Down In Flames

Liam pumped hands and smiled until his face felt raw and his muscles twitched.  He’d been close to telling Midgie to call the whole thing off, but she hadn’t thrown a real party for him since he went off to the army. The life of a social secretary was dead boring with no one to socialize for.

 

Liam had no idea what to do about Phee. He was still furious, a few hours stewing and yelling at Jas the poor mechanical bastard had gotten him nowhere. Phee didn’t have weakness he could use to get what he wanted. The kid didn’t drink to excess, he didn’t have a lot of money anyway and his parents own their farm so there were no financial vulnerabilities to exploit. There was nothing besides the boy’s saving of his life. Liam couldn’t think of away to force Phee to come to him. Wait for an opportunity presented itself seemed like his only option.



An opportunity would have to present itself quickly however, as the Home Farms had proven no longer safe he would be heading back to Ida. Those dark thoughts wound their way around in Liam’s head behind his bright smile and cheerful attitude. He was excellent at faking, and so it was as faces turned to the top of the stair well and the lovely threesome made their debut to the Aristocratic World, nothing but the look of bland amusement graced his face.



Phee stood at the top of the staircase arm in arm with a little brown haired wren of a girl. He wore…nothing of consequence, yet he stood up there on the landing like a deity. They waited until the crowds full attention had focused, then in a single well choreographed motion the three friends posed.   



Liam watched as the rest of the aristocratic world discovered what he’d been obsessing about for weeks. Phee smiled and the gathered aristocrats drew a collective breath. Against Phee’s magnetism  even Liam’s titanium nonchalance could not hold. His façade slipped, the sparkle eroded until naked want and irritation showed through.   



“These young people today! It seems as though the how of dressing for a simple semi-formal occasion has eluded them.”  The Marchioness Morena Ashbie raised her glasses to peer at the top of the stairs. The Marchioness’ hair had been white from birth and was swept up into a classy pomp with a few spingy curls. She wore an older style dress that would have dated her, except that Marchioness Ashbie dictated fashion trends, she didn’t follow them.



“Eh?” Completely forgetting his place as suave sophisticated host, Liam turned back to Morena with a puzzled frown. What in hell had he been talking to the old lady about?

Damn you Phee…



“I said I’m surprised at that young man’s outfit.” Morena peered through quizzing glasses formerly trained with exacting scrutiny on Phee, she now peered curiously at Liam.



“Ah Lady Morena, I’m sure you are correct but these are simple peasant stock.  It is our duty as the ruling class to show them the correct manner. I owe him my life, and he hasn’t asked me for anything.”

At all.

“The young man believes that doing the right thing is its own reward. We can ignore the rules just this once.”



The lady sniffed and directed her gaze back to the stair where the trio descended the curved staircase.



“I just said that his outfit surprises me. I did from his manner take him to be an aristocrat.” Morena tapped her glasses on her chin. “For a peasant he certainly knows how to carry himself.  Self confident, innocent and wildly dressed. He’ll be an irresistible combination for some.”  



As the guests of honor took the stairs, the feed cameras and stills pointed in their direction. Arm in arm they smiled and waved. Or rather Ace and Casea did. Phee simply strolled, his bold demeanor at odds with his previously retiring manner. This was a different Phee, one that swaggered and flirted with long thick lashes and smoky half smiles that promised things that Liam knew he couldn’t deliver.  Worse Lady Morena’s was not the only aristocrat’s regard that had been attracted by the sizzling entrance.



“Pretty though.” Morena said.



“And penniless. That should keep the more dangerous elements at bay.”



“It wouldn’t keep Lord Orly or the Roskins away from him. In fact Orly would find him particularly pleasant to break.” Orly had a sickening reputation and was as abusive and terrible to the serfs that worked his lands as he could be within the bounds of the law. The Roskins were no better. Most polite society wouldn’t have them but that didn’t mean they wouldn’t hear about Phee through the aristo grapevine and want a taste.



Liam followed Phee for a few moments as the trio progressed down the receiving line. Phee stood arm in arm with the governor’s daughter and Ace. Morena was right. He didn’t carry himself like a peasant.  Perhaps there was something to this Home Farmer business. Liam remembered his father cautioning him against treating them with anything less that respect. He’d just thought they were his father’s pet focus group or something and didn’t really pay attention to the warning.



Phee charmed everyone, the thick lashes lowered and a smoky half smile that promised pleasure that Liam knew for a fact Phee wasn’t willing to give. Or maybe wasn’t willing to give to him.  Liam attempted to get back into the groove of the party. He laughed with Morena as she verbally ripped aristo’s outfits to shreds. Liam put his mouth on auto schmooze. He noticed that he wasn’t the only aristocrat struck by the trio’s entrance.  

Bristol Pierce stood with his mouth hanging open as his usual companion, Lord Davenworth, handed his drink off to a waiter and made his way towards the stairs where the trio accepted congratulations and thank-yous. The Ladies Scala and Morgan dropped their escorts cold. The sharks were circling.



Phee was not longer his little secret. Liam turned to greet the next set of arrivals pushing Phee from his mind.  He greeted the next and the next until he found himself face to face with Phee, Casea and the other lad, Ace. The group was introduced formally.



“You’re majesty?” Ace bowed low as he’d probably been instructed too. The boy was built stocky and strong, built for work.



Casea curtsied prettily despite looking to be on the verge of fainting dead away.



Phee bowed deeply the proper obeisance for a farmer, but the slight smile on his face completely mocked the symbolism.



“Your majesty.” The boy looked up. The warm honey colored eyes took their time reviewing Liam with a slowness and intimacy that suffused color into Liam’s cheeks.



“It’s nice to see you again.” Midgie and the rest of his retainers perked up. Liam could practically see the gossip forming on people’s lips.



“I deliver the prince’s jam.” Phee said by way of explanation. Liam blinked at this cool statement. Phee said it proudly, boldly. None else in the crowd would understand the connotation. The farmer held himself straight.

Phee worked for a living. He wasn’t just a drain on society. He contributed; his family supported the empire with physical labor instead of sponging off it. He leaned back and tucked his hands in the already much too tight trousers he wore. The camera feeds followed his every move.



“Saves lives and his mother makes a phenomenal fruit preserve. I’m thinking I need to transplant the entire family to Ida.” Liam smiled graciously as the listening audience chuckled. Phee laughed out right, throaty and low. The sound belonged in the bed room not in front of high society.



Even Casea gave the usually retiring Phee an odd look.



“Thank you for your generosity, but my parents love the Home Farms. They’ve been working Fallon Orchards for generations.  Maybe I’ll go though I have no clue what ye’d need from me there. Perhaps I can make you some jam your highness.” Phee shrugged and smiled directly at Liam. A little arch of the eyebrow, it was like the kid was playing with him.



Liam’s eyes widened. Phee wasn’t nervous at all. He simply didn’t care. He was surrounded by people who could buy and sell him and his whole piddling little town.  Yet here was Phee charming the pants of the most prune-faced and sourest of dowagers and the crusty old men that ran the country. Phee danced with the timid girls of good family. He jested and laughed with the younger members of the ton in a light genuine manner. He was engaging and smart. He didn’t pretend to be an aristo. He was just Phee.



Liam watched in amazement as Phee flirted and charmed his way into the good graces of the Aristocracy.  





And ignored Liam completely.





And they accepted him to Liam’s infuriated surprise. They didn’t know Phee’s real feelings on the aristocracy. They had no idea he didn’t care what they thought of him. They didn’t know how obnoxious he was.



The music slowed and Liam released the lady he’d been dancing with and looked around for his current obsession. Finally he caught sight of Phee heading towards the card room with both Davenworth and Bristol Pierce, the horniest lechers in the aristocracy. William Latham was with them but that boozer couldn’t be trusted to keep things proper. Phee was incredibly strong minded but plied with drink Bristol Pierce and Davenworth wouldn’t balk at tricking the unwary into an impropriety.



Calling his strong concern that Phee remain innocent responsibility, Liam tried to go after them, but was snagged by one of his brother’s preachy friends. He could not extricate himself from the conversation.



Phee stared down at his cards. Pierce’s cigar smoke stung his eyes and the noisy side conversations distracted him from the game in progress. The drinks were too strong. He was having trouble wicking the alcohol from them after the fifth one. Some small percent was getting though.  Things were getting hazy.  



The prince was supposed to have followed him into the card room. He’d been “watching” the prince with his abilities all night. He knew Liam saw him walk off with the trio of gamblers and Liam’s feelings on the matter were crystal clear.  Liam was infuriated, Phee had been torturing Liam all night. Purposely ignoring the prince, but artfully using his powers to keep at least a room-length away from him. When the prince was dancing, Phee was on the floor talking, when Liam was at the bar, he was on the floor and round and round. It was completely satisfying in childish way. The rest of the party was a blast. These aristocrats were just people too. They talked like people and if you were straight with them they returned the favor. Cas steered them clear of the jerks and they were having serious amounts of fun. However it was now time to work.  



Phee’d gone and fallen in with the people who provoked Liam’s jealousy the worst. The quartet of gamblers was harmless in the scheme of things. But Liam had not followed. Frustrated Phee pulled a card from his hand and played it. Latham cackled and promptly produced a face card to take the stack. The hardened gambler finished his drink then shovelled the chips towards into his pile.



Of the stacks of chips on the table, Phee’s was the second largest only after Davenworth’s.  This was impressive since Phee had started with just one chip.



“Well finally.” Bristol Pierce, known to his friends as Amory, scrubbed his hair with his fingers and drubbed the table.



“I was beginning to think you were unbeatable.”



“Hardly, though it seems luck is with me.”  Phee smiled then turned it naughty.  “Though I told you guys I kick butt at Jirot.”



“That you did Mr. Fallon.” Davenworth’s deep bass vibrated the room. Davenworth was older, a member of the Karrathi parliamentary government. Phee’s father often spoke of the man in uncomplimentary words but he was only about fifteen years older than Phee and had a smile like a feed star. He seemed to be Amory Bristol-Pierce’s particular friend.



They’d approached Phee together after his little stunt on the stairs and complimented Casea’s choice of outfit.



“I’m impressed none the less.”Davenworth murmured smiling at Phee in a fatherly manner.



“Another round?” Amory asked shuffling the cards then holding them out to Phee to cut.  The look he shot to Davenport spoke volumes. They both wanted him. Phee sighed trying to fight down the rising lust in the room. He’d been having trouble containing himself all day.  People’s emotional states had been pushing in on him strangely. He’d started noticing after the fight with Liam. He would be fine then someone with an issue would come along and suddenly Phee wasn’t so fine.  Phee sighed. It would probably be a good idea to go home. He had encouraged these two because the prince seemed to be inordinately worried about them. Phee had hoped for the prince to follow him into the card room.  Phee needed to get the prince alone to do what needed to be done.



Phee planned to completely excise every memory in Liam’s mind that pertained to him or his family. Liam would remember nothing but the few paltry moments with Phee in the beginning. Things were much too complicated to leave them as they were.  Phee’d shot off his fat mouth and insulted the son of the emperor. Those memories would have to be taken.



Liam would be getting the better of the deal here.  How much had Liam come to live in Phee’s thoughts? Phee would still wake with the touch and taste of Liam’s mouth lingering on his own. He would have to live with the intimate knowledge of Liam’s body for pretty much the rest of his life.



“What are you thinking about?” Amory asked as he jiggled the cards a bit for Phee to cut. He swatted Latham who had reached for the cards  impatient to start the game.



“Gah! Can’t we just play?”



“What oh? Nothing…” Phee tried to ignore the awkward moment.



“Doubtful. “ Davenworth rumbled. “You were certainly contemplating something important.”



“I.. ah… wasn’t. Really.” Phee denied.



“Some one important then?” Amory asked ignoring Latham’s irritated noises. “You look resigned and forlorn a bit.” Bristol leaned forward, dark eyebrows furrowed. The younger aristo leaned closer. “Who is it? We’ll get them for you. No one makes our Phee pout like that.”  Phee blushed. It looked like he wasn’t the only one able to read minds.



To his left Davenworth purred.

“Let's guess.”



“Ha yeah. Who’s the Fallon thinking about? I hope they’re naughty thoughts.”  Amory chimed in. Latham rolled his eyes and thumped his glass on the table.  



“The guv’ners daughter. You seem chummy with her? You gunna dump her?” Latham asked fingers drumming on the table.



“No!” Phee looked surprised.  “She’s a good friend.”



Amory and Davenworth shared a look. Phee could hear them plotting in his head. It was kind of shocking how lusty they were.  His work trousers inspired more lust that Casea’s plunging neck line or the many daring gowns he’d seen. He had the urge to tell the admiring aristocrats just how much birdshit he’d mucked out in them.  Being able to tell how much they liked his look had bolstered his confidence; so much so that he’d been able to interact with people that he wouldn’t have dared to speak to otherwise.  It was certainly an odd day but it had been a nice surprise to find that the majority of Aristos weren’t as stuck up as they seemed.



Bristol Pierce and Davenworth approached him soon after talking with Liam, demanding the immediate direction of his tailor. He had to explain that he did not have a tailor and pointed out Casea who was talking with Captain Benham.  They lambasted him with questions, reminding him strongly of Lady Ravin-Poole’s prized terriers; primped and spoiled rotten but oh so curious.



Bristol Pierce had never met an actual farmer before. They seemed extraordinarily concerned with dirt and chores. Phee’d finally gotten him to stop the incessant questioning by promising the aristocrat a tour of the farm.



He’d had to extract his hand many times from Bristol Pierce’s curious examination. The rough texture and calluses fascinated the aristocrat.



Phee stuttered as more outrageous claims were made.



“You’ll break up with another girl then?” Latham said.



“You’re moving away?”



“Your pet pig died?”



Phee just laughed, the levity was infectious and even Latham was soon joining in.



“Is it a boy?” Amory said.



Phee flinched his smile freezing on his face. “No.. heh sorry. Not a boy either.” Amory pouted then Latham coughed.  Liam was more of a man.



“Well to the devil with it. I’m off to find a drink if you all ain’t in a mood to play.”

Phee stood to follow Latham out.



“I’ll go with you, Mr. Latham I’m sure my friends are looking for me.” Phee tried to excuse himself.

He needed to figure out how to get Liam alone again and do what needed to be done. There probably wouldn’t ever be a better chance for him to get the prince alone than this evening. With the assassination attempt Phee was surprised his father hadn’t secreted the prince back to Ida already.



Amory snagged Phee's hand again.



“Don’t go just yet.” The dark eyes caught Phee and with a rush of vertigo Phee knew exactly what Amory wanted. The strength of the man’s lust caused Phee to sway on his feet.



Thoughts of bending Bristol Pierce over the card table and thrusting into that pliant body while his rough hands dug into the younger aristocrat’s hips flashed through Phee’s mind. He knew what Pierce wanted and the intensity of the other man’s lust eroded Phee’s will.



Pierce wanted Phee right now with Davenworth watching… or, Goddess, participating as well. Phee had to get out of there before the aristocrat’s lust enslaved him.  



“I,  I’m sorry… milord. I must find my friends.” He whispered. Fighting Amory in his own head weakened him physically, his will drowning in Amory’s hunger.  



Phee had always been able to sense emotions but they never had the ability subverted his own will. Phee fought even as Amory stood and slid his hands into Phee’s hair. “You have to tell me if this curl is natural.” Amory was close enough that his breath cooled Phee’s lips. Pierce tugged one of the springy sable locks. Phee opened his mouth to tell the aristo to back off.



“It’s completely natural, Pierce. Mr. Fallon doesn’t require anything more than a vigorous scrub in the Deone to complete his daily hygiene regimen.” Liam stood in the doorway, his face perfectly calm, but the rage boiling under the surface caused Phee to step back, already weekend by fighting off Bristol Pierce, Liam's rage threated to pull him under.



Phee’s knees buckled. He leaned against the wall for support. What the hell was going on with him?   Fear surged through him sapping what little strength he had left.  



“Is it?” Pierce asked idly plucking another silky strand and pulled it so that it bounced. Liam has to stop himself from knocking girly Bristol Pierce on his well used ass. What the hell, the HELL was going on here?



Liam wanted to shout, mostly at Phee. The farmboy looked green around the gills and guilty as well he should after that speech about his damn reputation.  Why the hell would Phee even chose a classless whore like Bristol Pierce to embarrass himself with anyway?



“Can you find something else to do then Pierce, besides paw someone who isn’t interested in you?” Amory’s eyes widened and his mouth opened for a second in shock as the usually jovial and good natured Liam raked verbal claws up and down Amory’s side.



Amory opened his mouth to answer in kind but Davenworth stood up and smartly dragged his friend away.



“Your majesty?” The politician put a calming hand on Amory’s shoulder.



“It’s always good to see you well.” The older aristocrat wore an amused smile



They both bowed to Liam who accepted the obeisance with a chilly nod. Amory and Davenworth backed away then out, leaving Phee with Liam. The prince was so pissed off Phee could feel the anger coming off the prince in waves.

Liam didn’t know what upset him more. The fact that Phee seemed to be quite interested in stupid, slutty Amory Bristol Pierce after a whole three minutes of acquaintance where it had taken him  a full month to get close enough to wrench a couple of kisses from the self righteous hypocrite.  Or maybe it was the intense jealousy he felt towards Bristol Pierce.  Liam had the urge to massacre someone. Bristol Pierce was on the top of that list but Davenworth had wisely removed Amory from his sight. That left Phee.



With Amory gone and Liam not focusing directly on him for a moment, Phee pulled himself together, imaging a thick stone wall protecting his emotions and mind. He used to use this technique when the ability to hear other people’s feelings first developed but had forgotten about it until a few moments ago. Things had quieted somewhat.  Liam’s nasty rage had been pushed out as well as Amory’s lust. He was alone in his own head. At last.



Phee tuned back into the conversation, Liam had worked up a good head of steam.



“Are you daft? Making cow eyes at Bristol Pierce and letting him fondle you in public? Where is all that concern for your reputation? You’re a damned hypocrite, Fallon. I bet all that chatter about Home Farmer pride was all bullshit too. Or perhaps you’ll just spread for anyone offering good time.”



Phee’s eyes were as wide as saucers as the prince spewed venomous frustration.  



“You’re kidding me? Right?”  Phee was incensed. He held his shields tight against the pounding rage coming off of Liam and prepared to return a little of his own.



“You brought me here Liam, you invited these people. I didn’t ask Bristol Pierce to touch me. I was being nice to him as YOUR guest. He seems to think I’m some kind of touch stone or something so you walk in on something completely innocent then you have the balls to call me a whore for simply talking to another person? That’s twice today you’ve called me a whore. If you were anyone else I’d punch you in your damned face. But guess what? You can go right to hell, Liam Tacticus."



Phee drew himself up to his full height. All Liam had done since entering Phee’s life was to create havoc, embarrass or otherwise torture, Phee. That was it, forgetting why he’d wanted to see Liam in the first place Phee moved to leave. Embarrassed, insulted and mortified that he’d talked to the imperial in a manner his mother in particular would be horrified.



“You will listen, Sir! Your reputation is everything to these people. Because you’re a farmer you have to work four times as hard to overcome that label!” Liam flicked the bronze and brown jacket, his distaste obvious.



“These peasant rags should have been burned, and goddess only knows why your damn pants are so tight. You look like one of Grey’s loose groupies. You must bow to propriety if people are to take you as anything but a joke.”  Liam’s voice had turned haughty, cold.  Phee couldn’t believe his ears.



“A slut and a joke.” Phee beamed, his face lighting up in mocking pleasure as he fought back angry tears.



“It’s good to know what you think of me your majesty.” Phee grit his teeth he wasn’t going to lose his cool again. He would do what he came here to do; take Liam’s memories and walk away.



He didn’t need this obnoxious little twit to treat him like crap. Liam was just as bad as the rest of the Aristocracy, worse actually, at least they didn’t want more than Phee could give, nor expect him to be something he wasn’t.



“I didn’t say that Phee.” Liam growled and put his hand on Phee’s chest to stop the farmer from leaving. “I owe you my life, two times over. You making a mistake with Bristol Pierce I just want you to realize that.”



“You want me to act like something I’m not. I like Amory. I like Davenworth. I’ll speak to them both if I want to.” Phee didn’t like them at all. He just said it to piss Liam off.



Phee took Liam’s hand off his chest, high on his anger.



“I think I know what your problem is.” Phee pulled Liam close fingers locked around Liam’s wrist.  Phee initiated the contact he needed to take the memories from Liam that he wanted too.



“You’re afraid he’ll get to fuck me before you do.”  The ugly words stopped Liam. That exact thought had flashed through his mind.



“That’s not… I will NOT allow you to address me in that manner, Phee. Do you know who I am?” Liam whipped his wrists out of Phee’s hands.



“A jealous prick.” Phee said.



“A jealous prick who could have anyone in the region executed just on his say so.” Liam’s face betrayed nothing but just saying the words sped up his heart rate. Phee could hear it and the pulse beating at Liam’s throat.



“So kill me.” Phee said coolly calling Liam’s bluff.



“Then where would we be. No. Perhaps your parents need a little forced vacation from the farm. I’m sure an imperial refueling station would work well right in that area. The whole town could use some updating. Get some new blood in. Perhaps they would do better in a nice factory or work house.” Liam had no problems threatening them. The boy needed to learn his place.



Phee rolled his eyes and prepared to take the memories, reaching for Liam. He linked up then tried to slide into Liam’s mind. As he reached for the memories what felt like a wall slammed down on top of him. Phee felt himself pitched out.



Liam was standing close to him eyes bright and angry and surprised.



“So what were you planning to do in there?” Liam asked curiously. “I’m quite sure screwing around with the mind of an imperial scion is an executable offence, Phee.”



Liam’s mouth turned up into an evil smile.



“You’ve been rather naughty love.”

Phee backed away trying to keep from panicking but the prince advanced.



“You think I wouldn’t figure it out? Hmm Phee? That you’ve been quite literally fucking with my head? That you’re a witch?”



Phee didn’t know what to do. He couldn’t hurt the prince nor, it seemed, could he take the memories that condemned him.  Terrified he stood still and thought frantically. There had to be something. Leaving the cote wouldn’t guarantee his parents safety. Phee had to protect them.

Phee bowed.



“What would you have of me sire.” Phee asked defeated.



“Why does that sound familiar?” Liam murmured. “You will appear here every day after school and whatever chores your family makes you do ready to work. Jas and I will be preparing you.”

Phee frowned and looked mutinous.



“Why in heaven’s name?”



“You’ll be enrolled in the War Academy in the fall. You’ll learn to speak and act like an aristocrat and since you have no real concern about your reputation you’ll spend the nights here receiving a different sort of tutelage from me.”



Liam grasped Phee’s chin firmly turning Phee to face him, he was close enough to lick Phee’s face.



“You will be here. Every. Day. Without Fail.”  Liam murmured with a dangerous smile on his lips. “Or  I’ll have your parents arrested for harboring a sorcerer.



Phee’s heart raced as the prince’s mouth brushed against his check then slowly round the shell of his right ear. Phee shivered as a cool stripe of Liam’s tongue trailed against Phee’s lips.



Liam was close enough that Phee could feel his breath cooling the damp on his lips as Liam spoke.



“Have we an understanding?” Liam purred.



“I understand that you like a well educated whore. That’s crystal clear.”



“Ah, Phee. A whore gets paid for his services. Consider that your first lesson.”

Liam had him caught. There was nothing more than to simply roll over and take it.  He had to protect his family and their farm from his mistakes. No matter what Liam wanted from Phee, a good son would not let anything happen to the mother and father that took him in and sheltered him for years. Phee was determined to be that good son.



“Just… just leave my parents out of this.” Phee said swallowing his pride. “Please, your highness.”

Liam leaned closer, pressing himself against Phee and smoothed out Phee’s lapels. “At last respect. You beg so prettily... I’m tempted to tell you yes.” The brown gold lashes lowered over electric blue.



“Your parent’s involvement in this is entirely up to you Phee. Do as I say and they’ll be fine.” Liam pouted. “You are particularly troublesome you know that right? I’ve never had to blackmail anyone into doing as I ask.”



“Yet you manage it with such grace your majesty.” Phee said; irony thick in his voice. Phee grasped Liam’s hands as the prince’s fingers dipped underneath the jacket to the thin cotton tee underneath. Liam pulled his hands slowly out of Phee’s grip locking eyes with the farmer and daring Phee to stop him again. Phee’s stomach muscles bunched as the Prince’s fingers skimmed the waist band of his pants.



“Well.” Liam murmurs as he slid his hands up under Phee’s shirt. The smooth palms stroked Phee’s bare skin. Liam lifted the thin tee shirt upward exposing Phee’s chest and defined abdominal muscles. The prince’s fingers swooped up finding Phee’s nipples, and playfully tweaked them. Phee gasped hating that his body immediately responded to Liam’s touches. He grit back his moan and was caught by Liam’s eyes, they were dark with lust. Phee could not stifle his moans as Liam’s thumb ran over the sensitized nipple again and again.



“Stop it. Liam … Please…” He gasped begging but not daring to touch the prince again. He knew what Liam was after and his body wanted it.



“Not a chance in the world. You’ve been torturing me with this … perfect body for weeks, darling. I’m going to collect what’s owed.” Liam’s other hand dipped and settled on Phee’s erection. The long, uncalloused fingers curled in against Phee’s cock, and sketched out its shape.



“Now let’s try this again, darling. What do you want?” Liam asked leaning closer, putting pressure on Phee’s cock as his fingers moved back and forth. Phee tried to move back, get away from that intimate touch. He bumped up against the card table.  The stupefied look on Phee’s face made Liam want to laugh but he wouldn’t break the spell.  Liam stepped in between Phee’s knees rubbing his hands up and down that work hardened stomach.



“Free me. Liam… Don’t do this.”  Phee begged putting his hands up to fend off Liam’s touch. One look at the Prince’s face and Phee dropped his hands to his side.



“Wrong answer.” Liam said, his tone low but clipped as he opened the workman’s jeans. Phee dropped his head as Liam gripped his cock, scrabbling to find purchase on the card table and pull himself away from Liam’s determined touch. Liam held on, and advanced ruthlessly stroking Phee as he pushed the farmer onto the card table.



“Liam!” Phee hissed just as Liam’s mouth sealed over Phee’s, firmly silencing his pleas. Liam pushed harder. The anticipation of having Phee finally, made him rush; made his hands unsteady as he ground into the farmhand’s muscled thighs. There was so much of him and it was all tough, well made, there wasn’t much soft about Phee under his clothing. Liam pushed off the jacket and the Radelis band shirt then exposing all that tanned muscle.



“Say it.” Liam growled, leaning over Phee. He was so close that he could feel the prince’s breath on his lips and the soft purr sent a stab of lust through Phee so strong that Phee hand to wrap his hands against the sides of the card table.



“I want, ahh Goddesss please, I want you.” Phee stuttered. The farmer wasn’t so much of a fool as to deny it when the evidence lay thick and ready against Liam’s stomach.



“You’re mine… Phee. I promise you that.” He whispered. “I’d destroy Pierce before I’d let him, or anyone else, touch you.” Liam whispered as he broke the kiss, then slid his hands down Phee’s naked chest. Liam tugged on Phee’s nipple with his teeth enjoying the pained sounds Phee made as Liam marked his territory.



Phee couldn’t think. With every flick of his tongue and stroke of his fist Liam drove thoughts of anything but the physical pleasure further and further from Phee’s mind. There was nothing but the next thrust the next kiss, the next words.



Shivering as the slickness on his nipples dried, Phee tried to fight off his body’s enslavement to Liam. He tried to rise but he only thing he could do was moan trapped by the sensation of Liam’s thumb on his cock. His own lust had him staggered, and shaking. Phee couldn’t hide it. He couldn’t deny that the Prince had his number. Licking dry lips Phee pushed the cards and chips off the table in a fluttering musical cascade, he pulled Liam towards him, lacing his fingers through the blonde curls as Liam’s trailed kisses lower.



“Oh Goddess , Yesss” Phee groaned as the prince slid the trousers off his thighs and followed by the clean but worn underpants. The prince’s hands slid against his thighs then up onto his stomach. The sensation causes Phee’s stomach to clench up and he felt himself going down… falling. It felt like falling. His stomach flipped and his heart beat in his chest like a wild animal. The touch was so intimate that Phee could feel the link forming despite his unwillingness to invade Liam’s mind again. The wall was still there. Liam’s thoughts were impenetrable but the rest of Liam’s body was an open book. Phee could sense Liam’s arousal, feel his heart beating in a half step off of his own and slowly as he thought about them together the heartbeats aligned. Phee could feel the physical manifestation of Liam’s need not just pressing against his thigh but against his skin, in his mouth on his fingers everywhere, except in his thoughts and Phee wanted in. He wanted to feel this with Liam.



“Our tune changes sooooo quickly.” Liam murmured, the purring vibrations against Phee’s cock caused Phee to jerk and swear harshly against the card table.



“Stop teasing me Lord Tacticus, just do it.” Phee moaned head thrown back and panting unable to look at Liam lest his power try to dash itself against Liam’s shields. He didn’t want that. He didn’t want to hurt anyone. Phee held himself back but the powers that he always thought to control screamed for Liam, screamed to be free to devour the blond between his knees. He shook with the effort to keep himself in check.



The farmhand shivered under the prince’s masterful mouth. Phee shook like a leaf and thrust himself at Liam with two thoughts. To keep the prince happy and unhurt and to not fuck things up more than they already were. Phee watched as the Prince of Karrath rose then pull out the crisp platinum colored vest and undid the trousers. Phee could only handle a single look at the pale and rose flesh and the crop of blond curls before he turned his eyes resolutely to the ceiling and shut them tight.



The sound of his own breathing filled his ears, he found Liam’s scent in the air, felt Liam’s heart beat and the blood pumping through his veins, and Liam’s tongue round the inside of his ear. And then came Liam’s voice.

“Phee darling, I’m not going to fuck you on a card table with no preparation. Not for your maiden voyage anyway, just not civilized. I’ll be saving that for a night where we can properly enjoy it.” The low purr mocked with a hint of dark pleasure. Phee’s eyes flew open to find the aggravating blonde smirking. Phee opened his mouth to tell Liam just where he could stuff his “preparation” as his cheeks fired pink.



The sound of a person fiddling with the door knob had Phee and Liam scrambling away from each other, Liam, with much, much more grace. The prince turned away and in one fluid motion had his pants buttoned and his shirt in placed where Phee practically fell off the card table on his ass. Phee scrambled into his pants then crept behind the bar.



Hiding a tidy erection, Liam sprung to the door and opened it, greeting a bewildered guest.



“Alvesara, so glad to you could join us!” Liam beamed, clapping the old barrister on the back and strolled out into the hall.



“Hah, your majesty I was just going to take quick smoke.” The old man peered curiously behind the prince.



“Excellent idea, man. I’ll join you. You must tell me all about the Shima embezzlement case! I’m fascinated.” Liam was not fascinated but he needed to get the old man away so that Phee could get out of the room.



“Let’s go out through the balcony. There are some inspiring mosaics out there.” The barrister peered curiously at the prince.