Page 26 of Suffer No Fools
"Olivia or no, they would make time," Tovey said. "It is our duty as citizens of Aquarion to ensure your safety before all other tasks."
"Good. As citizens of Aquarion, I'm asking you to be my guards."
"Me?" Tovey blanched, and for a moment, Stan thought he was going to be sick over the side of the ship. "Us?"
"Yes, Your Majesty," Stan said.
"No." Hugo's gaze snapped to Stan's.
He stood at attention, raising his chin and flattening his shoulders back as though he was in the presence of his commanding officer. Hugo was head of the empire, after all.
"You will call me Hugo, or baby."
The last word was almost a whisper, but it wasn't a mistake, or an afterthought. Hugo liked it when Stan called him baby. Stan was glad he couldn't see his face reflected in the waters below, because he didn't want to know how happy he looked from such a simple truth.
"You will live with me and accompany me to any activities I must attend on the island. If we schedule meetings away from Aquarion, I expect you to accompany me. I know you. I trust you."
"Aye." Stan dragged the word out, so he wouldn't slip and add a title.
"Tovey?"
"As you wish."
"I do wish." Hugo removed his arm from Tovey's to caress his cheek. "But I'm not trying to torture you. If you really think Petri would be a better fit, I will ask them."
"No." Tovey looked like he'd agreed to a suicide mission.
"Good." Stan had never seen Hugo so confident. He was even sexier now than he had been when he'd begged for their help. "Stay here. I'll share our plans with the captain, and then we can watch the sunset together."
They had to turn sideways to let him pass, and they both watched him for far longer than was polite. Vadim smirked at them from behind the navigation wheel, but he said nothing.
"This is your fault." Tovey turned to the starboard railing. "If you hadn't waltzed in with your big muscles and your kind eyes, we wouldn't be in this mess."
"Is someone waiting for you on the island?" Stan asked.
"Gods, no."
"Do you have somewhere more important to be, then? A more important job?"
"No."
"Why are you complaining, then?" Stan wished Tovey would explain because Stan didn't understand.
"You've already fallen for him, and he's falling for you. I suppose that leaves me on permanent guard duty."
"You're being ridiculous," Stan said. "I've seen the way he looks at you."
"So what?" Tovey asked. "He saw you first, and then you licked him, and now he's yours."
"Gods, Tovey." Stan caressed his cheek in the same way Hugo had, startling him as he gripped the back of his head and pulled up on his ponytail with just enough force to get his attention. "I didn't ask your permission the first time we kissed. I still regret it now."
"You didn't need to ask, asshole."
Tovey launched himself at Stan so violently that the leather strap tying his hair came loose. It slid between Stan's fingers at the same time Tovey's tongue licked along his bottom lip. He groaned and tilted his head down to grant Tovey access to his mouth. Tovey took every advantage given, shoving his tongue inside and pulling Stan's shirt from his trousers with a sharp tug.
Then, Tovey's hands were everywhere on Stan's torso, his back, his shoulders, caressing the pelt of hair between his nipples, and then tweaking them both at the same time as he sucked on his tongue, sending all blood flowing to Stan's cock. He was dizzy from the rush, and embarrassed when Hugo pulled them apart a moment later.
"As much as I love kissing both of you, it's even better to watch you kiss each other." Hugo caressed Tovey's cheek and pulled him in for a chaste brush of lips and then turned to Stan for the same. They were as opposite as night and day, but Stan couldn't get enough of either of them.
