Ellery glanced across at Arslan.As soon as the sacrifice had agreed the terms, Arslan nodded his permission for the other lion to do as he pleased with him.
Within a few brief moments, the shifter and the sacrifice were rolling about on the rug together, both men evidently enjoying themselves immensely.
Ellery looked toward the other lions.Several of them were taking a great deal of interest in the scene playing itself in front of the fire.Ellery had no doubt that a large part of what they whispered to each revolved around deciding who would get the next turn with him.
It was no more interesting or dangerous than what happened in a dozen different human clubs every weekend.Ellery turned his attention back to Kefir.The little lion was watching him with an intensity that took him off guard.
He apparently had the ability to go for hours at a time without blinking, but when he did, the slow dip of lashes over those huge brown eyes was breath-taking.
“Luther and Blaine don’t seem to have any interest in playing with tonight’s sacrifice,” Ellery observed.
“Not since they met Marrick.Neither does Arslan—not since he met Ryland,” Kefir said.“Only the unmated lions need to learn how to lay with humans.”
“Learn how to lay?”Ellery prompted.
“Humans are…” Kefir seemed to think very carefully about his choice of words.“Not as resilient as lions.”
Ellery tore his gaze away from the little lion and glanced across the room.Arslan was watching the proceedings, but he didn’t seem the least interested in enjoying his voyeurism.He observed it all in the same way a referee observed a football match, analytical rather than admiring, most of his mind devoted to making sure everyone followed the rules rather than on enjoying watching the game himself.
“And, if a sub changes his mind part way through the scene, what happens then?”Ellery prompted.“Have you seen that happen?”
Kefir nodded.“Humans don’t always say their word, not if they panic.That’s why lions have to learn how to read them, their scent and their body language, so they can know to stop, even if the sacrifice doesn’t say anything.”
“And if a lion can’t stop, or he doesn’t want to?”
“Arslan would never let anyone get hurt,” Kefir said, with complete certainty.
Ellery had the distinct impression Kefir’s faith in his leader was well-founded.He forced himself to pay attention to the scene in front of the fireplace for a few more minutes, just so he could be sure he wasn’t merely letting himself believe the boy there was fine, because it would be far more enjoyable to devote all his time to Kefir and forget there was any such thing as a human sub in the room.
“You have no interest in the sacrifice either?”Ellery asked when he finally allowed himself to look back to Kefir.
Kefir blinked.He shook his head.For a moment he looked down, but the big brown eyes were soon focused in on Ellery again.“Do you?”
Ellery bit back a smile as he shook his head.“If I were looking for a human, I’d go to a human club.”
He’d picked his words carefully.Kefir held his gaze.He didn’t seem worried by the suggestion, but just a fraction confused by it.“You’ve changed your mind?”
It took Ellery a second to work out what he meant.“About being a lion’s pet?No.I haven’t changed my mind about that.”
Kefir nodded, very slowly.Ellery had the distinct feeling that every single word he said was being filed away inside the boy’s head.If Kefir had turned around and proved able to recite back everything Ellery had ever said to him word for word, Ellery wouldn’t have been entirely surprised.
Now, Kefir seemed to be waiting for him to say something else.Ellery considered his options and which course of action would be best to take.Reaching out, he stroked his thumb along Kefir’s jawline, tilting his head this way and that to admire him properly.“I was right about what I’d see when I took off the blindfold.You‘re stunning.”
Kefir smiled, evidently both pleased and surprised by the compliment.He obviously had no idea how spectacular he was.Any traces of doubt about his lack of experience with humans vanished from Ellery’s mind.There was no way in hell he could have failed to realise he was gorgeous if he was used to human society.
“If you need money, I have—”
Gradually, Ellery’s mind focused in on the words that were leaving Kefir’s lips, rather than just how pretty those lips were and how magnificent they would look wrapped around his cock.The meaning clicked in with a kick.“What?”
“If you need money, I can—”
Ellery held up a hand to silence him.The little lion tilted his head on one side as he looked up at him all curiosity.
“What makes you think I want your money?”Ellery snapped, not even trying to hide his annoyance.
“That’s why some humans agree to…” Kefir looked to the sacrifice for a moment, hesitance creeping into his voice as he seemed to realise that he had miscalculated somewhere.
“Arslan invited me to observe a meeting, because I had concerns about how the humans who are thrown to the pride are treated.That’s the only reason I agreed to be thrown to your pride last week, and I wasn’t paid for my time.”
