William blinked, and warmth crept up from his neck to his ears. "You've just confessed to me!"
The prince looked at him, puzzled. "It's hardly the first time."
"But it was—I mean, when you gave me the pendant, it wasn't like this."
And now all he wanted was to have him.
"Are you becoming more receptive to my words, grumpy raven?"
"No."
"It seems so to me. Maybe you're becoming more receptive to my touch as well."
William shot him a glare. "Don't even try it! I said we wouldn't do anything until we were back home and—"
The carriage jolted suddenly. William stumbled into the prince, burying his face against his muscular chest. The scent of his cologne wrapped around him and made his throat dry.
William swallowed, but he could no longer deny how much he wanted him. He couldn't keep his distance anymore. To hell with everything.
"Take me."
"But you said—"
William grabbed his face and squeezed his cheeks. "Your Highness, do you want to fuck me or not?"
The prince gave him a brazen little grin. "I knew you wouldn't be able to resist me."
He caught his wrists, pulling his hands away, and dragged him into a long kiss—deeper and hungrier by the second. His tongue caressed William's and invaded his mouth with slow, delicious movements.
William unbuttoned the prince's jacket and slid it off his shoulders, then fumbled with the buckle of his trousers. The prince gripped the back of his neck and kissed his throat.
"I want to mark you."
"Do it."
"I want to take you from behind."
William hesitated, then closed his eyes. The idea of not being able to see the prince's face, of not being certain he had control of the situation, made anxiety claw at him.
"W-we can… we can try."
The prince stopped. "You don't have to force yourself."
"I want to try. But I can't promise I'll manage."
"It doesn't matter. Do what feels right."
His lips returned to William's neck, pressing soft kisses and gentle sucks, then his hands reached for the mage's vest, unbuttoned it and slipped it off. Then the prince slid a hand down William's back and caressed him there.
"Will, it's better if you turn around."
William obeyed. He got on all fours, his ass facing the prince. His heart hammered in his chest; excitement mingled with a thread of anxiety he couldn't quite keep under control.
He was safe, he knew that, but his mind couldn't fully grasp it yet.
The prince pulled his trousers down and placed a kiss on one buttock.
"You have a beautiful ass, Will."
His tongue caressed him between the cheeks, slid down to his testicles, and sucked them gently. William closed his eyes and let himself go. His touches were wonderful. Warm, wet, and sweet.
The prince nibbled at his ass, then slipped a finger inside him. "How are you?"
"F-fine." William pressed his lips together to hold back his moans. "Keep going."
And His Highness prince did, slow and gentle, as he always was with him. His fingers touched him in ways William hadn't thought possible, and when the prince added a second finger, a moan slipped from his lips.
His member was hard between his legs, and he could feel the prince's arousal pressing against his groin as well.
"Could you… could you add the third too?"
"Are you sure?" the prince asked, his voice hoarse.
"Yes, I want to… try."
The prince added the third finger, and a sharp sensation flooded William. His eyes filled with tears, but beyond the pain there was also a pleasure so deep it made him want more.
He slumped down onto the seat, his cheek pressed into the velvet, moans spilling from his lips without control. He didn't want to think, didn't want to do anything except abandon himself to the prince.
He had always loved being in control, dominating and giving orders, but now he only wanted to feel pleasure, no matter how.
Something warm and wet replaced the fingers. William flushed. Was he licking him there?
"Y-Your Highness, don't—"
The prince sucked at the opening, and a rush of pleasure made William cry out. It was intense, too much. With Nikolas, he had never felt anything like this.
A hand caressed his chest and pinched one nipple.
"W-wait… I don't want to come y-yet…"
"Do you want to come with me?"
"Y-yes."
"All right. If you feel uncomfortable, you just have to tell me."
The prince gripped his hip and pressed the tip against his entrance. William tensed.
"Slowly…"
"Am I hurting you?"
"No, but go slowly."
Gradually, the prince slid inside him. William threw his head back and moaned. He was hot, hard, and pulsing against his body in a way that was both pleasurable and painful. And his desire swelled in time with the prince's.
"Oh, Will…" The prince leaned over him, wrapping his arms around him, his lips settling on his shoulder. "Can I move?"
"Y-yes… Do it…"
He began to thrust into him, slow at first, then faster and faster. William moaned loudly, his cheek pressed into the seat, the prince's arms making him feel protected and safe.
It wasn't like in his nightmares, or like three years earlier. It wasn't even like it had been with Nikolas. The way the prince loved him was different.
There was tenderness and desire, there was a love so deep it unsettled him. And there was respect, and a gentleness that made him feel cherished.
"Will… I'm close…"
"Inside me…"
The prince bit his shoulder and came inside him. William followed shortly after with a long, drawn-out moan. His body ached, his chest still burning from the recent orgasm.
"Are you all right, Will?"
"Yes… don't worry."
They kissed again, then the prince wrapped his arms around William and pulled him onto his lap. He arranged the jacket over their legs to cover their nakedness, and for a long time they both remained silent, rocked by the jolts of the carriage and the pounding of hooves against the ground.
"Were you afraid?"
William looked up at him and shook his head. "With you, most of the time I'm fine."
"So there are moments when you're afraid."
"It's inevitable after what happened to me, but your presence helps me deal with those moments. And the way you look at me and touch me reminds me that my body is not a battlefield."
"If you need anything, you only have to ask, all right?"
"As you wish."
The prince took William's hand and kissed his palm. "I love your hands, Will."
"What else do you love?"
"That perfect ass of yours. And your beautiful green eyes."
William leaned toward his face. "And then?" he murmured.
"Your lips when they scold me. The way your tongue pronounces my title." The prince brushed his ear with his lips. "Your whole body trembling under my touch."
"You like a lot of things."
"If I were to list everything I love about you, I'd fill entire pages."
"I'd be curious to read them."
"I don't think that will ever happen. I'm sure you'd have something to say and scold me for being too shameless."
William stifled a laugh. "That's possible."
The prince kissed the bite mark on his shoulder. "It's a shame we couldn't stay longer in Lenz. Once we're back at the palace, we'll have fewer chances to be together."
"Oh? Don't you want me to sleep with you every night?"
"Of course I do, but if we're discovered, it's a problem."
"Then we just won't get discovered."
The prince raised an eyebrow. "And since when are you so bold? I thought you were afraid of exposing yourself."
"I am afraid, but I've discovered that I don't care that much anymore. Even if they found out we're in a relationship, what could they possibly do to me?"
"They could say awful things."
"Like what? That I'm a Xianese whore? That I bewitched you?"
"Something like that. It wouldn't be good for your reputation, or mine. And… it would hurt you. It would tear you apart, and I couldn't stand to see you cry again."
William pressed his lips together. "If I were Vellarian, it wouldn't be a problem."
"Or if I were stronger."
"Your Highness, perhaps you should stop being overly cautious and start standing your ground."
"If I did, I'd risk angering my father or upsetting the Council even more. I don't think I can afford that."
"With all due respect, it will be you who is crowned. I'm not saying you should act recklessly, but trying to please everyone won't earn you true allies either."
The prince remained silent for several minutes, as if lost in thought.
"You're right," he said at last. "Even when I've taken a stand in the past, I couldn't shake the fear of making mistakes—or disappointing my father."
William smiled. "That's why your strategy needs a sharper edge. Use that caution to your advantage. Show them what kind of king you intend to be."
"Maybe you're right."
"It's partly my fault too. The few times you did raise your head, I begged you to let it go. I thought that avoiding trouble was the best choice, but after what happened in Lenz, I think I was wrong."
"So… can I publicly take your side?"
William blushed and looked at him. The prince was serious; there wasn't even a hint of a smile on his face.
"Every time Ballard or some other bastard hurts you or disrespects you, can I defend you? Can I be myself?"
"I… I don't know. They might accuse you of being infatuated with me."
"In that case, I'll just say it's true." The prince took his hand and kissed his knuckles. "I've always thought I had to be like my father, but maybe you're right. Maybe I just have to be myself." He looked at him. "Damn it, now I want to do it again."
William flushed all the way to his ears. "You're not human! How in the hell are you not tired?"
"You don't have to do anything. I'll do everything!"
"That's not the point!"
"Please, Will!"
William looked away, but he knew he would give in. Because, despite everything, he wanted to feel once more that overwhelming pleasure he felt only when he was with the prince.
"All right. But I'm not lifting a finger."
"There's no need, my grumpy raven. I'll take care of everything."
He pushed him onto his back against the seat, lifted his hips, and entered him. They loved each other again and again, changing positions and reaching orgasm so many times that William lost count. But it didn't matter, as long as he was with him.
At last they reached the gates of the capital. The journey was over, and life at court awaited them with its intrigues, gossip, and precarious balance of power.