In Enemy Hands Ch 9.1

Chapter 9.1

Gods, how had that come to pass?
The question boggled his mind, so he ignored it. Instead he turned his thoughts to the meal and the wine Varo suggested they bring. They only thing he’d ever had to bring to dinner with his brother was himself. Apparently that had changed. Since he didn’t know what his brother planned to serve, he commed and asked.
“ You’re bringing a wine to go with the final meal? You? The only thing you’ve ever brought to a meal was your appetite.”
“Bite me.” Adlar rolled his eyes. So he had a point.
“I suspect this is Varo’s doing. Your prince might just class you up yet.”
“Again, bite me. I wasn’t raised by batar’s, and you’re a riot, ha-ha. Now tell me what to bring.”
Omori snickered. “Good thing I was raised with you or I’d wonder. So, let’s see. What wine? A nice, dry green would go well with the meal. I suppose you plan to scourer the royal wine cellar for it?”
“Well, I am a royal.”
“Why don’t I have the wine delivered to my rooms? It’d save time, and frankly, I’m hungry.”
“You’re always hungry.” He grinned at the small laugh he heard from Omori. “Send for the wine. We’ll be there shortly.”
Just as Adlar disconnected, Varo joined him dressed and ready to go. The clothes were casual, nothing special, but the pants hugged Varo’s muscular ass and the shirt clung to his nicely shaped shoulders.
“Ready?” Varo asked.
Adlar stared at Varo. He wished Varo had left his hair unbraided. He liked it loose.
“Adlar?”
And maybe he should make Varo go change those pants. They really showed off his ass. It would be a shame if he had to knife someone on the way to his brother’s rooms for staring at what was his.
“Adlar!” Varo waved his hand in front of Adlar’s face. “Helloooo?”
Adlar flushed, and then a grin flashed across his face. “Sorry, I was… thinking.”
Varo hiked an eyebrow. “Thinking, huh? About what?”
“Nothing.” Adlar cleared his throat, slightly embarrassed at being caught gawking. “Omori is ready to eat, so let’s go.”
 “Absolutely.”
As Adlar strode pass, Varo whispered, “I think you’re sexy too.”
Busted. He followed Varo from the room, admiring that fine ass in front of him. Discretely he rearranged his cock and hoped the final meal went quickly.
* * * *
They arrived and settled around the table to eat. Of course Omori pointed out the wine that set on the table, and of course he had to tell how it had arrived grinning the whole time. Adlar made a point of toying with his dinner knife, which made Omori smirk.
Varo poked at Adlar throughout the meal about the wine too. The food was good, the wine was perfect, and the company was entertaining. Adlar thought Varo had a nice time. He’d certainly acted like it.
He laughed, joked, and teased both himself and Omori. It was a side of Varo he hadn’t had much opportunity to see. But even with the lighthearted atmosphere, he noticed something dark that passed over Varo at times.
As they ate, he watched Varo. He was charismatic, knowledgeable, and perfectly comfortable dealing with other royalty. His thoughts turned to the few things Varo had let slip about his family and what he knew about the Yesri king. The male was no better than a rabid dog in his opinion. He couldn’t imagine what Varo had been subjected to growing up.
He and Omori competed often as children and later as adults. They thrived on it, But at the same time, he’d gut anyone who tried to hurt Omori. His brother was a good man, that’s why he was a good king. And frack if he wanted that job. Oh no, he’d knife someone before the day was done.
Even though they closed themselves off from other races, Omori still dealt with some off-world politics. He had the patience Adlar didn’t have. That didn’t mean Omori didn’t know how to defend himself. He did. Adlar had taught his brother everything he knew. Omori might be the only one who knew Adlar’s weak points.
He was afraid Varo was now a weakness of his too.
“Adlar? Helkan to Adlar.”
Adlar snapped back to the present. Both Varo and Omori stared at him.
“If I’d been an assassin, you’d been dead.” Adlar heard the humor in Omori’s voice
“Right.” Adlar smirked at Omori. “You as an assassin. You have two left feet. The one thing you are not is stealthy.”
“But I am good with a knife,” Omori said.
Varo just shook his head. “Must run in the family.”
After the meal they spent some time with Omori, and then later they returned to Adlar’s room where Adlar fucked Varo through the mattress. Hours later he left Varo sleeping soundly sprawled on his bed.
One of the two Helkan moonbeams flowed through the window and fell on Varo. Had he ever seen anything as beautiful? As otherwordly? Adlar’s mind wouldn’t shut down so he could sleep, thus the reason he was up staring at moonbeams and Varo.
He sipped some of the green wine Omori had sent home with him as the night replayed in his mind. The scene in Omori’s rooms had been almost… homey. Varo fit in so well. So well, in fact, he couldn’t imagine the same scene without Varo.
He belonged there. He belonged with Adlar. His heart pounded as it became clear that he couldn’t see his life without Varo… as his mate. He’d had those feeling before, but now he knew there was no avoiding it. Horrified, he stared in his wine. What he felt went past want.
Somewhere along the way, he’d fallen in love with Varo.
How the frack had that happened? He was attracted, yes. He’d been almost from the start. And while he wasn’t looking, that feeling had grown. He liked Varo. He found the other male funny and interesting. Varo had a sharp mind even if he was a bit spoilt.
But how Varo reacted when pushed in the water not only impressed him, it made him respect Varo as a person. He’d respected Varo as a starship captain, but this was different. It opened his eyes to the who the male was growing into being. Goddess help him. While he wasn’t looking Varo wormed his way inside his heart.
He needed…. He needed to talk to someone. He commed Omori, hoping he wouldn’t wake him. It was early enough he might be up and starting his day.
Omori’s face swam on the screen. “Well, hello.”
“Greetings.” Adlar sipped his wine and glared at the screen, not saying anything.
Omori hiked one eyebrow. “Um, okay. Did you comm me at the ass crack of dawn just to glare at me? Please tell me this isn’t going to become a habit. Not the way I’d like to start my morning, you know.”
Adlar ran his hands through his hair. “No, but not that you mentioned it…”
“Um, now that I mentioned… what?”
“Frack.”
“Well, that certainly tells me a lot.” Omori snorted. “So precise, so articulate.”
“Can you even spell articulate?” Adlar sniped, swirling his wine in his glass.
“Good goddess, what are you? Ten? What’s with the attitude?” Omori studied the screen. A small smile crept across his face, and he chuckled. “Ahhhh. I do believe I see what the problem is now. I did wondered last night with you all distracted and stuff. Oh, how the mighty fallen.”
“Arrgh!” Adlar pulled on his long hair. “Why did I comm you again?”
“You’re a glutton for punishment?”
“Not hardly.”
“Well then, it must be because you, brother dear, just figured out that male sleeping in your bed means more to you than you were prepared for. He’s not just a slave. He’s not just a piece of ass, either. You’ve come to respect him, haven’t you?”
“Frack.”
“You see him as an equal now, yes? Not just a Yesri who you can break, but as a male of worth.”
“Just frack!”
“You’ve fallen in love with him, haven’t you?”
“Aw, goddess, Omori. I can’t do this. He’s a slave, and a Yesri. And he’s a Yesri royal. Our people would never accept him. Plus I put a slave collar on him. A proud man like that? He’d never forgive me. They hate us anyhow. He can’t care for me, much less love me.”
“How do you know?”
That shut Adlar up. He stared at Omori who stared back at him, smirking. Varo had submitted to him in the bedroom, but that didn’t mean anything. He’d hadn’t raped Varo, but how consensual was his consent? How could they build a relationship off the start they had?
Relationship? He shook his head. He was getting ahead of himself. First he needed to know how much Varo hated him. “I made him a slave. A slave .”
“Adlar? I am king. I can change his status, you know. I can pardon him for his acts of terrorism too, but in return I’d need him to swear fealty to me. He would be rejecting his heritage and his people. That’s not an easy thing to ask of someone.”
“You don’t know he’d…. What makes you think he’d do that?”
Omori crossed his arms over his chest. “That’s the point, isn’t it? Give him the ability to make a choice. Since he stepped foot on our planet, he’s had very little chance to exercise free will. If he loves you, he’ll take the time to think about what he wants.”
“If he loves me.”
“Well now, that’s the question you need answered, isn’t it. Ask him, Adlar. Don’t assume, don’t guess, and don’t ignore this.”
Adlar sighed. “And if says he can’t love me?”
“At least you’d know.”
“It would change everything.” Adlar finished his wine.
“It’s changing anyway.” Omori glanced over his shoulder as someone off screen spoke. “Just a moment. I’m in the middle of something.”
“True.” Adlar knew their time was up. “Thank you. Sounds like you need to get a start on your day, so I’ll sign off.”
“Are you sure?” Omori turned back to the screen and waved his hand behind him. “This can wait.”
“No, no, I’ve heard what I needed to hear, so go do your kingly thing.”
“Kingly? I swear, Adlar. Fine, I’ll go be kingly, but you comm me again if you need to talk. I always have time for you.”
“Thanks, Omori. Same goes for you.”
Omori snorted. “I have no love life to be concerned over. I’ll talk to you later.”
Adlar shut the comm down and stared at the blank screen. With Omori’s support, he could change Varo’s status. He could mate Varo. Some still wouldn’t agree, but it was his life. Most wouldn’t say anything to him, anyhow. They were too afraid.
His reputation was well know and well deserved. The ones who would talk behind his back would learn not to. He’d also find something for Varo to do. The man was talented and needed to contribute. They’d explore that after everything else was settled.
He was going to do this. He had no idea how Varo would react or even if Varo cared about him. Adlar thought Varo did. There was a look he’d seen, but was that enough for Varo to give up all he knew to stay with Adlar?
Varo would never step foot off Helkan again. And what about Varo’s men? Would they demand to be freed? This could turn into a big mess with far reaching consequences. This could actually change their society.
He gulped. This could actually lead to him losing Varo. Could he keep Varo with him if Varo didn’t love him? Could he let him go? Was that even an option? The Helkans didn’t release prisoners. If they did set Varo free, he’d have to set Varo’s men free too. And if they did that, what would that do to their reputations as a people? Damage it, he was sure. 
First thing after Varo woke, they’d talk. He’d tell Varo how he felt. And for the first time in a long time, fear ran its cold, bony fingers across his neck. He couldn’t lose Varo, but he also couldn’t the feeling something life-alternating was about to happen.