Page 6 of Bloom

He took a deep breath after he left the sitting room and was walking down the hall. He’d never been treated like that before. Even the guys he’d been with only once or twice hadn't been so rude. Sure, some had been happy to simply leave right after sex. Needs had been met, and there wasn’t going to be anything else, but at least they hadn’t acted as if he were gross rubbish and made him feel about an inch high.

Once he was down a floor, he stretched a bit and told himself to get over it. Broken pride wouldn’t kill him. It wasn’t like he could win with Aleric anyway. If he’d left him there, he would've been berated for it. There was no point in feeling bad because he was sure the future lord was the sort who liked bitching at everyone. No wonder his wife had run away. He’d probably bitched at her too.

He leaned against the wall to look through a window into the backyard. The guardhouse was to one side, and he could see a couple of small figures by the door. A few others were in the yard by another stone building, and they were practicing their swordplay.

Why declare nothing went up his ass and then stick a thick, toy phallus in himself? Or ask for his hair to be pulled? There was begging for sex to cure the pain and fever. And then there was begging for things that one enjoyed during typical sex.

Aleric had lied. In the second or two before he fully realized someone had walked in, he’d looked like he was enjoying himself with the phallus in him.

If Aleric wanted to be that way, whatever. He started walking again. A man stepped out of a room ahead. When he closed the door, Jaime noticed the small plaque.

“Oh, you’re Aleric’s new slave, right?” asked the man.

Being referred to as someone’s slave, like he was merely a piece of property with no other real features and a criminal past, wasn’t something he’d ever thought he’d experience. “It’s Jaime.”

“Oh, wait, I think Lord Monet said you’re more like his aid. You can call me Olivier. I’m the court physician. I was going to try to find you later to let you know who I am. If you ever need care, this is my room.” He tapped the plaque with his name and smiled. “It seems you’ve found me by accident. You can come anytime. If it’s late, and I’m sleeping, knock harder. I’ll wake up.

“Thanks. Hopefully, I won’t need you.” Thank Elira he hadn’t had to find Olivier earlier and tell him he’d been winged in the head by a flying phallus.

“Are you well now? Any small issues or anything you think should be dealt with?”

“No, I’m fine. I’m usually a pretty healthy person. Thanks anyway.”

“That’s good.”

“Do you know where the library is?”

“You need to go down two more floors. Go straight, right, left, and follow the hallway. You can’t miss the double doors.”

“Thanks.”

The physician left him, and Jaime made a mental note just in case he ever needed to find his room again. Hopefully, he wouldn't need the physician.

When he stepped into the library, a snore came from his left, and he looked over. Behind a large desk, an old man with grey hair was snoozing in his chair. His job was likely dull since Jaime doubted the courtiers made a mess of the books.

As he wandered between the shelves, he noticed dust. The old guy didn’t bother to clean much. Most of the shelves were in the main area, and toward one side, there was a loft with steps going up. A few more shelves lined the wall up there. Jaime meandered around as he looked in the various sections. When he found one devoted to anatomy and health, he stopped to take a closer look at the titles.

He should have put in effort to find a book on abundant males and read it. He’d only known about the heat fever because of the first one he’d been with. Edging and denying orgasms to the other wasn’t a favorite thing of his, but he’d asked his lover if he wanted to try since he'd been into a lot of kinky activities.

His lover had looked horrified as if Jaime had suggested lopping off an arm. He said getting close to an orgasm and stopping could cause heat fever, and he wasn’t risking anything so painful. It would make his uterus cramp, and even though sex would fix it, he didn’t want to experience it even for a second.

Jaime had never brought up edging or orgasm denial again with him or any other abundant male. Anything that caused severe pain was a no in his mind.

He found a small book that was a primer for young abundant males and laid out the basics for them. With no way to tell them apart from anyone else by looking, the first heat was always a surprise. Twelve to fourteen-year-olds certainly shouldn’t be having sex, but the heat meant their body was maturing.

Rather like a young woman having her first cycle, except they had to endure it every month afterward. His Aunt had made sure he knew the facts of life involving women.

“If men aren’t taught, some grow up and believe the dumbest things.”

The primer said nothing about heat fever, so he selected another, thicker book. According to the author’s note, the writer had been an abundant male.

Jaime checked the beginning which described the basics. After the first time, the knowledge of how to use the heat was instinctual like a fairy summoning fire to his hand or using a weapon to channel his magic if needed. Abundant males could have issues like being unable to create slick which was a natural thing. How badly they wanted to fuck or how much slick was created after pushing the heat could vary since not every single body is exactly the same.

He skimmed through. A section on sex during pregnancy said it was safe in most cases, and the male could still use the heat to make it more pleasurable. Kink was safe too, although certain activities weren’t. Jaime kept flipping. Infertility. Miscarriages. The change of life. That meant the abundant male was losing their ability to conceive, and with some, their heat may not be quite as intense. It was rare to be unable to push the heat after the change of life.

Even rarer were those who were abundant males and had no idea since their initial heat never happened, and they didn’t know they could do it. If they engaged in anal sex, years might pass before they accidentally conceived.

Jaime finally found a part that explained heat fever. It was also rare, although some were more prone to it. The uterus contracted during orgasm. If they were close to cumming and suddenly stopped, it could cause the uterus to contract quite painfully, the spasms would spread to the anus, and the heat would intensify as a biological response to seek sex and cure the problem. They’d likely appear almost as if rabid for it, although they were capable of refusing sex and saying no.

To calm the anal contractions, fingering typically didn't work since they needed something longer and thicker such as a penis or a fake phallus for the muscles to squeeze around.

While it was rare, a male who’d suffered it once should avoid edging or any activity that involved holding back or ruining an orgasm. Some could enjoy those activities and never had an issue, but it was best not to risk it if the abundant male wanted to avoid experiencing heat fever. The exact reason for the condition only affecting some was unknown.

Jaime scratched his head as he mulled that over. It must have been one of those strange things they’d never fully understand. Auntie had given birth to a child long before Jaime came along. Afterward, she’d never been able to conceive another despite being healthy as far as anyone could tell. Nothing had seemed to be wrong with Uncle either. They’d tried fertility herbs without result. Sometimes, people were prone to issues, and the exact reasoning would never be known.

Well, if that was the first time, and he had a feeling it was, Aleric would know to never edge or deny himself orgasms when taking care of himself. Jaime had also learned a lesson about entering his bedroom.

If left alone, the abundant male would recover in five or six hours. The heat fever might last up to ten. Either way, it would be quite agonizing. Jaime winced. Those hours probably felt like an eternity.

Anal sex would help a little at first to ease the contractions in their passage. The orgasm would stop the uterus from contracting and soothe it. Once it passed, the male would be fine afterward, although they’d likely go to sleep immediately afterward since the intense heat could be quite exhausting. They should eat and rehydrate afterward, and by the next day, it’d be like nothing happened. There were no known lasting effects on the body.

Jaime blew out a breath. He didn’t like Aleric, but he was glad he wasn’t suffering and didn’t have to be concerned about later symptoms cropping up.

When he checked the next chapter, it turned out there was another rare condition where the abundant male couldn’t control his heat. It would come on whenever and often last for longer which meant they’d be unbearably horny a lot, or they’d seek partners quite frequently out of desperation for relief.

That sounded almost fun since it didn’t seem to include pain like the fever. If Aleric was constantly desperate for Jaime’s dick without anything painful…he wouldn’t mind seeing Aleric bent over for him again with slick dripping out of his hole while he begged for Jaime’s cock.

Then he imagined how it would affect an abundant male’s life since the flush couldn’t be hidden too well, and they’d always be distracted, even while working. Never mind. What a dumb thought. He wouldn’t wish that on anyone.

After replacing the book, he figured he’d come back later and get the book or pick another. Since he hoped to possibly marry an abundant male one day, he should learn what he could about their bodies instead of using the general knowledge most knew. He wanted children, and while a gay couple might use a consort, he didn’t want to sleep with anyone else after he was married. He wanted a husband to give him kids, and if he was lucky enough for that, he also wanted to take care of his spouse before, during, and after pregnancy.

It'd be a while before that happened.

On a higher shelf in the next aisle, he noticed a few old books that looked out of place, and he pulled one down with a snort when he saw the title. Flipping through it, he caught line drawings of a cat fairy who had tied up a man and was doing all sorts of depraved things to him. The submissive appeared to be quite eager for it.

Jaime wasn’t usually into naughty books, but maybe one would make his hand and imagination more exciting for the next year if Aleric didn’t give him the boot. Then again, the librarian would want to note what he was taking, and Jaime didn’t want to say “Punishing the Naughty Slut” or write it down in case the librarian looked. He also wasn’t going to sneak the book out like a teenager wanting to have a secret wank.

He put it back and found a couple of story collections that would keep him occupied for a bit and didn’t involve naughty sluts. In the back, under the loft, he found a nice nook with a table and a few plush armchairs. Once comfortable, he opened one and tried to distract himself with a hundred and one short stories of the unknown. He’d worry about Aleric later.

He’d barely gotten through one story of a ghost trying to kill the residents of a home when a voice spoke. “What are you doing?”

Jaime looked up to find Lord Gautier staring at him. “Uh, reading, m’lord.”

“Aleric let you out of his rooms?”

“Why wouldn’t he? I’m just reading.”

Lord Gautier came closer and put his book on the table. “Considering he made you accompany him to chess and lunch, I figured he was keeping you on a lead in a manner of speaking.”

“I’m sure he wants space.” Not that Jaime would say how much space Aleric wanted at the moment.

The lord sat and placed his book on the table between them. “Regis said his son had taken a slave. I thought he was joking at first. Nobody keeps slaves here since Regis has always thought slavery is abhorrent. He says criminals should stay in prison to serve their sentence, and that’s it.”

Jaime agreed with the lord. Unfortunately, the Regent of Soleil didn’t.

“Supposedly, Aleric said you’re more like an aid.”

“Uh, kinda. I’m not collared, and he said I could go out with a guard.”

“But you can’t leave for good without his permission. And you’ll be left without a job later.”

Jaime wasn’t mentioning the deal had included blowing Aleric for money. “It could be worse,” he stated in a neutral tone.

Lord Gautier sighed. “I don’t always eat with them, and I had to hear it from Regis after breakfast. He’s a bit disappointed in his son even if you’re not collared or being beaten. I think he’ll let things go as long as Aleric doesn’t seem to be abusing you. He’s not sure if you did anything wrong.”

“I swear I didn’t.”

“I’m not saying you. I’m simply repeating what I heard. The law says a lord can’t demand anyone release their slave except for special circumstances. Aleric hasn’t been abusing you, right?”

Cruel words wouldn’t kill Jaime, so he shook his head. Certain things would be too awkward to bring up or explain.

“You can tell me, and I’ll try to do what I can,” said Lord Gautier. “Aleric’s very hard to deal with, but I could talk to his Father. If he’s striking you or anything…”

“No, he hasn’t done anything except be a dick,” Jaime said without quite meaning to blurt the last part.

“He does have quite an attitude at times. What exactly did you do? Regis told me what his son said, but I don’t know if Aleric lied or not.”

Jaime explained what happened and left out the part where he’d agreed to service Aleric and sucked him off right there in the whorehouse. Lord Gautier nodded afterward.

“That’s what I heard. Partial freedom is unusual. That’s why I thought he was lying. What’s to keep you from running off if you go into the city?”

“A guard who’d tell the others and chase me down.” Jaime was pretty sure he could elude them if he ever had a real reason to get away. Then again, maybe not. “Being an aid isn’t so bad, I guess. It’s a roof and food although I’d rather be free. I drift around a lot.”

“Why?”

The lie slid out with no problem. “I used to live in Riverview in Moria.” He’d heard there were four villages with that name since it was such a basic one, so he’d twisted his background story a little more years ago to be safe. Of course, all four villages were by a river. “My parents died of a fever, so my Aunt raised me, and then she died.”

“Which Riverview?”

“It’s north.”

“What’s your last name?”

“Meyer,” said Jaime, giving the last name he’d had since he was seven. It wasn’t uncommon in Moria or Soleil. “It’s just me now…it was the only place I knew, but home didn’t feel like home, m’lord.” That last part was entirely true. With his adoptive Aunt and Uncle dead and gone, the village of Rhyo hadn’t felt like home anymore, and he’d never returned.

“I know that feeling. I’m not really a lord.”

“You’re not?”

“I used to be. I was the Earl of Monmith in Moria. I’m not allowed to return there, and even if I did, it wouldn’t feel like home anymore. Have you ever been there?”

“No. That’s…northeast, right?” Jaime had heard the name before.

“Yes. King Alton sacked me.” Lord Gautier sighed. “You might hear the story anyway, and I’d rather it not be twisted, just in case. I was with a distant cousin of the King many years ago. Matthew. We kept breaking up and getting back together. I’ll admit…he was good in the bedroom. That’s why I kept going back. Matthew decided we should get married, and considering the problems we’d had, I couldn’t see myself married to him.”

Jaime had a feeling where this was going. He’d never heard of anything involving a Lord Gautier and Matthew, and he assumed it was a rumor that had escaped his ears.

“I admitted I was only with him for the sex, and since we fought so much, I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life with anyone like him. We’d constantly fight, and what kind of home life is that? We had a huge argument, and I admit, I felt a bit bad because I’d been rather blunt. It hurt his feelings, but at the same time, I needed to be honest about things. When he left, I thought that was it, and perhaps it was for the best. We’d never work together. He went to King Alton and said I’d raped him.”

“What the fuck?!”

“That’s what I thought when guards showed up at my home one day. King Alton had me dragged before the court.” Lord Gautier rested his elbow on the table and covered his eyes with one hand “I’d never been so ashamed in my life. Everyone was looking at me like-like I was a monster, and I don’t think any of them believed I was innocent. They’d already heard Matthew and decided I was guilty. Queen Elsie looked like she wanted to watch me hang right there in front of everyone. The only reason King Alton didn’t hang me for my supposed crime was because Matthew had no proof. He’d said he’d been injured quite badly, and he’d gone to a physician right away. He had no visible injuries.”

“Why didn’t King Alton bring in the physician?”

Lord Gautier shook his head. “Matthew said the physician had disappeared and was too terrified to speak against me, being a higher-up. How convenient he ran off, right? It was rather like your issue. One man said this happened, and another denied it. The only one who spoke for me was a servant in my home who said we’d often argued. She said it never came to blows, and the last night she’d seen Matthew, he’d walked out and appeared fine. Only angry.”

A man who’d been raped probably wouldn’t have been able to walk out like nothing happened. Jaime had no experience with anything of the sort, but it didn’t take a genius to guess how agonizing such injuries could be.

“King Alton decided to sack me and banish me from Moria, so I lost my position. I came here and explained my situation to Regis. We’ve known each other for years, I’ve visited his court many times before, and he knows I’d never do such a thing. He allows me to stay. The rest of the court doesn’t believe I’m guilty either, so quite a few call me lord as a sign of respect because they don’t believe I should have been sacked over the word of a jealous man.”

“Elira, that’s…that’s low to accuse another of rape just because you didn’t want to marry him.”

“Unfortunately, it happens. Money, position...A man who thinks he’ll get those things only to realize he won’t might get quite angry. He saw a way to punish me. In his mind, it was justified. I’m not entirely sure who Alton believed since he didn’t state his real feelings on the matter. If he didn’t believe his cousin at all, I don’t think he wanted to say so, especially to a family member.”

“Zacharie seems to trust you,” Jaime started. Clearly, with so many trusting and believing him, Lord Gautier wasn’t a dangerous man. “Even though he's a bit…” He cut off.

“Young?”

“Well…yeah…it’s your business, not mine.”

Lord Gautier chuckled. “I admit, it probably seems odd. He was eighteen when he approached me and admitted he’d been having feelings. I refused at first because of the age difference, and I thought it was a silly crush he’d forget about in three days. He was rather persistent. I’m glad I finally said yes. He’s quite a sweet man. I insisted we go slow in case he decided he didn’t want to be with a man so much older. It’s been almost two years.”

If they were happy together, that was all that mattered. Jaime’s opinion wasn't relevant to their feelings for each other.

“Aleric’s rather jealous which has caused strain between them.” Lord Gautier shook his head. “I’m hoping he’ll come to terms with this in a few years because I would like to marry Zacharie, and I don’t want there to be a rift they can’t close.”

Jaime raised an eyebrow. “He’s jealous?” He didn’t see Aleric as being the type to like an older man too.

“Yes. He’s tried breaking us up once before. I remember them as children. Aleric first, of course. After his Mother died, the twins passed shortly afterward. Aleric was small, and I think losing people at such a young age isn’t good for the mind. One might be fine later, but another won’t be. I went to the Regent’s court once. The Crown Prince Sébastien is similar in a way, and he lost his parents. I must admit, I didn’t particularly like him, although that doesn’t leave this room.”

It could account for Aleric’s asshole attitude. While Jaime hadn’t grown bitter after losing family, people didn’t always react the same way.

“Have you talked to Aleric? Maybe he feels like he’s losing his brother. The spouse often ends up being more important. I don’t have siblings, so I’m just guessing here.” Aleric also didn’t have his spouse either, and Jaime wasn’t sure if he should ask about it.

Lord Gautier waved a hand. “He doesn’t listen and won’t discuss anything with me. He’s had many problems with his attitude over the years, and he’s grown quite selfish. I think being the only child for a while and suddenly having a half-brother brought here to live changed him too. Don’t mention what I’ve told you to anyone.”

“No, of course not.” Aleric would be furious if he knew Lord Gautier had been talking about him and revealing sensitive information.

“As for your situation, I’d say to just…when he gets an attitude, don’t let him rile you up.”

Easier said than done, especially after fucking even though it had been to cure Aleric’s heat fever.

“I think he likes it at times. Getting the other riled, I mean. I imagine it makes him feel more in control. Why do you think I said nothing when he refused to clasp arms with me earlier? It would bring him satisfaction to see me annoyed. If he tells you to fetch a drink or to shut up, just do what he says. He might get bored after a while and pay less attention to you once he realizes you’re not entertaining.”

“All right.” Jaime could at least try.

“I should go find Zacharie since he said he might want to go riding.”

“All right. Enjoy your afternoon, m’lord.”

“You can call me Alexandre if you like. Some do.”

***

Jaime took a deep breath before opening the door.

He’d rather hoped that Aleric would be in his bedroom. Instead, he was sitting in an armchair by the cold fireplace with a book and a crystal lantern lit on the table beside him. One wouldn’t think anything out of the ordinary had happened, and he looked nothing like the horny, begging, whiny version from earlier who’d presented his slick ass to Jaime. He’d changed, and the laces of his sleeves were perfect. He’d also combed his hair, and the soft strands brushed the embroidered collar of his turquoise coat.

“You finally decided to come back?” he demanded.

The attitude hadn’t changed either.

“I only went to the library.” Jaime walked over and stood near the couch. “About earlier, I’m sorry I knocked and came in without-”

“Save it.” Aleric lowered his book to glare at him.

“We only had sex so I could cure you,” Jaime hastily said anyway. “It wasn’t to try your ass out. You were clearly in pain, and you were begging me to make it stop. It was either that or walk out and leave you, and I couldn’t. It was also more my fault. I don’t know about you, but I think it would have been pretty fucking cruel to abandon you since heat fever can last for hours.”

“In the future, you better think twice before you barge into my bedroom to start with. That’s not a space you can enter unless I specifically call for you or tell you when to enter.”

“I’m sorry I busted in.”

“Don’t ever come into my room again unless I specifically say you can. Got it?”

Those dark blue eyes were gorgeous. And beyond icy. Jaime practically wanted to shrivel on the spot and kiss him at the same time. That was not a combination he was used to. He had the sudden thought of making Aleric shut up by pushing him against the wall and kissing him. Maybe he’d do it back with the same hunger as earlier. Afterward, Jaime would turn him around, rip his trousers down, and do him a lot slower to better enjoy his wet ass and every noise he made until Aleric came all over the wall and needed Jaime to hold him up.

Except it wouldn’t go like that if he tried.

A faint blush blossomed on Aleric’s cheeks as if he knew what Jaime was thinking. “Got it?”

“Er, yeah.” He needed to get his mind out of the midden. Sex earlier didn’t mean anything in the future.

It seemed Aleric wasn’t going to specifically mention the sex part. Jaime would go down in his mind as the dirty necessity he’d needed for a few minutes.

“Also, don’t ever try to get on top of me and make assumptions about what I might like to do either.”

Jaime’s face grew hot. “Fine. I’m sorry about that too, but I also don’t like being treated like a midden for you to dump your cum in while you have an attitude the whole time. Don’t bother paying me if I’m lower than a street whore in your eyes because I’m not sucking your dick anymore. Use your money to buy a new toy. I’ll make sure not to disturb you while you’re stuffing the hole you said nothing goes up in. You can pull your own hair too.”

So much for not getting riled up. Aleric’s expression could have cut ice, and when he stood, Jaime wasn’t sure if he was about to get a slug or what. He glared back until a nasty smile spread on Aleric’s face.

“Fine. I will buy a new toy. At least the toy doesn’t whine because I won’t kiss it.”

“You were pretty eager to kiss me earlier. I don’t think you needed that to get off, and a heat doesn’t mean you suddenly love having your hair pulled.”

Aleric tossed his book on the table and headed for his bedroom. Jaime sat on the couch with his two books, opened one, and stared at the page while he told himself to calm down. Let Aleric have his little hissy fit and pout or whatever. Let him rant and fizzle himself out. He hadn’t threatened prison so Jaime could stay there and at least have a free roof and food.

Aleric left with his cloak on, and after his steps faded in the hall outside, Jaime let out a snort.

It’d be hilarious if Aleric was going out to buy a new toy right then.