Page 23 of Bloom

Aleric hadn’t been to the beach in a while. The last time he’d gone, it had been with Clementine the day after they’d married to enjoy a little peace and quiet before separating.

Part of him wished he’d been completely honest, never hidden his relationship with Gautier, and told her what had happened. Instead, he’d worked like an actor to appear completely normal, and he’d focused on her issues instead. It had been something he could help her with, and he hadn’t felt like anyone could help him. At the time, he hadn’t known his life would be in danger, and who could undo the past?

If she’d known, and he could tell her that he was afraid to let Jaime in and why, maybe she could give him advice.

But she’d be worried about him, and he’d rather she be happy with her wife.

He missed Mighty too since the spare horse he’d been using just wasn’t the same. Father had asked him at breakfast if he wanted to announce his coming marriage or if he wanted to wait until tomorrow morning. Aleric had said to wait. He needed another day. Father had announced, to the court’s displeasure, that they'd be leaving.

Soon, everyone would guess he was pregnant, although they wouldn’t spring that news right away. He could imagine the various cousins thinking he was a whore who’d ridden his aid’s cock for fun so soon. They’d mutter in private about the cold son and possibly feel sorry for Jaime while at the same time wondering if he’d intended to pull himself higher. Joy.

Father had said he should tell Zacharie in private that he was about to be an Uncle. Zacharie would probably be a nasty little shit about it and call him a whore right to his face.

With all of that, it was hard to relax, and he said so to Jaime.

“They might call you a whore too. And a title chaser who hoped to chain me to you by getting me up the stick.”

“So? They’ll be gone soon. You don’t seem close to any of them anymore, and they’re leeches for living at Lord Monet’s home. I’m pretty sure that’s the only reason they’re around, right?”

“Yeah…He likes having a court, and it’s not the Royal Court, but it’s close enough for them. They get to do whatever they want. A couple of distant cousins don’t live here, but they own slaves, and they know how my Father feels about that even though he won’t directly insult the last King over it.”

“I never understood why King Jean thinks it lowers crime. I don’t think it does, and the concept is disgusting. Rowland thinks Soleil is disgusting, and Finkin refused to form an alliance with them before the war. You’d think something would have clicked in his head. I don’t mean to disrespect a dead King, but it’s not something I can ever agree with.”

“Me neither.” Aleric looked out over the ocean as his horse shifted on the sand. “Prince Sébastien might outlaw slavery. He doesn’t own one, and it’s said he doesn’t truly approve of it. I’m not sure if that’s true or a lie.”

“He won’t be on the throne for a few years.”

“As for the court, I’m sure they’re all complaining since Father told them to start making plans to leave. It’ll be a relief to have peace at home. Maybe we can see if Zacharie and Gautier can be sent to Narter.”

Jaime leaned over to brush back a strand of Aleric’s hair, and the gesture almost made him jump. “You’re supposed to be relaxing.”

“Pfft.”

“Let’s go to the tree line and get some shade.”

The horses were content to take a break too. A few boulders made a decent spot to sit so they didn’t have to worry about getting sand in their trousers. Jaime sat on a lower portion. Aleric was about to pick a spot a little higher and flat enough for a single bottom to sit on, so Jaime couldn’t get closer and do anything untoward.

He was supposed to be trying, and even Father thought he was ridiculous for being so suspicious. Then again, Father’s opinion on the matter as a whole didn’t count for much since he’d believed Zacharie instead.

Aleric forced himself to sit next to Jaime. His future husband could have already hurt him before and done many untoward things, and he hadn’t. After the incident with Aleric telling him he was pushy, there hadn’t been any grabbing or cock-sucking jokes. That had to count for something, right? He’d also never struck him, despite Aleric being a dick at times.

Maybe things would be all right for a while. Or maybe he’d truly meant it when he said he’d never abuse Aleric.

He wished he could see into the future and know. What if Jaime never physically hurt him, but they fought all of the time later because they ended up hating each other's guts?

Dear Elira, what if he had a disgusting kink that he expected Aleric to fulfill, and they constantly had to bitch and argue about it? Even without violence, Aleric didn’t want to be continuously asked or begged to do certain activities, and it’d be horrifying to find out in a month that Jaime wanted to pee on him. Or worse.

“Are we going to consummate this on our wedding night?” Aleric asked bluntly. They’d be married in about a week and a half, and polite people wouldn’t mention the baby being born over a month early.

Jaime glanced at him. “That’s up to you.”

Too open-ended. “What do you expect to happen on our wedding night?”

“I just said it’s up to you.”

“You say that now, but you might be expecting something quite different and hoping I’ll have my ass in the air for you.”

“If you want to go to bed and only sleep, that’s fine. Just because we marry doesn’t mean you’re obligated to present your ass. I can’t lie and say I wouldn’t enjoy it, but it’s up to you. If you don’t want it, it’s not going to be fun for either of us.”

Part of Aleric wanted to throw out all restraint, ride Jaime’s dick right there in the woods, and get what he so badly wanted.

“You know what I think?” Jaime picked up a twig from the ground to fiddle with. “Insecurity comes in various forms, and please don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re insecure.”

“You try being completely sure about yourself and life after-”

“It’s not an insult. It’s simply a fact. You’re in danger, and I don’t think anyone would feel secure. We’re supposed to be relaxing, but you’re worried about if I’m going to be nagging and trying to get in your trousers or worse.”

“Okay. What’s your point?”

“You react by retreating and lashing out to keep yourself safe. Whenever you’re nasty to me, you’re probably quite frightened and acting tough to keep me away.”

Aleric wasn’t exactly enjoying this analysis of his character, and he glared at the ocean ahead.

“I don’t blame you for it. And then, there are insecure people like Gautier.”

Aleric blinked and side-eyed Jaime. “Gautier’s not insecure.”

“I think he’s extremely insecure.”

“He saw a way to get something, and after a couple of years, I, the submissive, dared to say no. He punished me for it, dropped me like a hot potato, and ran to the next brother once he was old enough. He’s still working toward his plan to get a new hold for himself. He’s not vulnerable. I am, and he’s got a high opinion of himself. He’s never been the sort who swaggers around with an arrogant attitude, but he doesn’t need to. He’s confident and simply sure of himself. Part of that drew dumb eighteen-year-old me to him.”

Jaime pressed his lips together. “That doesn’t mean a man is entirely secure about himself.”

“Unfortunately, I know him better. Even in our relationship, he automatically took control from the first night. I’m not saying a submissive is powerless and weak, but he’s got a certain attitude. You have the same attitude. When you were on your knees after twenty minutes of knowing me, you had your fingers up my ass.”

“Just because we both like to take charge doesn’t mean much. You made me feel pretty shitty on our first full day because you wouldn’t even let me kiss you. There’s a difference between us. I did get snappy with you, but I walked out. You kicked me in the ego again after we fucked, and I still walked away. Gautier got pissed you said no, and instead of walking away, he decided to punish you. And he choked you for daring to have a different opinion on something he’s rock solid about. No matter how rigid a man’s stance on anything is, a secure man won’t choke their lover. You did nothing harmful by stating your own opinion and refusing to budge on it.”

He was right. Jaime and Aleric had verbally gone at each other’s throats, and Aleric had been pure nasty to him at times. Jaime had never struck him or shoved him into a wall and tried to strangle him. Even when Aleric had thrown a phallus and a cup at him, Jaime hadn’t done anything physical to him.

Gautier had reacted with violence when infuriated. He’d only held back when asking Aleric for his kink because he’d probably thought he had a chance to wear him down and get what he wanted.

“I’ve known a few men who were offended because a man or woman wouldn’t fuck them. They verbally insult them either to their face or behind their back. They act as if being told no is a direct assault on their being. If they can’t fuck and do what they want, they act as if the other attacked them because I think to them, it really is an attack on their being. They're insecure. It’s mind-boggling how they’re so nasty about it.”

“And it’s not just bruised pride?”

“No. It’s beyond that. They act like they’re owed sex just for existing, and when it’s denied, they get mad because they secretly feel like they’re not worth anything. They’d never say it out loud, but deep down, I believe they feel like they’re less when they hear no, so they immediately go on the offensive and lash out in some way to get some kind of power back. No one should get that outraged.”

Aleric rubbed his chin as he thought that over. “So Gautier bases his worth on dominating and sex, and not getting what he wants makes him feel low?”

“Yeah. Raping or beating a spouse is usually a power thing. If they’re bigger and can get the upper hand like that, they’ll use it because it makes them feel big and powerful. Sometimes, they’re also the loud ones in public with the puffed-up attitude and swagger. They might also be the ones with a careful attitude in public like Gautier because they know how to gain respect from others, like your Father. In secret, they’re not quite the same. Any respect they gather isn't enough.”

Aleric had never thought about it.

“If you’re a secure man, overpowering someone shouldn’t cross your mind unless you’re in actual danger. Gautier already lost his position as Earl and was shamed in front of King Alton’s court. I’m sure that was a hefty blow to his esteem. To him, it doesn’t matter that he’s guilty. I’m sure he is, but he doesn’t care. If he wants something, he doesn’t like anyone telling him no. You continuously refused to do his kink, and while he didn’t specifically attack you over it, I’m sure it felt like more kicks to his ego.”

Aleric stared at the water. “I never thought of him as insecure, but since you put it like that, it makes a lot of sense.”

Even leaving Aleric tied up on the floor and ending their relationship without a single direct word about it had been another power move.

“Gautier will actually hurt a man. I don’t do that. You don’t do that either. You’ve made a couple of threats, but it’s so I wouldn’t get ideas. If you felt safer at home, I don’t think you’d feel the need to do that, would you?”

“I wasn’t like that before.”

“You're not yelling at me now either. Gautier won’t ever feel entirely secure. You can take that information and do what you want. It’s what I’ve gathered after observing people, and that’s what I think about Gautier. I know you’re not going to entirely trust me in a second, but if you’re worried about me getting pissed off because you don’t want to have sex, I’m not going to hit you or anything.”

Aleric shifted on the rock and finally decided to come out and say it. “I do want to have sex. I miss it, and I’m not talking about topping either. I want to do all kinds of…stuff. Nothing has truly satisfied me in the years. I…I need more than just getting off.”

“And you’re worried I’ll play nice for a while if you give in to what you want. I know. I don’t know how to put you at ease besides time, and that can go by pretty slowly when you’re in bad circumstances.”

So he wouldn’t be a nasty piece of shit on their wedding night if Aleric simply went to bed. But if he just did the bare minimum of not being an ass, that wasn’t much of an attempt at making it work, was it? They’d be like roommates who kinda got along and happened to have an oopsie kid.

It’d probably cause tension later as the baby grew a bit. Jaime would be stuck in a sexless friendship masquerading as a marriage, and Aleric would be miserable and lonely inside. If they divorced, Jaime would feel trapped in the city even if he said nothing, and if he found someone to marry, their kid would have a step-parent.

He didn’t want that.

“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but I have a feeling your mind is on a long trip and imagining all kinds of things that could go wrong.”

“You might not like me later no matter what I do.”

Jaime tilted his head. “I think you’re imagining me seeing you like Gautier does.”

“I’m not entirely insecure, you know? I am also aware that some people in life may simply not like me enough for a long-term relationship. Not everyone can get along.”

“When we’re not arguing, we kind of do.”

“Yeah. Kind of.”

“It’s early. We haven’t had a chance to just focus on each other.”

Jaime had a damn response for everything. Aleric also knew he was stubborn.

“If we do have sex, what are you into?” he asked.

“If kink doesn’t make you comfortable, we don’t have to do that. I don’t think you’d be keen on the belt or certain things. That’s going to dig up bad shit.”

“I prefer it kinky,” said Aleric. “But no belts.”

“Never,” Jaime said hastily. “I won’t touch your throat either.”

“You can touch it. No choking.”

“Can you handle blowjobs?”

“I specifically don’t want anything squeezing my throat. Oral is fine.”

“Okay.”

He still had fantasies about a lot of things like being tied up, so when it came to certain activities, he didn’t feel ruined. He felt sort of ruined toward the overall idea of submitting and fully trusting. Maybe he could kneel, permit Jaime to mercilessly fuck his throat, and love every second of it. If he wanted to stop, he could get up, use his hands to defend himself, or in an extreme case, bite down on the dick in his mouth.

Being tied up and made entirely helpless was another thing and required more trust even though the fantasy of it could make his dick hard. It meant he couldn’t do shit and would have no hope of defending himself, and he couldn’t see himself doing that with Jaime yet.

“You’re not going to expect to piss on my face or shit on me, right? Because I’m never doing that.”

“No. That’s disgusting. I don’t do blood either, so don’t ask me to cut you. I’m also not into consensual non-consent, and I already know you’re not. I will never deny your orgasms or anything like that since we know what might happen there. You always have the ability to say no or use a safety word of your choice. It will never be ignored.”

It had been ignored once, and the memory tightened his stomach. Jaime put his arm around Aleric and leaned over.

Even though Jaime’s arm felt rather nice and not threatening, Aleric had a thought that most would likely find manipulative and horrible: He could ask to suck Jaime’s dick, get halfway through, and demand to stop. No man would appreciate it, but if Jaime’s reaction scared him, Aleric could dig his heels in and absolutely refuse to marry him. He’d tell Father and demand that Jaime be put out.

Testing Jaime would be shitty. People trying for a good relationship didn’t do that kind of crap. Besides, Aleric was pretty sure once Jaime’s cock was in his mouth, he wouldn’t want to stop because he loved giving and hadn’t done it in years. The idea of getting on his knees right there in the woods to swallow Jaime’s load was already making him partially hard.

There was a way to test things.

“Can I suck your dick?” He almost couldn’t believe he’d blurted it out.

Jaime didn’t remove his arm. “No.”

“Why not?”

“You don’t have to go down on me to keep nice Jaime or whatever your thought process is telling you.”

“It’s not to keep nice Jaime.” Aleric’s face burned.

“I don’t believe you’re suddenly eager to swallow my cock.”

“I still desire things that I haven’t done in a long time. If anything, I want to do them more because I feel like it’s been denied to me. I’m also horny, and I figured you would be too. I used to love sucking dick.”

“I believe you. I don’t think you suddenly trust me enough to let me cum in your mouth, so…let’s not. At least for today, all right?”

Aleric had been thinking he’d see how Jaime would react. With no direction, would he shove Aleric’s head down and fuck his throat? He loved that kind of thing, but if Jaime did whatever he wanted, Aleric would know to be more careful and not give him control in other ways, like allowing himself to be tied. Not for a long time.

If he said to stop pushing his head down, would Jaime listen? That was another way. If he asked or simply didn’t do anything too controlling and demanding, Aleric would feel like he had more control to direct things later. Damn it. Part of him wanted to let go entirely and see if he could have what he used to dream of, but he couldn’t quite make himself do it.

“How horny are you?” Jaime suddenly asked.

Enough to where pushing his heat and bending over the boulder sounded like a good idea because he also wanted to be fucked so damn badly.

“Why?” Aleric asked.

“I could get you off, and then we’ll go see Delphine.”

“Uh…” Things had gone in an entirely new direction he hadn’t expected, and he wasn’t even sure what to say. “Why would you do that?”

“I can give you something without putting too much on you. It’ll be just to get you off.”

If he meant it, and Aleric didn’t have to reciprocate, he was giving up a lot of control himself. Most men don’t like only giving and not getting off in return unless they have a kink of servicing mixed with denial, or if money is involved. Jaime was not the kind of man who got off in a way from being denied.

“You can say no,” added Jaime.

“I don’t want to say no. I haven’t had my dick sucked in a while.”

“A couple of conditions. The first is I’d rather you not use your heat.”

“Why not?”

“I’d rather you just be yourself.”

“The heat doesn’t turn me into a mindless animal that can’t think for itself anymore.”

“I know. I still prefer it if nothing is influencing how aroused you are. Also, if you decide to stop, you can’t stop the heat, so wouldn’t that be more uncomfortable?”

“Yeah.” It’d be a huge annoyance until it wore off on its own. “What’s the other condition?”

“Foreplay. We’ve never done anything intimate that wasn’t entirely sex first. Well, I held you after you fell asleep that afternoon, but you don’t remember it, so it doesn’t count.”

Jaime had held him afterward? As soon as the orgasm ebbed, all Aleric remembered was total exhaustion. Suddenly, he’d been waking up.

“You held me? You thought I was a total prick.”

“So? You looked alright and seemed peaceful. I figured you were cured, and I cuddled up to you. I didn’t want to clean up, dress, walk out, and leave you there.”

“Oh.” Aleric had been such an ass, and since he wasn’t sure how long he’d slept, he assumed Jaime had simply gone to the privy to clean up. “We can have foreplay. Normally, I did enjoy it before.”

“Get in my lap.”

Aleric did as he said, although he couldn’t help being a bit stiff. It was more awkward since he was hard as a rock at the prospect of getting a blowjob. Instead of immediately grabbing him to kiss or feel up, Jaime took his chin.

“Besides no, pick a word to use if you need it. I’ll immediately stop.”

Aleric didn’t want to use red anymore. The common safe word was too uncomfortable for him since it had been ignored before. It needed to be something easy to remember and a word one wouldn’t typically say during sex.

“How about ocean? We can both remember ocean, right?”

“Ocean. Got it. You can also snap your fingers.” Jaime guided his chin until their lips met.

When they’d kissed during sex, Aleric had been ravenous for anything Jaime would give him, and that included an affectionate action. Jaime had returned it with the same vigor.

He was far more gentle than Aleric expected like he wanted to make it all good even though he wouldn’t be getting off. He moved his hand to cup Aleric’s face. Surprisingly, it was almost relaxing even though his erection stuffed in his trousers was uncomfortable.

Jaime took the nape of his neck and squeezed it before his fingers ran up into his hair to take a grip that wasn’t too tight but was hard enough to make it exciting. Aleric had enough sense to hope no one came by that far and found them making out. The horses would make noise if anyone got too close.

Aleric leaned in and draped his arms over Jaime’s shoulders and let out a little moan as Jaime’s other arm squeezed him.

“You’re gorgeous.” Jaime kissed along his jaw, and his other hand slipped up Aleric’s vest and shirt.

No one had touched him so much in forever. The whores had just been sex to get an orgasm and a little contact that wasn’t his hand or a glass toy. None had kissed the front of his throat while gently stroking a thumb across his nipple.

“If we weren’t outside, I would strip off all of your clothes myself and kiss you all over.” Jaime palmed Aleric’s erection through his trousers, and he strained his hips forward, needing the friction.

There was something Aleric liked about being undressed as though once the other decided he’d be stripped, he had no choice but to be naked and bare so they could do anything to him. He wouldn’t allow it yet, but he pictured Jaime spreading him on the bed and tying his limbs to bedposts so he was completely exposed.

Jaime nipped at his collarbone and slipped his hand back under Aleric’s shirt.

“I need it,” he practically growled, wanting the stimulation back. Anything.

Jaime tightened his grip on Aleric’s hair. “Not yet.”

With his head tilted back, Aleric squeezed his eyes shut to block out the sun. Jaime’s hand was gentle on his belly where his child rested. He wasn’t sure if Jaime liked kissing and touching him too much to stop, or if he was giving Aleric time to change his mind.

He wasn’t quite so gentle when his fingers found Aleric’s nipple again. He gave it a little pinch while still kissing his neck, and the next was hard enough to make Aleric moan and twist while fisting his coat.

“Please-”

“Are you still all right?”

“Yes!”

“Do you want me to stop?”

“No. I want you to suck my cock.”

Jaime let out a small chuckle and moved Aleric’s head to kiss the edge of his ear and nibble on it. If it went on much longer, he might scream, and he imagined Jaime doing this to him with Aleric tied to his bed.

Pre-cum leaked in his drawers, and he let out a piteous sound. “I need your mouth on me.”

Jaime was suddenly shifting him so Aleric’s back was pressed against him. With an arm locked around him, Jaime started undoing his belt with one hand while kissing his ear.

A fleet of enemy ships could have been bearing down on the shores, and Aleric would have cared. It seemed to take forever until his belt was finally undone, and the trouser ties were tugged on. The small brushes on his cock were almost too much and not enough while Jaime sucked on his earlobe. He was sure he was about to go insane until his trousers were pulled down enough along with the waist of his drawers to free his cock.

The air was cool on the tip of the head where pre-cum had beaded. Jaime fisted him and didn’t move. Aleric strained his hips forward.

“Wait.” Jaime kept his other arm tight as he spoke against the side of Aleric’s head in a firm voice. The faint warmth of his breath gave Aleric something else to focus on while he struggled to obey.

“Are you still all right? Do you want to stop?”

“Don’t stop.”

“What’s your word?”

“Ocean.” Aleric couldn’t believe he’d checked in again. “Please.”

“Please what?”

He remembered what Jaime had called him their first night. The word didn’t feel insulting at all during sex. “Jerk my cock. Suck it-whatever.” Aleric just needed stimulation at that point. “Your slut needs it.”

Jaime paused and made a faint noise like a growl. He started stroking Aleric’s cock while his own strained through his trousers and pressed against his ass crack. “You like that?”

Aleric made a sound almost like a whine as his cock was jerked harder.

“Say it again. Tell me what you are.”

“A slut. I’m your slut.”

Jaime’s hand smeared the pre-cum around his shaft. The teasing and weeks without anyone else stimulating him had him feeling like he was too close already.

“Tell me you’re a needy slut.”

“I’m a needy slut.” Jaime’s hand went faster like a reward.

“You’re my needy slut.”

“I’m your needy slut.”

“Stand up, slut.”

Jaime forced him to his feet, turned him, grabbed his ass, and took his cock down his throat. Aleric grabbed his shoulders and nearly came right there as the sudden, sucking heat engulfed him. The sight of his cock disappearing in Jaime’s mouth was entrancing, and the pressure, tight, even, warm, and wet increased around the head, and his balls tightened. Jaime had just taken him down entirely and swallowed around his cock.

“I can’t-”

Aleric had to shove his fist against his mouth since he nearly screamed while he came. The knuckles of his other hand whitened while he clutched Jaime’s shoulder, and he couldn’t help jerking his hips even though Jaime had every inch in his mouth. A couple of spurts went down his throat before he pulled back and worked his tongue on the underside.

Aleric twitched as the orgasm slowly died down. Jaime was pretty much holding him up since his legs had gone weak. He started to withdraw, and Aleric grunted at the sensitivity. With a satisfied noise, he wiped the back of his mouth. His arousal was clear, and Aleric expected him to change his mind and tell him to get on his knees.

Jaime pulled him down to his knees and pressed his mouth to Aleric’s with his lips tightly closed. “Hm?”

Did he still have cum in his mouth? If he was doing what Aleric thought, fuck yes. He’d read about it in a naughty book a couple of years ago and wanted to try it.

“Give your slut his cum,” he mumbled against Jaime’s mouth.

Jaime’s tongue slipped, and Aleric tasted the salty seed he’d collected. It wasn’t his whole load, but it was enough to make him feel dirty and degraded in the perfect way. Even after being sucked off, he had to swallow his own cum.

They kissed with the cum sliding along both their tongues until Jaime passed it all over. If Aleric hadn’t already orgasmed, he would’ve been hard as a rock.

Jaime pulled back. “Show me.”

Aleric looked up at him and opened his mouth to show the cum.

“Swallow it like a good little whore.” Aleric did, and Jaime pulled him up to get him in his lap. “Relax now. We’re done now.”

He wasn’t sure if he could at the moment even though Jaime was rubbing his back. His throat was suddenly tightening, and he wasn’t sure if he was going to cry or what was wrong with him.

Jaime immediately squeezed him tighter. “What’s wrong?”

Instant comfort and attention instead of Jaime thinking about his dick…A noise like a half sob came from Aleric as the boulders and trees around them blurred. He should be ashamed to be on Jaime’s lap and half crying with his softening cock still hanging out.

“What’s wrong?” murmured Jaime.

“N-nothing.” That was the thing. Everything was right, and while he wasn’t sure what to do with it, part of him felt great and loose too.

“Tell me. Was it too much? I won’t give you your cum again.

“N-no. I liked it.” The tears leaking down his face probably weren’t convincing. “I don’t know why I’m crying. Just-I needed it, and it was so much better than the last time or anything I’ve had in years, and I wasn’t scared. The orgasm was so intense, and I’d do it again. I’d swallow my load too. I mean not right now. I don’t think there’s anything left.”

He stopped babbling as Jaime straightened him up. “I’ve only had someone cry when they were over my knee, and he said it wasn’t because I hurt him. He said it was like a release.”

Aleric had heard of people crying while being spanked, and it wasn’t because of pain. It was something about pent-up emotions being released, although Aleric hadn’t understood it when he’d read it. He’d never cried over someone’s knee. It made him hard and desperate. “Maybe you took something out besides cum.” That sounded ridiculous, but he couldn’t think of anything else except for him being pregnant too. “It’s been years since I had anything that good.”

Jaime wiped his face. “As long as you’re actually okay and not faking it.”

“I’m not faking it. I’d do it again.”

Aleric let himself melt against Jaime. He’d needed all of that and the affection so damn badly, he didn’t want it to end. He felt like a starving man who’d been given a taste of food. It wasn’t enough, and he had to have the whole plate or whatever was available. Jaime’s hand stroking his hair was perfect.

“You didn’t tell me you could swallow with a cock in your throat,” said Aleric.

“I don’t always show off that trick right away. I keep it as a surprise.”

Aleric couldn’t help but laugh and turn his face into Jaime’s chest. Now that he’d recovered a little, he wanted to get to his knees and show Jaime that he could swallow too. No test or anything. Just a blowjob

“I want to suck your cock.”

“No.”

“But I’m fine, and your dick is hard as a rock against my ass. I’d like for you to push my head down and fuck my throat.”

“Tempting, but still no. This was for you, and only you.”

Jaime continued holding him, and after a couple of minutes, Aleric almost wanted to cry again. He’d meant it. He wasn’t demanding Aleric do anything to please him. Even though he had to be aching for release, he simply continued to hold him tight.

The suspicious side of his brain said it was an elaborate trick, and he needed to put a stop to everything. He’d just broken his promise, and it was wrong that he wanted to keep breaking it. He’d pretty much jumped off the cliff of no return because he’d been horny.

Perhaps it had been a stupid promise to make and dumb to keep in the face of someone he could trust. Jaime had kept helping him. He’d stayed, saved his life, and wouldn’t leave even after Aleric had tried forcing him away while turning his life upside down.

Jaime started rubbing his stomach. “I can’t wait until you’ve got something to see and rub. I know we’ve got months to go, but I want to see our child now in some form, you know?”

Seeing his stomach grow wasn’t something Aleric had particularly thought about too much so far. The baby was inside of him, so he’d be keenly aware of its presence regardless of what his belly looked like. “You seem awfully excited about it.”

“Why wouldn’t I be? Even though he or she wasn’t planned, and there’s other shit going on, it's still our kid. We created a fairy being. Well…you’ll be doing all the growing now, but the baby will be something we made.”

“I know, but it’s not in your body…I know men can be excited…you’re already so protective. I’m surprised you’re not trying to feed me right now.”

“You ate breakfast, so I’m not as worried. It’s getting closer to lunch, so you should eat.”

Aleric almost rolled his eyes. “It doesn’t explain why you’re so protective.”

Jaime paused. “My Father was the same, and I want to be like him. Even though he’s not alive, I still want to make him proud and be the man he would have raised me to be if he’d lived.”

Aleric knew that feeling, except he hadn’t exactly turned into the man Lord Monet wanted. He wasn’t a complete disappointment, but he knew he wasn’t exactly what Father had imagined either.

“I’ve always wanted kids too.”

Perhaps Father was right, and Elira had pushed them together even though their circumstances weren’t exactly optimal. Maybe the Goddess knew Aleric needed someone protective and caring.