Gabe was being fed like a pig before a slaughter. At least, that's what it felt like. Every meal was an extravagant affair, a lavish spread of dishes he could barely name, let alone finish. Fruits arranged in intricate patterns, tender meats dripping in rich sauces, pastries so delicate they felt sinful to eat. It was overwhelming. It was too much.
He wasn't royalty, he wasn't even close. Yet here he was, being waited on like some noble prince. The sheer excess of it made his stomach twist, but even more than that, it was the weight of his own thoughts that made eating difficult. His arm, still trapped in its sling, was a hindrance, but the real problem was the way his mind kept spiraling every time he remembered what Deroki had said to him in the infirmary garden.
"I can't remember the last time I wanted someone this much."
The words looped in his head relentlessly, making his chest tighten and his stomach flutter in a way that left him restless and unsteady. Why did he say that? Why did he look at me like that?
Gabe knew better than to put meaning where there was none. The King had been generous to him, yes, but he was a generous ruler, or at least, he could afford to be when it suited him. The flirting? That was just his personality, wasn't it?
And yet...
Gabe exhaled, pushing his plate away. His appetite had vanished.
It was the third day of his stay at the infirmary, the King hadn't come to see him today. He shouldn't have been surprised. Deroki was a King, after all, he had an entire kingdom to run. But still, an inexplicable sense of disappointment settled in his chest. He hadn't realized just how much he'd been looking forward to seeing him again until he was forced to sit with the absence.
He found himself staring outside the infirmary ward's window as the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in brilliant hues of gold and amber. The glow stretched across the palace gardens, casting long, soft shadows, and a strange sort of longing crept into Gabe's heart.
What am I doing? He thought, his fingers tightening slightly. Why am I waiting for him?
He hardly knew Deroki. Yes, they had spoken, had shared a handful of moments, but that was all. It didn't mean anything. It couldn't mean anything.
And yet, his heart didn't seem to agree.
As the last golden rays of sunlight faded beyond the horizon, darkness crept into the room. A nurse entered silently, her presence barely registering as she moved about, lighting the lanterns one by one. Their soft glow barely illuminated the infirmary ward, casting long, wavering shadows that danced across the walls. The corners of the room remained shrouded in darkness, stretching into eerie voids that seemed deeper than before.
Gabe had never noticed the unsettling quality of the room on the first two nights. Maybe it was the exhaustion, the pain, or the simple excitement of knowing the King would visit him. But tonight, something felt different. The flickering lanterns, the hush of the night, the way the walls seemed to press in, it all sent a shiver crawling up his spine.
With a sigh, he pulled the blanket up to his chin and squeezed his eyes shut, willing himself to sleep. His body was tired, but his mind remained restless.
Just as he began to drift off, a movement caught his eye.
His breath hitched.
His pulse thundered in his ears as he snapped upright, his gaze darting to the darkened corner of the room. His heart pounded wildly against his ribs, a deep, primal fear settling into his bones.
The shadow moved again.
Gabe's stomach twisted, his throat tightening as panic surged through him. His body tensed, ready to bolt despite his injured arm, and he opened his mouth to scream,
"It's me, love."
The deep, familiar voice cut through the fear like a blade through silk.
A figure rushed toward him before he could hurt himself in his panic. Strong hands steadied him as the scent of rich spices filled his senses.
"Your Majesty?" Gabe gasped, breathless from the fright. His hand clutched at his chest, trying to calm the erratic beating of his heart. "You scared me."
"I'm sorry, sweet," Deroki murmured, his voice warm and amused. "I didn't mean to frighten you."
"When did you even come in?" Gabe demanded, his voice still slightly breathless.
"You were asleep," Deroki admitted, his smirk barely visible in the dim light. "I didn't want to disturb you, so I simply... observed you from a distance."
Gabe blinked, his drowsy mind still trying to process the words. "You were watching me sleep?"
The King chuckled, not the least bit ashamed. "I thought you wouldn't come," Gabe confessed softly.
Deroki's gaze softened. "How could I not? I was held up with work, but you were on my mind the whole time." He reached out, brushing a loose strand of hair from Gabe's forehead, his touch feather-light. "I couldn't wait to see you. I'm sorry I was late. I didn't mean to spook you."
Gabe swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. He shouldn't feel this way, shouldn't feel anything at all, but the warmth in Deroki's voice, the tenderness in his touch, made his chest ache.
"I was... waiting for you too," Gabe admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "But I must've fallen asleep. Probably the medicine."
Deroki hummed in understanding, then cupped Gabe's chin between his fingers, gently tilting his face up. "How are you feeling?" he asked. "The healer said you'll be released soon."
Gabe forced himself to focus on the question rather than the way his skin burned under the King's touch. "I feel much better today."
"Good."
Silence stretched between them, thick and charged. It wasn't uncomfortable, if anything, it was too comfortable. The air between them shifted, something unspoken passing between their gazes.
Gabe's breath hitched as he realized just how close they were. He could see the subtle glow of the lanterns reflected in Deroki's eyes, could feel the warmth radiating from his body, strong and steady. The room felt smaller, the shadows softer, the world outside slipping away until there was only this. Only them.
He should move away. He should break the moment. But he didn't.
The space between them felt like a fragile thread, stretched thin, ready to snap at the slightest movement. Gabe's breath came in shallow, uneven puffs, his heart hammering so hard he swore Deroki could hear it. The King's gaze flickered downward, settling on Gabe's lips, and a sudden heat surged through his body. His lips tingled as if they knew they were being watched, anticipation coiling tight in his stomach.
He could ignore it. He should ignore it.
But he didn't want to.
It was Gabe who moved first.
Tentative, uncertain, yet unable to resist the magnetic pull between them, he leaned in, closing the distance. His lips brushed against Deroki's in a whisper of a touch, so fleeting it could have been mistaken for hesitation.
Deroki inhaled sharply. A warm breath ghosted over Gabe's lips before a large palm slid against his jaw, cradling his face with a reverence that made his chest ache. The gentle hold was at odds with the intensity in the King's eyes, as if he had been waiting, not just for this moment but for something more.
Then, Deroki pulled him in.
The kiss deepened, no longer tentative but hungry. The King's lips molded against his with unspoken longing, coaxing rather than demanding. A low, satisfied hum rumbled from Deroki's throat as he tilted his head, pressing closer, holding Gabe's face possesively.
Gabe gasped against his mouth, and Deroki took the opportunity to slip his tongue along the seam of his lips, teasing, tasting, claiming.
It was unlike anything Gabe had ever felt before.
His body trembled, not in fear, but in the sheer overwhelming sensation of feeling, the heat, the need. He would probably regret this later but right now he felt too far gone to care. His free hand found purchase against the King's chest, fingers curling against the fabric of his robe, gripping, grounding himself in the moment as a rush of warmth spread through him.
A deep shiver traveled down his spine as Deroki's lips moved, sucking gently before pulling away just enough to let their breaths mingle, then coming in stronger, his taste addictive.
Deroki hummed in approval when Gabe's tongue met his, the sound rough, possessive.
Gabe's lashes fluttered as he struggled to catch his breath. His heart was no longer just racing, it was soaring, crashing, burning in ways he never thought possible.
And all he could think was,
Gods, I want more.
Deroki placed one knee on the bed, the mattress diped beneath his weight as he climbed over Gabe. His presence and the sheer size of him making Gabe feel overwhelmed yet needy. The King hovered above him, his heated breath fanning over Gabe's lips as their mouths danced together.
Deroki's hands slid to the back of Gabe's head, fingers threading through his soft hair as he changed the angle of the kiss, taking his time, savoring, teasing. The slow drag of his lips and tongue against Gabe's own was intoxicating, leaving him lightheaded and aching.
Gabe's back arched into him, desperate for more, more contact, more warmth, more of whatever was building between them. His body was taut, burning with restless energy, with need.
A strangled moan escaped him, the sound filled with frustration and longing. He didn't even know what he was asking for, only that he wanted.
Deroki pulled away, just slightly, just enough to make Gabe chase after his lips instinctively. It was intense, blazing with something dark and unreadable, something that went beyond this moment. But just as quickly, it was gone, replaced by the King's knowing, teasing smile.
"What do you want, sweet?" Deroki's asked, his voice low, husky, filled with amusement.
Gabe's breath caught. His heart pounded so hard he thought it might leap out of his chest. The words were right there, at the tip of his tongue. He wanted to tell Deroki exactly what he needed, how badly he needed it.
Instead, all that came out was a whispered, pleading, "Please."
Deroki exhaled sharply, as if reining himself in, then reached out to brush his knuckles against Gabe's cheek with surprising gentleness. "Don't strain yourself," he murmured. "Your shoulder isn't healed yet."
Gabe clenched his jaw. He barely even felt the pain anymore. Not when Deroki was this close, not when the heat between them was so palpable. "What was this, Your Majesty?" he asked, voice edged with desperation.
Deroki's thumb traced the curve of his cheekbone, his expression softening. "Go to sleep."
Gabe blinked. "What?"
"I'll visit you tomorrow." Deroki straightened, his tone slipping back into its usual confident ease. "We should continue your lessons. You should utilize your time while you're here."
Gabe barely registered the words. He was too stunned, too frustrated, as Deroki pulled away, stepping off the bed as if nothing had happened.
Gabe swallowed hard, his body still humming, his skin still tingling with the ghost of the King's touch. He wanted to scream in frustration. He was almost ready to beg to be touched again, to not be left alone with the unbearable heat coiling in his gut.
But he knew better.
So he didn't try to stop Deroki as he moved away, though every fiber of his being wished he had.