In his shower, Luc stuck his head beneath the cascading water and let the heat of it splash over his shoulders. He squirted a bit of scent-free body gel on his palm and slathered it across his chest and shoulders. The inside of his left wrist brushed his nipple. Eyes closed, he leaned back against the cool glass wall and reached across to his right nipple. It came erect at once, sensitive after so many days without sex. Since Wulf had left, he hadn't had the heart for it. Release in his dreams was one thing, self-pleasure another.

Now, the image of Izzorah filled his mind, emerald cat's eyes flashing. In two hours, he'd be picking him up for dinner. Izzorah had said he'd be ready, but had he really considered the ramifications of being seen in public with the Harbinger?

Wealth afforded privacy, but required isolation to enjoy. Dinner at Batchelors 4 might exclude the media, but the finest gossip masters in the empire were clients. The moment Luc showed up with Izzorah on his arm, the buzz would start. By the time they'd finished dinner, their relationship, however casual, would be headline news on every entertainment ezine in the city. Hell, all he had done was show up alone after Wulf left, and someone reported he was drowning a broken heart in whiskey.

Fine. That was true. Luc pinched the bridge of his nose. No longer. Starting tonight, I'm making a comeback, Wulf and Alitus be damned.

He lathered his chest. When he kissed Izzorah, would the Kin close his eyes, or keep them open? His innocence and natural curiosity almost guaranteed the answer. Izzorah would want to see everything Luc did. Eyes closed, he brought forth the image of Izzorah.

He bit the Kin's lower lip between his teeth and sucked it. Izzorah opened, granted him entry. Luc darted his tongue inside, flicked across his fangs, his cat-barbed tongue, and teased the rough texture. He pulled back, licked the corners of his mouth.

"Luc, Luc. Kiss me more." Izzorah wrapped his arms around his neck and sought his mouth, rising on tiptoe, pulling him down, deepening their kiss.

The pure joy of Izzorah coming into his arms, sweet, willing, open, sent a hum of pleasure through Luc. He groaned, balls tight and pulsing for release. He wrapped a hand around his shaft and brought the outer edge of his hand down, hard against the top of his balls at the base of his cock. The pressure heightened the heat coursing through him.

"I want to kiss you the way you want." Izzorah nuzzled up under his chin, breath hot against Luc's throat. "Shall I bite you? Or do you want to be licked? Teach me what you want."

"What I want is your mouth on mine any time I ask it." Luc dragged him close, curled a fist into Izzorah's hair, and held him while he kissed his way down his throat and across his shoulder. "Give yourself to me and don't hold back. I want your lips begging for my kisses."

Izzorah panted, arching his neck.

"Yes, that's it." Luc set tiny, nipping kisses all along his jawline, out along his chin. "Give yourself to me. Surrender your heart." "All of me is yours, Luc. Tell me more of what you want."

"I want your tongue inside my mouth, and licking down my chest, and scraping across my nipples." He pulled back and rose over him so Izzorah could see his face. "I want this pretty mouth wrapped around my cock. I want you sucking me until your cheeks hollow. I want to look down into these green, green eyes while I come."

"Luc," Izzorah whispered. He licked the seam of Luc's mouth. Gentle, slow, breath tickling across his skin. "Make me yours."