Butterfly Prince

by Britannica Tany

  “I never got the chance to date or flirt with those I was actually attracted to.” Aiden’s eyebrows quirk up. “Attracted?”

  “Yeah, if you didn’t catch the memo, I actually like you.” Kael gently bops Aiden across his forehead. “When I saw you that first day…my gaze couldn’t help but wander.”

  “Oh really?” Aiden was smirking now, Kael rolls his eyes. “Yes, the Prince that was secluded all his life was graced with your buff chest and plush lips.”

  “Plush?” Aiden scoffs. “I prefer plump.”

  “Whatever.” Kael turns his back to Aiden and walks over to the hanger where his robe was dangling. Aiden takes a dazed step forward, his eyes running down Kael’s backside, he licks his lips and says softly. “I don’t think…I ever properly kissed you…” Kael reaches forward running his fingers over the velvety fabric of the robe. “So sudden? You can kiss me later, if I’m—“ There were firm hands suddenly placed on Kael’s hips. “I want to kiss you now.” Aiden rests his head against the mid of Kael’s back and murmurs. “I really want to…” Kael blinks and then sighs. “It’s not weird to you?”

  “What would be?”

  “Kissing me, another man. Didn’t you swear that you were straight?” Aiden laughs, pulling away from Kael and stating. “Yeah, but now my eyes have been opened.”

  “You sure you’re not just bored?” Kael faces him with skeptical eyes. “Positive. Before I was attracted to you physically, it was a mental thing—always has been.” He takes Kael’s hand and bends down to kiss the back of his palm. “Remember when you first did this to me?” Kael nods dazedly. “I felt tingles and a shiver ran up and down my spine,” He brings a hand to Kael’s cheek, his thumb stroking across the prickled skin. “Just like the tingles you’re feeling now…” Kael takes a deep breath and he doesn’t think twice about gripping Aiden’s wrist and pinning him to the wall. Without saying anything he leans towards Aiden’s lips and pauses right before their lips touch. “Aiden,” his breath was hot. “Kael,” Aiden mimics, his chest heaving, his eyes flickering about Kael’s half-dressed appearance. His chest was milky white and his collarbones jutted out prominently. Aiden brings his free hand to the front of Kael’s shirt, placing it over the area by his heart. B-bumpb-bumpb-bump, he could feel the steady rhythm. Kael looks down, watching as Aiden’s hand slid across his shirt and towards the part of his chest that was bare, the two buttons that were left unbuttoned allowing Aiden access to Kael’s skin. His fingers are cold as they dance along Kael’s collarbones and then towards his left nipple. Kael swallows, his eyes shaking. Aiden felt a heat collect in his abdomen and he knew things were becoming too much when a hitched sigh left Kael’s lips. “Can you…move your hand…” Kael pleads quietly, his breathing shaky. “I can’t breathe.” Aiden’s gaze snaps up and he removes his hand. “Sorry.”

  “You don’t have to apologize.” Kael manages a half smile, his chest still heaving from the excitement. Aiden coughs, his eyes breaking away from Kael as he finished buttoning up his shirt and zipping up his pants. “Can you hand me my robe.” Kael commands, Aiden swiftly grabs the expensive piece of clothing and hands it to the Prince. “Thank you.” Kael slips into it easily, the heavy fabric weighing down on his arms. Aiden watches as he gets dressed, his heart beat calming. “Wow,” he exhales and Kael looks to him confused. “What?”

  “I just never thought that I would end up dating a Prince.”

  “Oh,” Kael’s lips curl up. “So we’re dating now?” Aiden chuckles. “Yes,” He steps forward. “We’re dating now.” He swipes a loose strand of hair out of Kael’s eye and smiles, but the smile begins to fade. “What’s wrong?” Concern flickers to life in Kael’s eyes. “I just…I’m trying to adjust, there’s so many things happening in my mind right now.”

  “Ah…” Kael says, his gaze dropping. “It’s easier to date someone of the opposite sex. ‘I never thought that I would like another man. Oh, and it’s the Prince, the same guy who—at some point in my life—I began to hate.’” Kael looks up to meet Aiden’s eyes again. “Is that what you’re thinking?”

  “Kind of…” Kael flashes a small smile. “That’s alright.” He runs his fingers through Aiden’s ashen hair, mesmerized by the way the color reflected in the light. Aiden opens his mouth to say something else, but stops when there’s a knock on the room door. Kael’s fingers in Aiden’s hair stills and he moves away from Aiden and towards the door. In those few seconds—Aiden takes his place beside the Prince stiffly with his hands behind his back—Kael opens the door. It was his mother. She smiles up at him and barges her way inside. “Mother,”

  “It’s almost time, are you ready?” Her eyes flick over to Aiden and a frown falls upon her face at the sight of him, there was a look of recognition in her eyes, but then it was replaced by a girlish twinkle. “Oooh! Aren’t you the handsome bodyguard I saw a few weeks ago, hnn?” She addresses Aiden sweetly. “Y-yes, but handsome…”

  “Yes,” It was Kael who spoke. “You are quite handsome, Mr. Kim.” Kael compliments respectfully. Aiden’s eyes widen and he prevents himself from getting flustered in the presence of the Queen. “Thank you, your majesty.” He bows. “It’s nothing but the truth. Mother,” He ushers his mother out of the door. “After you.” She looks between her son and his new bodyguard and something surged in her just like it did Aiden’s mother when she discovered the truth about her son’s sexuality. With a forced smile she slips between Kael and the door. Before following after her, Kael tosses a playful wink Aiden’s way, crinkles forming around his eyes. Aiden winks back, his teeth showing as he smiled.

  A few hours later: Late evening

  They were sitting in the library, books scattered all about. The scene reminded Kael of his past with Skye. There was a candle flickering on the window sill, its flame casting and array of dancing shadows along the walls. Kael was currently teaching Aiden how to pronounce certain words in Spanish. “Why’d you take this class in the first place?” Kael questions suddenly and Aiden looks up from his books, his glasses hanging off his nose. “And another thing, I didn’t know you wore glasses.”

  “Ah, that’s because I forgot to put my contacts in and I took Spanish because why the heck not? It’s best if you’re bilingual—why are you staring at me?” Kael reaches across the books and slips the glasses from Aiden’s nose. “I like the color of your eyes.” He says smoothly as though he spoke such words on a day-to-day basis. Aiden looks away shyly, fidgeting with the tie around his neck. “Thanks…I guess.” Kael places the glasses back onto Aiden’s nose and the hits the books that lay between them. “Now, time to focus! I have to go soon.”

  “Right…” Aiden’s eyes linger on Kael’s face as he opens one of the textbooks, his fingers gently turning each page. Aiden lets a few minutes pass before saying quietly. “Tell me…” the pages crinkle as Kael turns them “…a little about what you and my sister did here.” Kael stops turning the pages and looks up slowly. “I want to know more about the Skye that you knew.” The flame of the candle sweeps to the side as if brought to life by a sudden gust of wind. Their shadows broaden. Kael stares through Aiden, his eyes never really resting on anything in particular. His lips part to speak, but then he stops. His fingers curl into a fist and he sucks in his bottom lip. “Kae—“

  “I haven’t talked about her…that much…” He says shakily. “It’s hard because whenever I begin to describe her…I see—I see her figure in the fire and I choke up and I can’t breathe.” His jaw locks into place and his teeth grate together. “I lost my memory because I didn’t want to remember the sound of her voice calling out to me.” Aiden keeps his gaze steady as Kael talks. “All those years of not knowing, they weren’t blissful.” He brings a hand to his face. “Every night I’d wake up in a cold sweat or I’d huddle in a corner of my room.” Kael rubs insistently at his forehead, his fingers slipping into his hair and tugging. “The panic attacks, they hurt so much and I began each day exhausted—so tired.” He shakes his head. “But…
when I remembered, god when I regained all those memories of her,” A twisted smile of bitter sadness and remorse wrangles his lips. “It felt like an atomic bomb had gone off in my heart, like glass had penetrated me to the very core. The shards sticking out every which way.” Creases appear in his forehead. “And I hear her voice; ‘Kael! Kael!’” He mimics how she had sounded and a dry cough escapes his lips, sweat lining his forehead. “I remember and I don’t want to. I don’t want to feel this way anymore.” Aiden’s eyes widen when he realizes that Kael had been biting his lip so hard—blood began to drip from the cut. “Kael!” He grips the Prince by his shoulders, stares into his eyes trying his best to feel what he had felt before he shoves Kael into his chest.

  The candle flickers, but does not die out. Their shadows seem to shrink away. He places a hand to Kael’s head and rocks him from side to side. “I don’t want to blame myself anymore Aiden, I don’t want to hurt like this, but I—I can’t—“

  “Yes, yes you can.” He holds Kael even tighter. “Just like I’ve learned to face the truth and overcome it, it’s your turn Kael.” The sound that comes from Kael is that of fire and ice—painful yet accepting. “From now on,” Aiden pushes Kael back by his shoulders so that he could look into his eyes. “My Prince…let me be your shield.” Kael nods even though he knows that it won’t be easy, he wraps his arms around Aiden and holds onto him even though he knows that their struggles are far from over. “I hope you’re not crying…” Aiden says with worry, Kael chuckles. “No…no tears.”

  “Good,” He places his lips in Kael’s hair and closes his eyes. “Because if you were, I’m afraid I wouldn’t know how to comfort you except by telling one of Skye’s lame jokes.” Kael laughs, the sound an ease to Aiden’s ears. And the words are there—ah, yes—those three words and he gets so close to saying them. His lips part and the first letter escapes him. “I…” Aiden looks down and Kael looks up—their gazes lock. “Aiden,”

  “Hmm?” With his lips in Kael’s hair and his eyes closed he focuses on Kael’s breathing and the weight of his head resting against his chest. “I just want to say thank you.” Aiden laughs. “Thank me? Shouldn’t I be thanking you?” But Kael says nothing, instead he lifts his head and kisses the corner of Aiden’s mouth. His hand slides up Aiden’s back. Aiden moves his hand to Kael’s chin and tilts his head up. “Kiss me.” He commands, his dark eyes seeing into every corner and crevice of Kael’s heart. Kael obliges, tilting his head and closing his eyes. Their lips touch, softly affirming what they felt for each other. And then Aiden’s hand is moving to Kael’s shoulder, he grips his shoulder tightly when Kael’s lips press for more. His eyes flutter and Kael’s hand is moving away from Aiden’s back and to his chest. He loosens the tie tightened around his neck, his lips still moving against Aiden’s. Aiden’s fingers are pressing hard into Kael’s shoulder and when it feels like his mind is going numb, he takes Kael’s face with his hands and forces a deeper kiss. Kael’s caught off guard and a sigh is broken from his lips—Aiden’s tie loosens and pools in his lap. Aiden parts Kael’s lips with his tongue and groans lowly when he can feel his senses coming to life. Kael breaks away panting, his eyes glistening, lips wet and swollen red. Aiden lets out a breath and he stares at Kael for the umpteenth time that day. His hands move to adjust Kael’s shirt, but his wrists are clutched in Kael’s hand. “Kael?” Kael doesn’t speak as he places Aiden’s hands away from him and leans towards the older. His expression is blank and Aiden has no idea what he’s thinking. Excitement shoots straight to his heart and he struggles to suppress the need to touch the man in front of him. “H-hey…” he murmurs as Kael’s soft lips place a tender kiss to the side of his neck. “Kael, wait, wait.”

  “I want to…feel you.”

  “Holy—no—wait—!!” He clamps a hand over his mouth as Kael’s tongue licks along his jaw. He swallows, his hands clenching at his side. Why is he doing this to me? He thought, his neck drooping back as his heart began to race at an unbearable pace. Kael brings a hand to the front of Aiden’s shirt and he rests his palm directly against Aiden’s heart. “I really…I really don’t think now is…” another sigh breaks past his lips as Kael’s hand begins to slide across his chest. “Kael?” Aiden lifts his head and sighs. “You aren’t even listening.” He concludes and Kael smirks, looking up and stating. “I am.” He catches Aiden’s bottom lip between his and sucks. The older decides to stop clawing at the ground and brings his hand to Kael’s head where he grips his hair. Kael pulls his lips away from Aiden’s with a smack and he moves his hand away from the older’s chest and grins. “I’m tingling all over?” He says questioningly and Aiden looks to him unbelieving. “Are you—you’re doing this on purpose.”

  “Maybe.” Kael leans back and quickly gathers himself. He adjusts his clothes and fixes Aiden’s glasses which were now crooked. “There.” He taps the tip of Aiden’s nose and smiles. “To be quite honest…I’ve never…done that with someone else.”

  “What? Kiss?” Aiden’s voice was still slightly high from disbelief, his cheeks red as he struggled to straighten up. “No, I mean, I’ve never…touched them.”

  “Oh right, you were never in a relationship.”

  “Yeah…” Aiden closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. “Well if we’re being honest here, I never thought I’d get turned on in a library.” Kael blinks and then laughs loudly. “You’re still turned on.” Kael notes, pointing a finger towards Aiden’s slacks. “Oh, hahah.” He laughs nervously, placing a book over his lap. Kael shakes his head and then he looks to Aiden with a gaze Aiden’s never seen before. A look that causes his heartbeat to calm and the horniness from before to drizzle away to nothing. “You know,” Kael reaches over to straighten Aiden’s mussed hair. “I’m surprised you don’t have wings…”

  “Huh?”

  “All beautiful things have wings; doves, butterflies, angels…”

  “Oh,” He mumbles shyly. “But…I’m glad you decided to fly towards me and not away.” Kael smiles wanly, patting the top of Aiden’s hand and standing up. “Well, I have to change.” Kael tugs at his shirt and sighs. “These clothes are so comfortable though.” He stomps his feet as he walks towards the door, he opens it and doesn’t look back leaving Aiden to ponder what just happened.

  ~*~

  It’s night now; the stars are twinkling in the sky, flickering and fading just like the time. There’s a house, the lights all off except for a single one in the back. In that house the picture of Skye stood over the fire-place, fresh chrysanthemums resting beside the frame. In the living room there was an opened bottle of beer, but it was left untouched. In the kitchen there were several magazines lining the table none of them opened; an empty wine glass stood beside them, and the refrigerator hummed in the still night. Family pictures were placed up and down the walls in the hall. Pictures from when Aiden was just born and from Skye’s high-school graduation, in one of the pictures was a greenhouse that stood off in the far back. Aiden never noticed that it was there. A light came from the bathroom, its door closed as breathless murmurs and suppressed huffs leaked from the door. A hand grips the counter and legs trembled. “Kael,” A heavy sigh of his name and the slick sound of skin on skin echoed in the bathroom walls. Sweat rolls down Aiden’s neck and the muscles in his arms tensed when he felt a kindle of pleasure grow in his abdomen. “Kael….” He pants and it felt wrong, yet he didn’t want to stop this feeling of closeness he now felt towards Kael. He wanted to hold onto him tightly and show him parts of the world he’s never seen before. To give to him a love that was wrenched away from him when he was younger.

  My Kael…Aiden bites his trembling bottom lip and leans against the counter out of breath.

  My Prince.

  “Well damn.” He grumbles as he turns towards the sink to rinse his hands and wash his face.

  Embracing You Pt. 2

  Janus loudly slurps his noodles, twisting his fork in the heavily greased food and stuffing what he had piled up, into his mouth. M
icah watches as he does this, his big eyes taking in the way the grease made Janus’s lips shine. “Why,” Micah starts, “Are you eating lunch with me?”—sluuuurp—Janus looks up, dabs at his mouth, swallows and then smiles. “Why not?”

  “It’s just…” Micah shifts in his seat. “Weird.”

  “What’s weird about it?” Micah shrugs, toying around with his bowl of noodles. “You’re technically my boss and I,” He nervously scratches the back of his neck. “Made fun of you countless times.” Janus beams, placing his fork down and folding his hands together. “Well, you know how it goes: the boy makes fun of his crush in an attempt to catch their attention.” Micah’s eyes widen. “Isn’t that what you’ve been doing, Mr. Shay?”

  “Wh-what?!” Janus chuckles deeply. “Oh, don’t be shy that only makes you cuter.” Micah’s cheeks flush and he looks away his eyes blinking rapidly. Janus laughs again, picking up his fork and slurping up the last bit of his noodles. With a breath he looks across the table at Micah and says seriously. “I’m not just eating with you for personal reasons,” One of Micah’s thick eyebrows raise up. “I want those two to accept each other for who they are.”

  “The Prince and Aiden?” Janus nods. “You…you aren’t trying to hook them up are you?” Janus nods, resting his chin in the palm of his hand. “Yes…that’s exactly what I’m trying to do.” Micah’s gasp wasn’t audible, but the way his mouth gaped open gave away his shock. “The Prince and Aiden, doesn’t he hate him?”

  “Yes, but that’s all over now, he’s overcome the mental obstacle put before him.” Micah clicks his tongue and takes a heavy swig of the bottle of water beside him. “There’s no way….those two?” Micah mumbles on, this time Janus doesn’t speak. “Do you believe it’ll work out between them?” Janus looks up, his eyes focusing in on Micah. “Well, if I thought Aiden would shoot the Prince I wouldn’t be having my lunch with you now would I…?” He spoke so care freely and for a split second, Micah thought he felt a slight flutter in his heart. He coughs and looks away.