“You may not have been able to
anyway if there were a lot of them and only one of you. I…”
“Stop. Stoptalking. I’m sick of Tygerians. ”
Tarr was quiet for a long time as Larsson kept his eyes closed and heaved out one tired sigh after another. After several minutes, he opened one eye. “Damn it, you’re still here. Go ahead, talk. I can see it’s killing you. ”
“Oh. Well…uh…what may I call you?”
He glared at Tarr. “I havea name. ”
“Yes, of course. Larsson. They didn’t hurt you, did they? Or…mess with you in some way?”
“You mean rape me? No, but they put their damn hands all over me. One of them tried to kiss me. I almost bit his bottom lip off. ”
“Good. I’m so sorry, nob—bab—Larsson. I’ll get you out of this, I promise. ”
“And how do you propose to do that?” He glared at Tarr, pointing a finger in his face. “Don’t you dare do something stupid to make this even worse. ”
“But bab—Larsson. I have to do something or Rabb Seneca will take you as his…you know. ”
Larsson got a dangerous glint in his eye. “I’d kill him. The big, overgrown asshole. If not while he was raping me, then later. The man would have to sleep sometime. ”
“I know, but I don’t want you to have to go through any of that. I got you intothis after all. ”
“Yes,you did,” Larsson agreed bitterly.
“I admit it. So let me get you out. I’ve challenged Rabb to a fight in the arena. The winner gets you. ”
“Do you have any idea how deeply humiliating that statement is to me? Or is that what you live for?”
“No! Nobyo, I mean Larsson. Please listen to me. I’d do anything to be able to trade places with you right now. ” Tarr reached into the cage and tugged on his arm to urge him to move closer to the bars. “Please, baby. I love you. ”
Larsson’s eyes widened at the words, but he softened a little and allowed Tarr to pull him toward the bars. Tarr reached through almost reverently and cupped Larsson’s face in his hands. “I love you. I have, for the longest time. ”
He pushed his face against the bars and pulled Larsson toward him, pressing his lips to Larsson’s, trying desperately to put all of his emotions, everything he was feeling into that one kiss. They were both breathless when he pulled back and whispered to him.
“I promise you I’ll do everything I can to get you out of this. Then I’ll take you home or wherever you want to go. If you still want me as your mate, I’ll do that too. I’ll do anything— anything to make this up to you. ”
Larsson finally gave him the sweet smile he’d been hoping for. “Who are you and what have you done with Tarr Bonnet?” he asked with a grin.
Tarr huffed out a laugh and kissed him again hungrily. “I mean it, sweetheart. I’ll get you out of this, I swear. ”
A loud voice from the door startled Tarr and made him let go of Larsson’s face.
“What’s taking so long in here?” Standing in the doorway was Rabb Seneca’s brother, Ranon. He must have come to check on his human.
Tarr stood up and faced him angrily. “Who are you yelling at? I’m spending time with my nobyo and trying to comfort him after your stupid thugs had their filthy hands on him. Watch yourself, Ranon Seneca or else when I finish off your brother,I’ll come after you! I’m no little human you can boss around and pretend to be a big man with. You’ll find yourself bent over my knee out there in the ring with the flat of my sword across your ass. ”
Ranon’s mouth dropped open and he made a choking noise as he bit back whatever words he wanted to say. He contented himself with one more murderous look as he pulled his nobyo furiously away and stormed out the door, slamming it behind him.
Tarr knelt back down beside Larsson, who was doubled over in laughter. “That was fun. Are you really that good in the ring or do I have to worry about them hurting you now too?”
“I’m good enough to beat these fools. They’ve never been trained by real warriors like I was. ”
“But they’re a little younger than you. ”
Tarr shot Larsson a wounded glance, and Larsson smiled at him with affection. “Not nearly so pretty, of course, but maybe a few years younger. ”