Page 9 of The Prince's Sacrifice

Pel could only laugh. “You certainly have a lot of useful information when it comes to this particular topic.”

Tor’s grin was broad. “There are a number of different positions. The most comfortable way for the first time is generally hands and knees.”

Pel nodded. Then he blinked at the other man. “Wait. How dootherconfigurations work? Don’t we… not line up right?”

“Pillows under the hips, bent over furniture, bent legs, some people are really flexible,” Tor counted the options off on his fingers. “There are actually lots of ways it can be done. But it can be a little awkward for the first time, so I would suggest hands and knees.”

Pel appreciated that Tor gave recommendations but still listed options. He was so used to people in his life dictating the way that it should be—and usually telling Pel how he fell short of that ideal.

His stomach was churning, and he couldn’t quite tell if it was excitement or dread. Maybe both?

At last, Pel said, “That sounds very sensible.”

Tor raised an eyebrow. “But are you feeling sensible right now?”

Laughing, feeling more certain all of a sudden, Pel said, “Yes, I’d like to make the first time as easy for myself—and you—as possible.”

With a bright smile, Tor agreed, “Easy it is. In that case, you just need to get on the bed—or whatever surface you’ve chosen, of course—and get the oil out.”

Tor climbed up on the bed and went to his hands and knees so that he was facing away from Pel. His ass was perfectly on display, round and smooth and beautiful. Actually, all of him was beautiful. Pel didn’t often get to appreciate Tor from this vantage point, his strong shoulders and back, the gentle curve of his spine, and the incredible swell of his ass.

Tor wiggled his pert bottom before he looked over his shoulder and gave Pel glorious bedroom eyes. “Coming?”

He swallowed and managed after a moment, “That’s definitely not going to be a problem.”

Tor laughed. Then he twisted round and sat on the bed facing Pel. “Actually, that brings me to one more important point, and I think it’s better to discuss it now, since I suspect I’ll be a little distracted later.”

He patted the bed next to him, and Pel joined him, curious.

“You’re aware of my opinion on your father.” Pel made a face, because in bed was the last place he wanted to talk about King Forex. Tor looked surprisingly serious, though his lips had tipped up a bit. “I’m not sure if anyone has had this conversation with you, so I’d like to make sure that we have it now. If you already know all about it, just let me know. Magical intent when you’re having sex.”

Pel stared at him for a long moment, because they’d been having all sorts of sex, and this had never come up before. Why would he need—

“You’re worried that I’m going to get you pregnant?” Pel asked, shocked.

Tor’s expression softened. “Not as such, no. But I don’t feel like I’d be doing my duty if I didn’t make sure you know how this works.”

Pel supposed he could appreciate in the abstract that Tor was treating this seriously.

“Doesn’t it take the magical intent of both participants to make a baby?”

Pel might not be an expert, but he knewthatmuch, didn’t he?

“It does,” Tor agreed. “But since you can’t know for certain what someone else is doing with their magic in their body, you should never assume they’re withholding their magical intent. So if you don’t want to wind up with a baby, you should always withhold your magical intent. Obviously, it would ideally be discussed before anyone got pregnant, but mistakes happen, especially if you assume the other person is taking care of it; they might be assuming the same. As a starting point, therefore, always make sure you’re not trying to have a baby unless you want one.”

“But I don’t actually have to worry that I’m going to get you pregnant,” Pel pointed out. “We’re not magical enough.”

Tor shrugged. “It’s true that it takes a royal blessing of magic for conception that doesn’t include a penis and a womb. I’m certainly not as magical as a king who’s got the magical Fealty of the entirety of the United Realms. But my brother and I are twins, and our magic was extremely similar before Varex was crowned. It’s smarter not to take the risk. So while I always withhold my magical intent, I want you to do so, too. Then we’re doubly covered and ready in case anyone’s concentration ever slips.”

“You’ve never gotten anyone pregnant.” It wasn’t really a question, because he knew the other man.

“No,” Tor agreed with a shake of his head and a bit of his smile. “But can I swear that no person I was with ever tried to get pregnant?”

Ah.Pel hadn’t thought about people who might try to trap the High Prince.

He nodded. “That makes a lot of sense. So despite the fact that I think it’s singularly useless when it comes to me, I’ll also withhold my magic.”

Withholding his magic hadneverbeen a problem.