It occurred to Logan that he had never seen Alex smile like that; Paris had worked its magic on him. “It’s good to see you, Alex. How was your trip?”
“Successful in every way, thanks. How have you been?”
They made small talk for another few minutes, then Logan got to the point. “I’m looking for one of your new recruits.”
Alex’s face was blank. “New recruits? We don’t have any.”
“Don’t be coy. I know you have. I saw him, out on the island. Gorgeous guy, a bit younger than me, slender build, black hair… ”
“We really don’t have any guards like that, honestly. Listen, I’m on my way to a staff meeting. I’ll catch up with you later, all right?”
“Uh, sure. But I—”
“Later, then.”
Logan found himself standing alone in the vestibule of the barracks. Now and then one of the guards would pass by; the ones who knew him said hello, the others minded their business. He stood there, looking down the hall at one door after another, hoping he’d see some indication which one the guy had gone into.
Then without warning one of them opened. And there he was. Trim, handsome, dressed in a uniform like none Logan had seen before. Close-to, he was even handsomer and sexier than he had seemed on the island. For a startled moment they gaped at one another. Then the guy put on a wide, engaging smile. “Hello.”
Logan was off-balance; this man was so goddamn beautiful, so utterly appealing in every way. His dark hair, his pale skin, his huge eyes. He had a square, masculine jaw line and a sexy-as-hell cleft in his chin. Even his posture, the way he stood there, radiated warmth and sex. Logan wasn’t at all used to being completely dazzled by male beauty like this. “H-h-hello,” he stammered.
The guy seemed vaguely amused at Logan’s awkwardness. There was a distinct twinkle in his eye. “Can I help you? Are you looking for someone?”
“Y-yes, I am.”
“If I can be of any help… ”
How could he say it? How could he tell this beautiful man, You’re the one I’m looking for. I spied on you and now I want to meet you? Instead he simply mumbled, “I’m a friend of Captain Borodenko.”
“I know it.” His manner was more and more amused. “You’ve been out in the rain. You’re soaked.”
“Uh… er… yes.”
He laughed. “You look like something the cat had in the alley. But don’t worry. I’m sure the Royal Guards can spruce you up.”
That phrase! It finally clicked. With more than a trace of shock and awe in his voice he asked, “Raymond?”
The king smiled. “Of course. Who else did you expect?”
“I—I—”
“Come on, Logan. Let’s get you out of those wet things.”
“But—but you can’t be Raymond. You’re—you’re beauti—”
“Stop stuttering and come with me.”
Compliantly Logan followed him.
“I’m sure we can find some clothes that will fit you till those dry out.”
“Th-thank you, I guess. But—but—”
“For God’s sake, Logan, stop that. I thought we were friends. I thought we were past that kind of formality. Come on.”
“Where are we going?”
“To my private rooms. You’ve been there before, remember?”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Logan followed, still a bit off balance. As they climbed the steps to the top floor of the palace, with Raymond in the lead, the king chatted and Logan stayed mostly quiet.
“I’ve thought about moving into Duke Rupert’s old quarters, in the other tower. The staff don’t seem to like the idea, since it would mean climbing even more stairs. But the workout would be good for them, don’t you think? And the idea of occupying Rupert’s space pleases me. It seems fitting, in a way I’m not sure anyone else could understand. I have to think about it a bit more, but—What do you think?”
“I—I’m sure I don’t know. Raymond, what happened to you?”
“Rupert used to talk to me about Paris all the time. He made it sound like a kind of wonderland. And it was. When Alex suggested I go there, I jumped at it. I’m even thinking of changing my name officially to Rupert.” He paused slightly. “King Rupert I. How does that sound?”
“I don’t kn—Can you just change your name, like that?”
“I’m the king. I can do pretty much anything I want.”
“But changing your name… I mean, is that done?”
“Popes change their names when they assume office. Seminarians take new names when they become priests. For all the time I was in the Monastery of St. Dymphna I was called Juniper. Why can’t I be Rupert now? I mean to usher in a new era for Bulvania, so a new royal name seems… well, it seems in order, I guess.”
“Breaking with tradition. It’ll send shock waves through the country.”
“The country will survive. When the people realize how new everything has become—when they realize we can be part of the modern world… ”
They were at the top of the stairs. Raymond’s private suite opened before them. A half dozen servants snapped to attention, and Raymond waved casually to signal that they should be at ease. “Relax, all of you. I’ll ring if I want you.”
He led Logan through one room after another, each more regally sumptuous than the last. The last of them was the king’s bedroom.
The carpet was thick and plush; Logan felt like he was sinking into it. All the room’s furnishings were golden, either made of solid gold or gilded with gold leaf. Six enormous stained-glass lamps provided the light. The walls were hung with ancient tapestries, most of them woven with gold and silver threads. The furniture was massive, made of mahogany. And the bed! The bed was huge, large enough to hold a dozen people or more with room left over, and it was covered with purple velvet. No one could have mistaken this for anything but a king’s bedchamber.
“How do you like it?” Raymond asked, his eyes still twinkling with mischief.
“I—it’s—”
“Stop stammering and get undressed.”
“I—”
“Some of my clothes should fit you.”
“But I—”
“If you don’t stop stammering at me, Logan, I’ll have you clapped into the dungeon.” He giggled. “Torturing you would be so much fun. Get undressed.”
Wordlessly, still not adjusted to this new state of affairs, Logan stripped to his underwear. Raymond took a step toward him and pressed his hand to Logan’s crotch.
“All the way, Logan. You’re soaked to the bone.”
Logan finished undressing. He stood naked before the king, who did not try to hide the fact that he relished the sight.
“Raymond, I—”
Raymond stepped even closer. Without warning he threw his arms around Logan and kissed him deeply, passionately. It was a wonderful kiss, warm and absorbing. Logan let himself become lost in it.
“How was that?” Raymond stepped away. “You understand, I’m as new to lovemaking as I am to kingship. I want to do both right.” He unbuttoned the top few buttons on his tunic.
Logan was becoming erect. He started to cover his crotch with his hand, then thought better of it; by now he had a full erection. “I’d say you’re off to a good start.”
“I’ve studied.” He added self-consciously, “I’ve always studied everything.”
“How on earth do you ‘study’ kissing?”
“Later. Come over here and undress me.”
Raymond’s body was even more beautiful that Logan had realized; seeing it through a telephoto lens was no substitute for seeing the real thing, for touching it, fondling it. Raymond touched his shoulder, then leaned forward and kissed it. Desire took complete hold of Logan; he grabbed the king by the shoulders and kissed him, again and again and again. The two of them became lost in one another’s kisses, and being lost in them was better than being anyplace either of them had ever known.
Raymond took Logan by the hand and led him to that
enormous bed. They fell into it, their arms around each other. It was deep and soft, like their loving. Logan stated to lick Raymond’s nipples, but Raymond pushed him gently away. “I’m the one who needs practice, remember?” So he kissed, licked, sucked Logan’s nipples for what seemed like eternity.
Then he moved down Logan’s chest, kissing and licking even more as he went. When he finally got to Logan’s crotch and stroked his cock with his tongue, he was completely lost in what he was doing. He sucked, and Logan moaned loudly with pleasure.
“Stop,” he said, “Why should you have all the fun?”
“Royal privilege?”
“Shut up and lie back”
Logan kissed him still again, then kissed his eyes, his large, loving eyes. He played with his nipples, tonguing them and nibbling them. When he finally got to the royal cock and began sucking it, Raymond came in a huge explosion of jizz almost at once.
“Sorry, Logan. I’ve been waiting for that my whole life. I guess I couldn’t wait anymore.”
“Your majesty,” Logan said with a smile, “you ain’t seen nothing yet.”
He licked Raymond’s balls. He rimmed his butthole. Raymond moaned louder and louder. “I’m going to shoot again!”
“Not yet! I want this to last!”
He kissed Raymond’s feet. He licked his thighs. Then he climbed over the king and sat on his cock. Raymond moaned wildly. “Oh God! Oh God!”
Again he came quickly. “Oh Christ! Sorry, Logan. I’ll have to learn more self control.”
Logan lay next to him and put an arm around him. “This is really your first time?”
Raymond nodded, embarrassed.
“Then it’s understandable. You’ll soon learn to last longer.”
“Good.” He kissed Logan lightly. “Because I want you to fuck me, too. And I want it to last.”
Logan did. And Raymond did. And when he came for the third time, he erupted with another huge load of love juice.
“Wow! What a reservoir you must have.”
“I can’t help it.” He smiled shyly. “You’re… you’re perfect.”
“My father would tell you otherwise. But Raymond—”
“Yes?”
“What on earth happened to you in Paris? I mean, I know they say the city changes people, but… but this is miraculous.”
“Then let me tell you.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
“I’m all ears. What happened in Paris?”
Raymond laughed. “It really wasn’t much of a miracle. It was Alex.”
“I suspected as much. He’s clearly been working to get us together. I’ve known it all along. I’ve never been sure whether to resent it.”
“You should. When I look at pictures of my old self, I shudder. I can only imagine what you must have thought. ‘Something the cat had in the alley’ doesn’t begin to describe it. I simply never realized what a sheltered life I’d been leading.”
Logan took his hand. “So anyway… ?”
“Alex knew Paris would affect me. How could it not? All those beautiful men, impeccably dressed and groomed… The scales started falling off my eyes almost the moment we landed.
“And he actually managed to find the apartment where Duke Rupert lived with his lover. We stayed there our whole time in the city. Really, Logan, Alex is a lot smarter and more resourceful than I had ever guessed. He took me to the right hair stylists, taught me about the city’s gay culture and history… We went to the Palace of Versailles, where Louis XIII used to hold all those legendary gay balls. It really opened my eyes, I can tell you.
“Alex even planned a side trip to Milan, so I could buy a decent, up-to-date wardrobe. You should see how good I look in my new Armani suits. They are, with no exaggeration, fit for a king.”
Logan kissed him on the cheek. “The sexiest king in the world, too.”
Raymond blushed. What with his ‘miraculous’ transformation, it was so easy to forget how shy and self-effacing he was. “You’re the only one I want to be sexy for, Logan. And Alex knew that, too. I don’t know how he knew it, but he did. He even told me once, ‘attracting a man like Logan Bockwein, doesn’t just happen—you have to work at it.’ So I put myself into his hands and trusted him.”
They kissed again, another long, deep kiss.
“And is Alex the one who taught you that?”
Raymond giggled. “Give me credit for some natural ability. We used to go, nearly every night, to one of the sex clubs in Paris. I never did anything, you understand, just watched. But all those men… ! All those gorgeous bodies intertwining, touching, licking, screwing… ! it was quite an education. I hope it paid off.”
“Believe me, it did. Big-time.”
“I learned about things I had never imagined. Rimming, water sports, all kinds of fetishes… ” He smiled a shy smile. “I want to try them all. With you.”
Logan squeezed his hand. “Yes, your majesty. But… why didn’t you try them there? I mean, all those men, all that sex… ”
“Because I was saving myself for you, silly. You’re the only one I’ve ever really wanted.”
“You mean to tell me you really were a virgin till we made love just now?”
Raymond nodded. “Mm-hmm.”
“Well, you must be the most skillful virgin in history. Raymond, you’re terrific!”
Again, they kissed. And again, they made love. And again, it was sheer ecstasy.
Later, as they lay side by side on the bed, Raymond’s mood turned more serious. “We went to London, too. We spent a week there. And… ”
Logan nuzzled him. “Yes?”
“Well, there was a play Alex wanted me to see. It was a revival of Christopher Marlowe’s Edward II. I knew almost from the time the curtain went up why he wanted me to see it. The awful way the English treated their gay king. And his lover. Alex made me promise I’d never let that happen here. And I won’t. I swear it. Alex vowed to stay beside me and give me all the support I need. But… ”
“What is it, Raymond?”
“I need more than Alex at my side.” He looked straight into Logan’s eyes. “I need you. Otherwise I’d have too little to fight for.”
Logan kissed him again, the longest, hottest, most passionate kiss ever. “If you want me, Raymond, I’m yours.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
They became inseparable. Logan was at the palace every day, and most nights. The guardsmen began referring to them as “the royal couple.”
They made love everywhere, in the king’s bedroom, in Duke Rupert’s tower, in the throne room, the ballroom, everywhere. They explored every variety of sex Raymond was curious about, and quite a few that had never occurred to him. He discovered unsuspected parts of his body that were capable of erotic arousal, from the soles of his feet to his thighs, armpits and the top of his head. He even managed to find a spot on Logan’s anatomy that Logan had never had stimulated before. When Logan, startled by the discovery, congratulated him, Raymond took it as his diploma in lovemaking—cum laude.
One afternoon Raymond casually sat on his throne, and a moment later Logan climbed into his lap. They made love there three times before either of them thought of leaving. Logan said their copulation amounted to a “re-consecration” of the centuries-old throne.
“You really think we’re the first to do it here?” Raymond laughed. “The more I learn about my family’s history, the more I feel like I’m coming way late to the party.”
Logan kissed him. “Yes, but the party’s still going on. And you’re in charge of the punchbowl.”
When they weren’t making love, Alex frequently kept company with them. One day Logan told him, “Don’t think I’m not aware of the way you engineered this. And I don’t just mean Raymond’s makeover; I mean all that forced abstinence I had to undergo while you were off in gay Par-ee.” He grinned like a schoolboy who’d gotten a birthday surprise. “You made damn sure I’d be ready for Raymond when he came back,”
Alex looked slightl
y embarrassed. “It wasn’t all my doing. Your father helped too, Logan. Remember how much you wanted to leave Bulvania, and how he wouldn’t let you? He told me he’d been wanting you to settle down for years. And the prospect of a king for a son-in-law was just too tempting.”
“So it was a conspiracy. If I didn’t love you all so much, I’d feel paranoid. But instead of that I feel like I’m living in a fairy tale.”
Raymond laughed at this. “You don’t mean that as a double entendre, do you?”
“Oh.” Logan realized what he’d said and he laughed. “This fairy tale comes complete with a wicked queen.”
“Meaning yourself?”
“Stop it. Do I have to kiss you to get you to shut up?”
Raymond nodded. They kissed. He shut up, Alex left discreetly, and they made love for what seemed the thousandth time.
* * *
Raymond’s rooftop observatory was finished. The first night, he was like a kid with a new toy. “Come on, Logan, I want you to meet Mizar and Alcor.”
“Who?”
“You’ll see.”
The telescope was not a large one, only 10 inches in diameter. Logan made a joke about 10 inches being more than enough. Raymond frowned at him, told him to get his mind out of the gutter and opened the observatory’s dome.
“There,” he pointed. “You see the Big Dipper? Mizar is the middle star in the handle. It was the first double star ever discovered. Alcor is its companion. Let me show them to you.”
He aimed the telescope, focused and let Logan put his eye to the lens.
“There, you see? I’ve always loved double stars. I’ve always had the feeling they were trying to tell me something. I’ve had papers published about them.”
The star Logan saw was a bright, brilliant blue. And just beside it was a slightly smaller star, blazing yellow-gold.
“You see?” Raymond said softly. “Even the stars feel attraction.” He put his arms around Logan from behind. “That’s us. Two beautiful stars, drawn together inexorably by forces beyond their own power, radiant and irresistible.”
The Virgin King Page 16
