Page 8 of A Suitable Brat
Sun put his head down, then flicked a glance over to him.“Some people, no matter how much you push at them, are mostlygood.It’s like they work to be that way.If they can do that, then so can I, to be better and to be worth their time.”
“They might not like being pushed,” Hely pointed out.
Sun kept his gaze down.“It’s not very peaceful, no.”
“Too much peace can be boring.”Westin was inviting more trouble for himself with that.It was nearly a dare, if he considered his history with Sun.But then, history was all there was now.So perhaps he wanted to dwell in it.Maybe that was why tea and the quiet of the common room hadn’t helped him tonight.Westin would have peace enough when he left the Outguard, and that didn’t seem to be what his heart longed for.
That felt like something he should have known before, and then like something hehadknown before, but hadn’t needed to deal with because he’d see Sun every few months.As his mother said when referring to exceptionally good seasons:sometimeswas better thannever.
But never was approaching.
A strange moment for Westin to admit to himself exactly how much he liked being pushed, and prodded, and nibbled on by sharp wolfing teeth.He really should have faced it before now.He had enjoyed it all, right from the start, from the very first time Sun had demanded his attention.
A friendly palace guard had thrown an impromptu party in one of the palace gardens to celebrate a coming baby, with everyone contributing their stashed casks or bottles and whatever food they’d wheedled the kitchen staff to make.Westin had acted as the judge of several card and dice games, then been drawn into some sort of game of chance with the Outguard’s small danger, the rules of which he still didn’t understand.
Their first real conversation.The first time Sun had needled and pressed on sore spots and then backed away.Assessing Westin, Westin realized now.But Sun must have approved of him, because he had approached Westin the following day and visited with him again the next time they were both in the capital.
Sun at that time hadn’t been nearly as wild as the younger wolfling Westin had glimpsed once or twice when in the barracks, but he also hadn’t been as close to settled as he was now.He’d been assigned to wander, unlike the guards who had regular routes, because those in charge had wanted him to see more of the country, and perhaps that had worked some to calm him.
Although Sun had just said it was that as much as it was meeting some of those who genuinely tried to be good.
He had no marks on his record that Westin knew of aside from those early fights, which Westin was willing to at least partly call self-defense.Sun was dutiful and well-liked, something Westin had glimpsed often enough when they’d traveled together.
Most of Westin’s routes were regular, so he was easy enough to find.He worked alone, more because he didn’t need assistance than a lack of desire for company, so he hadn’t minded the brat popping up in places he was visiting.
Winding up in bed together, or on riverbanks, or alongside campfires, was common among outguards, even if Sun did poke and prod at Westin first instead of simply asking as most did.He could bare his teeth or smile prettily and bat his eyelashes, but it always ended the same, with the snarling wolfling flushed and lovely, voice rising with pleasure until he was full of cock, or had his seed splashed over his stomach and his hand working on Westin.Then his gaze was open and warm.Then he was pliable and clingy.Then he was hot hands and a shivering body and no desire to move out from under Westin even with an innkeeper banging on the door.
“He’s more tired than I think he realizes.”
Westin became aware that Hely and Sun were speaking, apparently about him.He blinked and tossed his head to return to the moment, but neither of them offered an explanation.
Hely was getting to his feet.“I was only visiting with a friend,” he said to Sun, but then quirked a mischievous smile that would have done the brat proud.“Only visitingfor now.”Sun jerked in his seat, then glowered at Hely, who seemed unbothered.“I will order a bath to be readied for you.If you decide on food or a drink, please let me know.Or ask Westin to, since it seems he will be paying.”
He didn’t wink or give even a hint of a smile.He simply turned and made his way from the room.
Leaving Westin with an irritated brat who was practically throwing off sparks.
“I can see why you come here.”Sun appeared to be speaking against his will.“He’s good looking.”This was pronounced matter-of-factly, but Sun was back to staring around the room instead of looking at Westin.“Everyone here seems to be,” he added, before slinking down into his sulky posture and reaching up to stroke the cuffs on the shell of his ear.“Perhaps I’ll have fun, then, while you look forpeace.”
Westin gritted his teeth.“Sunlark.”
It got him an unhappy look, so Westin reminded himself that it wasn’t Sun’s fault that Westin was older and tired.
He took a breath.“You never told me why you were seeking me out.”If it was urgent, Sun would have said already, no matter how much he might have wanted to needle Westin by talking with Hely.
Sun examined his fingernails.“Did I say I was seeking you out?”
Westin swallowed the distant hurt of that and looked away to the flash of lightning through a window, only to look back at the glitter of the amber or agate in Sun’s jewelry when Sun turned his head too.
“Westin!”Alit called as she cleaned off Tura’s abandoned table.“Good to see you.”
“It’s good to see you!”Westin returned, feeling he was too loud with Sun so strangely quiet.
Sun watched Alit until she was gone.“Lani told me you might be here.Apparently, this a long-standing habit of yours.”The weight he put onapparentlymade it significant, though Westin wasn’t sure why.Sun carried on, his tone light, his expression almost furious.“Maybe I wanted to see the famed Solace House.It seems like a place where I could enjoy myself.”
“It does.”Westin had to agree on that whether he liked it or not.“But that’s its purpose.Or at least, to offer rest and some peace.”
Sun’s scoff was barely audible.“‘Peace’ again.”
