Healing Fire (7 page)

“You’ve been filling your guard’s head with stories, haven’t you, Prince?”

Lem could not risk Jules, and he answered before his prince could. “He has done nothing wrong, wise mother!”

“Oh, child. He’s not in trouble. How I wish your mother was still alive.”

“My mother?” Lem blinked at her. He had no memories of his mother. And what he had of his father was colored only in the man’s disappointment in him.

“She was a student of mine, many years ago.”

“My mother was a witch?” He wasn’t sure what he should think of that, and whether he should be sad that she was dead now.

“She was a healer, much like the queen.”

“Do all healers die young?” Lem knew the queen had only lived a few years past Jules’ birth.

“Many. It is a hard thing, to learn not to sacrifice yourself.”

“There are so many things I have not learned.” Everything he knew was about how to protect his charge, but now that he knew Jules, he had more questions.

“Then you are guardian to the correct prince. He questions as well.”

“I am meant for my prince.” Of that, he was sure. Lem also knew if anyone knew he and Jules had been intimate, they would not let him be with his prince.

“And he was made for you, hmm?”

He shook his head in denial, and not just to hide their secret. “I am not worthy to have anyone so amazing as my prince to be made for me.”

“Nonsense.” Jules growled, the sound nearly sharp.

“My prince?”

“Don’t tell me you’re unworthy. You’re mine.”

He went to one knee and bent his head. “Yes, my prince.” His heart was beating quickly, pleasure in his belly at Jules’ words.

“Take care, my dear ones.” Treva kissed Jules’ forehead. “Be clever.”

Lem wasn’t especially clever, but he knew Jules was. And he knew when it came to his prince’s protection, he would always find a way. It was his calling in life.

“Are you going to give him a lemon candy?” Lem asked, knowing his prince enjoyed his sweets a lot. And she had mentioned it, after all.

“I have an entire little bag for you. Enjoy them.” Treva pulled a small cloth bag from her robes and handed it to him.

“Thank you. I’m sure he’ll love them.” How could he be sure each candy was okay? He would have to try each one before letting his prince have them. They could share them together, perhaps, his prince being deliciously generous.

He could start the candies, and Jules could finish them. That would be the safest. He hated to even think that Treva would hurt the prince, but he had idea where she’d picked them up. Anyone could have tampered with them. Anyone could hurt his beloved. Anyone.

“No sneaking any until I’ve returned,” he warned Jules before taking Treva back to the door to see her out.

She turned to him, eyes full of seriousness. “Take care, guardian. He has powerful enemies that he isn’t even aware of.”

“I will protect him.”

“I believe you will.”

“I will.” His prince was safe in his care. It was what Lem was meant for.

“Call if you have need of a friend.” She patted his cheek. “You remind me of your mother.” Patted his cheek, like he was a child.

“I am not a healer, wise one.” He was the opposite of a healer.

“Still, you have her smile.”

That made him smile again. “I... thank you.”

“You’re most welcome, dear.” She headed off, swaying side to side as she went. She was very old indeed.

Lem shot a look at the guards. “Any messages from the king?” Had his request been granted or denied? Had it at least been acknowledged?

“None.”

Lem fought the urge to roll his eyes. Everyone thought they could put Jules in a corner and forget about him. Lem didn’t think that was right. Not at all. He just wasn’t sure whether he could do something about it. He was going to keep at it, though. If anyone could figure it out, he would.

Going back into Jules’ bedroom, he looked to his prince, who was once again dressed in his robes, a book in his hands.

“Is that the one about the boat that gets stranded on a sandbar in the middle of an ocean?” Lem asked. His prince was reading him adventure stories. They were exciting and fun, but also made him long to take Jules on adventures.

“It is. We’re almost done with it.”

“Oh.” He wanted to know what happened next, but he also didn’t want it to end.

“There will be another, I swear.”

He brightened up. “As good as this one?” He settled next to Jules, opening his arms so his prince could sit with him.

“We won’t know until we dive into it. I have hope, though.”

Wrapping his arms around Jules, Lem tried to ignore the way his body swelled and reached for Jules.

For his part, Jules cuddled in and began to read, to tell him a story.

Lem stayed alert, watched every point of egress so that he might keep his prince safe, but mostly he listened, lost himself in the story Jules read to him.

Jules’ life was amazing—books, Lem, touching. His father never requested his presence anymore, not for strange, stilted suppers, not for banquets, not to watch the latest dance or execution, nothing. It was perfect.

Lem kept dragging him outside into the sunshine to walk, pick fruit, and drink from the fountain. But, as it was with Lem, it wasn’t so bad. Besides, the sunshine felt good, warming him in his bones.

“I want to show you the mountains.” Lem sighed. “This courtyard is so protected, you can’t even see them from here. Or feel the wind on your cheeks.”

“Tell me about them? About flying?” Jules asked.

“I want to show you. You would love flying. It’s like the adventures in your books.”

“I probably can’t.” How amazing would that be?

“Why on earth not? Flying is... it is like breathing, natural, easy, instinctive.”

But he was a loser. He was the little prince. He sighed, but didn’t say anything. He didn’t want to upset Lem.

“When we get let out of the castle, I will fly with you,” Lem promised.

They were never going to let him out. Never. “That sounds amazing.”

“One day, my prince. I
will
make it happen.”

Jules lifted his face, offered a kiss, a connection. Lem moaned and pressed their mouths together. It was the first time they’d kissed in the open, and though they were protected here, safe as they would be in his rooms, it felt naughty, exciting. Delicious.

“You’re making me stiff, Lem,” Jules whispered. “In the sunshine.”

Lem blinked at him, worried. “I’m sorry?”

“My... my need. You make it hard.”

“Are you upset about that? I will stop if you don’t want me to do it out here.”

“Are we safe?” Because he wanted to feel this, out here.

Lem nodded. “The courtyard is not accessible or visible from anything but the air.”

Jules leaned in. “This is a good place.”

“It is.” Lem’s lips covered his again, warm and soft, but firm at the same time, too.

He opened, breathing into Lem, the kisses filling him with joy. Lem wrapped his hip up in one big, warm hand, the other cupping his cheek. Oh. Oh, it was sweet heaven. Jules leaned in, cuddled in to the touch. Lem was solid and strong, and he knew he’d never fall with Lem there for him. He felt himself shiver, his skin too tight.

“Are you cold, my prince?” Lem slid both arms around him, pulling him in close to the warm body.

He nodded his head, but then shook it. Yes, no, his body was so confused.

“We usually hide when we touch,” Lem noted.

“I know. It’s... so new.”

“Do you want to go inside to do this?” Lem offered.

“I don’t know. I don’t know what I want. I’m sorry.”

“Shh.” Lem kissed him, quieting his words. “You are Prince Jules. You never have to be sorry.”

He hummed, the world seeming to flutter, shimmer as they touched. Lem moved them, sitting on the bench by the fountain and drawing him down to straddle the strong thighs. He loved that, the pressure of Lem against his legs, his sac. It made things feel huge.

“You make me feel so much, Jules. So many good things.”

“Yes. Yes, how lucky am I that you came to me?”

“I am luckier still,” Lem insisted.

Jules leaned into Lem, nuzzled the long, firm jaw. Groaning, Lem grabbed his ass and pulled him closer so their middles rubbed. His body hardened. It seemed that was inevitable, where Lem was concerned. Lem’s hand squeezed his ass cheeks, fingers digging into his skin.

“You are so beautiful, Jules. So special.”

How lovely to have Lem speak his name. How amazing. Especially in that awed, amazed tone.

“I want you. I want you.” Lem muttered the words like they were a prayer.

“I am yours, Lem. I give myself to you.”

“You shouldn’t. I am only your bodyguard.”

“Do you not feel as I do?” Jules asked.

“You are the sky and the moon, Jules. I think you are everything.”

“Then you feel as I do. We are joined.” And he would rejoice in it as long as he could.

“We are. I’m just sorry I’m not more for you.”

“That seems silly. You were born for me.”

Lem tilted his head. “If I was born for you, then...”

“I was born for you.” He was sure of that.

“You are perfect, my prince.”

“You are the only one that’s ever said so.”

Lem snorted. “I must be the only one who isn’t blind then.”

Jules chuckled, so pleased. So tickled.

“I love hearing your laughter,” Lem told him.

“Better than reading?”

“Yes. Better than anyth— almost anything.” Lem’s cheeks darkened.

“Lem?” He reached up, took Lem’s cheeks in hand.

“Well, this might be even better than your laughter,” Lem admitted, pulling their shafts together.

“Yes? You and me and our need?”

Lem nodded, hands pulling their bodies together again and again. Jules was beginning to crave this, the connection, the pleasure he shared with Lem.

Lem’s mouth pressed against his, tongue coming out to lick at his lips. It fascinated him, the soft lapping and tasting. Moaning, Lem pressed his tongue in between Jules’ lips. They kissed one another, tasting each other carefully, as if this wasn’t completely forbidden. Right there out in the sunshine.

Lem’s arms wrapped tighter around him, tongue delving deeper into his mouth. The most amazing sounds escaped him, poured into the air. Lem’s swelling seemed to get harder with each sound he made. Jules tried to stop them, but the sounds were simply too large to contain.

“My prince. My Jules.” Lem whispered the words, rocking them together.

“Yes. My heartbeat.”

Lem’s eyes widened at his words, and his dear dragon moaned for him. The unexpected sensitivity always shocked him. Lem moved them together faster, the heat of Lem’s swelling feeling so good against his own. He pressed closer, his hips rocking quickly.

“I’m going to spend, Jules.”

“May I... Might I taste you?” He loved having his mouth on Lem’s member.

“Are you not tasting me, my Jules? Oh! You mean... Yes.”

“Yes?” He eased down, protected by Lem’s thighs.

“Yes. Please, my Jules. I would give you anything you asked for.”

“I wish to know this, to taste you.”

Lem nodded, legs spreading wider, cradling him as he knelt between them. “Please. Please.”

Jules freed the sweet hardness and wrapped his lips about the very tip, sucking gently.

“Jules!” Lem cried out, his muscled thighs going tight.

He looked up, alarmed. “You’re well?”

“Yes. Oh, please. Jules. It is so very good. Please don’t stop.”

He liked the sound of that.
Don’t stop
. Jules bent to his ever-so pleasant work.

Lem’s muscles went tight again, and this time the noise was a low moan that Jules recognized as pleasure. Jules allowed his hands to slide up along Lem’s thighs, enjoying the strength between his hands. The moans and other noises that Lem made let him know that Lem was enjoying this as much as he was.

The flavor of salt on his tongue was addictive, and he pulled, searching for more. Drop by drop, Lem’s pleasure dripped into his mouth. Oh, so rich. He hungered for it, growling softly.

“Jules. Yes. My prince, all that I am is yours.” Lem’s words were breathless and punctuated by moans.

Soon Lem began to move, thighs and hips working to push the thick member deeper into Jules’ mouth. He took all he could, then he challenged himself to take more. He would not have thought it possible, but Lem’s swelling was growing larger, harder.

A humming grew inside Jules, growing within him.

“Jules! I’m going to spend.”

Oh, yes. Yes. More, please
. He pulled harder.

“Jules!” This time his name was almost a roar, and bitter, salty liquid fountained up into his mouth.

He lapped as much as he could, unwilling to waste the bitter, salty fluid.

Lem’s hand landed on his head, stroking through his hair. “My prince. So good.”

Jules hummed, nuzzling the soft shaft, the curly silver hairs crowning the sweet cock.

Lem continued to pet him, making soft, pleased noises. “I cannot think when you do that.”

“Mmm.” That did not make him worried. Neither did the fact that Lem’s swelling had not gone down at all. It meant he got to play with it longer.

It was lazy, easy, and so fun, to be able to linger like this.

“Oh, please. More.”

“More.” He rested on Lem’s thigh, pulling lazily at the tip.

Low, needful sounds came out of Lem, the sounds making him swell as well. He felt as if he were bathing, soaking in the warm water, buoyed. Oh, they could do this in his tub! It was big enough for both of them. Hounds, it was big enough to hold Lem in his dragon form.

“Can... do you like water?” he asked.

“I love water. You know that. You’ve seen me drink it.”

“I mean bathing.”

“Oh! Yes, I enjoying bathing.”

“I have a tub.” Jules had a wonderful picture in his mind of the two of them in his tub.

“Would you like me to draw you a bath, my prince?”

“Us? I would share with you.”

“Oh, Oh, yes, please.”

He grinned, suddenly excited. “Yes? I never have.”