The Prince of Almond Manor

by Gregory Jonathan Scott

  Dante looked over at Oakland, noticing he was rubbing his eyes. He nodded at Oakland as if telling him it was alright for him to overhear what he was about to say. “Deklan, please understand what I’m going to tell you.”

  Oakland detected something good coming next.

  Shedding a bit of humor on the sensitive situation, Dante mentioned, “Your mother made me sleep on the floor last night. She told me if I didn’t come to my senses and put an end to all the hard headed nonsense I had put you through, then it would be a permanent place for me along with having to make my own meals if I wanted to eat. She mumbled something about the barn, too. You know there aren’t many people who are able to intimidate me. But… your mother? Now that lady has one heck of a hold on me by her littlest finger alone.”

  Both, Deklan and Oakland laughed. Dante’s mention of his punishment had come as comical and he truly deserved to be sleeping on the floor after what he’d done.

  Moms know best and she’s the real boss in the relationship.

  Dante had flat lined the humor with a more serious tone. “Just know that parents do things they think is best for their children. The decisions might not always be good ones, but we try. We make sacrifices so you don’t have the same worries or problems that we had. Do you understand?”

  “M-Hm,” Deklan hummed.

  “I was only trying to protect you from what is outside our home. People don’t take a shining to what you have with the stable boy. I mean, stable man.” Dante pointed at Oakland.

  “His name is Oakland,” Deklan added.

  Oakland waved, suddenly feeling ridiculous once he’d done it.

  A wave? Really?

  Deklan grinned, and the look in his eyes indicated to Oakland he wanted to kiss him for being so cute and corny.

  “Nice to meet you, Master Oakland.” Dante smiled.

  “Likewise, Sir,” Oakland answered, and waved again.

  Apparently he didn’t learn how senseless the wave was the first time.

  Dante turned back toward Deklan and told him, “Your mother mentioned the conversation you had with her the other day in your bedroom and I wouldn’t be able to live if that happened to you.”

  “You mean, Uncle Joseph?” Deklan clarified, raising a brow.

  “Who?” Oakland mumbled.

  “Yes, Deklan. Your uncle Joseph. My brother,” Dante confirmed. “I’d thought about it all night long, so I spent most of the night out here in the barn to make sure there was no repeat performance of what had happened years ago to my brother. I’d die right along with you, Deklan. I can damned near promise you that.”

  “Dear lord, Father. I mean, Pop. No… I’d never.”

  “What I want more than anything right now is for you to be safe, as well as happy, and I’m extremely remorseful for making you feel as though I hated you for being the person you were born to be. I thought I knew best. Being a father isn’t easy, Deklan. I’m learning every step of the way, and every decision I make, only hopeful it’s the right one.” The idea of Deklan getting injured by another hand or even meeting death because of who he was had made Dante quickly understand the treasure he would lose if such a thing had happened to his child.

  They finished the walk into the kitchen where Deklan’s mother was helping the servants prepare breakfast. She’d do that from time to time since she enjoyed cooking, and on days when she was in need of some nostalgic home therapy.

  “Priscilla, dear. Look who I found?” Dante announced their arrival.

  Priscilla spun around and flounced toward Deklan, pulling him into a motherly hug. “Deklan, dear. I’m so happy to see you. Thank goodness you’re well.”

  “I’m good mom. I… or we just needed some space for the night.”

  She let him go.

  “Mom, this is my… Oakland,” he almost said boyfriend.

  “Hello, Oakland. Breakfast?” her invitation was subtle—her smile even more welcoming.

  “I’d like that. Haven’t eaten since yesterday afternoon, and that was a pear.”

  “A whole pear? Then you will join us. No doubt about that,” Priscilla firmly professed.

  The thought had run through Oakland’s mind that the wedding should still go on, but the exchanging of rings would be with him and Deklan instead of a female virgin bride. If only that was possible, but the truth of the matter was, two men wedding one another would never happen in his lifetime. As it was, Deklan and Oakland would have to keep their private ceremony at the lake to themselves, a gift between the two of them. Perhaps the world would someday come round and accept all love is equal and find it other than a sinful crime for two men to hold hands and kiss in public.

  As soon as breakfast had come to a close, Dante pulled Oakland aside and told him there was a place for him under his roof as long as he continued to make Deklan as happy as he has been. In another breath, Dante mentioned how good of a person Deklan was and he was thankful his son was nothing like himself.

  That last part struck a sour chord with Oakland and he had no idea how to respond to what he’d heard. He noticed a decent side to Deklan’s father that morning and would make sure to keep Deklan happy as long as he was alive. He wasn’t sure Dante was ready to hear how he truly felt about his son, but Oakland still told him he’d never loved anyone like he loves Deklan.

  Dante’s face had gone a bit angular at the mention of love Oakland had for his child, but from what Oakland had witnessed, the man had gotten over it quickly. He must have been preparing for that moment for quite some time.

  Before the servants had a chance to clear the table, Oakland and Deklan had gone outside to visit with Chadwick. That smart horse seemed to know they were coming. Identified by the way he pranced around the stall like he always had whenever Deklan showed up. That horse was addicted.

  Chapter 39

  It’d taken a while, but trivial freedom had found Deklan and Oakland. It wasn’t full blown, but it was something.

  Oakland smiled, kissed the love of his life before helping him hoist the saddle onto Chadwick’s back. The plan was to ride horseback to their private place under the pear tree. It was the first place they had met by accident. It was the place Deklan and Oakland sat during the more troublesome days. It was the same place they always seemed to run into each other whenever either of them thought they were out alone. It turned out to be the place their souls had actually collided, and from that day on, was the place they’d always return to.

  As had been done in the past, Deklan climbed aboard Chadwick first, followed by the reach of a heroic hand to swing Oakland into place behind him. He was getting good at that one handed scoop and the weight of Oakland seemed to have made Deklan stronger.

  Deklan snapped the reigns and Chadwick had taken off running. He mentioned the clover field to the horse and just like that, away he’d gone.

  To Oakland, he’d never come across a horse that knew the English language like that one had, but harpin’ horny toads, that Clydesdale caught every word and knew what was being asked of him.

  The wind Chadwick created while he ran felt good against Oakland’s face and the rolling gallop seemed much smoother than the buggy ride they’d taken earlier. The way a horse ran felt as though his feet had never touched the ground. The sensation of floating above clouds had come to mind when running that field on horseback.

  Deklan and Oakland made it to the pear tree were they were finally alone and their secret love for one another could go on. It seemed that each strange chapter in their life had something to do with that tree.

  Before they’d gotten down off Chadwick’s back, Oakland pressed his body against Deklan’s back and had given him one of the biggest and tightest hugs he’d ever given him, or anybody for that matter. His hand slipped under Deklan’s shirt, feeling flesh and silken hair.

  Deklan turned his head back and nipped Oakland lightly on the lip. “Omigawd, I Love you, Oakland.” His hand rested over Oakland’s, giving it a gentle squeeze.

  Deklan slid of
f Chadwick first and then proceeded to help Oakland down, trapping him backside against the horse for that expected dismounting kiss. If Oakland wasn’t crazy, he believed Chadwick was in on the ritual kiss and made sure not to move until he was lip locked with Deklan. The damned horse even turned his head back and watched the two of them.

  “Who do you love?” Deklan blurted out.

  “You, of course,” Oakland answered honestly.

  “Will you love me forever?”

  “Without a doubt. Now give me that mouth.”

  When the kiss finally ended, Chadwick moved away.

  Deklan grabbed Oakland’s hand and led him under the tree, plucking a pear from the nearest branch along the way. He tossed it to Chadwick and reached for another that they both could split.

  Deklan shared the crunchy pear with Oakland, kissing him between bites. One bite. One kiss. Another bite, another kiss.

  Oakland had taken the last bite before tossing the core someplace behind them. The same way he devoured the pear, he’d gone for Deklan. One lip nip and one kiss at a time until it led to something more, going for his core. Soon, they were lying naked beneath the pear tree.

  Funny how that works.

  Oakland lay on his side, facing Deklan, completely in love with him without a doubt. Deklan’s physical form was a genuine bonus and the fact that Deklan expressed his love for Oakland’s body just as much, had made the two of them insanely compatible.

  Deklan ran his hand over Oakland’s chest. “I love your skin,” he said. “It’s like brown silk and you know exactly what happens to me when I touch you.” He continued down Oakland’s abdomen, taking hold of his growing erection with both hands.

  After receiving a moment of cock thickening exhilaration, Oakland kissed Deklan’s beautiful hairy chest that smelled of lavender oil and forest wood spices. That seemed to be his signature scent. He moved his kisses to Deklan’s lips, pecking him lightly. “I have a thought,” He mentioned, pulling his lips away slowly.

  “And that would be?” Deklan whispered as he rolled on top of Oakland.

  Oakland grunted from the weight of his private husband, but wouldn’t have wanted his pinned situation to be any different. “I know it’s light out and anybody passing by could see us, but let’s be daring and make love, right here under this tree where we first met. It will complete the circle and tie the knot.”

  “Yes. Let’s do it. Right now.” Deklan seemed eager by the way he’d spoken and dived for Oakland’s mouth to kiss him. His breathing turned sharp and his hair fell forward, swishing across Oakland’s face, gracing his cheeks from each mouth rotating movement.

  Oakland’s hands pressed against Deklan’s chest, the hair pleasing his palms. He let out a gratifying moan when he felt Deklan growing harder, his dick getting bigger by the second.

  Deklan rocked his body, rolling his hips into Oakland, their erections sliding side by side. He unexpectedly broke their embrace and retrieved a small square of butter from his shirt pocket he sneakily stole from the breakfast table. Oakland watched Deklan move into position between his open legs while masterfully coating his erection with the oily pat. The excitement of what was about to come had turned his dick even stiffer.

  Deklan was a vision to Oakland, coming on strong, looking overly masculine while propped on his knees with his hand stroking his nine inch cock, gliding from bulbous head to hairy pelvis. Every muscle flexed and bunched.

  A slight gasp and a body quake had come out of Oakland when Deklan’s oily hand brushed over his puckering manhole. The wait to be penetrated had become difficult. The need was too great. He pulled his knees to his chest and lifted his black nuts away from where Deklan would enter him. His actions to be punctured by his boyfriend’s cock had to have been obvious.

  Noticeable it must have been since Deklan hadn’t asked if Oakland was ready, he just pushed his way in until every large inch was so far inside, his nuts practically sunk in too.

  Deklan was gentle when he needed to be, but that time, Oakland’s sex hole had invited a dick with power. After a few sharp thrusts of his hips, Deklan dropped down and passionately kissed Oakland, keeping his rhythm smooth, moving amiably in and out of Oakland’s slick butthole.

  Oakland was so in love with Deklan that his emotions had tipped to a level that made him soften. Every time Oakland was with Deklan, it was unbelievable. Every time Deklan moved inside him, it felt incredible.

  Deklan moaned as the man he had put a ring on took him in. It was peculiar in a perfect way how Oakland’s body desired his cock so much that his sex chute actually pulled Deklan deeper inside, literally sucking on the man’s dick.

  They moved together perfectly. Friction instigating orgasms.

  Lying on top of Oakland while kissing him, Deklan muttered broken words into his ear, “You feel fantastic, Oakland.”—he gasped—“you… ready”—he huffed, thrusting his hips into Oakland’s rear—“oh gawd”—he groaned—“for me… Oakland.” His face changed to a pleased knot. He pulled out and pushed back in again.

  Deklan had felt so good to Oakland that he struggled with his answer. “Yes… Dek.” Then he fought to keep control of his orgasm. He growled, “Here it comes. Gaaaah.” An extraordinary buzz dominated him as he sprayed streams of hot semen between their chests.

  A few spurts lashed over Deklan’s tongue as he looked down and watched Oakland ejaculate. He swallowed, and as if that had pushed him to the limit, his entire body had gone tense and every muscle had swelled. He released a grating roar as he pumped his sperm into Oakland. He collapsed, lying over top of Oakland, clearly sensitive that had surged along with his trembling. Their mouths met, bodies convulsing, kissing until their passion turned tender.

  Before they reached orgasmic aftershock, Oakland started laughing. He hadn’t meant to, but it had just come out.

  “What did I miss? What’s with the snickering? Was it my face when I ejaculated? My weird body spasms, too? I know I can appear crazed when I’m shooting semen. Perhaps I had reached a funny bone up in there?” Deklan laughed back, still moving his hips, but slowing down.

  “I’m Sorry. I just love you so much that my emotions had gotten the best of me. I’m extremely happy right now. I can’t believe this is happening. You and me.” Oakland’s rectum squeezed Deklan tighter, pulling him in.

  “That’s a relief. Laughter wasn’t quite the reaction I was expecting. I thought perhaps my enthusiastic reaming had become a gag to you.” Deklan dropped back down onto Oakland.

  “Quite the opposite,” Oakland grunted. “After all this time, I’m finally in a place I want to be and I feel relaxed enough to really enjoy a smiling moment.” He couldn’t believe what they had gone through to get to where they were.

  Deklan pushed his hips forward, burying his cock deeper.

  “Gaah!” Oakland’s head rolled back from the incredible sensation Deklan had given him with his erection.

  “Let’s trade places.” Deklan’s voice was deep and sexy, but a grunt followed when he grabbed Oakland’s shoulders and rolled him over.

  Oakland was still wearing the necklace around his neck as well as the ring Deklan had placed on his finger. Both shone bright like a diamond.

  “This belongs to you.” Oakland removed the chain linked piece and transferred it to Deklan, over his head and around his neck. The medallion looked attractive lying against his hairy chest and the shimmer from the two trinkets when separated let it be known the two pieces should never be pulled apart.

  Oakland looked into Deklan’s eyes and every thought he had about being exiled had vanished.

  It was a magical moment consisting of a ring, a necklace, and undeniable love.

  Together.

  Forever.

  Happily ever after.

  Epilogue

  My time spent with Deklan was life changing as well as extraordinary.

  Our affair on the plantation started when the mirror man entered my life and sent me on a mission to find the love I might have
never found if he hadn’t come along to help me. I never knew what happened to him after that night—where he’d gone, or if he really existed. That perfect birthday evening was so short lived and magical, I found myself challenging the memories of it being real.

  The only possessions from that night I’d been left with were the necklace and the ring. Everything else had vanished into thin air. Those two gifted trinkets, however, were convincing enough to prove the night or the magical man wasn’t just a figment of my imagination, and since Deklan had seen me in those striking textiles, only added truth to the mirror man’s existence.

  Deklan and I hadn’t talked about that enchanted night much, but the bit of it that we had, I wholly believe angels, spirits, and transcendent fairies quietly guide us through our lives in mysterious ways. Some visible. Others not so prominent. I was lucky enough to meet my guiding light face to face. Apart from my own sentinel, I believed Deklan’s friend Jedidiah was his personal messenger. It seemed that way since Jedidiah had also disappeared after shutting himself behind those chapel doors on that memorable wedding day I’d like to forget.

  We were two men in love, but the sad part of our relationship resided to keeping it a secret from those who’d rather witness us hanged than see us holding hands. I couldn’t understand the animosity people had toward something they couldn’t find ease with, nor would I ever. I’m not able to explain why I’m attracted to men, or why my brain isn’t geared for finding any female sexually appealing. I just know deep in my heart and mind, it’s the way I’d been born and there’s no changing the way I’m supposed to be.

  Our happily ever after had begun on that mysterious night, and once the part I needed to make me a complete person was introduced before midnight, I couldn’t have been happier the man my soul was connected to was Deklan Royal, prince of Almond Manor. Even though that evening was Deklan’s birthday, it was he who had given me the gift. He’d given me himself.

  In my mind, I believe I’d been put on that plantation long ago for these very reasons, as a child, to grow into my life and meet my one true love. If not, I would have been led there sooner or later to be with him. I also accept as truth that Deklan had been waiting for me—put there as well by our higher power. Our ultimate plan was set afoot way before either of us realized it.