He could hear the dull roar of the crowd behind the immense wooden doors. The last time they had been in this hall was Philip and Dahlia’s wedding, but that had been much more structured, and a lot less eyes focused on him. Tonight he’d just stay close to his brother, and hopefully Oliver would be there too. As he turned to look at Percy, he could tell he was also nervous, of which he had every right to be. He wasn’t sure which was more nerve wracking for him: his first council meeting or this.
But one thing was for certain. He looked heartbreakingly handsome.
He had gone with an all black ensemble for tonight, not wanting to stick out. The form-fitting doublet he wore possessed a subtle pattern of leaves and vines sewn into it with shimmering thread. If there were a crown upon his head, he’d unarguably look the part of a prince.
Subsequently, he had dressed himself in a light grey variation of similar garments, fine patterns of silver silk thread adorning the fabric. He sported darker grey pants and boots, and, most noticeably, his crown. It was a relatively simple piece of work, smaller than Philip’s, that was made of silver metal and inlaid with dark blue gemstones. He had never liked how it felt on his head, but on a night like tonight, it would stir horrible gossip if he had foregone wearing it.
Two guards stood watch at the doors, both bowing deeply to him as they approached. With a deep breath, he nodded towards them, and they pushed open the double door. The noise of the ball suddenly slammed into his ears, and it took everything in him not to turn around and head to his chambers as that subtle suffocating feeling began to invade his chest.
The caller turned to him and went to open his mouth, but he reached out a quick hand. “No need to interrupt the festivities, sir. Thank you.”
“As you wish, Your Highness.”
His blue eyes scanned across the crowd for anyone he recognized. Towards the back, he caught a glimpse of dark red, and a weight began to lift from his chest as he spotted Oliver lurking by a table. The heels of his boots clicked on the marble floor as he quickly strode in that direction, Percy following closely behind. Elegant music, crafted to have a conversation over, was drifting from an unknown spot in the great hall; the dancing would not start until Philip and Dahlia arrived.
On the path towards his new brother-in-law, his eyes darted about, scanning the crowd as they passed. Most of these people he did not recognize, but there were a few faces closer to his age that did harbor familiarity. The back of his neck grew hot as one young lady in particular caught his gaze and moved into their path. Sporting a beautiful icy blue dress and diamond jewelry, her similarly colored eyes sparkled with nervous excitement as she curtsied deeply, her blonde curls bouncing.
“Prince Aryn. It has been quite a long time, has it not?” she prompted in greeting, flashing perfectly white teeth.
He returned the smile, although not as ambitiously, and gave her a polite nod. “Lady Serissa. Not since our tutoring days, I believe. Goodness that was a while ago, wasn’t it?”
Suddenly his father’s voice invaded his head.
“If you are to begin making demands of this family, you must in turn start to take your role seriously.”
She giggled breathily, her nervousness abundantly clear. “Yes, it was. You are certainly not a boy anymore, Your Highness. Dare I say you are looking very handsome tonight. Might we have a dance later? I’ve been itching to get out onto the floor; this winter has been dreadfully boring.”
He could feel Percy staring at him, and a horrible sense of guilt began to wash over him. It was just a dance… He had to uphold appearances, for both of them. Maybe he could redirect.
“I rather wish mine had been boring,” Percy chimed in, an easy smile on his tan face.
Serissa glanced over at him curiously, light blue eyes blinking, as she suddenly seemed hyper aware of how her dress was settling on her. “Forgive me, sir, I do not believe we are familiar.”
Percy reached out a hand and took hers, placing a quick kiss atop the back of it as was customary. “We are not. Percy Lancaster, my lady.”
Her face suddenly lit up at the name. He had to fight to keep his expression neutral as he caught the flush that began to rise on her powdered cheeks.
“Oh my goodness, you’re the commoner the King appointed to the council? Why I never expected you to… well, look like that.”
A warm chuckle rumbled in his broad chest as his smile widened. “Well we aren’t all goblins and trolls, Lady Serissa.”
Her fair face began to turn red, and she flicked her fan open.
“I apologize, sir, that must have seemed quite ignorant of me. I simply meant that, even for nobility’s standards, you present quite the image.”
“Well thank you, my lady. You’re too kind. So you and Prince Aryn went to school together?”
Another shy, endearing smile spread across her rouged lips. “Yes, we had the same tutor. I am embarrassed to admit the amount of times he helped me; arithmetic was never a strong suit of mine,” she divulged with another timid laugh. “His Highness has always been so intelligent. I prefer a man with more brains, but you boys always seem to think brawn is everything.”
“Well, I would have to agree with you there. Brute strength will only get you so far,” Percy agreed amicably. “It seems you have a good head on your shoulders, my lady.”
She blushed. “Thank you, Percy. Forgive me, the other ladies seem to be asking for my return. We will talk later, I hope?” she eluded as her blue eyes glanced between both of them.
“Of course,” they both said politely in unison.
A shy, closed-lip smile spread across her face as she gave another curtsy in departure. Continuing on their path, he turned to Percy with a smirk.
“You never told me you were good at talking to women.”
“I just tell them what my mum says they like,” he explained with a shrug, his face sporting a mischievous grin.
He laughed quietly under the music, heels continuing to click rhythmically as they made their way towards Oliver. Without further interruption, they thankfully reached the table where refreshments had been generously stacked. The nobleman turned as he heard their approach, and a relieved smile lit up his angular face.
“There you two are! Thank God. I feel like a cow at auction. I’ve already had four women come and bother me, four. I got here not even a half hour ago.”
Oliver handed each of them a glass of wine, that of which he drank from immediately. The consistent droning of conversation was beginning to sound like a horde of flies buzzing over carcasses. Everything about balls or royal gatherings was just too much. It set his nerves on fire and left him feeling drained of life. He could never understand how things like this filled his brother with such energy and joy.
“Presenting His Royal Highness, heir to the throne, First of his name, and future King of Westgarde: Prince Philip Stewart! And his wife, eldest daughter of House Farrington, the beautiful Princess Dahlia Stewart!”
All activity in the great hall ceased as every single head turned towards the door. The room was quiet as the caller shouted their titles, but as soon as his mouth closed, the space exploded with cheers and excited chatter. As Philip and Dahlia made their way through the crowd, the sea of bodies rippled in a wave with a succession of bowing and curtsying. A broad smile lit up his brother’s face as he waved and greeted everyone who was brave enough to address him directly.
He watched the faces in the crowd, listened to the joyful chatter in the air. Not a single person in the room looked unhappy, and they all were looking towards Philip. It filled his chest with a strange sense of pride, of hope. At that moment, he knew.
You’re going to make a wonderful king, Brother.
Finally the two made their way to the dias, and immediately upon arrival Dahlia embraced her brother, a huge grin on her face. It was beautiful to see just how happy she was; he was glad that she and Philip had found each other.
A hand smacked down on his shoulder, causing him to jump. “Brother, you made it!”
He turned to receive Philip with a small smile.
“Of course I did. You asked me to come, so I’m here.”
“Well you look great. And Percy! Goodness, do you clean up well, my man.”
A laugh made its way out of his lover’s chest. “So I’ve been told. Although you may need to watch me carefully. I fear I might overheat in these stuffy clothes.”
“I’ll be sure to keep an eye on you,” Philip answered back playfully, clasping Percy on his left arm.
Although he could be considered fully healed, there was still a large amount of tenderness trapped beneath Percy’s skin. He smiled slightly as his brother took care enough to remember.
“Oliver, so good of you to join us. It’s great to see you, my brother.”
The nobleman smiled back at Philip, taking his hand. “It’s good to see you too, Philip.”
“Percy,” Dahlia started, pushing her way past her husband. “After Philip is done stepping on my toes for this first dance, would you do me the honor of joining me for the second one?”
His brother scoffed dramatically. “Excuse me! If I do recall, it was you who drove your heel into my foot on our wedding night, darling.”
“Only because your timing was off,” she shot back, smirking at him deviously.
Philip rolled his eyes, but his expression conveyed very different emotions as he stepped forward and slung his arm around Dahlia’s waist, pulling her in close to his side as he planted a kiss to her cheek.
“Mhm, whatever you say. Come, we must address our guests. Then you can step on my toes all night long.”
The two disappeared as quickly as they had appeared, leaving the three of them to fend for themselves. And so they lingered and talked and drank, enjoying each other’s company. Eventually the first dance of the night commenced, and he watched as Philip expertly whisked his bride across the dance floor. The music was slow and grand, giving room for elaborate movements and occasionally more intimate moments. But soon the song shifted and picked up pace, sporting a far more jaunty tune, and he couldn’t fight the grin on his face as Dahlia scurried over to where they stood, reaching a hand out to Percy as the rest of the attendees surged onto the floor.
“Well come on!” she shouted over the lutes and the drums.
Percy pressed his lips together nervously, but finally took her hand and was dragged out to the floor with what appeared to be a surprising amount of force. His cheeks began to hurt as he watched them bounce across the marble, a warmth expanding in his chest at the huge grin on Percy’s face. Every once in a while, Dahlia had to lead him, but it made for a far more entertaining display.
His heart was happy.
“What is it doing here?”
Turning with a furrowed brow, he spotted… oh Jesus Christ preserve him.
Dressed even more elaborately than he was, Benjamin stood by one of the refreshment tables, followed by a small group of other unbearably pompous young men. They all sipped generously at their wine as they stared Percy down, snickering behind their cups. He could feel his skin grow hot, and his hand twitched into a fist.
There was no gentle way of putting it. Benjamin had ruthlessly bullied him when they were children, even into their teenage years. And whenever he had told his father of it, his reply had been simple yet horribly cruel.
“He only targets you because you are weak. Stop being weak, Aryn.”
“How much do you want to bet he’s borrowing those clothes?” he sniggered, eliciting another bout of laughter from his posse.
He took a step forward.
“Aryn…”
Oliver’s voice was low and quiet, but he had caught him by the arm. “Just let him be a miserable little twat. Don’t pay him mind.”
Thoughts raced through his mind, memories flashing of unbearable feelings of shame. And now he was looking down on Percy…
“Fuck that.”
He wrenched his arm free of his grasp and descended from the dias, striding towards the gaggle of dickwads. They all turned with surprise, but at least they had the sense to incline their heads at him. Benjamin’s face lit up with fake amiableness.
“Prince Aryn! My, I haven’t seen you around in a while. Been busy braiding your horse’s hair?”
“Hmm,” he twisted his face in a mocking, closed-lip smile. “A joy as always, Benjamin. Tell me, when was the last time your father paid his taxes in full? I could always speak to my father, clear up the–”
The pretense dropped immediately.
“Is there a reason you’re bothering me, Princess?”
“If you are going to be disrespectful to my brother’s guests, I must ask you to leave.”
He was surprised at the sternness in his own tone. As he attempted to strengthen his voice, the other young men began snickering behind Benjamin’s back.
“Last I checked, it’s your brother’s ball. If he has a problem with me, he can ask me to leave himself. Besides, that street rat shouldn’t even be here anyway–”
“You will not speak of him that way.”
“Or what?” he challenged, stepping closer to him. “You’ll tell Daddy on me? Last I heard, he doesn’t even acknowledge you anymore.”
“Well last I heard, that street rat is about to put you out of a council position.”
Benjamin lunged forward slightly, rage and disgust flickering in his eyes. But even with his heart racing, he planted his feet and lifted his chin defiantly.
“I know it was you who wormed him in there. He doesn’t belong here. What did he do to earn it, huh? Did he suck your tiny little pri–”
The man stumbled backwards as his hands connected with his chest, nearly falling on his arse before reaching a hand out to catch himself. The immediate crowd around them gasped quietly and went silent, a small circle naturally forming around them as others withdrew themselves.
He couldn’t help himself as he closed the distance. Blood rushed in his ears, and his face twisted into a cold scowl. Benjamin seemed too shocked to stand up immediately.
“I don’t think you belong here,” he declared, his voice uncharacteristically low. “Get. Out.”
Benjamin pushed himself to his feet, an incredulous look plastered on his face.
“You can’t tell me–”
“Oh I can and I will. I am your prince. And come tomorrow you will never step foot in that council chamber again.”
“What is going on here?”
Philip’s warm voice now presided over the building tension as he stepped up to them. His brown eyes glanced between him and Benjamin, concerned confusion filling them.
“Benjamin was just leaving.”
“I am a guest, I was invited here,” he growled. “Philip, tell your baby brother that he cannot simply banish me because–”
“My baby brother is your prince as well, Benjamin. Now you will tell me what the cause of this disturbance is, or you will depart from my ball.”
Outraged disbelief twisted the man’s features. “He is upset because I dislike his… commoner friend. I do not know who would invite such filth here in the first place–”
“I did,” Philip stated sternly. “And Percy is my friend as well. You think he would be dancing with my wife if he were not welcome among my family?”
Benjamin scoffed. “He should not be welcome among any of our–”
“Mind yourself, sir.” It was Father’s voice that came from Philip’s mouth as he stared him down, his brown eyes losing their warmth. “I do believe you have overstayed your welcome. Now you can leave my hall, or I can remove you.”
The man’s dull brown eyes flicked between him and Philip, calculating the situation. Dahlia and Percy had now made their way over. His expression devolved into stubborn pride as he soon noticed the amount of people staring at him, and he smoothed out his clothes aggressively.
“Rather poor excuse for a ball anyway,” he muttered bitterly before turning and storming out of the hall.
He jumped as a hand clasped his shoulder, adrenaline coursing through his veins.
“I will have Father remove him from the council first thing tomorrow morning,” Philip declared quietly, his head close to his own. “Did you put him on his arse?”
“Yes.”
“Good lad.”
The hand tightened on his shoulder as his brother gave him a hearty shake, and he couldn’t hold back the proud smirk forming on his lips before he turned to spot Percy striding towards him.
“What was all that?” he asked worriedly. “Did he put his hands on you?”
“No, I’m all right. He was just being a miserable fool, so I treated him like one. He won’t be bothering you at the council meetings anymore.”
He could feel the tension in the air, Percy’s desire to touch him and make sure everything was okay. But there were still an uncomfortable amount of eyes on the devolving situation. So instead he turned to Dahlia and offered his arm.
“It seems I have some adrenaline to wear off. May I?” he asked playfully.
She smiled back at him with an equally mischievous grin and snatched his arm up. “Only if you can keep up, little brother.”
They danced more than one song together, and through it all, he was surprised at just how relaxed he felt. Dahlia was a cheerful, supportive presence he needed in his life. Her carefree attitude and copious amounts of wit never left a moment feeling dull, but also never uncomfortable. As they twirled around the dancefloor, he occasionally caught glimpses of the rest of the boys talking, a pleasant look on all of their faces. It was even more amusing whenever a young lass dared to approach, batting her lashes and flicking her fan as she conversed with Percy and Oliver. He had to hand it to him: attracting so many women while not having a title was an impressive feat. He couldn’t help the coy smile that worked its way onto his lips.
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And he’s all mine.
The rest of the night went by without a hitch, and as guests began to say their thank yous and goodbyes to Philip and Dahlia, he found himself… contented. That suffocating feeling in his chest had fled at some point during the evening and not returned. Maybe it was his newfound confidence after that spat with Benjamin. Or maybe it was due to him and his brother’s renewed relationship. Or perhaps it was because it was the first time he had been able to bring Percy to something like this. He chalked it up to all of the above.
As he stepped towards Philip, Dahlia got to him first, and he grunted in surprise as she wrapped unsuspectingly strong arms around him.
“Aryn, it was such a joy having you here tonight. Maybe you can plan the next one with me,” she suggested, an endearing smile spreading across her face.
The corners of lips curled upward in response. “I would love that.”
As she pulled away, revealing Philip behind her, brown eyes met with blue. There was a softness to his brother’s that he hadn’t seen before, and it was as if he were seeing him differently now, for the first time. He thought there were words to be spoken, but the silence remained unbroken as Philip wrapped his strong arms around him, hugging him tightly to his chest.
“I love you,” he murmured into his ear. “Thank you for coming.”
His throat instantly began to close up. “I love you too, Philip.”
They remained for a few more seconds before his brother pulled away first, clasping him on the arm. “Well, we’ve kept you long enough. Go get some rest. And Percy,” he now faced the former smith. “It was wonderful to have you here. I do hope you will join us for the next one. I get the feeling you’ll be around for quite a while.”
A soft, warm smile rose on Percy’s face. “I would love to. Thank you, Philip. I have felt nothing short of blessed by you and your family.”
“Well, it’s because you deserve it. You’ve earned it. I never properly thanked you for what you did for Aryn… I am forever proud to call you a friend. And I must apologize for my behavior when first we met. It was rude, and entitled, and ignorant.”
A boyish smirk made its way onto Percy’s lips. “Well what are friends for if not to call each other out on their shit?”
Slowly, the same smirk came to occupy Philip’s face. “Precisely.”
The two of them departed from the castle, making their way towards Percy’s estate under the darkness of a cold, cloudy night. Percy fumbled with the lock for a moment before the door swung open with the wind. A fire remained gently smouldering in the large hearth, but the house had begun to cool.
“I’ll go throw more logs on the fire if you want to pick out a bottle,” Percy suggested, starting towards the fireplace.
He nodded in agreement and began to peruse the wine rack. Definitely a red, but maybe something a little lighter so it didn’t settle too heavily in their stomachs. He picked one out that contained a clear, vibrant ruby coloration and finagled with the hook instrument, awkwardly wrenching the cork out. He heard the soft collapse of bark as the old fire crumbled beneath new logs and pulled two glasses from the hutch beneath the rack, pouring each of them to half way.
Percy now approached, and a warm, gentle smile grew on his features as he handed him a glass. “Did you have fun?”
“Surprisingly, yes. I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed a ball before,” he pointed out with a shy chuckle. “Thank you for coming.”
“Of course. Once I settled in, it honestly didn’t feel too different from the tavern. Including the fight.”
He gave him a coy look, his green eyes silently asking for an elaboration.
A sigh escaped his lips. “Look, he was talking shit about you, and I just couldn’t put up with it anymore. He used to be that way towards me, too. Well… he is that way towards me. And I had just had absolutely enough of it.”
“Well I’m proud of you. Thank you for sticking up for me. I wish I would have known what was happening sooner–”
“I’m not always a damsel in distress, Percy,” he pointed out playfully. “Besides, I think I needed to prove something to myself. To know that I actually can be tough and have a voice.”
A proud smile found its way to Percy’s face. “Let’s cheers then. To standing our ground.”
“To standing our ground.”
A similar grin spread across his own lips as they both took an indulgent drink of their wine. The faint glow of the firelight reflected off of the dark, patterned thread on Percy’s doublet, and he watched his Adam's apple bob as he swallowed. Illuminated from behind, every inch of his body was accented, every curve and bulge of muscle amplified by his tailored clothing.
Suddenly he set his glass down, reaching a calloused hand out towards him. “Do you want to dance?”
His brow furrowed in confused amusement. “Dance? Percy, there’s no music.”
“Well, we can just pretend. Come on. I couldn’t dance with you all night, at least humor me now.”
He pressed his lips together shyly and proceeded to set his own glass down, taking his hand. He led him to the sitting room and effortlessly pushed the central table to the edge of the space, his arm no longer giving him grief. Upon his return, he slipped his arm around his slender waist, reuniting their hands. A blush arose on his angular cheeks as blue eyes locked with green.
“I feel like this is our first real night in the house together,” he commented, his voice low and soft.
They began to sway to a silent beat, and he stepped himself closer to Percy, their chests almost touching as he looked up at him.
“I’ve stayed a few times.”
“Yeah, to make sure I didn’t fall down the stairs in the middle of the night,” he argued. “It’s our first night where we don’t have to worry about anything else. Or anything at all.”
His face seemed to gravitate towards him. “Are you happy?”
“Am I happy?” A firm hand came to cup his cheek. “Aryn, I am the happiest I have ever been. You have fulfilled me in ways I never knew possible.”
Their feet continued to shuffle as Percy’s grip on his waist tightened.
“But is this life really what you want?”
“If it means I get to spend it with you, yes. A million times yes.”
Their breaths intertwined as the distance between them grew smaller and smaller. His gaze flicked about Percy’s face, his lips, his emerald green irises. But the former smith’s was unmoving, fixated only on his eyes, before he pressed their lips together. His hands slowly shifted to the front of Percy’s doublet, slender fingers grasping it as he pulled him even closer, and a stronger hand came to tangle in his ashen hair.
As their mouths moved in tandem, he couldn’t help but notice the strange feeling in the air. The sensation was almost palpable, otherworldly, as it drew them together in a way he had never felt before. His heart thumped loudly yet slowly, not with uncertain nervousness, but with anxious expectation. The same desperate fervor with which they usually embraced was nowhere to be found, and instead had been replaced by an unexplainable calm. It was like he knew, deep down, he should savor every moment of this.
Slowly, ever so slowly, his fingers worked to undo the doublet as Percy’s tongue teased at the entrance to his mouth. Permission was eventually granted, and their tongues danced together to a quiet, intimate song only they knew. After a few moments, the garment was undone, and he slid it off his muscled arms and let it fall to the floor, leaving him in a thin, silk undershirt. Their mouths separated for Percy to pull his own shirt overhead, discarding it before his dexterous fingers went to work on Aryn’s clothes.
The need to put his mouth back on him was torturous, but as Percy glanced between his work and his blue eyes, he was content enough to just watch. The flickering firelight whipped softly across his tan skin, further outlining the definition on his abdomen. His hands ached to touch it.
His own shirt was now being slowly removed, and even just the simple act of disrobing him was handled with extreme care. He watched as Percy’s throat bobbed, his fingertips running over the smooth landscape of his fair skin, as they trailed down towards the laces of his breeches.
But instead they came to grasp his own hand, and green eyes flicked back to his.
“Could we go upstairs?”
The weight of the question settled deep in his chest, and as they locked gazes once more, he felt his heart skip a beat.
“Yes.”
A strong hand grasped his as Percy now led them towards the stairs, forging their way towards the bedroom. The door clicked softly shut behind them, and he now turned to face the young man. The laceration on his arm had now healed to a thick scar, although Percy had told him he still couldn’t feel the area below it. He noticed the subtle way his chest heaved, the way his abs distended with each nervous breath.
Percy’s feet carried him slowly in his direction, but not hesitantly, and he leaned down to place a gentle kiss on his forehead.
“Sit down.”
He did as he was told. Percy kneeled on the floor and began removing his boots, setting them off to the side carefully so as not to make unnecessary noise. It wasn’t to make sure no one could hear, but to keep things as quiet and calm as possible. Once the boots were gone, he efficiently removed his own before setting his fingers to work on the laces of his breeches.
His own fingers found their way into his curly hair, playing with it and taking in each unique sensory aspect. From this angle, he had never noticed the impressively developed muscles that resided on top of his shoulders, extending to his neck. It was like each part of him had been meticulously sculpted.
The laces had been loosened enough, and Percy hooked his thumbs into his waistband. But his own hands quickly grasped them, making him pause.
“Yours first.”
Percy obeyed and stood up, letting his arms fall lax to his sides. He could feel that heat beginning to spread across his skin, like every sense was becoming heightened, more sensitive, as his own fingers started to untie the laces on Percy’s pants. His heart kicked up again as a singular focused thought kept running through his mind.
Roughly textured fingertips trailed over the skin on the side of his neck, moving slowly down and along the top of his shoulder. It sent fire coursing through his arm and chest as he loosened the ties enough, tilting his chin upward to look upon Percy, his blue eyes shining with the dim firelight of the candles that scarcely illuminated the room.
“Do you want to take them off?”
The look in his green eyes was soft yet primal, and they glazed over slightly as he nodded his head yes and tucked his thumbs into the waistband. Slowly, he pulled them down off his hips, then guided them down his legs, and an intense burning began to arise on his cheeks as Percy stepped out of his garments.
He didn’t understand how someone could look like that. It was how he imagined the fabled demigods or heroes were, like Achilles or Hercules. But even with the intense, hard lines that his muscles etched into his body, he didn’t feel untouchable. And as he slowly ran his hands over his torso, and even more slowly down towards his hips, it indeed felt quite the opposite.
A strong hand came to grasp his chin, and, towering over him, Percy bent down and placed his lips to his. Blood rushed hot through his veins, that same thought once again slamming into the forefront of his mind. Deepening the kiss, he took Percy in his hand, and the shudder of his breath on his lips drove him mad as his already loosened breeches became tighter.
He could feel the heat radiating from his tan skin, could feel the way his abs twitched and tightened as he touched him. Percy’s hand tightened its grip on his chin before he was being pushed down onto the bed. He made quick work of his pants and carelessly tossed them to the side, but instead of reconnecting with him, he remained where he stood.
Lifting his head just enough to look at him, a subtly confused expression made its way to his fair features, and he couldn’t help it when his heart began to race.
“What is it?”
His green eyes raked up and down his body ravenously; it was as if Percy was on the brink of starvation, and he was an eight course meal. He watched his broad chest heave with a deep breath.
“I told you what I wanted.”
“I want you in that bed, our bed, laid out for me, naked. I want to hear my name on your lips as you beg for me.”
Intense heat rose on his cheeks as he propped himself up on his hands, never breaking their gaze, and shifted himself further up onto the bed, coming to rest on his elbows. His stomach began to do flips when Percy’s expression shifted, a look that blatantly conveyed sinful thoughts now plastered on his tan face. He remained planted where he was for another moment, drinking him in.
“What do you want, Aryn?”
His chest heaved as blue eyes flicked over Percy’s gorgeous body, and he pressed his lips together, the word dangling on his tongue.
“You.”
Finally his feet moved, and the featherbed bowed as he climbed onto it, coming to preside over him. He slid his way in between his legs as their mouths met, tongues coming to dance with each other once again. A calloused hand worked its way up his side, all the way up his chest and to his neck, and he quickly felt a downward rush of blood. His breath caught as Percy pressed their hips together, and a subtle tightness began to form in his stomach when his bottom lip was trapped between teeth.
A thumb brushed along the side of his throat before Percy trailed his mouth to his neck now, teasingly brushing his lips over his skin. He found his own hands running over Percy’s shoulders, one heading down his side as the other came to tangle in his hair. Eventually he trailed his fingertips over Percy’s hip, slowly bringing them inward before finally wrapping them around him again.
“I have no idea what I’m doing,” he whispered hesitantly into his ear.
Percy drew back to look at him, a softness returning to his eyes as a timid smirk found its way onto his lips. “Me neither.”
“I-is this okay?” his tone was uncertain as he slowly and gently worked Percy in his hand, their breaths intertwining as their faces hovered closely together.
A brief, tender kiss was placed to his mouth. “Is it what you want to do right now?”
“Yes…”
“Then yes.”
He returned the kiss but now maintained it, their lips moving gently in tandem. His whole body tingled as Percy moaned against his mouth, quiet and low, and that primal need began to well up inside him more. He craved for Percy to touch him, to be in him.
A small, slow wave of pleasure washed through him as a strong hand grasped him, working him in its grip. Percy’s lips now made their way back down his neck and slowly peppered kisses along his chest. He slid his muscular body down his own, trailing his mouth along his skin until they settled low on his stomach. A soft moan escaped his mouth as teeth nipped and sucked at his hip, and his whole body grew hot as he watched Percy touch him.
His hand tangled in his curly hair, unsure of what to do with the other one. As Percy removed his mouth from him, a deep red mark was left on his skin. Their eyes locked, and the message within both of them was clear. Pressing his lips together, Percy made his way back up his body until their faces met. A few stray curls hung in front of his forehead, and he reached up to gently brush them away.
A subtle trembling kicked up deep in his core. He didn’t know why he was so nervous when he had been wanting this for so long. But as his heart began to race, a large, firm hand was placed on his chest.
“Are you okay?”
He bit at his lip anxiously but nodded, his fingers playing with Percy’s hair in a self-soothing manner.
“Yeah… I’m just overthinking.”
“What are you nervous about?”
His voice was soft and gentle and comforting. Everything about it made him feel safe, regardless of his anxiety. He found his other hand wandering over his shoulder now, fingertips circumducting the scar.
“I guess just… how it feels. Unknowns tend to scare me.”
“Well we have all the time in the world. And I will go as slow as you need me to.” He pressed a light, lingering kiss to his forehead. “If you want to stop, we’ll stop.”
“But I want to do it…”
“I know. But I need you to know there are no expectations. All I care about right now is you. All I want is to be with you. Whatever that looks like, however far we go, I don’t care, okay?”
His heart slowly began to settle, his breathing becoming less shallow. He couldn’t remember a time he had ever felt this safe, this regarded.
“Okay.”
Their lips connected once more, and a deep sense of calm washed over him.
“I love you.”
A stray strand of ashen hair was tucked behind his ear as Percy’s lips brushed over his.
“I love you too.”
He let himself settle further into the bed, hyper-aware of his body as Percy wet his fingers and brought his hand down. Their faces hovering close, his heartbeat quickened with anticipation. He felt something begin to prod at him, and soon after there came a gentle pressure. Percy’s eyes concentrated sharply on his face as slowly the pressure went deeper and deeper. But abruptly it turned to discomfort, and he tensed up, drawing himself back slightly. Percy froze, his tan face plastered with observant concern.
He thought about his body relaxing, imagining all of his muscles releasing as much as physically possible. It was difficult to completely let go… He deepened his breathing and pressed his forehead to Percy’s, and he felt his stomach relax as a comforting hand made lazy circles on the inside of his thigh.
“Can I keep going?” he murmured quietly, his breath tickling his face.
The pressure slowly began to lighten up, and he continued to focus on that feeling of releasing as he softly nodded.
“Mhm…”
Percy pushed his hips farther, and the pressure intensified, but wasn’t hurting. His heart thumping loudly in his chest, he pressed their lips together, craving for something to anchor himself with. He gripped Percy’s muscular shoulder tightly, using it to give silent cues about whether to slow down or pause. But eventually, the pressure began to dissipate, and as Percy pushed his hips flush with his body, an unexpected wave of pleasure shot through him.
A moan escaped his mouth, and his cheeks quickly flushed red as his chest heaved slightly. For a moment, Percy didn’t move; he brushed his lips across his with a sense of deep intimacy, and he found himself leaning into it, wanting more of him. Their mouths connected in a proper kiss as he tangled a hand in his curly brown hair. He felt space appear between them as Percy slowly pulled back, then pushed back in, the movement careful and restrained, and as he reached the end, that same feeling shot through him again.
There was no pain anymore, no more discomfort. He needed more. As they kissed, he shifted and arched his back slightly, running his hand down Percy’s arm. In response, his hips began to move faster, establishing a rhythm. With the different angle, he reached even farther, and a loud, pleasureful moan was wrenched from his throat.
Percy moved his mouth to his jaw, feverishly trailing sloppy kisses along it before his teeth tugged at his earlobe. His free hand came to tangle in his ashen hair, and he gasped for air as Percy pulled on it, exposing his throat. He felt a tightness quickly forming deep in his stomach; he needed more, but he didn’t know how that could be possible. His question was answered as Percy moved his hips more forcefully, slamming into him as he clamped his teeth down on his neck.
His moan was more like a desperate cry of pleasure, but it was enough to give Percy pause as he suddenly slowed down and brought his face in front of him. Their bodies were becoming slick with sweat, and both of their chests heaved with heavy breaths.
“Are you okay?”
His voice was low and raspy with desire, but an immediate tone of concern cut through it. He nodded vigorously as he reached a hand around to cup his backside.
“Don’t stop,” he breathed, the words coming out in a begging whimper.
Percy smashed their lips together as he began to move his hips again, picking back up the same pace and intensity. He was hit with unrelenting waves of pleasure, and that tightness in his stomach quickly began to intensify. Cries of ecstasy escaped him as he dug his nails into his back, but Percy knew better than to stop again. Suddenly the feeling descended, and his breath caught in his throat for a moment before a noise made of pure euphoria burst from his mouth.
Percy’s hips continued to move, unyielding, drawing out that feeling as he gasped with pleasure. He felt the muscles in Percy’s abdomen clench, and he bit down on his slender shoulder as intense release abruptly came to him. Shuddering with a moan, he pumped his hips slowly and deeply. He arched his back into it, craving for him to be even farther inside him.
A wave of warmth washed over him, every inch of his body melting away as Percy trailed his lips down his chest. Eventually they stilled, the only sound in the room that of their breaths. He traced his nails up and down his muscular back, not wanting him to pull away. They remained connected for a few moments longer, letting the air settle.
Finally Percy removed himself, and it left him feeling strangely empty. Settling onto his side while propped up on an elbow, he brought a hand up and gently brushed the blonde hair from his forehead, placing a tender kiss to his lips.
“Was that what you wanted?” he murmured softly, a warm, subtle smile on his face as he looked at him.
A breathy chuckle escaped him, and he couldn’t fight the joyful grin rising on his lips.
“Yes…”
Their chests began to settle as they slowly caught their breaths. Percy’s emerald eyes lazily scanned over him, taking in all of his features as intently as someone might study a piece of art. His strong, calloused hand reached down and pulled a thin blanket over their waists.
“How are you feeling?”
He snatched his hand and began to fidget with his fingers, the grin on his face settling into a soft closed-lip smile.
“Exhausted. Sweaty.” They both chuckled shyly, and he was surprised to see a slightly pink coloration rise on Percy’s cheeks. “But I’d be lying if I said that wasn’t the most amazing I’ve ever felt in my entire life.”
“I’m glad the feeling’s mutual.”
He leaned forward and pressed his lips to his, the kiss calm and intimate. This was a moment he wanted to savor. He felt Percy smile against his mouth, and a hand came to cup his flushed cheek. That same warm feeling passed through him again.
“I’m going to get water heated for a bath. You do whatever you need to and I’ll come get you when it’s ready, okay?”
He nodded with a shy smile before Percy drew away from him, his bare feet padding softly across the floor as he disappeared into the washroom. Alone, he took the moment to lay himself fully flat on the bed, closing his eyes. Unexpectedly, he felt his throat begin to close up, and he had to blink to release the tears that were welling up behind his eyelids.
Three months ago he would have never thought he’d still be alive, let alone here, being cared for by a man who so deeply and unconditionally loved him. The situation was extremely difficult, dare he say almost impossible, to wrap his head around. He felt as if he didn’t deserve this…
No, he did. They both did. Something had led him to that tavern that day. Perhaps one could call it fate, or destiny. But he knew now that they needed to find one another. There was no doubt in his mind that he and Percy were meant for each other, made for each other.
“You ready, love?”
He opened his eyes to see Percy standing over him at the edge of the bed, a hand gently rubbing the side of his arm. His brow furrowed in concern as he spotted the streaks of tears running down his temples.
“Baby what’s wrong?”
Without a second thought, Percy went down to his knees, tightly grasping his hand in his. He sniffled and shook his head, taking a deep breath.
“Nothing’s wrong. At all. I was just… thinking about everything. And also I think what we did, how it’s making me feel… I’m just weirdly emotional right now,” he explained with a breathy laugh.
Percy brushed his thumb gently over his cheek, wiping away the lines of tears. “Is there anything you need from me right now?”
“If you could get my back for me in the bath, that would be nice,” he joked.
A soft chuckle escaped his chest as a warm smile spread across his lips. “I would be more than happy to. You ready?”
He nodded and clasped Percy’s hand tightly, letting him help him up. They both gratefully sank into the bath, and the herbal tonic he had put into the water made his nose extremely happy. Percy had spaced out and lit a handful of candles, giving the washroom a calming, dim glow. He hadn’t felt it before, but now that they were coming down, he definitely was a bit sore. With a deep sigh, he relaxed back into Percy as the sponge gently scraped across his skin, unable to resist the content, peaceful smile that rose on his face.
They took their time in the bath, letting their bodies and minds reset. After drying off, he stole a loose pair of pants from Percy’s dresser; the linen was extremely soft and felt very soothing to his nerves. Exhaustion finally caught up with him as he felt his energy suddenly drain away, and he clambered into the bed sleepily, hunkering down among the thick blankets and fluffy pillows. He heard Percy chuckle quietly before the bed bowed slightly beneath more weight. A hand began to softly rub up and down his back, and he was finding a hard time keeping his eyes open.
A tender, featherlight kiss was placed just beneath his ear. “I love you.”
He turned his head to look up at Percy, only able to see the outline of his face as they had already put the candles out. A sleepy smile spread across his lips.
“I love you too. Thank you for loving me…”
Percy tucked a piece of ashen hair behind his ear.
“I am the luckiest man in the world for being able to love you.” He bent down and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to his lips. “Goodnight, beautiful.”
“Goodnight, Percy.”
A strong arm wrapped across his waist as Percy’s chest pressed against his back. The slow, rhythmic sound of his deep breathing sank him into a place of quiet peace and safety, and as his consciousness began to drift away, none of those bad thoughts seemed to be able to reach him.