Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 6

my bed."
    "You have many men who do so, do you?" Bao's eyes narrowed.
    "That is not what I meant." Chien kicked at him and Bao released him so that he could sit up. Lying down seemed too vulnerable. "You come each night and leave before the light of dawn. There are no feelings involved in this. So why should I trust you?"
    "You truly believe that there are no feelings involved?"
    If he lied enough, he could convince himself it was the truth. "You can only be loyal to one, General."
    "Do not call me that. Not now."
    "One of us must remember our place."
    "I could remind you of your place." Bao's voice was a silky warning and Chien moved purposefully to the edge of the bed. "You use your title as a shield, but not tonight. I wish to know the truth."
    "The truth?"
    "I do not like being kept in the dark."
    Chien could not help but laugh, "Then prepare to live in disappointment, General." Chien scooted a bit further away at the very real threat in Bao's eyes. "You do not always get what you want." If you could, Chien would have his throne and this frustrating man.
    "Perhaps not." Bao conceded, "But I will have an explanation on why my loyalty to the Empress affects what happens between the two of us."
    "How can you stay loyal to her?" Bao was annoyed by his question, "Surely you must see the person she is. She will see this Empire run into the ground. Millions starving while she throws lavish banquets and plots her wars."
    "She is our Empress. No matter how much I may disagree, it would be treason to doubt her."
    "So you will kill innocents in her name?"
    "Chien, where I was raised, we had nothing but the Dragon to sustain us. If we do not have faith, then we have nothing at all. The Dragon placed her upon that throne for a reason. So I shall serve to the best of my ability. And you should do the same." His eyes did not match his words, however. Chien wondered for how long his faith had been tested. How much had he lost in his duty to the Empress? It was stupid to want to protect him. Bao could protect himself after all. But he wanted to pull the wool from Bao's eyes. Wanted to force him to see the truth.
    "You cannot be this blind. How long do you believe the Empress will allow me to live? Tomorrow, she will have secured an heir for her throne. She is not preparing to hand the throne over to me, she is plotting to overtake it entirely."
    "You want the throne?"
    He'd gone this far. Given away this much of his plan. "I want my mother and sister back."
    "Nothing will bring them back."
    "I suppose not. Because we do not always get what we want. Thank you so very kindly for this reminder, General. You may feel free to leave me now."
    "Chien." Bao pulled him back toward the bed when Chien might have stood. "You speak of treason."
    Chien sighed, "I speak of nothing, General, only suggestions and hypotheticals."
    "Why do you play the part of fool?" Because he was a fool. He was allowing Bao to pull him closer until Chien was snug against him. It was warm, too warm in the night heat, but Chien did not complain.
    "If my aunt thought I might show any intelligence, do you think she would allow me to survive?"
    Bao did not respond immediately. His lips brushed over Chien's forehead, light as a butterfly over his eyelids. He was in no hurry. He did not know that in mere hours now there would be no time. "I much prefer this version of you."
    "You have said that before."
    Bao's hand explored beneath his robe to rest against his chest. "What would it take to make you happy Chien?"
    "Does that matter to you so much?"
    "Sometimes I think you enjoy loneliness. That you want nothing more than to end your life as a miserable old man."
    "Then maybe you're the fool. No one enjoys being alone." Hiding in the darkness, jumping at every sound, afraid that that might just bring the ones who would kill him. Hours. He'd hidden for hours, his mother's sword clutched tightly in his hands.
    "Then stop trying to push me away. Let me help you. What would make you happy?"
    His aunt's head on a pike. But that would be treason. So instead he reached up to guide Bao's lips to his own. His kiss was demanding as always. Bao wanted too much, far more than Chien would ever be able to give him. He pulled away just before Chien could fear that there was nothing left. Anymore and this man might know everything. He might know his heart. That could not be allowed.
    Chien shifted his leg until Bao was cradled between his thighs. The rough cotton of the Bao's robe chafed