Huge Ajax's Arc

Chapter 179 of 619

After supper Ajax cleared his table and set a lamp on the shelf. He put a woven basket of honey cakes beside it, glossy tops catching the lamp. Tucker had brought them earlier from Cody's wife. He opened the door and waited. Bran stopped in the doorway shirtless and looked at the floor. "Come in. close the door.” bran did. Bran raised his eyes. Ajax kept his own steady and soft. He told Bran his jaw was set right. He told him the chain lay well on his chest. He asked Bran to flex his biceps and Ajax felt them running his hand down Bran’s chest slowly. "Can I," Bran said. "Yes." Bran slowly leaned in and kissed him. It was careful at first, then not. Ajax pulled him down onto his knee and kissed him back. They kissed for a long time, slow and then hard, Bran's hand flat on Ajax's chest, Ajax's hand at the back of Bran's neck under the new hair. The chain pressed cold between them and warmed. Ajax broke it first. He held Bran's face and looked at him. "That's the look," he said. "Keep it. On the wall. At the gate. With any man who tries you." Bran nodded. He was steady now. He went out with his heart pounding. Ajax sat with the honey basket and the shut door and knew he had bound another man to the ground he was building.