"Between Despair and Ecstasy" snippet
Jun. 14th, 2012 03:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
valarltdThis is available in THE LOVE THAT NEVER DIES
http://shop.renebooks.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=CHRISTIAN-14
"I could use a man of your talents in a great many places. but I have no desire to overwork you. So tell me, what of my business interests you the most?"
Marcus gave him a shrug. "Anywhere you need me, sir."
He heard the growing frustration in Samil's voice. "Is there any title you prefer?"
Marcus shook his head and dried the dishes. "No sir. I'm simply your cook."
Samil looked at him, long and measuring. Marcus refused to squirm. Instead, he cocked his head under the scrutiny.
"Do I have something stuck somewhere?"
Samil shook his head. Marcus suspected he'd imagined the desire earlier.
"Do you prefer to be armed?"
Marcus didn't show how much the question surprised him. "Not at home. While out on business, certainly."
"You'll be accompanying me from this point on. Tonight is informal. We have a couple of jobs and meetings."
"Very good, sir. Half a minute." Marcus met him at the front door in three minutes wearing tight jeans and a black silk shirt. His wardrobe was quite thorough and some of it even pornographic.
He drove. The night wore away in a succession of meetings, a publishing house, two restaurants and three clubs. Samil did not stay long in any location. Marcus waited in the car and took him home as dawn turned the sky gray.
Once home, he changed Samil into his pajamas so quickly and neatly the other man had no chance to protest.
"Good night, sir. Unless there are any services I can offer?" It was a gamble and at the narrowing of Samil's eyes, Marcus gave a short bow. "I thought not." He turned to go.
"What services, exactly?"
Marcus turned in the doorway. "I am at your complete disposal, sir." He watched Samil debate, saw one hand go to the back of his neck in a gesture of indecision. "But if you are entirely heterosexual, I apologize for bothering you." The lie burned in his mouth. He knew better from Samil's dossier, but it wouldn't do for Samil to know he knew. He turned again for his own bed.
The next noontime, over shirred eggs, Samil looked at him. "Emperors aren't usually outed until they are dead," he said.
Marcus just nodded. "Very good, sir."
Samil rolled his eyes and slammed his coffee cup into the table. "Have you no opinions on anything, man?"
Marcus kept his face neutral. "You pay me to cook and kill and keep you comfortable. You do not pay me to have opinions."
http://shop.renebooks.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=CHRISTIAN-14
"I could use a man of your talents in a great many places. but I have no desire to overwork you. So tell me, what of my business interests you the most?"
Marcus gave him a shrug. "Anywhere you need me, sir."
He heard the growing frustration in Samil's voice. "Is there any title you prefer?"
Marcus shook his head and dried the dishes. "No sir. I'm simply your cook."
Samil looked at him, long and measuring. Marcus refused to squirm. Instead, he cocked his head under the scrutiny.
"Do I have something stuck somewhere?"
Samil shook his head. Marcus suspected he'd imagined the desire earlier.
"Do you prefer to be armed?"
Marcus didn't show how much the question surprised him. "Not at home. While out on business, certainly."
"You'll be accompanying me from this point on. Tonight is informal. We have a couple of jobs and meetings."
"Very good, sir. Half a minute." Marcus met him at the front door in three minutes wearing tight jeans and a black silk shirt. His wardrobe was quite thorough and some of it even pornographic.
He drove. The night wore away in a succession of meetings, a publishing house, two restaurants and three clubs. Samil did not stay long in any location. Marcus waited in the car and took him home as dawn turned the sky gray.
Once home, he changed Samil into his pajamas so quickly and neatly the other man had no chance to protest.
"Good night, sir. Unless there are any services I can offer?" It was a gamble and at the narrowing of Samil's eyes, Marcus gave a short bow. "I thought not." He turned to go.
"What services, exactly?"
Marcus turned in the doorway. "I am at your complete disposal, sir." He watched Samil debate, saw one hand go to the back of his neck in a gesture of indecision. "But if you are entirely heterosexual, I apologize for bothering you." The lie burned in his mouth. He knew better from Samil's dossier, but it wouldn't do for Samil to know he knew. He turned again for his own bed.
The next noontime, over shirred eggs, Samil looked at him. "Emperors aren't usually outed until they are dead," he said.
Marcus just nodded. "Very good, sir."
Samil rolled his eyes and slammed his coffee cup into the table. "Have you no opinions on anything, man?"
Marcus kept his face neutral. "You pay me to cook and kill and keep you comfortable. You do not pay me to have opinions."
