#gentleprinces;

[despxratesouls]

Love Knows No Status

Continued: [x]  |  @princesircastic

A warm laugh escaped Philip at David’s hopes for him, looking upon the other man fondly. That smile and the polite tones of the other man that edged the border of employment and camaraderie always put him at ease and he felt the stress of the day slip away. “Perhaps, we can only hope, though I am not certain things will fall in my favour…” David’s reassurances about the serving girl did not assuage him of the guilt he felt for all she endured at the hands of his peers. “She ought not to have to. She is just a woman earning a living, not there for entertainment…” he sighed then, pressing his fingers to his forehead and sighing heavily.

“Oh come on, David, there must be some secret transgressions about your day! A secret cigarette break during your working hours? An extra cup of Earl Grey while organising the letters to be distributed? A sneaky read in the library while dusting the shelves? Taking an extra biscuit out to that brother of yours to make sure he eats something?” Philip teased, not actually seeing any of the above as anything close to a transgression. He simply wished to peel back the layers to find out what was beneath the dutiful, loyal exterior.

Laughter escaped him again as David spoke of him being a disaster without him and he nodded in agreement. “You are quite right, David. Without you I would undoubtedly be quite lost. Significantly so, in fact.” It was an easy admission to make for David had become such a key part of his daily routine, and his life, that there would be no way for him to be anything else but vital to his day to day living. “Luckily it won’t come to that, at least for some time. Perhaps when you find yourself a girl I might be usurped from your priorities…”

[despxratesouls]

Study Break

Continued: [x]  |  @princesircastic

The frustration in his boyfriend’s tone as he said his name made Philip grin into the kiss, entirely unapologetic for the mess he had made of the notes. He cared more for the sensation of lips against his own and David’s cheeks beneath his palms. He hummed noncommittally at David’s insistence he picked up the notes, certain he most likely would eventually just to keep the other happy, but preferring to delegate even the thought of doing so till later. 

“If I agree to will you stop thinking about work and kiss me properly?” he murmured teasingly, brushing kisses against the other’s jaw, not wanting to linger too long on the thought of NEWTs - a mood dampener for sure. He returned then to steal another kiss from David, slow and passionate, one hand sliding to bury in his hair as he pressed against David’s chest, unwilling to have even an inch of space between them. 

[despxratesouls]

Secret Reunions

Continued: [x]  |  @princesircastic

Philip had no doubt of the truth in David’s words, for the lifestyle of a prince was hard enough for those who had been born into it, let alone for someone who had been forced into it after living in an entirely different way. He nodded gently at David’s words to show he was paying attention, even as he leant into the embrace, a smile gracing his lips as David spoke of what had encouraged him to the ball. “Couldn’t wait to see my handsome face again, eh?” he teased, though he knew David would see through the teased words to the returned sentiment.

Falling into the soft kiss, he shifted his hands to rest at David’s hips, holding him close so that he could prolong separating from him for as long as possible. He knew their time would be limited, and soon, unless he could come up with something that might draw them away from the crowds to excuse their being alone together, they would have to return to where all eyes would be on them and play the roles they had been given. Drawing back from the kiss, he smiled at David, the edges of the look tinged with melancholy. “And I have missed you, my darling, still, we have now…”

Leaning his head against David’s shoulder, he wrapped his arms around him, embracing him tightly, trying to think of a reason two young princes might disappear from a ball, and yet still be doing something deemed respectful. He thought perhaps one of them could be taken ill and require some air, but that would rely on their fathers not being the ones to find them. He just needed something that might secure him and hour or two alone with David, where he could focus on what they shared together and nothing else.

[despxratesouls]

First Holidays

Continued: [x]  |  @princesircastic

Grinning, Philip looked down at his partner as he was given consent to take all the kisses he wanted, happy to indulge in that. The hand in his curls had him leaning into it. Taking every single bit of affection he was given by the man he adored. “I’ll hold you to it, you know…” he murmured, a laugh in his voice. “By the end of the holiday, you’ll be sick of me…” he joked, though doubted it would ever happen. Ever since they’d started dating, they had been that nauseatingly adoring couple who just worked and were always in each other’s space.

“I did, I had a free day and wanted to make it feel like the holidays. Properly…” he admitted, looking around to admire his handiwork. “You don’t mind, do you?” he added, hoping that David wasn’t too disappointed he had leaped ahead and begun decorating without him. “There’s a fair bit… everywhere…” A laugh fell from his lips after his admittance, not entirely sorry at all that it was the case. He’d envisioned being able to steal kisses even more than normal, and had placed it in all the spots around the place David was known to linger.

[despxratesouls]

A Teasing Start

Continued: [x]  |  @princesircastic

With fingers digging into David’s thigh as he made enough motions to ensure that it would appear he was still reaching for the keys, though truly all Philip as doing, was counting down the seconds until he was told off for the stunt he was pulling. When he heard the firm tones of his partner’s voice murmuring his name, he tipped his head up with an innocent looking smile and tipped his head to the side.

“Sure? I’ll just grab the keys…” he answered, watching his partner’s expression for a moment before ducking his head to conceal his smirk and grabbing the keys. Using David to support himself – and to get in some additional touches – he rose to his feet, smiling at his partner. “Well, let’s go home,” he grinned before inserting the key into the lock and twisting, letting himself into his new home.

[despxratesouls]

Difficulties in Pretending

Continued: [x]  |  @princesircastic

With David’s lips against his own, Philip knew that the error he had made in asking his friend to be his pretend date was much bigger than he had anticipated, for the longer they remained in the lip-lock, the more he realised that he was not pretending. Hands shifted from the light hold they had previously had on David’s hips to grasp more tightly, and he leant into the kiss pressing their bodies together firmly as he returned the gesture. It was only when he heard a polite cough next to him that he drew back and locked eyes with his mother. “Take your boy outside, darling. I think the pair of you need to talk…” she said knowingly, and Philip knew then she had known it had been a ruse from the start.

Taking a hold of David’s hand, he nodded, tugging him gently from the room into the quieter hallway beyond, not stopping or looking back at him until he reached the gardens. Partially because he had so many thoughts running through his mind about the other man that he did not know what to think, but also because he knew that if he stopped and turned back now he would only want to kiss him again. Once in the garden he released David’s hand and twisted to face him, tugging his tie loose and popping the top button of his shirt so he could breathe more easily. “David, I…” he began, but words trailed off as he realised he had no idea what he could say.

[despxratesouls]

Morning Cuddles

Continued: [x]  |  @princesircastic

Just woken up David was adorable in Philip’s opinion, and he could not help but smile at the sleepy nuzzling of his partner. He knew that with his partner’s lack of movement, David had consented to them sharing a lazy morning in bed, something that made him extraordinarily happy. He nodded in agreement at David’s words, sighing happily as fingers traced over his skin gently. “You’re right, it has been, awfully so…” he murmured, leaning in then to steal a gentle kiss that was little more than a brush of lips.

“I’ve missed you terribly,” he murmured, shifting to curl against David once more, his words perhaps teasing in nature, though there was some truth in them. As a man who thrived on the physical aspects of their relationship; the touches, sitting pressed together to work, gentle kisses and holding each other, it had been something of a loss to suddenly find himself leaving the house as David returned home, barely time for a kiss goodbye as he did so.

[despxratesouls]

Deliberate Temptation

Continued: [x]  |  @princesircastic

“You sure?” Philip grinned, not unaware of the way David’s gaze seemed to be more directed towards his towel than his face. “Because I’m pretty sure your finger’s bleeding...” Pushing himself out of his lean, he crossed to the bathroom cabinet, taking out the box of plasters and selecting one from within. Putting the box back on the shelf, he pressed the cabinet closed and wandered over to David, holding the plaster out to him with a grin. 

“Might want to stick that on it, before you’ve got a bit of a mess on your hands...” he advised with a grin, knowing the cut was the last thing on David’s mind given how distracted he was.