by S. U. Pacat
That’s it, Damen wanted to coax, and did not know if the words would be condescending. His own body was growing closer than he would have believed possible, from the feel of Laurent against him. And then it was even hazier, his hand drawing slowly up Laurent’s side under his shirt, Laurent’s fingers biting into his shoulders.
He saw it on Laurent’s face as his body began to tremble and surrender up its defenses. Yes, thought Damen, and it was happening, Laurent was giving of himself. He felt the jerk against him, Laurent’s eyes opening almost in surprise, as his internal resistances dissolved into release. They were tangled together, Damen on his back in the sheets, where Laurent, in the last driving moments, had pushed him.
Damen was smiling helplessly. ‘That was adequate.’
‘You’ve been waiting to say that.’ The words were only a little blurred.
‘Let me.’ Rolling him over and towelling him down, softly. Out of delight that he could, he leaned in and pressed a single kiss to Laurent’s shoulder. He felt uncertainty flicker faintly in Laurent again, though not strongly enough to surface. It settled, and Laurent didn’t pull away. Damen lay in a contented sprawl beside him, the towelling done.
‘You can,’ said Laurent, after a moment, meaning something else entirely.
‘You’re half asleep.’
‘Not quite.’
‘We have all night,’ said Damen, though it was not long, now. ‘We have until morning.’
He felt the lean shape of Laurent beside him on the bed. The light was dim with guttering candles. Order me to stay, he wanted to say, and couldn’t.
He was twenty years old, and the prince of a rival country, and even if their nations had been friends, it would have been impossible.
‘Until morning,’ said Laurent.
After a moment he felt Laurent’s fingers lift and come to rest on his arm, curling there slightly.
Table of Contents
Contents
About the Author
Also by SU Pacat
Copyright
Dedication
List of Characters
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Acknowledgements
Extras - Extended Chapter 19