man in his arms who was currently still wide eyed and breathing in little stunned breaths. Chris' hands clutched at his shoulders, but his feet gamely walked backwards into the bedroom.

Ramsey bent his head, nipping at those sweet lips again, but the low woof caught his attention briefly. "Hey, Thane."

The huge Old English sheepdog huffed out a breath, but was content with watching as his master was gently coerced into the bedroom.

Chris, on the other hand, had regained his wits and was trying to fight Ramsey's hold on him. He was hindered by his not so serious desire to be let go. "Ramsey?" His insecurity and innocence evident in his inquiry.

Ramsey caressed soft cheeks with his lips and gently rubbed an Eskimo kiss into Chris' nose. "Do you want me?"

"I-" His breath shuddered and shook as Ramsey slipped big warm hands under his shirt and smoothed them up his back. His head nodded in jerks, hands moving of their own accord to the buttons of Ramsey's shirt. Chris leaned forward, wanting another kiss.

Ramsey gladly obliged, then grinned as Chris squeaked into their kiss when he grabbed him where thigh met butt and lifted.

"Ramsey!" Chris instinctively wrapped his long legs around Ramsey's waist, hands clamped onto strong shoulders to keep his balance.

A devil may care grin met his shocked gasp. "I don't want you on your ankle more than necessary. Besides," Ramsey's grin turned positively wicked. "I've been dreaming of your legs wrapped around me."

"Oh God."

Ramsey chuckled low and dangerous as Chris helplessly thrust against him, biting his lip, eyes sliding shut. He couldn't wait to get his pretty profiler naked and under him. He carried Chris towards his bedroom, knowing exactly where it was from all the times he and the rest of the team had come over here to have dinner. He kept Chris befuddled by kissing him and not letting him over think them being together. He barely noticed the sky blue bed sheets and comforters. He did notice how nicely Chris sank down into them.

Layer by layer, he undressed his soon to be lover, revealing smooth, pale skin. "God," he whispered into the flat plane of Chris' stomach. "Your skin is like ivory and cream."

"I . . . uhm . . . thank you?"

Ramsey chuckled into the heat of Chris' skin. "You are very welcomed." It barely took anything at all to take off shoes, socks, and belt. But when he reached for the button on Chris' pants, slim hands caught his own. He glanced up, hoping to God Chris was not going to tell him 'no' or to stop. "Baby?"

"I . . . can you . . ." Chris seemed to give up on words entirely and surged forward, grabbing at Ramsey's tie and undoing it.

Ramsey relaxed completely, letting himself fall into bed next to Chris. He surrendered his body over to the younger man. "Do whatever you want, baby."

"Really?" Chris licked his lips. "Anything?"

"Oh yes," Ramsey caught sight of Chris' wicked grin and hastily added, "except for kicking me out and telling me we can't do this."

Chris laughed at the caveat and proceeded to strip Ramsey of his tie, shirt, and undershirt. Ramsey purred at the cool smooth hands that explored his chest and arms. Chris seemed to like running his hands over his skin again and again. Ramsey surged upwards, catching those lips in another kiss, catching Chris' moan as he stretched out on top of his body. The slide of skin on skin was electrifying. Chris' moans, the sounds he made, had Ramsey playing his body just to hear them again. The gasps as he nuzzled Chris' nipples, the sighs as he mapped Chris' body with his lips and tongue, the whimpers as he played with his slim, pretty cock. But it was the sounds that Chris made as he rode Ramsey's fingers that tested his sanity.

"Ramsey," he cooed, enveloping Ramsey with his sweet, sweet body.

It was Ramsey's undoing.