by MarieMedina
“What exactly did you say to Sebastian? Hard to imagine anyone getting in … what did you say?”
Nathaniel licked his lips. “A flutter.”
Reese smiled. “A flutter. Yes.” His smile couldn’t stay in place as he said, “I can’t imagine they’d be in a flutter if they knew everything about me.”
“I told Sebastian that I was very hopeful about seeing a certain man tonight. No names. No details. I’m not that dumb.”
“You’re not dumb at all, though you have masochistic taste in men.”
Instead of laughing, Nathaniel looked sad. “Don’t say that.”
“I didn’t mean it as an insult.” He shrugged. “You aren’t thinking of letting me off without some punishment, are you? Even you aren’t that tenderhearted.”
“With you, I think maybe I am.” He sighed and let his head drop, his forehead resting on Reese’s chest. “I’m so angry, but I just want to forget all of it. Our fight, you fucking other people, the nights apart.”
“It was a year. Kind of hard to erase. And you deserve better.”
“Alexander said that. But I think what I deserve is to be with the man I love and have his love in return.”
Reese ran his hands over Nathaniel’s shoulders and into his hair. Then he lifted the prince’s head so they could look at each other. “I’d love to forget everything that happened after I jumped out of bed and started yelling at you that night, but we can’t. And it’s better that we don’t.” He let his thumb trace Nathaniel’s jaw, which he’d never done before. The prince had always loved reaching out and touching Reese’s face as they fucked, as well as running his fingers over Reese’s features during the afterglow. The closest Reese had come before had been holding Nathaniel down by pressing his palm to his collarbone. “And we both might’ve been happy with our cariads if things had been different.”
“You think we should’ve—”
Reese put two fingers on Nathaniel’s lips. “I think we need to keep in mind that we chose each other. Even if I took longer than you did. We chose this connection over a predetermined fate.”
“This connection?”
Reese nodded.
“It has a name, you know.”
Reese ran his fingers over Nathaniel’s lower lip. “I think you mentioned roasted chicken earlier?”
Nathaniel pressed closer. “Is that an unbreakable habit?”
“What?”
“You changing the subject.”
Reese sighed as he let his fingers drop. “I can work on it.”
“We’ve got lots of things to work on.” He finally stepped back and drew Reese inside by his arm. “Come on. Food first.”
“And what second?”
Nathaniel gazed back at him, his eyes flicking down a moment. “We’ll see.”
Reese made himself follow the prince in and sit in one of the chairs by the fire with a rolling cart between them. The old him would’ve picked Nathaniel up and thrown him on the bed and held him down for at least an hour. The new him? Reese didn’t know that man quite yet. All he knew was he couldn’t make the same mistakes again. His cock would get over being denied. But his heart? It had never wanted anything like this before, and it wouldn’t be the same if Reese screwed this up.
Chapter Eight
Nathaniel shifted in bed, momentarily shocked to find himself rubbing against a warm body. His eyes popped open, and he remembered what had happened. After hours of talking, Reese had been preparing to leave, and Nathaniel simply hadn’t been able to let him do so. Reese’s agreement had been reluctant, at first, and Nathaniel had asked him to simply stay, nothing more. Nathaniel only vaguely remembered undressing, then waving his hand to extinguish all the candles. Reese had said something about that, perhaps remembering how Nathaniel always used to do that after they’d exhausted each other with sex, but Nathaniel hadn’t really been able to hear him because mere seconds later Reese had placed a surprisingly chaste kiss on his lips.
Nathaniel didn’t need to touch his cock to know it was hard. He rolled to his back and found Reese wide awake and looking at him. His heartbeat picked up a bit as he took a steadying breath. He propped up on his elbows as he said, “Good morning.”
“It is a good morning,” Reese said. “And the first time I’ve woken up beside someone in a long time.”
“You kicked all of them out this past year?”
Reese shook his head. “Never brought them home. I was the one to leave when we were done.” Reese’s gaze went to Nathaniel’s bare chest—and then his erection. “And I’ve never slept in the same bed with someone I didn’t fuck.”
“We could have. You’re the one who pulled away after you kissed me.”
Reese drew the covers back and slid his hand over Nathaniel’s stomach. “I was too wound up. Too focused on my need.”
“What’s wrong with that?” Nathaniel whispered, watching Reese’s hand move over his abs and then down his thigh.
“I want to be focused on your need. Your pleasure.”
Nathaniel laughed much more loudly than he’d intended to. Reese stilled his hand, and Nathaniel put his own on top of it. “You always were. I loved the things you did to me. They gave us both pleasure.” He moved Reese’s hand over to his cock. “You’re thinking too much.”
Reese stroked him once and then cupped his balls, massaging them. “I want to get this right.”
Nathaniel drew him closer. “It is right. I’m already yours again. I just need you to be mine this time around.”
Reese’s hand stilled and rested against his thigh. “You being so forgiving makes this even harder. Which is stupid.”
Nathaniel frowned, his brows coming together. “Of course it’s stupid.”
Reese sat up and took his hand. “I feel guilty. Don’t you get it? Every bump on this road has been caused by me. I got angry. I avoided you. I refused to see you until I got it in my head I had to prove something. And then I treated you like dirt when all you wanted was to try again.”
Nathaniel agreed with everything Reese said, yet he hated doing so. “Treated me like dirt? Seems more like you gave in when I hit my knees and offered to suck you.”
“Yes, treated you like dirt. I was arrogant. Unfeeling. Don’t act like I wasn’t.”
“What will ease your guilt? You want me to make you suffer? To hold things over you and throw them back in your face?”
“No. Of course not. You’re too kind. Doing so would hurt you.”
Nathaniel met his gaze. “It would. I’ll never do things like that. So,” he paused as he tightened his grip on Reese’s hand, “I’ll have to come up with other things to do to appease my mercurial lover.”
Reese frowned and opened his mouth to speak, but Nathaniel stopped him by pushing him to his back and pinning him to the bed. “The one time I tried to do this, you immediately flipped me to my stomach and reddened by ass.” He leaned closer and let his lips brush Reese’s neck. “I loved it, but part of me was never satisfied. I wanted to make love to you instead of just rutting the nights away, but I had to settle for a few gentle touches here and there. You never let me go too far with it.” He licked his lips and met Reese’s eyes. “Kind of funny. You’d expect it to be just the reverse. Makes more sense to be scared of the more erotic things than a few tender touches.”
Reese swallowed and wet his lips. “Just shows how fucked my perspective was.”
“Will you let me now?”
“Never let a man take me before.”
Nathaniel smiled, his cock aching more with each moment. “You let me rim you.”
“I did.” Reese arched a bit beneath him. “I loved having your tongue buried inside me as I sucked your cock.”
Nathaniel remembered that position well. They’d sixty-nine, Reese sucking him while Nathaniel would tongue fuck him and suck his balls. Then, when Nathaniel was close, Reese would slide back an inch or so and push his cock into Nathaniel’s mouth, practically gagging him but never quite going too far as they both found comp
letion and spilled into each other’s mouths. Nathaniel shuddered. “I just want to be inside you. Slow and simple. We have the rest of our lives for hundreds of other pleasures. Will you let me? Allow me to take you as I kiss and caress you and gaze into your eyes?”
Reese closed his eyes, a brief tremor moving over his body. “Whatever you want.”
Nathaniel stayed silent until Reese opened his eyes again, and then he shook his head. “No. Only if you want it too.”
“I want everything you wish to give me.”
“Including my love?”
Reese opened his mouth before closing it again and simply nodding.
“Good enough. We’ll work on that confession later.” Nathaniel drew back and got off the bed. “Lift your ass for me. I need to get you ready.”
Reese pulled his knees to his chest and watched Nathaniel cross the room. He returned with a jar of oil, but he set it aside. He knelt and pushed Reese’s ass higher before lowering to rim him. He’d never done this with any other man, and he listened to Reese’s every noise and drove him higher and higher, getting more of a reaction from him than he ever had before. That only increased Nathaniel’s own need. When he saw Reese’s cock leaking with pre-cum, he laved Reese’s clenching hole one last time before reaching for the oil. He lubed Reese with a generous amount, wanting to lessen the friction so their joining would last longer. Even if Reese came quickly, Nathaniel wouldn’t stop until he truly felt he’d claimed his stubborn lover. Perhaps no one else would understand, but he couldn’t hold anything against Reese, no matter how much the time apart and everything else had hurt. Reese’s guarded nature only inspired his compassion, as well as his need to break through any way he could.
He simply couldn’t stop loving Reese. Never would, which was why he was so glad to have the man in his arms again. He’d do everything he could to keep him there.
Nathaniel slid into him slowly and purposefully, one hand on Reese’s face so the man couldn’t look away. Each time be lowered his eyes for more than a peek at their joined bodies, Nathaniel caressed his cheek and made him lift his face again. Once he was fully seated, he began a slow grind into Reese. When Reese gasped, his cock jerking a bit, Nathaniel brought their lips together.
“I love you,” he whispered before nipping at Reese’s lower lip and then capturing his mouth.
Reese came as they kissed, and Nathaniel groaned and sighed at the feel of Reese’s body milking him. The fact that Reese had come at the touch of his lips made his heart hammer in his chest. He slowed and lengthened his strokes, and Reese gasped into the kiss. He placed his other hand over Reese’s heart so he could feel it pounding as well. He felt he could hear both their heartbeats, and when he drew back and looked down to see Reese holding back tears, Nathaniel let go and spilled into him.
Reese tried to speak, but Nathaniel kissed him so he didn’t have to.
* * * *
Reese felt as if he might never stop reeling, never stop shaking. When his body was finally depleted and still, he lay beneath Nathaniel while the prince kissed his chest and kept murmuring words of love. Reese tried to blink the tears away, but he knew Nathaniel had seen them.
And loved Reese even more for them.
Nathaniel settled back on top of him, and they dosed for a while. When they both stirred again, Nathaniel went into the dressing room to retrieve robes for both of them.
“I’ll get a bath ready,” Nathaniel said, crossing to the other side of the room to go into the bathing chamber.
Reese settled back on the bed. He remembered many nights and mornings spent touching and teasing Nathaniel in the tub large enough for five people. Back then, he’d playfully joked with Nathaniel about having others join them, but now the idea made jealousy stir. Reese blinked at that.
Never, not even once, had he ever been jealous of anyone. Possessive, yes, but never jealous. The thought of anyone else touching Nathaniel made him feel hot all over, but not in the way he’d once imagined. A knock came at the door, and Reese tightened his robe and went to answer it, expecting a maid.
And came face to face with the king, who blinked twice and then frowned.
“Ah.” Alexander cleared his throat. “I was looking for Nathaniel. We usually walk together about this time of the morning, but…” he smiled, though it looked forced, “I forgot you two were having dinner last night. I should’ve realized why he wasn’t outside.”
Though it felt odd doing so practically naked, Reese bowed. “He’s drawing a bath. Let me apologize again for bumping into you several weeks ago, Your Majesty.”
“No need.” Alexander clasped his hands in front of his body. His eyes seemed to take in so much as he said, “But if you hurt him, you’ll owe me more than an apology.”
Reese lowered his gaze. “I won’t. I swear.” Looking up and trying to read the king’s face, he added, “I may make mistakes, but I’m not leaving his side again unless he sends me away.”
The king nodded, his expression becoming neutral again. “You’re different from what I expected.”
“I like to think I’ve changed,” Reese said, his head turning as Alexander’s gaze drifted past him.
“I meant to send you a note, but I got distracted,” Nathaniel said as he came to the door.
“That’s all right. I was just threatening Reese. Nothing for you to be concerned over,” Alexander said, a genuine smile coming to his lips as he looked at his brother.
Nathaniel rolled his eyes. “Since I’m sure there’s a little truth in that, I’m shutting the door now. We’ll see you later after we’re properly dressed.”
Alexander actually backed up and cocked one eyebrow before turning away, at which time Nathaniel did close the door.
“What did he actually say?” Nathaniel asked.
“Just said I’d owe him more than an apology if I hurt you.” Reese drew Nathaniel to him. “He loves you very much.”
“He’s a good brother. Just protective.”
“I understand. Gretchen might try to run away if she ever does have a serious suitor. I’ll be watching him and every move he makes.”
Nathaniel laughed softly. “Perhaps I can hold you back.”
As Nathaniel pulled him to the other room, Reese stopped and tugged on his hand. “I told him I wouldn’t leave your side unless you send me away.”
“You did?” Nathaniel asked, his voice barely audible.
“Yes.” He kissed Nathaniel’s hand, excited by the way the prince’s eyes widened in surprise at the simple gesture. “What you just did has me reeling, but … I’m not going to push you away this time. I promise.”
“I’d pull you right back in if you did. I’m not giving up this time.” Nathaniel grabbed the front of the robe and yanked Reese to him.
Reese gave in to the aggressive kiss and let Nathaniel drag him to their bath, not minding as they bumped into three pieces of furniture along the way.
* * * *
Reese couldn’t help tensing a bit as they approached the house. Would Gretchen be enthusiastic and begin talking nonstop? Or would she be smug? They weren’t marching in with a wedding announcement, but she’d probably jump to a dozen conclusions right off. Reese slid his hand into Nathaniel’s and found it calmed his nerves.
Just a little.
“You gonna make it?” Nathaniel asked, the laughter in his voice obvious.
“Hey, you don’t have a sister. It’s a completely different experience.”
“There you are!” cried a voice from above them.
Both men looked up at a second story window and saw Gretchen holding a rug and leaning on the sill. She left the rug there, half hanging out of the window, and he could hear her running down the stairs. She burst out of the back door, grinning at them, and he had to suppress a groan.
“It’s about time,” she said as she ran to Nathaniel and hugged him. To the prince, she loudly whispered, “I told him he was in love with you. Too damned stubborn to admit it, though.”
Rees
e started to reply, but Nathaniel met his gaze and said, “He still hasn’t, but I’m working on him.”
Gretchen rounded on him, hands on both hips, which was always the start of trouble. One hand, he could handle that. Two? They might have to run for cover. “You rake! A whole night together and you couldn’t even say it?”
“What did you just call me?”
“A rake! It’s a perfectly good word. Humans just use it more creatively.”
Nathaniel cleared his throat, his eyes dancing and a smile on his face. “It’s short for rakehell. The original version of the word ‘hellraiser’. You call a man a rake when he’s an immoral seducer.”
Reese looked at his sister. “I didn’t…” But he stopped, realizing he’d been about to spill intimate details of the night before. He’d been far too prone to things like that lately. “It’s none of your business!”
Gretchen crossed her arms, and thankfully Nathaniel cleared his throat again and stepped in, a charming smile on his face. “What he almost said was that I seduced him. And we are here to invite you to dinner tonight. My mother would like to meet you both.”
Reese loved the way Nathaniel hadn’t given Gretchen a chance to respond to that first part, even as he felt his cheeks warm.
She smiled as she said, “Well, if it’s come to that, I’ll leave him alone for now.” She eyed Reese a moment. “If he’s actually going to have dinner with your family, he’s as good as yours.” She turned to go back inside. “But he still has chores to do today.”
Reese had never felt so awkward standing in his own yard. He looked at Nathaniel, who was grinning happily.
“That wasn’t so bad,” Nathaniel said. He inched closer. “Though I’m curious what you might’ve said to her.”
“Well, I’m glad I stopped myself.”
Nathaniel chuckled. “Fine. I’ll stop torturing you, my reformed rake. Now, what are these chores? I can help.”
“That’s not your responsibility. I’ll get to work, and you can come back and get us later, if you wish. Gretchen would probably be excited if a carriage arrived for us.”