For some reason, Castien seemed irritated by the subject. “Your meditations with him are shallow. I warned him not to go too deep, and just teach you patience and tranquility. He knows better than to touch your mind in any meaningful way.”
Eridan considered it, not sure how he felt about his mind being full of traps. On one hand, he appreciated it: mind traps were incredibly difficult to set up and were considered the best form of mental protection out there. On the other hand, he would have liked to actually be asked for his opinion beforehand.
“You should have told me,” he said.
Castien looked unfazed. “I do not have to tell you anything. You are my apprentice. You know too much. Protecting your mind is a necessity, not an option. They do no harm to you, so why would you object to an additional layer of protection?”
Well. When put that way, his Master was right.
“Still,” Eridan grumbled.
“You are just unhappy your lie was discovered,” Castien said. His eyes were cold. “I do not appreciate being lied to and manipulated, Eridan.”
“Then why did you play along?” Eridan said, confused.
“I saw little point in discussing our private affairs in front of a servant.”
Eridan couldn’t help but smile, feeling viciously pleased. Our private affairs. That was proof that he was far more important to his Master than a servant. Javier could suck his Master’s cock, but it changed nothing. Castien was Eridan’s, in all the ways that mattered.
He still absolutely hated the thought of Javier touching his Master and having even a fraction of his attention. It should be only his, Eridan’s, always.
“So, enlighten me on what it was about,” Castien said.
Eridan dropped his gaze before lifting it again.
“I want you to fire him,” he said.
Castien stared at him. His face became blank, the bond between them going completely quiet as Castien brought his shields up.
Silence fell, thick and suffocating.
Eridan felt himself blush, his skin prickling the longer the silence stretched.
“You do not want me to fire him,” Castien said at last, looking him in the eye. “Trust me, that would be a terrible idea.”
Eridan swallowed. “Why?” he murmured, his heart pounding in his ears. Were they really finally talking about the unsaid thing that had existed between them for ages? Or was he imagining it? “Don’t tell me you are scared of breaking the rules, Master. I won’t believe you. You make those rules.”
Castien’s fingers brushed against Eridan’s thaal. “Some rules are there for good reason.”
Eridan grabbed his Master’s hand and squeezed it with his own, the touch sending pleasant shivers through his body. “Bullshit,” he said hoarsely, holding Castien’s gaze. “You don’t need him. I can give you anything he does, and more.”
Castien’s throat moved. “You do not know what you are talking about, Eridan.” His voice was cold and uncompromising. “This conversation is over.”
Eridan said, “No.”
He felt the very air between them become charged with his Master’s anger.
Eridan moved Castien’s hand up his neck, to his mouth. He rubbed his lips against his Master’s palm before slipping his thumb into his mouth. He sucked, looking Castien in the eye, challenging. The inside of his mouth felt so sensitive, and Eridan nearly moaned from how good it felt. He felt blood rush to his crotch, arousal pooling between his legs, hot and heavy. He sucked harder on his Master’s thumb, relishing the sensation, the taste of his Master’s skin, the feel of a part of his Master’s body inside him.
“Cease this immediately,” Castien bit out, his gaze fixed on Eridan’s mouth, the blue of his eyes so dark his eyes seemed black.
“Why?” Eridan said through their bond, sucking on Castien’s thumb. “Why did you suddenly acquire a conscience, Master?”
“It’s not about conscience, you insolent brat,” Castien said, pulling his finger out of Eridan’s mouth with an obscene pop. He pressed the wet thumb against Eridan’s bottom lip, his gaze a mix of fascinated and disgusted. “If it were a matter of conscience, or lack thereof, I would have stuffed you with my cock years ago.”
Eridan shivered, squeezing his thighs together. There was something obscene about his Master, the high and mighty Master Idhron, who rarely ever used contractions, saying such a vulgar word as “cock.”
“Then what is the problem?” Eridan said breathlessly, flicking his tongue out to lick Castien’s thumb.
“The problem is, that would be extremely idiotic in the long run.” Despite his harsh words, Castien’s gaze remained fixed on Eridan’s mouth. “Now stop this ridiculousness. This is the last we speak of this.”
Eridan glowered at him. “How is having sex with me ‘extremely idiotic,’ but fucking Javier isn’t?”
A muscle twitched in Castien’s jaw. “Do not test my patience, Eridan. Watch your tone and language.”
Eridan gave him a faux-innocent look, fuming on the inside. “Why, Master, I’m simply confused. I’m better looking, more powerful, and more compatible with you than him.”