Bayn, and the few other titans on campus, had taken possession of one of the other royal residences, recently vacated by elves who’d left campus. He wasn’t going to ingratiate himself to any elves still remaining around by doing so, but then, I didn’t think ingratiation was high on hist list of priorities.
I was directed to him by Zora, who I’d found in the large sitting room of my own residence. She’d taken it over and set it up as a base of operations, runners coming and going with information I needed to know. I’d told her I’d catch up with her when I got back.
Koar was with me, of course, my oversized shadow.
Bayn answered the door when I knocked.
“What have you decided,” he asked, blunt, harsh, down to business. I could play that game.
“I told you yesterday, there would be conditions on your proposal, are you ready to hear them.
He grunted, his eyes hard. Though, as I gazed into those eyes, meeting him stare for stare, I noticed how they weren’t as dark as I’d initially thought, more of a chocolate brown. And something about that delicious color and his round cheeks and youthful face softened his entire look enough that… he wasn’t as brutish anymore. He still had a square face and the thick body of a powerlifter who just happened to be well over seven feet tall, which gave him quite the imposing look, but that bit of softness made him more handsome than I’d given him credit for initially.
Maybe he wouldn’t be so bad as an addition to my harem? If what hung between his legs was as big as the rest of him, I couldn’t quite imagine how sex would even work, but the dirty little part of my brain sure wanted to find out.
And… now I was staring at his crotch.
Fuck!
Back to the eyes.
He was saying something. I tuned in.
“… in and we can discuss your terms.” Given how he was opening the door and making room for me, I assumed the first part of that sentence had been:come in.
I turned to Koar. “Wait out here.” I wanted to do this alone. “If you hear anything that doesn’t sound like me getting my way, feel free to break down the door and level this place.”
He nodded.
I entered, head held high. I would not let Bayn take aninch more than I was willing to give him. Though he could give me all of his inches anytime…Stop it. Dirty little brain!
I didn’t sit, neither did he. A standoff in the foyer.
“I accept your proposal for a political marriage,” I said, pinning him down with my gaze. “Withthe following terms and conditions.”
He set himself. Though the hints of softness in his look meant he wasn’t quite as daunting as he made himself out to be.
“Go on.”
“First, I have other men, other lovers, and I will not give them up. No matter the… physical relationship we may have, my part will always include them. This is a deal-breaker, if you can’t accept meandthem, then we’re done here.”
“You can fuck whoever you like.”
And… do you want to be in that group?I didn’t ask. Now wasn’t the time.
“Good, and no matter your title, I won’thidethem either. They’ll be my prince consorts or Inamorati. I want everyone to know I care for these men, part of how I’ll show the world that all races are equal in my eyes.”
He shrugged. “Yeah, sure, whatever. Anything else.”
“Second, you will not have the complete control you seem to want.”
He stiffened, muscles bunching and tensing under his shirt and pants. Wow… the fact that I could see it through the fabric only emphasized how damned huge he was.
“I will not let you rule over me,” he growled.
“I heard you well enough, yesterday. We will rule together, as equals, neither dictating anything for the other. Fair?”
He gave a sharp nod, but his jaw was clenched so tight I feared he’d shatter his teeth.
