Page 5 of Suffer No Fools
Even in the dim light from the globe above Vadim and Klaus's cabin door, Stan could see the whites of Tovey's eyes as he rolled them.
"Don't fucking lie to me, not now."
"Is it cheating if you're in the room with me?" Stan asked.
Tovey shook his head. "No. With Hugo, it's ... different. You're different."
Stan couldn't argue. He didn't know what to say as Tovey plundered his mouth with his tongue and raked teeth across his bottom lip.
Fuck, he'd missed this, too. Tovey had been distant since the captain had reprimanded them, and then they'd barelyspoken about it in Aquarion. Now, he didn't know what to think as Tovey continued to kiss him like their lives depended on it.
"If he offers again, we should take him up on it," Tovey said. "Together. Never alone."
"He's still a virgin." Stan groaned as Tovey palmed his cock through his trousers. "Won't we be too much for him?"
"Let him decide that," Tovey said. He stepped back, taking his warmth with him. "Breakfast, sleep, and then we'll ask him."
Hugo was already seated at the table with Klaus and Vadim. He had one empty bowl before him, and Vadim shoved another full bowl of porridge toward him as they exchanged greetings.
"I'll stop by with a few more essentials this morning," Klaus said, rising from his seat beside the emperor. "Vadim?"
The death weaver looked like he wanted to say something, but he followed Klaus into the hold, the metal door clanking shut and locking behind them.
"Why is that door metal?" Hugo asked. "Isn't it heavier than wood?"
"It's not just the door," Stan said. "The walls and floors are reinforced with metal sheeting. If Tim sets something on fire, the boat will survive."
"But not if I do." Hugo glanced down at the steaming bowl between his hands. He hadn't made a move to transfer his spoon from the empty bowl to the full one, so Stan did it for him.
"Why are you so thin?" Tovey asked as he returned with two bowls and spoons, placing one of each before Stan. "Vadim's worried sick about you, and he's only been away for six months."
"I'm not hungry." Hugo shrugged. "This is really good, though. My compliments to the chef!" He raised his spoon toward Tim and took another bite.
Tim grinned as he wiped his hands on a towel. He ladled porridge into his own bowl and came to sit beside the emperor.
"There's something off about you," Tim said. "Something that shouldn't be there."
Hugo frowned. "Frost said the same last night. He said I'm blocked from both ice and fire by some sort of barrier."
"Yvette might be able to help." Tovey was already on his feet and headed toward the ladder into the true hold.
"Not Vadim?" Hugo asked.
"Vadim's not trained as a healer," Stan said. "He's great at killing things, but not so great at keeping them alive."
Tim snorted. "Don't count him short. The man's kept himself alive plenty of times we doubted he could."
"He brought me back." Hugo swallowed hard. "That's not something a death weaver can do."
"It's not," Stan agreed. "Before you, he brought back a cat. Not the greatest odds."
Hugo laughed at that. "I have yet to meet the elusive Mewskers. Klaus said he hopped off his shoulder and ran the other way instead of coming to meet me this morning." He stared sullenly into his bowl as he stirred the contents. "I hope he's not afraid of me."
"He's a kitten." Tim patted Hugo's shoulder. "He probably heard something scampering in the dark and wanted a chase. You'll have plenty of chances to meet him."
Hugo grinned. "I hope so."
"Eat up, lad. It's getting cold."
