The Laws of Ilyria - 12/17 (part b)
PART A
It didn’t take long after that for news to spread through the caravan. Within days, every soldier and slave in the formation knew that Lord Lambert had taken Prince Thomas for his lover. The soldiers realized it first of course, having already speculated quietly for several weeks as they watched the king and the prince together. Now, they were convinced, and it was easy to see why. Where before, the prince and Lord Lambert had kept a respectable distance during their morning talks, now they stood mere inches away from each other, murmuring softly, touching each other, surreptitious little caresses that could have been easily missed if no one was looking.
They saw the way Lord Lambert brushed the prince’s hair away from his face one morning, cradling his jaw for a brief moment before wishing him luck on the day’s hunt. They saw the way that the prince raced to the king’s tent the moment the hunting party rejoined the caravan at night, remaining there for untold hours, all alone with the king. They saw the way the king smiled softly, failing to register any displeasure or surprise one morning when several soldiers heard the prince call Lord Lambert “Adam” out in the open.
It took a little longer for the news to filter down to the slaves, but soon enough, they knew it too. They hardly saw the prince anymore. He would leave soon after the morning bell and return in the middle of the night, stumbling about a little in the dark before sliding into his cot as quietly as he could. And after one night when Prince Thomas didn’t appear until after the morning bell was rung, they were convinced of the news as well. Lord Ratliff’s son had become the lover of the man who’d conquered Troianus. But how such a thing had happened, no one could say. Not one person, soldier or slave, could hazard a guess.
At first, Tommy failed to notice the change in the air. He was in a state of blissful ignorance, so completely caught up in the wonder and excitement of what he now shared with the king that he didn’t notice the difference in the way people treated him. Before, there had been an unconscious respect, a deference borne of an abiding adherence to the laws of Ilyria. But now, it was a conscious thing, a deliberate effort to show respect for the King of Elysia’s lover. It took a while to register, but when it finally did, Tommy suddenly saw the signs of the shift everywhere.
Tommy noticed how the slaves stared at him in awe during those few minutes in the morning when he bathed and ate in the slave camp. He noticed how the entire hunting party-even the captain-deferred to his every whim on the hunt. Tommy noticed other things too. Like the jealous stares cast his way by some of the soldiers, burning hot looks laced with disbelief, as if they couldn’t believe that the king would choose Tommy when he could have them. Like the disapproving stares of some of the older slaves, dark looks laced with hostility, as if they thought Tommy had betrayed Troianus by taking to the king’s bed. It was those looks that embarrassed him most, that gave him pause and made him question himself. But whenever the questions came, whenever doubt arose, whenever that old voice threatened to shatter his newfound happiness, Tommy would hold fast to the king’s words. There is no weakness in this. I have nothing to be ashamed of, he would tell himself before turning away and going about his business. He wasn’t going to live a half-life for anyone. Not anymore.
Tommy took the jealous glances and disapproving looks in stride. But even his patience and equanimity had limits. That was the reason why, one morning, when an old slave shot him a dark look for the third time in as many days, Tommy let out a low, vicious curse before he could stop himself.
“I beg your pardon, my lord. What did you say?”
Tommy finished tying the knot to hold his cot closed before turning around. He smiled at the boy who’d been beside him back when Tommy still marched with the slaves and who still slept in the cot next to his own.
“My lord?”
Tommy’s smile took a rueful turn for a moment. It seemed he would never be successful in making the boy-Longineau, he’d since discovered-ever stop addressing him as “my lord.”
“Nothing you need to hear, old boy,” Tommy replied with a wide smile.
“If you say so, my lord.” The boy returned to packing up his cot. But when Tommy began to walk away, he spoke again.
“May I ask you a question, my lord?”
“Of course.”
“They say…you are Lord Lambert’s lover. Is it true?”
Tommy felt his face fill with heat. It was the first time he’d ever been asked the question directly, and it took him an embarrassingly long moment to steady himself well enough to answer.
“And who is it exactly that says so?” Tommy returned as evenly as he could.
“Everyone. Is it true?”
“Yes.”
“That’s incredible!”
Tommy laughed. “Thank you. I think?”
“Do you think that…do you think that I could possibly-I mean, I’ve never met a king before and he’s not just anyking. He’s the Supreme Protector of all Ilyria! But do you think that maybe, possibly, perhaps I can meet him?”
Tommy found himself laughing again as the words tumbled out of the boy at breakneck speed. “So, you want to meet the king, is that it?”
“Yes. Can you talk to him? If you are his lover, he’ll do what you ask. Please, my lord. It would be the most amazing day of my life.”
Tommy stared down at the boy’s clasped hands and eager eyes. “In that case, I’ll have to arrange it, won’t I?”
“Really?!”
“Really. Tonight, after the evening meal, walk forward through the third cavalry and past the chariotsmen and archers. You’ll see a large, burgundy tent. I’ll be waiting outside of it for you. You can meet the king then.”
How Tommy didn’t become instantly deaf from all the boy’s shrieking, he would never know.
“So, what’s this about a special visitor?”
“You’ll have to wait and see, Adam.”
They were sitting at a table outside the king’s tent after taking their evening meal together. Tommy smiled when Adam let out an exaggerated sigh in reaction to his teasing response. Adam. Ever since that night two weeks ago, when Adam had finally let him in, he’d insisted on Tommy calling him by name. Not that Tommy minded. He loved it in fact, because it was one less barrier between them. This small act of intimacy was important, especially after those moments when Adam would suddenly pull back from Tommy and completely shut him out. Whenever Tommy talked about Troianus or mentioned his father, some unknown emotion would tighten Adam’s features and he would pull away, refusing to meet Tommy’s gaze or tell him what was wrong. But as much as Tommy wanted to push, he gave Adam the space he needed. When he was ready, Adam would tell him everything. Tommy was certain of it.
“Who is that?”
Tommy broke free of his brief reverie and stared off into the distance to see Longineau practically racing towards the tent.
“Your visitor.”
When Longineau reached the tent, he greeted Tommy and then dropped to his knees before the king. With his hands clasped tightly in front of him and his head bowed, he murmured, “Good evening, Lord Protector.”
“You may rise.” When the boy was on his feet again, Adam spoke again. “What is your name?”
“Longineau, my lord.”
Adam raised an eyebrow when he heard the name. “Longineau…that isn’t an Ilyrian name.”
“No, it isn’t, my lord. My grandfather was brought to Troianus after Lord Ratliff defeated King Cadmus at the battle of Lake Ohrid.”
Tommy watched Adam nod in recognition. Every soldier worth his salt knew of that battle eighteen years ago, when king of Troianus had crushed the would-be invasion from the eastern Outerlands. Adam’s gaze swept over the boy’s dark complexion and jet-black hair, both tell-tale signs of his Sesarethii ancestry.
“I see. You are originally from Sesareth.”
“Yes, my lord. But I am Ilyrian now. Like you,” he said proudly, earning himself a laugh from the king.
“Is that so?” Adam said. “Tell me more about yourself.”
Tommy watched, amused, as Longineau began doing just that, telling Adam just about everything he possibly could, and all at breakneck speed. But Adam took in all in good humor, smiling and laughing along, even when the words came in a hopeless jumble.
“Tell me, Longineau, what tasks are you assigned in your camp?” Adam asked when the boy was finally done speaking.
“Nothing much, my lord. I carry my things during the day’s march and sometimes, I help with preparing the evening meal.”
“How would you like to have a new task?”
“What do you mean, my lord?”
“I usually don’t keep a page when I’m away from Elysia on a campaign. But that’s all over now and suddenly I find myself thinking it might be good to make a change. How would you like to be my page?”
Longineau’s eyes widened with shock at the unexpected honor. For his own part, Tommy shot Adam a surprised look. He hadn’t expected the king to do this. But then again, he hadn’t expected the king to humor an over-excited child for almost half an hour either.
“Before you answer,” Adam continued, “you should know that I am very demanding. I expect you to be here every day after the evening meal to polish my sword and shield and to groom my horse. Can you do that without fail?”
“Yes, my lord. I can do that.” A wide smile decorated his face. “You honor me too much, my lord. I won’t disappoint. I swear.”
“I trust that you won’t.” Adam looked up at the moon for a brief moment. “Come now. It’s getting late. You should return to your camp.”
“Of course, my lord. Thank you again.” Longineau walked to the other side of the table where Tommy sat and launched himself at the prince, giving him a quick, tight embrace.
“Thank you, Prince Thomas,” he exclaimed in gratitude before hurrying away into the night.
Tommy watched him go for a short while before turning back to find an amused look on Adam’s face.
“What?”
“So, what’s all this about? What am I, pickled kidneys? Minced liver? How come you get an embrace and I don’t?” Adam dissolved into a fit of laughter before he was even done speaking.
Tommy felt the sound wash over him and for a moment, he felt like his heart would burst. How had he gotten so lucky? How had he gotten to this point, to this moment of easy companionship and affection?
Tommy got up from the table. “Come on. Let’s go inside.”
“No, really, I’d like to know. Where’s my embrace?” Adam asked with mock petulance as he rose from the table as well.
Tommy walked to the tent’s entrance and lifted the heavy fabric aside. “Come inside and I’ll give you a dozen embraces.”
Adam flashed him a playful smile. “Best idea I’ve heard all day.”
When they were inside, Tommy turned to Adam. “You should know that I plan to tell everyone your secret.”
“What?”
“Don’t pretend. I saw you just now. ‘Where are you from, Longineau?’, ‘Tell me all about yourself, Longineau.’ You were like an old woman. I shall tell everyone that your heart is mush.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
Tommy sighed dramatically. “Oh Adam, darling, if you believe that then you don’t know me at all. I shall send Runners to every corner of Ilyria. I’ll scream it at the top of my lungs. I’ll tell everyone that the Supreme Protector has the heart of a doting, seventy year-old grandmother.”
“Take it back!”
“Not on your life!”
Tommy let out a high-pitched laugh and raced towards the bed when Adam gave chase. When Adam tackled him, they both fell back onto the bed, laughing wildly, limbs hopelessly tangled together.
“Take it back!” Adam cried playfully.
“Never!”
Tommy kept laughing as he twisted and turned beneath Adam. He was so caught up in their play that it took him several seconds to realize that Adam had stopped laughing, had stopped moving altogether. Tommy stilled beneath him and looked up to meet Adam’s gaze. His blue eyes burned with naked desire, and Tommy felt his heartbeat accelerating as his body responded instantly to that look. He took stock of how they were lying together, how his thighs were spread apart, cradling Adam’s body between them. He could feel Adam’s cock hardening against his own and suddenly, there was nothing in all the six kingdoms that Tommy wanted more. Despite all the time they’d spent together, they still hadn’t attempted the final act. Even though he wanted it desperately, Tommy hadn’t pushed, ever mindful of Adam’s lingering reluctance. But as Tommy had discovered this morning, his patience had limits.
Tommy spread his thighs even wider beneath Adam’s body. “Take me,” he whispered. He reached out to hold Adam close when he tried to shift away. “Take me,” Tommy repeated. I want to feel you.”
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You won’t. I trust you.”
Adam stared down at him for a long moment. Just when Tommy thought he would refuse him again, Adam nodded.
“Alright.” Then he smiled. “Anything for you.”
Tommy let out a delighted sound and pulled Adam down into a kiss. At first, he merely brushed against Adam’s lips with his own. But after a few seconds, he weaved his fingers into Adam’s long black hair and tugged him closer, deepening the kiss. Adam melted into him with a soft groan, slanting his mouth over Tommy’s, letting Tommy control the kiss. When Tommy parted his lips, Adam took the invitation eagerly, sliding his tongue into Tommy’s mouth, exploring, tasting, claiming. But eventually, he pulled away, drawing a frustrated moan from Tommy’s lips.
“No. Don’t stop…”
Adam smiled as he rose to his feet. “I’ll only be a moment.”
Tommy pushed up on his elbows to watch, blushing furiously a moment later when Adam returned to the bed, right hand clutching a clear glass bottle filled with oil. Without warning, a memory of that night came rushing back, a vivid image of Adam standing just like this, blue eyes wild and burning with intent. Suddenly, Tommy felt his body pulling tight with tension. No. Tommy pushed away the memory. He reminded himself that this was different, this was nothing like that first time when they’d both been half-mad and completely out of control. Everything had changed between them. He wasn’t about to be taken by a near-stranger. This was Adam. Adam was about to make love to him, and there was nothing in the world that Tommy wanted more.
It started slowly, first the clink of glass against wood and then the soft rustle of silk brocade and blue broadcloth sliding away from eager bodies and being tossed carelessly unto the floor. They undressed themselves one item at a time, gazes locked on each other’s bodies, eyes greedily tracing every minute movement. When they were naked, they stood in silence, staring at each other, lust evident in parted lips and darkened eyes. Perfection, Tommy thought. In all of his dreams, he’d never seen perfection like this. In all of his wild imaginings, he’d never thought to believe beauty like this existed, and yet here it was, and all for him. In this moment, Adam belonged to him.
Adam moved first, closing the distance between them and pulling Tommy into another kiss. Only this time, it was deeper, rougher, filled with unmistakable intent. Tommy leaned into the steady pressure of Adam’s mouth, giving as good as he was getting. He thrust his fingers into Adam’s hair, tugging at the strands, biting his lips, and sliding his tongue deep into Adam’s mouth. Adam responded with a sound that was halfway between a moan and a growl and pulled Tommy even closer. As he ground his erection into the smooth skin of Tommy’s abdomen, Adam sucked Tommy’s tongue into his mouth, drawing deeply, so deeply that Tommy swore he could feel the suction around his aching cock.
Tommy pulled back eventually, lips wet and swollen already, panting harshly. “More,” he whispered. “I want more.”
A moment later, they slid into the bed, velvet covering soft and cool against their overheated skin. Tommy lay flat on his back, spread his legs wide and reached for Adam immediately, pulling him down to settle against him, large body cradled between Tommy’s slender thighs. Adam pressed soft little kisses along Tommy’s jaw and down his neck, stopping every once in a while to nip at his skin sharply before soothing the soft sting with a wet flick of his tongue.
“I’ve dreamed of this for so long. The things I want to do to you….” Adam’s voice trailed off as he pressed his mouth to Tommy’s neck, nipping sharply once again before licking at the small, red mark he’d made.
“Would you like hear? Would you like to know what I’m going to do to you?” He moved after he said the words, biting at Tommy’s skin once more, sharper this time, sharp enough that Tommy gasped and thrust his hips upwards, grinding his cock against Adam’s.
“Tell me. I want to know. I want….”
“I’m going to pour oil onto my fingers and between your legs until I’ve gotten you good and wet. Then I’m going to slide my fingers into you, first one, then two. And I’m going to watch. I’m going to watch you take them, watch you twist and gasp and moan as I fuck you with you my fingers. And when the stretch and the burn become sweet and mind-shattering, when you’re fucking yourself on my fingers, when you’re begging and crying out for more, I’m going to slide my cock into you and fuck you until you break apart from the pleasure of it.”
Tommy felt like his mind was shattering already, just hearing Adam’s explicit words. Tommy could envision everything Adam described, could see himself wild and wanton, legs spread open, taking first Adam’s fingers, and then his cock. He shuddered beneath Adam as the vision unfolded in his mind and let out a soft, drawn-out moan.
Adam smiled against Tommy’s neck, pressing another quick kiss to the pale skin there.
“But if it’s too much, if you change your mind, if you decide you don’t want it anymore, you have to say so. You have to tell me to stop. Because as much as I want this, as much I need this, I’d sooner die than hurt you again. Promise me.”
“Adam-”
“Promise me.”
Tommy stared up into impossibly blue eyes and nodded. “I promise.”
Ten minutes later, he was moaning, gasping, begging, fucking himself on Adam’s fingers, warm and slick with oil, thrust hilt-deep in his ass. He felt like he couldn’t catch his breath fast enough, couldn’t hold on to any thought other than the one pounding a drumbeat in his skull.
“Fuck me. I want your cock inside me. Now, Adam. Please!” Tommy was beyond embarrassment, beyond decorum, beyond reason. He couldn’t think past the pleasure of Adam’s fingers in his body and the need to feel Adam’s cock inside him, taking him, owning him.
But when he finally got what he wanted a few seconds later, when the wide, blunt, oil-slick head of Adam’s cock began to push past the ring of muscle guarding his entrance, panic raced through him. He moaned low in his throat and tried not to clench up around Adam’s cock. Tommy had forgotten this. He’d forgotten the way Adam’s hard flesh stretched him impossibly wide and the throbbing, burning sensation it created as it filled Tommy’s body to overflowing. Tommy bit down hard on his lips as Adam moved slowly, carefully, giving Tommy a little bit at a time, easing inch after thick inch deep into his body. He bit down hard, but he couldn’t stop the sounds from escaping when Adam was finally seated fully inside him. Tommy whimpered, and he hated himself for not being able to hold in the small, pained sound.
Adam stared down at him, chest heaving, hands gripping the backs of Tommy’s knees. “Tell me to stop.”
“No,” Tommy gasped out as he turned his head to the side, eyes squeezed tightly shut. “No.”
“Look at me.”
Tommy moaned in response, but he didn’t turn back.
“Thomas, look at me.” Tommy still didn’t turn. “Thomas, please…” And then finally-
“Tommy, please, look at me.”
The words cut through the haze surrounding him. Adam had never called him that, not in all this time. It had taken him a week to stop calling Tommy “Prince Thomas” and then another to call him “Thomas” without stammering over the word a little each time. It was almost like he was afraid to. Like it was reaching too high somehow, like it was daring too much. And yet, here he was now, calling him “Tommy.”
Tommy turned his head and opened his eyes, blinking back the tears teasing at the corners of his eyelids. He’d never felt closer to Adam than he did in this moment.
“Adam…”
His low whisper earned him a strained smile from Adam’s lips. “I need you to stay with me, Tommy. I need you with me. Don’t leave me alone in this.”
Tommy blinked harder, fighting back the tears that threatened, and instead shifted a little, testing his ability to move with Adam thrust hilt-deep into him. He strained upwards, wrapping his arms around Adam’s neck and taking his lips in a hard, desperate kiss. The movement pushed Adam even deeper into his body, making Tommy gasp against Adam’s mouth.
“Talk to me, Adam,” he murmured against Adam’s lips. “I need you to talk to me.”
Adam groaned and reared back, spreading Tommy’s legs wider. A moment later he began to move, easing out of Tommy’s body a little before thrusting back gently.
“What would you like to hear? Do you want me to tell you how beautiful you are, how sometimes, I have to convince myself that you’re real, that you’re here and that you want me? Is that what you want to hear?”
Adam punctuated his words with longer thrusts, easing more and more of his cock out of Tommy’s ass before thrusting back again. The insane, burning pressure of it began to recede as Adam moved. Tommy felt himself loosening up, felt Adam’s thrusts grow smoother as he fucked him slow and deep.
“Or maybe you want to hear something else,” Adam continued. “Maybe you want to hear how incredible you feel around me. Maybe you want to hear how hot you are, hot enough to burn me alive.” Adam’s voice dropped to a low growl as he spoke, never once stopping his long, slow thrusts in and out of Tommy’s ass.
“Is that what you want to hear? How soft and slick you are? How hot and wet and tight?”
Tommy felt Adam shift, felt him change the angle so that the next thrust sent him rubbing directly against a spot inside him that pulled a sharp cry from his lips and made the whole world go dark for a breathless moment.
“Again,” Tommy gasped out, reaching down to wrap a hand around his aching cock. “Do it again. Fuck me.”
Adam did it again, and again, sending Tommy’s mind reeling each time. He moaned low in his throat each time he felt the broad head of Adam’s cock slide over that spot inside him, and within minutes he was crying out, stroking his own cock forcefully and shamelessly begging for more.
“Harder, Adam. Fuck me harder.”
Adam did just that, spreading Tommy’s legs wider, pulling them higher so Tommy’s ass arched off the bed a little. He settled into a hard, driving rhythm, ramming his cock deep into Tommy’s body over and over again. Beneath him, Tommy writhed and gasped and moaned, pushing upward with each thrust to take Adam’s cock as deeply as he could.
This was nothing like that first night, when Tommy’s had resented every thrust, when he had fought the overwhelming pleasure. This time, Tommy gave into it, melted into it, reveled in the sensations Adam pulled from his body with each hard lunge of his thick cock. And when the pleasure crested, when it broke over him in waves so sharp and intense that Tommy couldn’t breathe, he surrendered to it. He squeezed his cock hard, crying out as he came, spurting his release into his hand and across his abdomen. Barely a second later, Adam followed, thrusting deep and holding steady, crying out Tommy’s name as his cock pulsed inside Tommy’s body, filling him completely.
Adam was the first to move minutes later, disentangling himself long enough to wet a swatch of cloth and wipe both their bodies clean. Then he slipped back into bed with Tommy, moving them so they lay on their sides with Tommy’s back pressed against Adam’s chest and Adam’s right arm curved possessively around Tommy’s hip.
Tommy was still in a daze, but even so, he remembered that he’d never stayed the night in Adam’s tent-except for that one time when they’d lain awake for hours talking and laughing and passing a bottle of claret back and forth between them. He’d already started shifting, moving to climb out of the bed when he heard Adam groan and pull him back against his body.
“Don’t go,” Adam whispered sleepily. “Stay with me.”
It should be impossible to feel this much happiness, Tommy decided. The human heart couldn’t be expected to contain joy like this. Tommy smiled, a brief, simple thing meant just for himself, and settled back against Adam. Within seconds, he was fast asleep.
Hours later, Tommy jerked awake in Adam’s bed. He sat upright, breath coming in sharp pants, heart pounding furiously in his chest. All because that word, that amorphous and contradictory thing that had been dancing along the edge of Tommy’s consciousness for weeks had chosen to reveal itself in his sleep. It was suddenly crystal clear, almost alarmingly so after being elusive for so long. As he sat there, Tommy felt it unfurl, felt it spreading through him and wrapping itself tightly around him, so tightly that Tommy knew with a certainty that was unshakeable, that he would never be free of it again.
“Tommy…”
Tommy turned to stare down at the man lying beside him, whispering in his sleep. Adam looked like…like some otherworldly creature in his sleep. He was beautiful, the most beautiful thing that Tommy had ever laid eyes on. And all mine. Tommy settled back into bed and into the heat of Adam’s body, and the word claim him completely. Now that he knew what it was, Tommy never wanted to be free of it again.