Page 106 of The Prince's Fealty

Instead, he was experiencing them in all their great heights and plunging lows. And he was doing his best to let those lows go, because none of them had come to pass. Pel’s warm, vibrant body was wrapped up in Tor’s arms right now. The rest of Tor’s family was close—but not too close—and there were guards in the corridor to make sure they stayed safe.

The guards who had escorted Ada and Var to Filon had indeed been imprisoned the day that Nostex had enacted the final step of his plot against Var. Thankfully, they’d been unharmed. They both wanted the chance to prove themselves, despite reassurances that no one blamed them for being taken in just like the rest of them. Tor had no doubt they would be extremely vigilant. He was also certain that Beluna, Cavun, or Denil—or maybe all three—would be out in the corridor at some point, too, despite the fact that Tor had assured them they could rest for the night, since they had to be exhausted.

Feeling safe and not worrying about his family still felt a bit foreign, and Tor hoped he would once again become accustomed to it as the expected state soon—but never to the point of being so unaware of the danger that lurked by their side, of course.

Tor had been proved right in his dislike of Yomil, but he’d gotten it all wrong with Fernila, so it looked like he still had some work to do to vet those around him.

(He was also clearly not going to be able to convince Rin to come live with the exiles with them. Terila would murder him, and he really didn’t want to die. He hadmuchmore important things to do.)

He smirked at Pel. “I’m pretty sure I owe you about a thousand nights together.”

Pel pulled back to look at him, amusement dancing in his gaze, along with a growing hunger. “Looking to reduce that number?”

Tor scoffed. “Please. Who do you take me for? I’m looking to show you such a good time that we wipe the slate clean.”

Pel laughed, looking delighted and exasperated at once. “You’re so full of yourself.”

“I don’t know,” Tor drawled. “Is it being full of yourself when it’s true?”

He reached down and lifted Pel up. Pel obediently wrapped his legs tightly around Tor’s hips so that Tor could carry him to bed and lay him down on it. Tor could already feel the swell of Pel’s erection against him. It had beenweekssince Tor had been able to experience this. Worse for Pel, since he’d been conscious for all of it, but Tor was still achingly aware of the loss, of the nights where they’d had no privacy or no sleep or were just desperately worried about Tor’s family.

Now there was nothing whatsoever to stop them.

“Want to get naked?” Tor invited.

This morning, they’d gotten cleaned up after the fight, but that had been more matter-of-fact than anything, concentrating on actual cleanliness and ensuring that no one was injured. Tekilona had taken a look at each of them and given them a little boost, which, now that Tor thought about it, was probably why they’d made it this far without collapsing in exhaustion.

Thisdisrobing wasn’t clinical at all, and Tor delighted in each inch of Pel’s pale skin that was revealed, no injuries marring it. They’d come out of this unscathed. Tor had trusted that Pel would be safe, and he had been.

Once Pel’s tunic was discarded on the floor, Tor tugged Pel’s hose down a few inches so he could lay a hand on his belly and then lean down and press a kiss to it.

“I swear every day isn’t like this, baby. We’re working to have some nice quiet days so you can grow healthy and strong in your father without anything at all to worry about.”

Pel snorted. “That’s incredibly optimistic of you.”

Tor grinned and continued to skim off Pel’s clothing, tugging him completely out of his hose and underclothes. He hummed a sound of approval.

Pel naked was one of his most favorite things, especially when his cock was jutting up proudly, just waiting for Tor’s touch.

“I’m quite sure we’re owed a vacation,” Tor told Pel. “Relaxation and sex all the time.”

Pel shifted his hips restlessly. “That doesn’t sound so bad. Want to practice now?”

Tor tugged off his own clothes and then crawled on top of Pel on the bed, caging him in.

“I really do. Can I fill you up?”

Pel let out a breathy sound that Tor wanted to hear again and again.

“Yes, please.”

Apparently, they’d both packed oil just in case, and Tor savored their optimism. According to Pel, Tor took way too long to prep him, but Tor thought he took just the right amount of time, glorying in the sounds that he wrung from Pel’s lips as Tor stretched him carefully open.

Tor could have lost this wonderful, wonderful man, but he hadn’t. Pel was right here, spread out beneath him, begging for more.

Sinking into his tight heat really did feel like coming home, like Tor was exactly where he was supposed to be. Pel was staring at Tor like he was the most amazing person in the whole wide world, but Tor was entirely certain that was Pel.

Tor leaned in to kiss him, murmuring, “I love you,” against his lips.