“Forgive me, Exalted,” he said, in the tones of a penitent.
The smile bloomed wide on Kastor’s handsome face. He was so forthright in what he liked, when it was the two of them. He liked titles, and playing the thief, and being desired.
And Nik had always, always, desired him.
“Forgiven,” Kastor crooned, and chucked Nik under the chin.
The sickness went away. A different feeling - in a different place - took hold in its stead.
Whenever Kastor touched him, Nik was thirteen again and breathless, seeing Prince Kastor spar in the gymnasium. He could still remember how his hands had trembled, sprinting to the privacy of his best hiding place, giddy with wanting - sticky with the aftermath of that wanting. He’d been sick of babysitting the crown prince - it had always been the elder he’d admired, heard tales of his exploits, longed to meet him. And then when they had finally, finally, come to Ios, age had rendered him Damen’s companion, not Kastor’s.
He hadn’t known then, of course, that Damen was the best man in the world. The most deserving of friendship. But the passions of youth died hard. Had yet to die, in this case.
Of course, Kastor had only noticed him when he’d returned from the Kingsmeet, filled out and favoured by the white robes.
guess who got phone signal for the first time in 4 days! WE MOVE