Free Deathless by Belinda Burke

other things Kas had said, it was a mocking echo, but this time Myrddin really didn’t understand.
    “Yes!”
    “But you are becoming the overflowing spring again, and you sleep such a restless sleep. How is it you intend to change that if not with me? With me, love—”
    “ Stop that. Just stop! You don’t know—”
    “What I am saying? Yes, I know that is what you wish were true. But I do not ask, I tell you, love. My lover, my love, beautiful one who comes with the green. Bright eyes, strawberry kiss, soft skin and soft mouth and soft noises.”
    Myrddin drew in a little breath at the sudden warmth of Kas’ lips on his throat.
    “I have found many words, many, because I knew when I found you there would be many things to say, all your words, your questions…and I must answer even if I do not know why. But you will not tell me stop now, not in this, even if you have no answer for the word you do not want.
    “I found you, love. Ask what you want, say what you will—it changes nothing. I was alone until you found me, and now I know what that means and I do not want to be that way. I will be, instead, with you, who are mine. My hawk… Merlin .”
    Myrddin was quiet, unsure of how to answer just as Kas had said, but the last bit—there was something he could say to that. “ Myrddin , Kas. Not Merlin.”
    “ No . If I am Kas for you, then you are Merlin for me. It is the only word that fits enough to be a name.”
    “Fits—” And then he grinned, though faintly. “Maybe it does.”
    “ No. Not maybe. What is maybe? You—fly from me. Fly for me. And so you are my hawk, love.”
    “Kas…” Myrddin turned against him, lifted his head to look up and was caught in Kas’ stare as if in amber. “You know it’s not—safe—for you to be here.”
    “It is safe as long as you are here.”
    “For now…”
    Kas laughed against his hair, then bent closer and finally— finally? —kissed him, licked his way into Myrddin’s mouth. So thorough, his kiss. Intent, and enticing, and just enough of an edge in it to keep it from softness. He moaned softly against Kas’ mouth, and Kas rewarded him for the sound, sucked on his tongue, bit his lip then kissed him more deeply.
    He considered for only an instant before he pulled the cover out of the way and pressed the whole of his naked body against Kas’ skin, reached his hands up around Kas’ shoulders and slipped on top of him as if by accident.
    “ Merlin . You—”
    “Want you? Yes. What did you think was going to happen if you came to me like this, came into my bed, kissed me like that? I love your kiss, Kas.”
    “But not me?”
    Myrddin stopped his slow lean forward toward Kas’ mouth, was completely still. “I don’t—I don’t know you well enough yet to love you.”
    “Not like I know you ? Then tell me, how do I make you love me? How do I make you know me enough?”
    “I don’t know, how would… I don’t know.” He laughed, but that was maybe the wrong thing to do. Kas was suddenly frowning at him—and then he smiled, and Myrddin was struck dumb. So…so something . That smile! “Kas?”
    “I will stay with you until you know—until you tell me, yes, or no, if you can love me. But you know, you know that I want it to be yes.”
    “Oh…” Myrddin bent completely over him, pressed his lips against Kas’ mouth and sighed when he felt Kas’ hands slip around his waist again. “There’s something about you—something about you, Kas. It’s going to be dangerous and terrible, getting to know you.”
    Kas frowned at him, appeared to be considering. “Dangerous. Yes. Not terrible—but it is always dangerous to be near me, I…even for you, it is not safe. Not always. Not forever, without warning, without waiting. But I can make it be, make it safe just for you. As long as you do not come to your own ending. Then, then you would be mine in the way I do not want. The only way…I do not want.”
    He slid his hands up Myrddin’s back,