heterosexual? A lady lover? Strictly kittly? Pining for pussy? Any of that ring a bell?”
They looked away in distaste as Kardri chuckled.
“Fetch a chair for our valorian,” Kardri commanded.
One of the men found me a chair and set it next to Kardri's.
“Sit down, Tryst.” Kardri waved a hand at it.
I went over and plopped into the chair, then sprawled out to mimic him. “Is this how it's done?” I stretched out my legs and crossed my ankles. “Can I get some dancing girls?”
“No.” He set his drumstick on a table beside him and waved at another man.
The man brought over a tray covered in a selection of sliced steak, cheese, and chicken with fresh bread.
I grabbed a hunk of bread, threw some meat on it, then some cheese, and shoved it in my mouth. “Thanks, man,” I said with my mouth full; I was being a barbarian, after all.
The man grinned at me, then turned and bent over to put the tray back on a low table, lifting his ass high in the air. I diverted my gaze with a grimace as Kardri smirked. Then the ass-lifter spun back to me, this time with a mug of ale. He held it out to me as if it was a sacred offering.
“Oh, hell yeah.” I took it. “Thank you very much.” I took a deep swallow.
“Wait! Tristan, no!” Kardri grabbed my wrist, but I'd already gulped half the contents.
“Oh, fuck!” I gasped as I brought the mug down. “What the fuck is this?”
“Faerie wine,” Kardri said and laughed his ass off.
“Shit, that packs a punch.” I stared into my mug, then took another drink. “This is fucking fantastic!”
Kardri leaned back and grinned. “Very well then.” He held his mug out and clicked mine. “Here's to your first fae drinking night.”
“We're going to get fucked up?” I asked eagerly.
“We're going to get fucked up,” he confirmed and grinned broadly.
“Hell to the yeah, motherfuckers!” I lifted my glass and drank.
Chapter Seven
I watched Kardri watch the other men. He had one arm bent on his armrest, holding his mug, and the other stretched forward, his long fingers dangling. He looked as he always did—sexy, lazy, and a little bored. But there was another twist to his expression tonight; he almost looked contemptuous. A man was massaging his shoulders, and another knelt between his legs, his nimble fingers working Kardri's cock, but that ebony rod just laid there limply, looking as bored as the man himself. He waved both of the men away and absently tucked his dick in his pants. Kardri had accused me of sneering at them, but he was the one sneering now.
“Hey.” I smacked the back of my hand on his chest. “I thought we were getting wasted?”
“It takes a lot to get me drunk.” Kardri swiveled his head to look at me.
I met his stare and realized that he was already there; he was drunk and in a mood.
“Oh, you're one of those.” I waved a finger in his petulant face.
Kardri scowled. “Yes, we've already established that I'm a top.”
“No.” I made a sound that was sort of a snort and sort of a harrumph. “I'm not talking about sex. Why are you always talking about sex? Can't we talk about something other than sex?”
“If you stop talking about talking about sex, we might,” he drawled.
I chuckled. “I meant that you're one of those man-lawn-coolly drunks.”
“I'm a what?” His lips twitched.
“You're a man-cooler.” I scowled and peered into my mug. How much had I drunk?
“I'm a man-cooler?” Kardri asked as one of his playthings giggled.
“No! You're a melon-cooler,” I corrected, then frowned. “Son of a bitch! What's that stupid word that means you get all sad and shit?”
“Melancholy?” Kardri was grinning broadly now, and it was so beautiful that it was worth the embarrassment.
“That's it!” I poked his chest. “That's what you are.” I held my arms out and asked, “Why are you so sad, Leopard Lord? You have the world at your feet, a valorian sitting beside you, and a drink in your hand.”
Kardri chuckled and then asked softly, “Why indeed?”
A low moaning caught my attention, and I looked over at a couple of guys going at it on my right. One was on all-fours and the other was driving into him rapidly. Both wore blissful expressions and nothing else, their muscles clenching and bodies glistening with sweat in the firelight. My face flushed and my balls tightened. For a split second, I saw myself there, on my hands