The sun was setting and Endrah was curled up on the couch, weaving another rug. A pile of woven grass rugs came up from the floor up to be level with the arm of the couch. He didn’t quite notice how the light had changed until Acarad came in through the front door. Endrah set his weaving aside and turned to face the doorway as Acarad walked in and set his bag down on the end table.

“Did you enjoy your journey,” Endrah asked.

“It would’ve been better if I had company,” Acarad sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.

“What sort of company,” Endrah smoothed his shirt out a little bit.

“What do you mean,” Acarad asked.

“Sometimes all that one wants is a friend,” Endrah blushed. “Other times, one wants a lover.”

“I don’t really know which,” Acarad asked. “I was hoping just for your company.”

“And which am I to you,” Endrah asked. “Am I a friend or a lover?”

“I don’t know,” Acarad sat beside Endrah.

“Why,” Endrah asked.

“It isn’t only my decision,” Acarad said.

“How do you feel about me,” Endrah turned to face Acarad.

“I….I,”

Endrah stood and turned to leave the room. Acarad grabbed his hand.

“I want to be with you,” Acarad said. Endrah turned around. “I want to be with you Endrah.”

“How,” Endrah asked.

“I want to be your lover, and I want you to be mine,” Acarad sighed. “But as a prince, everything in my life needs to be on display. You don’t like being the center of everyone’s attention.”

“I want to be yours too,” Endrah gave Acarad his other hand. “That means sharing ourselves and our lifestyles.”

“Are you sure,” Acarad asked.

“Yes,” Endrah answered. He pulled Acarad close and wrapped his arms around him. Acarad hesitated at first but slowly relaxed into Endrah’s arms.

Neither could tell who leaned in first, but they found themselves brushing their lips together. Endrah combed his fingers through Acarad’s hair as the kiss went on. Acarad’s lips tasted like vanilla and felt like velvet. Acarad held him as though he was as fragile as a porcelain doll. Endrah lost track of time, and for once didn’t care. They held each other both tightly and gently, with a desperation to not be alone again that words couldn’t capture. Gentle touches and feather light kisses on each other's lips and cheeks became heated, but stayed gentle. Something neither had felt before. Acarad pulled back a bit and rested his forehead against Endrah’s for a moment, catching his breath. Endrah looked up through his eyelashes with a small smile.

“So, where do we go from here,” Aarad asked.

“Wherever we want to,” Endrah murmured, resting his head against Acarad’s shoulder. “We don’t have to go at any certain pace. We can just… Figure things out as we go.”

“Are you sure you’re my Endrah,” Acarad rested his chin on Endrah’s head.

“What do you mean,” Endrah asked.

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

“My master planner deciding to just feel something out is a big step,” Acarad said. “I just want to make sure you’re comfortable.”

“I am,” Endrah sighed contentedly. “I enjoy being with you. I want to be with you. But, our cultures are so different, it isn’t something that I could have planned for.”

“Let’s sit down and talk for a bit, my feet are killing me,” Acarad pulled away just enough that they could turn and sit together. “We can start with just holding each other.”

“Maybe a few walks along the creek,” Endrah snuggled closer to Acarad, resting his head on the prince’s shoulder.

“And a few shared meals that aren’t related to a shared Calling,” Acarad murmured.

“Eventually work up to telling others,” Endrah said. “I suppose we will need to look into sound proofing our rooms.”

“That is easy enough,” Acarad gave Endrah a peck on the cheek. “I will get to making the spell seals.”

SEX SCENE BEGINS SKIP DOWN A WAYS.

Endrah wrapped his arms around Acarad again and pulled him in for another kiss. The smell of hickory and herbs rolled over Endrah as he moved to sit in Acarad’s lap. The taste of vanilla teased him as he deepened their kiss. Acarad moaned in pleasure as Endrah’s hands explored him. Endrah pushed Acarad’s robe off of his shoulders and slipped his hands under the prince’s shirt. Acarad cupped Endra’s face in one hand, deepening the kiss. With his other hand, Acarad gently tugged at the ribbons holding Endrah’s shirt closed. Endrah pulled Acarad’s shirt off over his head and explored him a bit more thoroughly. Acarad moaned in pleasure and tugs the ribbons again, this time untying them. Then, Acarad pulled Endrah’s shirt off and ran a hand down his spine. Endrah moved his kiss from Acarad’s lips to the soft flesh between his neck and shoulder. Acarad gasped and his hips bucked. Endrah chuckled and nibbled at his neck.

“You enjoy that,” Endrah asked, voice thick with desire.

“Yes,” Acarad answered. He pulled Endrah closer, until they were flush against each other. “I like that very much.”

“I think we should move this elsewhere,” Endrah purred, wings vibrating in excitement. “There are a lot of things I want to show you, but Brooke or Wanda could drop in any time.”

“My room or yours,” Acarad asked, hooking a thumb under Endra’s belt line.

“Mine,” Endrah purred. “You’re mine.”

“Then take me,” Acarad murmured.

Endrah kissed Acarad again, this time, he pushed his tongue into Acarad’s mouth. Acarad moaned and Endrah’s hips bucked. They pulled apart, gasping for breath. Endrah stood up and pulled Acarad after him. Endrah pulled Acarad down the hall with him, staying close enough to tease him. He came to his door and turned around just long enough to unlock and open the door. Acarad wrapped his arms around Endrah and ground his hips against him. Endrah moaned in pleasure and led the prince to his bed, kicking the door closed. Endrah fumbled with the buttons keeping Acarad’s pants on. Acarad helped Endrah take his clothes off and laid down on the bed, beckoning Endrah closer. Endrah freed himself of his pants and small clothes, flaring his wings open. Acarad gasped in pleasure as Endrah’s teeth grazed his shoulder. Endrah explored Acarad’s body enthusiastically, wings trembling with the desire pulling them closer. Acarad slipped his hand between Endrah’s legs and made his own desire well known. Endrah moaned in pleasure and followed suit. Acarad stopped for a few moments, prompting Endrah to stop too.

“Did I do something you don’t like,” Endrah asked.

“I want more,” Aarad said.

“You want me in you,” Endrah asked.

“Yes,” Acarad said.

“How,” Endrah asked.

“I want you on my back and,” Acarad broke his sentence off as Endrah’s lips crashed against his. Acrad groaned in pleasure.

Endrah pulled back just enough to flip Acarad onto his stomach. They lost themselves in each other and their passion. As he reached his climax, Acarad cried out in pleasure. Endrah met his climax and his wings flashed a brilliant gold and he moaned in pleasure. When they were done, they collapsed into the bed and held each other. Acarad pushed the hair out of Endrah’s face and kissed him again. Endrah chuckled and snuggled closer to him.

“That was better than I had thought it would be,” Endrah sighed.

“I am glad I didn’t disappoint,” Acarad said. “I was starting to think I couldn’t take it any more.”

“Well, now all you need to do is say what you want,” Endrah brushed his thumb over Acarad’s. “You are mine and I am yours.”

“And that is all I want,” Acarad sighed. “I just want to be with you.”

“So my prince,” Endrah drew small circles on Acarad’s shoulder, “What do you want to do with me?”

“You just saw,” Acarad took Endrah’s hand in his.

“Is that really all,” Endrah murmured, brushing a soft kiss on the prince’s lips.

“I want to do this every night,” Acarad sighed.

“Callings may get in the way,” Endrah said.

“I get the feeling that we can make up for that,” Acarad kissed Endrah on the cheek.

Endrah chuckled and gave Acarad another peck on the cheek before settling at the prince’s side. He tucked his wings in carefully behind him as Acarad draped an arm around his shoulders. Endrah hummed an old love song and traced his fingers over and around Acarad’s scars. Slowly, they fell asleep in each other’s arms.

SEX SCENE IS OVER, COME ON BACK IF YOU WANT.

Dawn’s light streamed through the large window just a few hours later, waking Endrah. He gently untangled himself from Acarad’s arms and the sheets, carefully not to wake the sleeping prince. Endrah pulled the curtains closed and started gathering his clothes and soap. Acarad started to stir in the bed, a sleepy arm searching for Endrah. Endrah came back to the bed giving his prince a peck on the cheek.

“Thought I would leave you,” Endrah teased.

“For a moment, I thought it was just a dream,” Acarad sat up and pulled Endrah close.

“You dream of me that way,” Endrah asked.

“Now I don’t have to,” Acarad kissed him deeply and wrapped his arms around him. “Did you sleep well?”

“Yes,” Endrah said.

“What do you suppose we should do today,” Acarad asked.

“I was hoping to get more weaving done,” Endrah said. “Maybe tend the garden.”

“Or we could stay here,” Acarad rested his forehead against Endrah’s.

“We could if I didn’t have a Calling making its way to us,” Endrah sighed. “I can’t ignore them when they come to the river.”

“Your Calling is coming to you,” Acarad asked.

“They won’t be expecting me,” Endrah said. “They will be expecting Drifter Atilk to meet them at the river. Apparently, according to some of the villagers, these two always called on her when they found troubling situations. Their wagon was seen coming down into the canyon yesterday.”

“So not quite a Calling,” Acarad said.

“Something feels important about this,” Endrah played with a lock of his hair. “I can’t put my finger on it. It almost feels like a Calling.”

“Then I suppose I should help you get ready to meet them,” Acarad sighed dramatically and rubbed his thumb on Endrah’s knuckles.

Endrah kissed Acarad and got up out of bed. They quickly washed and dressed themselves. Endrah only stopped in the kitchen long enough to grab some bread and cheese before heading out the door.