Deleted Scenes – Cyrus & Nadir

The captain escorted them to the entrance of the main tent for the garrison.  “They are not as refined as the masters you normally serve at the palace,” he warned them.  “They don’t play games, for the most part and are really just looking for some relief.  They will probably not remember to command you to finish, so please feel free to tell each other.  I also want you to know that you are not there to take brutality from them, either. If any of them do treat you poorly, please tell me. I want to know, because I will not allow it among my guard.  There are people in the palace that I have no control over,” Darius said and both Cyrus and Nadir knew he was referring to the malik.  “But I have control over them and I will not stand for it.”

“Yes, Captain,” Cyrus said and they both bowed their heads to him.

“Thank you again, for agreeing to this. You didn’t have to,” Darius said and Cyrus and Nadir smiled.

“We don’t mind,” Cyrus said and they glanced at each other, grins on both faces.

“When you are through, come to my tent. You can clean up and sleep there,” Darius said, and the other two nodded again. “Very well,” he murmured, pulling the tent flap back and stepping through, Cyrus and Nadir following.

“Stay seated!” Darius called as they moved to the center of the tent. All of the guards had started to stand at the sight of their captain, but they settled back on the pallets at his words.  Cyrus looked around to see a long row of pallets on either side of the tent, similar to the ones he was used to sleeping on in the slaves’ wing.  Most of them had a guard in the standard desert uniform of white pants and tunic.  Most had their headdresses and shoes off and their tunics hanging open.  A few were playing card games.  A few others were sitting and talking. And a few more were dozing quietly.  Cyrus saw bottles of wine and ale sitting open on low tables as well as small plates of dinner remnants.

“This evening, I present to you Cyrus and Nadir, pleasure servants of the palace,” Darius introduced them.  “They have kindly agreed to provide you entertainment this evening.”  Most of the guards sat up a little straighter at this and several cheered.

Cyrus and Nadir exchanged grins and winks before looking back over the assembled company.  “But before I leave you with them, I want a few things made clear. They are to be treated with respect.  They are not common whores.  They are valued highly by the malik, the amirs and the palace.  They have been given a choice to be here tonight and have willingly offered to come here. If you misuse them in anyway, you will lose your boots, your horse and will find your own way home.”  Darius paused to allow the seriousness of his edict to sink in.  “As long as you treat them with respect, you have nothing to worry about. Their limits are their own, do not cross them.”

He waited another beat then turned to Cyrus and placed a hand on Cyrus’s back. “This is Cyrus,” he said, then did the same to Nadir. “And Nadir.  Please enjoy your time with them,” Darius said, then turned to Cyrus and handed him their keys, lowering his voice. “What you do and how much you do is up to you and Nadir and only you.  Remember that.  Please enjoy this, as well.”

“Thank you, Captain,” Cyrus said, taking the keys.  Captain Darius nodded once more to them and left.

He and Nadir were still dressed, wearing dark green and brown cotton robes, now hanging open over their matching pants.  Cyrus turned to Nadir and realized that Nadir looked… nervous.  “Nadir?” he asked, reaching up and touching his lover’s cheek.

“Sorry, I’ve never been in front of this many before. Even the dinners are different, really…” he said and swallowed around his dry throat.

“I know what you mean,” Cyrus said and glanced around. A few of the guards were looking at them rather anxiously, one or two looked ready to jump out of their clothes that very second but most were watching them curiously to, Cyrus thought, see what they would do.  He turned back to Nadir and tilted his lover’s face up to his.  He leaned in and gave Nadir a long, thorough kiss, then pulled back and looked into his lover’s eyes. “You will please many tonight, Nadir, including me and Captain Darius by helping these men out.  They look forward to your service and will be very happy with what you do for them. Now, I am going to remove your clothes and your cage so that I might show off my beautiful lover to these men. Remember that I love you and that you are good at what you do: serve.”

Nadir took a deep breath then nodded and took a half step back, turning around.  Cyrus reached up to pull the robe off of Nadir’s shoulders.  He folded it quickly, laying it to the side, then turned Nadir to face him, untying his lover’s pants.  Nadir stepped out of them and handed them over and, after they joined his robe, Cyrus unlocked his cage and removed it and the ring.  Nadir’s cock hardened and Cyrus’s own length twitched inside its cage. He handed Nadir a small bottle of the oil he’d brought and left one more kiss on his lover’s forehead.

He turned to the guards, shifting Nadir to face them. “This is Nadir. Who would like to be the first to spend time with him?” Cyrus asked and several men moved at once.  Cyrus grinned and leaned into Nadir’s ear. “See? They can’t wait to be with you,” he murmured, then pushed gently at Nadir’s back, spurring him to start the walk down the aisle between the pallet rows.

He didn’t even reach the second pallet when one of the guards reached out. “Nadir, is it?” he asked and Nadir nodded. “Would you sit with me?” When Nadir agreed, kneeling next to the first guard that asked, three others moved over to sit near him. Cyrus smiled, proud of Nadir and turned to take care of his own clothing.

He made quick work of undressing, his robe and pants landing neatly on top of Nadir’s. Then he turned his attention to his cage and unlocked and removed it quickly.  The few times over the years that he’d removed his own cage always felt weird to him.  He much preferred to have someone else do it, even Nadir, but expediency was more of an issue here and so it came off and landed with his clothes.

He grabbed his own bottle of oil then turned around and he found two of the other guards standing nearby. “Cyrus?” One of them asked and Cyrus nodded.

“That I am, can I help you?” he asked, grin in place.

“Hello,” he greeted them, kneeling in the center of the four men.  “I am Cyrus,” he said, bowing his head. “It’s my pleasure to serve you this evening.”

“I am Akil,” said the guard who had approached him.  “And this is Sabir, Khayri and Bassam,” he finished, pointing to each guard in turn, who nodded.

Cyrus again bowed his head. “Akil, Sabir, Khayri and Bassam, it is good to meet you,” he said, smiling.  “How can I serve you?” he asked, looking from one to the other.

It was Akil who spoke up again. “What do you do?”

Cyrus chuckled. “Most things, really,” he said, turning to face Akil.  “I like to give pleasure,” he continued then watched as Akil’s eyes dropped to his cock. “With my mouth,” he said, his voice dropping slightly as his cock jumped with the inspection. “Or my body.”  He felt a hand on his back and looked over his shoulder at Khayri who had reached out, running a hand over his skin.

“WIll you stroke yourself for us first?” Akil asked and Cyrus nodded, wrapping a hand around his cock and slowly pulling it along the length.  His eyes slid closed as he let the pleasure flow through him.  He moved his hand slowly, drawing it out, moaning softly with it, letting them see how good it felt.  He heard ragged breathing next to him and he opened his eyes to see Khayri with his cock out and in his hand, stroking it to the vision of Cyrus stroking his own.  He groaned softly and moved his hand a little faster, allowing himself to get closer to the edge.  His head fell back and he spread his legs a little more, putting on a show for them.

He heard a grunt to his left and he turned his head, opening his eyes again to see Akil this time with cock in hand, stroking it and as he looked around, the other two, were, as well.  He leaned back, rocking his hips and thrusting into his hand, letting the real moans at his pleasure come through.

He heard a voice in his ear that he recognized to be Akil’s. “Are you allowed release?” he asked and Cyrus nodded.

“Yes, but I must be commanded.  We are trained to command, as well as arousal. I can finish and recover very quickly, if it pleases you for me to.”

Akil nodded and Cyrus went back to pleasuring himself, rocking his hips, moans getting louder as he got closer. His hand moved faster, he bit at his lip and he could feel his balls tightening.  Another grunt, more groans as his body poised itself on the edge.  “Nngh… close,” he moaned, “So close…”

He continued to stroke, his cock red and hard, the tip swollen, his balls tight against him. His body wanted climax, his face was twisted in pleasure just out of reach.  Then he heard a command he hadn’t expected. “Come for us, Cyrus,” Akil murmured in his ear.

He shouted in surprise, an “Ahhh!” louder than he’d meant to as his climax hit.  He coated his chest and stomach is his cum, his hand still moving as he milked the last of the pleasure from himself.  He braced himself on one hand, his breath coming in pants as he tried to calm down.  But then a finger slid through the cum on his chest and gathered some of it up, offering it to him.  He opened his mouth and his eyes met Khayri’s as he took them in, sucking his own seed from the fingers.  His eyes dropped to see Khayri’s cock hard and straining.  Cyrus licked his lips as he looked at it then his eyes darted up to meet Khayri’s again to see naked want that took his breath away.

“I would like to feel your mouth,” Khayri murmured and Cyrus bowed his head, turning once more. Khayri knelt up, giving Cyrus access to him and Cyrus reached out, sliding his hand along the hard length.  He pulled a soft moan from Khayri’s throat and his own cock twitched again in reaction.  He knew it wouldn’t be long before he was hard again.  The conditioning along with the four of them would be enough to speed it along.

He loved this, love the smells and the taste of cock.  Khayri’s was musky, thick and short and Cyrus opened his mouth, licking it slowly all over before taking it in all the way.  He heard a gasp above him, then felt a hand in his hair that he guessed was Khayri’s.

As soon as they started, it was like something opened up and he heard rustling and felt hands on him.  He lost track of them as they ran over him, but a moment later, he saw another cock near his face and he pulled off of Khayri’s to turn and taste the other one.  He wrapped his hand around Khayri’s and stroked it as he gave his attention to the other, which turned out to belong to Bassam.  His was longer than Kharyi’s and Cyrus had to work to swallow it. He managed and was rewarded with a loud groan when he did.

As he was working Bassam’s cock over, he felt hands at his ass and he shifted so that they could play with it.  There were fingers teasing his entrance, others on his hardening cock and still others playing with his balls.  He lost track of all of the hands and fingers as arousal took over and he simply wanted once again.  He switched between Khayri and Bassam with his mouth, working the one not between his lips with his hand.

As he did, he heard moans from across the tent.  He pulled off to glance over and his cock jumped when he saw one of the guards was inside Nadir from behind and holding him up.  Nadir had a cock in his mouth, one in a hand, and the fourth guard was currently mouthing his length, Nadir’s free hand threaded through the guard’s thick black hair.

“May I take you?” Cyrus heard in his ear and he looked over his shoulder with half lidded eyes at Akil whose cock was very hard and oiled.  Cyrus nodded and arched his back to give Akil better access, moaning loudly when the tip was pushed into him. Akil took his time, working his way slowly into Cyrus’s body and Cyrus groaned at the feel. So many of those requesting him either did not take him like this or were anxious to go fast and get their relief.  Nadir had, in fact, been the only one to enter him like this in a while.

Finally, Akil was buried completely and Cyrus turned back to Khayri, opening his mouth to take him again.  Akil began thrusting in that moment, adding momentum and Cyrus allowed it to carry him onto Khayri’s cock.  He moaned around the length in his mouth as Akil started hitting his sweet spot.  He heard groans behind him, felt the hands on his hips get tighter and knew that Akil was getting close.  Cyrus flexed his muscles and rolled his hips working to bring the man over the edge.

A moment later, Akil shouted and surged into Cyrus as he came. He held there for a long time and Cyrus moaned as the cock inside him twitched hard as it released its warm fluid.  Eventually, he pulled out and Cyrus released Khayri’s cock, looking up.  “Would you like to take me, too?” he asked and Khayri nodded quickly.  Cyrus shifted, turning and a moment later, he was filled again, this time with Khayri’s thicker cock.  He looked up at Bassam, who’d moved in and he opened his mouth to take the man’s length in.  He moaned as it filled him and Bassam’s hand threaded through his hair tugging gently which pulled even more sounds from him that vibrated along the length in his mouth.

It was apparently enough for Bassam because the hand in Cyrus’s hair tightened, Bassam rocked his hips and then Cyrus was tasting Bassam’s release on his tongue.  He drank it down, sucking hard to pull every bit of pleasure he could from the man and was rewarded with another loud groan and a few more spurts of cum.  Bassam pulled out and sat back, panting hard as he watched Khayri continue to thrust into Cyrus.

Cyrus was going a little crazy by this time. The scent and taste of cock, the feel of it filling him, the sounds, all were working with the bells on his ankle and the incense that he’d smelled burning all to push him close yet again, to the edge.  Khayri shifted, pumping harder and Cyrus could tell the man was close.  He looked over his shoulder and the sight of the man with his head thrown back and face lost in pleasure made Cyrus’s neglected cock jump.

But before he could worry too much about it, a hand wrapped around it and he turned to see Akil in front of him, hard again, working his cock over.  Akil leaned in and murmured into Cyrus’s ear. “Sabir likes to be taken. He gets the greatest pleasure when he feels that.  Will you?”

Cyrus moaned and nodded, his throat going dry at the thought of that.  Sabir was a smaller man, dark like the rest of them with big intelligent eyes and delicate features.  He sat back, stroking his cock slowly as he watched the goings on between Cyrus and Khayri.  Cyrus wanted to offer his hand, or something, but Khayri hit his spot at that moment and he moaned loudly, eyes slamming closed as the pleasure spiked.  One of his hands went back to Khayri’s hip and held on as the man sped up a little more, thrust harder and Cyrus knew Khayri was right there.  He flexed his muscles, gripping the cock inside him tighter and it earned him the shout he was looking for. Khayri nearly slammed into him, his strokes turning erratic as he came, releasing hard into Cyrus.

Khayri eased out, flopping back on the pallet, panting hard to recover breath.  Cyrus was having as much trouble with oxygen but he was hard, on edge and wanting so much to give to this man who had been so patient and waited.  He brought himself up and held out a hand toward Sabir who crawled over to him. He’d undressed completely and Cyrus ran his hand over soft olive skin to wrap around Sabir’s hard cock.

He stroked it slowly as he ghosted his fingers over Sabir’s ass, feeling along the crack to tease at the man’s entrance.  He paused in his stroking to pick up the oil bottle and coat his fingers then went back to exploring.  He pushed one finger through the ring of muscle and his eyes nearly crossed at how tight it was. He worked the finger around, spreading the oil then added a second to stretch.  The whole time, he continued working Sabir’s cock over with his other hand, and Sabir’s sounds fell softly from the man’s lips in a constant stream of need.

Finally, Cyrus was sure the man was ready and he gently nudged Sabir to turn.  Cyrus coated his cock in oil then lined up and pushed into the other man, groaning at the feel of it.  His cock was squeezed in the most deliciously amazing way and his balls ached as he held himself in check, taking it slowly so he didn’t hurt Sabir.

When he was buried completely, he paused, wrapping his arms around Sabir and reaching down to give the man’s cock a few slow strokes.  Sabir bucked a little with it, caught between riding the cock inside of him and thrusting into the hand around him.  Cyrus dropped a few light kisses across Sabir’s back and was about to sit up to start moving when he felt something at his own ass.

He looked over his shoulder to see Akil there.  He smiled and shifted to give Akil the access he needed and held himself still while he was filled again with the man’s cock. “Mmm, you feel amazing,” Akil murmured and Cyrus moaned, rocking his hips.

It was the most incredible feeling. He’d never done that before and to be filled at the same time his cock was wrapped in such tight heat was sorely testing his training.  When he thrust, Sabir moaned as well and the sound only made things that much more difficult.  He sucked in a shaky breath as he tried to find some control.

He slowly eased back, rocking himself onto Akil’s cock as he pulled out of Sabir, then thrust back in, moving off of the length inside of him.  He groaned loudly, nearly lost to the pleasure the dual stimulation caused.  He gasped, working to calm down, just a little. But as soon as he shifted again—pulling out of Sabir and filling himself with Akil—he nearly went insane again.  “Just give in,” Akil said in his ear and the hands on his hips moved him.

His eyes slid closed, his body took over for his mind and the sounds started falling from his lips constantly.  The stimulation to his prostate and the incredibly tight body he was thrusting into caused his balls to ache badly with the need to release.  Sabir shifted and began stroking himself and Cyrus held on, hoping against hope that Sabir would go soon. He needed so badly, wanted desperately to orgasm, the earlier release a distant memory.

Luckily for him, he didn’t have to wait long.  Sabir’s grunts got louder and Cyrus moved faster, thrusting a little harder – as much as he could with Akil still inside of him.  The increased speed and force only succeeded in driving him crazier though.  But it did for Sabir what was needed and a moment later, the muscles around his cock clamped down and Sabir shouted through the climax, shuddering with the force of the orgasm.

Cyrus held on through this, holding the man as the pleasure took over, then Sabir collapsed forward, pulling none too gently off of Cyrus’s cock.  Cyrus moaned, his cock hard and desperate, but Akil wrapped a hand around it and started thrusting hard and with purpose into Cyrus’s body.  “Close, Cyrus, very close,” Akil grunted in his ear and Cyrus moaned, rocking his own hips caught between thrusting into the hand and riding the cock inside of him.

His grunts turned frustrated as he hovered on the edge, close – so close.  Akil’s moans got louder and then a moment later, the man surged into Cyrus, moaning the command as he unloaded his balls into Cyrus’s body.  Cyrus nearly screamed as the orgasm ripped through him, tearing along his nerve endings and stealing his sight.  He shuddered hard as the pleasure stretched, lasting incredibly long.

He slumped forward when it was over and Akil eased slowly from his body, rubbing his back gently.  “Are you okay?” he asked and Cyrus nodded, unable for the moment to speak.  He shifted enough to look over to see Nadir’s chest and legs coated in cum, the guards around him panting hard and lying down.  Nadir himself was stretched back, lying against one of the guards – the first one that had approached him.  As he watched, another of them got up and retrieved a wet cloth and brought it back to bathe Nadir down.  Cyrus smiled and turned back to the men he had been pleasuring.

Sabir was nearly asleep, curled up on the pallet next to them.  Khayri was stretched out behind them, his cock half-hard, undoubtedly from the show.  Bassam was leaning back, his cock once more hard, his hand on it as he stroked it, aroused from the things he’d just seen.  And Akil was stretching out on another of the pallets, looking very spent.

Cyrus moved over next to Bassam. “May I help you with that?” he asked softly and Bassam smiled.

“I would like that very much. May I… take you?” he asked and Cyrus nodded, his own lips spreading into a smile.

Bassam sat up and guided Cyrus onto his back, getting into place.  Cyrus couldn’t stop the moan as he was filled yet again and Bassam’s eyes closed, a similar sound loosing.  Bassam was larger than either of the other two, so it felt huge to Cyrus and he lifted his legs higher to give Bassam better access.

Bassam started moving immediately and Cyrus knew the man needed his climax badly.  But despite the evidence of that, Bassam wrapped his hand around Cyrus’s cock and stroked it back to life.  Cyrus moaned as the arousal filled him and he rocked his hips, matching Bassam’s thrusts, wanting and needing more now.  Bassam smiled down at him and started thrusting faster. “Stroke yourself, please,” Bassam murmured, and Cyrus did as he was bid, deliberately pushing himself toward the edge quickly.

“Yes,” Bassam hissed, watching Cyrus’s hand move, his face twist in pleasure. “Closer, Cyrus,” he whispered and Cyrus obeyed, his hand tightening at the base then twisting slightly at the top, a move he knew was guaranteed to make him go off the edge if he’d been given permission. Not yet, he hadn’t yet, but it had the expected result. His cock hardened even more, the tip swelled in anticipation of a pleasure he hadn’t yet been allowed to have.  “Closer, just a little closer, Cyrus,” Bassam encouraged and Cyrus moaned loudly as his hand moved faster, gripped a little tighter.  “That’s it…” Bassam murmured, then his eyes closed and his thrusts turned hard. He shifted just enough and started hitting Cyrus’s sweet spot. Cyrus groaned loudly, his hand faltering briefly.

But then Bassam started to grunt, his eyes opened meeting Cyrus’s and he shouted as he stiffened and emptied himself into Cyrus’s body.  As he started to come down, he forced out the command, sending Cyrus over the edge and into orgasm once more.  It flew through him even stronger than the last one, stealing breath and hearing as he coated his chest in hot white liquid.

Bassam eased out of Cyrus and leaned down to leave a soft kiss on Cyrus’s forehead. “Thank you very much,” he whispered, then grabbed his pants and made his way over to his own pallet.

Cyrus lay there for a moment as he gathered his wits. It had been a very long time since he’d been aroused and sent over three times in a row.  He panted hard as his lungs chased oxygen, and finally he felt like he could breathe almost normally.

As he was about to sit up, Akil leaned over him. “Are you alright?” he asked and Cyrus nodded. “May I help you?”

Cyrus smiled as Akil helped him to his feet and he found himself walking a bit gingerly across the tent to his clothes.  Cyrus gathered them and turned to see Nadir being helped up by the guard who had first talked to him.

“May I walk you two to your tent?” Akil asked and Cyrus smiled up at him.

“That would be very nice, thank you,” he said, turning to Nadir as his lover approached. Nadir was shaky on his feet as well and being supported by the guard who had been with him the whole time.

“This is Shahid,” he told Cyrus.

Shahid inclined his head. “Hello,” he said and Cyrus smiled.  “I would like to make sure Nadir is okay.”

Cyrus’s smile spread. “Thank you. That is very much appreciated.”  With Akil’s help, he managed to get cleaned up a little and dressed again then re-caged himself.  He replaced Nadir’s cage, then stuffed his feet into his slippers.

After Shahid helped Nadir dress, they left the garrison tent.  Akil steadied him and along with Shahid, led them back through the camp to the captain’s tent.

“We are very thankful for all you have done tonight,” Akil said when they stopped outside of Darius’s tent.

“You’re very welcome. We’re happy to do it,” Cyrus said, genuinely happy to have pleased them so.

“If there’s any chance we can see you again before the trip is over, we would love to,” Akil said and Cyrus grinned. Cyrus had a feeling Akil wasn’t speaking as much for all of them as he was himself.

“I will talk to the captain and the amir. If there is no problem, I am sure we can arrange something,” Cyrus replied.

Akil’s smile was bright. “Thank you very much.” He paused then cleared his throat and leaned in to leave a light kiss on each of Cyrus’s cheeks. “Until then,” he murmured and turned to leave.  Cyrus turned around to see Shahid giving Nadir similar kisses before turning away.

“You seem to have made them happy,” Cyrus commented and Nadir smiled.

“They said they were, Shahid especially.  Will you really talk to the captain and amir? Will we go back to them?” Nadir asked.

Cyrus frowned. Nadir was still getting over Jasim. They’d be seeing their friend again in a few days and on top of that, whatever happened with the company was likely to end completely when they returned to the palace. They would again be the playthings of the nobles, not the guards and Nadir might well be hurt yet again.  He looked up at Nadir and seeing the hopeful expression on his lover’s face, he sighed. “Yes, I will talk to them. I don’t see why they wouldn’t allow it.” He put an arm around Nadir’s shoulder and led him into the tent.

Darius was as good as his word. He helped them clean up and get settled into a large plush bed, curling up next to them.  Nadir fell asleep immediately, but Cyrus was awake for a while, contemplating the situation with Nadir.  He was beginning to worry for Nadir, who seemed so needy lately, especially since Jasim had been given away.  He rolled and looked down at his lover who was curled up to the side, face pillowed on one hand.  He brushed some of Nadir’s hair back then ghosted his fingertips along one cheek. “Is he okay?” Darius whispered.

Cyrus rolled to face the captain. “He will be,” he said, taking a deep breath. “But I worry for him. He… has a very deep need to please. The constant change in masters is making it difficult for him.  I believe the temporary nature of pleasing – one day or one night – isn’t long enough and may be making it more difficult for him to find the reward in serving than he would with a single master.”

Darius nodded, though didn’t reply at first. “Could Salehi find him a long-term master?”

Cyrus swallowed. “Possibly.  You mean like Teman and Bathasar?” he asked and Darius nodded.  “It’s possible, I suppose.”  Cyrus took a deep breath and looked over at Nadir.  He bit his lip as he thought it through. “I don’t know if that would end up being right or not. Because there is no master who will want both of us,” he whispered, “And Nadir would not want to go without me. And… to be honest…” he sighed and looked up into the captain’s kind eyes. “I don’t know how well I could handle being without him.”  He looked away again so was surprised when Darius tilted his chin up.

“Perhaps there is someone who would take both of you.  The question would be if Salehi would be able to arrange it. I am afraid His Majesty the malik would not be too happy with something like that. But… don’t worry so yet.  Something may yet work out for you.” He paused and glanced over at Nadir. “He wants to see the guards again?” he asked and Cyrus nodded. Darius smiled. “It was Shahid, yes?”

Cyrus returned the smile and nodded. “Yes.  Nadir seems to have taken to him. But I worry that he’s replacing Jasim with Shahid.  Jasim had a strength that, when they were sent out together, channeled Nadir’s need to serve in a very good way.  While Nadir was with me or Jasim, he was able to handle things well. Losing Jasim really shook him up.  And we are often separated when we are home.”

“Well, I can arrange for you to be with the guards again, if you wish.  I am sure that Bathasar won’t have a problem with it. He’s preoccupied with Teman, anyway.”

Cyrus’s smile widened. “They are good together, are they not?”

Darius nodded. “They are. Not many find someone to love like they did. And not many are able to be together when they do.”

Cyrus lifted his hand and brushed Darius’s cheek. “I know.  But like you told me, things can happen.  Something may yet work out. Would you like comfort?” Cyrus offered.

Darius looked down at him. “Not tonight, Cyrus. You’re tired. Sleep. But I would not turn it down if you slept close.”  Cyrus smiled and shifted until he was laying against Darius. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Sleep well, Captain,” Cyrus said.

“Darius. Call me Darius,” Darius said. “Just… not in front of the guard.”

“Very well, Darius.  Sleep well.”