Page 99 of Xerxes Ascendant
Treated to Akira’s cooking for only the second time in his life, Kyle had fallen even more in love with the man. The pancakes had beendivine, fluffy and sweet, and drizzled with the kind of syrup that had always been out of Kyle’s budget but which Robby slathered on her pancake stack as though it was as readily available as water.
“I enjoyed helping you cook,” he added happily.
Akira raised that eyebrow again. “You mean how I kept you occupied sorting the spice jars while I sourced my real assistance from the fourteen-year-old?”
Kyle mock gasped. “You gave mebusywork?!”
“Of course not,” his boyfriend replied smoothly, not missing a beat. “Pancakes don’t taste right if the spices aren’t arranged alphabetically at the time of consumption of a meal they had no contribution to whatsoever.”
“That’s what I thought,” said Kyle, hopping out of his chair and dragging Akira to his feet as well. It was time for a break. “Be sure to tell Indira how helpful I was in the kitchen, won’t you?”
He received a drawled response dripping with sarcasm. “I can hardly contain my eagerness to do so.”
“Careful, pet,” Kyle warned. “After being late for work today, you don’t want to be in further trouble with your House manager.”
The indignance on Akira’s face was hilarious. “If I was late-”
“Which you quite certainly were,” said Kyle.
“-it was becauseyouinsisted on us walking to work instead of taking a car-”
“Because the last time we were in a car, we were being horribly kidnapped.”
“-and then attempted to make out with me every five fucking steps.”
“That doesn’t sound like me.” Kyle frowned and jabbed an accusing finger at Akira’s chest. “Are you sure you didn’t get me mixed up with someone else who is utterly and irrevocably obsessed with you?”
“Sweetheart, your unique self couldneverbe confused with anyone else.”
Kyle preened. “Okay, you’re forgiven.”
“What an immense relief,” Akira commented dryly.
“…aaaannnndddback in trouble again. Stars, you’re a menace.”
Kyle held the office door open for Akira and they moved through the corridors of House Epsilon. The first half of thenight’s clients had just left and the House’s men were gradually making their way to the staff showers, stretching out sore muscles and engaging in light teasing of each other.
“Reckon that’s a record, Adam,” Eric said to the submissive he had tucked under one arm, his low, booming voice echoing down the corridor past the open, empty rooms. “We made you come what, four times?”
Adam just whimpered. He looked exhausted, leaning on the Dominant for support in making it those final few steps, and Kyle chuckled. The pair of them had been doing joint sessions lately, and it was turning out to be a popular booking option for clients.
From the looks of Adam now, he was certainly earning his salary. Perhaps a raise was in order...
Kyle peeked sideways at their employer, noting the scowl forming on Akira’s face and making a mental note to defer the request until the boss was in a better mood.
Useless at finances, his ass. Kyle might not understand the numbers part, but when it came to persuading or cajoling expenditure approval from Master Epsilon, he had it down to a science. And no one could talk down a disgruntled client like he could. When Kyle was done flashing smiles, tossing compliments, and inciting fantasies, the client was ready to spend twice as many credits as they’d walked in with.
But that scowl...it was deeper than usual, carved into Akira’s flawless face instead of pasted over it at surface level as was generally the case for his don’t-fuck-with-me expressions designed to keep the world out. Kyle could wheedle past those, navigating his man like a runepad that only he knew the codes to, but this expression was genuine.
He followed the direction of Akira’s annoyed glare and found it fixed on the Upper brushing glitter from the stack of pillowcases and sheets in his arms.
“This shit gets everywhere,” Miles said to Kyle, noticing his attention and very deliberately not looking at the Master beside him. “I don’t suppose there’s another magic machine that makes glitter disappear?”
None of their cleaning equipment was magic – save for the common runes that powered the technology like batteries – but Miles had treated the discovery of each ordinary appliance with a breathless reverence that almost made Kyle wonder otherwise. The man had spent an hour asking questions about the vacuum cleaner, clearly enthralled at how it sucked up dust and dirt without touching it, and even burning his fingers hadn’t dimmed Miles’ love for how the iron stole creases. His words.
“Yes,” said Akira, surprising them both with his answer to Miles’ wistful, half-joking question. “It’s called firing Misha.”
“Which you’re never gonna do, are you, Master?” Mish sang from the above level, having ears like a cat. “You love me too much.”
