by Megan Derr
Kamir opened his mouth, closed it again, fresh tears spilling down his cheeks.
"That being said, Allen said he would be paying for the wedding, and the whole continent knows how much he and Tara enjoyed planning Lesto and Shemal's, so I'm not sure you'll be allowed to refuse."
"I'm not letting the High Consort pay for our wedding!" Kamir said—then clapped his hands over his mouth, face flushing a deep rose as he tried to pull away.
Jader held fast, happiness and satisfaction rushing through him. "Oh, no. You've done it now, no taking that back." He kissed Kamir's brow, laughed into his hair as Kamir continued to push and squirm to get free.
"Let me go."
"Only if you promise to stay right where you are," Jader said, but let him go. He grinned and bent to retrieve another box from his satchel. Like the first, it was velvet, but red instead of green, and marked with a different symbol. It was also small and square.
Kamir stared at it, then up at Jader. "Is that…"
"I just told you I was hoping you'd agree to marry me someday. Of course it is." Jader thrust the box at him.
Fingers trembling, Kamir undid the gold ribbon holding it closed and pulled off the lid—and started crying harder than ever at the ring inside.
Jader had taken forever to settle on a design, to the point he'd been certain the poor jeweler stuck dealing with him had nearly murdered him on at least seven occasions. But the end result was worth it: a single circle cut sapphire surrounded by a ring of opals and pearls on a wide gold band with Kamir's name inside.
"I-i-it's beautiful," Kamir whispered. "I never thought… I was happy you saw me at all."
Gently taking the box, Jader removed the ring and put it where it belonged, kissing Kamir's hand and holding it fast. Tilting Kamir's head up, he said, "I've gotten the distinct impression you've noticed me far longer than I've noticed you."
"Everyone notices you," Kamir said. "Even the ones that whisper hateful things about Islanders and share gossip about you only being picked so the High King would look good for favoring Islanders—you can tell in the tone and the look in their eyes that they want to be the next one invited to your bed."
"There's only one person I ever took to my rooms," Jader said. "I'm sorry I didn't have the sense to do it sooner."
Kamir looked back down at the ring on his finger, then looked up and smiled in that way that undid Jader every time. "Worth the wait, Commander, never fear."
Threading a hand through Kamir's hair, Jader drew him into another kiss, savoring the feel and flavor him, the familiarity and rightness. "I will try never to keep you waiting again, sunshine."
"Stop making me cry," Kamir said, throwing arms around Jader's neck and kissing him hard.
Jader made a noise that might have almost been a growl and hauled Kamir into his lap. "It is terrible how much I want to fuck you right now?"
Kamir laughed against his mouth. "Terrible? No, though I'm not certain I'm capable of much right now. A few more weeks, I definitely won't be. You should have come home sooner, instead of marrying someone else."
"Not like I wanted to, and Mother Ocean do I wish that trip had ended any other way."
"I am sorry," Kamir said quietly. "I wish everything had gone differently as well. I know things with your family were difficult, but…"
Jader shrugged, nodded. "It's over, at any rate." Kissing him again, biting and sucking at Kamir's lips, Jader then tore away and lifted Kamir into his arms as he stood.
Yelping, holding fast, Kamir said, "Put me down!"
"No," Jader said. "I'm enjoying this far too much."
Kamir scowled. "I know I weigh more than you at this point."
"You're not that big yet," Jader said with a grin, laughing when Kamir's scowl turned into an outright glare. "You've also never gone into battle with full armor, sword, and shield while controlling a horse. This is easy."
Kamir's mouth twitched. "Yes, that is what I'm usually called."
Jader lifted his eyes to the ceiling as he gently set Kamir in his bed—their bed, and helped him out of his robe. "Only by morons and fools, who will choke on resentment when they learn you've had the last laugh. Not that I am much of a prize, but I'm content if everyone else thinks so and sulks that you won it."
"Come to bed, Commander, and leave that preening ego on the floor."
Snickering, Jader stripped off his dressing robe and climbed into bed. He skimmed a hand over Kamir's bare stomach. "Three more months and I'll be a father. How did Chara and Chiri take the news?"
"They've always wanted more siblings. I'm worried one will just lead to a demand for two and three and four."
Jader growled and kissed him, pressing close against Kamir's side and skimming down body to tease and press where he was already growing wet. Kamir's breath hitched, the finger's curled around Jader's arm tightening. "Mm, I have missed this." Jader pressed kisses over his face, nipped at his jaw, hard cock rubbing against Kamir's side. But as eager as he was, he was more than content to keep to a lazy pace, kissing and nipping, propped on one arm while using his free hand to finger fuck Kamir until he shuddered and came, his cries muffled against Jader's shoulder.
Kamir was still trembling when he reached out to wrap a hand around Jader's cock. Jader groaned and fell on his back, wrapping his hand around Kamir's and stroking with him. He whined when Kamir let go, but before he could protest, Kamir sat up and turned to sit next to him, knocked Jader's hand out of the way, and went to work with both of his own.
As much as Jader would have liked to make it last, there was no chance of that being possible now that he finally was back where he wanted to be, when he was surrounded by the smell of sex, his hand still wet and messy from fucking Kamir, that beautiful face watching him so openly and intently. He reached up and dragged Kamir down into a kiss, completely uncaring of awkward angles, and came apart with one last hard stroke.
Kamir pulled back after a moment, looking flushed and thoroughly pleased. "Is that a suitable welcome home, Commander?"
Jader settled him on the bed and kissed him. "A pleasant bonus, to be sure, but the only welcome I needed was seeing you."
"You can stop laying on the flattery."
"Only the truth."
Kamir made a dismissive noise, but did not protest further, simply smiled and settled more comfortably in bed.
Jader rolled out of bed to fetch a cloth to clean them both up. When that was done, he tossed the rag in the hamper and crawled back into bed, snuggling up close to Kamir, who'd already fallen back asleep.
Holding him gently, Jader settled in and closed his eyes, but the stinging in his eyes was not so easily banished, nor was the rawness in his throat.
Eventually, though, Kamir's even breathing, the steady rise and fall of his chest, and the simple warmth of his presence, enabled Jader to relax enough to sleep, still clinging tightly to the heart who'd called him home.
FIN
Coming 2018 – The Mercenaries of the Stolen Moon
For twenty years Myra has served the High King, so familiar, respected, and envied the rest of the palace calls him the High Secretary. For twenty years he has kept his secrets buried, and after so long he dares to believe he has left his past behind. But during the Festival of Harmony, tragedy strikes, and Myra's past is dragged into the present.
Once third in command of Fathoms Deep, Charlaine is used to shadows and secrets, but even he is shocked to learn what his best friend, and the man he secretly loves, has been hiding all these years. In the wake of a terrible tragedy, he doesn't know what to do—except whatever it takes to help his friends.
Though Jac is a member of the Three-headed Dragons and primary bodyguard to the High Consort, she is used to being overlooked and underestimated. But she didn't earn her spurs by backing down, and she's not about to do so now—even if she must defy the High Throne itself to save the man she's falling in love with.
About the Author
Megan is a long time resident of LGBTQ r
omance, and keeps herself busy reading, writing, and publishing it. She is often accused of fluff and nonsense. When she's not involved in writing, she likes to cook, harass her cats, or watch movies. She loves to hear from readers, and can be found all over the internet.
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