theghostfield

[theghostfield]

Staring at the invitation, written in a flamboyant scrawl and inexplicably, on perfumed parchment, Merreck sighed.

“Do I have to?” He could already assume the answer based on the expressions of his comrades, who all stared ardently up at him.

“He invited you and only you,” Valek pointed out, ignoring Merreck’s question entirely, “That means that Zar- er ‘Jarlaxle’ might not know the rest of us are here. Otherwise why would he not have invited us all?”

“Yeah…uh… I’m really not sure that’s the reaso…”

“It’s our best chance to rescue Saltbreeze!” Jimmy bowled over Merreck’s protest, standing up on his chair which put him nearly at eye level with his seated companions, “If you can distract him we may be able to sneak past his men.”

“You guys I just...If he knows I’m here he probably knows about the rest of you...”

“I wouldn’t be so sure,” Valek countered, standing abruptly to pace around the table as he formulated his plan, “It’s no secret that your family is in Luskan on business...and you aren’t exactly subtle Mr. Knight in Shining Armor.”

He rapped his knuckles against the back of Merreck’s polished silver breastplate, making the clang of metal reverberate through his frame.

“Gah! Stop!” Merreck recoiled, slapping his hand away, “I can’t stand when you do that!”

Valek pointedly ignored his complaints and continued to slowly circle the table, “What I’m saying is we’re a lot less conspicuous, there’s no reason he should know we’re here with you.”

“You should go!” Jimmy insisted, “Find out what he wants while we go get Saltbreze. Then you can tell us all his secrets!”

“Are you forgetting that he tried to kidnap me last time I set foot on that ship,” Merreck argued emphatically, “He’s definitely angling for another fool to stumble into his spider’s web and I’d rather it not be me this time.”

“That’s racist Merreck,” Valek mock chastised him with a truly unendurable air of superiority.

“Ugh,” he groaned, scrubbing his hands against his eyes in frustration, “Please! I...I don’t even have anything to wear.”

———

Sundown found Merreck, despite his vehement protests, stepping from a precariously rickety carriage onto the grimy streets of the Luskan dock ward. Valek had unearthed his fine evening wear from the bottom of his trunk, unbeknownst to him Lady Clarel had packed it away more than a year ago when he’d mostly ceased attending formal engagements.

He recognized the familiar profiles of the Heartbreaker, Hellraiser and Eyecatcher moored a ways out in the bay, windows glowing warmly with lamplight. Two oddly well dressed deckhands leaned casually against a piling of a nearby dock, waiting beside a dingy and looking out of place in the scruffy surroundings. Merreck knew them at once as the strangely handsome faces of Jarlaxle’s disguised crewmen were all nearly interchangeable.

Straightening a bit as he approached, they regarded him incuriously.

“Master Clarel, I expect?” one of them grated out between clenched teeth, obviously trying to conceal a heavy elven accent and more than a little distain, “This way...the captain awaits.”

After an awkward but blessedly brief boat ride spent dodging the dual looks of mingling distaste and irritation, Merreck was escorted briskly across the familiar deck of the Eyecatcher. Several other deckhands paused in their duties to glower in his direction as they passed, all of whom possessed those uncannily similar good looks.

Leaning against the railing overlooking the bay stood a slim, yellow haired elven woman. Her form was nearly silhouetted by the setting sun, painting quite a striking image with her large, dashing hat against the red and purple backdrop of the sky.

She turned as they approached and Merreck immediately took note of the familiar rakish smirk and black leather eyepatch.

“Ah! The young Lord Clarel at last~” she came towards him, arms outstretched and Merreck experienced a moment of internal panic as it seemed she meant to embrace him. Instead she stopped a few feet in front of him, spinning in a slow circle, tossing her golden curls back over her shoulder.

“What do you think of my outfit?”

Merreck observed her tightly fitted trousers and frilled, low cut blouse blandly.

“Another of your alternate personas?” He questioned, already tired of whatever game they were currently playing.

“Oh yes indeed! Molly Seaspirit, a merchant sailor out of Silverymoon. As you can imagine, she has been instrumental in smoothing interactions with the guilds and smugglers alike~” She glanced coyly over her shoulder, the playful glint in her grey-blue eye turning to puzzlement as she took in Merreck’s lack of reaction.

“It’s very...uh...blonde,” came his unenthused reply.

She cocked her head, looking him up and down quizzically.

“Ah yes,” her delicate features split into a knowing grin as she turned back to face him, “How could I forget? Of course you prefer me like this~”

Reaching up, she tipped the wide brim of her hat and as she did her form shimmered and shifted right before his eyes. In an instant none other than Captain Zardoz Zord himself was standing in her place, tall, strapping and familiarly unclothed save for the loincloth, boots and hat.

Merreck fought valiantly to maintain his neutral expression but could feel his face heat at the display regardless. In the end he couldn’t help but avert his eyes in embarrassment.

“I would prefer for you to speak to me with your true face. I have had quite enough of your duplicity to last a lifetime.” He replied, red faced and exasperated.

“Well far be it from me to deny such a request from a Noble of Waterdeep,” came the sarcastic reply. Merreck glanced up as Zord swept his hat from his head with a dramatic flourish, sinking into an absurd bow so low the large crimson feather brushed the wood of the deck. The illusion dissipated a moment later and Jarlaxle Baenre straightened back up, replacing his foppish hat with a mischievous gleam in his uncovered eye.

He opened his mouth, likely for another witty remark but stopped short as Merreck held up a hand, “Please...if this is to be a civil meeting I must insist that you dispense with the incessant teasing, I am already exhausted with this conversation and it’s scarcely begun.”

Jarlaxle did close his mouth, if only long enough to give him another, much slower once over.

“You come onto my ship looking like that and accuse me of being a tease?” He tisked and shook his head with a wry smile.

Bewildered, Merreck instinctively looked down at himself, unsure of what that comment was even implying. His blue silk doublet and dark trousers were finely made but had little in the way of embellishment nor were they particularly fashionable (Valek admonished his lack of taste at every possible opportunity), and perhaps even a little too snug in the shoulders as he’d grown a half inch and filled out some in his final growth spurt. He’d never bothered to have his evening wear tailored as he so rarely wore it.

There was also a week’s worth of stubble along his jaw from neglecting his morning routine during the sea voyage and his hair was definitely overlong. He’d tied it back as best he could with a length of plain blue ribbon he’d borrowed from his sister but he could feel that some tendrils had already escaped and were blowing haphazardly across his face in the ocean breeze.

The open hunger in Jarlaxle’s expression was especially perplexing given that he himself was dressed impeccably with his tailored frock coat of deep plum velvet and airy, white linen shirt left artfully unlaced to offer a glimpse of dark collarbone. And this was to say nothing of the dove grey breeches which were so well fitted Merreck would bet gold he had to be sewn into them in the morning. A pair of high, polished black boots and that ever present feathered hat completed the ensemble.

Jarlaxle was smirking when his gaze wandered back up to his face, causing Merreck to blush, realizing he’d been caught staring.

“Well my dear, there is no reason I can think of to stand about out here in the wind,” Jarlaxle grinned, sidling up beside him and, not missing the opportunity to unsubtly feel up the muscles of his bicep, looped an arm through his to lead him towards the captain’s quarters, “Come, there will be ample opportunity to admire all of my finest assets while we dine.”

The deckhands accompanied them to the door and lingered there, nodding deferentially to Jarlaxle as he passed but leveling Merreck with distrustful glares behind his back.

“That will be all,” Jarlaxle dismissed them with a wave and thankfully, they did finally depart.

Jarlaxle motioned for him to be seated and swept around to sit at the opposite end of the table which, of course, was set in grand fashion with silver and gold filigree tableware, a large stately candelabra and decanters of both white and red wine.

Jarlaxle reached across to pour Merreck’s cup full of the white before doing the same for himself as another well groomed crewman entered followed closely by a pair of nimblewrites bearing steaming bowls full of some sort of seafood stew.

“The first course is to be bouillabaisse with rouille,” he announced as the automatons set the dishes before them, giving a curt bow and quickly following them out.

Merreck thought he saw a quick flick of his wrist as he retreated that could have only been handsign. He didn’t understand the language however, and if Jarlaxle noticed it he gave no indication or acknowledgement.

Merreck eyed his bowl warily, moving the contents about with his spoon but hesitating to take a bite despite the enticing spicy aroma.

“Darling, it’s not poisoned if that’s what’s worrying you,” Jarlaxle chuckled, reaching across the table to dip his own spoon into Merreck’s bowl. He brought the spoonful to his own mouth and made a great show of swallowing it down, “Mmm~ See? You’ve nothing to fear from me or anyone on my ship.”

Merreck couldn’t help but scoff at the allusion to his personal safety given what had taken place last time he boarded this particular vessel but tucked into his bowl all the same since, despite his apprehension, he was famished.

The food was excellent, flavorful and subtly spicy in a way that Waterdhavian fare was typically not. It reminded him a bit of his mother’s cooking when she’d use the various colorful spices they’d buy off of the trade ships coming in from Calimport and Chult.

“So,” Jarlaxle smiled, setting down his spoon and refilling his goblet, “I’ve heard some very interesting talk of late, concerning you and your colorful associates.”

“My...uh?” Merreck stuttered nervously, reaching for his own goblet to wet his suddenly dry throat, “My associates? W-what have you heard...”

“I heard tell that you fought Lord Cassalanter on the steps of his estate in front of half the city and a gaggle of nobles,” he replied with an unsettlingly knowing expression, crossing his legs and leaning heavily on one arm of his chair, “What a sight that must have been...”

Merreck nearly choked on his mouthful of wine.

“O-oh...that...well it certainly wasn’t half the city!” he responded indignantly, “Maybe 100 or so people but they...mostly...well...”

He hung his head a bit and sighed, taking another deep drink.

“Ah, have I upset you?” Jarlaxle questioned drinking from his cup as well, “My apologies for bringing up a sore subject.”

“No it’s...fine...” Merreck responded perhaps a bit glumly, “it’s just...not one of our proudest moments...”

The second course was delivered moments later, swordfish steak with a similarly spiced sauce. It was equally as delicious as the first course and Merreck dug in, eager to occupy his mouth before he could be made to answer more bemusing questions.

Jarlaxle watched him devour the meal, looking extremely pleased at his enjoyment of it.

“You’re quite fortunate you know,” he smiled, long fingers teasing at the stem of his goblet, “My lieutenant, Fel’rekt, prepared this meal for us and he only cooks for my most esteemed guests. He has become quite the able chef in his time upon my vessel don’t you think?”

“He’s not the one who shot at me when I was drowning in the harbor is he?” Merreck questioned, narrowing his eyes and accusatorially jabbing a delectable forkful of flaky swordfish in Jarlaxle’s direction.

“No that will have been Krebbyg,” Jarlaxle chuckled, “He can be a bit of a handfull... Fel’rekt is much more even tempered. You two might even get along, shall I introduce you?”

“No! Ahem...no,” Merreck cleared his throat and sipped at his wine, “My compliments to the chef and all but I believe I’ve interacted with enough of your crew for the one night.”

“Ah too bad...the three of us could get up to such fun together,” Jarlaxle smiled wistfully, “I suppose he must be busy at the moment anyway...entertaining our other guests~”

“Other guests?” Merreck questioned, stuffing the flaky morsel into his mouth.

Jarlaxle smiled slyly, taking sip from his goblet, “Oh yes...I imagine they’ve arrived by now, yes?”

Merreck swallowed, cocking his head in confusion, “Well how should I know?”

“Oh come now...have you honestly already forgotten?” Jarlaxle’s highly amused grin was unsettling, “Wasn’t it your role to distract me? You are doing an excellent job by the way~”

Merreck felt his blood run cold, the pleasant buzz he had been riding from the wine doused in an instant.

“W-what?”

“Let me guess...” Jarlaxle mused, leaning back and casually swirling the wine in his goblet, “those...charming...companions of yours are below deck as we speak, attempting to carry out some ill conceived rescue mission.”

“I...” Merrick found himself at a total loss for words, “I don’t know what you’re talking about...”

He knew his lie was showing on his face, he was blushing for Tir’s sake. Dropping his gaze inadvertently got him another eyeful of the open collar of Jarlaxle’s shirt which unabashedly displayed a long V of dark skin. Merreck licked his lips unconsciously and reached for his goblet to wet his dry mouth. Jarlaxle moved in his seat causing the fabric to shift, revealing even more skin and Mereck’s eyes shot back up to find him smirking back at him from his position, reclined against the arm of his chair. His visable eye sparkled with mischief, a look that Merrick remembered well and that flooded him immediately with all sorts of conflicting feelings. He squirmed slightly in his seat and heard Jarlaxle laugh.

“Don’t worry, if they are, I wont tell~” He shifted again, leaning forward this time with his chin propped on the back of his hands, “I just hope they don’t injure too many of my men in their little heist…healing them gets expensive.”

Merrick gaped at him, “You’re not going to stop them?”

“Hmm, no I don’t think I will~” Jarlaxle grinned, “I may have taken your gnome friend in...let’s say a heightened state of emotion, but I am no slaver and can assure you they’ve been treated with the utmost respect. If their accommodations are no longer to their liking, I will certainly not prevent them from leaving.”

Merrick sighed and took another drink, draining his goblet, “So if my being here is serving no actual purpose...am I free to go?”

“Go? Why?” Jarlaxle feigned offense, “We’ve been having such a lovely evening! It would be a true shame to leave this grand meal uneaten and this fine wine undrunk.”

“So then am I to be your new hostage?”

Jarlaxle scoffed, leaning back in his chair, “Please, don’t sound so dour. All I want is to make you a proposition...stay, finish dinner with me, help me drink this excellent vintage and when you return to your family, tell you Lord Father that Captain Zardoz Zord was a perfect gentleman who treated you with the utmost propriety. If you promise to uphold your end of the bargain, I will instruct my men to stand down and allow your companions to succeed in their endeavor unimpeded.”

Merrick narrowed his eyes in suspicion, “And what exactly do you get out of this arrangement? Do you expect me to believe you’d release Saltbreeze to us just for a bit of lip service and the pleasure of my company?”

Jarlaxle’s grin grew impossibly more lascivious, “I wasn’t aware that the...ah...‘pleasure’ of your company was up for negotiation. And as for ‘lip service’ well...I was left quite bereft after our last rendezvous imagining what could have been...all that we might have done had we more than the one night together~”

“Well…and the morning...” Merreck murmured, voice scarcely audible.

“Ah yes...how could I forget the morning,” Jarlaxle sighed wistfully, removing his hat to mockingly fan himself with it.

Merreck flushed and dropped his eyes, reaching to pour himself another cup of wine just to have something to do with his hands.

Jarlaxle watched him down the cup with heat in his gaze as the nimblewrites returned to clear the dishes from the previous course.

“It’s ok to think about it you know...” he continued once they had departed, “There’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

“H-have you?” Merreck replied nearly in a whisper.

“Have I what?” He could hear the smirk in Jarlaxle’s voice.

“Thought about it?”

“Of course, I remember that night very fondly don’t you?”

“I...It’s complicated...” Merreck sighed, gazing still into the dregs of his wine, You betrayed us...you might have killed me...”

Jarlaxle scoffed dismissively, “I’d not have killed you! Honestly, you’re a nobleman and the heir to a Lordship, you seriously have no understanding of your own value do you?”

“Well I suppose you must have when you attempted to kidnap me!” Merreck spat back, “You say you’re no slaver, well what in the 9 hells would you call that?”

“Most civilizations make a clear distinction between ‘prisoner’ and ‘slave’ but either way, I’d call it insurance,” Jarlaxle replied with all the airs of nonchalance, “I’d have not allowed you to come to any harm or be made to compromise any of your precious morals. What would be the good in that to either of us?”

“Well I’d still call it criminal,” Merreck retorted, crossing his arms, “but despite all that happened…is it strange that I can’t bring myself to remember you unkindly?”

Jarlaxle gave an amused little chuckle, standing and striding over to the opposite side of the table. Merreck scooted his chair back suspiciously as he came to lean up against the table just beside him, swirling the wine in his goblet, “I don’t find it strange at all. Do you ‘remember me’ often? Unkindly or…otherwise…”

Merreck flushed again glancing back down into his empty cup and mumbling something unintelligible.

“What’s that? Do speak up my dear~” Jarlaxle teased, placing his goblet down and leaning closer.

“It’s…embarrassing…” he murmured in reply fingers playing nervously over the silver embossing on his empty goblet.

Pushing off from his perch against the edge of the table, Jarlaxle stepped forward, one leg coming to rest on either side of Merreck’s knees which he suddenly had to actively work to keep from trembling.

“Like I said…there is nothing to be embarrassed of.” He plucked the empty cup from Merreck’s fumbling fingers and placed it back on the table beside his own, “If it gets you all hot and bothered thinking back on our little tryst…well, I would consider it the highest of compliments.”

Reaching down he traced the rough edge of Merreck’s jaw, smirking as his eyes fluttered shut at the touch, head tipping back a little as Jarlaxle seated himself comfortably astride his lap.

“What are you up to now?” Merreck sighed with the distinct feeling that he was somehow being made fun of again.

“You can’t tell?” Jarlaxle smirked, arms coming up to drape over his broad shoulders, “I’m obviously seducing you...Is it working?”

“It isn’t...uh...not...working...” came Merreck’s hesitant reply, fingers clenching nervously on the arm of the chair.

“Mmmm…good,” Jarlaxle purred, lips hovering a tantalizing centimeter away from his, “I wonder…do you remember how I like to be kissed?”

Merreck swallowed audibly.

“I…I think so…” he whispered in reply, images of that night flashing to the forefront of his mind with surprising clarity.

“Hmm…prove it~” Jarlaxle breathed, letting their lips brush teasingly as he spoke.

Merreck chewed his lip, hesitating for a moment, before closing the millimeter of distance and pressing their lips together in a tender, closed mouth kiss.

He could feel Jarlaxle’s lips quirk up under his as slender fingers caressed the shell of his ear, making him shiver. When they parted Jarlaxle stayed close, pressing their foreheads together, wearing an amused smile.

“Mmmm…lovely. However, I remember things a bit differently…if I may~”

Merreck’s breath hitched as Jarlaxle’s hands tightened in his hair, tugging his head back and leaning over him. He scarcely had the time to draw a single shaky breath before he was being kissed, properly this time. His trembling fingers gripped onto Jarlaxle’s knees to ground himself against the heady onslaught of sensation. Jarlaxle’s breath was hot on his upper lip and the fingers in his hair scratched gently against his scalp causing pleasant tingles to radiate down his spine and goose flesh to break out along his arms.

Jarlaxle hummed, a low purr in he back of his throat, and tugged gently on Merreck’s lower lip with his teeth, drawing a gasp out of him as they parted.

Flushed and more than a little breathless, Merreck cast his eyes down shyly to where his thumb idly traced the seam on the inside of Jarlaxle’s knee, tonguing absently at his lip.

“Hmmm,” Jarlaxle mused, tilting Merreck’s head back up with a hand under his jaw, “You’ve not been kissed in some time have you?”

“Not since the last time...with you...” Merreck admitted, amber eyes tantalizingly soft and earnest as he looked up.

“Honestly?” Jarlaxle cocked an eyebrow, sounding incredulous, “With a face like this I’d think you’d be beating those Waterdhavian boys back with a stick.”

“I thought I asked you to stop teasing me...” Merreck sighed, turning out of Jarlaxle’s grasp defiantly.

“Teasing you?” Jarlaxle smiled, running his hands back to twine into his golden hair, pulling loose the ribbon that had barely been holding it in it’s messy tail “Dear boy I’m not teasing you...I’m flirting with you. And trying to understand how someone who looks like this could have remained so perplexingly celibate all this time.”

“I...uh...I’ve...just not met the right person I guess,” Merreck replied, with flushed cheeks as Jarlaxle continued to card clever fingers through his hair. His hands slid up from where they rested upon Jarlaxles knees to grip at his subtly shifting hips.

“Oh?” Jarlaxle grinned, “Choosy are you? Not that I blame you of course…you’d hardly be the first I’ve completely ruined for other men~”

“That sounds an awful lot like teasing,” Merreck accused, tightening his hold on Jarlaxle’s slim hips in warning.

Jarlaxle just gave a pleased hum at the subtle display of force and a rougher roll of his hips, making Merreck gasp and screw his eyes shut against the sudden stimulation.

“So sorry love, I find it terribly difficult to control the impulse around you...” he replied, tone sickly sweet and dripping with amusement, “And I’m afraid I must admit that I have been much less chaste in our time apart~”

“Less...chaste?” Merreck questioned absently, Jarlaxle’s writhing in his lap causing him to lose the thread of the conversation.

“Mmhmm...” Jarlaxle hummed, turning to draw his nose along the scratchy curve of Merreck’s cheek, “but I have so looked forward to our reunion...”

Merreck turned into the insistent nuzzling, receiving another heated kiss and a purposeful roll of Jarlaxle’s hips. This time when he felt the press of teeth against his lip, Merreck allowed his mouth to be teased open and when their tongues brushed Jarlaxle groaned shamelessly, tugging slightly at Merreck’s hair.

“I shall-ah...shall have to tell Artemis that my theory is proving correct~” Jarlaxle breathed against his mouth as they parted, arching his back and grinding against him roughly, seeming to enjoy the way Merreck’s growing hardness pressed insistently up against him through their layers of clothing.

“Wh-“ Merreck began to interject

“Human boys really are bigger…”

“W-wait...” Merreck broke away from the kiss abruptly, stilling Jarlaxle’s hips with a firm grip, “Who’s Artemis?”

Surprisingly, Jarlaxle looked almost abashed for a moment, perhaps as if he hadn’t meant to speak the name aloud and had surprised himself. He chuckled softly, thumb smoothing over Merreck’s kiss swollen lower lip, “No one you need worry yourself about...It was rude of me to bring up another man at a time like this. I apologize.”

“So he’s one of your ‘other men’ then?” Merreck questioned, unswayed by the tender touch, “Just how many of them are there?”

Jarlaxle sat back and crossed his arms. His lips still curved in an easy smile but there was a sudden minute shift in his expression, a subtle sharpness to his eye that hadn’t been present before.

“Hundreds? Perhaps more? And not just men but women and everything in between as well. What should it matter to you?” He answered cooly.

“I-it doesn’t...I just...hundreds??” Merreck stuttered, looking little pale, “You know if you have others...someone you’d rather be with...you don’t have to...uh...do this....with me. I don’t exactly have a lot of experience...”

Jarlaxle’s gaze softened, warmth returning to his expression as he tipped Merreck’s chin back up.

“Oh come now, don’t look so dejected,” he leaned in, pressing the length of his svelte body up against Merreck’s chest, arms coming to languidly drape over his shoulders again, “There are no others here now...just us two.”

Merreck could feel his interest plainly now, pressing through those tight trousers and up against his stomach and, well, he doubted even Jarlaxle was capable of faking that…

“And as to your inexperience,” Jarlaxle continued, breathing the words directly into his ear in a way that made his breath hitch and rekindled that insistent heat low in his belly, “Well, there really is nothing to do for it but practice. Vigorously~”

Merreck groaned as Jarlaxle rocked his hips again and kissed the rough underside of his jaw.

“I like this,” he crooned, brushing his nose against the scratchy stubble of his chin, “Very rugged...it’s a good look for you~”

“Valek says it...ah...says it makes me look disheveled…” Merreck sighed, letting his head fall back, allowing Jarlaxle access to continue pressing hot kisses all down the front of his throat.

Jarlaxle chuckled against his skin, hands meandering down his chest to find the buckle of the wide belt about his waist, “Well perhaps…your friend Valek is jealous that he cannot grow one himself~”

Merreck couldn’t help but let out a chuckle at the notion as deft fingers easily unbuckled his belt and tossed it to the floor. A hand then wormed it’s way up under his doublet and shirt, pressing flat against the bare skin of his stomach.

“Mmn...” Merreck arched back against the wandering fingers as the scrape of teeth on his neck sent a pleasant shiver down his spine.

“Shall we take this off hmmm?” Jarlaxle purred, plucking at one of the brass buttons on his doublet.

“Yeah…ok…” Merreck breathed as the hand retreated from beneath his top. He felt the tension on the silk release in increments as Jarlaxle teasingly thumbed the buttons from their loops. Leaning forward into another kiss, he allowed the garment to be slid from his shoulders and discarded.

Jarlaxle’s fingers next took to loosening his cravat, tugging it from its knot and pulling ever so slowly so that the silk whispered erotically over his throat.

Merreck ran his tongue hot over the shell of Jarlaxle’s pointed ear in response, biting teasingly at the golden rings that dangled from it.

Jarlaxle reaction was nearly feral, growling and gripping Merreck’s jaw to turn his head back and lick into his mouth he arched, his whole body going taught as a bowstring.

“Ah...do you want to do it right here?” Jarlaxle was practically panting against his mouth as they parted, gripping at his hair and the collar of his shirt, “You could have me right on this table, I assure you it’s quite sturdy...I’ve more than throughly tested it~”

“What about...your men?” Merreck gasped between kisses.

“What about them?” Jarlaxle purred, enjoying the pleasant way Merreck’s stubble tickled as he kissed along his chin and jaw, “Come on...remind me what all those muscles can do~”

The words were like a stab of heat in Merreck’s belly. In a single swift movement he’d gripped underneath Jarlaxle’s thighs and lifted him bodily, pressing him back roughly to sit upon the tables edge.

Jarlaxle hissed his approval, legs coming up to wrap around Merreck’s waist.

“Not just big but strong too...yes I remember quite well~” Jarlaxle breathed into his ear, “You could just about snap me in half couldn’t you?”

“I...ah…” Merreck gasped against his shoulder, “I don’t want to hurt you...”

“I’d really love to see you try...” Jarlaxle chuckled, laving his hot tongue over a bite mark on his pulse point.

Gripping his wrists roughly, Merreck called his bluff, pinning him down to the table before taking his mouth in another hungry kiss.

“Mmmmn that’s it,” Jarlaxle breathed against his lips, testing Merreck’s grip, clearly thrilled to find he could not easily break it, “What will you do now that you have me trapped~”

“I…um…” Merreck trailed off, immediately losing the nerve he’d managed to work up just a moment ago.

“No need to be nervous Love,” Jarlaxle purred, relaxing back fully to drape himself suggestively along the length of the table, throughly playing up his submission, “Tell me what you’re thinking about~”

“I…uh…I’d like to try…what you said earlier…with my…my mouth…”

“Oh?” Jarlaxle grins, his interest obviously piqued.

“I’ve never done it though…I might be bad at it…”

“Well you are fortunate to have a most experienced mentor at your disposal then~”

Merreck swallowed nervously again, looking down over Jarlaxle’s prone form, fingers moving to tease apprehensively over the waistband of those impeccably tailored trousers.

“There’s no rush…” Jarlaxle assured gently, sensing his apprehension and sitting up on an elbow, “Come, kiss me some more, we’ll work up to it~”

Merreck gratefully accepted the diversion, leaning over the table as Jarlaxle hummed in approval, arms coming around his neck to pull him in.

They kissed again, Jarlaxle’s tongue curling behind his teeth as knees tighten against his hips. Merreck groaned, kisses trailing down over Jarlaxle’s chin and along his throat. Since his shirt was conveniently already open, Merreck encountered no interference as he dragged his mouth down the centre of his chest. Jarlaxle gave a pleased hum and tangled a hand in Merreck’s hair as he moved down his body, not pushing exactly but certainly guiding him in the right direction.

He laughed as Merreck’s eyes flicked up to glare at him in annoyance, “Oh yes, look at me like that~ Now I believe it’s you who is seducing me.”

Merreck gave an indignant huff, the soft press of his mouth turning into a sharp pinch of teeth.

“HahaAH!” Jarlaxle’s laugh gave rise to a surprised gasp as he was bitten, “Mmmn yes! Just like that!”

Merreck huffed a laugh against his skin, tongue dragging hot over the bite as Jarlaxle’s hips twitched under his hands in response.

There was the barest sound, only a soft rattle and ‘click’ of the doorknob. Before Merreck could even think to react, Jarlaxle had planted a foot firmly on his sternum and pushed him smoothly back into his chair. The door opened not a second later to reveal one of the crewman who paused and narrowed his eyes at the two of them.

Luckily, thanks to Jarlaxle’s quick reaction their position was not as compromising as it could have been but Merreck’s flushed face, disheveled hair and obvious déshabillé surely gave them away. Jarlaxle of course, was perched lightly on the edge of the table, unflustered as you please, looking as though he’d been interrupted doing nothing more scandalous than discussing the weather.

“Pardon the intrusion Captain,” the crewman bit out between clenched teeth, “The nimblewrights are waiting to clear the dinner service. I will send them off if you are…indisposed…”

Jarlaxle waved a hand dismissively, “No need, send them in. We were just about to retire to my quarters for a nightcap. Isn’t that right Master Clarel?”

Merreck, who had dropped his red face into his hands only groaned in mortification.

“Right away Captain,” the crewman replied with a hint of smugness in his voice before departing. The nimblewrights entered moments later and began mechanically clearing the table around them.

“Oops,” Jarlaxle chuckled turning back to Merreck who was still refusing to look up.

“Perhaps it is for the best,” he soothed, stroking Merreck’s fringe back from where it obscured his face, “As exhilarating as a dalliance upon the nearest flat surface may be…well…there is a large bed in my quarters which, I’m sure you remember, is markedly more comfortable. What do you say~”

When an unintelligible reply was all he received, Jarlaxle took his hand and coaxed him gently out of his seat. Following compliantly, Merreck allowed himself to be led towards the ornate double doors that he knew opened into the bedroom.

It was much as he remembered. A large, velvet draped bed still took up the majority of the space with an opulently carved mahogany dresser and armoire set against one wall and a matching writing desk against the other. It was clean if not a bit cluttered. The bed was made and the furniture free of dust but the desk and top of the dresser were laden with an assortment of strange objects and instruments the function of which Merreck could scarcely even guess at. Hanging off of one bed post was a second feathered hat and a cloak that almost seemed to oscillate between colors of the rainbow in the lamplight, obviously Jarlaxle’s, as well as a set of dark clothing folded and draped over the back of the desk chair which were obviously not. Before he could dwell too long on who they might belong to, Jarlaxle had drawn him close with a smile and they were kissing again.

Jarlaxle walked him back towards the bed, unbuttoning his shirt as they went until it could be pulled from his shoulders and tossed carelessly to the carpet. A shiver coursed over Merreck’s body as his feverish skin was exposed to the cool air. The back of his knees hit the bed and he stumbled, sitting down heavily on the mattress. Jarlaxle gripped the bed posts and leaned over him, gaze almost predatory.

“This is a nice view,” he smirked, voice low and velvety as he tipped Merreck’s chin up again, running his thumb over his kiss swollen lower lip, “Shall we pick up where we left off then?”

TBC!