The blue dalhari glanced down at the floor. The elder Rinhe was standing next to his perch, watching him with curious eyes. “Hmm?”

“What are you doing?” She asked.

“Waiting for Keisri,” Rraiec replied.

“Up there?” The elder continued.

“Yes.”

Rinhe pursed her lips. This had something to do with courting, she just knew it. “Will this result in the disruption of peaceful, orderly life in the hold?”

Rraiec grinned. “I seriously doubt it.” Well, not for most people. He hoped it disrupted Keisri’s peaceful, orderly life.

“Ah. Good day,” Rinhe muttered as she walked off. If they wanted to play, so be it. Personally, she would have preferred a nice book, or perhaps a lament. But if they wanted to play children’s games, that was their business.

Rraiec breathed a sigh of relief when Rinhe disappeared. He liked the elder immensely, but her presence would draw attention to his hidden location. He was determined to either surprise Keisri or at least foil the younger man’s next move. It was a challenge he’d given himself; Keisri would not be allowed to completely dictate the terms and pace of this courtship.

As he’d hoped, the green dalhari appeared a few minutes later, returning to his quarters from a morning spent in meditation. As Keisri passed beneath him, Rraiec struck.

Wesley walked distractedly down a dim hallway, preoccupied with a particularly difficult question he’d read that morning. His mind was so focused on that particular task that he didn’t notice anything going on around him until a rush of wind ruffled his hair. He blinked against the sudden change. Then a pair of hands descended on his shoulders, pulling him back and off-balance.

Rraiec jerked Keisri back, making sure not to let the slightly taller man fall over. He pressed his face into the back of Keisri’s neck, letting the man’s short, soft hair tickle his skin. Keisri insisted on keeping his hair short, letting it stand out in spikes or lay down flat as was its preference. It was a sharp contrast to Rraiec’s hip-length locks. The darker dalhari dragged his lips across the nape of Keisri’s neck, teasing the younger man with the barest glint of teeth. Then he latched on, sucking at that sweet skin, darkening it to an almost black-green.

Wesley’s eyes rolled back in his head as Rraiec did something absolutely devilish with his tongue. He’d despaired of the older man ever taking the initiative, of actually *doing* something instead of waiting for Wesley to touch him. This was an excellent start and Wesley hoped Rraiec decided to do this on a regular basis, because it was about to drive him to his knees.

When Rraiec was confident that Keisri didn’t have a solid bone left in his body, he stopped, lowering the man to the floor. Then he turned and hurried away to meet Baura for their afternoon’s discussion. It just wouldn’t do to be late.

•••

Wesley stumbled into his quarters, still pleasantly foggy from Rraiec’s ministrations. He vaguely remembered that he’d been planning some sort of afternoon activity, something related to Baura’s studies. He couldn’t remember what that activity was, however. Not that he was the least bit bothered; quite the contrary.

His quarters were cold, since he’d let the fire in the main room burn down the night before. Instead of starting it back, though, he retreated into the bathroom. It didn’t take long to get that smaller place warm and steamy and soon Wesley was enjoying a seductively hot bath, letting himself relax and relive his day’s very brief excitement.

Now that Rraiec was *finally* responding in an encouraging manner, Wesley figured it was time to change tactics again. Perhaps they should start spending more extended time together, apart from their work with Baura.

•••

Rraiec was so pleased with the outcome of his first real attempt at distracting Keisri that he barely paid any attention to Baura’s ramblings on gupwur culture. The younger dalhari noticed his absentmindedness and made fun of him, saying that he wished they’d started courting way back when he was just starting his studies. “Perhaps several days spent translating Kgkgar Haltfalgram will suffice to keep you entertained, since your lessons obviously hold no interest for you,” Rraiec said coldly.

Baura’s jaw dropped. “The *entire* Kgkgar Haltfalgram?” He asked disbelievingly.

“Of course,” Rraiec snapped. “How else will you learn it? And remember to use the northeastern dialect; otherwise you’ll have a bunch of nonsense.” The dark dalhari swept away from the table, leaving a severely overloaded and shocked student behind him. He wasn’t trying to torture the young man, but Baura needed to learn a bit more about endurance and patience.

It would also keep the younger dalhari out of the way for quite some time.

•••

“How is Baura’s progress?” Rinhe inquired as she joined Wesley by the fire in the elders’ hall.

“He is progressing nicely,” Wesley replied. “I believe he might be… calming a little as well.”

“I see,” Rinhe murmured.

“Honestly, I believe he prefers at this point to have less restrictive instruction. At least, he does seem to like working alone more,” Wesley noted.

“And that would have nothing to do with the fact that both you and Rraiec are preoccupied now?” Rinhe asked.

Wesley blushed. “I would like to think that our relationship is not negatively affecting our student’s progress.”

“I doubt that it is, and he seems to be greatly amused by it besides. We talk about it occasionally,” Rinhe said.

“You do?” Wesley said, surprised.

“You and Rraiec are not the only people Baura talks to, you know,” Rinhe muttered. “Believe me, he talks to others.”

“All the time?” Wesley inquired.

“At least,” Rinhe said irritably. “But his disposition isn’t annoying, so no one is bothered.”

“Most of the time,” Wesley corrected. “He is learning some measure of discretion.”

“Hah!” Rinhe snorted. “He is learning not to follow either you or Rraiec too closely.” She frowned briefly. “When I implied that your courtship tactics were unusual, I did not mean to suggest that you should try something so much more…direct.”

“Rraiec doesn’t seem to mind,” Wesley said obliquely.

Rinhe sighed.

•••

Rraiec swore and tossed the stone he was holding onto a table. He was going to figure out the puzzle Keisri had given him if it took a century, and he wasn't about to ask for help on it. The dalhari glared once more at the pile of rocks before stalking away to the fire. He needed to clear his mind, focus on something else for a little while. Then maybe he could figure out this maddening thing Keisri had gifted upon him.

With thoughts of torturing the solution out of his friend dancing though his head, Rraiec retreated to the bath, drawing hot water. He threw in a handful of herbs and a vial of oil, letting the heady aroma relax him. A nice, long soak would do wonders for his state of mind.

Wesley stood outside Rraiec's door, wondering if he should bother the dark dalhari. Distracting Rraiec was one thing, but keeping him from getting anything done was another. However, they did need to talk about coordinating a few lessons in the near future. Since he was already there, Wesley decided to venture forth and call on Rraiec.

A muffled curse answered his tentative knock, and Wesley feared that he'd woken Rraiec. He quickly prepared an apology, one that he just as quickly forgot when Rraiec opened the door.

"What?" Rraiec snapped, more than a little put out that his bath had been disturbed.

Wesley gaped. Rraiec was...wet. The midnight dalhari's skin was draped in acres of soft cloth, smothering him from neck to ankle. Water made the fabric translucent here and there and rivulets dripped from the man's face down to his chest. Hair blackened with moisture hung in thick tendrils, leaving puddles of water on the stone floor. "Ah..."

Rraiec's expression changed as soon as he saw who his visitor was. He'd certainly not been expecting Keisri, or he'd have foregone his bath. "Sorry," He apologized, "I wasn't expecting company. Do come in." He stepped back, allowing Wesley into his quarters.

Wesley stepped inside, still fixed on Rraiec. The room smelled of the dalhari, only stronger; musk and spice filled the air. Suddenly Wesley was quite warm, far warmer than the fire could possibly explain. "I-I just meant to ask if we could reschedule some of Baura's lessons," The green dalhari stammered, trying to find something besides Rraiec to focus on. "So that we can work together on..."

"The Trinpalimquisa?" Rraiec finished. He frowned slightly, wondering what was wrong with Keisri. The younger dalhari seemed very distracted. "I'm sure we can," He continued, reaching for another blanket. He was a bit chilled from exiting his bath so quickly, so he wrapped himself up and sat in front of the fire, letting his hair dry some by the flames.

Wesley studied the unfinished puzzle Rraiec had laid out in one corner, trying not to stare at the rather delectable treat so close by. "Yes," He murmured softly, fiddling with a stone on a nearby table. It was the capstone of the hold's great hall, although Rraiec obviously didn't recognize it.

Rraiec stood up and walked over to Wesley, somewhat worried about his friend. "Is something bothering you, Keisri?" Rraiec inquired. "You're rather...preoccupied."

Wesley spun around, only to find Rraiec much closer than he'd expected. The two men were face to face with barely a handbreadth between them. Wesley inhaled sharply, put off balance by their proximity.

/So that's it,/ Rraiec thought, suddenly understanding. Perhaps he'd been more effective than he'd thought earlier that day. Keisri's eyes were wide and dark, breath fast and heavy. Taking a chance, Rraiec leaned forward, closing the distance between them. Never taking his eyes off the green dalhari, he sealed their lips together.

Wesley groaned as Rraiec touched him, first with his mouth and then with the rest of his body. They stood pressed together, not really moving, for several long moments. Then Rraiec deepened the kiss, tentatively searching Wesley's mouth. The green dalhari reacted instantly, returning the caress with a hunger that his stillness belied. He consumed Rraiec, drawing the dalhari's essence into himself. This was what he'd been wanting, craving for so long.

Rraiec murmured protests when Wesley pulled back. He watched as the younger man slowly raised one elegant hand to his jaw, cupping his face as he tilted it to one side. Rraiec shuddered, crying out, as Wesley ran his tongue slowly up the length of his neck, tracing where his mark would be had it been present. Wesley moved back again and their eyes met, locked together.

Wesley felt Rraiec's arm slide past his, around to his back. The lightest flicker of fingertips preceded a quick, purposeful touch to the base of one of his wings, making him gasp with pleasure. Then the hand was gone, back at Rraiec's side.

Wesley wasted no more time; he reached up to Rraiec's shoulder and tugged firmly on the blanket that was caught there. It fell to the ground, taking most of Rraiec's other coverings with it. Wesley continued, letting his arm slip around to the base of Rraiec's spine. He stroked incredibly soft skin there, teasing the base of Rraiec's tail with a clever hand.

Rraiec pushed back against Wesley's hand and reached for the younger man. Wesley ignored his pleas to wait, to join him, as the green dalhari teased and tortured him into a state of abject begging. Rraiec was pressed hard against him, holding himself up even as he tried to pull Wesley's clothes off, desperate to reach skin.

Wesley lost himself in the feel of Rraiec against him, impossibly silky skin luring him closer and closer. He indulged himself in another taste, laving at nearly black flesh as Rraiec writhed under his ministrations. He felt Rraiec make progress in unclothing him; the dalhari's fingers reached skin and scraped hard against his chest, eliciting a low growl from Wesley. The older dalhari pushed and tugged until Wesley conceded and moved, letting himself be guided closer to the fire. Rraiec unbalanced them and they fell into the cushions he had piled there, Rraiec lying beneath Wesley as they battled for dominance. Rraiec was determined to get Wesley as naked as he was, to expose the skin he'd been aching to touch for so very long.

"Rraiec," Wesley murmured, catching the dalhari's hands. Rraiec stilled, glancing warily at the younger man's face. After a minute, Wesley released his hands and finished removing his own clothing, with Rraiec watching his every move. As soon as he was done, Rraiec reached for him again, bringing them together.

Wesley found Rraiec's mouth again, just as the darker dalhari's hand slipped between them. Strong fingers curled around their erections, sliding and squeezing them together. Wesley concentrated on mapping out every square centimeter of Rraiec's mouth, cataloging every groan and hiss. He wormed one hand underneath Rraiec's body to tickle and tease the base of those midnight wings, relishing how Rraiec arched and moaned his name. It was music to Wesley's ears, to hear someone call out for him in passion, for no other reason than what he brought to them.

Rraiec moved faster, feeling climax build through his system like a fierce winter storm. His breath and Wesley's pounded through the air in gasps and cries, twining together in a weightless reflection of their bodies. They moved as one, driving each other onward as they hurtled toward ecstasy.

Wesley's climax took him by surprise, wrenching a broken howl from him that poured into Rraiec's mouth as his body spilled forth onto their pressed-together flesh. Rraiec stilled, muscles frozen, as he joined the green dalhari in whatever physical oblivion they'd discovered together. Wesley collapsed on top of Rraiec, bearing his weight on his arms at either side of the darker man.

They lay there together, basking in shared warmth and the newness of an intimate physical relationship, until Rraiec twitched. Wesley glanced down at the man, concerned. "Rraiec?"

Rraiec pushed Wesley away and stood quickly, moving across the room. Wesley stared after him, confusion and horror filling his mind. Rraiec was bent down on the floor in front of a pile of rocks, fiddling madly with them.

"It's the hold," Rraiec muttered. "You made the puzzle into a model of the hold."

Wesley blinked. "Yes."

The dark dalhari slid yet another stone into place. "How many pieces am I missing?"

"Several, but the puzzle will fit together without them," Wesley replied slowly. He got up to join Rraiec, noting how chilled the room was when they distanced themselves from the fire.

Rraiec glanced up at Wesley. "Do you have any idea of how long I've been trying to figure out this thing?"

Wesley grinned. "Yes. And I also know that now that you know what it is, you'll be able to fit it together tomorrow just as well as today."

Rraiec slowly rose from the floor. "You'd rather do something else?"

The look Wesley gave him would've melted stone. "Yes."