His best intentions chapter 16 part 1
Lady Hilarie squeezed her eyes shut and ignored the jab of pain in her abdomen. Her servants had dimmed the oil lamps and lit candles, giving the room a cozy glow. She took a breath and smiled at her husband.
“Are you alright, darling?” he asked.
“Yes, I simply need to sit,” she assured him. “If everyone else is ready, let’s get started.”
The minister led Jared and Jensen to their places. He stood between them and acknowledged the others in the room with a nod.
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered together this evening to join Jensen, son of Timothy and Katherine, and Jared, son of-” he looked at Jared for help.
“John and Mary,” Jared and Jensen replied together.
“Son of John and Mary, in the bonds of Holy Matrimony. Gentlemen, take each other’s hands.” Once they had, he continued. “To quote First Corinthians, ‘Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not self-seeking, it does not dishonor others.’ But men do,” he paused. “And that is why marriage is complicated. The world is a complicated, dangerous place. What makes life worthwhile is having that person whose hand you can hold, who will face the challenges with you. Jared and Jensen, you have found that person in each other. Together, you will navigate the journey of marriage to find a home.”
“Jared, do you take Jensen to be your husband? To have and to hold from this day forward, in sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer? If so, answer ‘I do’.”
Jared smiled, big and bright, squeezed Jensen’s hands, and said, “I do.”
“Jensen, do you take Jared to be your husband? To have and to hold from this day forward, in sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer? If so, answer ‘I do’.”
“I do.”
The minister continued. “These solemn vows are a promise you make before us in this room, and before God in heaven. A symbol of this vow is the ring you exchange.” He paused, waiting for them to produce the rings. “Gentlemen, the rings?”
Sheer panic crossed both faces. Jensen pulled off the family ring he wore on his right hand. “Uh, here, we can use this. Jared, we can find another ring later.”
Looking heartbroken, Jared was about to argue when Jeffrey stepped up. “Here, use this.” He pulled a ring off his finger. “It was a gift from the King. I assume it’s suitable for this situation.”
Jared accepted it with a grateful smile. “Thank you.”
The reverend began again. “Jared, repeat after me: Jensen, with this ring, I thee wed. Pledging my love for you forever.”
Jared slid the ring on Jensen’s finger. “Jensen, with this ring, I pledge my love forever.”
“Close enough.” The reverend turned to Jensen. “Your Highness, repeat after me-”
Jensen slipped the ring on Jared’s finger before the minister could finish speaking. “Jared, with this ring, I pledge my life and my love forever.”
“Very good.” The reverend nodded and then raised his voice to address the others in the room. “By the power vested in me by God and country, I now pronounce you married. What we have joined together let no man tear asunder.” He smiled at Jared and Jensen. “You may kiss your husband.”
A loud cheer broke out in the room as Jared and Jensen shared their first kiss as husbands.
“Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to present the Princes Jared and Jensen.”
Everyone in the room bowed. Jensen nodded nervously, and the room stood.
“A toast to the happy couple,” Jeffery said, his voice booming as servants rushed around with wine glasses. “To the light of love-may it burn brightest in the darkest hours and never flicker in the winds of trial.”
Jensen tugged on Jared’s hand, making him look at him questioningly. “I have never been this happy,” he whispered.
Jared’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Never?”
“Never. I am so very much in love with you,” Jensen replied, kissing Jared gently and making the room erupt in cheers.
Their room glowed with firelight from the hearth and candles at the bedside. For a moment Jared remembered his fear from his first night with the Prince. How foolish he had been to assume Jensen would hurt him. He turned to his husband to find concern in his eyes.
“Jared, is something wrong?”
“No, not at all. I was so wrong about you.” He kissed Jensen’s hand. “Thank you for being patient with me.” He led his husband to the bed as he spoke.
“Your love is worth waiting for,” Jensen whispered into a kiss.
Jared grinned as his fingers nimbly undid Jensen’s tie. “I’m done waiting.”
They fumbled with jackets, waistcoats, and ties, finally dumping them on the floor. Their feet tripped as they stepped out of their shoes. Arms bumped as buttons were undone and they laughed into their kisses, flinging their shirts to the side. They nearly knocked heads as both bent to remove their pants. Jared sat on the bed to peel off his remaining clothes.
Jensen’s eyes slowly drank in every inch of Jared, as if his husband were an elixir that intoxicated him.
“You look better than I imagined.”
Jared looked up at him with a coy smile. “You thought about this? About me, like this?”
“Yes, of course, I did, many times.”
Jared sat on the edge of the bed and slid his fingers into Jensen’s waistband to pull him close. As he undid the fastening on Jensen’s pants, he looked up at him and asked, “Did you touch yourself while you imagined me naked?”
Jensen sucked in a breath as Jared’s fingers teased his erection. “Yes, sometimes. Did you? Ever?” he asked, his voice a shaky whisper.
Jared smirked to himself and leaned forward, placing a kiss on Jensen’s abdomen. “Think about you? Yes, of course. On the night of the festival, I thought about how good it felt to be in your arms as we danced.” He trailed kisses across his husband’s chest. Having loosened Jensen’s pants, Jared slipped his hands inside and slid them around to grip his ass. “At Wildebridge, after we kissed, I dreamt about kissing more than just your lips.” His path of open mouth kisses led lower on Jensen’s body until Jared bent low and his mouth hovered at Jensen’s waistband. Jared’s breath was hot on Jensen’s cock as it strained against the thin material of his underclothes. “Last night, I missed you so much. All I could think about was what it would be like to finally be with you as your husband.”
“Right now, it’s torturous.” Jensen was torn between letting Jared continue this delicious torment and tackling him onto the bed and claiming every inch of him. “I want,” he hesitated.
“What do you want?” Jared asked before putting his mouth on the tip of Jensen’s still-covered cock.
“Ye gods, you. I want you,” Jensen growled.
Jared leaned away and pushed himself back onto the bed. “Then finish undressing and join me,” he teased, patting the bed.
Once he joined his husband, Jensen relished the feel of Jared’s body against his.
They took their time exploring each other with their hands and mouths. Learning what made the other whimper with want or moan in desire. The earlier frenzy of passion slowed, but burned that much hotter. Jensen had waited so long for this moment. He wanted it to last, and he wanted it over just so they could do it again.
Something in the way Jensen was looking at him shook Jared. It was more than lust, and it made Jared feel cherished. Jensen combed his fingers into Jared’s hair and pulled him in for a kiss. He loved Jared with so much heart and passion. For as much as Jared loved his husband, Jensen seemed to love him back even more.
Jensen took a bottle of scented oil from the bedside, his valets truly thought of everything, and poured some into his hand. Slowly he started to slick his cock, watching Jared’s eyes fixate on how his hand worked the length from base to crown.
“How do you want to do this?” Jensen asked, running his fingers up Jared’s cock and back down again until he had a rhythm that made Jared writhe beneath his caresses.
“Just like this.” Jared set a pillow under his butt and waited until Jensen was over him again for another kiss, letting him slowly move his fingers against his ass.
Jensen marveled at the feeling of tight heat and the smooth clench of muscles. “Is this okay?” he said into another kiss.
Jared nodded. He felt a little dazed from all the stimulation, mouth open, breathing harshly, eyes out of focus, pupils dilated, whimpering little moans of pleasure. “I’m ready, I swear.”
For Jensen it was an effort not to spill his seed immediately, with Jared making those sounds and moving against him, eager, flushed, fingers clenching at Jensen’s back.
Jensen angled into place. He slowly pushed inside, closing his eyes so he could concentrate without the look in Jared’s eyes to make him lose control, without the additional stimulation of Jared’s lip turning white where he was biting down on it, trying to relax.
Once fully inside Jared, Jensen groaned, because it was difficult to hold back without Jared suddenly rocking his hips up into him, clenching around him, finding his lips, and kissing him.
“Oh,” Jared breathed out, eyes huge, and Jensen kissed back, desperately, and then he thrust once and again, and Jared hooked his legs around Jensen’s waist and worked with more force.
After that, it became a back-and-forth of Jensen shoving into Jared’s body and drawing out as fast as he could, making Jared gasp every time. Jensen tried to keep going as long as he could, tried to drown in the heat and tightness, but since he had to keep himself off Jared so he wouldn’t crush him, he couldn’t touch Jared’s cock.
Jared took care of that on his own, finally. He went as long as he could just feeling Jensen inside him, then he took one arm from around Jensen’s neck and slid it between their bodies, slender fingers closing over his own cock, stroking a few times, every single jerk making his breath hitch in the back of his throat, perfectly timed with the rhythm of Jensen’s cock driving into his body.
Jared came a few moments later, muscles clenching, a gasp of near rapture. Nothing in his life had ever felt so right. It was enough to spur Jensen on, every new thrust making Jared’s oversensitive body scream with pleasure. Soon, he was riding his release, muscles quivering as he held himself over Jared.
“Wow,” Jared muttered, pulling Jensen down on top of him. “We should do this more often.”
Jensen rolled off him. “I agree. Several times daily, if you wish.”
As they lay together, Jared studied their entwined fingers, unsure where his ended and Jensen’s began. “I love you, Jensen. I look forward to growing old with you,” he whispered. “And making love on the beaches of Muldera, where we can be as loud and as carefree as we wish.”
“Mmm, yes,” Jensen murmured. “Let’s spend the rest of our nights like this.”
“Are you alright, darling?” he asked.
“Yes, I simply need to sit,” she assured him. “If everyone else is ready, let’s get started.”
The minister led Jared and Jensen to their places. He stood between them and acknowledged the others in the room with a nod.
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered together this evening to join Jensen, son of Timothy and Katherine, and Jared, son of-” he looked at Jared for help.
“John and Mary,” Jared and Jensen replied together.
“Son of John and Mary, in the bonds of Holy Matrimony. Gentlemen, take each other’s hands.” Once they had, he continued. “To quote First Corinthians, ‘Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not self-seeking, it does not dishonor others.’ But men do,” he paused. “And that is why marriage is complicated. The world is a complicated, dangerous place. What makes life worthwhile is having that person whose hand you can hold, who will face the challenges with you. Jared and Jensen, you have found that person in each other. Together, you will navigate the journey of marriage to find a home.”
“Jared, do you take Jensen to be your husband? To have and to hold from this day forward, in sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer? If so, answer ‘I do’.”
Jared smiled, big and bright, squeezed Jensen’s hands, and said, “I do.”
“Jensen, do you take Jared to be your husband? To have and to hold from this day forward, in sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer? If so, answer ‘I do’.”
“I do.”
The minister continued. “These solemn vows are a promise you make before us in this room, and before God in heaven. A symbol of this vow is the ring you exchange.” He paused, waiting for them to produce the rings. “Gentlemen, the rings?”
Sheer panic crossed both faces. Jensen pulled off the family ring he wore on his right hand. “Uh, here, we can use this. Jared, we can find another ring later.”
Looking heartbroken, Jared was about to argue when Jeffrey stepped up. “Here, use this.” He pulled a ring off his finger. “It was a gift from the King. I assume it’s suitable for this situation.”
Jared accepted it with a grateful smile. “Thank you.”
The reverend began again. “Jared, repeat after me: Jensen, with this ring, I thee wed. Pledging my love for you forever.”
Jared slid the ring on Jensen’s finger. “Jensen, with this ring, I pledge my love forever.”
“Close enough.” The reverend turned to Jensen. “Your Highness, repeat after me-”
Jensen slipped the ring on Jared’s finger before the minister could finish speaking. “Jared, with this ring, I pledge my life and my love forever.”
“Very good.” The reverend nodded and then raised his voice to address the others in the room. “By the power vested in me by God and country, I now pronounce you married. What we have joined together let no man tear asunder.” He smiled at Jared and Jensen. “You may kiss your husband.”
A loud cheer broke out in the room as Jared and Jensen shared their first kiss as husbands.
“Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to present the Princes Jared and Jensen.”
Everyone in the room bowed. Jensen nodded nervously, and the room stood.
“A toast to the happy couple,” Jeffery said, his voice booming as servants rushed around with wine glasses. “To the light of love-may it burn brightest in the darkest hours and never flicker in the winds of trial.”
Jensen tugged on Jared’s hand, making him look at him questioningly. “I have never been this happy,” he whispered.
Jared’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Never?”
“Never. I am so very much in love with you,” Jensen replied, kissing Jared gently and making the room erupt in cheers.
Their room glowed with firelight from the hearth and candles at the bedside. For a moment Jared remembered his fear from his first night with the Prince. How foolish he had been to assume Jensen would hurt him. He turned to his husband to find concern in his eyes.
“Jared, is something wrong?”
“No, not at all. I was so wrong about you.” He kissed Jensen’s hand. “Thank you for being patient with me.” He led his husband to the bed as he spoke.
“Your love is worth waiting for,” Jensen whispered into a kiss.
Jared grinned as his fingers nimbly undid Jensen’s tie. “I’m done waiting.”
They fumbled with jackets, waistcoats, and ties, finally dumping them on the floor. Their feet tripped as they stepped out of their shoes. Arms bumped as buttons were undone and they laughed into their kisses, flinging their shirts to the side. They nearly knocked heads as both bent to remove their pants. Jared sat on the bed to peel off his remaining clothes.
Jensen’s eyes slowly drank in every inch of Jared, as if his husband were an elixir that intoxicated him.
“You look better than I imagined.”
Jared looked up at him with a coy smile. “You thought about this? About me, like this?”
“Yes, of course, I did, many times.”
Jared sat on the edge of the bed and slid his fingers into Jensen’s waistband to pull him close. As he undid the fastening on Jensen’s pants, he looked up at him and asked, “Did you touch yourself while you imagined me naked?”
Jensen sucked in a breath as Jared’s fingers teased his erection. “Yes, sometimes. Did you? Ever?” he asked, his voice a shaky whisper.
Jared smirked to himself and leaned forward, placing a kiss on Jensen’s abdomen. “Think about you? Yes, of course. On the night of the festival, I thought about how good it felt to be in your arms as we danced.” He trailed kisses across his husband’s chest. Having loosened Jensen’s pants, Jared slipped his hands inside and slid them around to grip his ass. “At Wildebridge, after we kissed, I dreamt about kissing more than just your lips.” His path of open mouth kisses led lower on Jensen’s body until Jared bent low and his mouth hovered at Jensen’s waistband. Jared’s breath was hot on Jensen’s cock as it strained against the thin material of his underclothes. “Last night, I missed you so much. All I could think about was what it would be like to finally be with you as your husband.”
“Right now, it’s torturous.” Jensen was torn between letting Jared continue this delicious torment and tackling him onto the bed and claiming every inch of him. “I want,” he hesitated.
“What do you want?” Jared asked before putting his mouth on the tip of Jensen’s still-covered cock.
“Ye gods, you. I want you,” Jensen growled.
Jared leaned away and pushed himself back onto the bed. “Then finish undressing and join me,” he teased, patting the bed.
Once he joined his husband, Jensen relished the feel of Jared’s body against his.
They took their time exploring each other with their hands and mouths. Learning what made the other whimper with want or moan in desire. The earlier frenzy of passion slowed, but burned that much hotter. Jensen had waited so long for this moment. He wanted it to last, and he wanted it over just so they could do it again.
Something in the way Jensen was looking at him shook Jared. It was more than lust, and it made Jared feel cherished. Jensen combed his fingers into Jared’s hair and pulled him in for a kiss. He loved Jared with so much heart and passion. For as much as Jared loved his husband, Jensen seemed to love him back even more.
Jensen took a bottle of scented oil from the bedside, his valets truly thought of everything, and poured some into his hand. Slowly he started to slick his cock, watching Jared’s eyes fixate on how his hand worked the length from base to crown.
“How do you want to do this?” Jensen asked, running his fingers up Jared’s cock and back down again until he had a rhythm that made Jared writhe beneath his caresses.
“Just like this.” Jared set a pillow under his butt and waited until Jensen was over him again for another kiss, letting him slowly move his fingers against his ass.
Jensen marveled at the feeling of tight heat and the smooth clench of muscles. “Is this okay?” he said into another kiss.
Jared nodded. He felt a little dazed from all the stimulation, mouth open, breathing harshly, eyes out of focus, pupils dilated, whimpering little moans of pleasure. “I’m ready, I swear.”
For Jensen it was an effort not to spill his seed immediately, with Jared making those sounds and moving against him, eager, flushed, fingers clenching at Jensen’s back.
Jensen angled into place. He slowly pushed inside, closing his eyes so he could concentrate without the look in Jared’s eyes to make him lose control, without the additional stimulation of Jared’s lip turning white where he was biting down on it, trying to relax.
Once fully inside Jared, Jensen groaned, because it was difficult to hold back without Jared suddenly rocking his hips up into him, clenching around him, finding his lips, and kissing him.
“Oh,” Jared breathed out, eyes huge, and Jensen kissed back, desperately, and then he thrust once and again, and Jared hooked his legs around Jensen’s waist and worked with more force.
After that, it became a back-and-forth of Jensen shoving into Jared’s body and drawing out as fast as he could, making Jared gasp every time. Jensen tried to keep going as long as he could, tried to drown in the heat and tightness, but since he had to keep himself off Jared so he wouldn’t crush him, he couldn’t touch Jared’s cock.
Jared took care of that on his own, finally. He went as long as he could just feeling Jensen inside him, then he took one arm from around Jensen’s neck and slid it between their bodies, slender fingers closing over his own cock, stroking a few times, every single jerk making his breath hitch in the back of his throat, perfectly timed with the rhythm of Jensen’s cock driving into his body.
Jared came a few moments later, muscles clenching, a gasp of near rapture. Nothing in his life had ever felt so right. It was enough to spur Jensen on, every new thrust making Jared’s oversensitive body scream with pleasure. Soon, he was riding his release, muscles quivering as he held himself over Jared.
“Wow,” Jared muttered, pulling Jensen down on top of him. “We should do this more often.”
Jensen rolled off him. “I agree. Several times daily, if you wish.”
As they lay together, Jared studied their entwined fingers, unsure where his ended and Jensen’s began. “I love you, Jensen. I look forward to growing old with you,” he whispered. “And making love on the beaches of Muldera, where we can be as loud and as carefree as we wish.”
“Mmm, yes,” Jensen murmured. “Let’s spend the rest of our nights like this.”