Huge Ajax's Arc

Chapter 428 of 619

Ajax rode back from the Crossing with one truth settled. The gatekeeper held the road east. Before he broke that hold, he needed to know the man better. He had learned the shape of the ground. Now he needed a knife point. Marco Valentino rode beside him, quiet, his gold bracelet loose on his wrist. Marco heard men's thoughts. He also read their lies. Ajax wanted him fresh for the work ahead. They reached Black Oak past dark. The hall stood empty. Ajax washed the road dust off and pulled a clean shirt over his chest. His father's chain lay flat against the hair there. He meant to sleep. Then a fist knocked hard on his door. Marco stood in the frame. He had left his shirt at the bar. His chain caught the lamp. "You look tired," he said. "You always look tired now." "It's late," Ajax said. "I know what time it is." Marco stepped inside without asking. He shut the door with his heel. "I rode two days next to you. Watched you count men and roads and coin. You didn't count yourself once." Ajax turned. "You reading my head?" "Don't need to." Marco crossed the floor. His eyes moved over Ajax's shoulders, his arms. "I've wanted this since the road. You knew." He did know. Marco never hid it. Ajax had marked him with a kiss like the others, but this was different. This was Marco choosing, plain and open. Marco set both hands flat on Ajax's chest. He felt the muscle under the shirt, then the chain beneath it. "Your father's," he said. "You never take it off." He worked the buttons loose, one after another, unhurried. He pulled the shirt off Ajax's shoulders and dropped it. "Marco," Ajax said. "I heard you say my name before. Say it again after." Marco pressed his palm to the ridge of Ajax's chest, feeling the heartbeat climb. He ran his hand down to the hard line of the belly, then up to grip a bicep. He squeezed, testing the size of it. "You built all this and gave it away to twelve men. Take something back tonight." He kissed Ajax then, hard, both hands on his arms. Ajax kissed him back. The lamp burned low. Marco pulled him close by the waist and did not let go. Ajax's breath came fast. Sweat rose on his chest under Marco's hands. When Marco broke off, Ajax stood breathless, damp, his heart loud in his own ears. Marco stepped back and looked at him. "There," he said. "You're a man again. Not just a master." Ajax caught his breath. Something in him had loosened. He had the road east to break and one greedy gatekeeper standing on it. But he faced it now clear-headed, not hollow. Marco had given him that. "Stay," Ajax said. Marco stayed.