Reign or Shine

by H J Welch

  Cas laughed into his mouth and batted Matty’s clumsy hands away. “I’ll do that,” he said warmly. “You just lie back and think of Rosavia.”

  Matty snorted, drinking in the sight of his very own Rosavian as Cas peeled off his shirt and flung it to the floor. His washboard abs and sharp obliques were heavenly to behold.

  “I certainly will,” Matty murmured, reaching up to run his fingertips over the hard bumps. Cas’s skin was hot and, like Matty, he was slightly damp from the exertion so far. He had a delicious dusting of dark hair across his pecs and a happy trail that led down from his belly button, disappearing underneath his pants.

  Matty could see how much the material was tented, though. Cas wasn’t small, and he was hard for Matty. He wanted to fill him up with that gorgeous cock, and Matty was more than ready to let him. As Cas hovered on all fours above him, Matty reached up and stroked Cas’s arousal through his pants.

  “Want you,” Matty practically whined, placing little fluttery kisses on his lips. “Do you have supplies?” He was too shy to say ‘condom and lube,’ but of course Cas knew what he meant.

  “Hang on a sec,” he murmured, pausing to lean over to his nightstand. He opened it with a frown, like he’d forgotten what he’d put in there, then he burst out laughing.

  “What?” Matty asked uncertainly.

  Cas withdrew a bottle and waggled it for Matty to see. He couldn’t read the words even if it hadn’t been dark, as they were in Rosavian. But he just about made out the fruit picture on the label. “Blueberry lube,” Cas said with a chuckle. “My brother got this for me as a joke a while back. I’d forgotten all about it.”

  Matty laughed too, but as Cas also retrieved a condom from a box and closed the drawer again, nerves got the better of him. He swallowed his mirth, eyes fixed on the shiny foil wrapping. What if he was no good? What if he disappointed Cas?

  Then Cas touched his thumb and finger to Matty’s chin, dragging his gaze up to meet Cas’s. “We don’t have to do anything you’re not comfortable with,” he said so sincerely, Matty’s anxieties melted away.

  Of course Cas wouldn’t push him too far or hurt him. This was fine. It was great. Just what Matty had been craving. He sighed and smiled, caressing the side of Cas’s face. “Thank you,” he rasped. “But I want everything. I promise.”

  Cas had a serious look on his face as he nodded. “You can change your mind at any time.”

  “I won’t,” said Matty, kissing the tip of his nose, “but thank you.”

  Mercifully, there were no more hold ups after that. They shimmied out of their pants with relative ease, after which their underwear didn’t last long. And then Matty was pinned to the bed, just like he’d dreamed, with Cas’s long, gorgeous body pressed against him from head to toe. Their cocks rubbed against each other, pressed between their bellies. Matty could have almost come like that, but who knew if he’d ever get this chance again. He might have had another week and half in Alpina, but there was no guarantee he and Cas would have sex again. Matty wanted to make the most of it.

  “How do you want me?” he asked, feeling daring and a little dirty.

  Cas grinned. “Well, I’ve already managed to get you naked and wet,” he growled, reaching between them to squeeze their cocks, slippery with pre-cum. “Anything else now is just a bonus.”

  Matty whimpered. “Don’t tease,” he begged.

  “Of course,” said Cas, immediately dropping the playfulness.

  Matty sighed and looked his lover in the eyes. “I don’t mean we have to be serious,” he said kindly. “But I’m pretty shamelessly desperate for you. That’s all I meant.”

  Cas chuckled and dropped his head. “Fuck, sorry. Even in bed I can’t stop fretting. Right. Sexy. I can do this.”

  Matty dropped his head back and laughed, rolling his hips and rubbing their cocks together. “You can, I swear to you. You’re doing great, champ.”

  Cas snorted, the playfulness back in full force between them. They also seemed more in sync as Cas reached for a pillow and Matty lifted his hips for him to slide it under without them having to say anything. Matty watched as Cas methodically ripped open the condom and rolled it down his hard shaft, then squeezed a great dollop of lube onto his fingers. The bedroom was suddenly filled with the sweet tang of blueberries, making Matty grin.

  The unusual scent reminded him that he definitely wasn’t in Queens anymore.

  Cas stretched him with both care and efficiency, all while kissing Matty and murmuring sweet nothings to him. Matty’s heart was hammering as he gasped and quivered, holding on to Cas’s strong shoulders like they were his anchor. It seemed a lifetime ago that Matty and Jeremy had been together, let alone with this level of intensity. In fact, Matty had to wonder if they’d ever had this kind of passion. It was like Cas was already inside Matty, under his skin, their hearts beating as one.

  “Do you feel ready?” Cas asked, pulsing the two fingers that were stretching Matty’s hole, and cupping his palm against Matty’s heavy, sensitive balls. Matty’s breaths were shallow as he struggled not to lose control. He didn’t want to spurt his load the second Cas touched his dick again. He wanted this to last.

  He nodded. “I need you, Cas.” Matty dug his fingers onto Cas’s arms and kissed his mouth, then along his jaw. “I’m good. I want it.”

  Cas nodded, his breathing equally as ragged as he kissed Matty a few times, spreading more lube on his cock and Matty’s hole. Then he was lining up the head with Matty’s entrance, and there was no going back.

  Matty braced himself, staring into Cas’s eyes as he breached him, pushing through that tight ring of muscle. It burned and they both cried out, but Matty could already tell it would ease quickly, and Cas felt so amazing, filling Matty up to the brim. “Yes, yes, yes,” he hissed, blinking away the tears leaking from his eyes. It was too much, but not enough. He needed Cas to give him everything.

  He took a few deep breaths, relaxing as Cas eased further into him. He changed his angle slightly, and Matty shifted to wrap his legs around Cas’s waist. They both grunted and gasped as Cas bottomed out, his tip rubbing Matty’s prostate. Cas fumbled with his right hand to entwine it with Matty’s left, kissing him sloppily as they both took a moment to relax.

  “You feel incredible,” Cas murmured.

  Matty nodded, already getting used to the intrusion. It was as if he’d been waiting for Cas, and his body knew what to do. “You too,” he rasped. “It’s okay to move – please.”

  But Cas took a few seconds to kiss Matty’s neck and stroke his cock. It had softened a little while Cas had been penetrating him, but it very quickly sprang back to life in Cas’s strong grip. Matty whimpered and bit his own lip, squeezing his eyes shut, and willing himself not to come just yet. He was close, though.

  And then Cas began to move his body, undulating slowly back and forth as he drove inside Matty with a confidence and tenderness that took Matty’s breath away. Matty felt like he was floating, every inch of him supported by Cas’s strong body. Matty had experienced a decent enough amount of sex in his time. But this really felt like what people meant when they talked about making love.

  Cas kissed him with a fiery desperation, hoisting Matty’s hips up to get a better angle. Matty cried out as Cas hit his prostate again and again, making him feel like electricity was dancing between them. He wailed, feeling raw as he and Cas moved together in the dark, discovering the beautiful connection that just seemed so perfect between them.

  Even as his climax rose in him, Matty kept his gaze fixed on Cas’s warm brown eyes, clinging on to his powerful body as their slippery skin pounded together, their speed increasing without either of them needing to say a word. “Cas!” he cried in warning.

  Then Cas reached down and circled his hand around Matty’s cock, jerking him off and tipping him over the edge. Heat rushed over Matty’s body from head to toe as he yelled out and began pulsing hot, thick cum between them. Even though the high was dizzying, he still felt oddly
calm and safe in Cas’s arms.

  Matty realized as he blinked his way back to reality that was probably because Cas had stilled, holding Matty through his orgasm. Matty took a couple of breaths, sleepily pawing at Cas’s chest. “You’re not done,” he mumbled, giving his lips a clumsy kiss. Cas’s skin had a sheen of perspiration all over, and his dark hair was dripping wet. He looked like a fantasy, but he was solid and hot against Matty’s body. An impossibility made real.

  “I wanted to see you come,” Cas said, making Matty flush even more than he already was. Cas seemed to like that, grinning and brushing back one of Matty’s curls. His hair was probably a complete mess right now, but he didn’t care. Contentment thrummed through his veins, making him drowsy and heavy as lead. But he was fretting over Cas’s very hard situation, still buried deep within Matty’s ass.

  He mustered enough energy to roll his hips, and was immediately rewarded with Cas flinching, screwing up his eyes and sucking in a sudden breath. His loud moan made it clear it was a completely pleasurable reaction, though.

  “Do you want to come in me?” Matty asked, his heart skipping at his own boldness.

  He’d never done much dirty talk with Jeremy or his other exes. Sex with them had been warm, safe, and comfortable. Right now, Matty definitely felt all those things with Cas, but with a very important added thrill of confidence and daring. Lying beneath Cas, Matty didn’t feel shy or afraid that he might fuck up and say the wrong thing. He felt almost powerful, in command, which was crazy because Cas was clearly in charge here.

  Cas moaned and captured his lips for a filthy kiss and he began to slowly rock his hips. “Yes, Matty,” he whispered, nipping at Matty’s jaw and earlobe. “You feel so good. I want to fill you up.”

  Matty knew it wouldn’t be quite the same with a condom on, but he hoped that was true. He dropped his feet on either side of Cas’s legs and stroked his back, urging him toward his climax. “Yes, feels perfect,” he murmured, not really caring what nonsense came out of his mouth. “You’re so hot, Cas. Fuck me harder. I’ve got you. I’ve got you.”

  Cas gnashed his teeth and jerked forward, scooping Matty into his arms, pressing their sticky chests together. He twitched his hips, shooting his load, breathing heavily and nuzzling his face against Matty’s neck. Matty wished he could have come in him without the condom, as if having Cas’s seed in him afterward would prove this had really happened. But Matty could feel his cock pulsing deep in his ass, and knew this was no illusion.

  This had happened. Cas really had just fucked his brains out, and Matty’s ass was going to be fully aware of that fact tomorrow. The reality of that made Matty laugh, dropping his head back down on the pillow.

  Cas hummed. “Everything okay?” he asked sleepily, pressing his lips against Matty’s pulse point.

  “Incredible,” Matty said, shaking his head. “Amazing. Wonderful. Oh, Cas.”

  Slowly, Cas withdrew his softening cock and made short work of disposing the condom. He gave Matty a quick kiss before disappearing from his bedroom. Matty frowned. He thought they might at least cuddle. But then Cas returned with a damp washcloth and perched naked on the edge of the bed, looking down at Matty.

  “May I?” he asked.

  If he was honest, Matty wasn’t entirely sure what Cas was asking to do, but like Matty had said before, he trusted him. So he nodded, then watched as Cas proceeded to tenderly run the warm cloth over Matty’s belly, cock, and between his legs, wiping away most of the mess.

  Matty was stunned, not sure if he should say anything or not. He’d always been left to fend for himself when it came to post-coital mess. But Cas hadn’t even hesitated, like it was no big deal to perform such an intimate act.

  Did he do that with all of his lovers?

  Matty bit his tongue, hard. He wasn’t going to get melancholy thinking about the other men (or women?) that Cas might have been with. He was with Matty right here and now, and Matty was going to be extremely grateful for this moment as long as he lived.

  So he smiled and sighed as Cas slipped back onto the bed beside him, pulling the covers over them both just enough to cover their modesty, and snuggling up to Matty’s side. “Come here,” he murmured, and Matty fit perfectly in his arms.

  Matty fought the wave of exhaustion that rolled over him. He didn’t want this night to end. It had been so perfect he could almost burst with happiness. But it was greedy to expect more. He promised himself that no matter what, when morning came, he would be thankful.

  And that was his last thought as sleep finally claimed him. Apparently, he was staying the night, which was an incredible bonus on its own.

  He wouldn’t ask for anything else. No matter how much he wanted to.

  Chapter Ten

  Cas

  Was Cas the biggest fool in Rosavia? Had he made a monumental mistake?

  As he watched Matty sleeping in the morning sunlight, so peaceful and perfect all rumpled up in Cas’s bedsheets, he honestly couldn’t convince himself he’d done anything wrong.

  But the reason he’d woken at the crack of dawn was because he’d had some sort of awful nightmare. He’d been back in that intervention with Wren along with his parents, but this time, it had been Cas on trial, his hands in cuffs, a jury sentencing him for crimes against the state. He’d bolted awake, gasping in fear, but then quickly realized it was just a dream.

  And he wasn’t going to be held hostage to it.

  Matty’s lips were slightly parted as he slept soundly, his hands tucked under his cheek like a damn angel. His skin seemed extra pale in the fresh dawn light, his hair a glossy, inky black. His expression when he’d come last night was seared deliciously into Cas’s brain.

  He knew the risks. He was fully aware of what he was doing. He knew no matter how strong this pull was between them, it couldn’t last. And yet he was convinced Valentina was right. He would have deeply regretted it if he’d never found out how Matty tasted, or the way he’d felt under Cas’s hands. He was divine, and Cas refused to feel guilty. They hadn’t done anything wrong. They were two consenting adults who’d had a wonderful night together.

  But Matty didn’t know that Cas was a prince. When Matty had said that he trusted Cas last night, in the middle of sex, it had made Cas freeze. People had trusted him to fix their problems his whole life, and this vacation was a chance to stop enabling his family and allow his brothers to fix their own lives. But Matty saying those words had caused a stab of guilt through Cas’s chest. He didn’t want to deceive Matty, but Cas was holding back a big part of himself so he could have a real chance at normalcy. Was that wrong? Was he hurting Matty?

  He desperately hoped not.

  Cas sighed and ran his fingers over Matty’s hair with a featherlight touch. That couldn’t be helped. There was no way Cas could have told Matty that particular truth, not without risking everything. And what he didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him, Cas was sure. He comforted himself that while he hadn’t been able to be totally honest, he’d never lied to Matty, either. That was very important to Cas.

  They just needed to stay in this perfect bubble while they still had the chance.

  Cas was perfectly happy with that. He didn’t really want to leave this room, but the kitchen was where the food lived, and his stomach was rumbling. After another half an hour of uselessly trying to get back to sleep, he decided to go do something productive.

  He knew he was trying to impress Matty without lavishing money on him, but that was okay. If this was only going to last a few more days, Cas wanted treasure Matty, to use their word from yesterday. And not just in the bedroom.

  So he got his robe and slippers on, then made his way back into the rest of the apartment. The kitchen was a bit of a disaster zone, but if Cas moved too many dishes around now, whether to wash them or load the dishwasher, he might disturb Matty. That was the opposite of what he was trying to achieve here.

  Very carefully, he cleared a few things to the side so he could free up the stove, then look
ed up another recipe on his phone. This one for pancakes. He chewed his lip, debating whether to go for the very thin French crêpe style or the fatter American type that Matty would be used to. In the end, he decided that the thick American ones would be easier to keep warm, and they’d go perfectly with the blueberry syrup that Cas obviously had in his cupboard as a respectable Rosavian.

  He paused briefly, wondering if he had flour and baking powder. But it seemed Valentina had thought of everything. Maybe she’d secretly hoped they’d stay hidden away baking rather than risking getting caught out in public. He grinned, feeling ridiculously domestic.

  He might not have been very good at it, but he could see how ordinary cooking was so much better than the survival techniques he’d learned at school. He wished his suite at the palace had a kitchen, but he could just imagine his relatives spinning in their graves at the mere suggestion of renovating the centuries-old architecture, not to mention all the traditionalists still living at the palace who would definitely see it as undignified for a prince to cook for himself. They’d all probably rather he got caught with Matty.

  Cas sighed as he mixed some of the ingredients together. He needed to be present in the moment, not worrying about the past or the future. Besides, there was every chance he was going to burn these suckers if he didn’t give them his full attention.

  He bit his tongue between his teeth as he focused on melting butter in a pan, filling the kitchen with a delicious warm smell, then folded some fresh blueberries into the batter before adding them in four dollops to make sort of disk shapes. They weren’t terrible-looking, though, and the way they sizzled made Cas grin.

  Leaving them to brown, he started making some rose tea and chopping up bananas to go with the finished pancakes. He frowned. Was there anything Matty might like? Maybe bacon? Would he prefer coffee to tea?

  “Wow,” a voice rasped sleepily from behind him. Cas spun around to find he’d been discovered by an adorably rumpled Matty. He was back in his boxers, with Cas’s sheet draped over his shoulders like a cape. He gave Cas a lopsided grin. “What’s this?”