by Sean Michael
“I love you, Jules. My Jules.”
He cried softly, the joy too huge to hold in. Lem rocked him, chest rumbling with comforting noises.
“Where did it come from? The magic?” Jules had never known anything so wonderful.
“It’s always been inside you, waiting for you to accept it.”
His family... No wonder they kept him locked away.
“I’m so glad you finally have. Now we just need to figure out what you need to use it for,” Lem told him.
“I’m frightened, but it felt so good.”
“Being frightened lets you know you’re alive. That’s why it feels good.” Lem took his hands, their palms pressing together. The buzz was immediate, singing between them.
“Can you feel it?” Jules asked.
Lem nodded. “It feels... like you’re touching my soul.”
“I would never hurt you. Never.”
“Of course you wouldn’t.”
He could tell that the thought had never even occurred to Lem. That felt so right that he smiled, hugged Lem, and his guardian gasped, lips parting.
“I was made for you, Jules. One hundred percent.”
“Yes.” He knew this. He felt like he was lucky.
“I should make the cave ready for the night. Darkness is coming.”
“How do I help?”
“Eat some more and then spread your robes over that mossy ledge. We’ll sleep there. If I may share with you, of course.”
“You must. I insist.” He wouldn’t have Lem sleep anywhere else but at his side.
“Hopefully I will not tempt you to stay awake all night,” teased Lem, making his muscles flex and jerk enticingly. Oh, his Lem was beautiful.
“Then we would have to sleep the day away.”
“We could sleep for part of the day, but I have things I must do,” Lem insisted.
“What things?”
“Find you food, double check that everything is safe.”
“I will...” He sighed. He was worthless.
“You can make sure the fire doesn’t go out. And once I’m sure we are truly safe here, you can come with me and learn to hunt.”
“Keep the fire. I can do that. I swear.”
“I know you can.”
Lem set him on his feet and kissed the top of his head before heading out the mouth of the cave. He set to making a soft bed and exploring. There were bowls, old stacks of cloth, plus many, many leaves. The fire was burning well, and there was a stack of wood next to it, as well as a bunch of pine cones.
He put the leaves in the fire, then discovered an old box with a lid beneath another huge pile. Oh. Oh, a mystery. He worked the latch and opened the huge chest, finding clothes, a pan, three sharp-looking knives.
Lem’s footsteps came back through the cave. Jules looked back, smiled. “I found a box with things!”
Lem frowned. “A box with things? What kind of things?” Lem came right over.
“Your things, right? From when you lived here?”
Lem shook his head, taking the box away from Jules and looking through it. “No. This is not mine.”
“Oh. I’m sorry. I just thought...” He’d assumed it was Lem’s.
“It was a good assumption.” Lem looked at the box carefully, at each of the items. “Someone else must have used this cave as their home.” Lem did not look happy about that.
“I’m sorry.” He should have left it alone.
“Why?” Lem asked, looking honestly confused at his words
“Because...” He stopped, shrugged. “I’m not sure, but I am.”
“You shouldn’t have opened it without my checking first. I am still your bodyguard. But you didn’t do anything wrong.” Lem traced the symbol on the top of the box. “I’m worried whoever this belongs to will return.”
“Is it a bad person?”
“I don’t know.” Lem looked at the items in the box again. “I don’t know.”
“What do we do?”
“We stay, and I will be vigilant.” Lem touched the dust on the outside of the box. “Whoever they are, they have not been here in a while.”
“There are clothes.”
“They might fit you.” Lem pulled them out and held them up. “And you know the knives will come in handy in my defence of you.”
“Those are winter clothes. Look how heavy.”
“It gets cold here in the winter. Very cold.”
“Then we must share the coverings.”
“My dragon needs no clothes. If I must, the cave is big enough for it.”
“Still, I have concern for you, for your warmth.” Jules would not be warm while his Lem suffered the cold.
“I love your concern.”
Jules wrapped the heavy cloak about Lem’s shoulders.
Lem gave him a kiss. “Thank you, my prince. I won’t be long. And I’ll have more food when I am back.”
“I will clean things.” And explore. He quite liked exploring.
“It doesn’t seem right.”
“Things aren’t the same as they were.” That he knew to be true.
“I know. But you’re a prince, and now you’re cleaning the cave you’re living in.”
“Yes. Isn’t life odd?” He didn’t find it distasteful. Worrisome? Yes. Distasteful, no.
Lem chuckled. “I love you, Jules.”
That was good, too. Love. Freedom. Odd, but good.
“Okay. I will return with food, I promise.”
“I believe in you, Lem.”
“And I believe in you, Jules.”
Nobody ever had before. It was fascinating.
Chapter Thirteen
Lem made a run back to the castle every fortnight, but found no reason to bring Jules back. The place was still mostly in ruins, the guards lashing out at every sound. And now the snows were coming. He could smell them. They would have to settle in for the winter and hope that they would find safety in the castle come spring. Though, privately, he still believed he and Jules should make their home here permanently. At any rate, they would have the winter together.
He gathered as many berries as he could find and returned to their cave. Over his travels, he had found furs and blankets, supplies and food. Jules had spent his days gathering wood, stacking it deep in the cave. His prince was thriving on the fresh air, the food, and the work. It was beautiful to see. The lean body had become muscled. The icy pale skin glowed with tan.
This trip home, he had stopped and traded some precious stones for two books, a brush, soap, and two feather pillows. He didn’t know which of his treasures to share first with Jules.
He could hear his prince singing, the sound a little too loud. Someone was worried about being alone. He recognized the song, though, and began to sing it with Jules. Jules’ head came up, eyes searching for him.
“I have returned, my prince.” He went into the cave, the walls lit up brightly by the fire.
“Lem! I missed you! I caught a rabbit, but I had to set him free.”
“You set him free?” He wrapped his arms around Jules and hugged his beautiful prince.
“He was scared, Lem.”
“But you need to eat, my prince.”
Jules health and safety were worth more than anything else, worth any sacrifice.
“I found some tubers. They were okay.”
“Are you sure they weren’t scared,” he teased.
“They didn’t seem scared.”
Lem could tell Jules was thinking about it, though.
“I only said it in fun. Tubers and berries and leaves don’t have feelings.” He could not have Jules go back to not eating again.
“Oh. Oh, good. I have feelings, Lem. I felt like I missed you.”
“I know I missed you.” He held Jules close and kissed him deeply. “I made trades and brought you some wonderful things.”
“You brought you.”
He loved how such simple things made Jules happy.
“But I also brought you a brush
and some soap.” He showed them to Jules.
“Oh.” There was a lovely hot spring pool deep in the cave where they bathed and relaxed, and this would only make it better.
“There’s more!” He couldn’t wait to share his gifts.
“More? What more?”
Laughing, he went back to the front of the cave and came back with the two pillows, the books hidden behind his back.
“Lovely! Pillows for our bed. They will be perfect for you. I intend to still use your shoulder.”
“I will always be your pillow, your cover, anything you need.” He had a huge smile for Jules. “There is still more. I saved the best for last.”
“More?” Jules bounced, clapping excitedly. “Tell!”
He loved that joy. Just loved it.
He slowly brought his hand around and offered Jules the two books. Jules’ lips parted, and, to his surprise, his prince began to cry tears of joy. He hugged Jules tight, rocking his prince.
“Books. My Lem. Books.”
“Yes. I have missed you reading to me.” And he knew Jules had to miss reading. It was all his prince had ever done.
Jules kissed him hard, holding onto him with a fierce grip.
“You’ll have to read slowly. Those are the only two books we’ll have for the winter.”
Perhaps Jules would be able to recount the tales from some of his other books to while away their time.
“I will. Oh, Lem. Thank you. I have missed my books so much.”
Lem didn’t have the heart to tell Jules that his quarters had been burned. His trips to the castle had shown him that the wing where Jules’ quarters had been was quite destroyed.
Lem pushed the thoughts from his mind. “I know. I think I deserve a reward.”
Jules nodded immediately. “What do you wish?”
“You.” Jules was his best and only true reward.
Jules wrapped around him, squeezing tight. He picked Jules up, carrying his prince to their bed. Lying down, he brought Jules down on top of him. His head landed on the new pillows, the pile of cloth and furs making it a perfect nest.
He brought Jules’ head down, kissing hard enough to open Jules’ mouth. His prince held him, framed his face with warm, newly callused hands. He pushed his own hands beneath Jules’ clothes. He needed to make Jules as naked as he was. The loose coverings parted easily, the bare skin warm and soft. There were strong muscles now, earned by the dragon flying.
Jules slid against him, and the strong belly rocked against his. Groaning, he shifted slightly so he was cradling his prince, their shafts rubbing.
“Yes. I would have this before books any day,” Jules whispered.
It was high praise indeed, and it made Lem want to shout it until the mountains echoed with it. Right now, though, he would spend that need on Jules’ skin. He grabbed hold of Jules’ bottom and rocked their bodies together.
“More. More, Lem. Please.”
“I would be inside you.” He loved having the sheath of Jules’ body around his shaft.
Jules nodded and rocked back toward him, the offer clear. He shifted Jules’ hips, moving the lithe body so Jules’ hole was over his length. Then he lowered Jules onto his swelling. Jules’ lips parted, eyes wide and gleaming.
Bucking as Jules came down, he buried himself deeply within Jules’ tight, hot body. He could feel the way Jules rippled, shuddered around him. They were getting better at this, at building the pleasure between them, their bodies finding the best ways they fit together. Moaning, he drew Jules into another kiss.
The now-familiar rush of energy began to fill him, Jules’ magic searching out every ache and worry he had and erasing it. And when Jules hands landed on his chest, his whole body arched as if he’d been hit by lightning.
“Good?” Jules asked.
“So good.” He always felt that Jules brought him far more pleasure than he could ever offer back.
“Home. You’re home.”
The energy between them began to grow.
“With my soul.” For surely, that was what Jules was.
“With your Jules.”
“They are the same thing.” He bucked up, and it felt so good, to feel Jules’ flesh squeezing and dragging along his own.
“Your soul. Your prince. Your own.”
“Yes! Jules!” Lem cried out, Jules’ words bringing his pleasure out of him in a rush.
Jules squeezed his cock, body rippling around it.
More pleasure poured from him. He grabbed hold of Jules’ swelling, wanting to make Jules spend as well.
“My heart.” Jules rocked into his touch.
“Yours. Yours, my prince. All of me.” He panted as he spoke, as he stroked Jules’ length, eager to smell his prince’s pleasure.
He felt every single tug around his cock.
“Spend for me, my heart,” Lem demanded.
Jules leaned down and kissed him deep and slow. He wrapped his lips around Jules’ tongue and began to suck. That made Jules squeeze even harder, made his prince moan. He kept moving, searching for Jules’ pleasure. The long cock swelled in his hand, spreading his fingers.
He rubbed the tip, the tiny little slit that was in the center of it. Jules’ eyes went wide, and the energy about them sharpened. Oh, he knew that look, knew it meant something wonderful had happened. He did it again, pressing in with his finger this time. Jules cried out, body moving furiously.
Lem kept pushing against that beautiful little hole. He loved it every time he found some new way to pleasure his prince. More than that, he loved that it was offered up to him.
He bit at Jules’ lips, hungry for more kisses. These kisses became sloppy, restless. He pumped upward, over and over. The magic made him gasp, made him dizzy, and Jules spent for him with a cry. He wrapped his free hand around Jules and held him close.
“Missed you so,” murmured Jules.
“That was the last long trip before the snows come,” Lem promised.
“Yes? You promise?”
“I swear it to you. We’ll spend the winter here together.”
“Do you think it will snow much?” Jules asked.
“Yes.” He smiled at Jules. “A lot.”
“And we’ll be safe?”
“Of course we will.” Lem had sworn to Jules that he would be safe here, and he would keep that promise.
Jules snuggled into him, resting against him.
“I will always keep you safe, my heart. No matter where the fates take us.”
***
The snows started a few days later, and they came with a vengeance, piling up at the little entrance to their cave and stealing the sunlight. Jules was fascinated.
Lem showed him how to gather the snow and melt it over the fire, the water as fresh as from their little pool. They had teas that Lem had put together from herbs and leaves they’d gather and honeycomb to sweeten the drink. It was luscious, sweet, rich.
Every day, he discovered something new about the world. And Lem seemed so happy out here in the mountains.
Their cave was warm, the fire blazing, filling the room with light.
“We should go play in the snow,” Lem suggested after they’d eaten the last of their fresh berries.
“Isn’t it cold and wet?”
“Yes. But your dragon will keep you warm from the weather.”
“Oh?” Oh, how interesting. He learned so much every day.
“Come on.” Lem began stripping him. “We’ll take our dragons once we’re outside.”
He began shivering almost immediately, “Are you sure, Lem?”
“I’m sure.” Lem pushed the snow out of the way and dragged him out into the freezing cold. “Let your dragon have you, my prince.”
Jules shook, his dragon coming with a roar, refusing to let him freeze. Lem didn’t change until he had. Then Lem’s roared, the sound pleased, proud. Jules bowed and shook out his wings, the snow flying off the trees.
Laughing coarsely, Lem dragged one wing through the snow
, then flipped it at him. Jules blinked, flicked out with his tail, sending a branch of snow flying. Lem jumped out of the way, taking to the air. Staying just above the ground, Lem used his wings to create a breeze that sent the snow through the air.
Jules covered himself with his wings, protecting his face and chest while gathering a huge pile in between his claws. He heard Lem land, the wind from his wings subsiding. Jules threw the ball, hitting Lem right in the chest before hiding within his wings again.
Lem roared in surprise, then the coarse laughter began again, and Jules was pelted with little snowballs. He gathered another one, dared to toss it, and then launched himself into the white sky. Lem followed him, flying with him in the cold air.
Icicles formed on his whiskers, the tips of his wings. Lem flew around him, then took the lead, flying through the sky and finding them a warm updraft that melted the ice and sent them even higher.
*Brilliant* His Lem was so clever.
*You*
Lem didn’t lead them on as merry a chase as he usually did. They were soon back at the cave, Lem shifting quickly. Jules let the dragon go, and the bitter cold hit him in a rush, stealing his breath, his sense. Lem picked him right up and returned them to the cave, the cold backing off as soon as they were through the entrance and out of the wind. He was taken right to the fire, Lem grabbing his thickest robe and wrapping them both in it.
“Oh. Oh, Lem! What adventures we have!” It was like a book.
Lem held him close, warming him quickly. “I was worried I’d never be able to show you the world outside of the castle, but now I feel like I can show you everything.”
A tiny voice inside him whispered softly, “Only if you never go home.” That thought wasn’t as worrisome as it had been.
Lem placed kisses on his face, warming his skin.
Jules pressed close. “How long will the snow last, Lem?”
“For many moons. There may even be times when we cannot leave the cave.”
“But we’ll be together.”
“Always,” Lem promised. “And we have plenty of nuts to eat. And I noticed some deer markings on the trees near here. I will be able to find us meat.”
“And all the wood we could need.” He gathered it every time Lem left, spent hours searching for it and adding to their store.
“You don’t need to worry, Jules. I have sworn that I will keep us warm and fed and safe, and I will.”