Arun

  The manor’s warmth wraps around me as soon as we step inside and I’m still shaking the cold from my hands when Alexios says, “Come with me.”

  His voice is low enough that it feels more like an order than a request.

  Am I in trouble?

  Did I do something wrong on the way back?

  I follow him down the hall past the dining room until he pushes open the heavy door to his study. A servant has taken the time to light a fire in the hearth already and the its glow cats long shadows across the shelves of old books and surface of his desk.

  The door shuts behind me with a quiet thud and before I can ask why we’re here, Alexios turns, closing the distance between us in a single stride. His hand is warm against my cheek and then his mouth is on mine.

  His kiss is deep and passionate, drawing me in before I can even think. My hands come up instinctively and my fingers curl into the front of his coat as his other hand slides to the small of my back, pulling me closer until there’s no space left between us.

  The taste of his lips is slightly sweet from the wine earlier and his breath stays steady even as mine keeps faltering. The fire crackles somewhere behind me, but all I can hear is the quiet sound of his mouth against mine, the faint, satisfied hum in his throat when I lean into him without hesitation.

  He tilts his head to deepen the kiss and I feel the press of his thumb along my jaw. He’s holding me just where he wants me. My heart is pounding hard enough that I just know he can feel it through the layers of our clothing.

  When he finally pulls back just enough to breathe, his eyes hold mine and the heat I see in his eyes makes it so hard for me to even look away.

  Before I can steady my breathing, his mouth finds mine again but this time, his hands begin to roam. One slides over my shoulder and down the length of my arm while the other traces a slow path along my side until his palm rests on my hip.

  The fire behind me is hot, but it’s nothing compared to the heat building between us right now.

  Alexios breaks the kiss again, but it’s only so he can trail his lips along my jaw to the point just beneath my ear. I gasp sharply and my fingers tighten in his coat. His hand at my hip slips lower, pulling me in until my body presses against his in full.

  It’s then that I feel that unmistakable press of his own arousal straining between us and the slight shift in his stance tells me he’s aware of mine too.

  He murmurs something low against my neck, but it’s too quiet for me to even catch. His breath is so warm on my skin, I can’t get enough. His hand drifts upward from my hip and skims over my ribs, eventually brushing across my chest before sliding back down again. Every touch feels so… measured. It’s like he’s trying to learn exactly how I react.

  My heart hammers in my chest, but I just can’t bring myself to step back. His mouth returns to mine and this time, it’s slower now but just as heavy. The kiss draws more little moans of me until my thoughts are of nothing but the warmth of his body and the way he’s holding me in place as if I belong nowhere else but here in his arms.

  He pulls back and one of his hands remains on the back of my neck, fingers curled in a way that makes it impossible for me to not lean into his touch. His eyes search mine for a long time and then his thumb strokes slowly along my jaw. His voice drops into something a bit quieter but full of authority.

  “Get on your knees for me.”

  My words hit me hard and my breath catches. For a moment, I can only stare at him as heat floods my skin. The hand at my neck slides down to my shoulder and I realize that even though he’s guiding me without force, he’s making it clear that this isn’t a suggestion.

  Suddenly, the study feels smaller and the fire’s glow is hotter as I sink down in front of him. My knees press into the thick rug and my gaze stays locked on him.

  He rests on hand lightly on the top of my head as his fingers begin to thread into my hair, holding me there for a heartbeat longer than necessary.

  He wants to make sure I understand exactly where he wants me.

  I feel his fingers tighten in my hair as he guides my head just enough that I have to tilt my chin up to keep his gaze.

  “Good,” he murmurs, the single word sinking into me like a touch.

  His other hand cups my cheek and his thumb brushes across my skin before sliding lower to trace the corner of my mouth. I part my lips without thinking and he presses that thumb inside.

  The taste of him is faint but unmistakable and the sharp way he watches me makes my pulse race faster.

  “You’ll look up at me the whole time,” he says quietly. It feels almost like a promise and a warning in one.

  I nod, but the motion is rather small with his hand still in my hair.

  He smiles, satisfied with my answer, and begins to work at the fastening of his trousers. The brush of fabric loosening sends another rush of heat through me and my erection presses uncomfortably against the front of my own clothes.

  When he frees himself, I can’t help the small intake of breath. The corner of his mouth lifts as he guides me forward, the tip of his length brushing my lips.

  “Open, my love.”

  I obey and the weight of him fills my mouth slowly. My tongue brushes against his length as I take more of him. I hear him gasp lightly as his grip in my hair tightens a bit, holding me just where he wants me.

  The taste of him is warm on my tongue. I breathe through my nose, keeping my eyes locked on his as I adjust to the slow rhythm he sets.

  “Just like that,” he says, his voice low and smooth. The sound of his voice alone makes me ache.

  His rhythm deepens and then his hand slides from my hair to the base of one horn, fingers curling around it with a possessive certainty. The contact sends a shock through me. My breath stutters and my body tightens in response.

  He notices immediately.

  “Mmm,” he hums, testing his grip, thumb stroking the smooth curve before tightening again. “Sensitive.”

  My fingers dig into his thighs as he begins to guide my pace with that firm hold. There isn’t any cruelness in his actions though even as he pulls me forward when he wants more and eases back just enough to let me breathe before taking control again.

  His other hand finds my opposite horn, the balance of both giving him complete command over my moments.

  Every time he pulls me down, the blunt head of his length brushes deeper against the back of my throat and I swallow around him, softly moaning as I make sure to keep my gaze on him. My own erection throbs, straining against the front of my trousers. The friction from kneeling makes me rather restless.

  “Look at me,” he says, his tone rougher now.

  I force my eyes up, my view filled with the sharp lines of his face and the intensity in his ruby red eyes. He’s watching every flicker of my expression and every shiver that runs through me. I can tell he’s satisfied with what he’s seeing.

  “Such a gorgeous sight,” he murmurs almost to himself as his breathing grows heavier.

  I can feel him swelling a bit on my tongue and there’s a subtle shift in his stance signaling just how close he really is.

  His grip on my horns tightens as he pulls me down until my lips press to the base, holding me there just long enough for my throat to work around him before letting me draw back for air. Every sound I make only sharpens the lust in his eyes.

  “Stay,” he orders, his voice low, both hands steadying me by the horns.

  I hold still with my tongue pressed against him, breathing slow through my nose as his hips move in slow movements. The taste of him and the control in his hands drowns out everything but the fire in my chest and the throbbing ache between my legs.

  I can hear his breathing growing heavier and more ragged. The muscles in his thighs tense beneath my small hands.

  Then he takes a sharp breath and makes a low sound that’s half groan, half growl. He pushes deep, holding me in place as the first hot pulse of his seed fills my mouth. I swallow, making sure my eyes are locked on his as his release comes in slow and steady waves. His grip keeps me exactly where he wants me until he’s finished.

  Only then does he ease his hold and his fingers begin stroking lightly over the curve of one horn before sliding back into my hair. He draws me away with a gentle motion, his eyes still fixed on mine as if taking in every detail of the sight before him.

  The taste of him lingers on my tongue and he smiles, letting his hand rest against my cheek while his thumb brushes over the corner of my mouth.

  “Thank you,” he whispers.

  Alexios studies me for a moment before his hand leaves my cheek to trace down my jaw. His fingers curl just beneath my chin.

  “Stand,” he says quietly. His voice doesn’t carry commands now. It’s more like… an invitation.

  I rise slowly, my knees protesting faintly from the time on the rug. Before I can step back, his hands are on my waist. The intensity in his gaze softens, but the lust is still there. Just threaded now with something more like warmth and care too.

  “I want to taste you now,” he murmurs.

  I’m about to answer when his hands move to the fastening of my trousers, but instead of the urgency I expect, he works them loose with unhurried care as he softly drops to his knees, his eyes flicking up to meet mine as if asking without words.

  This change… it almost unsettles me. Not in a bad way, but rather in way I can’t really name. I don’t really know what caused it. One moment, he’s holding me by the horns, controlling every breath I took and now his touch feels almost careful.

  The fabric parts and air brushes over my length now. His fingers curl around me and I hear myself gasp sharply before I can even cover my mouth. He leans in and presses a kiss just above my waistband.

  When his mouth closes around me, it’s not with the same commanding pace I’d given him. It’s… so gentle. His tongue moves slowly along the underside and his hands rest lightly at my hips. He’s not trying to hold me in place now, just keeping me steady.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  His eyes lift every now and then to meet mine and in those little moments, it feels less like he’s claiming me and more like he’s giving me something back.

  The difference makes me moan softly, chest tightening in a way I wasn’t really prepared for.

  The warmth of his mouth surrounds me and every movement of his tongue is unhurried like he’s savoring me rather than taking. The longer he works me with this patient rhythm he’s set, the harder it becomes to keep still. My hands find his shoulders and my fingers curl lightly into the fine fabric of his shirt.

  My breath stays uneven as my fingers slide from his shoulders into his soft hair. He doesn’t resist when I touch him. He only moans low in his throat and the vibration curls through me.

  One of his hands leaves my hip to wrap around me at the base and he begins stroking in time with the pull of his mouth. The combination makes my knees feel less than steady and I grip his hair a little too tightly, but he doesn’t seem to mind. If anything, it just gets him even more excited.

  He removes his mouth with a soft pop and his hand continues to gently stroke me.

  “You’re so beautiful,” he whispers.

  The pleasure builds gradually as each wave crests higher until it’s almost too much. He draws me out by his unhurried pace and by how he makes me feel seen in a way that has nothing to do with control.

  “Alexios…” My voice comes out rougher than I expect.

  He answers by taking me deeper, his hand pressing more firmly at my hip to hold me steady as the tension finally breaks. Pleasure spills through me in trembling pulses and my breath catches as he swallows each one without pulling away.

  As the aftershock fades, he releases me and his lips brush over my skin in a gentle kiss before he eventually stands and straightens himself.

  He helps me smooth the last fold of fabric at my hip, his hands lingering there just long enough for me to feel the warmth through the layers. The fire crackles in the hearth and it’s the only sound in the study for several breaths.

  Then he looks at me with a softness in his eyes before speaking.

  “May I kiss you?”

  The question catches me off guard completely. After everything that just happened, the idea of him asking like he’s offering me the choice confuses me.

  I nod before I can even find the words.

  His hands slide from my hips to my waist, pulling me in until there’s no space left between us. When his lips meet mine, it’s not hungry or commanding anymore. It’s slow, warm and lingering.

  The kiss feels like it’s meant to be remembered.

  I let myself lean into it as my hands finding their way to the front of his shirt. I hold him there and the taste of his seed still lingers in my mouth, mingling with the faint spice of wine on his breath. I feel every steady beat of his heart where our chests press together.

  When he finally pulls back, his forehead rests lightly against mine and I realize I’m smiling without even meaning to.

  After a few moments, he draws back just enough to meet my eyes.

  “I should apologize,” he says quietly. “For being a bit rough earlier.”

  I blink at him, surprised. The words feel strange coming from him, especially after the way he’s carried himself all day.

  “You don’t have to,” I whisper, keeping my fingers curled lightly into the fabric of his shirt. “I didn’t… mind.”

  He smiles, but his eyes stay serious.

  “Even so, Arun. I don’t want to leave you guessing at my intent. You’ll always know you can stop me or tell me what you want instead.”

  His tone is sincere and the tone of it leaves me without an answer for a few seconds. Finally, I just nod and my throat feels tighter than I expect.

  He leans in, pressing a brief kiss to my lips before letting his hands fall away from my waist.

  He steps back just enough to look at me again then his expression softens further.

  “Would you like dinner?” he asks, his voice gentler now than it’s been all day.

  The question feels almost domestic after everything that’s happened. I glance toward the window where the firelight catches the darkening sky.

  “Yes… I think I would.”

  “Good. I’ll have it taken to the small dining room. It’s quieter there.”

  There’s the slightest smile at the corner of his mouth and I think it’s supposed to be more of a private thought than something meant to be shown.

  I nod, my pulse still not entirely settled, and follow him out of the study. The echo of the fire’s warmth clings to me even as the cooler air of the hall slips between us.

  We reach the hallway outside the small dining room before he slows, glancing toward the main hall where servants are beginning to light the evening lamps.

  “On second thought,” he says, his voice low enough for only me to hear. “You’ve had a long day. Eat in your room tonight.”

  I blink at him.

  “Are you sure?”

  “I’m sure. I’ll have a tray sent up with something warm and whatever kind of wine you might like. You’ll be more comfortable there.”

  His hand brushes lightly against my lower back as he turns me toward the stairs.

  The small gesture shouldn’t mean as much as it does, but after the intensity in the study, the idea of ending the night in quiet feels quite pleasant. I nod and start up the steps as the faint sound of his steps follow behind me until we reach my door.

  “I’ll check in later,” he says. There’s something in his tone that makes me feel like there’s a thread of a connection that neither of us have cut yet.

  A bit later, a servant brings the tray not long after I change into a dark green linen sleep shirt. The food is as Alexios promised with warm roasted chicken, stewed vegetables and a small glass of red wine.

  I eat slowly and the clink of cutlery against the plate sounds far louder in the quiet of the room. Without conversation and his voice filling the space, the warmth of the room feels thinner.

  I glance at the door more than once, half expecting it to open and for him to step inside with that measured look of his and the faint scent of spice trailing behind him.

  But it stays closed.

  I’m being foolish. After all, I told myself that the quiet night would bring me peace after our lustful moment in the study… but each bite feels lonelier than the last.

  By the time I finish my dinner, I’m leaning back in the chair, the wine untouched and my mind replaying that tender look in his eyes in the study. I hope I will get to see the same expression again before the night ends.

  I watch the firewood settle into glowing embers from the small table when there’s a soft knock at the door. Before I can answer, it opens just enough for Alexios to step inside.

  He closes it behind him without hurry, his eyes immediately sweeping over me and then to the half-empty tray.

  “Was dinner to your liking?” he asks. His tone is rather calm, but there’s a hint of something in it. It makes me feel as if maybe… just maybe… he’s been thinking about me too.

  “Yes,” I say, my voice quieter than I mean it to be. “It was… good.”

  He takes a few steps closer before stopping beside the table. The candlelight catches on the edge of his jaw and the smooth fall of his hair over one shoulder.

  “I’m glad.”

  His gaze drifts briefly to the untouched wine, then back to my face. “You didn’t want any wine tonight?”

  “I wasn’t in the mood,” I admit.

  His mouth tilts at one corner, but he doesn’t press. Instead, his eyes linger on mine a moment longer and I feel the air between us grow a bit warmer.

  Without another word, he reaches for the glass and lifts it from the table with an ease that makes it feel less like taking and more like claiming. He swirls the wine once, watching the deep red catch the candlelight, before taking a slow sip.

  I watch the way his mouth curves against the rim before he swallows and his faint exhale afterward as if tasting something worth savoring.

  “It’s good,” he says, setting the glass back down.

  I try not to smile.

  “Then I’m glad someone enjoyed it.”

  One brow lifts and I see a spark in his eyes.

  “I enjoyed more than just the wine.”

  The words sit between us until he breaks the gaze to glance toward the fire almost as if he’s deciding whether to stay longer or just leave me to the rest of my night.

  His gaze returns to me, steady and unreadable for a long moment. Then, without any of the teasing edge he carries sometimes, he says, “Thank you… for letting me pleasure you earlier.”

  The words catch me off guard. He sounds so sincere and tender now.

  I shift slightly in my chair as the warmth from the fire brushes against my back.

  “You don’t have to thank me for that,” I whisper.

  “I do,” he replies and his tone is rather certain. “You gave me your trust. That means more than you think.”

  His eyes soften then and a gentle smile touches his mouth. I can’t look away from him.

  The wine between us sits untouched again, but the air feels fuller than it did when I was eating alone.

  He moves around the table without hurry and the sound of his footsteps are soft against the plush rug. When he stops beside me, the candlelight catches in his red eyes and the black streaks peppering through his silver-white hair. For a moment, he looks down at me as if he’s weighing what he wants to do next.

  Then his hand comes to rest at the side of my face while his thumb brushes lightly over my cheekbone. His touch is soft now, rather than the commanding grip he’d had on my horns in the study earlier.

  I tip my head into his palms without even thinking and I catch his features soften even more.

  Alexios leans in and kisses me, his other hand sliding to my waist to keep me close. I decide now that the world beyond the weight of his touch doesn’t exist to me anymore in these moments.

  When he pulls back, it’s only by a breath, his forehead resting against mine.

  “Goodnight, Arun,” he says softly, his tone carrying a kindness that lingers even as he steps back toward the door.

  When he leaves, the quiet of the room feels different. I find that it’s no longer a lonely feeling. Now, the room is filled with the echo of him. His hand briefly rests on the frame before he pauses and looks at me again.

  “If you ever need me during the night,” he says, his voice low but certain, “Please knock on my door. Whatever you may need, you’ll have it.”

  I just nod, unsure I could speak without betraying how much those words affect me.

  Finally, he slips out into the hall and closes the door behind him.

  A few hours go by and the fire still burns low, his parting words echoing in my head as I get ready for bed. I know they’ll be the last thing I think about before I find sleep tonight.

  I try to settle myself by curling up in bed with one of the books left behind in here before being converted into this bedroom. The words blur together now and my mind keeps wandering back to the carriage ride home, to the study and the feeling of his mouth around me.

  He did say to knock if I needed him.

  It isn’t really a need. Not exactly.

  I realize that it’s… curiosity.

  Before I can talk myself out of it, I set the book down and step into the hallway. The manor is quiet at this hour and thankfully, his door is only a short walk away. I take a few moments to build my confidence, studying the dark wood standing out against the deep wine colored wall.

  I lift my hand and knock once

  It doesn’t take long before I hear the latch click and the door opens to reveal Alexios with his hair loose over his shoulders now and his silk robe open to reveal his broad chest.

  “Yes, my love?”

  I glance down for a moment before eventually meeting his gaze again.

  “I was wondering if I could visit for a while,” I say, voice barely above a whisper. “I wanted to read here… if that’s okay.”

  He smiles softly and steps aside, gesturing for me to enter.

  “You can stay as long as you’d like.”

  I step inside and the first thing I notice is how warm it is in his room. His bedroom is lit by a low glow of a fire and the shadows play against the dark wood. The scent here is entirely him. It’s a bit like leather and something spicy. Maybe cinnamon.

  I find myself instantly soothed by it.

  Alexios crosses to a long couch near his hearth and without a word, he begins arranging a space for me to lounge on. The couch is covered in beautiful silk cushions in deep jewel tones and blankets that look as soft as clous. He shakes one out and drapes it over the arm as the fabric catches the light from the fire.

  “There,” he says, glancing back at me. “Something comfortable for you to read on.”

  I move toward it, running a hand over the smooth fabric.

  “Do you want any treats to eat while you read?” he asks as he steps closer and his hand comes to rest at my hip while the other lifts to touch my cheek. Before I can answer, he brushes his lip gently against mine.

  I exhale softly. My reply is caught somewhere between the kiss and the question.

  “Maybe something small if that’s okay?”

  Alexios presses another kiss to my lips, but this one lingers just long enough for my heart to pick up the pace.

  “I’ll be right back then,” he whispers, pressing a soft kiss to the back of my hand before leaving the room.

  I curl up on the couch and the silk cushions mold to me as I settle the blanket over my legs. The fire paints the room in shifting gold while the warmth seeps pleasantly into my bones. I open my book and let the familiar weight of it steady me.

  Eventually, he comes back into the room carrying a tray filled with small pastries, sugared almonds and a glass of spiced wine. He sets it within my reach before adjusting the nearest lamp before he speaks again.

  “Here, love. Something sweet to match the company.”

  I thank him softly and he nods, satisfied, before crossing to the bed.

  “If you need anything else,” he says. “Just wake me from my trancing, okay?”

  I nod, feeling unexpectedly warm at his offer. As he settles back into bed, I return to my book, but I’m aware of his presence with every turn of the page.

  Between the fire’s warmth and the soft weight of the blankets, my eyes drift closed for longer stretches and my head tilts slightly against the silk cushions.

  I should go back to my own room, but it’s warm here. He said I could stay as long as I liked.

  Moments later, the book slips from my hand. It rests on my lap as I sink deeper into the couch letting the sound of the fire and the faint rhythm of his breathing soothe me.

  I don’t realize I’ve fallen asleep until I hear his voice, low and a little rough.

  “You’re still here.”

  I open my eyes to see him sitting up in bed watching me. He shifts, resting an arm across his raised knee.

  “Do you want to sleep in bed with me?” His tone is even, almost careful. “It’s alright if you don’t.”

  I hesitate for a few moments but eventually find my words again.

  “Yes,” I say, my voice still thick from drowsiness.

  He stands and crosses the space between us, offering his hand to pull me gently to my feet. His touch lingers at my back as he guides me to his bed and he lifts the covers so I can easily slip beneath them. The sheets are a bit cool at first, but the warmth from where he’s been lying quickly covers me.

  As we both settle in, the mattress dips slightly as he lies back beside me, drawing the rest of the blankets over us. He’s close enough now that I can feel the heat radiating from his strong body.

  The only sounds are the soft hiss of the fire and the faint rustle of fabric when I shift beneath the blankets. I stare up at the ceiling and allow the warmth to draw me deeper into that comfortable haze.

  Then I feel his hand resting lightly at my hip over the blankets. He’s not gripping or pulling me closer. He’s just simply… there.

  A quiet point of connection.

  “You’re safe here,” he whispers, his voice so low I almost think I imagined it.

  I turn my head to look at him and see that his eyes are half-lidded, the firelight glinting faintly in them. For the first time all day, his expression is completely unguarded.

  “Goodnight, Arun,” he says, the words almost more breath than sound.

  “Goodnight,” I whisper back. I let my eyes close and the weight of his presence anchors me until sleep finally takes me.