He smiled to himself and parted the curtains to the tub, then caught his breath.<\/p>\n
Well, well.\u00a0 I wasn\u2019t really expecting to see him in here but here he is. <\/em><\/p>\n Brynjolf was in the tub, leaning against the stone surround, head back and eyes closed, with a bottle of ale nearby.\u00a0 Andante just admired. He\u2019d been imagining Brynjolf out of his armor for as long as they\u2019d known each other. He was an older man than Andante, by at least ten years; but he was well built, with the broad chest and beefy muscles natural to the Nords.\u00a0 His long red hair was wet, lying in strands on his neck and back on the stone behind him.<\/p>\n Delicious. I\u2019ve been with more beautiful men but\u2026 there is just something about him.<\/em><\/p>\n He found himself feeling a tiny bit intimidated, and that surprised him.\u00a0 Ordinarily, a good looking man in a bath was a situation he would approach without a moment of hesitation.\u00a0 But this was Brynjolf.\u00a0 He respected Brynjolf. He liked<\/em> Brynjolf. He wanted his friendship with Brynjolf to continue and grow more than anything else, and yet he wanted this, too. He\u2019d been imagining something like this for so long, and couldn\u2019t bear the thought of doing something wrong by mistake.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, alright lad,\u201d he heard Brynjolf chuckle. \u201cYou\u2019ve succeeded in getting me into your bath and corrupting me, now what do you intend to do?\u201d<\/p>\n Corrupting him? <\/em>Andante\u2019s mouth curled into a grin. Well then. He <\/em>has been into the skooma after all. My goodness. I wonder how I might work this to my favor.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI intend to come into the bath and soak, is that acceptable? I promise I won\u2019t try to take advantage of you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course. You\u2019re lying out your ass, lad, but of course.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou wound me to the quick, impugning my integrity. Well. First I\u2019m going to get myself a brandy. I don\u2019t know how you Nords can stomach that swill.\u201d<\/p>\n He padded up to the kitchen and did just that, then returned to the bath with the letter to Brynjolf in one hand and his drink in the other.\u00a0 He slid in, perching on the stone bench, sipping his brandy and then setting the snifter down on the stones behind him. The warmth was wonderful.\u00a0 Andante slid the envelope from the Listener across the stone toward Brynjolf, looking at his closed eyes and grinning. \u201cI have this message for you.\u00a0 From Dawnstar.\u00a0 Can you read it, or would you like me to?\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf chuckled. \u201cHand it over. I think I can manage. It\u2019s been a long while since I\u2019ve had some of this and it\u2019s hit me harder than I expected. It\u2019s\u2026 quite nice, to be honest.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMmmm,\u201d Andante replied, smiling. \u201cOf course it is.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf reached for the envelope, then opened it and read it.<\/p>\n And then he ripped it up and tossed it behind him with a strangled noise.\u00a0 He\u2019d looked relaxed and comfortable a second before and now everything about him radiated anger and frustration.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2026 did it say?\u201d Andante asked tentatively, not really expecting an answer.<\/p>\n \u201cYou mean you haven\u2019t already read it?\u201d he snapped.<\/p>\n \u201cWell. I understand why you might assume that but no, I haven\u2019t. I didn\u2019t dare. Between the two of you I wouldn\u2019t have liked my chances.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSorry, lad. That wasn\u2019t warranted,\u201d Brynjolf murmured. \u201cBasically, it said \u2019She\u2019s alive.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Andante assumed that \u201cshe\u201d meant the Redguard woman they\u2019d all been searching for, but it didn\u2019t matter. He was annoyed.<\/p>\n He was supposed to be relaxing. This was supposed to be a break for him. Whoever \u201cshe\u201d is, she\u2019s ruined it and I won\u2019t have it.<\/em><\/p>\n Brynjolf stared down at the water for a time, took a drink of his ale.\u00a0 \u201cShe\u2019s alive,\u201d he murmured. \u201cThat\u2019s good, very good.\u201d He sat quietly like that for several moments.\u00a0 Andante sipped his brandy and watched, puzzled, but not wanting to disturb whatever was going on.<\/p>\n Suddenly Brynjolf hurled his ale bottle across the room. It struck the upper step that led out of the bath and shattered, throwing shards of glass everywhere.<\/p>\n \u201cBut she\u2019s not here<\/em>, is she?\u201d he bellowed.\u00a0 \u201cGods damn the bitch, she\u2019s not here<\/em>!\u201d<\/p>\n He buried his face in his hands.<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s not here<\/em>,\u201d he said quietly. He pulled his hands down over his face and dropped them into the water, then rotated his shoulders and blew out a breath.\u00a0 \u201cWhat a gods damned mess.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante was frozen, stunned.\u00a0 He could hear Brynjolf\u2019s heart racing as he struggled to get himself under control.<\/p>\n What do I do?<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cUm, is there anything I can do?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, lad.\u00a0 There just really isn\u2019t, not unless you know how to turn back time.\u201d Brynjolf took another deep breath and blew it out, then leaned back against the stone again. \u201cI\u2019m sorry for exploding like that. I\u2019m usually better at controlling myself.\u201d\u00a0 He sighed. \u201cAnd there\u2019s not a damned thing anyone can do except what we\u2019re already doing, looking for her. You met her once or twice, didn\u2019t you, before she left? The Guildmaster?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe?\u00a0 You mean the Redguard girl?\u00a0 Wait – she was the Guildmaster?\u00a0 I thought the former Guildmaster was dead. I\u2019m confused.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf shook his head. \u201cNo, no. The one who is dead is Mercer Frey, the old Guildmaster before her. His bones have been soaking at the bottom of Bronze Water Cave for some time now and we\u2019re all glad of it. But yes, that\u2019s her, the Redguard girl, as you put it. Dagnell.\u201d He paused, and shrugged. \u201cYou remember Dardeh, yes? The Dragonborn? She\u2019s Dardeh\u2019s half-sister. She\u2019s also the one who eliminated Mercer Frey. She left not very long after you joined us.\u201d<\/p>\n He reached up behind him and took another bottle of ale from the stone shelf, opened it, and took several long swallows, then placed it back, carefully.<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s still Guildmaster. Technically. I am her Second, as I was when you met me. That didn\u2019t change when she left. I\u2019ve been Second for a lot of years and I like it that way. But I\u2019ve been doing the job since she left because unless someone else steps up, it\u2019s left up to me, and nobody has had the nerve to pass judgment on her, including me. The thing is, she hasn\u2019t actually done anything to harm<\/em> the Guild except \u2013 disappear.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante struggled to close the mouth that was sagging open.\u00a0 \u201cI know you told me otherwise, but all of this time I\u2019ve assumed that you were actually the Guildmaster, Bryn.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf nodded, staring at the water. \u201cI\u2019m not surprised. She wanted me to have the job after Mercer\u2026 died\u2026 and I said no, but she found a way to rope me into it anyway.\u201d\u00a0 He looked up at Andante. \u201cDo you know, I hadn\u2019t really thought very hard about why I wanted to go into your rather impressive stash until after I did.\u00a0 It\u2019s been years and years. Decades, even.\u201d\u00a0 He looked at Andante with the smallest grin. \u201cIt also happens to be the single thing that would bother her the most. I guess that makes me a vindictive son of a bitch.\u00a0 I don\u2019t care.\u00a0 I\u2019ve earned the right.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe dislikes skooma?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat would be an understatement. It made for some tense times with Guild business.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante furrowed his brows, thinking about the exchange he\u2019d just had in Dawnstar. \u201cThat\u2019s\u2026 odd. The Listener has a rather vehement aversion to skooma as well, as I learned just recently.\u00a0 Thought she was going to have my hide when I offered her some.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHuh. Very odd,\u201d Brynjolf said, frowning.\u00a0 \u201cWell I suppose the Dark Brotherhood isn\u2019t exactly in the import and export business.\u201d\u00a0 Then he sighed and looked at Andante.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m sorry.\u00a0 I made a mess. I really thought I had all of this under control now and it seems that I was wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s all right Bryn,\u201d Andante said, \u201cjust relax. That\u2019s what we\u2019re supposed to be doing right now.\u00a0 I\u2019m sorry to have been the bringer of upsetting news.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf chuckled and let his head drop backwards, stretching his neck out.\u00a0 Damn, Andante thought.\u00a0 I really should have found a meal before I came in.\u00a0 I\u2019m hungry and that\u2019s such a temptation right there.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry about it,\u201d Brynjolf said.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s not your fault, and you did what I asked you to do.\u00a0 Thank you, lad. Unfortunately I\u2019m not sure I could focus well enough right at this moment to clean up that glass. I\u2019m seriously tempted to have another but that\u2019s probably not a good choice.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante chuckled. \u201cDefinitely not. Too easy to end up with, how did you put it? A real habit. But I understand. Tell you what.\u00a0 I\u2019m going to get you another\u2026 what, ale? Mead? Brandy? I\u2019m going to get you so relaxed that you won\u2019t be able to resist me.\u201d<\/p>\n I\u2019m an idiot.\u00a0 What am I saying?<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cHmm. That\u2019s an interesting idea.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante stared at him in disbelief.\u00a0 What\u2026<\/em>?<\/p>\n \u201cI haven\u2019t had one of your fancy Colovian brandies in ages.\u201d\u00a0 His eyes were twinkling, and he grinned.<\/p>\n Andante smiled and stood to leave. You\u2019re cruel, Bryn.<\/em> He reached down to pick up some of the larger pieces of glass as he reached the stairs, trying to see where the smaller ones were hiding so that he wouldn\u2019t step on one by mistake. He heard Brynjolf clear his throat behind him.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know, that\u2019s quite a view.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante stopped still.\u00a0 Did he just\u2026make a comment about my backside<\/em>?<\/p>\n \u201cDid you just say what I thought I heard you say, Brynjolf?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI did.\u00a0 I\u2019m sorry, I thought you might have enjoyed the fact that I noticed.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante turned and grinned at him.\u00a0 \u201cI did indeed.\u00a0 You apparently know me too well.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf chuckled.\u00a0 \u201cOf course I do.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante went up to the kitchen, got rid of the broken glass, and filled a snifter with his best Colovian brandy for Brynjolf.\u00a0 And took several deep breaths.<\/p>\n Gods, this is not as easy as I had thought. He is teasing me. He knows what he\u2019s doing. At least I hope he knows what he\u2019s doing. Because if he doesn\u2019t cut it out I\u2019m going to end up just grabbing him, and I\u2019m hungry, damn it all.<\/em><\/p>\n He made it back to the tub with Brynjolf\u2019s drink and a mischievous idea. He handed one of the snifters to Brynjolf, then slid back down into the tub with a happy sigh. Nice and warm.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWell, Brynjolf,\u201d he began. \u201cYou are definitely very good at sizing up people, but you aren\u2019t right about me. You see, I enjoy women just fine. A great deal, in fact, and often, if I can get away with it.\u201d Brynjolf had closed his eyes again but had a smile playing about his mouth.\u00a0 \u201cWomen are so nice and soft.\u00a0 And they smell good.\u00a0 And they make the most delightful little noises when they\u2019re excited.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf laughed. \u201cHa! Right, lad. You\u2019re the voice of experience in this matter.\u201d<\/p>\n Oho, so he doesn\u2019t believe me? Then the game is most definitely afoot.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cLet me tell you about a thing that happened a couple of weeks ago, then, o doubtful one.\u201d And the best part, he grinned to himself, is that it\u2019s completely true, not a shred of it made up, and so many lovely details to share.<\/p>\n \u201cI was sent up to Solitude on a job for our mutual friends in Dawnstar, and ended up in the Blue Palace. A wonderful excuse to wear some good clothing. I look good in blue, it seems, because the most delightful serving girl took especial note of me.\u201d\u00a0 He sighed happily.\u00a0 \u201cGods but she was pretty.\u00a0 Blue, blue eyes, just like ice, and a perfect shape. Her hair was almost to her waist.\u00a0 Flaming red hair.\u00a0 A lot like yours, actually.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf grinned at him.\u00a0 Andante grinned back.\u00a0 He still thinks I\u2019m just making this all up.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWell, I found an opportunity to chat with her, and she took us down to a nice, quiet little room in the lower level where I took full advantage of the setting.\u00a0 There was a spot, just on the far side of a cabinet so that we were out of sight, and I pushed her up against the wall there. Nuzzled her neck, discovered how loose the bodice of that dress really was with her practically spilling out of it to begin with \u2013 as one does.\u00a0 Soft, I\u2019m telling you. And kisses like\u2026\u201d he held up his snifter and swirled the brandy in it.\u00a0 \u201cShe was lovely.\u201d<\/p>\n He stopped to gauge Brynjolf\u2019s status.\u00a0 Yes, he is interested now.\u00a0 His heartbeat is telling me so.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThen I made the most remarkable discovery, Bryn.\u00a0 The scamp wasn\u2019t wearing a stitch under her dress and, of course, I just had to kiss more of her.\u00a0 All that lovely skin and me with such a sensitive mouth.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante proceeded to describe just exactly what he had done.\u00a0 Just exactly, in exquisite detail; her shapes, her taste, all of the whimpering and moaning that had gone on.\u00a0 It was almost as enjoyable in the telling as it had been in the doing and the best of it was watching Brynjolf as he went along, him trying to keep his face composed while everything else about him was not. Yes, the girl had been trembling like a leaf on the breeze by the time he\u2019d gotten finished with that part of the evening and it had been the most satisfying thing to just slide into her like a hand into a glove, and her ready and waiting.<\/p>\n \u201cOh and I always find it a good thing to make sure the girl knows how lovely she tastes, don\u2019t you? A nice, long kiss\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf made a sound.\u00a0 Well there, Andante thought, trying hard not to laugh.\u00a0 I do believe I just had a whimper out of him.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s really quite remarkable that we didn\u2019t attract any attention, I think. I did some of my best work that evening.\u201d What I won\u2019t add is that once everything had reached a satisfying conclusion, my next kiss was on her neck and was, sadly, fatal. She did have very tasty blood, though. That was the most enjoyable contract I\u2019ve ever fulfilled.<\/em><\/p>\n It was very quiet.\u00a0 Andante grinned.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat, you didn\u2019t notice that I came back to Riften rather\u2026 content?\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf didn\u2019t speak for a moment.\u00a0 Then he cleared his throat.<\/p>\n \u201cAll right, lad.\u00a0 I believe you now.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 He shook his head and smirked.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re a cruel bastard, do you know that?\u201d<\/p>\n Andante laughed. \u00a0\u201cOf course I do. \u00a0I deserved some revenge for all the teasing you\u2019ve given me since I\u2019ve known you, including tonight, and don\u2019t try to deny it.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf chuckled.\u00a0 \u201cAll right. I won\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n Oooh. Interesting. This is getting better by the moment. I hope I\u2019m not reading too much into it.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cNow, none of that tale changes the truth, Brynjolf. I like women. I \u2026 just like men better. That much you got right. Including the fact that I was admiring Hofgrir the other night.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf laughed, the sort of laugh Andante remembered from when he\u2019d first met him, big, hearty, and full of nothing but amusement.<\/p>\n Well it\u2019s worth making a fool of myself to hear that again, he thought. It\u2019s been a long time.<\/p>\n He reached over and patted Brynjolf on the arm, almost without thinking about it. \u201cEnjoy yourself a little, Bryn. The goal for the moment is to relax and get warm.\u201d\u00a0 He pouted. \u201cI\u2019m almost never warm enough anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf leaned back against the back of the tub again, turned his head to the side, looked at Andante, and snickered. His reply left Andante sitting in the tub with his mouth hanging open.<\/p>\n \u201cWell of course not. Vampires usually aren\u2019t all that warm.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUh\u2026\u201d\u00a0 By the Eight. He knows<\/em>?<\/p>\n Brynjolf snickered and rubbed his eyes. \u201cDo you think I\u2019m completely stupid, lad? I\u2019ve known what you are for a long time now.\u00a0 Not quite from the beginning, but close. There are a few spells that can influence a person\u2019s mind, but you\u2019ve never shown any signs of being that kind of mage.\u00a0 No, nobody but a vampire or a Nightingale could do what you do, and I know for a fact that you\u2019re not a Nightingale. There are only three of us, and you\u2019re not one of them.\u201d<\/p>\n It was all very matter-of-fact, and Andante\u2019s head spun. The silence hung there, over the bath, while he tried to collect his thoughts and struggled to close his mouth.\u00a0 Brynjolf is one of the Nightingales? Really? So that\u2019s how he does it, those little nudges. My, my.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI see,\u201d he said slowly, \u201cthat I\u2019m not quite as clever or well informed as I thought I was.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAndante,\u201d Brynjolf said, closing his eyes again, \u201cgenerally speaking, I know a person when I meet them. It\u2019s why I\u2019ve done this job for so many, many years. I have to make an exception now; it took me a bit longer to figure out your particular secret.\u201d\u00a0 He grinned. \u201cStill. I could see how nimble those fingers of yours are, slipping that amethyst right out of Madesi\u2019s pocket just like it was your own. You\u2019ve been a thief all your life, I can tell, even if you say you don\u2019t remember. You want things, and wealth, and you want power. I thought I knew what had happened when you disappeared for a time and then came back, but almost never during the day.\u201d<\/p>\n He opened his eyes and sipped his brandy, then smirked at Andante.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was your power talking. And it\u2019s been getting stronger ever since. I could see the fire in your eyes. Which, I would wager,\u201d he said, slipping Andante another sly, sideways glance, \u201care at this point a nice golden color under that illusion spell. You may fool almost everyone else in Riften but you\u2019ve never truly fooled me. It took me a while to find out everything I wanted to learn, but I wasn\u2019t fooled.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante was stunned.\u00a0 He had nothing to say, just gazed at Brynjolf in awe and, if he were to be honest with himself, dismay that he hadn\u2019t realized Brynjolf had long since recognized him for what he was. Pitiful. Amazing. That must have been what that huge smile was all about, a few nights prior.<\/p>\n \u201cWell. I hardly know what to say.\u201d<\/p>\n He did, actually; he always had things to say, and even the shock of being completely surprised wouldn\u2019t stop him.\u00a0 He slid lower into the tub.<\/p>\n \u201cSo. It seems that all those occasions when you were giving me a hard time about my\u2026indulgences, you really did know how I do it. There are<\/em> definite advantages to this kind of metabolism. No poisoning.\u201d He paused for a moment, considering how much to reveal. \u201cAnd yes, they\u2019re golden, my eyes. I don\u2019t know how much you know about \u2013 us \u2013 but I\u2019m what we call a Nightlord.\u201d\u00a0 He\u2019d bitten thousands of necks, taken more blood than most people could imagine, created other vampires in almost every part of Skyrim.<\/p>\n \u201cOh I see,\u201d Brynjolf nodded. There he sat, calm, relaxed, apparently unaffected and unafraid. \u201cYou\u2019re much stronger than I thought, then. That\u2019s impressive, lad.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMmmm. Well.\u201d He looked at Brynjolf, gauging the situation, wanting to make sure his next words would be well understood. \u201cThere aren\u2019t very many stronger, as it happens. A few, to be sure, but the number is dwindling. It certainly helps in my other line of work. Like that poor delightful serving girl.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf raised an eyebrow, quick to pick up on the implications of his statement. Andante grinned, sipped his brandy and set the snifter back down.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry.\u00a0 As much of a temptation as it is, I won\u2019t do anything to you.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf chuckled, and gave Andante a knowing look.<\/p>\n What is that look supposed to mean? What does he think he knows that I don\u2019t? I don\u2019t like being confused.<\/em><\/p>\n Then Brynjolf sat up and turned to face Andante.\u00a0 \u201cShow me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShow me. I want to see your eyes, lad. Truly, I\u2019ve never seen such a thing up close and I want to.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell\u2026 I suppose so.\u201d<\/p>\n Don\u2019t read too much into it, he told himself.\u00a0 Just go with it and see where it leads.<\/p>\n He drew power into his left hand and released it, allowing his illusion to dissipate.\u00a0 Now what is going to happen?<\/em>\u00a0 His eyes were black, their irises a deep orange, the pupils glowing and golden.\u00a0 Some ran away at the sight of those eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cLet me look at you,\u201d Brynjolf said, leaning closer and reaching out to touch Andante\u2019s face, gently tipping his chin up to catch his eyes in the candlelight. He heard Brynjolf\u2019s heartbeat speeding up, and felt his own following suit at Brynjolf\u2019s touch.<\/p>\n \u201cBeautiful,\u201d Brynjolf breathed as he dropped his hand, and Andante knew that it had been an honest reaction. \u201cThey truly are.\u201d<\/p>\n Sweet Mara, he just told me I\u2019m beautiful<\/em>.<\/p>\n \u201cAndante,\u201d Brynjolf said quietly, his own eyes sparkling.<\/p>\n They\u2019re glorious. Just like emeralds<\/em>.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s several things, lad, and none of them can happen if you\u2019re over there and I\u2019m over here. Come here.\u00a0 Please.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf\u2019s pupils were dilated, his heart rate accelerated.<\/p>\n It\u2019s the skooma, yes? That\u2019s all it is. His system is just stimulated.<\/em><\/p>\n No, that\u2019s not what it is.<\/em><\/p>\n Andante was surprised at himself.\u00a0 He\u2019d been picturing this moment for months and yet here he was, hesitating.<\/p>\n It would almost be easier if I couldn\u2019t hear his heart, because then I could pretend he wasn\u2019t excited.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cUm\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Come. Here. Now<\/em>.<\/p>\n His mouth dropped open.\u00a0 Brynjolf hadn\u2019t spoken but it was as clear a command as he\u2019d ever experienced, the merest whisper of what he\u2019d heard a Nightingale could do, the power to send a person into a killing frenzy with a simple thought. He was sitting there, the slightest curl of a smirk on his mouth, eyes flickering with amusement. And oh yes, Andante felt the frenzy rising in his gut, if not a frenzy to kill.\u00a0 What control the man had.\u00a0 It had been the tiniest of nudges, less than a tendril of power, and it spoke to him as strongly as if the man had shouted in his ear.<\/p>\n So. We\u2019re both powerful.\u00a0 What we could do together boggles the mind.<\/em><\/p>\n He slid closer, and Brynjolf pulled Andante onto his lap. He reached up to brush a loose strand of hair out of his eyes. His eyes were serious, face calm, as he ran one hand down Andante\u2019s cheek.\u00a0 Andante leaned into the warmth of his palm.\u00a0 I can\u2019t believe this. I can\u2019t believe this is happening.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cBryn.\u00a0 Do you really think this is a good idea? I mean I\u2019m\u2026\u201d\u00a0 I\u2019m hungry. This isn\u2019t a good idea.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cShhh,\u201d Brynjolf said.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t worry about it. Just relax.\u201d<\/p>\n His gaze never left Andante\u2019s as he began running his hands over him, slowly, down his chest, following every muscle. He leaned forward and left a few light kisses along Andante\u2019s neck, onto his shoulders and down his chest.<\/p>\n I can\u2019t believe this, Andante thought.\u00a0 He could feel his heart pounding. He didn\u2019t want to do anything but wait, see what Brynjolf intended.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is good,\u201d Brynjolf murmured, seemingly almost to himself.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t know why I\u2019ve waited so long for this.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante bit his lip as Brynjolf\u2019s thumbs slowly traced a rough path down his stomach, just under the surface of the water and then stopped, tantalizing, his hands resting atop Andante\u2019s thighs, never looking away from Andante\u2019s face the entire time.<\/p>\n \u201cGods<\/em>, Brynjolf,\u201d he moaned, in spite of himself.\u00a0 What is he doing, Andante\u2019s mind flailed about.\u00a0 Does he not know what a bad idea this is?<\/p>\n Brynjolf chuckled, his eyes sparkling with mischief.\u00a0 \u201cWas there something else you wanted, lad?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUm\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Andante made a sound that was something between a moan and a gasp as Brynjolf\u2019s warm hands continued their explorations.\u00a0 Somewhere in the back of his mind he thought he\u2019s done this before. This isn\u2019t a new experience for him. He knows what he\u2019s doing as well as I do.<\/em> It was like dancing without moving, slow and sweet, and he couldn\u2019t do a single thing except feel<\/em>.<\/p>\n I thought I was the one seducing him. I\u2019ve been toying with him for months and he gave no sign of being interested. Finally. The only person I can ever remember truly wanting. Sweet Mara, I wasn\u2019t expecting this. Out of nowhere, completely out of nowhere, and more than I could ever have imagined happening. <\/em><\/p>\n I will have it, however. I will most definitely have it.<\/em><\/p>\n He opened his eyes and shifted himself around to straddle the big redhead, then ran one hand up behind Brynjolf\u2019s neck, moving closer to let their skin touch, taking his mouth. Brynjolf\u2019s tongue explored the fangs that couldn\u2019t be hidden, not from this, and he made an excited noise in the back of his throat, then pulled back. His eyes were flashing, and he smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cMy, my, lad,\u201d he said, moving so that his mouth was next to Andante\u2019s ear, his breath warm on Andante\u2019s neck. It put chills up his spine. \u201cThose are some impressive fangs you have.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante threw his head back and laughed, to be met by Brynjolf\u2019s mouth slipping down his neck and along his collarbone. Andante tasted Brynjolf in return, under his chin, down to his chest, and then up again to the side of his neck, the sheer, warm humanness overwhelming him, all the while lost in the sensations of having the man\u2019s big hands all over him and touching him in return.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t get too greedy, Andante. Make him feel good but don\u2019t get too greedy.<\/em><\/p>\n Another kiss, this one more insistent, urgent. \u00a0It went on like that, for minutes that seemed like hours.<\/p>\n \u201cAndante,\u201d he heard next to his ear, an intense whisper.\u00a0 \u201cI want to\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh yes. By the gods yes.\u00a0 Please.\u201d\u00a0 Andante knew he was babbling but didn\u2019t care, and then he was gasping in pleasure, and so was his partner. He arched backward for a moment as they danced together, a part of him wondering what he had done to deserve something so perfect.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll stop if you want,\u201d Brynjolf murmured a few moments later, but not stopping and not sounding like a man who wanted to stop. \u201cJust tell me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, don\u2019t. Don\u2019t you dare,\u201d he whispered.\u00a0 I\u2019ve waited so long.\u00a0 I want it to last.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t have to hold back, lad.\u00a0 Do what you want.\u201d<\/p>\n He closed his eyes and lost himself in the pleasure that he\u2019d been dreaming of ever since he\u2019d met the man, then leaned forward again to explore Brynjolf\u2019s neck with his mouth, tasting the salt of his sweat, feeling his pulse beneath his lips, and finally after long moments he couldn\u2019t bear it any more.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t even stop to consider what he was doing.\u00a0 He just sank his teeth into Brynjolf\u2019s neck and tasted the sweetness that was his life\u2019s blood.<\/p>\n Brynjolf gasped, and moaned.<\/p>\n And then he laughed.<\/p>\n There was nobody on the upper floor when he stepped inside, but there was evidence that Brynjolf had made himself a meal recently.\u00a0 Andante grinned.\u00a0 It was odd to see dishes left by someone else, when he himself so rarely ate any normal food aside from sweets. 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