He chuckled, licking a stripe up my neck before heaving himself off me. “Come on. Train with me. If you win, I’ll ride your cock later.”
“Oh, you asshole,” I grumbled, my cock swelling even more. There would be no way I would win if I were fighting with an erection.
He laughed, the cheat, and hauled me to my feet. We dressed together, and I laughed my ass off when he accidentally pulled on a pair of legwear that belonged to me. He grumbled under his breath as he wrestled the too small material free, and when I was still laughing as we headed for the training area, he grabbed me in a headlock and rubbed his knuckles over my hair. It was like how we used to be, and it made me feel a bit better about the awkward tension between us lately.
We warmed up together, stretching our muscles, before practicing hand-to-hand. We learned together and practiced often, so I knew more about how he moved and reacted than I did myself. He didn’t seem to try too hard to fight me either, which made me smirk.
“Are you trying to let me win, Tavik? You don’t need to make up excuses to ride my cock, you know.”
He lunged forward to throw me off guard, which I expected. What I didn’t expect was for him to dip and toss me over his shoulder, smacking my ass as I dangled in his hold.
“Tavik!”
It came out more of a screech, which only made him laugh as he toted me around the training area. He was being so obnoxious about it, I couldn’t help but laugh too. I was laughing too hard to free myself from his hold, so I didn’t notice people approaching until someone snorted.
“Those two… It is a wonder they made it through warrior training. They cannot take anything seriously.”
“True. Perhaps it would be better to separate them,” a voice that sounded a lot like Khaul replied. “They were already fools before they got together. I imagine they’re even worse now. How can we trust them to protect the clan properly?”
My laughter cut off at their snide tones, and I smacked Tavik’s back to get him to put me down. He didn’t argue, his expression dark as he set me on my feet.
“If you have something to say, brothers, say it to my face,” he snarled.
Bhortis raised an eyebrow. “Is being together also making you hard of hearing, brother? Maybe you should have thought twice before hooking up with Saneth if he affects you in such a way.”
My stomach sank at the implication of what they were saying. Would Tavik believe them? That we should not be together because I was a distraction? He loved being a warrior, and he’d worked hard to become one. I found it hard to believe he would give that up for me, and I didn’t want him to, either. I only ever wanted his happiness.
“You speak out of jealousy,” Tavik shot back, surprising me with his unwavering determination. “Saneth and I are formidable alone. Together, none can beat us.”
His words lit a fire in my chest, and I stepped forward, glaring at the group watching us. Only Khaul and Bhortis spoke,but others were there to watch. Good. They could watch as we put them all in their place.
“Why don’t we prove it? Two on two,” Tavik suggested with such fierce determination, it took my breath away.
Bhortis scoffed, crossing his arms, but Khaul looked up for the challenge, taking a step forward as well. “I accept.”
“What do you say, Bhortis?” Tavik sneered. “Will you face us? Or will you walk away like a coward?”
Bhortis’s eyes lit with fury at the challenge, and he immediately reached for his weapon. Khaul did the same while Tavik and I grabbed our swords from where we had set them aside while we had trained. It worried me that our brothers were so combative about our relationship—I hadn’t thought their teasing was anything but in jest before now—but one look at Tavik told me he would not let their words stand. Putting my hand on his arm, I murmured, “Take a moment and breathe. Do not fight in anger. You are better than they are.”
He listened to my words and nodded sharply, taking a deep breath and letting it out before turning to face our opponents. I moved to his side, studying them. I wasn’t too worried about Bhortis. He was a decent fighter but hotheaded. Make him angry enough, and he would make mistakes all on his own. Khaul wasn’t one to be trifled with, however. If we wanted to defeat him, it would be better not to wind up one-on-one against him. Tavik and I fought better together.
Years of practice had us moving as one, with Tavik blocking Bhortis’s first blow while I shifted around him and kicked at his back, bringing my sword up to block Khaul before he could get the better of me. Tavik lunged for Khaul, careful with his blade as he slashed toward Khaul’s face. The goal was to best them, not kill them. Khaul jerked back, blocking, and I spun around, protecting Tavik’s back from Bhortis’s next attack.
We were holding our own when two more of our brothers joined the fray. Feigrind took Tavik off guard, disarming him, but I tossed him my sword and rolled out of the way of Khaul’s next attack, picking up Tavik’s sword to block another blow from?—
“Orn,” I growled with a glare. I respected all my brothers, but Orn was still an asshole. He always had been.
The wicked grin on his face said he would enjoy fighting us, and I doubted he would stick to the rules of no bloodshed. He lunged for me, forcing me to jump back until I bumped up against Tavik. He had been busy with Khaul and Bhortis, but when he noticed who was in front of me, he spun around, cutting Orn off and shoving him out of the way.
“Back off,” Tavik growled. “You are not part of this fight.”
“Oh?” Orn sneered. “I thought we were putting the two of you in your place. Why should only a few participate in this?”
To my surprise, Khaul spoke first, glaring at Orn. “This has nothing to do with you, Orn. Return to your duties.”
Orn lifted his chin defiantly, glaring at Khaul. “You are not in charge of me. You started this lesson. Why shouldn’t I finish it?”
Bhortis rolled his eyes, giving Orn a look that said he was born without sense. “Because it’s not a lesson at all, idiot. It is a proposal.”
